Monthly Archives: June 2010

Brave New Testing World seems like touch-screen voting machine redux

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Paul Cottle

Florida is scheduled to enter the Brave New World of school testing next year with the introduction of the large-scale use of computers for high school end-of-course tests.  And leading us into that Brave New World is (wait for it…) … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment | Tagged | Leave a comment

Florida Big Bend, Panhandle lag badly in physical science education and face steep climb to new grad requirements

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Paul Cottle

Florida’s Big Bend and Panhandle counties face some of the greatest challenges in the state as they aim to help their students meet the new “chemistry or physics” requirement for high school graduation in several years, according to new figures … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemistry teacher shortage, High School Graduation Standards | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Orlando Sentinel reports that class size crisis threatens calculus, physics classes

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Paul Cottle

Leslie Postal at the Orlando Sentinel is pointing out that the class size crisis is putting pressure on “high-end” courses like calculus and physics in the school districts for the coming fall.  The crisis is occurring because the final stage … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida Legislature | Tagged | Leave a comment

Starving for engineers, Raytheon CEO calls education reform “one of the hardest topics I’ve ever worked on”

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Paul Cottle

The Boston Globe reported that Raytheon CEO William Swanson called for a “dramatic increase in the number of Americans who earn degrees in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics.”  Take a look.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Florida walks away from opportunity to use RTTT dollars to develop science EOC’s

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Paul Cottle

It’s official:  Florida has walked away from an opportunity to use federal Race to the Top Assessment Program dollars to develop end-of-course exams in the physical and Earth/space sciences.  This decision provides a clear signal that the state has no … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Florida Department of Education, Florida Legislature, Race to the Top | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Why do some people think the new high school graduation requirements are a “huge unfunded mandate”?

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Paul Cottle

I think I get it now.  I understand the argument that leads some folks to believe that the new high school graduation requirements are a “huge unfunded mandate”.  It’s just that the argument is wrong. School Zone posted a link … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemistry teacher shortage, Florida Department of Education, Florida universities, High School Graduation Standards, Physics teacher preparation, Race to the Top, Teacher differential pay, Teacher professional development | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Orlando Sentinel op-ed on demand for chemistry teachers

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Paul Cottle

My op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel on the huge demand for chemistry teachers Florida is facing is here.

Posted in Chemistry teacher shortage, Florida Department of Education, High School Graduation Standards, Physics teacher preparation, Teacher differential pay, Teacher professional development | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should Florida adopt the Georgia model for teacher salaries?

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Paul Cottle

Florida’s present system of setting teacher salaries through district-level collective bargaining with no statewide framework makes it nearly impossible to implement reforms like differential pay for math and science teachers.  Differential pay for math and science has been in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Teacher differential pay | Tagged | 1 Comment

Message from Florida’s future: How the new graduation requirements are playing out in Michigan

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Paul Cottle

The new high school graduation requirements included in SB 4 were simply a carbon copy of those passed into Michigan law in 2006:  Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology and “Chemistry or Physics”.   The first high school graduating class for … Continue reading →

Posted in High School Graduation Standards | Tagged | 1 Comment

RTTT Assessment Program deadline next Wednesday

Posted on June 18, 2010 by Paul Cottle

The proposal deadline for the RTTT Assessment Program, a companion to the “big” RTTT program that has entered its second round, is next Wednesday, June 23.  The assessment program includes two components.  The bulk of the money will be awarded for comprehensive assessment … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, Race to the Top | Tagged , | Leave a comment