Failing FCAT writing scores force education board to consider grading on a curve

Preliminary results on the writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Test show a vast majority of students failed. Only about a quarter of fourth graders received a passing score of 4 or better on the test. That’s compared to more than 80-percent of students who passed it last year.

There were similar drops in test scores for eighth and tenth graders.

Florida’s board of education has an emergency meeting set for Tuesday to discuss the new results of the state’s writing test.

Earlier the board approved raising the passing score on the writing exam from a 3 to a four. However, the large number of students who failed the test has the board considering whether to lower the passing score to a 3.5. The Board will discuss the issue in an emergency meeting set for Tuesday.

The Florida Department of Education explains the low scores here.