Surviving the FCAT

This past Sunday evening, I intentionally kept things low key. I winded my kids down early so they could get a good night’s rest. The dreaded week of FCAT, the state’s comprehensive assessment test, began that Monday morning. I wanted my kids to be alert, full and ready to focus. My goal was to keep their anxiety about the test as minimal and stress free as possible.

Schools all over the state are taking the FCAT. Over several days students will take the standardized test used in public schools for third through 11th grades. It’s a mandated exam by the Florida Department of Education.  The FCAT measures achievement of the Sunshine State Standards and scores students in the academic areas of writing (fourth, eighth and 10th grades), reading & math (third through 10th grades) and science (fifth, eighth and 11th grades).

The by raising standards and to identify opportunities where schools can improve. This has put a lot of pressure on teachers as much of their instruction has focused mainly on preparing students for this testing.

So much emphasis is put on the FCAT that it has become a cause of stress for both students and parents. Some kids have become physically ill from anxiety that they suffer from vomiting, headaches and stomach issues.  Stacey Poloney of Gulfport said, “My son is 10-years-old and in Fourth grade. He makes straight A's and yet he is so stressed out about this week.  My step-daughter relocated here earlier this year from Oregon and she has never taken a test like the FCAT.  She has to pass this in order to pass eighth grade. The schools here are so much more advanced than her previous school. Her father and I are very worried about how she will do on the FCAT.”

Third grade students must receive an FCAT Reading score of level two or higher to advance on to the fourth grade. Graduating seniors must pass both the reading and mathematics sections of the 10th grade FCAT to graduate from high school and receive a diploma. The FCAT, now based on more advanced curriculum standards, might prove more difficult than previous years.  The 2010-11 school year is implementing the FCAT 2.0, which further identifies new achievement levels with “the next generation of Sunshine State Standards”.  The new standards also help the state be in compliance with the Race to the Top funds that were awarded to Florida in the August 2010. In January, Sarasota County Schools learned the . 

Cindy Dunn has three teenage sons at Seminole’s Osceola High School in ninth, 10th and 12th grades. Dunn, who worked in the school system for almost 10 years, has seen the effects the FCAT has had on students. “I think we should get rid of the FCAT. When a kid in high school gets good grades but stresses over the test and fails the FCAT, they only get a completion of high school classes but no diploma.  How are we supposed to keep them focused on college and tech schools when the state puts that pressure on them? We should go back to the standardized testing we took as kids,” Dunn said.

Some schools are taking steps to take a different approach to help minimize stress. “The FCAT is here to stay, so we try to take a positive approach with our parents and our students,” said Nanci Wilson, Principal at Oakhurst Elementary in Largo. Wilson explained, “We remind our students that their teachers have prepared them well and that they are ready.” Wilson described that some teachers ask parents to write a letter of encouragement to their child the week of FCAT. Other students also show their support. When fourth graders took the writing FCAT at Oakhurst last month, fifth graders wrote letters to those students to encourage their peers.

Wilson commented: “Some teachers create a worry chain that they hang on the outside of their classroom doors. Students write down a concern that they have about taking the FCAT and add it as a link in the chain. This allows students to leave their worries at the door.  Teachers also give students a mint each morning as this has been proven to help enhance focus. These are just some ways our school tries to take a positive approach during FCAT. Parents can help by ensuring their child goes to bed early, eats a good breakfast, and gets to school on time. We also encourage our parents to provide suggestions on how FCAT can improve.” 

Despite negative views about the FCAT, many schools do use the test results to make improvements. Wilson said, “At Oakhurst, we analyze the results to evaluate each grade level, teachers, content areas and overall benchmarks that can be worked on. Teachers also use the data to help them identify areas that they can put more focus on to further enhance how they can better prepare their next year of students.”

As a parent, I emphasize to my kids that the FCAT is simply a test: no more, no less.  Who they are and who they will become is not dictated by how they score. I encourage them to do their best and I reward them at the end of the day for their hard work.  Good luck to all of the FCAT-ers this week!