Should Educational Goals Be Based on Race?

In addition to its budget concerns, the Florida Board of Education is taking some heat for its plan that sets goals for students in math and reading based upon their race. 

According to CBS News, by 2018, Florida's plan would have 74 percent of African-American grade school students at or above grade level in reading and 81 percent of Hispanic students are expected to reach grade level or above in reading.

Further ethnic breakdown puts expectations of 82 percent of American Indian students, 88 percent of white and 90 percent of Asian students at or above grade level.

For math proficiency: 74 percent of African-American students, 80 percent Hispanic, 81 percent American Indian, 86 percent white and 92 percent of Asian students are to be at or above grade level.

Opponents cite the lower expectations for some as racist. Community leaders feel it is stereotyping and the NAACP says it is "soft bigotry of low expectations."

Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart says the plan will help Florida achieve a "world class education system." 

State Board of Education Chairwoman Kathleen Shanahan has said that setting goals for different subgroups was needed to comply with terms of a waiver that makes states independent from some federal regulations and provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act.

What do you think about the plan? Should it be used in Georgia? Tell us in the comments.