10/31/2011:
"I really believe there's nothing wrong with taking a test every year to
see where your student stands, compared to other students of the same
grade being taught the same material, but one would be foolish to pass or
fail, a student with good grades in all major subjects, based on two or
three days of testing some of the material taught over the course of the
year, Im willing to bet I could fail the principal, or teachers, or anyone
else with there own material, if I was to pick and ask the
questions.Somtimes it's more how you ask, rather than what you ask. and
it's wrong to say you know it or you dont. Remember Albert Enstein's
parents where told there son was not very bright, he should go to a trade
school, and Henry Ford had limited education, as many others who have
changed the world.
"
08/1/2011:
"I live in Houston,TX. My parents decided to move to Florida for better job
opportunities and they want me to move with them but I don't know anythin
about schools in Florida and people. What do you think ? Should I stay or
should I go ?
"
05/19/2011:
"ao la verdad que no entiendo muy bn esto yo tengo un nino 12 anos y lopoco
que epododo ntender es que si mi nino no pasara el fca el la escuela
superior el no pasa para la universidad la verdad que yo no entiendo esto
por que la verdad que le estan quitando un brilegio de continuar su
carrera yo como madre no mesentira satifecha con esto que esta su cdiendo
con los estudiantes esto se ve muy preocupante para osotros los padres
devera que si."
05/19/2011:
"My son is currently attending to a Title I school, I have the choice to
transfer him to a better school so I would like to know if I need to be
applying to keep him in the new school(for the upcoming years) or that
will be something automatically once he is enrolled. Thank you."
07/19/2010:
"when will the 2009-2010 florida fcat scores, grades 4 be released. School
is out for the summer."
01/26/2010:
"I think that the FCAT is a stupid test. I hate it!! Every year our
schools teach just for the FCAT! That is all you hear about. My child is
in 3rd grade and this is his first year to take the FCAT. He is so
scared. He doesn't test well and has a 504 plan. He is so afraid that he
will be held back because he didn't pass the reading portion. They need
to get rid of this test and do something else. The Florida school system
is horrible and I wish I would of stayed in Texas. If you are thinking
about moving here with children think twice because the school system is
messed up!!!!!"
01/4/2010:
"As President of the Learning Disabilities Association of Florida -- I want
to commend Great Schools for an excellent summary of the situation.
I recent development that is causing a stir -- the National No Child Left
Behind (NCLB) Legislation requires each school to achieve a certain level
of students passing the FCAT for 8 different groups -- including students
with Disabilities to achieve AYP or Adequate Yearly Progress
The Secretary of Education for the United States in Arnie Duncan -- and he
is starting to tie grant and other money to achieving AYP -- and for many
schools the Students with Disabilities is the hardest group to help
This is resulting in many A and B schools not achieving AYP -- and in
districts like Palm Beach County has caused a major change -- which
resulted in parents, teachers and administration battling.
The key point is that 62% of the students with disabilities who take the
FCAT fail it, and we need to find innovative and effective ways to help
our kids succeed
If you would like to join the Learning Disabilities Association in this
effort -- please call me at 561-361-7495"
12/15/2009:
"For the school year 2007-2008 my son who was in the 7th grade and my
daughter who was in the 10th grade but she was homeschooled. Both of them
have always been in the top percentile of all sections of the fcat
including reading. It turns out BOTH of my kids failed the reading
section. I do not believe they failed it I think it was a matter of the
test being read and graded. There is no way a child gets high scores on
previous fcat tests and in school to have failed it. This past school
year-2008-2009 my soon took fcat and passed with high scores. My daughter
went to take it but the school in our district refused to allow her to do
so because she was being homeschooled. Turns out after was too late, the
school was in the wrong. Now this year she should be graduating and
because the Escambia County School district in Pensacola, Florida are
stealing her credits she quit school. She is going through an adult high
program to get her diploma. These people think they know the best!
for our kids when are they going to realize if they do not listen to the
parents or kids will always make wrong decisions. This is our kids future
not theirs!!!!"
08/28/2008:
"I think is about time the guidelines get revised. What does it take for the people in the position to make a change, to make a change? School used to be fun, now teachers are pressured to get all this material for most but 7 weeks of the whole school year so that the school gets an A rating and they get their extra $2,500 at years end if that does happen? This is ridiculous ans inmoral. A teacher should teach because they have a vocation. Of course a little bonus doesn't hurt, we would all want that, but at the expense of our kids futures? The teachers don't have extra time to dedicate to the student that is a bit behind because they need to continue with the curriculum, how can they do that? Don't they have a conscience? Granted, the better students will always get ahead but they too are affected since the FCAT us based on the basic of the subject... This is why this country, and I do love America and would die for my coutry, is so behind when it comes to education. Ou!
r curriculums do not measure up to par with other nations, even a 3rd world country like India or any Latin American country would beat any student from elementary all the way to College in knowledge of any kind. I came to this country at the age of 13 and I was told if I passed summer school I would not have to be put back a grade because I spoke no English. I passed with A's & Bs. I couldn't believe how easy my classes where. Thinds I had learned in Elementary School back home where being taught in HS! What is the secret? Maybe the fact that school is seen as a pressure and axiety building place for many kids is one factor for them to be stressed about learning... I am no expert in the field but I am worried. I moved to FL from NYC and I thought I would find a better educational system here.. Not so. In first grade my children where taken to the Guggenheim Musem to learn about abstract art, and this was a public school, they had fieldtrips to pumpkin patches in the !
fall and the zoo in the summer... That is how children should !
envision
school, a fun place to learn and discover things you never knew. What will it take for the Dept of Education to accept that there is a problem with the system here in the State of Florida? it is a dead end street right now and nobody is willing to make any changes. "
01/18/2008:
"I regret to inform you that I am against this law. I have a 16 year old who is doing exceptionally well in her academic classes and yet she is having second thoughts about continuing her education any further due to this law. She was informed that if she does not pass the reading portion of the FCAT this year, she will not graduate with a diploma. Now, will someone please tell me, what do you tell a child when that child is a very good student with an aspiring future and feels as though her entire education is a hoax (a flop) because if she does not pass the FCAT she will not be able to attend a good college/university to pursue her degree of 'Criminal Justice'. Colleges/universities want to see a high school diploma, not a certificate of completion. How can this be fixed? I'm sorry, but I'm very concerned about this and very scared for my daughter's future, but my hands are tied thanks to this law."
10/19/2007:
"My advice to the post dtd, 08/19/2007, 06/29/2007:
I understand your frustration behind a student and IEP requirements. ESE administrators are to adhere to an individuals IEP, or currently this would be a FEDERAL concern.
Donot settle for less then what is written on the students IEP. The resources should be made available. As a parent of a high school student IEP, complacency places a major role when policies are to be followed through. Its our responsibility as parents to ensure policies which are outlined in our childs IEP are being followed by the our childs teacher. The ESE dept of the school is to make any changes necessary to accommadate the student. The principle should be notified if this is not being done. Then you have the ESE district manager, who usually is too busy. Keep going up the food change until the State is made aware...yes, time consuming, there are also advocate groups for the disable/w lawyers or your own personal lawyer which advocates persons with educational needs and disabilities.
Discrimation is a horrific thing to experience. "
08/19/2007:
"My child attends school in St Johns County, Jacksonville, FL. I think it's really a system problem with Florida Schools and FCAT. The rules don't make common sense for all. My child is in the 6th grade and has an IEP and ESE student. My child has always had an IEP. We have only been in Florida for two years. It's difficult to get anyone from the school to explain procedures about intensive reading programs, P.E. requirements, FCAT, high school graduation. I'm concerned about my childs ESE and IEP needs. And really have received little help from the school or the entire St Johns County School district. I have read and heard many sad stories from other families. It's very disappointing for all students."
06/29/2007:
"My granddaughter made average and above grades in all subjects during her current 3rd grade year. She has visual needs diagnosed by a doctor who provided accommodation list to the school. The school ignored it. A meeting was scheduled with the appropriate school committee including the assistant principal and guidance counselor along with the student's parent. A 504 plan was implemented based on the doctor's diagnosis and recommendations. The student's father was told that his daughter was in jeopardy of not passing third grade due to FCAT scores. The doctor's recommendation was to have enlarged print tests and materials which were never provided. The student had to attend Summer Reading Camp (Summer School at her elementary school this summer) and took the Stanford 9 Reading Comprehension portion without enlarged print.
The assistant principal told the child's father a large print edition of the test would be provided. It was not. She did not achieve the passing score on it and was told she has to repeat 3rd grade. An outside professional tested the student again with large print Stanford 9 Reading Comp portion and instead of being in 31 percentile, she scored in the 87 percentile but the school will not accept the additional professional testing. The student reads well...the teacher even said she does...but the Seminole County School District does not allow for any appeal process in this situation. We are extremely frustrated with everyone involved. Lawton Elementary is supposed to be a good school but I am beginning to believe it does not have the student's best interest as a factor; only the FCAT school grade. I am also a professional education in administration at a local school and have a background knowledge of the system and it is broken. Public school teachers ONLY teach to t!
he FCAT instead of having the opportunity to teach students. The policy makers in Florida have created a disservice to the students and teachers with the FCAT.
There is a valid need for evaluations and assessments but not to the detriment of considering individual situations for students. If a student worked hard and passed all subjects in a grade level, then the FCAT should not be the deciding factor. Some students just don't test well in standardized testing but do succeed in academic classroom standards."
05/25/2007:
"MY CHILDREN GO A FT LAUDERDALE, FL SCHOOL THAT DID EXTREMELY WELL ON THE FCAT. IM HAPPY ABOUT THAT.. HOWEVER I AM CONCERNED NOW THAT I HEAR FROM TEACHERS IN OTHER SCHOOLS THAT THE FCAT IS BASED ON BASIC ACADEMIA. SO WHERE IS THE MEASURE OF HOW MUCH 'EXTRA' OUR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING? I SEE THEIR HOMEWORK BUT I DON'T ALWAYS FEEL THAT THE KIDS ARE THAT MUCH CHALLENGED. I VOLUNTEER A BIT BUT AM NOT THERE DAY AFTER DAY SO MAY BE I'M WRONG THAT MORE WOULD BE PUSHY AND STRESSFUL BUT I THINK WE SHOULD MEASURE THIS JUST AT LEAST ON A FYI BASIS. THOSE WHO ARE UP TO IT SHOULD BE PUT INTO GROUPS THAT CAN DO IT INSTEAD OF BEING HELD TO A LIMIT YEAR AFTER YEAR. "
