Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is a title we all are probably tired of hearing. What does FCAT really mean to you? Is it a required test that sets you up for failure, or is it just another test that can be blown off as another assignment that means nothing to you? These are just some of the many questions that run through the minds of students, faculty and staff and even State of Florida legislators. The passing score for last year's 2003 sophomores was a 287 for reading and a 295 for math; more than 1/3 of our class failed. With this fact in mind, will the proposal to raise next year's passing score into the 300 level be a good idea? In my opinion, if standards are raised, Governor Jeb Bush is setting up his state to be the object of embarrassment. Also, raising standards is a valid thing to do, but raising them to an impossible level is questionable. Setting up this failure will only lead to even more problems, such as graduation rates dropping, students drop-outs increasing, a larger low-level working class prevailing. The list goes on.

What about teachers whose income may be in jeopardy because the state wants to move toward basing salaries on FCAT scores? It is a no-win situation.

And how are students with learning disabilities and other potential handicaps supposed to pass? There is no special test that helps them in passing. This test is basically an all or nothing test of one's skills. Either you pass and graduate or fail until you graduate out or the school kicks you out. If you were to ever tune into the Channel 4 evening news, you will probably hear the comments of the editor, whose attitude about this test is like that of many: the FCAT is a set up to disappoint many. Maybe if we were to begin the actual test, say, in elementary schools, the percentage of passing might go up, as the failure went down, because students would have a better introduction to what this test is and would not feel as if it is something thrown at them. The FCAT is definitely a questionable test because of the controversy surrounding it.

Click here to practice or learn more about the FCAT

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