Students did a good job of improving their scores on end-of-course assessments, especially in Biology and Geometry. They also showed some improvement in reading, math and science on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, known as the FCAT.
But almost half of the 9th and 10th graders didn't pass the reading portion, and scores for 4th and 5th grades were down a little bit from last year.Education Commissioner Tony Bennett addressed the unimpressive scores in a conference call with reporters.
“FCAT results are flat and I find that personally unacceptable”, said Bennet.
The scores help determine school grades, and those grades impact teacher salaries.
Bennett expects a decline in school grades this year because of tougher standards. He sees better outcomes as Florida moves toward Common Core State Standards. They're designed to keep students on a par with their international peers and get them ready for college and careers.
In the next two years, Florida will replace the FCAT and the end of course exams with Common Core assessments that are now being developed.