I was able to speak on the phone today with Dr. Dennis Robinson who is the Headmaster of Trinity Christian Academy in Deltona, FL and President of the Florida League of Christian Schools. I wrote yesterday about the problems the emails he and one of his staffers had sent to Florida Governor Rick Scott. Dr. Robinson informed me that he has not heard from anyone within the Scott Administration since he sent his email on August 10th. With school starting this has become a rather urgent matter.
He said that they have had an influx of students transferring into his school from area public schools who took Algebra I, but failed the end of course assessment. He says it places his school in a conundrum because their transcript says they took a math class, but they don’t have credit for Algebra I so they’re not sure what to do with those students. “Do we just put them back into Algebra I again?”
Since 41% of Florida students who took the Algebra I end-of-course exam failed, other private schools in Florida could be faced with the same problem.
Dr. Robinson said he didn’t believe this situation would be a problem for students who stay with his school all four years, but it does impact students who do desire to transfer as they’re credits are not accepted in public schools and they don’t have access to the end-of-course assessment public school students receive and tests from Stanford or even the College Board are not accepted as alternatives.
Next year Algebra II will be added to classes with end-of-course exams along with Algebra I and Biology.
Update: The Governor’s office responds.