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New standards make it harder to pass FCAT. Elementary schools will see the biggest change.

The Florida Department of Education has adopted tougher grading standards for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, to be reflected in this year’s scoring.

The Flagler County School Board heard a presentation of the new model Tuesday, Feb. 7, at its regular meeting.

Shawn Schmidli, the county’s new testing coordinator, presented to the board slides displaying last year’s district FCAT scores compared to what the same scores would have been if measured using the new “cut score” standards.

“Cut scores” are the boundaries between test scores, defining the lowest and highest scores a student can receive in order to be deemed a Level 1 through 5 in FCAT scoring results.

“Based on the new cut scores,” Schmidli told the board, “there are significant (projected) decreases in all grade levels … (especially) grades 3 and 4.”

According to Schmidli, some of the potential implications of the new model are slight increases in the number of students eligible for summer reading camp; a slight increase in the “at-risk” student population; and slight increases in the number of those required to take intensive reading coursework.

“We really just see it as being much more difficult for elementary schools to get an A rating,” he added, noting that there will be impacts to middle and high schools, as well, but not as significant as those to elementary.

“I think it’s going to become critical for the public to really understand the transition that’s going to take place,” said Board member Colleen Conklin, noting the added importance for the public to reinstate the half-penny sales tax amendment when it comes to a vote.

“We will be impacted as everybody in the state will be impacted this summer when we get our scores,” Superintendent Janet Valentine said. “With the new cut scores … we would not (have been) an A district.”

“This is statewide,” Chairwoman Sue Dicksinson added. “The entire state got the hit we got.”

For more, call 437-7526. 

OLD VS. NEW
According to data compiled by School Board staff, the percentage of students scoring a Level 3 or higher on the FCAT reading and math exams, compared to what the same scores would have been under the new standards, are listed as follows:

READING
Grade level: 2011 / 2012*
3rd: 78% / 64%
4th: 75% / 61%
5th: 77% / 65%
6th: 74% / 64%
7th: 71% / 60%
8th: 54% / 51%
9th: 52% / 48%
10th: 57% / 37%

MATH
3rd: 78% / 56%
4th: 72% / 51%
5th: 61% / 52%
6th: 55% / 50%
7th: 63% / 57%
8th: 68% / 55%

*% of students earning a Level 3 or higher last year / new standards

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