Altered FCAT in works for disabled

A state task force recommends changes in the way the FCAT is given to Florida's disabled children.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 27, 2002

Gary Lester, a 17-year-old senior at Atlantic High in Volusia County, is an honor roll student and president of the school's National Honor Society. He also has dyslexia and has yet to pass the reading portion of the FCAT.

"When people think of dyslexia, they think people see the letters backward," said Lester, who fears he may not be able to attend college unless he passes the test. "For me, the letters are scrambled and it takes a lot of effort to unscramble them."

Now a state task force is recommending big changes in the way Lester and other disabled children in Florida are tested.

The group is calling for the creation of an alternate FCAT for disabled kids and an expansion of accommodations when a child's disability makes the test nearly impossible. They hope to get some changes in place before the start of the testing season in February and March.

The task force was created by Gov. Jeb Bush when the issue of testing accommodations for disabled children proved impossible for legislators to resolve last spring.

Parents of disabled children argued that their children are being shortchanged and could be prevented from attending college because their disabilities made it difficult to pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Students must pass the test to get a standard diploma, and they must earn a standard diploma to get into college.

Students are routinely given special accommodations when taking the test. For instance, a dyslexic student might be given extra time to sort through reading passages. Still, many parents said their children needed more accommodations. State officials opposed broader flexibility, arguing that they would undermine the test if, for example, a teacher read a reading passage to a dyslexic student.

In Volusia County, Lester often gets through his schoolwork, homework and school tests by having teachers, students or his parents read to him. He knows the material. He just needs help deciphering the text.

In Lester's case, does it make sense for a teacher to read him the reading passages on the FCAT?

Lester points to a particularly frustrating irony. Even though he already takes classes at Daytona Beach Community College through a dual enrollment program, he might not be able to get into college if he doesn't pass the FCAT.

"I could get a certificate of completion, but what's that worth?" Lester said. "That's like, "Thanks for showing up for 12 years.' "

A certificate of completion is given to students who pass all of the necessary courses for graduation but fail to pass the FCAT, despite six opportunities before graduation day.

Despite some heart-rending anecdotes like Lester's, Florida lawmakers were unable to craft a satisfying compromise last year. So late in the legislative session, Bush created the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Accommodations and Access for Students with Disabilities to research the matter and make recommendations.

Jan Rouse, assistant superintendent in charge of special education for the Pinellas County schools, headed the task force. The task force recommends that the state develop an alternate assessment that would take the place of the FCAT for disabled children who want a standard diploma. That could be expensive and time-consuming to develop.

The alternate assessment could include computer tests, portfolios, interviews or samples of work that would demonstrate that the student has mastered the state's academic standards.

"It must have the same rigor and credibility as the FCAT," Rouse said. "It has to be something that clearly demonstrates "I know this material.' "

The task force also recommends the state grant additional accommodations to help disabled students. The task force stopped short of recommending specific accommodations that should be allowed by the state. However, it called for the establishment of a State Accommodations Panel to make those decisions.

The task force also has urged the state to make sure that no one test, such as the FCAT, is used to make decisions about retaining or promoting a student, or about a student's prospects for graduation. That contradicts state law, which requires passing the FCAT for graduation and uses the FCAT for deciding whether third graders move on to fourth grade.

Task force members hope state lawmakers and the governor move quickly on the recommendations. Not all can be put in place in time to help this year's 12th graders, who have one more chance in March to pass the FCAT before the traditional graduation date.

But Education Secretary Jim Horne has indicated he wants to help. Horne announced that the state would spend an additional $4.5-million so districts could help disabled students who are in their senior year and still have not passed the FCAT.

"Given that passing the FCAT is one of the requirements for graduation with a standard diploma," Horne said, "it is critical that school districts provide ... assistance ... to any 12th grader who needs it."

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