Sarasota Schools Chief Commends DeSantis Over Common Core

SARASOTA, FL -- As Florida educators consider the ramifications of Gov. Ron DeSantis' executive order last week to eliminate Common Core standards in schools across the state, the superintendent of Sarasota County Schools for one is praising the move.

“I commend Gov. DeSantis for reassessing curriculum standards in our state,” explained Superintendent Todd Bowden. “It’s healthy to review these standards on an ongoing basis to determine what subject areas are most important for our students to learn."

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Common Core is a set of standards that set goals for what K-12 students should learn in math and language arts by the end of each grade level. Florida standards and assessments were last changed in 2014, according to Sarasota officials.

"As our society changes, so should the standards that we work toward," asserted Bowden. "I also call for the governor to review assessments which are based on these standards – not only the testing of our students, but how their outcomes affect teacher evaluations as well."

District officials said the standards drive teacher and school district evaluations. The governor has asked for a year-long evaluation to create new curriculum standards for all school districts, Sarasota officials explained.

But the governor has not yet asked for a review of assessments and the ways in which they are to be used.

District officials said the initial purpose of the standards was to provide "clear and concise learning goals" to help students prepare for college, career and life.

The standards and corresponding assessments determine if a student can move from third grade to fourth grade or even graduate, based on testing outcomes, according Sarasota officials.

One concern parents and others have about Common Core is the "overreaching role" that the federal government plays in education. Another is the data that is collected through the standards assessment, which is the primary metric used to determine if a student can advance from third to fourth grade, and even graduate.

District officials believe it is important to evaluate student success beyond the standardized assessments.

Once developed, the governor intends to make curriculum standards recommendations to the Florida Legislature for the 2020 session.

"With performance pay mandated by the state on student assessments, I am hopeful teachers will play a key role in developing the new standards and how assessments are utilized,” Bowden added.

Photo of Superintendent Todd Bowden Courtesy Sarasota County Schools