04/25/2012:
"Just recently, I had been out of school due to a minor illness with my
stomach similar that of to an ulcer. With that said, I had missed my FCAT
testing and had to have a make up day. I could only make it one day of
makeup and i was only able to do the first session. I had went to my SLC
office today for advice on where to go to take the test and they had told
me that i had already been sent to state. I fear that i will be placed in
a remedial class when my letter grades rarely fall below B's. Ive been in
honors since 1st grade and i fear that my placement for an English class
will be affected because of this low score. Is there anyone i can bring
this problem to such as the superintendent, and take the 2nd session, take
a new test all together in its place, or anything to help. A fast response
would be appreciated. Thank you.
"
04/16/2012:
"I hope the FCAT is Elimainated because I want to Graduate a, get my High
School Diploma and Be a Succesful Engineer but I have a Learning
Disability so thats Not Even Fair that I have to pass The Fcat. Im a great
student All A's and B's but when ever it comes to big test like Fcat I
never to good because of my disability.
"
01/23/2012:
"I was suppose to get my High School Diploma in 2004. I had good grades all
throughout high school. I took the FCAT and only passed the Reading.
Unfortunately I ended high school with a High School Certificate of
Completion. It really sucks how ONE test kept me away from receiving my
high school diploma. I am going to take the test once again in April and I
pray to pass it. I believe that if you have passing grades throughout the
school year there should be no hold up on receiving your diploma.
"
06/7/2011:
"I failed my reading FCAT by one point. I have AP classes and my only
electives are spanish and SGA(I am sophomore class president). I have
practically all A's and I volunteer and I am in many clubs. But since I
failed by one point I have to take out AP world history next year! I am so
mad. Now someone would not be mad about that but I am severely mad because
I like learning and the fact that this is a college level class and that I
need it. I am never going to need FCAT in my life. I will not need to read
a one page article and take an hour to figure out the purpose of this
article and all that stuff. I read 1,000 page books, so I am good. All the
kids that are not as smart as me laughed at me. I like stressed out during
FCAT so bad that I over did it. This test stressed me out badly and I
failed by one point, which makes me mad! FCAT is a waste of time and I am
never going to need it in my life. I came home crying when I found out
about this. Also I stressed out so bad that i got a C on my Spanish final
and I have never gotten a C on any Spanish tests. It was so bad I was
practically crying at the final. And people made fun of me. I am very
smart like you have no idea. I care a lot about school and my classes and
FCAT is just stressing me out."
04/4/2011:
"yes"
10/19/2010:
"I hate the test point blank. I passes reading and I failed math but I
passes it on my 2nd try. My thoughts are this fcat is stuipd. I bet if
jeb bush took it I would not pass. I know he would not. I can
understand that he wants the students to be able to real and learn baisc
math. But if a person wants to be dumb all there life thats them, let them
do what they want to do. Also basic math is just +,-,/ and thats it I have
a great job and I dont use math and I make more then my teacher does on a
bad day or a week paid vacation. All this crap that we have to learn half
of it is not needed in the real word and for the perosn on 03/22/08 who
worte there comment I am happy that you passes on the first try but I
could care less and how dare you talk down on any one that dont remember
math from 7 years ago it is not needed im in college now math is
something that only goes as far as the baisc elementary stage. Which made
me mad all the timesI study i just wasted my t!
ime and loss sleep and Jeb bush is stupid tell him and everybody that
pass this law to take the test see how many passes. "
04/29/2009:
"I think some of these rules are just ridiculous......if a student is an A,
B student but had a hard time with one test I don't feel they should be
retained in the third grade , it doesn't mean they are not on their grade
level, maybe the have terrible test anxiety."
06/10/2008:
"I believe fcat is a waste of time. who does bush's brother think he is? Making people feel stupid because of a test that doesnt need to really be used. we have plenty of test in school plus midterms and finals. I feel he made this test so that you can watch all us kids suffer. One score on a test shouldn't determine how smart or stupid you are. Some of the rules in FCAT are just ridiculous. If a person is sick or there was a bad accident in the family, they automatically get failed and are placed in a remedial reading class. how idiotic!!!!Also many get test anxiety or stress over the test which causes them to not do as well as they could. The school board is very exaggerating about the test. It's as if the word 'FCAT' is something like a curse. In reality the test results makes others self esteem drop. Making the individual feel as if they are too unintelligent to process in school."
12/3/2007:
"I am a teacher that just moved to Florida from another state. I can not believe the emphasis this state puts on the FCAT. These poor students have so much stress put on them about their FCAT scores. No wonder so many students have test anxiety. As teachers, we are told teach “this” because it's on the FCAT; teach “that” because it's on the FCAT. What about just teaching students what's important for them to learn for 'real life' instead of teaching them how to do well on some ridiculous standardized test. The state I came from did not put this much emphasis on standardized tests, and guess what? Our state has one of the highest ACT scores and SAT scores in the US and one of the lowest dropout rates. Florida needs to learn from the Midwest. Get rid of the emphasis you put on the FCAT and spend more time teaching KIDS and less time teaching standardized tests. "
04/30/2007:
"I am not a stupid child. The day of the Math FCAT I was sick, yes I know,what are the chances. I had to excuse myself to vomit in the restroom and asked the woman in charge of testing what would happen if I didn't take the test. She said because I already opened the test I couldn't retake it until next year and to try my best. I have a feeling I failed. So I probably have to take a remedial class when I have currently an A in my geometry class. The system is flawed. I hope our governor can take the proper action to correct this and other problems similar to my own."
08/28/2006:
"Personally the F-CAT is a joke, students have to pass this thing even if that day a family member died or their sick or their having a bad week, so everything they did the whole year went down the drain thats why theirs so many drop outs! This test is for teachers not students and since their always complaining about pay thats why so many kids fail, so whos fault is that?"
06/4/2004:
"Is no one else bothered by the fact that although the kids excell in the writing portion, most fail miserabely in the reading? Are the two supposed to be connected? I think teachers are concentrating too much on preparing for the test than actually teaching the material these kids need to know. Give me two weeks with a bunch of kids and I can teach them to pass a test without having any of the information be retain. While I agree that the test is a necessary step, we must now look at the results and find out what we have been doing wrong
"
03/22/2004:
"I am a senior at a public school. I passed the FCAT on my
first try in the 10th grade. It is not a hard test, I have test taking
anxieties just like other students. If a student cannot do well on a simple
timed test, how can they be expected to do well in college or the work
force? The test should stay in place to test the competency of students in
our schools. The tests should probably be given to home and private school
students too. If a student leaves a failing school, why should they get a
state funded voucher to go to a private school where they are not monitered
by the state and the teachers do not need to be ceritified. Home schooled
students can get text books and materials from state funded public schools.
To earn the same diploma as public school students, should they not be
required to meet the same standards as their counter parts? Especially when
these students are potentially using state resources? Keep the FCAT and
give it to all Florid!
a students.
"
09/3/2003:
"Since before I can remember I have been preparing to take this
dreaded test they called the 'FCAT'. This test in the end would let me have
my high school diploma. My teachers would take time out of the lessons they
had already prepared for the year just to have practice for it. So
everything we were being taught would always be on hold until practice was
over. I remember always feeling nervous because in the back of my mind I
knew that the score I received told me how I compared to everyone else.
Through the years my scores would rise, fall, or stay the same. Every time
it fell, even if by a few points, my self-esteem would drop with it. The
scores always reflected how I was feeling the day I took the test. The
“readers” who grade these tests didn’t understand that I may have been sick
the day I took it or that I just haven’t ever been good at standardized
tests. Well, I’m a junior in high school now. That means I took that
miserable test for the last time, last year. And I am proud to say that I
have passed it. In order to pass, however, I had to first convince myself
that I was smart enough to.
"
07/14/2003:
"The FCAT is the end-all-be-all of jokes. Instead of stressing
over standardized tests, the stress should be over teaching our children
what they should know. I was educated in Pittsburgh and our basic
cirriculum was hard, thank God! The children are being cheated out of a good
education because no one wants to take the time and teach correctly. If I
moved back up north, my daughter would have to repeat the grade she is in.
What does that say about Florida's education? Florida doen't know anything
about a 'magnet' school! Instead of concentrating on a test, Florida neds
to invest in sending educators to northern states to get vital information
and a better cirriculum estbablished! Then the teachers should be able to
holler about a 'Pay Increase'
"
06/24/2003:
"The FCAT is the worst thing invented by man since crack. It
clearly lowers a childs self motivation with the government saying a
child is not competent with just one test.The FCAT really needs to be
eliminated for the sake of our children. Why put some much pressure on a
child just developing learning skills in elementary or a child trying to
get through High School and all the pressure of becoming an Adult Jeb
Bush didn't have to take it so apparently just doesn't care! Get rid of
the test for the sake of our children and help them not try to
constantly hurt them.
"
05/20/2003:
"I just want to know what company puts the FCAT together? And is
it true that there is a link between Neil Bush's Learning Company and the
state of Florida? Everything I've read seems to indicate the Governor's
taking care of his little brother.
And to the person who said...
'Personally, I think its time for students who did not pass the FCAT, to
lick their collective wounds and look upon the FCAT as a tool in measuring
ones preparedness for the next step into life, be it college or the
workforce. '
You aren't as educated on the subject as you think you are. Read some more!
This appears to be more about politics and money than our children.
"
05/14/2003:
"After listening to the media and reviewing the turmoil the FCAT
is prompting within the local community here in South Florida, I thought it
wise to do some research and find out just what is the FCAT, and why is it a
cadre of high school seniors, civic leaders and local politician are up
arms. Listening to the local Miami news stations I could easily be up in
arms over what appears to be a 'slanted' and biased examination. Given the
varied cultural makeup of the Broward Miami-Dade Counties I can see why
words like biased and in extreme cases racist are uttered. After educating
myself on the FCAT and the SSS, what a hoot Sunshine State Standards, it
appears the Sunshine State has almost no other recourse but to tighten up
its educational standards and utilize achievement tests such as the FCAT.
It is not as if implementation of the FCAT came as a sudden surprise. This
year's graduating seniors have had at least four years to prepare themselves
for the FCAT, if I understand the testing procedure correctly. Growing up
in the State of Illinois, I dare not mention the year, students attending
public schools were required to take standardize achievement tests each
year. Frankly, I feel none the worse for the experience. Personally, I
think its time for students who did not pass the FCAT, to lick their
collective wounds and look upon the FCAT as a tool in measuring ones
preparedness for the next step into life, be it college or the workforce.
"
03/17/2003:
"If my child has passing grades every nine weeks, grades like A,
B, C and even D,(all consider passing grades), she BETTER be promoted to the
next grade. I cannot see how ONE test can determine her promotion to the
next grade. If so, why send report cards every nine weeks? A waste of paper,
time, money, etc. There are many events that can affect the score of ONE
test (sickness, death of family member, lost of a pet, parents divorce,
etc). This is the mentality and the 'know it all' attitude of POLITICIANS. I
don't agree and it is not fair. Again, if my child has passing grades every
9 weeks, she better be promoted or the state of florida will see ME in
court.
"
02/11/2003:
"I agree with the student who says that passing the FCAT
Reading or Math shoul dn't be a determining factor in graduating. There
are people who are just not good test takers but are extremely bright.
You have people with test anxiety or someone like me who just doesn't do
well on timed tests. Testing as the only indicator of whether or not
someone has achieved the highest level of academic excellence has never
been a 'good' idea. Many students work very hard in school to get the
most out of it. They should not be penalized for missing the FCAT
Reading by ten points. I wonder what this students ACT or SAT scores are
like. Aside from that I have read many articles lately stating that as
FCAT scores increase, the scores on ACT and SAT have gone down. Maybe
that's because to much time is spent learning the FCAT and not enough
spent on learning the basics.
"
01/13/2003:
"I am one of the many students who has not yet passed the
reading portion of the FCAT. I first took the exam when I had transfered
from a private school. I have kept on taking the test since 10th grade
and not yet recieved a passing score. I thought that due to the fact
that I am already a senior and so close to graduating I would be able to
have the old test score scale which was a 287. For the past 2 years
every single time I have taken this exam I have recieved a 290, I would
have passed if not for the governor bring up the scores. I think it is
ridiculous that I have met all my graduating requirements and have plans
for college and now my plans have changed. I have worked long and
extremely hard to get to where I am today and Im sure I am not the only
student who has. It is a shame that the lives of many graduating
students of the class of 2003 will have to put their futures on hold
because of this exam which does'nt even come close to proving all our
hard work and dedication throughout the years. I will not yet give up
but this is truely a shame that one test will basically decide whether
we recieve a high school diploma or not.
"
