Report: Fla. relies too heavily on FCAT

[seafan]

December 12, 2007

TAMPA --
(AP) -- The state relies too much on a standardized test in judging the performance of public schools, students and teachers, testing experts said in a report.

The University of Nebraska's Buros Center for Testing recommended that the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test should be combined with other measures in the report scheduled for presentation to the State Board of Education at its meeting here Tuesday.

.....

Instead, the report recommends using average test scores as well as FCAT proficiency rates -- which show the percentages of students at, above and below grade level in a certain subject. The averages ''reflect the performance of all students to a greater extent,'' Buros officials wrote.

.....

he report also confirmed an earlier conclusion by state education officials that the improper placement of certain questions most likely caused inflated third-grade reading scores on the 2006 FCAT.

The third-grade reading scores that year were the highest ever and touted by then-Gov. Jeb Bush as "just incredible." But when third-grade scores tumbled this year, state officials conceded that a testing error had contributed to the 2006 score jump on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

.....

Just more Jeb hoodoo to undo.

[seasat]

1. And in further news, water is wet.

Man, anyone that has been marginally associated with education in this state could have told them that. Unfortunately, we ended up with Charlie Crist instead of Jim Davis who wanted to reform the educational system similar to what that study recommends. Hopefully, Crist will back off on his campaign pledge to continue Jebbie's system. I've been following the FCAT debate for years and they've changed their test and grading standards so many times that it's pretty much meaningless as an evaluation standard.

[baldguy]

2. "Teaching to the test" isn't teaching at all.

Our schools should be teaching to the students.

[flashl]

3. K&R n/t