The Florida Congress Proposes an End to FCAT

The Florida Senate proposed a bill this week that could get rid of the dreaded FCAT. Many are saying “good riddance.” There has been a fight over this test since its inception in 1998. As a parent with a third grader who will be taking the test next week (a third grader who has gone from excited, to worried, to anxious, then back to excited) I understand all the emotions wrapped up in this test. Every mommy wants her baby to succeed. I encourage parents to let lawmakers know their concerns about the possible changes that might take place as early as next school year.

The purpose of the test is supposed to be to make sure kids are getting what they are being taught and that seniors are prepared for college or work before they graduate. Though there is evidence of some positive effects from the FCAT (such as higher graduation rates and narrowing achievement gaps), many students are still struggling. So the Florida House of Representatives and Senate have proposed bills to take a look at the FCAT and assessment in general to see how they could be improved to measure student progress.

The Florida Senate introduced a bill that would actually make testing standards more rigorous. Students would have to take end-of-course exams in algebra I, geometry, algebra II, biology and chemistry or physics. Educators will also develop a new English/Language arts exam. These exams could start replacing FCAT for high school students beginning next school year.

After all the pressure and test anxiety over FCAT, making tests harder might seem kind of crazy. But supporters of the bills say students will only rise to meet the added challenge. They say in order to ensure that our students and all of us will have a bright future, we must make sure that they rise to meet the challenge. Right now, 80% of freshman entering community colleges in Florida have to take remedial classes for the first year before they can take any classes that actually count for credit. This is a waste of time and money. The new requirements are supposed to make sure this doesn't keep happening. I don’t have a problem with challenging the students. But just testing to show that kids are having problems isn’t enough. What is in this bill that makes sure that all the students and educators will be prepared to fix the problems and rise to meet the challenge? We have to keep an eye on these lawmakers to make sure ALL the children will be served by this bill.