In this letter in today's Winter Haven News Chief, Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith responds to concerns in this article that the state is too focused on college readiness, at the expense of career and technical tracks:

To be absolutely clear, the new (high school) grading system does place an emphasis on providing more educational opportunities for students, such as Advanced Placement courses. However, the article fails to mention that the new system also calls for increased career preparation for those students who do not wish to be college bound. The participation and performance of students enrolled in industry certification courses plays a major role in the new formula, giving our high schools credit for allowing their students to follow the path that best suits their interests.