First, the good news for Florida. According to Education Week’s 2010 Quality Counts report, the Sunshine State is number eight in the country. Maryland, New York and Massachusetts were the top three. EW’s report, which is considered credible in education circles, factors in school funding, policies and student achievement – including rates of improvement. Gov. Charlie Crist and Education Commissioner Eric Smith are already basking in the results.
The bad news for America: 8th-ranked Florida is 46th in the nation in high school graduation rates. One in four don’t make it.