Many teachers and parents are not pleased with the comprehensive test that is given to Florida students, but there seems to be little that they can do about it. The FCAT, as it is known, is a Comprehensive Assessment Test whose results are used for grading the performance of the public schools. It is also used to make a determination about whether a senior in high school will receive a diploma
. and other evaluations as well. Criticism of the test is directed at the probability that teachers have to direct their efforts toward the tests contents instead of focusing on the lesson plans that they prefer. Other criticisms regard what some think is discrimination in the test itself and the amount of time that it takes to prepare for and administer it. Many agree that the test as pushed through the legislature by Jeb Bush was a project that he was not qualified to sponsor. A site sponsored by the Florida Department of Education at http://fcat.fldoe.org/aboutfcat/english/faq7.html provides information on various topics regarding the FCAT. The site indicates that reports on a students performance on the test are available in May and that the results are sent home with the student at that time. The site is a colorful one that is reminiscent of an elementary school room, and it offers many topics with links that one may choose to investigate. Many of the links, however, seem to be broken and take a reader to a message that the page is not available. The Orlando Sentinel reported at http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-06-29/news/os-fcat-scores-2010-release-2-box-20100629_1_scores-parents-child-s-school that the test score date availability stated by the Department of Education site is wrong. The article, written at the end of June, indicated that the scores would be delayed by at least two weeks. It provides a link where scores for selected counties may be found. http://fcat.fldoe.org/aboutfcat/english/faq7.html or http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-06-29/news/os-fcat-scores-2010-release-2-box-20100629_1_scores-parents-child-s-school
