By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-972154.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Results from this year's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test are relatively unchanged from last year, even as the exam has become harder to pass. As Lynn Hatter reports, the state introduced a new version of the exam this year, but state education officials are warning districts not to get too excited about the results just yet.
The Department of Education says the reason test scores haven't moved much from last year is because even though the test is harder, the way it's graded hasn't changed to reflect that. The result is that student scores vary by only about two percentage points. This was the first year students took a harder FCAT exam, and Department of Education Deputy Assessment Commissioner Kris Ellington says this year's scores could be thought of as grading on a curve.
Sound- "We essentially have a test of more rigorous content, but we held you to the same standards as last year."
Students did well in all grade levels in science, but there was a slight downturn in 10th grade math. This is also the last year some of the tests will be given. Next year, the 11th grade science and 10th grade math tests will be replaced by end-course exams.