The third week of the 2015 legislative session has come and gone, with some of the states top education bills already making waves as they passed through the Florida Legislature.
Heres a look at what went down this week in the world of Florida education:
HOUSE GIVES THUMBS-UP TO LESS TESTING
Perhaps the biggest piece of news this week in Florida education was the Florida Houses unanimous passage of a lengthy bill, HB 7069, aimed to limit standardized testing and address a plethora of other issues in state schools.
Among the bills provisions: eliminating the 11th-grade Florida Standards Assessment test in English Language-arts as well as a requirement for school districts to create assessment tests for any subject not covered by the new FSA test.
Schools would also be able to move up start dates to as early as Aug. 10 under the new legislation.
... AND THE SENATE IS ON ITS WAY
A bill similar to the House bill to cut back on standardized testing is also shuffling right along from committee to committee in the Senate. SB 616, sponsored by Sen. John Legg, R-Lutz, has many of the same provisions as HB 7069, but would also limit the amount of time districts are allowed to administer assessment tests.
Under Leggs legislation, schools would only be allowed to give tests for 5 percent of total class time. If a district requires more time for testing, it must receive written permission from parents.
SB 616 also bore witness to significant public testimony against high-stakes testing and the new state education standards, which are closely aligned with the Common Core State Standards.
Former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, said adults were mostly responsible for a testing frenzy and for causing student anxieties over assessments.
"We don't need to stampede ourselves toward the precipice of working ourselves up over this issue," he said.
BUT A GRADING SAFETY NET? NO, NO
Proposals to temporarily pause school grades this year didnt get the support they needed to become part of legislation to limit testing in schools, much to the chagrin of Democratic legislators in both the House and Senate.
Rep. Mia Jones, D-Jacksonville, proposed an amendment to temporarily pause the "A" to "F" grading system while schools adjusted to the new FSA test. But the House didnt hop on board with Jones amendment, and it failed by a 36-80 vote.
"We had an opportunity with this bill," Jones told her fellow legislators. "We had an opportunity to do more and we failed to do that."
A similar amendment proposed by Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, also failed in committee hearings.
KEEPING IT DIGITAL
Florida schools will continue the course with digital testing after proposals to offer a pencil and paper test until all school districts can certify their readiness failed this week.
Rep, Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, said that despite the fact that todays students are familiar with technology, tests become more stressful when theres a lot at stake.
"It's different when you have a test in front of you that is a make or break test where you go as a student," he said.
Williams amendment failed in the House and a similar amendment filed by Sen. Dwight Bullard failed as well.
GO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO
A bill to allow students to attend schools in different counties also received the thumbs-up from the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Committee this week, passing on a party line vote.
SB 1552 would allow parents to choose to send their children to any school in the state that hasnt reached capacity. Parents could also demand their child is taught by a different teacher if that instructor is teaching outside his or her field.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
