On a 3-2 vote Wednesday night the Lee County School Board has become the first in the state to opt its district out of all statewide standardized tests, according to the local newspaper the News-Press.
“Sometimes it takes an act of civil disobedience to move forward,” board member Don Armstrong said, according to the news account. “We cannot allow the fear to hold us back.”
A packed audience cheered, and then booed the district’s superintendent when she expressed her concern about their decision.
“This will hurt children. There is no way around it,” said Superintendent Nancy Graham (no relation to the former West Palm Beach mayor).
Why would this hurt children? Read the attorney’s concerns below.
And what about the board members? According to the Associated Press, he said it’s possible the governor could remove them from office.
Wednesday: The Lee County School Board that recently stirred interest statewide when it asked its staff to review the feasibility of the district opting out of Florida’s testing mandates has heard from its attorney ahead of a meeting tonight.
The News-Press there reported the attorney’s response in detail.
Some highlights in the attorney’s memo:
Schools could be denied a variety of state dollars including money from the lottery , money transferred to schools from the state and various grants.
Students will not be able to receive a standard high-school diploma.
The school district would not be eligible for Opportunity Scholarships
If the district opts out, it will not receive school grades. Without school grades, students do meet the above stipulation.
“A” grade schools will no longer receive monetary awards from the state
The Lee County School Board meets tonight and is broadcast online. School board members and parents across the state will be watching.
