Florida to Grade Black Students on a Different Scale Than White Students?

http://www.alternet.org/florida-grade-black-students-different-scale-white-students



Postracial America, we are not, second Obama term or no second term. From the kids tweeting insanely racist remarks about President Obama's victory, to Oklahoma's vote banning affirmative action , it's clear that racist attitudes remain prevalent for many Americans.

But the new education policy in Florida seems particularly emblematic of our far from post-racial landscape. The school board in Florida created a set of achievement goals that differ based on students' racial backgrounds. Rather than focusing solely on things like economic backgrounds, the board's choice to use race-based categories has attracted plenty of attention. The board of ed claims it is using the reality on the ground to combat the achievement gap, but the message the goals are sending has got many educators and parents crying foul:

'The plan, which sets achievement targets to be met by 2018 based on each students’ race or ethnic background, has already encountered opposition from educators and activists across the state .

Juan Lopez, who is a magnet coordinator at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Riviera Beach, said that setting different standards for kids based on their background was “off base,” and an implication that it is race, above all, that determines the level of students’ achievement.'