Protests: Sarasota Parents Want 3rd-Graders Promoted

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Some Sarasota County third-grade students whose parents had them opt out of taking the FSA English Language Arts assessment earlier this year are finding out the hard way they won’t be attending the fourth next year.

That realization has angered some parents, especially after the Florida Department of Education said the decision to promote or not lies in the hands of local school districts. To try and get their point across, parents and some children, gathered outside Sarasota district school headquarters on Wednesday for a protest.

At issue is the district’s policy on proving a third-grade student’s reading ability. The district requires all third-graders, regardless of reading deficiencies or not, to take the Florida Standards Assessments English test or an alternative assessment, such as the Stanford Achievement Test. A “good-cause exemption” may also be granted, the district said in a statement issued just before the Memorial Day holiday.

“A child in grade three in 2015-16 who does not meet one of these requirements will be enrolled again in grade three in August 2016,” the district’s statement said. “In Sarasota County, he or she may be able for promotion to grade four after completing the grade three portfolio on or before Nov. 1, 2016.”

That policy is based on the district's understanding of state law that requires kids in grade three to take and pass the FSA reading exam.

The Sarasota protests come one day after Florida Department of Education spokeswoman Meghan Collins said decisions on third-grade promotions are in the hands of local school districts.

“Obviously, the law says participation on the FSA is mandatory,” Meghan Collins, FDOE spokeswoman, was quoted by the Tampa Bay Times as saying. “But, we never said you must retain a student who doesn’t have an FSA score.”

Collins added the state also has not said an alternative test, such as the SAT, must be given for a student to gain access to good-cause exemptions.

While Manatee County had taken the same stance as Sarasota, the district announced its decision to reverse the stand Tuesday, according to WTSP. Manatee County Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene said as long as teachers will vouch for a student’s reading ability, they will be able to move up to the fourth grade.

Sarasota County has yet to issue such a reversal in its stand. Whether it will do so remains unclear, but Wednesday’s protesters are hopeful.

Image via Shutterstock

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