To the editor:

Advocates of school choice often say that competition is the solution to improving standards.  Do proponents of “choice” understand that schools do more of the choosing than parents?  Do American parents and employers understand that the USA is already in competition with European and Asian schools that provide FREE education through college? Do Lee County parents realize that reporting and marketing are skewing the reality?

The recent 2023-24 school district grades reveal Lee County gets a B rating or a score of 57%-63%.  When most of us were in school, 57-63% earned a grade of F or at best a D!  Given Florida’s track record on reporting issues of public concern, I suspect the report puts a positive spin on a bad situation.  If we want our kids to compete at a global or even a national level, they must meet global/ national standards, not ones set by the Florida Dept. of Ed. 

Our schools were graded using measurements including public and charter school achievement in English language arts, math, science, and social studies, graduation rates, acceleration success for middle and high school students, and maintaining a focus on students who need the most support. Test scores in math, sciences, social studies, English language arts, other exams, and graduation rates.

The graduation rates are skewed because they do not account for students who have been moved into alternative certificate programs and subsequently forgotten. We need a more effective superintendent and school board. The school board used to be a check on the superintendent. Now, board decisions are consistently made 6 to 1 in compliance with the superintendent and Tallahassee’s fears. These elected officials are making self-serving political decisions, not educational choices for Lee County students.  Let’s start looking at the new school board candidates. 

Karyn Edison

Fort Myers