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Hernando Today

FCAT Madness Strikes Hernando

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By LINNEA BROWN, Hernando Today

Published: February 9, 2008

Updated: 02/08/2008 09:11 pm

BROOKSVILLE - Welcome to FCAT-land.

Across the district, Hernando County public school officials are pumping students up with motivational cheers, reminding children of test-taking rules and gearing up for the most important, high-stakes test of the season: The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, set to begin Tuesday. Tampa-based motivational speaker Fairest Hill, a musician and former keyboard player for The Gap Band, spent Friday traveling between several district schools for "Slam Dunk The Test," or his message of overcoming defeat with perseverance and dedication to students.

The Hernando High School marching band and cheerleaders in Brooksville also led several pep rallies - both at their own school and several elementary schools - complete with FCAT-themed cheers, songs, posters and dancing, all meant to relieve pressure and somehow add a touch of fun to the test with "everything" resting on it.

"We try to do everything so they can just do their best with the standards, reduce test anxiety and take some of the 'scare' off the testing," said Parrott Middle School principal Leechele Booker.

The FCAT is the foundation of the statewide educational assessment and accountability program. Scores provide the basis for the state's school grading system and adequate yearly progress, or AYP, as determined by the Federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

With questions based on the state's Sunshine State Standards, FCAT scores also often determine if a child can move to the next grade level or graduate. Schools that earn an "A" or improve by a letter grade also earn a bonus of roughly $100 more per student.

Testing includes a writing test for students in grades 4, 8 and 10; reading and mathematics tests for students in grades 3-10 and a science test for students in grades 5, 8 and 11.

But it wasn't always like this.

Previously a writing test for fourth-graders, FCAT tests began being administered annually to other grades in 1998. With more emphasis placed on the test's scores each year, the pressure has been gradually increasing each year.

Thus, the situation now - with school officials across the state scrambling to relieve students' test anxiety, while still reminding them of the importance of the test.

"We just really want our kids to know that we're proud of them and we believe they can do it," Brooksville Elementary principal Mary LeDoux said. "They've worked so hard since the beginning of the year. Just like at any school, some kids lack confidence and others lack motivation, so this is meant to (help with both)."

Hill's visit to the district came at the request of Superintendent Wayne Alexander.

At LeDoux's school, an "A" school, officials rewarded fourth-graders that scored a 3.5 or higher on the practice writing test with a pizza party, then hosted a game show-style "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader?" quiz show for students after a pep rally Friday.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball team will come to the school on Feb. 21, with another FCAT pep rally scheduled for March 7 - and before the first test Tuesday morning, the school's staff will serve students a gourmet hot breakfast of sausage, egg casseroles and other home-cooked comfort food.

At Eastside Elementary, a "B" school, Hill visited the school, and administrators have a "surprise" in the works, hinted Principal Toni-Ann Noyes.

"We want students to understand the importance of this test," Noyes said. "It's a step in life that they have to (complete) to move on to the next level."

Officials also have an awards ceremony where they will recognize each student based on individual improvement, not just on obtaining a passing score.

At Moton Elementary, also a "B" school, students were given little "baggies" full of inspirational doodads, including a small "indent" stick to remind students to indent paragraphs, runners' stopwatches to remind them to watch the clock and sunglasses to remind them to focus on the topic at hand.

Local resident Chuck Smith will also be donating breakfast materials and cooking free omelets for all fourth-graders at the school on Tuesday and Wednesday.

And at Hernando High, the school's Brooksville chapter of the FFA (formerly known as the Future Farmers of America) have arranged for hypnotist Brian Imbus to speak to students at a Feb. 21 assembly about brain power and focusing techniques.

"He'll be talking about skills, practices and techniques to help these students prepare for these high-stakes tests," said FFA adviser Rick Ahrens. "A lot of our kids panic when they get to these tests. He'll be talking about focusing on the task at hand, and showing them how to relax so they're not wound tighter than an eight-day clock."

Several teachers have volunteered to be hypnotized during the presentation, which is meant to be both humorous and inspirational, Ahrens said.

The FFA will host another hypnotist show for the general public that evening.

For the test itself, teachers must cover all classroom walls, and students are not permitted to have any electronic devices on their bodies, including cell phones.

The writing and multiple choice language arts portion of the FCAT will be held Tuesday and Wednesday for grades 4, 8 and 10, with make-up testing held Thursday and Friday.

The remainder FCAT tests will be held March 11-20, including the reading and mathematics portion of the test for grades 3-10 and science for grades 5, 8 and 11.

And while local officials are doing all they can to motivate students, it's not necessarily where they believe their energy is best spent.

"I agree that the FCAT has brought accountability to schools and it's forcing us to do a better job - but I don't like how it's used for grading schools and making decisions about childrens' lives, based on the outcome of one test," LeDoux said.

Ahrens agreed.

"I have no problem with having some sort of standard they have to meet," he said. "But we put so much weight on it with school grades and funding and that it puts unbelievable pressure on the kids. There's just too much to it."

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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