ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County School District is sending a letter to parents of third graders explaining its new plan for students who choose not to take the FSA.
The district will give all third graders assignments throughout the year that can be used as an alternative to the mandatory statewide exam.
Channel 9's Michael Lopardi asked if the changes go overboard to accommodate a small group of students.
A district spokesperson said the change would be a safeguard for any student, not just the ones who opt out.
The problem is the rules for what's called a portfolio can be very complex. The guide for teachers runs 10 pages long.
RELATED STORY: Florida third-graders can't be held back for opting out of FSA test
Eyewitness News obtained a copy of the letter that went into the mail Thursday to parents of Orange County third-graders. It said the district has created a list of required assignments for all third-graders, which can be used as a backup portfolio in case they don't pass or complete the FSA.
“I think it's a great safeguard for the district to make that they don't get sued again. I think there was already assessment going on that wasn't teacher created,” said Cindy Hamilton of Opt Out Orlando.
The change comes after parents sued the state and district for holding back third graders who opted out of the test, mostly in protest over its high stakes.
“My No. 1 concern is that the teachers were not part of the planning process,” Hamilton said.
The amount of teacher involvement is a concern for the teachers’ union too, which supports the portfolio as an alternate to the test.
“But we'd like to know where third grade teachers stand and make sure that they have autonomy,” said Wendy Doromal, with Orange County classroom Teacher’s Association.
Eyewitness News asked if the plan should apply to all third graders, a concern also raised by a school board member earlier this month.
“I would be concerned that we're doing this just for a couple of children that may have a challenge passing the test if it's adding too much of a burden,” said Christine Moore, an Orange County School Board member.
The district said the plan would provide a guide for teachers and a safety net for students, giving them enough time to meet the requirements and pass.
A district spokesperson told Eyewitness News the plan is considered a procedure, not a policy, so it’s already in effect.
The teachers union is now planning a forum for Monday night to discuss these changes.
Cox Media Group
