FL's education board approves federal pilot program Tues gives state more flexibility dealing w/troubled schools under No Child Left Behind

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Kim Hammons wrote: Posted on Wed, Aug. 20, 2008 http://www.miamiherald.com/news/education/v-print/story/649037.html State board OK's troubled-schools pilot program (AP) --

Florida's education board approved a federal pilot program Tuesday to give the state more flexibility dealing with troubled schools. Board members met briefly via a conference call after canceling a regularly scheduled meeting in Tallahassee because of Tropical Storm Fay. Under the federal Differential Accountability Program, schools that fail to meet standards under the federal No Child Left Behind program will receive targeted help from education experts. In the past, schools were required to take specific, federally mandated steps at specific times if they failed to make adequate yearly progress under the law. Now, state education leaders can assess each failing school and design programs that best fit the school. Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, land and Ohio were accepted to the pilot program earlier this year. Also Tuesday, the board approved its requested 2009-10 budget for submission to the Legislature. Board members

agreed to submit a letter with the budget urging legislators to consider full funding for education, despite the economic downturn that led to cuts in the 2008 budget. ''We need to make a statement to our elected officials that they should do all they can,'' board member o ez said. Kim Hammons IPUT Informed Parents United Together Tampa, Florida www.iput.org www.yahoogroups.com Keyword: "IPUT"