FCAT and Your Child A Florida State A+ School

FCAT and Your Child Please hold any questions you may have until the end of this presentation. Be sure to write them down so you do not forget to ask.

FCAT and Your Child Who takes the FCAT? What is the Purpose of the FCAT? What do the scores mean?

FCAT and Your Child Sunshine State Standards – Reading and Math Achievement Levels 1 – 5 Scale Score 100 – 500 Developmental Scale Score (FCAT Score) 86 – 3008 Norm-Referenced Test – Reading and Math National Percentile Rank 0 – 99 Science Achievement Levels Writing Scale Score

FCAT 2006 Schedule February 7th-8th Writing+ (plus) (4 th Grade only) February 27th - March 1st Reading and Math SSS March 2nd NRT Reading and Math March 3rd, 8th, and 9th Make-ups March 6th-7th Science SSS (5 th Grade only)

FCAT and Your Child

3rd - 5th Grade Requirements for Promotion 1.FCAT SSS Achievement Level 2 or greater 2.FCAT NRT above 35th percentile 3.Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test or Slosson Math (end of school year) above the 35th percentile 4.Passing Grade for the year (avg. of four quarter grades) D (60%) or above Must achieve three of the above in the specific subject area to be promoted to next grade Alternatively, if student does not achieve any two of the above in specific subject area, he/she will be retained in current grade.* According to Okalossa County School District’s Pupil Progression Plan *Unless the student qualifies under the Good Cause Exemption

FCAT and Your Third Grader Reading –Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 10) 1 point Math –Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 11) 1 point

FCAT Writing and Your Fourth Grader Two Parts (Two Days) February 8th and 9th –Writing to a Prompt (February 8th) –A Multiple Choice Test on Writing Skills (February 9th) –Make-Up Day (February 10th)

FCAT Writing and Your Fourth Grader Writing to a Prompt –Types of Prompts Expository Writing is: –to give information on a topic. –to explain what, why, or how Narrative Writing is a personal or fictional account of events. - Story telling or personal experience - One or more characters - Problem/situation, events, solution/result

FCAT Writing+ and Your Fourth Grader Scoring Writing Essay (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 12) –Holistic scoring –Use a scale of U (unscorable) and 1-6 (Not indicating grade level) –Florida State expects a score of 3.5 or higher for a fourth grade student

FCAT Writing+ and Your Fourth Grader Multiple Choice Test (Keys TO FCAT, pg ) –Focus –Organization –Support –Conventions Scoring -Whole-Test Score - Scale Score Low, Moderate, or High - Subscores: Essay and Multiple-choice

FCAT Reading and Your Fourth Grader Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 19) –Same as 3rd Grade –1 point Short Response (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 20) –2 points (partial point) Extended Response (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 21) –4 points (partial points)

FCAT Math and Your Fourth Grader Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 22) –Same as 3rd Grade –1 point

FCAT Reading and Your Fifth Grader Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 23) –Same as 3rd –1 point

FCAT Math and Your Fifth Grader Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 24) –Same as 3rd and 4th Grade –1 point Gridded-Response (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 25) – 1 point Short Response (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 26) –2 points (partial point) Extended Response (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 27) –4 points (partial points)

FCAT Science and Your Fifth Grader Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 29) –1 point Short Response (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 30) –2 points (partial point) Extended Response (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 31) –4 points (partial points)

FCAT Accommodations for Students with an IEP or 504 Plan Your child’s IEP or 504 Plan will specifically list any accommodations that are available to your child during classroom instruction and testing. The following are examples of accommodations: –Flexible Setting –Flexible Schedule –Flexible Time or Extended Time for Written Response –Flexible Presentation Any questions regarding your child’s accommodations should be addressed to the classroom teacher or the ESE teacher.

Preparing Your Child for the FCAT Experience 3rd and 4th Grades - Reading 5th Grade - Math Your child’s teacher has his/her sign-in-name and password, and we have them here tonight.

Preparing Your Child for the FCAT Experience Try not to be overly anxious about test scores. Too much emphasis on test scores can be upsetting to children. Make sure your child arrives on time for school. See that your child dresses comfortably. Students should wear clothes that are comfortable and appropriate for the weather.

Preparing Your Child for the FCAT Experience If your child wears a hearing aid or glasses, be sure he/she remembers to use them during all testing session. Give your child encouragement. Praise him/her for the things done well throughout the year. A child who is afraid of failing is more likely to make mistakes. Remember, make sure that your child is well rested and has a healthy breakfast on the day of the test(s).

FCAT and Your Child Questions