Real Reforms, Real Results
Florida’s Kids Outperform Georgia’s Kids: Can We Turn the Tide?
October 26, 2011
After decades as a world leader in academic achievement, American children have fallen behind many developed nations, and Georgia ranks near the bottom nationally in most measures of K-12 academic achievement. In the past, students in Georgia outperformed students in Florida on an important national benchmark for learning progress (the NAEP 4th grade reading test). Florida enacted its A+ Reform Plan in 1999, and Florida’s students now outperform Georgia’s students. Even more significant, its low-income and minority students have made striking improvements.
This report produced for the Center for an Educated Georgia by Dr. Matthew Ladner explains the Florida education reforms that led to significant student gains, and how Georgia can turn the tide on poor academic achievement.