Editorial: Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test

While there is good news and not-so-good news in the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores for students across Lee County, the biggest news is that fewer than half of the county's 10th-graders passed the standardized test on the first attempt.

To earn a high school diploma, students must pass both the reading and math tests. Now, 53 percent of 10th-graders will have to be tested again.

Further, results from the FCAT science test show Lee students lagging behind the state average.

The reaction from Rick Tully, who coordinates science and environmental education for Lee County schools, is predictable. He expects Lee students to improve their science skills — next year, when a years-long effort to overhaul Lee's science curriculum goes into effect.

Sadly, Mr. Tully, that did not help students who need help right now. With only one-third of Lee students earning an acceptable score in science, the only direction for scores appears to be up — with or without new curriculum.

In an age when critics say too much time is being spent on teaching how to take standardized tests, the FCAT stakes are the reality of the day — pass or else.

On the plus side, results from the FCAT give educators guidelines on the abilities of students, especially since student scores can be compared with students across the state.

"We've shown some real positive growth in secondary reading," Superintendent James Browder says. "We'll go class by class and compare apples to apples. What I'll be looking at is gains inside each school in the district."

Good for as far as it goes, Mr. Browder, but the students' bar is set at a pass-or-else level for graduation — or retention for third-graders.

How about the bar for administrators?

Could it be time to reassess standardized testing?

All are pertinent questions.