How much suffering will the FCAT be allowed to cause?

From Scathing Purle Musings, by Bob Sykes

From FundEducationNow:

Orlando, Florida… FundEducationNow.org, a leading parent-driven statewide education advocacy group, issued the following comments today regarding the Florida Department of Education’s release of the 2012 FCAT 2.0 Grades 9 and 10 Reading and FCAT Writes scores:

“As mothers of Florida public school children, we bear witness to the suffering caused by FCAT. Today’s scores mean that 50% of the sophomore class is at risk of being denied a high school diploma and a chance for a brighter future,” said Linda Kobert, co-founder, FundEducationNow.org.

“FCAT should be a tiny, diagnostic portion of a child’s school year. Whether scores are good or bad, parents should question whether they are true. The fact remains that this is a critically flawed and inappropriately high-stakes process. If parents and teachers are forbidden from seeing the test and the student’s actual work, where’s the proof of a 4 or 5 or 1?” asked Kathleen Oropeza, co-founder, FundEducationNow.org.

“FCAT Writes proves that scores can be changed by simply dialing into an emergency phone call. Where is the truth? Put in perspective – politicians have cut $4B from our classrooms to feed billions to the Pearson testing machine. We demand transparency and an open inspection of every aspect of the FCAT testing process and its extraordinary cost,” said Christine Bramuchi, co-founder FundEducationNow.org.

Founded in 2009, FundEducationNow.org is a non partisan group of citizen-advocates founded by authentic Florida parents. To schedule an interview or receive more information, contact: Kathleen Oropeza, kathleeno@cfl.rr.com; 407.234.89

The disconnect between real classroom practices and Pearson’s rubric was particularly on display in FCAT Writes. The expectation that 45 minutes was enough to complete a fully edited and organized essay was outrageously out of touch. No wonder Jeb Bush’s cronies on the Board of Education acted so quickly. An in-depth, protracted look with media scrutiny would have damaged Bush’ credibility in a way he’s dodged so far.

In the end, it will be the money trail that brings down Bush’s empire. Fund Eduction Now’s stunning assertion that “politicians have cut $4B from our classrooms to feed billions to the Pearson testing machine,” doesn’t pass the smell test when folks realize that Pearson funds Bush’s foundation.

http://bobsidlethoughtsandmusings.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/top-florida-parent-group-says-we-are-witness-to-the-suffering-caused-by-fcat/