But, as many of our superintendents have pointed out, accountability must be grounded in accurate measures for it to succeed, and it is precisely because of this that I retained the services of two additional independent testing experts to review this year's results. This success is especially apparent in our student subgroups where minority, low income and special needs students have all made stunning progress in closing the achievement gaps they face."This success could only be possible through the embrace of accountability by teachers and school leaders, and I am pleased that their support remains strong in our state. The hard work of our teachers combined with the application of these accountability measures has increased the performance of our schools year after year as they successfully educate more of the students they serve. The results also show us that declines in the number of "A" grades compared to last year did occur, highlighting the need to redouble our efforts and rediscover the strategies that have helped us to be so successful."School Grades represent the pinnacle of an assessment and accountability system that has brought great academic progress to the children of Florida. The results show that through a five year trend, the performance of our schools remains strong in both our elementary and middle grades and that despite the difficult economic times we have faced, we are maintaining the progress we have all worked so hard to achieve. Smith has released the following statement:"The release of School Grades this year provides a very unbiased view of the undeniable success we have achieved in raising the quality of education we provide our children. Bill Heller (.PDF) Education Commissioner Dr. In Pinellas, Lakewood, Woodlawn and Fairmount Park elementary schools earned an F.Superintendent Elia is asking the state to continue investigating so this problem won't be repeated next year. Three elementary school grades dropped to an F and those schools are Just, Miles, Booker T. We're watching every week that students are making the kinds of gains and doing what they are suppose to be doing," says Tim Binder, Greco Middle School's principal.McDonald Elementary scored an A from a C last year, after starting the year with a serious fire that damaged the school. "We're not teaching and praying to God to do well on the FCAT. "Do you believe that is a natural fluctuation 300 schools in the state of the Florida?" asks Elia.In Hillsborough, some school grades did go up. Teacher evaluations and principal evaluations are tied into the school grades too. We can't move forward unless we trust the reliability of these scores." Whether she trusts the grades, Elia responds, "Right now I have serious concerns."One includes explaining the dramatic drop in learning gains especially statewide among 4 Click here to read the complete statement. (PDF)The drop in learning gains state wide means more than 300 A rated elementary schools will drop a letter grade and lose school recognition dollars. But Elia says the auditors did not answer some of the main questions.Elia says, "We can't move forward with the level of accountability that we want. Hillsborough superintendent MaryEllen Elia represents one of five school districts that called on the state to investigate earlier this summer. Click here for your district.Some school district officials say the grades are flawed despite two independent studies reporting there are no "irregularities" in the scoring process and reassurance from state officials. The state has posted the 2010 school grades on its Department of Education website. FCAT school grades are out, two months late and shadowed by controversy of their accuracy.
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