From Scating Purple Musings
By Bob Sykes
A proposal to lower FCAT’s cut scores prompted a sharp rebuttal from one prominent member of Florida’s board of education. From GRADEBOOK:
They should expect some resistance from at least one board member. John Padget, a retired superintendent, told the Gradebook via e-mail that he was dissatisfied with some of the proposal.
“Based on the information I’ve seen, the educator panel, the reactor panel, and the draft rule lowers the cut scores for reading in the 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. I can’t support any lowering,” Padget said. “Florida needs more highly-qualified career- and college-ready graduates to power our economy; that need trumps everything else. The simple fact that almost 70% of our high school graduates require remediation in math or reading or both at the college level tells us that our high school students have to do more, not less.”
I haven’t heard it described as being that high before. The DOE has the number at 55 percent. People are becoming aware of that a clear majority of Florida’s students need some sort of remediation in reading, writing or math when they arrive on college campuses. A top Florida post-secondary leader, Ed H. Moore opined last weekend that it was a major concern.
How far Padget is willing to go in making a proposal is not known. A former superintendent is going to have a more nuanced position than merely keeping FCAT cuts in place – or just raising them that matter. What does he mean by “more?” Is he happy with our end-of-course exam mandates? My freshmen biology students will take an end-of-course exam online this year. Its multiple choice only. This certainly won’t promote the kind of skills that Padgett and Moore are concerned about.
So will the debate over FCAT cut scores take us to a debate on the state’s emphasis on standardized tests? Lets hope so.
http://bobsidlethoughtsandmusings.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/concern-grows-for-the-number-of-floridas-high-school-grads-needing-remediation/
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