In the 1998 school year, FCAT, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, was first introduced to the schools. Then FCAT 2.0 started in 2011. The only difference between FCAT and FCAT 2.0 is the FCAT 2.0 test measures on the newest set of Sunshine State Standards. Now there is a new test coming to schools –the PARCC test.
This year’s 9th grade students will have to take this new PARCC test, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, in their 11th grade year, during the school year of 2014-2015. The PARCC test is designed to be harder than the FCAT according to Mrs. Powers, English teacher. “The structure is more like the AP tests,” said Mrs. Powers. The test is designed to be more difficult for students to get them ready for the future. The PARCC test will be given to students in grades three through high school. Twenty-two states are adopting this new test to their schools. The test is designed to measure how well students are doing and if they are on track to get the right education to be ready for college. Also with this new test, state leaders are hoping to increase the number of students that graduate from high school.
The layout of the test has not been decided yet and it is not clear yet if the test will be on paper or online. Mrs. Powers has started to get her 9th grade students ready for the test. In the long run the test is supposed to make students think more and help them for their future.