The Evidence on the "Florida Formula" for Education Reform. Policy Brief

Résumé du livre

During the late 1990s and 2000s, the State of Florida enacted a set of education reforms spearheaded by Governor Jeb Bush. These policies, which emphasize test-based accountability, competition, and choice, have since become known as the "Florida Formula for education success," or, simply, the "Florida Formula." In recent years, there has been a coordinated, aggressive effort to advocate for its implementation in other states. The "Formula" is a multifaceted package that might be summarized as a set of concepts or goals, which are manifested in specific policy interventions. A brief summary of these components, along with the primary policies that embody them, is as follows: (1) Hold schools accountable--"A-F" school grading system, attached to rewards and consequences; (2) school choice--charter schools and different forms of private school choice programs; (3) high expectations--retention/remediation of low-scoring third graders, higher graduation standards; (4) funding for school and student success--tying funding to performance and more flexibility in how districts can spend money; and (5) quality educators--alternative teacher certification and new teacher evaluations. The purpose of this policy brief is to review the high quality evidence on these policies in a manner that is fair and useful to policy makers and the public.