Education report ranks Fla. schools 8th nationwide

MIAMI (AP) – Jan. 19, 2010 – A new education report ranks Florida schools eighth nationwide.

Education Week magazine’s annual education report card looked at six areas of policy and performance, including school finance, student achievement and accountability. Florida earned a B-minus overall, the same grade it earned in 2009.

Florida was ranked fifth nationwide in academic standards and school accountability. Its lowest marking came in school finance, in which Florida ranks 31st.

Several parents and two advocacy groups have sued state officials, accusing them of violating a state constitutional provision to provide “high quality” education for Florida children and not spending enough money on public schools.

Gov. Charlie Crist and Education Commissioner Eric Smith praised the results.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press.