Simon says Focus on Students, Not Just Their Ability to Take a Test

Our public school education system is a choice for our families. It is a choice for our families. It’s not a default setting in our education system. It is a choice.” -Sen. Simon 3/3/25

On Monday, Florida state Senator Corey Simon (R-3) presented SB166, “Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools,” to the PreK-12 Education Committee. SB166 is a great bill and Senator Simon is ready to champion important and long awaited changes for the vast majority of Florida’s families who continue to choose public schools.

The bill, a continuation of the Florida Senate’s recent efforts to de-regulate public schools, was overwhelmingly supported by educators, superintendents, parents and pro-public school advocacy groups from across the state, including the Florida School Boards Association, Florida Association of District School Superintendents, Florida Association of School Administrators, Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards, Florida Association of School Psychologists, and representatives from school districts across the state.

Only the Florida Citizens Alliance, James Madison Institute and Jeb’s Foundation for Florida’s Future spoke against provisions in the bill. They were particularly concerned with changes to the state’s grade 3 retention policy and changes to graduation requirements. Both changes would reduce the high stakes attached to state mandated standardized tests in Florida’s public schools (but not its publicly funded voucher schools) and would provide welcome relief to Florida’s families.

In his close, Senator Simon stood up for public schools and public school students. You can watch him here at 50:30. As a freshman senator in 2023, Simon was assigned to carry the senate companion to HB1 which created universal vouchers in Florida. Simon, working with then President Kathleen Passidomo, insisted on coupling the voucher expansion with a process for de-regulation of public schools, freeing them from burdensome mandates and “leveling the playing field” with their virtually unregulated private school competition. Last session, Simon carried one of three de-regulation bills and this year’s bill contains many of the proposals that failed to pass last year – including extended teacher contracts, modifications to mandatory test-based third grade retention policies and an elimination of high school exit exams.

For the record, I am an ardent supporter of eliminating the high school exit exam requirement. Currently, students who pass Algebra 1 (and higher level math courses) and 10th grade Language Arts (and higher level Language Arts Classes) must, also, pass a state-created, state mandated standardized assessments in Algebra 1 and 10th grade Language Arts in order to graduate. Florida is now one of only 6 states to continue to mandate test based graduation requirements. Simon’s SB166 requires the assessments to count as 30% of the calculated course grade but changes the high school graduation requirement to passing the class, not passing the test. This is NOT a lowering of standards but a recognition that the work done in the classroom is as important, if not more important, than a single score on a state-mandated assessment.

In his closing remarks, Senator Simon echoed the concerns of parents across Florida who have long opposed the overemphasis on standardized testing in public schools—especially when publicly funded voucher schools and their students are exempt. For over a decade, Florida families have advocated for a well-rounded education rather than one dominated by test-based graduation requirements. Simon criticized the state’s testing mandates, saying they prioritize standardized testing over real learning, resulting in schools that “teach to the test” rather than fostering a comprehensive education. Like Florida families, Simon believes the focus should be on students and their overall development, not just their test-taking abilities.

Exactly.

Senator Simon also explained how the overemphasis on test score drives some families out of the public schools to private school or homeschools, where their children will NOT be subject to 3rd grade retention or high school graduation requirements:

What we’re saying is, is we’re going to hold you to the test regardless of what you’ve done, what you’ve displayed over the last 13 years that you’ve been in our public school education system. Here’s the secret that’s out there. Some of the kids that are not doing well or having a difficult time that are not able to pass the test because I’m going to give it to you straight. Parents will elect to send that kid to a private school, or they will homeschool that child. Let’s have a real honest discussion. Are we really educating? Are we up for educating our kids and giving them a more well-rounded education? Are we just interested in the test?

Simon also told his colleagues that he keeps a copy of Florida’s Education Code on his night stand. He said that 3 1/2 inch thick book has gotten a half-inch thicker in the last three years. As chair of the Prek-12 Education committee, he worries about that:

It’s important for us, as I review all of the bills that come through this committee, I’m going to pick out the ones that are really advancing education in the state of Florida, and then I’m going to weigh it against, Okay, what are we getting rid of?

Because we can’t continue to do what we’re doing. The education code from three years ago just got a half-inch thicker. We can’t continue to do that. I will continue to focus on students and their overall education, not just their ability to take a test.

SB166 is a bill we should all get behind. Let’s recognize public schools as a real choice for our families and not simply a default setting. Let’s return the focus to students and not just their ability to take a test.

Please take a moment to drop Senator Simon a note of gratitude for championing these efforts. You can find his contact information here.