Top Florida Education Officials Consider Alternatives to FCAT
Nov 16, 2007
Legislative leaders and members of the state board of education traveled to New York for an in-depth look at that state's Regents exams. For months now, there has been high-level discussion of shifting Florida's accountability system toward end-of-course exams, which experts say would be a more useful tool than the FCAT.
The focus is particularly on high schools, where many view that FCAT as especially inaccurate. In addition, recent attention on Florida's high dropout rate has highlighted the need for change.
Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, vice chair of the House K-12 Committee, participated in the trip and has been advocating a change to end-of-course exams. He warned it may take years to implement any significant changes.
CIVIC Concern has recognized the need to revamp Florida's accountability system for years and has worked to spark debate on the issue. You can read the comprehensive study CIVIC sponsored in 2004 and the update released in early 2007.
Rep. Dan Gelber (D-Miami Beach), the House Democratic Leader, who also participated in the New York trip, directed the development of legislation based on CIVIC's 2004 study that has twice been offered in the Legislature by Rep. Dorothy Bendross-Mendingall (D-Miami) and by Rep. Bill Heller (D-St. Petersburg). Rep. Gelber recently published his thoughts on the need to revamp the FCAT and you can read them here.
For more coverage of the issue:
St. Pete Times Gradebook: Schooled in New York
St. Pete Times: FCAT May Face Rival
Visit the CIVIC Forum to discuss this issue with other interested CIVIC members.