The FCAT "looms" over Florida's students, according to the TCPalm website:
Although the 15 students [in the room] are not taking practice Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests, in some ways the state's standardized test is always in the room. The children are together for two hours each day because they scored at the lowest of five levels on the FCAT reading section. They are not alone.
Only 5 percent of St. Lucie County third-graders reached the top reading achievement level.
FCAT scores and increasing proficiency are constant concerns for administrators and teachers. That brings stress, but most agree: The material on the test is material students need to know...
Many teachers who support the test are quoted as saying that they don't teach to the test, but instead teach "a deep, rich curriculum [with] good instruction." But at one high school, most of the freshmen and sophomores have had to give up an elective to take an FCAT-focused research class. I can understand why this doesn't sit well with most teachers, but it's hard to understand why the basic FCAT skills aren't being conveyed in other classes.
Posted by kswygert at January 20, 2004 02:47 PM