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FCAT

Money spent on the FCAT and the time spent by teachers preparing for and applying testing could be better spent improving the education received by students in public schools and resuming programs discontinued.  Better teacher salaries, facilities, teaching tools, more time and resources to assist special needs would bring better results.  Students who make good grades but fail the FCAT should be given the ability to graduate.
Listen to teachers suggestions, visit private schools and European education practices instead of business Education board members who vote for FCAT money to be given to fellow business that profit from the FCAT expenditures.

user icon Regina Shimer | Nov 19, 2007 | rated none by 0 others

FCAT

Agreed on all points, Regina.  High stakes testing that is supposed to influence curricular content instead drives curricula to a series of test-based exercises.  Those who profit are not educators or students but testing companies, consultants, and perhaps private schools that do not require the FCAT of students. Indeed, in the case of students whose first language is not English but who score 15 or higher on the ACT, they have a waiver of the FCAT even though they continue to fail it and remain in remedial FCAT classes.  The tail continues to wag the dog.

user icon Dr J | Nov 19, 2007 | rated none by 0 others

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Right on target!

Everything so far in Florida has been done for private business and political capital.  Your response is intelligent.  It will only be read by those who really care about improving education.  Who is out there that really cares?  

user icon EducatedGal | Nov 29, 2007 | rated none by 0 others

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