|
Blog: FCAR
Speakout
|
Support open, broad-based assessment of learning --
contribute to FCAR.
|
| |
Viewpoint: FCAT makes children
political pawns
By Lara McKnight
Pensacola News-Journal
July, 4, 2006
Recent News Journal headlines hail local FCAT "successes." School grades and
statistics are tossed about like compliments in a women's dressing room -- there
are a lot of them, only no one is really quite sure what they mean.
Ambiguous catchphrases like "Adequate Yearly Progress" or the "A+ Plan" are
touted with reckless abandon. But when the hard questions come up, politicians
rush to blame political agendas.
Well, I don't have a political agenda -- I am simply tired of my children being
used as pawns in a political pecking contest.
In a world where we are encouraged to "question everything," it amazes me that
Education Commissioner John Winn suggests that "everybody should have a great
deal of faith in our scoring process" on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment
Test. My question is: Why?
He'd like us to ignore recent allegations that call into question the
credibility of those who grade this test. Temporary hirelings are required to
have a bachelor's degree in a pertinent or related field of study, but a recent
court-ordered release of test graders' credentials showed this is not always the
case. It has turned out that some of the diplomas are from foreign universities;
for others, English is a second language. Early claims that at least half of the
graders were teachers or former teachers have since proven incorrect.
Remember, a low score on this test can prevent a child from advancing to the
next grade (despite classroom grades that indicate proficiency), result in
placement in remedial reading at the expense of college-prep courses, or prevent
a child from receiving a diploma. And we're supposed to just trust that it all
comes out OK in the end?
There are those who argue the testing makes sense -- exit exams and evaluations
are nothing new. The problem is not the test; it's the way it is used. Human and
mechanical errors exist in real life. The FCAT, when used as a sole measure of a
child's ability, is not open to question. Considering all that is riding on it,
shouldn't parents have access? The credibility issue only makes the situation
more frustrating.
Is it legal for the Florida Department of Education to keep these tests a
secret? Not according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which
states in section 99.10: "A parent or eligible student must be given the
opportunity to inspect and review the student's education records. This
provision applies to (1) any educational agency or institution, and (2) any
state educational agency and its components."
FCAT supporters argue that allowing parents to see the tests would open the door
for cheating, and that it would cost more money to come up with new questions
every year.
It seems to me this is their problem, not mine -- and not my children's. They
can't break the law because they can't afford the consequences of a situation
that they put into place. It costs money to insure my car, too, but I can't
drive legally without it!
Parents and students who would like to request access to their tests should
contact Commissioner Winn at the Florida Department of Education --
www.fldoe.org. Those who would like to see
changes should contact their elected officials and those running for office
(it's an election year, folks) to find out where they stand on Truth in Testing.
For more information, visit
www.fcarweb.org/truth_in_testing.htm, or
www.FairTest.org.
Lara McKnight is a Pensacola homemaker whose children are enrolled in
Escambia County public schools.
|