Broward, Palm Beach County students score higher on FCAT writing

FCAT writing results are just in, and South Florida has reason to celebrate. Both Broward and Palm Beach counties improved over last year, and did better than the state average.

[WRONG]

"About 87 percent of Broward students and 85 percent in Palm Beach County"

NO ITS WRONG RUDE ILLEGAL ALIENS CAN NOT OUTSCORE PALM BEACVH

[Jules Winfield]

There is still a long way to go, but at least this is a step in the right direction.

[flowers]

who cares

[Ignorance Central]

The article says:

Three Broward schools had 100 percent of their test-takers pass: Hawkes Bluff Elementary School, Paragon Elementary Charter School and Smart School Charter Middle School.

If 100% of students passed the test, the test is too easy.

What is even more ironic is that supposedly students are doing better and the budgets and funding are at their lowest in many years.

Coincidence or political trickery?

What do other posters think?

[Chow Lee]

If Browards little dunces scored higher on fcat then they must have cheated!!

[Render Unto Ceasar]

100% pass does not mean that everyone got 100 on the test. 65 is passing, too.

I wouldn't, however, brag about 1 or 2% boost in overall scores. That's nothing more than a statistical tie between this year and last. 10% or even 5% would gain bragging rights.

[Rider]

Take the test quiz. Question 6 is missing an apostrophe in what would be the correct answer, therefore giving the test taker no real choice. Too funny! The quiz is real easy though and I dont think it is too much to ask someone in HS to pass this type of test. A pre-req would be able to speak English correctly. This may be too much for many in our area with race having nothing to do with this problem. This is a universal problem.

[student]

I be glad I can rite reel good and pass the FATC, I mean FATCAT, I mean
FCAT.

[Mom of High schooler]

Ignorance Central wrote:

The article says:
Three Broward schools had 100 percent of their test-takers pass: Hawkes Bluff Elementary School, Paragon Elementary Charter School and Smart School Charter Middle School.
If 100% of students passed the test, the test is too easy.
What is even more ironic is that supposedly students are doing better and the budgets and funding are at their lowest in many years.
Coincidence or political trickery?
What do other posters think?

I wonder how many kids JUST passed it. Maybe there were alot of scores that just squeeked by.

[Bobby]

Rider wrote:

Take the test quiz. Question 6 is missing an apostrophe in what would be the correct answer, therefore giving the test taker no real choice. Too funny! The quiz is real easy though and I dont think it is too much to ask someone in HS to pass this type of test. A pre-req would be able to speak English correctly. This may be too much for many in our area with race having nothing to do with this problem. This is a universal problem.

I saw that too, but obviously it's a S-S typo and must have been correct on the actual FCAT. What I found interesting is that the 10th grade questions are just slightly harder than the 4th grade questions. Do kids not become any more literate during those six years?

[Kerry]

Do any parents actually care about this test? If your child can't pass the FCAT wouldn't you have already gotten some indication from the child's teacher that they were in need of remedial education or perhaps repeating their grade? How can this test even matter to parents?

[School Daze]

Ignorance Central wrote:

The article says:
Three Broward schools had 100 percent of their test-takers pass: Hawkes Bluff Elementary School, Paragon Elementary Charter School and Smart School Charter Middle School.
If 100% of students passed the test, the test is too easy.
What is even more ironic is that supposedly students are doing better and the budgets and funding are at their lowest in many years.
Coincidence or political trickery?
What do other posters think?

It's political trickery. The Broward Public School System is beyond corrupt and mismanaged. It is next to criminal in the way that tax payer money is spent. Hard to believe children can read and write that attend any of te schools.

[Flyonthewall]

School Daze wrote:

<quoted text>
It's political trickery. The Broward Public School System is beyond corrupt and mismanaged. It is next to criminal in the way that tax payer money is spent. Hard to believe children can read and write that attend any of te schools.

Yes it is corrupt. The leaders are picked not because of competency, but because they have family or buddies (mentors) that fudge results of interviews to get thier buddies in. look at the High Schools results,most did better,those that didn't..had leaders that led them to the dismal results,can you figure out where?

[Professor Weiner]

What the hell is going on at the Delray Youth Charter School? They scored only 47% in '07 and still managed to drop double digits to a measly 34%!! They need to close that school down and send those poor kids to a real school. It appears those idiots running that place is only in it to collect pay checks!!

[lsb]

Professor Weiner wrote:

What the hell is going on at the Delray Youth Charter School? They scored only 47% in '07 and still managed to drop double digits to a measly 34%!! They need to close that school down and send those poor kids to a real school. It appears those idiots running that place is only in it to collect pay checks!!

Teachers can only do so much. Parents have to participate and care about their child's education. You'd be surprised how many parents haven't got a clue about what their child's homework is tonight.

[Mom of High schooler]

Kerry wrote:

Do any parents actually care about this test? If your child can't pass the FCAT wouldn't you have already gotten some indication from the child's teacher that they were in need of remedial education or perhaps repeating their grade? How can this test even matter to parents?

Not necessarily. These tests are different. Your child can be an A/B student all year but fail the FCAT. I know a couple of kids that happened to.

[Mom of High schooler]

Render Unto Ceasar wrote:

100% pass does not mean that everyone got 100 on the test. 65 is passing, too.
I wouldn't, however, brag about 1 or 2% boost in overall scores. That's nothing more than a statistical tie between this year and last. 10% or even 5% would gain bragging rights.

You may have understood the article. 100% took the test. Not that 100% got 100% right.

[Professor Weiner]

Yea.. But what the odds that out of all the schools in the county.. Delray Youth Charter School is the only one whose students doesn't have parents who care about their school work? The teachers are failing those kids at that school. Sure parents should participate But its also only so much that they can do as well.

Due to the cost of living both parents usually have to WORK crazy hours.. So it should be the reponsibility of the teachers to make sure the students are learning. Plus.. Its their jobs for crying out loud. So get to work! Earn your money like the rest of us!

[Freedom from Bush]

The principal at the school I work at wasn't happy with a rise in our overall score, because it wasn't as high as they wanted. All day they were very negative to the point the kids started to pick up on it.

[FCAT Blows]

Ignorance Central wrote:

The article says:
Three Broward schools had 100 percent of their test-takers pass: Hawkes Bluff Elementary School, Paragon Elementary Charter School and Smart School Charter Middle School.
If 100% of students passed the test, the test is too easy.
What is even more ironic is that supposedly students are doing better and the budgets and funding are at their lowest in many years.
Coincidence or political trickery?
What do other posters think?

Schools receive the tests WEEKS in advance. How much do you want to make a bet there was a push to practice certain prompts in the last few weeks? 100% passing? No way in hell. They have no ESOL kids who don't speak English (who are still required to take the test) or ESE kids who have learning problems?

Personally I think FCAT sucks and needs to be done away with, but when you have teachers out there who are going to be pulled into the office and talked down to and threatened, because not all of thier students did well, it's not right to let possible shady dealings to be ignored.