FCAT exams begin

FCAT exams begin today in Jackson County schools.
Taking the state tests are students in grades three through 11, as well as any high school seniors who either haven’t taken the test yet, or who haven’t passed on previous tries. The tests will take place over the next eight school days.
Third graders have the most at stake — they have to pass the reading section in order to be promoted, unless they go to summer reading camp and pass an alternative test.
Summer reading camp offers the Stanford 10 test after the session winds up. Passing that exam would let students advance to fourth grade along with their classmates, if the FCAT reading score was the only thing standing in the way.
FCAT days are not completely driven by testing.
As an example of how the tests are staggered, third graders will take one reading section today, a 60-minute test.
The next day, they’ll take the second and final reading test, another 60 minute exam.
On the third day, they’ll take two 60-minute math sessions.
The fourth day will be make-up for all grade levels, where students who missed taking their Tuesday through Thursday tests because they were absent or unable to sit for the exam. Monday is also a make-up day.
Jackson County Superintendent of Schools Lee Miller said students and teachers in all grades have been working hard to prepare for the tests, and that he has confidence in their ability to succeed.
For the past month, students have been taking practice tests and learning test-taking techniques.
All year long, they’ve been learning Sunshine State standards, the areas which are tested in the FCAT.
They’ve had writing, math, reading and science consultants on campuses this year at all the schools, trying to help students hone the skills they need for the tests.
Teachers put together a Power Point presentation of FCAT tips, information that is available to parents so they can help students at home.
Elementary students aren’t the only ones who’ll have to buckle down for the tests.
Jackson County’s Director of Student Services, Shirl Williams, said Monday that 227 of 925 juniors and seniors in the county system still haven’t finished all of their FCAT requirements. She said that, compared to other school systems in Florida, it’s not uncommon for roughly 25 percent of juniors and seniors to still be lacking the scores they need.
Fifth, eighth and 11th graders are the only ones who take a science test, but everybody gets reading and math.
Students will have other opportunities if they don’t get it done this time around, with re-takes possible during the next round of FCAT testing this fall.
Tenth graders, for instance, will have four more opportunities to pass the standards in their junior and senior years.
If they fail to meet a given standard at grade-level, they will take remediation courses as electives as they continue high school and prepare for re-takes.
The juniors and seniors who have already passed the FCAT are not excused from school. They will either be working in their classrooms or in combined classes at a central location.