Passing score lowered for FCAT Writing exam

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Click Orlando:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Board of Education decided in an emergency meeting Tuesday to lower the passing grade on the writing portion of Florida's standardized test after preliminary results showed a drastic drop in student passing scores.

The results indicated only about a third of students would pass this year's tougher Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test exam, compared with a passing rate of 80 percent or more last year.

"They've asked students to do more, but that's pretty dramatic," said Florida Education Association spokesman Mark Pudlow. "We need to examine what led to this, not just paper over the problem."

The results provide another opening to critics of high-stakes testing. The statewide teachers union has opposed Florida's use of standardized tests to evaluate teachers and grade schools.

"Our students must know how to read and write, and our education system must be able to measure and benchmark their progress so we can set clear education goals," said Gov. Rick Scott in a statement Monday. "The significant contrast in this year's writing scores is an obvious indication that the Department of Education needs to review the issue and recommend an action plan so that our schools, parents, teachers and students have a clear understanding of the results."

Results on the FCAT are the major factor for determining grades the state uses to reward top schools and sanction those at the bottom of the spectrum.

This is the first year students and schools will be assessed on the basis of tougher tests and scoring systems, expecting to result in more students failing the FCAT and lower school grades.

________

 

Lowering the bar one test at a time...

[SrWoodchuck]

Will they be doing the "Limbo" any time soon?

[Pepper]

@SrWoodchuck

 

If you don't meet expectations, lower the bar, shorten the ruler, or better yet call in the Obama and the BLS on how to fudge the numbers

 

 

The writing exam was made more difficult by increasing expectations for proper punctuation, capitalization, spelling and sentence structure. The board also increased the passing grade from 3.5 to 4 on scale of zero to 6.

 

Besides, who spells anymore?

 

[SrWoodchuck]

@SrWoodchuck

 

If you don't meet expectations, lower the bar, shorten the ruler, or better yet call in the Obama and the BLS on how to fudge the numbers

 

 

The writing exam was made more difficult by increasing expectations for proper punctuation, capitalization, spelling and sentence structure. The board also increased the passing grade from 3.5 to 4 on scale of zero to 6.

 

Besides, who spells anymore?

 

@Pepper!

 

My sons learned math, because I told them,"...you better learn some of it, or you won't know if your paycheck is right...."