Politics

Legislators back timeout on school grades

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — State legislators are getting behind a proposal to pause Florida's school grading system for a year.
 
A Florida House panel on Monday voted in favor of a bill (HB 7117) that overhauls the state's A-to-F grading system. The legislation is based on recommendations made by Education Commissioner Pam Stewart.
 
The move is being made as the state transitions to a new test that will replace the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
 
But a key portion of the bill would ensure that schools would not receive any sanctions or penalties as a result of school grades issued in 2015. That's because the state plans to use the first year of the new test as a "baseline" in which to measure schools.
 
School superintendents had suggested a three-year pause on the grading system.