Florida, once criticized for its “lackadaisical” attitude toward education, ranks fifth in a new national report on education quality released today.
The annual “Quality Counts” report grades the 50 states and the District of Columbia on their education policies and performance.
The nation earned a C. Top-performing Maryland got a B-plus. Florida earned a B-minus.
“I am very, very pleased with the results,” said Education Commissioner Eric Smith. “I think it does speak volumes about the kind of work that’s going on in our schools.”
Florida earned its fifth-in-the-nation showing propelled by strong academic standards and school-accountability rules and by big improvements