{"id":1057,"date":"2009-06-02T06:44:25","date_gmt":"2009-06-02T10:44:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flascience.org\/wp\/?p=1057"},"modified":"2009-07-29T17:59:24","modified_gmt":"2009-07-29T21:59:24","slug":"what-the-professors-said","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1057","title":{"rendered":"What the professors said"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following up on yesterday’s post<\/a> about Florida science professors wanting end-of-course tests rather than the 11th grade FCAT, here is the white paper they wrote<\/a> and here is the list of folks who signed it<\/a>. Below is the text of their statement:<\/p>\n

—————————<\/p>\n

Graduation Requirements and Assessment Policy for High School Science in Florida
\nMay 25, 2009<\/p>\n

A group of 106 college and university science faculty raised the alarm during this spring\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s legislative session because of the exclusion of physics and\/or Earth\/space sciences from legislation regarding high school graduation requirements and the initiation of an end-of-course testing program.\u00c2\u00a0 It is generally agreed that the 11th grade science FCAT must be terminated and replaced with a comprehensive end-of-course assessment program.\u00c2\u00a0 The primary concern with HB 543 (the end-of-course testing legislation) was that while there was a definite schedule for implementation of the end-of-course biology test, there was no concrete schedule for implementation of end-of-course tests in other subjects.\u00c2\u00a0 Given the financial pressure on the FDOE (even in relatively good times) there was no guarantee that the tests in the other science subjects would ever be implemented.<\/p>\n

When bills for upgrading high school graduation and the replacement of the 11th grade science FCAT are filed for the 2010 legislative session, they should:<\/p>\n

1)\u00c2\u00a0 Specify a list of science courses in all fields that would be rigorous enough to count toward graduation, and require a statewide end-of-course test in each of them.\u00c2\u00a0 A list of 35 rigorous science courses from the FDOE science course list is given below and is arranged by the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bodies of Knowledge\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (BOK\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s) used in the new state science standards (life sciences, Earth\/space sciences, and physical sciences).\u00c2\u00a0 Students should be allowed to select from this list to fulfill their high school graduation requirements in science.\u00c2\u00a0 The list also includes a curriculum of Integrated Science courses used in some school districts.\u00c2\u00a0 While the number 35 may seem large, 17 are AP, IB or AICE courses.\u00c2\u00a0 The specification of “biology” in HB 1293 would have given a list of 8 acceptable courses.\u00c2\u00a0 The list grows to 35 simply by adding the corresponding courses in the other BOK\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s – physical and Earth\/space sciences – and in Integrated Science.\u00c2\u00a0 The list is given below.<\/p>\n

2)\u00c2\u00a0 Specify that three science courses \u00e2\u20ac\u201c including at least one from each BOK \u00e2\u20ac\u201c be required for graduation, and that four be required for Bright Futures eligibility.\u00c2\u00a0 Taking the three-year Integrated Science or Honors Integrated science sequences would also qualify a student for graduation.<\/p>\n

3)\u00c2\u00a0 Consider the possibility of using tests that are already generally available for the end-of-course testing program.\u00c2\u00a0 Of course, this is obvious for the AP, IB and AICE courses that are on the list.\u00c2\u00a0 However, it may be possible to use the SAT Subject tests in physics and chemistry for the end-of-course testing in those areas:\u00c2\u00a0 The College Board charges $15 per test, which is a cost comparable to that of the FCAT.\u00c2\u00a0 There is also an SAT Subject test in biology; however, it may not overlap enough with the new Florida standards in biology because our standards focus somewhat on Florida ecology.\u00c2\u00a0 It may also be possible to collaborate with other states in setting end-of-course exams.\u00c2\u00a0 For example, New York State has offered the Regents exam program for more than a century, and they might welcome a partnership.\u00c2\u00a0 If FDOE took advantage of all of these opportunities, it is possible that the department would have to maintain as few as five examinations in-house.<\/p>\n

4)\u00c2\u00a0 Set a concrete schedule for implementation of end-of-course tests for each course on the list of acceptable science courses.\u00c2\u00a0 In any event, the entire end-of-course testing program should be fully implemented by the spring of 2013.<\/p>\n

Concerns about science education in Florida extend far beyond the limits of graduation requirements and end-of-course testing.\u00c2\u00a0 It is clear that bringing Florida to a world-class level in K-12 science education will require a significant investment in teacher professional development.\u00c2\u00a0 We must work toward a program of professional development for the state\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 9,200 science teachers that represents the same level of effort as the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just Read, Florida!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d program that was so successful in raising the state\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s achievement level in reading.\u00c2\u00a0 Ultimately, this would require $30 million per year on a permanent basis.<\/p>\n

A proposed list of science courses acceptable for high school graduation (from the FDOE course list):<\/p>\n

Life Sciences:\u00c2\u00a0 Biology 1, Biology 1 Honors, AICE Biology 1, AP Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Anatomy and Physiology Honors, IB Biology 2, IB Biology 3<\/p>\n

Earth\/Space Sciences:\u00c2\u00a0 Earth\/Space Science, Earth\/Space Science Honors, Astronomy Solar\/Galactic, Astronomy Solar\/Galactic Honors, Environmental Science, IB Environmental Systems, AP Environmental Science, AICE Environmental Management, AICE Marine Science<\/p>\n

Physical Sciences:\u00c2\u00a0 Chemistry 1, Chemistry 1 Honors, AP Chemistry, AICE Chemistry 1, Physics 1, Physics 1 Honors, AP Physics B, AP Physics C, AICE Physics, IB Chemistry 2, IB Chemistry 3, IB Physics 3<\/p>\n

Integrated Science:\u00c2\u00a0 Integrated Science 1, Integrated Science 1 Honors, Integrated Science 2, Integrated Science 2 Honors, Integrated Science 3, Integrated Science 3 Honors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Following up on yesterday’s post about Florida science professors wanting end-of-course tests rather than the 11th grade FCAT, here is the white paper they wrote and here is the list of folks who signed it. Below is the text of … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcZNLl-h3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":871,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=871","url_meta":{"origin":1057,"position":0},"title":"Lawmaker wants to dump 11th grade science FCAT","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"January 20, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, House Bill 543, \"Educational Assessment\", was filed by Representative Debbie Mayfield (R). The bill text indicates that Mayfield would like to see a major change to the science FCAT. Notwithstanding s. 1008.22, Florida Statutes, or any other provision of the law to the contrary, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FCAT"","block_context":{"text":"FCAT","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1056,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1056","url_meta":{"origin":1057,"position":1},"title":"11th-grade science FCAT vs. end-of-course exams","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"June 1, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"The Orlando Sentinel education blog has a post up reporting that a group of concerned science professors is pushing hard to kill off the 11th-grade science FCAT and replace it with relevant end-of-course exams. We here at Florida Citizens for Science\u00c2\u00a0are also questioning the usefulness of the 11th grade science\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1012,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1012","url_meta":{"origin":1057,"position":2},"title":"Politics Trump Physics","author":"Jonathan Smith","date":"April 22, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Despite the good faith efforts of three representatives to improve the bills on high school science assessment and graduation requirements, today's events in the Florida House of Representatives demonstrated how difficult it can be to get education policy right in a challenging legislative environment.\u00c2\u00a0 Representative Fresen, the sponsor of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 3 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 3 comments","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1012#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1113,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1113","url_meta":{"origin":1057,"position":3},"title":"Update on Two chances to speak your mind","author":"Jonathan Smith","date":"September 3, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00c2\u00a0John Legg, Chair of the Florida House of Representatives PreK-12 Policy Committee, answered questions on a \"live chat\" show on the St Pete Times\u00c2\u00a0GradeBook blog yesterday. One of the questions was presented on behalf of Paul Cottle\u00c2\u00a0a FSU professor and friend of FCS. Here is Leggs response. Question: Here's a\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1113#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":991,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=991","url_meta":{"origin":1057,"position":4},"title":"High School science concerns","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"April 7, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Paul Cottle, a professor of physics at Florida State University and a member of the committee that drafted Florida's new science standards, has been busy writing articles in defense of science education. Here is his latest one: Two bills put high-school physics at risk in Florida. However, the legislation that\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 2 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 2 comments","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=991#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1145,"url":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1145","url_meta":{"origin":1057,"position":5},"title":"Florida end-of-course exams","author":"Brandon Haught","date":"November 27, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"The Orlando Sentinel has a story up about Florida's attempt to introduce end-of-course exams. Paul Cottle's efforts on behalf of science education are mentioned: About 100 Florida science professors think Florida isn't doing enough if a biology exam is the only end-of-course science exam it plans. Earlier this year, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 4 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 4 comments","link":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/?p=1145#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1057"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1057\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flascience.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}