By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-991289.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The state of Florida is upgrading its standardized tests and rolling out new end-course exams. Lynn Hatter reports the Department of Education has defined what the passing scores for the new exams will be.
The new scores reflect a completely new grading scale that can't be compared to previous years. It's a different scale, a different test and brand new standards. Department of Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson says the new tests reflect higher student expectations. And that the process is not yet perfect.
"We haven't dealt with cut scores in a decade and it's understandable that people are asking, what is this?" I see this as an opportunity to educate Floridians across the board, whether you have children in school or not, on what cut scores will look like in the future."
The changes are for the 3rd through 7th grade reading tests, and 3rd through 8th grade math tests. The high school Algebra and reading scores are still being worked out. That score will be used for several things, like whether a student gets promoted to the next grade or graduates, whether a teacher is doing a good job and deserves a raise, and if a school gets a grade of A, F or somewhere in between.