Press Releases

Miami, FL – Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard (D-39) and other members of the Florida Legislature are calling for changes in Florida testing standards. Congresswoman Wilson and state Senator Bullard will hold a news conference on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 10:30 a.m., in Tallahassee, Florida in front of Senate Chambers on the fourth floor in the Capitol Rotunda Building. The news conference comes in the wake of Florida's controversial new State testing standards and the recent debacle that followed the roll out of the new standardized test. Congresswoman Wilson, a lifelong educator and advocate for children, who serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee, issued the following statement:

"Standardized testing doesn't work! It has been proven time and time again. The state of Florida is wasting valuable time that could be used to educate our children by backing a failed testing system. We are tired, our children are tired, our parents are tired, and our community is tired of pumping resources into a flawed system. This must end, and I am joining with Senator Bullard and other members of the Florida Legislature in demanding immediate changes. I will do whatever it takes to get us back to basics, back to the tried and true method of educating our students, back to putting our children and teachers first not standardized testing," said Congresswoman Wilson.

"We've seen a host of challenges on this issue and want parents to know we're on the case," Senator Bullard stated. "Parents have seen a myriad of challenges on this issue, beginning with the lack of properly field testing the exam to having erroneous glitches during the examination. It demonstrates a lack of preparation on the part of the state and we must do better."

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002. She later served in the Florida Senate from 2003 to 2010. Prior to being elected to the Florida House of Representatives, Congresswoman Wilson served on the Miami-Dade County School Board.

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Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a third-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Congresswoman Wilson also founded the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida's harbors and waterways.