Florida Senate passes bill easing high-stakes graduation testing

The Florida Senate unanimously passed SB 166, a significant education bill that eliminates the requirement for high school students to pass Algebra 1 and 10th grade English-language arts tests to graduate. Sponsored by Sen. Corey Simon, the measure represents a shift away from long-standing high-stakes testing, which many lawmakers now believe has failed to effectively evaluate student learning. The bill allows third graders to advance to fourth grade even if they fail their reading assessment, provided they pass two earlier progress monitoring tests. Supporters argue that this change will alleviate testing anxiety and better reflect students' overall understanding of the material. Critics have historically claimed that rigorous testing is essential for accountability in education. The proposal is now pending consideration in the House, where its future remains uncertain.