By Kathleen Haughney
The News Service of Florida
A key Senate committee gave its OK Tuesday to a bill that would make it more difficult to graduate high school in Florida, putting more emphasis on high level science and math classes.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee voted in favor of SB 4, which heightens graduation standards, a promise the state made in its application for Race to the Top, a $4.35 billion federal grant that could bring $1 billion in additional dollars to Florida for education reform.
“We are choosing to make courses more rigorous for college bound students and those headed into the workforce,” said Senator Nancy Detert, R-Venice, the sponsor of the measure.
Under the bill, approved Tuesday, all students would eventually have to take geometry, two years of algebra, biology, chemistry or physics and an additional “rigorous” science course. The class requirements would be phased in over the next few years as will end-of-course examinations. The measure would still allow students who fail the exams in those classes to progress to the next grade, but they must pass it by the end of their senior year in order to graduate.
The legislation, Detert said, would make students more competitive in a global economy. Business organizations such as the Florida Chamber have been major backers of the measure, saying that Florida needs a more educated workforce to rebuild the economy.
“Our kids are not prepared for today’s world, and all of the data we see from every source says the same thing,” Detert said.
Similar legislation passed the House last year, but faltered in the Senate with many members concerned about how to fund the changes. Some lawmakers are still not convinced that the changes can be made without a significant infusion of money.
Legislative analysis indicates it will cost $1.5 million annually to implement the new exams, and there are still several unknown budget scenarios that could affect the overall education budget.
Stimulus money will eventually run out and it is still unknown whether the state will get the Race to the Top money. There is also a movement to change the class size provision in the Constitution, which would also save the state money; however, it requires 60 percent voter approval to make that change.
With all the unknowns, said Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, it would be very difficult to implement these changes without putting major stresses on the public school system.
“I perceive that to be an unfunded mandate to our schools,” Rich said.
