Has the FCAT become passe?

Even some Republicans are starting to wonder whether the annual high-stakes exam achieves what so many people want - an accountability measure that shows whether students have met the learning goals of their grade level. Gov. Charlie Crist has talked about changing the accountability model, but he's been vague. Word is, the new vogue that's gaining some traction is that kids should take end-of-course exams designed to see whether they met the standard for each class, rather than a cumulative test like the FCAT. "The question isn't, is the FCAT bad. It's, have we gone to a point where we should modify how we take these tests, these standardized tests," explains Rep. John Legg, R-New Port Richey, a charter school leader who sits on the House Schools and Learning Council. "One of the common criticisms is ... people are teaching down to the bottom. The FCAT only measures the minimal level. Instead of measuring the minimal level, why don't we measure the maximum level?"

Comments

[Karl]

Yes, the FCAT has become Passe and NCLB has become destructive.

I the twenty years I have been in Florida, we have seen the SSAT, (High School Competency Test) HSCT and the FCAT so far. Representatives need to start talking with educators and fix these problems from the community up not government down in the form of legislation.

First, fix NCLB. The teacher requirements element is eliminating some outstanding teachers from teaching students. Let us leave hire teachers and requirements to the educators. What every happen to local control?

Second Curriculum and Testing. NCLB mandates one set of academic standards for all students. Mentally Handicapped students are being left behind learning skills that will not be generalized for their quality of life. The FCAT is causing the segregation of students based on just the FCAT test scores alone. Students are being grouped in classes based on FCAT scores. Schools teach more remedial reading than any other course. The entire curriculum is geared only for college and the legislative Major Areas of Interest ideas is a joke.

Third, Merritt Pay – What’s the plan? Our legislators want to test students for teacher bonuses. Think of the implication. Set up teachers against each other for money. Do you think a teacher is going to want a student in their classroom who does poorly on tests? The Merritt Pay Plan will discourage collaboration between teachers and destroy mentoring and sharing. This Merritt idea is just another destructive element in our schools.

The FED’s are putting obstacles in the form of legislation in the way of educating students in Public Schools.

It is very simple, prove public schools don’t work and privatize. If a corporation exists to make money and public schools exits to education students, then the outcome are totally different. Failing schools are a symptom of a failing community. If you want schools to improve corporations will have to inject capital to create markets and jobs. Education exits for the individuals in the communities to thrive and have a future with hope.

[Sarah Robinson]

Reporter Manus and Representative Legg, like many, have simplistic understandings of FCAT. It is not "cumulative," nor is it a basic skills test at the "minimal" level; the test BEFORE it was, and the FCAT was supposed to raise the standards.

The idea of an exam at the end of the year exists at the secondary level and has for the 18 years I've been teaching. The exam grade is combined with the grade in the class to get the semester grade. Therefore, the test is important but not more important than a whole quarter's worth of work (including other tests).

[Gabe]

I have yet to figure out how the F-Cat is more important than SAT's or ACT's, considering you have to get into college with one or in some cases both of those standardized tests, but you can just pass highschool with the F-Cat.

Lets see

Pass Highschool-Get Into College

Pass Highschool-Get Into College

I think the second part makes more sense.