Fix the FCAT, or else

ORLANDO - A high-profile advisory group began delving into the highly technical details of making and scoring the FCAT on Friday, the first step in reviewing last year's botched scores and hopefully preventing future foul-ups.

But first came sobering comments from superintendents and testing experts alike: Fix the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, make it more transparent and explain it better to the public. Or else.

"I think all aspects of state assessment should be looked at," said John Hilderbrand, the recently retired testing director for Hillsborough County schools. "If you don’t do that … there will be an uprising."

State education officials say they're listening. Education Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg told the group that Friday's meeting will be the first of many. And she wants an independent, outside review to be a permanent part of the state's complicated and high stakes testing system. "This is the beginning," she said.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[Anthony]

I'm just going to the 11th grade and I already took the FCAT. I pass the Math and writing, but not the reading. I barely miss the passing score and now I have to retake it this September or October. The Fcat is a real stressful pain in the ass. I mean 3rd grade must pass the FCAT reading to graduate and now Class of 09 and later must pass FCAT writing and science?! Who gives a s--- about science. I don't care why my eyes are brown or why the leaves are green! To make it even worst I heard in 2009 they'll add Social Studies to FCAT. This is not good for the ESOL students. Man this whole FCat thing is f---- up. Next year I thought all I have to worry about is reading, but no now I have to worry about Science. S---!

[John]

The whole concept of "teaching to a test" is fundamentally flawed in my opinion. I went through all 12 years in Pinellas County schools before the FCAT was even thought of and I consider myself of average intelligence. I did fine in school, got accepted to a private college and the rest is history. Why are we trying to re-invent the wheel? While classroom-level testing should be encouraged to measure each students' progress within that class, this blanket FCAT is just plain nonsense. It's about as nonsensical as bussing kids out of their neighborhoods (aka school "choice") to achieve some artificial racial balance at the expense of our childrens "childhood". By that I mean the entire experience of growing up in a neighborhood and making friends within that neighborhood that all went to the same school which teaches kids just as important lessons about friendship and relationships has been stripped from our kids. My daughter is forced to ride 10+ twice a day to a school we didn't "chose" and has no school friends anywhere near where we live! It's sad and it all needs to be changed.

[caroline]

Whatever happened to taking the SAT(Scholastic Achievement Test) every year in public schools? Why is that test no longer a valid barometer for testing student knowledge? That tool actually tested the curriculum taught in our schools as opposed to the FCAT. If you must supply a workbook to students and special teaching instructions to teachers in order to be prepared for a test something is seriously wrong. Taking 3 to 4 months to prepare for a test...something is seriously wrong. Having students panicked over taking a test...you got it...something is seriously wrong. However, there is nothing wrong with testing students to make sure that they are keeping up with their grade level. Unfortunately, Continuous Progress has been brought in to replace traditional teaching standards. Kids are no longer required to study and work hard. It is much easier to classify them into learning environments. So you have K,1st & 2nd graders doing the same work in the same classrooms. Because the Kindergarten student is accelerated, the 1st grader is on grade level and the 2nd grader is behind a grade level. We should be helping the 2nd grader catch up with his/her grade level instead of teaching "down" to that student. What happened to the school system teaching phonics? Kids are being taught a rout system of writing, whereby they write what they hear instead of the actual words. If you want your child to write like they are constantly IM'ing then this method will work for you. We are not helping kids by patronizing them. We need to come alongside and encourage them. Parents need to know what is happening in their children's classrooms. Social promotion does not help these children. "Little Johnny" isn't ready for Junior High because he is way behind in reading & math but he is socially promoted so that "we" don't hurt "Little Johnny's" feelings and self-esteem. HELLO! What is this young man going to do now that he is in Junior High and can't read or do math? Probably get involved with a poor set of friends who are low achievers, who act out and become a nuisance to society because we didn't require him to learn. E, S, N, U are not a valid grading scale. It gives no direct assessment as to how a child is doing in school compared to the other children. Very subjective, no real thought process to this grading scale.

[Kenneth]

Yes, unless you don't believe that minority students perform more poorly on standardized exams. Of course it has to do with home life and cultural emphasis on the value of education. Financially secure parents are usually well educated, and emphasize the importance of education in their home, thus the socio-economic differences.

The point is important for drafting plans to make teacher pay dependent upon test scores. Here's what will happen: Minority/low SES students won't do as well, and thus the teachers in those schools won't be paid as well. But wait, the teachers in those schools are also more likely to be minorities themselves, which means we'll have minority teachers making less than white teachers. It thus falls under federal employment discrimination and the whole plan is scrapped.

[susan loulakis]

My son went through 12 years of school, all his exams, and then he missed the FCAT reading by 5 points - and we did not receive this info until 2 days before graduation - so he does not get a diploma. I was told he can retake in July. He has been tested and has a college level reading. What is wrong with this picture? I am heart broken and he is disgusted. Not much of a reward for passing finals, and going to school all these years. All my years of harping that you have to go to school and get your diploma or you will never get a good job. The State of florida just labeled my son.

[Jim McKenna]

I am a Hillsborough County middle school math teacher. I can assure you that the FCAT DOES have an effect on the learning of the students. Teachers who teach math & reading teach every day-right up to the day the kids take the FCAT tests.

Teachers who teach history, geography, etc. make up their own tests at FCAT time. Even though there is a set curriculum, there is no proof that the required curriculum is actually being taught. In my school, those teachers are constantly having "fun Fridays", movie days, etc.

Yes, we are all supposed to be professionals. However, it is a fact that having "Big Brother" looking over our shoulder keeps us in step and working harder-like it or not. We need to find ways to improve the FCAT, not eliminate it.

So doing well on an exam is directly related to the color or one's skin and monetary status? Just trying to clarify your comments.

[Kenneth]

The whole idea of comprehensive standardized examination is deeply flawed. Districts should devise course specific standards to ensure that teachers are providing a substantive education within individual classes. A school, or a teacher for that matter, cannont be judged based on how their students perform on a comprehensive exam - because (as we know) it's much more a function of race, income, etc.

If my kid comes home from school and says the teacher told me not to tell anyone what happened in class today - flags go up immediately.

When parents are told they may not look at the FCAT exam their child took - why shouldn't the same flags go up.

Something is wrong with this whole FCAT system of testing.