One of our decisions is always about the FCAT here in Florida. How will our kids do on it? Why shouldn't they get to try to take it in the early years??? THEY SHOULD! (my opinion) Many general education children do not pass the FCAT; our kids not being the exception. The tests are to gage learning and scale out where to go with the child from the scores they get. I know the schools use it to grade their work as a school but for us it should be a guide to help our child. SHOULD BE! To gage if they have learned from the year before and what they need to continue to learn the following year.
As parents we need to make some decisions on what we feel is best for our child. The FCAT has some accommodations that can be added and used to take the test and "count." If you know that your child is well below the sunshine state standards for their grade which is what the FCAT is tested . Then maybe you would want alternate assessment tests given to the sunshine state standards to give you a better base on where to go from the scores.
Locate the Sunshine State Standards Access Points online. With the exception of Reading/Language Arts, the Sunshine State Standards Access Points are housed on the Florida Standards website (www.floridastandards.org). The Reading/Language Arts standards are currently under review and will be replaced with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. The 2007 Reading/Language Arts Access Points can be viewed at http://etc.usf.edu/flstandards/la/index.html.
If you have additional questions, Angie is very helpful:
Angela Leigh Nathaniel, Program Specialist
Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services
Florida Department of Education
Email: Angela.Nathaniel@fldoe.org
Phone: (850) 245-0476
Facsimile: (850) 245-0953
I print out the levels for "my child" to have during their IEP meeting so we are sure to be covering the points necessary for my kids to achieve success. It also helps me with my daughter who has a 504 plan to be sure she is moving forward--No home work....even given open book tests during the year at school...?? makes me a little concerned if she is reaching the levels for her grade. It helps me to see if my child is measuring up to what is expected of my child's learning. The SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS are the general education base for what they should know for each grade. The alternate assessment piece will give you a gage if your child needs more or less assistance and give you ideas on how to help your child help them self.
