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Eliminating FCAT Retake Will Have Repercussions

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By MARILYN BROWN

mbrown@tampatrib.com

Published: November 12, 2008

Updated: 11/13/2008 12:21 pm

TAMPA - Some members of this year's senior class will have to delay starting college or work because of state cost-cutting efforts.

The cost-trimming also means as many as 300 Hillsborough high school seniors might be taking remedial classes they don't need next year.

Those are the domino effects of the state Department of Education's decision to eliminate summer retakes of the 10th-grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test for seniors, local officials said. Students had been allowed to retake the test in June; now the last test will be offered in March.

"We were pretty stunned," David Steele, Hillsborough Schools' chief information and technology officer, said today. "We didn't see this coming."

District officials learned of the change late last week, Steele said. High school principals were told today to "get the seniors in and talk to them a lot more seriously about taking the March tests," he said.

Seniors must pass both the 10th-grade math and English portions of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Tests to graduate with a regular high school diploma. Those who don't pass can retake it once in 10th grade, twice in 11th and again in 12th grade.

Seniors may substitute designated scores on the SAT or ACT college entrance exams for poor FCAT scores. Last year more than 500 Hillsborough seniors did that, Steele said, and more will be encouraged to take those tests this year with elimination of the June FCAT test.

John Hilderbrand, Hillsborough's testing chief, said he is concerned about the impact on next year's seniors, who will be required to take a remedial course in math or reading if they have not passed either part of the FCAT.

"Some kids just don't take tests well," Hilderbrand said. "If you pass the test, you don't have to take those courses to prepare you for the test…those kids could be taking something else."

An estimated 1,500 rising 12th-graders would likely have to take one or both portions of FCAT in June if it were offered, Hilderbrand said. Historically, about 20 percent - or 300 - would pass the tests and not have to take a FCAT prep course, he said. They would enter their senior year able to take a college prep math or English class or a course to prepare them for work, he said.

"This gives them one less chance," Hilderbrand said.

The state is also closing down its online system for letting parents see their children's FCAT scores after the October 2008 retakes are posted.

The measures – along with getting rid of computer FCAT testing, certificates for achievement and the portion of FCAT that compares students to others nationwide – will save the state millions this year, said Tom Butler, spokesman for the Florida Department of Education.

Total savings from the changes total about $18 million, including $1.2 million by dropping the summer retakes and $1.3 million by ending the FCAT parent network. Not administering the portion of FCAT that compares students nationally and eliminating the multiple choice writing questions alone will save about $13 million.

How many parents access FCAT scores online locally is not known, Hilderbrand said. Statewide, more than 1.3 million people used the Parent Network since Jan. 1.

FCAT writing scores are sent home with students because they come in before school ends. That test is given in February.

The FCAT reading, math and science portions are taken in March. Third-grade and senior retake scores are usually back before school ends because they determine promotion to fourth grade and graduation.

For the past few years, the other scores have been getting back after schools close for the summer.

Parents will still be able to pick them up from schools over the summer of wait until schools reopen.
Mailing the scores, as was done when postal rates were less, would cost $50,000 or more, Hilderbrand said.

LESS FCAT = MORE MONEY

Here is what the Florida Department of Education is eliminating from its Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test program this year:

*Summer retakes for rising 12th-graders

*The FCAT parent network that allows parents to access student scores with a password; the October 2008 retake is the last to be posted

*Multiple choice test questions for FCAT writing; the test will be essay only

*The nationally normed portion of FCAT that compares students to others nationwide

*Certificates of achievement for outstanding FCAT performance

Source: Florida Department of Education

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069.

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