TALLAHASSEE, Fla., – A national report released Thursday ranks Florida sixth in the nation for the quality of its education system.
Results of Education Week’s 2013 Quality Counts: Code of Conduct report give Florida a B-, surpassing the national grade of C+ and resulting in an impressive move up from eleventh place last year. Florida earned an A in the Transitions and Alignment category, ranking fourth in the nation.
Governor Rick Scott said, “For Florida to be a global leader in job creation and economic growth, we have to provide our students with a quality education. Today’s news that Florida has moved into the top ten in the nation for overall quality of education reinforces that we’re taking the steps needed to ensure our students succeed. We’ve made education a priority by investing $1 billion in K-12 education – and for the upcoming session, we’ll continue working with the legislature to enhance Florida’s education system so every Florida family can live the American Dream.”
Florida’s rise into the top ten is based on a solid showing in the Transitions and Alignment category, which tracks state policy efforts to coordinate K-12 education with early learning, postsecondary education, and the workforce. Florida earned an A in this category, moving up to fourth from a fourteenth-place B- last year.
As in previous years, the 2013 report grades states based on their policies and performance in six main education areas: Chance for Success; Transitions and Alignment; School Finance Analysis; K-12 Achievement; Standards, Assessments, and Accountability; and the Teaching Profession. State rankings are based on the average score for all six categories. This year’s rankings are calculated based on updated data for three of the six areas: Chance for Success; Transitions and Alignment; and School Finance Analysis.
