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Declining education in Florida

America's & Florida's Educational Decline

Contrary to popular belief, America is not always amazing in all areas. It has been alleged, since the 1950s and especially in recent years, that American schooling is undergoing a crisis in which academic performance is behind other countries, such as Russia, Japan, or China, in core subjects. While the American educational system may be declining, Florida's educational system specifically is declining more rapidly and more severely. When receiving ratings for schools, Florida received a score of 75.3, or a C average in the "chance for success" category, which is much lower than the national average. The lowest score that Florida received was in "school finance" where it received a 70.0, or a C- average. As shown by the lower score, Florida's lack of funding and appropriation of funds may be behind the worsening educational system.

Why Is It Declining?

Some people feel that the reason behind the decline is funds not being distributed properly or used to their maximum potential. Others feel the decline is due to lack of paretal involvement. Florida public schools have consistently ranked in the bottom 25 percent of many national surveys and average test-score rankings." More than thirty seven percent of households in Florida are single parent house holds. In a single parent home, the parent has to be the bread winner, emotional support, homework helper, etc. all on his or her own and sometimes thing slip through the cracks. 

 Other Americans feel that the declining education in Florida is due to a lack of invested and incredible educators. Teachers in Florida only make an average of $46, 583, and some make far less than that. The national average for educator’s salary is $47,803. This seems like a small difference but in reality it is not. In some states, like Florida, teachers make less than this. In other states, like New York, a first year educator will start out with a salary of $54,411. f teachers in Florida make very little, and educators or future educators are aware of this, few teacher stay to be an educator in Florida and fewer and fewer people have a desire to become an educator. 

Most Americans feel that factors such a slack of parental involvement, lack of funding, and lack of incredible educators are the biggest reasons behind the declining educational system in the United States and especially Florida. There are some Americans that feel that the "No Child Left Behind" Act is the base reason for all of the educational system problems in Florida. No Child Left Behind was designed to improve the public school accountability and academic transparency. Although this maybe a great plan and very practical, it may be having the opposite effect. The No Child Left Behind Act requires states to test students annually and penalize schools that fail to demonstrate progress on state exams. States establish the content standards and pass/fail thresholds of these tests. Researchers have reported a pattern whereby states lower passing thresholds and otherwise "dumb down" assessments to boost proficiency scores and avoid federal sanctions under the No Child Left Behind Act.

What Could Be A Solution?

Many issues with Florida's educational system have been addressed and may reasons behind these issues have been expressed, but there have only been few solutions to the many problems. One problem is the lack of educators, and effective educators. To solve this issue incentives can be given to future educators such as state assistance for education or a bonus for becoming a teacher in Florida. Another solution o one of the many problems could be a reform in the educational system as a whole. New State Standards, new requirements for educators, and new standardized tests could really make improvements.