Media Release from Office of Rep. Janet Adkins
April 9, 2016 11:07 a.m.
Representative Janet Adkins (District 11) recently earned an A+ and a spot on the Honor Roll on the Foundation for Florida’s Future 2016 Education Report Card. The high marks follow the lawmaker’s leadership this year on improving the quality of education in the Sunshine State through support for student-centered policies.
“Representative Janet Adkins has been a champion for students during her time in the Legislature. Her engagement and leadership on important education issues, such as reading, have really helped to shape policy in Florida. She has a heart and passion for students and their families,” said Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of aFloridaPromise.
By grading lawmakers on a scale of A-F, just like students and schools, Florida’s Education Report Card gives the public a clear and comprehensive assessment of who is keeping the promise of a quality education in the Sunshine State.
Representative Adkins was the sponsor of HB 7021, a bill aimed at improving reading instruction for struggling readers. Her determination to bring this important issue front and center will inform future discussions and ultimately benefit a generation of students.
“I am honored to receive this recognition. It is clear that approximately 15 – 20% of public school students struggle with dyslexia, which helps us understand why some children do not perform well on written tests. I am committed to working towards a framework that will improve teaching practices for these students and to identify these students earlier. Learning to read and implementation of best practices based on science is critical to success of our students, ”said Representative Adkins.
Florida’s Education Report Card measures reforms based on seven core principles: Data-Driven Accountability, Digital Learning, Effective Teachers and Leaders, Outcome-Based Funding, Rigorous Academic Standards, School Choice and Measuring of what Matters. Grades are based on legislators’ voting records and demonstrations of leadership. House and Senate voting records are calculated in a ratio of favorable votes cast for student-centered policies out of the total opportunities to vote on those policies.
Interesting results. Of the 39 Democrats in the House, there was only 1 “B” and 2 “C” grades with all the rest scoring “D” and “F”. EVERY single Republican with the exception of John Tobia (scored a “D”) scored an “A” or “A+”. Obviously, there was no grading on the curve here!
Substitute Adkins for “Mr. Black” and her real threat to our public school system is apparent. She is not about inquiry, critical thinking and teaching excellence, but rather top down control over the instructional process and teachers themselves – including just what can be taught. Mao had his “Little Red Book”. Adkins has hers.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/heaping-scorn-and-passing-judgment/2016/04/10/432ce82c-fdc3-11e5-886f-a037dba38301_story.html?postshare=6711460373081445&tid=ss_fb