Students all across the Sunshine State will continue transitioning this week from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to the FCAT 2.0 to align with new student academic content standards.
According to the Department of Education, FCAT 2.0 measures student achievement of the “Next Generation Sunshine State Standards,” in reading, mathematics and science, replacing the Sunshine State Standards.
The changes mean that students enrolled in grades 3-10 will participate FCAT 2.0 reading; grades 3-8 in FCAT 2.0 mathematics, and those students enrolled in grades 5 and 8 will participate in FCAT 2.0 science, in this week’s testing.
The transition to FCAT 2.0 which began last year, will be complete with the administration of FCAT 2.0 writing in spring 2013.
There is widespread fear that the tougher scoring of FCAT 2.0, will lead to a decrease in the number of “4s” and “5s” scores or “on grade level” and “above grade level” respectively, and that the number of “D” and “F” schools will increase.
The new scoring system of FCAT 2.0 will also affect teachers as their evaluations are now linked to student performance on this test.
“Do not blame the children and do not blame their teachers,” said Fund Education Now, an organization opposed to the high stakes FCAT 2.0 testing standards. “Children should be told that we will not let this one test doom or define them.” We cannot allow our children to be hurt by this process, the organization added.
