My name is Dr. Trudy Jermanovich.
The district will be spending $500,000.00/ year for another online data gathering test with Progress Learning. I’ve seen many comments indicating Elementary teachers believe it’s highly inappropriate for their students.
Here’re a few comments:
“Fun fact…I left Broward in March…other Florida districts DO NOT do these kinds of things. It’s been so eye opening to see how we were led to believe they were state requirements. Nope, they’re only required by Broward School District.
There should be zero ONLINE testing of science at the K to 3 level. It’s so important to use instruction time productively. This district is so disconnected from the research on learning. Teachers know better, but no one cares about the students but the teachers - and we have no voice. Online testing is developmentally inappropriate for K, First & Second Grade!
O. M .G. - the cost! What Insanity. No wonder teachers can’t be paid a living wage in Broward.
Why is it that the already purchased curriculum is never enough? It’s so overwhelming that teachers can’t even use it with fidelity yet it’s integrated with ELA and Math. You don't teach reading/writing in isolation. It is through science and social sciences. Why do we put these demands on the teachers and students? The last science program was amazing and many people would love to still use it. Why change? Why spend the money on curriculum adoptions and data collection software every few years when books/materials go unused?
We 100% teach to the tests, on mandatory pace, and testing online on a very expensive platform that is NOT student friendly. Ask your children to log in at home and look for yourself. We are literally testing non-stop. We must do Science micro assessments, Math topic tests, Reading unit tests. All for DISTRICT monitoring and as young as 5. How is this right? I spend days of instruction testing whether students are ready or not so district can compare scores. How is this a good use of limited money and time?
It’s just wrong.”
Do you wonder why our students don’t score very well on the NAEP? It’s because we don’t trust teachers to teach.
I strongly oppose the proposal to expand the Progress Learning contract. This comes at a moment of serious vulnerability for students with disabilities. President Trump’s recent decision to permanently terminate furloughed U.S. Department of Education employees during the shutdown has gutted the federal staff responsible for enforcing IDEA and other critical protections. With federal oversight and enforcement now severely weakened, districts like Broward bear increased responsibility to ensure students receive legally required services.
My son relies on federally supported in-school services. Even before this federal action, the level of support here was already lower than in our previous state. Without strong federal enforcement, the burden shifts entirely to local systems. Every funding decision matters.
Spending nearly $1.8 million on software at this time is a dangerous misallocation of limited resources. Technology cannot replace teachers, aides, therapists, or intervention staff. These are the people who ensure students can access a free and appropriate public education and help districts meet their legal obligations.
Computer-based testing is also not developmentally appropriate for early elementary students. A 2016 survey found that 70% of educators do not believe their primary state assessment is developmentally appropriate for their students.
National Education Association
Additionally, a 2017 study published by Education Week found that elementary and middle school students' test scores were negatively affected by a computer-based exam interface that did not allow them to return to questions they had previously completed or skipped.
Education Week
With federal capacity gutted, Broward must prioritize investing in people, not software. I urge the School Board to reject or substantially revise this proposal and direct funds toward strengthening in-school services, retaining qualified staff, and ensuring compliance with IDEA.
This is not the time to outsource responsibility to algorithms. It is the time to protect students — and the district — by investing in human support where it matters most.
Stop all of this online and computer based testing. This is absolutely unacceptable for kids in these grades where they should be working on the fundamentals. You’re using various platforms which is both confusing to these children and the parents. These kids aren’t learning anymore because all they are doing is testing testing testing! You’re just teaching to test, not to build skills and fundamentals at this point. It’s getting out of control. It’s shameful how many students are in tutoring and lacking the fundamentals in this county. You’re signing them up for failure.
My name is Dr. Trudy Jermanovich.
The district will be spending $500,000.00/ year for another online data gathering test with Progress Learning. I’ve seen many comments indicating Elementary teachers believe it’s highly inappropriate for their students.
Here’re a few comments:
“Fun fact…I left Broward in March…other Florida districts DO NOT do these kinds of things. It’s been so eye opening to see how we were led to believe they were state requirements. Nope, they’re only required by Broward School District.
There should be zero ONLINE testing of science at the K to 3 level. It’s so important to use instruction time productively. This district is so disconnected from the research on learning. Teachers know better, but no one cares about the students but the teachers - and we have no voice. Online testing is developmentally inappropriate for K, First & Second Grade!
O. M .G. - the cost! What Insanity. No wonder teachers can’t be paid a living wage in Broward.
Why is it that the already purchased curriculum is never enough? It’s so overwhelming that teachers can’t even use it with fidelity yet it’s integrated with ELA and Math. You don't teach reading/writing in isolation. It is through science and social sciences. Why do we put these demands on the teachers and students? The last science program was amazing and many people would love to still use it. Why change? Why spend the money on curriculum adoptions and data collection software every few years when books/materials go unused?
We 100% teach to the tests, on mandatory pace, and testing online on a very expensive platform that is NOT student friendly. Ask your children to log in at home and look for yourself. We are literally testing non-stop. We must do Science micro assessments, Math topic tests, Reading unit tests. All for DISTRICT monitoring and as young as 5. How is this right? I spend days of instruction testing whether students are ready or not so district can compare scores. How is this a good use of limited money and time?
It’s just wrong.”
Do you wonder why our students don’t score very well on the NAEP? It’s because we don’t trust teachers to teach.
I strongly oppose the proposal to expand the Progress Learning contract. This comes at a moment of serious vulnerability for students with disabilities. President Trump’s recent decision to permanently terminate furloughed U.S. Department of Education employees during the shutdown has gutted the federal staff responsible for enforcing IDEA and other critical protections. With federal oversight and enforcement now severely weakened, districts like Broward bear increased responsibility to ensure students receive legally required services.
My son relies on federally supported in-school services. Even before this federal action, the level of support here was already lower than in our previous state. Without strong federal enforcement, the burden shifts entirely to local systems. Every funding decision matters.
Spending nearly $1.8 million on software at this time is a dangerous misallocation of limited resources. Technology cannot replace teachers, aides, therapists, or intervention staff. These are the people who ensure students can access a free and appropriate public education and help districts meet their legal obligations.
Computer-based testing is also not developmentally appropriate for early elementary students. A 2016 survey found that 70% of educators do not believe their primary state assessment is developmentally appropriate for their students.
National Education Association
Additionally, a 2017 study published by Education Week found that elementary and middle school students' test scores were negatively affected by a computer-based exam interface that did not allow them to return to questions they had previously completed or skipped.
Education Week
With federal capacity gutted, Broward must prioritize investing in people, not software. I urge the School Board to reject or substantially revise this proposal and direct funds toward strengthening in-school services, retaining qualified staff, and ensuring compliance with IDEA.
This is not the time to outsource responsibility to algorithms. It is the time to protect students — and the district — by investing in human support where it matters most.
Stop all of this online and computer based testing. This is absolutely unacceptable for kids in these grades where they should be working on the fundamentals. You’re using various platforms which is both confusing to these children and the parents. These kids aren’t learning anymore because all they are doing is testing testing testing! You’re just teaching to test, not to build skills and fundamentals at this point. It’s getting out of control. It’s shameful how many students are in tutoring and lacking the fundamentals in this county. You’re signing them up for failure.
Not suitable for 8 yr old children. My child shouldn't have to do work on a computer. Everything should be paper based