The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Thursday voted in favor of purchasing several science textbooks, despite opposition from creationists who argue the books teach evolution too matter-of-factly. The board also voted to adopt a grading system for public schools that assign schools letter grades similar to student report cards.
The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Thursday voted in favor of purchasing several science textbooks, despite opposition from creationists who argue the books teach evolution too matter-of-factly. The board also voted to adopt a grading system for public schools that assign schools letter grades similar to student report cards. Grades will correlate to an individual schools performance score.
The vote in favor of the books was 8-2, ratifying a 6-1 vote on Tuesday by a BESE committee. District 7 BESE member Dale Bayard, who represents Lafayette and southwest Louisiana, voted against the textbooks at both meetings. Proponents of standard science education including the Louisiana Coalition for Science and the California-based National Center for Science Education hailed the votes as affirmations of mainstream science education.
The margin that approved the grading system for public schools Thursday was slimmer: 6-4. Bayard also voted in the minority on this topic.
According to The Advocate, the grading breakdown adopted for schools is: A - 120 and up; B - 105-119.9; C - 90-104.9; D - 65-89.9; F - 64.9 and below.
Based on the most recent school performance scores and applying that grade system to schools in Lafayette Parish, N.P. Moss Middle, with an SPS of 55.2, is the lone school to receive an F. Fifteen LPSS schools earn a D; seven get a C; 10 receive a B; and six - the early college academy, Milton Elementary, Greent T. Lindon Elementary, Broadmoor Elementary, Woodvale Elementary and Paul Breaux Middle - earn an A.
Read more about the grading system here.