Thread by @FloridaEA

This afternoon at 4pm, the Senate Education Committee will take up SB 886 which would remove the high-stakes consequences from this year's statewide standardized tests.

Live updates will be in this thread.

ICYMI, we recently sat down with @KarlaMats, Ceresta Smith and @emceeleman to hear from their perspective what should happen with testing this year and beyond.

While waiting for the committee meeting to start, you can listen to this month's podcast here: feaweb.org/episode-4-lets…

886 is now being discussed. You can watch live via the @floridachannel, here: thefloridachannel.org

Sen. @SenMannyDiazJr has a couple of questions on the bill. "Your bill does not stop testing from going on, correct," he asks.

Sen. @SenatorThurston Responds, "That is absolutely, correct."

Sen. @SenMannyDiazJr asks about "schools currently in turnaround. Would this bill prevent them from exiting turnaround if they improve on this year's tests?"

Sen. @SenatorThurston responds, "We're willing to agree to an amendment to address those concerns."

"Would this bill impact current high-performing designations of schools and school districts," @SenMannyDiazJr asks.

"No, it would not." @SenatorThurston responds.

"Doesn't @EducationFL have the power to do this already," asks Sen. Hutson.

Sen. @SenatorThurston "I think they do. But this bill is to make sure the Legislature says what we want to be done.

Questioning has ended. A large number of organizations including school districts waived in support.

The first person to speak in support represents Broward County Schools. He tells the committee, "It would be unfair to penalize students or teachers this year."

A representative from @FloridaPTA is next to speak. She says, "During these unprecedented times we must continue to offer compassion & grace...Florida PTA supports suspending the negative effects of test results. We must focus on social/emotional health, not Punitive measures."

A speaker representing @FundEducationFL is up next. "Punishing students, teachers, and schools who have suffered so much already is unconscionable," she tells the committee.

"With between 35-40% of students still learning at home, we urge you to ask @EducationFL to apply for a waiver for the requirement that 95% of students take the statewide tests" concludes @FundEducationFL

A representative from @EducationFL is up next. She says she "welcomes this conversation," but doesn't weigh in supporting or opposing the bill.

That concludes public testimony.

First in debate is @ShevrinJones who says, "I'm so in to working with you @SenatorThurston to get this bill passed to get help needed to our students, teachers and parents."

"It's a temporary solution to a terrible problem...this is a great attempt to deal with the situations we've had to deal with in schools," says @TinaPolsky asking her fellow committee members to support SB 886.

Sen. @Kathleen4SWFL is next. She says, "this is a really hard bill to wrap your arms around....I'm worried where we are going to be 3, 4, 5 years from now. There are problems with the bill, but I will support it today and work with @SenatorThurston to make it better."

Sen. @SenMannyDiazJr cannot support the bill-- "There are some valid points in this bill, but we're talking about implementing something so massive so quickly"

(Many Senators feel the same way about SB 48 which Diaz has sponsored.)

Debate has closed. SB 886 has passed its first committee stop. We'll add the vote totals to the thread as soon as they posted.

Vote was 9-1 with @SenMannyDiazJr being the lone no vote.

@threadreaderapp unroll