Broward, Palm Beach receive ‘B’ school district grades from Florida Department of Education
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Education assessed Broward County and Palm Beach County Public Schools with a “B” grade for the 2022-2023 school year.
“These school grades serve as a baseline for districts and provide a starting point for future achievement,” Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. said in a release. “I look forward to seeing schools rise to the occasion as they continue to provide Florida students a first-rate education.”
According to the department, district evaluations are calculated based on the state’s transition toward “using progress monitoring instead of traditional high-stakes testing.”
Adopted by the department in 2020, Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking monitors educational progress in English Language Arts and Mathematics, also known as B.E.S.T.
Developed through the program, Florida’s Assessment of Student Thinking is a test given to determine student performance, also known as FAST.
Florida was the first state in the country to initiate a system of progress monitoring, according to the department.
Per the report, Broward schools has earned a “B” rating for nine consecutive years. The district received a “C” grade in 2013 and an “A” grade in 2011 and 2010.
Under his contract, Broward Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata would be granted a $10,000 bonus if the district attains and maintains an “A” mark. His base salary also is $350,000.
Palm Beach County slipped from an “A” grade in 2022 to a “B” grade in 2023. The district also maintained an “A” rating in 2019 and 2018, with its last “B” rating coming in 2017.
Notably, district grades were widely omitted for 2021.
Compared to Broward and Palm Beach, nearby Miami-Dade Public Schools earned an “A” mark. The district was one of 16 counties to achieve an “A” rating.
No school district received a mark lower than “C”. Four counties, however, did receive “incomplete” grades.
No negative consequences to grades will be stipulated for the 2022-2023 school year, according to the department. Achievements or consequences to grades on districts will be levied for 2023-2024.
For the full report, click here.
