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Hillsborough Schools Follow Unique Equation For Testing

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By MARILYN BROWN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 1, 2008

Florida's program to test public school students translates into prestige, money, grade promotion and graduation.

The state requires the following Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests:

•Reading and math, grades 3 through 10

•Writing, grades 4, 8 and 10

•Science, grades 5, 8 and 11

How they are used:

•Third-graders must score in the top four of five levels on FCAT reading to be promoted to fourth grade unless they meet an alternative measure.

•High school students must score 300 out of 500 in both reading and math on the 10th grade FCAT to earn a regular high school diploma. A score of 15 in both reading and math on the ACT or a 410 in reading and a 370 in math on the SAT college entrance exam also qualifies.

•The state converts each school's FCAT scores into a school grade. Schools that improve a letter grade or make an A will get about $85 per student. Most schools use that money for staff bonuses.

•FCAT scores are used in a separate calculation for a national report card under President Bush's sweeping No Child Left Behind legislation. Schools either pass by making "adequate yearly progress" or fail to do so. There is no consequence for schools not hitting the mark unless they receive Title I federal funding.

If a school fails to make Adequate Yearly Progress two years in a row, all children in the school may opt to switch schools. After three years, students from low-income families are eligible for private tutoring. After five years of not hitting the federal mark, those schools also must have a restructuring plan.

•Individual student progress on the FCAT is also used to help determine merit pay for some teachers.

•New for 2008-09: Florida's version of the Stanford 10 national achievement test is no longer part of FCAT and the writing test will no longer include multiple choice questions.

Learn more about the FCAT at http://fcat.fldoe.org.

The state requires students in kindergarten through third grade to take the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy test.

A Federal mandate requires non-English speaking students in grades K-12 to take the Comprehensive English Language Learning Assessment.

Hillsborough requires first- and second-graders to take a nationally normed exam in the spring to help teachers determine strengths and weaknesses.

The district also administers semester exams in most credit-earning courses, usually in high schools.

Testing calendars are available at www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/ info/calendars.

For information about standardized testing, call the district at (813) 272-4341 or visit www.sdhc.k12.fl.us.

Marilyn Brown

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