199-3-898
First Florida started grading its schools from A to F, based on the proficiency and progress of pupils in annual reading, writing, maths and science tests. The state gives extra money to schools that get an A or improve their grade, and children at schools that get two F grades in four years are allowed to transfer to better schools. Second, Florida stopped letting third-grade pupils who could barely read go on to fourth grade (a practice, common all over America, called “social promotion”).
Third, it created a merit-pay system in which teachers whose pupils pass certain exams get bonuses. Fourth, it gave parents much greater choice, with state vouchers, between public, charter, private and even online schools. Fifth, Florida set up new methods of certification to draw more talented people into the profession, even if those people have no college degree specifically in education.
Controversial at the time, these reforms now have bipartisan support in Florida, where black and Hispanic pupils in particular have made huge gains. This, too, is an implicit part of the political appeal for many Republicans, who are secretly aghast at the nativist tone of recent presidential-primary debates and know they must reach out to Latinos in coming elections. Mr Bush is married to a Latina, Mr Sandoval and Ms Martinez are Hispanic themselves, and all realise that Hispanic voters, while often conservative on social issues, care deeply about public schools.

A. 어휘
proficiency 숙달. annual 1년 단위의, 연중의. pupils 학생.
transfer 전학가다, 이전하다. practice 慣行(관행).
merit-pay 成果給(성과급). voucher 보조금, 보증인.
charter school 학교장이 全權(전권)을 가지고 운영하는 학교(예산은 국가에서 부담).
certification 자격증, 증명. draw 유인하다.
Controversial 논쟁적인. reforms 개혁. bipartisan support 兩黨(양당)의 지지.
gains 利得(이득). implicit 맹목적인, 절대적인. appeal 매력.
aghast 깜짝 놀라서. nativist 地域(지역) 사람.
presidential-primary debates 대통령 예비선거 토론(논쟁).
Latinos=Hispanics 南美(남미)계 미국인. conservative 보수적인.