Education was a big priority for state lawmakers during this year’s legislative session. Legislators passed a sweeping education reform bill to limit testing time in Florida’s schools as well as require a review of the state’s new (and highly criticized) Florida Standards Assessment test. Like kids who receive their final grades at the end of each semester, senators and state reps, too, received marks on their efforts to improve education from the Foundation for Florida’s Future.
The complete education report card gives each legislator an "A" to "F" grade based on seven core principles: data-driven accountability, digital learning, effective teachers and leaders, outcome-based funding, rigorous academic standards, school choice and measuring of what matters.
Voting records are also taken into consideration when grading state lawmakers, as are “demonstrations of leadership.”
The state’s highest-achieving lawmakers, according to the report card, find themselves on an “honor roll,” listing lawmakers who advanced “student-centered” policies during this year’s legislative session.
Many recipients of the foundation’s highest ranking are Republicans, but some Democrats made the list as well.
Senators on the honor roll included Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, as well as Sens. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers; Don Gaetz, R-Niceville; John Legg, R-Lutz; Jeremy Ring, D-Margate; and Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland.
The list of lawmakers making the honor roll was slightly longer on the House side. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, made the list, as did Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, who chaired the House Education Appropriations Committee. Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasalinda, D-Tallahassee, was the only Democrat to make the House honor roll.
Most of these lawmakers earned an “A+” grade on the report card.
"Lawmakers maintained their commitment to Florida students and teachers," said Patricia Levesque, executive director of aFloridaPromise. "As a Florida parent, I am grateful. Thanks to their actions to refine and expand policies, Florida is continuing to measure student learning, giving more parents access to educational choices and supporting our state's hard-working teachers."
Education was once again a top priority for lawmakers this year, with many of them responding to criticisms from constituents who voiced concerns over an oversaturation of testing in the Sunshine State. Not only did parents, teachers and members of the public speak out against the state’s new Common Core-aligned education standards, but they also pushed their state lawmakers to do something about it.
Legislators’ response? A large education bill sponsored by Sen. John Legg, which placed limits on testing time as well as lessened the impact of standardized testing on teacher evaluations. The bill passed through both chambers easily and was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott shortly after the 2015 session adjourned.
To Patricia Levesque, the Legislature’s response is a direct result of voiced concerns over education issues plaguing the state.
"We have incredible teachers in Florida and bright, hard-working students," she said. "We hope the report card shines a light on the reform work being done by lawmakers to support the work in classrooms, and that it encourages more Floridians to take an active role in education policy. By communicating support, concerns and ideas to state leaders, you can make a difference. We saw advocacy in action this year -- each personal appeal or story keeps education issues on the radar."
See what grade your legislator received here.
