Assignment #1 Class Web Site for POL 318
This Page is Part of an Undergraduate Assignment at Davidson College.
Castor was formerly the Commissioner of Education in Florida, giving her an extensive background in the subject.. She believes that the FCATs are an unacceptable method of allocating funds for schools. As opposed to restricting funding from struggling programs, Castor will work with students and teachers who are not making the grade.. She criticizes the No Child Left Behind Policy as an “under-funded, one-size-fits-all program from Washington”. As Florida’s Commissioner of Education, she increased funding for schools by 75%. Castor supports giving parents, teachers, and local officials the right to make decisions concerning their children. She has also raised teachers’ salaries by 11.5%, and increased teacher certification by 400% in her tenure. With the minimum of 18 credits, many seniors opt to skip their second semester, but still have the credits to graduate. Castor intends to eliminate this option by raising standards for high school graduates from 18 credits to 24.(www.bettynet.com)
Mel Martinez spoke on behalf of President Bush at the Republican National Convention, and expressed support of the No Child Left Behind policy.(FDCH Political Transcripts) Martinez believes that high school diplomas should mean that the graduate has the skills to compete in the 21st century. The NCLB policy uses the FCAT to measure adequate progress in the five ethnic subgroups. These ethnic subgroups are White, African American, Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian. The groups are then divided into economically disadvantaged students, students with limited proficiency in English, and disabled students (Florida Dept. of Education). The FCAT attempts to measure the proficiency in different subjects on a scale of 1-5 (5 being advanced). The overall goal of NCLB is to create a 100% proficiency level for all students in every subject. The theory behind NCLB is that by raising the standards of the teachers and administrators, the students will rise to the challenge.
Mel Martinez is standing by President Bush’s education plan, and he agrees with Castor, that the decisions should be placed in the hands of the parents. He increased public funds when he was mayor, which allowed schools to expand with the growing class size. Now, Martinez has adopted NCLB as the right system to raise standards across the board. Castor has a wealth of experience with the Florida education system, and has clearly outlined her plan for improvements. Castor has sharply criticized NCLB as the wrong solution for improving the education system. To withhold funding from schools that fail to meet the requirements is the wrong message to send to struggling programs. Castor is endorsed by Florida's major teacher's union, and should have a clear advantage with regards to a plan for education. Republicans will find it difficult to resist Castor's increased funding and hands on approach to Florida education.