A shameful cover-up of public school failures
To the editor:
The Florida Senate is pushing legislation that masks the harsh reality of our public education system. Senate Bill 166, passed unanimously by the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee, eliminates the requirement for high school students to pass 10th-grade standardized tests in English and Algebra to graduate. At a time when 56% of Lee County seniors cannot pass a 10th-grade reading test and 63% fail math, this bill lowers expectations instead of addressing the crisis. (thecapitolist.com/senate-panel-backs-bill-ending-test-requirement-for-high-school-diplomas/)
Lee County Schools proudly tout an 85.8% graduation rate for 2024, yet the numbers reveal a troubling truth: Many of those graduates cannot read their diplomas or perform basic math. Instead of reforming education and holding schools accountable, this bill lets students graduate without proving they’ve mastered essential skills. This is not reform-it’s a cover-up.
Adding insult to injury, this comes as public school employees were not satisfied with a five-year pension cash bonus and used their public positions to take a 60% increase in pension cash bonuses to eight years. (tripledippers.org/fl-lee-county-schools-cash-outs-q1-2025-report/) We must demand accountability and advocate for real solutions:
• No student should receive a high school diploma without passing 10th-grade level tests.
• Students must repeat fourth grade until they can pass reading and math at the fourth-grade level. After all, you cannot learn if you cannot read.
• Introduce merit-based pay for teachers, rewarding those who achieve meaningful improvement in their students’ test scores.
The future of our students, employers, and country depends on raising standards-not lowering them. Contact your Florida State Senator flsenate.gov/about/contact and State Representative flhouse.gov/FindYourRepresentative
Dave Jaye
Bonita Springs