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 MathAchievement Levels 1 – 5

Scale Score 100 – 500Developmental Scale Score (FCAT Score) 86 – 3008

Norm-Referenced Test – Reading and MathNational Percentile Rank 0 – 99

ScienceAchievement Levels 1 - 5

Writing Scale Score

FCAT 2006 Schedule

February 7th-8thWriting+ (plus) (4th Grade only)

February 27th - March 1stReading and Math SSS

March 2ndNRT Reading and Math

March 3rd, 8th, and 9th Make-ups

March 6th-7thScience SSS (5th Grade only)

FCAT and Your Child

3rd - 5th Grade Requirements for Promotion

1. FCAT SSS Achievement Level 2 or greater2. FCAT NRT above 35th percentile3. Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test or Slosson Math

(end of school year) above the 35th percentile4. Passing Grade for the year (avg. of four quarter

grades) D (60%) or aboveMust achieve three of the above in the specific

subject area to be promoted to next gradeAlternatively, 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 andYour 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 andYour 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+ andYour 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+ andYour Fourth Grader

• Multiple Choice Test (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 14 - 17)– Focus– Organization– Support– Conventions

• Scoring- Whole-Test Score - Scale Score 100 - 500

Low, Moderate, or High- Subscores: Essay and Multiple-choice

FCAT Reading andYour 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 andYour Fourth Grader

• Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 22)– Same as 3rd Grade– 1 point

FCAT Reading andYour Fifth Grader

• Multiple Choice (Keys TO FCAT, pg. 23)– Same as 3rd– 1 point

FCAT Math andYour 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 andYour 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