WASHINGTON  –  Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) is calling for the elimination of confusing standards between state and federal offices that evaluate the performance of the nation’s public schools.

“Accountability and standards for our schools are important at both the federal and state levels,” said Putnam.  “However, having schools whipsawed between a ‘good’ grade at the state level and a ‘failing’ grade at the federal level is indefensible and I won’t support reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act until it is fixed.”

Putnam last week joined the entire Florida congressional delegation in calling for Florida to be given greater flexibility to improve failing schools.  Florida’s two U.S. senators and 25 House members signed the letter to Education Secretary Margaret Spellings, supporting Florida’s proposal to be part of the “differentiated accountability pilot program.”

Inclusion in the program would “allow the state to intensely target schools needing the most comprehensive reforms while providing more adequate, specialized assistance to schools that have performed relatively well but face remaining challenges,”  wrote the legislators. 

The letter notes that during the next school year nearly 450 Florida schools are expected to implement restructuring sanctions required by No Child Left Behind.  “While all these schools warrant significant attention and support, the degree of intervention necessary varies considerably,” said the legislators.  The pilot program would also combine Florida’s grading system with national Adequate Yearly Progress measures.  The lawmakers said this would create a model that is more easily understandable.

Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.  As chairman of the Republican Conference, he is the highest ranking member of congressional leadership from Florida.

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