Poll: Have You Had It With FCAT?
The backlash against the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) is growing as plummeting scores on the writing test for students in grades 4, 8 and 10 raise serious concerns about the newly enacted scoring standards.
Update: Emergency Rule Lowers FCAT Pass Rate
The Florida State Board of Education has called for an emergency session today, May 15, to consider what to do with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) in the wake of plummeting writing grades.
A preliminary release of results from the Florida Department of Education shows a drop in scores from 81 percent to 27 percent for fourth-graders scoring a 4.0 or better. The drop was to 48 percent for a score of 3.5 or better.
The test's scoring range is from 0 to 6.
Similar results were posted for students in grades 8 and 10 (see chart below).
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The Tampa Bay Times reports that State Sen. David Simmons, the Repubican chairman of the Senate education appropriations panel, had expressed concerns that the state board was moving too fast in implementing new FCAT scoring standards. "Simmons had moved during session to hold funding for some of the changes, but backed off amid Gov. [Rick] Scott's promises that the issue would be dealt with administratively," according to the report.
The Miami Herald reported on a petition against the FCAT gaining traction throughout the state, urging less of a reliance on standardized test scores to evaluate students, schools and teachers.
The Hillsborough County Council PTA/PTSA asks on its Facebook page, "Is this fair to kids? Adults change the rules and then tell the kids they are not doing so well. We have to make sure any changes are student-centered at the very least. Failing 50 percent more children for no reason does not meet the standard. Please let the Board of Eduation know that their decisions should focus on what is best for students and should only be made with real parent input."
We ask parents locally to weigh in on the issue as well, in the poll posted below.
metoo
8:44 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
It needs to go and so does the DOE. Give control to the state and let our local Principals and teachers decide what is best for the kids.
Rose Anzaldi
8:51 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The education system in this state is an abomination.....and for that matter the entire country. Class size is too large, not enough schools or teachers. I can see why teachers are at the point of not caring. Most students are there for fashion and chit-chat...they could care less about getting a decent education. My son wants to learn, but in several of his classes there are constant disruptions and the teachers don't do anything. The arrogance of these students is disgusting...no respect for their school or their educators...it all begins at home folks.
Mary Odum
11:28 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Politicians have overstepped their responsibility to the students of this state and have left a mess.
If the tests are to be useful and productive it will not help to lower the curve when students fail to meet the standards. I feel for the teachers who are expected to perform miracles and continue to reach for a moving target. It is time to tell Tallahassee "hands off" education. They do not understand how their inept interference is affecting our state. Our students deserve better.
Tracy
12:27 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Beware as they are about to change the name so don't be fooled.
Stephanie O
7:18 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tracy is right, they are about to change the name. In addition, I'd like to point out that giving a timed 45 minute writing test in which they are required to thoroughly support a topic, add relevant details, utilize expressive vocabulary, and have two pages they can work with, plan out said essay, and then go back and revise, check for spelling and conventions, make corrections . . . wow. That looks like a run-on sentence in the making. My point? Cannot be done in a timed test. 45 minutes is rough draft quality. if you want proofread work and really want to see what students can do, tell them the prompt the day before and let them, think about it OR give them a full day to work on it. In 45 minutes? "You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit!"