WE FINALLY WON AND OFFICIALS ARE COMMITTING TO A TOTAL OVERHAUL OF OUR READING CURRICULUM!! THIS IS A MASSIVE VICTORY FOR EVERY FLORIDA STUDENT AND I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER!! STAY VIGILANT BECAUSE WE MUST ENSURE THEY ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH ON THESE PROMISES!!
July 8, 2020
Final supporters
Florida's Children Can't Read
No Child Left Behind became federal law in 2001. The intent was to improve education for all students. In Florida, implementing the new law ushered in a host of initiatives including school grades, standardized testing, and tying educator pay to student performance. Now, almost 20 years later, whether or not you agree with the practice of standardized testing, the data produced from those tests shows we continue to fail our students.
Florida reading proficiency rates in 2019 are shocking. Overall, 71% of third-grade students scored a three or above (proficient) on the Florida Standardized Assessment (FSA), which means more than a quarter of our students can't read.
When you look at proficiency for minority students, the rates are considerably lower. Third-grade Hispanic students have a 54% proficiency rate and black students drop to 40%.
Students with disabilities (SWD) of all ethnic backgrounds are being left behind. White (SWD) have a proficiency rate of 44%, Hispanic (SWD) 27%, and Black (SWD) 17%. The inverse of these low numbers represent thousands of students who haven't been taught to read.
By 10th grade, the percentage of proficient readers is even lower. How is it possible so many of our children are graduating from high school with standard diplomas but they are not able to read?
Currently, there is a narrative to blame the lack of progress on Covid-19. The many years of demonstrated failure makes this a baseless argument.
We are asking State officials to look at the decades of reading research and mandate solutions that are proven to work. According to Florida education professionals, students report they much prefer to learn how to read from a caring teacher rather than spending countless hours on digital learning programs. We support every Florida teacher having access to the latest professional development in the science of reading and the tools to implement systematic, explicit reading instruction in their classroom.
Stop promoting students from grade to grade who have not demonstrated mastery of the standards without providing remediation for the missing skills. Children all learn differently and schools need to provide a variety of methods and opportunities to make education accessible to every child.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION:
Please sign & share this petition demanding all of our children be taught to read. Share this petition with family, friends and all other people who feel a public school education matters.
#NeverIEPAlone #NoReadFlorida #ReadingisthePriority #NumbersDontLie #TruthinData #FixtheBrokenSystem #ReadingisFundamental #ESEFailure
The petition will be presented to the Florida Commissioner of Education.
Email the Florida Commissioner of Education with the subject Teach Our Children to Read to share your story and express your concerns:
Please copy [email protected] on your email. Your voice will make the difference for our children.
Updates
June 19, 2020
I AM CURRENTLY DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE STATE LEADERS WHO IGNORED THESE READING SCORES FOR FAR TOO LONG!! READING THROUGH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE REALITY OF OUR CLASSROOMS KEEPS ME FUELED TO PUSH FOR RADICAL CHANGE!!
June 19, 2020
WE ARE GAINING GENUINE SPEED AND THE ENERGY BEHIND THIS MOVEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! IT IS TIME TO DEMAND REAL CHANGE FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE THE STATUS QUO IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE!!
Reached 100 supporters
June 19, 2020
37 Comments
I have 2 children with dyslexia. I’m so grateful they had learned the very basics in TX or they would be so much worse of than they are now. Orton-Gillingham method and Science Of Reading is the only way to teach kids to read with fidelity. ALL kids have the RIGHT to FAPE.
My daughter 11 years old doesn't understand vowels or how they work gets confused on easy words like house, from, cat, etc. This is not right!! Then to he told that public schools don't teach spelling since lids pick it up while reading wjat a cop out. Teach our babies!!!
My son is in 7th grade, we knew in kindergarten that he had dyslexia. They school has never implemented and followed through with a proven reading program from beginning to end with him. Seems like it would be much less money to do it right the first time
All students should be screened for dyslexia at the end of kindergarten and all schools should have a structured literacy program in place to provide FAPE to those students. This will be much better use of funds then paying for students to repeat 3rd grade due to the FSA retention policy.
My child just finished the 3rd grade and struggles with reading. She has only received minimal intervention to help her in this area, and this intervention was mainly focused on passing the FSA. We need to do better for our children- teach reading as a life skill, not just to pass a test.
Children are being left behind at an alarming and torn unnoticed rate. This has to to stop. We can do better for kids. Mental health goes hand in hand with providing proper reading intervention and support to our kids with 504 and IEP. The kids that lose interest in school, in reading and begin to fail... the educational system is failing them not the other way around. The rate of depression increases dramatically when kids aren’t given a fighting chance.
Every child deserves a good education. Children all learn differently and schools need to provide a variety of methods and opportunities for each student in the way that they could reach their potential Every teacher needs to be educated on how to recognize dyslexia. My grandson is in fourth grade and he would struggle even more than he already does if we didn’t have him tested privately and weekly private tutoring at the families expense. He has an above average IQ and loves to learn, but when you can’t read efficiently it affects every aspect of your life. Think how frustrating it must be to understand that you are smart but cannot learn the way you are being taught in school. Florida Schools need to supply appropriate support and interventions based off the students potential and not test scores.
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WE FINALLY WON AND OFFICIALS ARE COMMITTING TO A TOTAL OVERHAUL OF OUR READING CURRICULUM!! THIS IS A MASSIVE VICTORY FOR EVERY FLORIDA STUDENT AND I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER!! STAY VIGILANT BECAUSE WE MUST ENSURE THEY ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH ON THESE PROMISES!!
July 8, 2020
Final supporters
Florida's Children Can't Read
No Child Left Behind became federal law in 2001. The intent was to improve education for all students. In Florida, implementing the new law ushered in a host of initiatives including school grades, standardized testing, and tying educator pay to student performance. Now, almost 20 years later, whether or not you agree with the practice of standardized testing, the data produced from those tests shows we continue to fail our students.
Florida reading proficiency rates in 2019 are shocking. Overall, 71% of third-grade students scored a three or above (proficient) on the Florida Standardized Assessment (FSA), which means more than a quarter of our students can't read.
When you look at proficiency for minority students, the rates are considerably lower. Third-grade Hispanic students have a 54% proficiency rate and black students drop to 40%.
Students with disabilities (SWD) of all ethnic backgrounds are being left behind. White (SWD) have a proficiency rate of 44%, Hispanic (SWD) 27%, and Black (SWD) 17%. The inverse of these low numbers represent thousands of students who haven't been taught to read.
By 10th grade, the percentage of proficient readers is even lower. How is it possible so many of our children are graduating from high school with standard diplomas but they are not able to read?
Currently, there is a narrative to blame the lack of progress on Covid-19. The many years of demonstrated failure makes this a baseless argument.
We are asking State officials to look at the decades of reading research and mandate solutions that are proven to work. According to Florida education professionals, students report they much prefer to learn how to read from a caring teacher rather than spending countless hours on digital learning programs. We support every Florida teacher having access to the latest professional development in the science of reading and the tools to implement systematic, explicit reading instruction in their classroom.
Stop promoting students from grade to grade who have not demonstrated mastery of the standards without providing remediation for the missing skills. Children all learn differently and schools need to provide a variety of methods and opportunities to make education accessible to every child.
THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION:
Please sign & share this petition demanding all of our children be taught to read. Share this petition with family, friends and all other people who feel a public school education matters.
#NeverIEPAlone #NoReadFlorida #ReadingisthePriority #NumbersDontLie #TruthinData #FixtheBrokenSystem #ReadingisFundamental #ESEFailure
The petition will be presented to the Florida Commissioner of Education.
Email the Florida Commissioner of Education with the subject Teach Our Children to Read to share your story and express your concerns:
Please copy [email protected] on your email. Your voice will make the difference for our children.
Updates
June 19, 2020
I AM CURRENTLY DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE STATE LEADERS WHO IGNORED THESE READING SCORES FOR FAR TOO LONG!! READING THROUGH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE REALITY OF OUR CLASSROOMS KEEPS ME FUELED TO PUSH FOR RADICAL CHANGE!!
June 19, 2020
WE ARE GAINING GENUINE SPEED AND THE ENERGY BEHIND THIS MOVEMENT IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC!! IT IS TIME TO DEMAND REAL CHANGE FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE THE STATUS QUO IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE!!
Reached 100 supporters
June 19, 2020
37 Comments
I am the custodial grandma to a 4th grader with Dyslexia & Dysgraphia. It is appalling that our teachers do not learn about Dyslexia and Dysgraphia when attending college and before entering a classroom!!!
I have 2 children with dyslexia. I’m so grateful they had learned the very basics in TX or they would be so much worse of than they are now. Orton-Gillingham method and Science Of Reading is the only way to teach kids to read with fidelity. ALL kids have the RIGHT to FAPE.
My daughter 11 years old doesn't understand vowels or how they work gets confused on easy words like house, from, cat, etc. This is not right!! Then to he told that public schools don't teach spelling since lids pick it up while reading wjat a cop out. Teach our babies!!!
My son is in 7th grade, we knew in kindergarten that he had dyslexia. They school has never implemented and followed through with a proven reading program from beginning to end with him. Seems like it would be much less money to do it right the first time
All students should be screened for dyslexia at the end of kindergarten and all schools should have a structured literacy program in place to provide FAPE to those students. This will be much better use of funds then paying for students to repeat 3rd grade due to the FSA retention policy.
My child just finished the 3rd grade and struggles with reading. She has only received minimal intervention to help her in this area, and this intervention was mainly focused on passing the FSA. We need to do better for our children- teach reading as a life skill, not just to pass a test.
Children are being left behind at an alarming and torn unnoticed rate. This has to to stop. We can do better for kids. Mental health goes hand in hand with providing proper reading intervention and support to our kids with 504 and IEP. The kids that lose interest in school, in reading and begin to fail... the educational system is failing them not the other way around. The rate of depression increases dramatically when kids aren’t given a fighting chance.
Every child deserves a good education. Children all learn differently and schools need to provide a variety of methods and opportunities for each student in the way that they could reach their potential Every teacher needs to be educated on how to recognize dyslexia. My grandson is in fourth grade and he would struggle even more than he already does if we didn’t have him tested privately and weekly private tutoring at the families expense. He has an above average IQ and loves to learn, but when you can’t read efficiently it affects every aspect of your life. Think how frustrating it must be to understand that you are smart but cannot learn the way you are being taught in school. Florida Schools need to supply appropriate support and interventions based off the students potential and not test scores.
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I am the custodial grandma to a 4th grader with Dyslexia & Dysgraphia. It is appalling that our teachers do not learn about Dyslexia and Dysgraphia when attending college and before entering a classroom!!!