© 2024 WFSU Public Media
WFSU News · Tallahassee · Panama City · Thomasville
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Legg To Pons: Not Using Test Scores In Teacher Evals Could Put Leon Ed Funding At Risk

Leon County School Superintendent Jackie Pons says he won’t use results on the state’s new exam to evaluate teachers. But he may not have a choice. A powerful state Senator is warning the district to properly implement the state's revised teacher evaluation law.Florida law mandates a third of a teachers evaluation be tied to test scores, and Senate Education Chief John Legg says if Leon County ignores that, it’s funding could be in trouble.

“He’s leaping without looking and not without reading the nuances of the report," Legg said of Leon County Superintendent Jackie Pons. " I would caution him not to violate the law and put the funding of Leon County in jeopardy."

Pons said earlier this week Leon County would not use the results of the new Florida Standards Assessment in its teacher evaluations. Teachers and school districts don’t trust the results of an independent review of the FSA which found the test valid.

But the study also found many test questions aren’t relevant to the state, or its standards. The Florida Department of Education says it will use the results on the exam to move forward with teacher evaluations and school grades.

Follow @HatterLynn

Lynn Hatter is a Florida A&M University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lynn has served as reporter/producer for WFSU since 2007 with education and health care issues as her key coverage areas.  She is an award-winning member of the Capital Press Corps and has participated in the NPR Kaiser Health News Reporting Partnership and NPR Education Initiative. 

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories here.