FCAT Scores Among Blacks, Hispanics Up Considerably (Where's the Bias?)

click10.com ^ | 5-16-03 | AP

[cgk]

FCAT Scores Among Blacks, Hispanics Up Considerably

POSTED: 7:38 a.m. EDT May 16, 2003

UPDATED: 9:35 a.m. EDT May 16, 2003

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. -- Statewide results for the FCAT exam show minority students are improving and Gov. Jeb Bush says this is the time to celebrate, not boycott.

 SURVEY

Would you participate in the FCAT boycott?

Yes

No

Results  |  Disclaimer

Bush says results of this year's Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test show "rising student achievement" and the value of holding students and schools accountable. He also says black and Hispanic students are much better readers than they were five years ago.

The numbers back that up. In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, results show 41 percent of African American fourth graders are reading at or above grade level, up considerably from 23 percent in 1998.

Among Hispanics, 51 percent are reading at grade level compared to 38 percent in 1998.

All grade levels showed improvement in math and reading scores this time around, except for flat tenth-grade results. School grades will be released in mid-June, after the state does more analysis of the FCAT data released Thursday.

Despite the increases, 15 Broward County church leaders say they will back community activist Bishop Victor Curry (pictured, left) and his call for a boycott to support 12,000 Florida seniors who failed the exam and may not graduate.

"Some of these young people have grade point averages of 3.89. They are valedictorians. So, we're not talking about intelligence here, we're talking about pressure, unnecessary pressure," Curry said.

If students aren't given a pass on the FCAT graduation requirement within the next week, Curry says a boycott of the state's tourism, citrus and sugar industries will begin next Thursday.

"The notion of boycotting success to me seems backwards," Bush said, adding that the boycott threat was "politically motivated."

"I'm sick and tired of hearing people say that somehow some kids of color can't learn when we're proving it day in and day out in the classrooms of Florida that it's not the case," he said.

[cgk]

The minority leaders calling for a boycott of this "biased and racially discriminating test" are silent on the issue of how the Hispanics scored on the same test. Why is it that a portion of people whose second language is English score better than those who have spoken English from birth? 14,000 were looking at failing until the scores were lowered - allowing 1000 to pass. 13,000 will still fail. 5 chances to take the test, first given in 10th grade. The minority leaders would do better for their community to instill a worth of education in their children, than to decry their failures as "bias" when they don't even try to pass.

[Archangelsk]

I read the Daytona Beach News Journal on this subject. 42% of the 10th graders failed the english portion of the exam. I believe the math was about 30%. I wouldn't go crowing about "improvement" until someone gets a dose of reality in their system (42% of, say, 100,000 students is 42,000, not a promising figure I would say).

[jscd3]

"Some of these young people have grade point averages of 3.89. They are valedictorians. So, we're not talking about intelligence here, we're talking about pressure, unnecessary pressure," Curry said.

I think that when I see someone with a 3.89 avaerage unable to pass a lowest-common-denominator standardized test, what we are talking about are kids who were passed up through the public school system without actually having to learn anything. I think that what we are talking about is the soft racism of low expectations.

Just my opinion....

[cgk]

FCAT ping.

[widowithfoursons]

The FCAT is a convoluted mishmash of the ridiculous. Budget constraints (supposedly) disallowed the Stanford Achievement Test from being offered (a test which is nationally normed). As a homeschooler, I must pay $15 for the Stanford test, and pay a certified teacher about $80 to test my son, just so that I can see how he performs at the nationwide level. The FCAT is a joke, and the school board knows it. Most teachers would fail it. Go to the website, and look at the practice questions. No thinking person would do anything but laugh at this crap. OTOH, most teachers would fail the Stanford, which is a better measure.

[cgk]

Right. They won't be happy until tests are eliminated completely. They don't want accountability - from either the teacher or the student. They don't want Valedictorians, either, which is why his statement "They are (all) valedictorians" is so telling. Valedictorians discriminate, against kids who didn't get those good grades. We don't want to hurt their feelings, so just eliminate that, too.

[South40]

This serves as a prime example to show how kids can learn while dimocRATs prefer to stay stupid.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

At what age? Homeschoolers are not required to take the FCAT. And if you are paying to have your son assessed, then you're being ripped off.

[cgk]

If you want to take the poll, click on the source link. It didn't work in the html transfer.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

Maybe someday taht the black community will take responsibility for something......instead of blaming a "white bogeyman"

Naaahhh...probably wont happen

[cgk]

At least those who would boycott FL "businesses" (can anyone explain that logic to me?) are the minority.

Would you participate in the FCAT boycott?
Choice	Votes	Percent of 1229 votes
Yes	296	24%
No	933	76%
Thanks for participating in our Click10.com survey. If you'd like to share your opinion on this issue in greater detail, click here to join our online discussion.

[widowithfoursons]

Oh yes. According to Fl law, as a homeschooler my son must be tested yearly. Do you live in FL? I would not have to pay for the FCAT, but must for the Stanford.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

They have to be assessed. It can be done free by any certified teacher (even one not teaching currently) in the State. You do not have to pay for it. And FCAT and Stanford are not required.

[winner3000]

With church leaders like that, no wonder the black population is lagging behind. Shame on them! Shame on them for being the instruments to keep their flock down! Instead of instilling in them a spirit of achievement, they are doing just the opposite.

[widowithfoursons]

Are you saying that Student Services must do this for me? OTOH, I prefer to see how he compares nationwide. And how would they "assess" him? Since they are diametrically opposed to my methods?

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

a boycott to support 12,000 Florida seniors who failed the exam and may not graduate...

"Some...are valedictorians.

I have a difficult time believing the implication that some seniors who couldn't pass this test NONTHELESS managed to earn a 4 year cumulative GPA and thus were named class valedictorian.

GPA of 3.89 and are valedictorians...

A 3.89?...I'm not even going to go there.

Because you love them, please keep your children OUT of government schools.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?State=FL

[RedBloodedAmerican]

What County are you in?

[widowithfoursons]

St. Johns. Ponte Vedra Beach.

[cgk]

Shame on them for being the instruments to keep their flock down! Instead of instilling in them a spirit of achievement, they are doing just the opposite.

Bears repeating. Well said.