Democratic gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist wants to give teachers and schools a break as Florida public schools switch to new math and language arts standards.
Florida is one of dozens of states which have adopted Common Core standards and new, tougher statewide exams. The standards provide a roadmap of what students should know at the end of each grade.But Florida superintendents have asked for a three-year break from penalties while teachers and students adjust.
So would Crist support a pause?
“Of course, yeah, they’re unfair, Crist said. "They don’t even know what test they’re going to use now. It’s a disaster. We need a change and we need help."
Schools which earn low grades could have to replace administrators and teachers - or even close.
The new exams will also be used to rate teacher performance and determine salary. Crist wants to delay so-called merit pay, and eventually, to repeal that law.
Crist supports using Florida’s Common Core-based standards.