4/27/2003
FCAT accountability again
FCAT supporters answer every question about the program's worth by praising something they call "accountability."
Well, accountability is a one-street here. The kids and teachers are accountable but nobody else is. The Dept. of Ed. refuses to be accountable for its failures in administering the test. The Legislature refuses to be accountable for fine-tuning the law before it takes effect. And now it turns out that nobody is accountable for the weird way bonuses in Florida School Recognition Program are being spent.
Dozens of schools around the state either misunderstood or ignored the spending restrictions placed on the $306 million that has been handed out since 1999.
Instead of computers, they bought lawn mowers. Instead of new teachers, they hired BoJo the Clown to host a "fun day."
Throughout its existence, the program that was designed to hold schools accountable for student performance has had little accountability of its own.
Well, accountability is a one-street here. The kids and teachers are accountable but nobody else is. The Dept. of Ed. refuses to be accountable for its failures in administering the test. The Legislature refuses to be accountable for fine-tuning the law before it takes effect. And now it turns out that nobody is accountable for the weird way bonuses in Florida School Recognition Program are being spent.
Dozens of schools around the state either misunderstood or ignored the spending restrictions placed on the $306 million that has been handed out since 1999.
Instead of computers, they bought lawn mowers. Instead of new teachers, they hired BoJo the Clown to host a "fun day."
Throughout its existence, the program that was designed to hold schools accountable for student performance has had little accountability of its own.
