Florida Department of Education
Encyclopedia
The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) is the state education agency
of Florida
. It governs public education
and manages funding and testing for local educational agencies (school boards). It is headquartered in the Turlington Building in Tallahassee
.
The Florida Commissioner of Education manages the day-to-day operation of the department. The office of Commission of Education was originally a Cabinet
-level position filled by direct election
and directly responsible for education in Florida. The 1998 Florida Constitution Revision Commission submitted a revision to the Florida Constitution
, amending Article IV, Section IV to reduced the Cabinet from six elected officials to three. The voters approved the changes and it became effective January 7, 2003; after this time, the Commissioner of Education became an appointed position and the FLDOE became the overall responsibility of the Governor. The revised constitution also created a new Florida Board of Education
with seven members (one of whom is the Commissioner of Education), appointed by the Governor to oversee the Department of Education.
The department supports 2.6 million students, 3,800 public schools and 318,000 full-time staff and more than 180,000 teachers.
(FCAT) each year in grades 3-11. Students' results from the FCAT are compiled to generate a grade for each public school under former Governor Jeb Bush
's "A+ Plan." Under this plan, public schools receive a letter grade from A to F, depending on student performance and the degree to which the bottom 25% of the school has improved compared to its past performances. The higher a public school scores, the more funding it receives.
Students in third grade are required to pass the reading portion of the test in order to be promoted to the fourth grade.
Students in Florida must also pass the tenth grade FCAT in reading and mathematics, in order to be eligible to receive a high school diploma.
State education agency
A state education agency , or state department of education, is a formal governmental label for the state-level government agencies within each U.S...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It governs public education
Public education
State schools, also known in the United States and Canada as public schools,In much of the Commonwealth, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, the terms 'public education', 'public school' and 'independent school' are used for private schools, that is, schools...
and manages funding and testing for local educational agencies (school boards). It is headquartered in the Turlington Building in Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
.
The Florida Commissioner of Education manages the day-to-day operation of the department. The office of Commission of Education was originally a Cabinet
Florida Cabinet
The Florida Cabinet is a body of the government of Florida that engages in the collective governance of the state.Created following Reconstruction, when there had been a widespread distrust of the governors appointed by the federal government, the cabinet was designed to decentralize authority from...
-level position filled by direct election
Direct election
Direct election is a term describing a system of choosing political officeholders in which the voters directly cast ballots for the person, persons or political party that they desire to see elected. The method by which the winner or winners of a direct election are chosen depends upon the...
and directly responsible for education in Florida. The 1998 Florida Constitution Revision Commission submitted a revision to the Florida Constitution
Florida Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Florida is the document that establishes and describes the duties, powers, structure and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state....
, amending Article IV, Section IV to reduced the Cabinet from six elected officials to three. The voters approved the changes and it became effective January 7, 2003; after this time, the Commissioner of Education became an appointed position and the FLDOE became the overall responsibility of the Governor. The revised constitution also created a new Florida Board of Education
Florida Board of Education
The Florida Board of Education also known as the State Board of Education is a committee composed of members appointed by the Florida Governor to guide and direct public K-12 & Community College education in Florida.- History :...
with seven members (one of whom is the Commissioner of Education), appointed by the Governor to oversee the Department of Education.
The department supports 2.6 million students, 3,800 public schools and 318,000 full-time staff and more than 180,000 teachers.
State exams
The State of Florida requires students to take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment TestFlorida Comprehensive Assessment Test
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or the FCAT , is the standardized test used in the primary and secondary public schools of Florida...
(FCAT) each year in grades 3-11. Students' results from the FCAT are compiled to generate a grade for each public school under former Governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
's "A+ Plan." Under this plan, public schools receive a letter grade from A to F, depending on student performance and the degree to which the bottom 25% of the school has improved compared to its past performances. The higher a public school scores, the more funding it receives.
Students in third grade are required to pass the reading portion of the test in order to be promoted to the fourth grade.
Students in Florida must also pass the tenth grade FCAT in reading and mathematics, in order to be eligible to receive a high school diploma.
Teacher certification
The department paid bonuses to teachers certified by the federal government. Up until 2010, the bonus was a much as $3,800 annually. This is expected to diminish with diminished income to the state.Commissioners
| Florida Commissioners of Education |
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See also
- Education in FloridaEducation in FloridaThe Florida education system consists of public and private schools in Florida, including the State University System of Florida , the Florida College System , the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida and other private institutions, and also secondary and primary schools.- Overview...
- Florida College System
- Florida Board of GovernorsFlorida Board of GovernorsThe Florida Board of Governors was created in 2002 by the passage of a constitutional amendment, which went into effect in 2003. By an unprecedented vote, a 17-member board was established to serve as the statewide governing body for the State University System of Florida, which includes all...
- State University System of FloridaState University System of FloridaThe State University System of Florida is a system of eleven public universities in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2011, over 320,000 students were enrolled in Florida's state universities...
- Florida Comprehensive Assessment TestFlorida Comprehensive Assessment TestThe Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or the FCAT , is the standardized test used in the primary and secondary public schools of Florida...
- List of colleges and universities in Florida