cbs4 My 33 Header Logo

Local

FCATs Underway Across South Florida

View Comments
FCAT
GOOD EATS #2

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – They’ve studied, they’ve reviewed and they’ve taken practice tests.

Nearly two million Florida public school students are now taking the state administered Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.  Over the next two weeks students will be tested on reading comprehension, math skills and science.

This year things will be a little different. Not only will the tests be harder to pass because the state has raised the scoring standard but, for the first time, those scores will be used to evaluate their teachers, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald. Scores will be used to determine a ‘value added model’ which will count for half of the teacher’s evaluation.

Because the state has raised the bar for a passing grade, many educators fear more students will fail the tests this year.

Another change this year is that the all test administrators will have a seating chart and students will have to sign a pledge not to cheat.

While some students have been able to take portions of the FCATs on computers since 2006, this will be the first year sixth and tenth graders will have to take the reading portion online. This has created problems for some schools which had to bring in extra computers for the tests.

The head of the Miami-Dade teachers union, Karen Aronowitz, told the paper the increased use of online exams may cause problems for students who don’t use a computer at home or in school. She said it will be difficult to judge if it’s a lack of test subject knowledge or unfamiliarity with the technology if a student scores poorly.

CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed to this report.

View Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
Listen Live!

CBS Miami Sections

Shopping Around South Florida

Rockefeller Tree
Best Shopping Centers & Malls
From Sawgrass Mills to the Falls, these are your best bets for malls.
 Tis The Season
Best South Florida Thrift Stores
Malls too expensive? Check out the bargains and be thrifty.
 Tis The Season
Best Swimsuit Shops In Miami
It’s South Florida, you have to have the perfect look for the beach!
 Shopping Around South Florida
Best Small Boutique With Big Fashion
The perfect place to find high fashion in a small store.