~Record number of third graders reading at or above grade level~

TALLAHASSEE - Governor Jeb Bush and Education Commissioner John L. Winn

today announced that Florida?s rising student achievement continues with a

record number of third graders reading at or above grade level. Florida

Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) results show three-fourths of all

Florida third grade students are reading at or above grade level?the largest

number in state history. 

?What an outstanding year of progress for our 3rd grade students and

teachers.  They deserve five gold stars,? said Governor Bush. ?All students,

especially minorities, have broken records on the state FCAT and on our

national norm-referenced test, the Stanford 10.?

Third Grade Reading and Mathematics Gains

Social promotion for third grade was eliminated in 2001 as a necessary

intervention step to ensure students are able to meet the more rigorous

standards of later grades.  Since eliminating social promotion, students are

improving in both reading and mathematics.  

*       Overall, the percentage of third graders reading at or above grade

level rose 8 percent from last year ? more than double any previous single

year gain.

*       75 percent of third graders are reading at or above grade level

(Level 3 and higher), up from 57 percent in 2001.

*       73 percent of students repeating third grade improved their

achievement level, up from 62 percent in 2005.  

*       14 percent of third graders scored in the lowest level (Level 1) in

reading, down by more than half from 29 percent in 2001. 

*       72 percent of third graders are demonstrating mathematics skills at

or above grade level (Level 3 and higher), compared to 52 percent in 2001.

*       12 percent of third graders scored in the lowest level (Level 1) in

mathematics, down from 24 percent in 2001. 

?These results mean that we have approximately 46,000 more third graders

reading at or above grade level and 48,000 more students achieving in

mathematics at or above grade level this year than there were in 2001,? said

Commissioner Winn. 

Each year, a portion of the FCAT includes a nationally published test, known

as the norm referenced test (NRT), which is used to measure how Florida

students are performing compared to students nationally. The Stanford 10, is

the nationally norm-referenced test by Florida and serves as an external

validation of learning measured by the FCAT.  This year, the reading

national percentile rank increased from the 50th percentile to the 61st.

This means that, on average, third graders scored better than 61 percent of

the national comparison sample.  In mathematics, the national percentile

rank increased from the 62nd percentile to the 67th.  

?These results validate the achievement gains we have seen on our state

test,? added Commissioner Winn.

Closing the Achievement Gap

Florida continues to close the achievement gap.  African-American and

Hispanic students again this year made progress, continuing their gains in

both reading and math.  

*       The percent of African-American third graders reading on grade level

has nearly doubled since 2001.  Currently, 61 percent of African-American

third graders are reading at or above grade level, up from 37 percent in

2001.

*       Hispanic students made similar increases with 70 percent reading at

or above grade level, up from 46 percent in 2001.

*       More than half, 54 percent, of African-American third graders are

demonstrating mathematics skills at or above grade level, up from 29 percent

in 2001.

*       More than two-thirds, 68 percent, of Hispanic third graders are

demonstrating mathematics skills at or above grade level, up from 44 percent

in 2001.

?These results show that our elementary students, especially minority

students, are showing tremendous gains. However, that success is not always

mirrored at the high school level,? said K-12 Public Schools Chancellor

Cheri Pierson Yecke.  ?By implementing reforms proposed this year that

increase the rigor and relevance of middle and high schools, we will carry

the momentum of success achieved at the elementary school level through to

high school graduation and postsecondary education.?  

A++ Plan for Education

In February of this year, Governor Bush announced recommendations for new

middle and high school reform measures. The new policies provide students a

more rigorous and relevant high school education, better preparing them for

postsecondary education and the workforce.  The proposals comprise Governor

Bush?s A++ Plan for Education and support many of the recommendations made

by the Florida State Board of Education?s High School Reform Task Force. 

FCAT Parent Network

For the first time ever, parents will be able to view their child's FCAT

reading and mathematics scores on the Internet by logging on to the FCAT

Parent Network at HYPERLINK

"http://www.fcatparentnetwork.com/." 

 This secure site features detailed information on the meaning of the scores and provides

resources to improve student performance in the future.  Parents will

receive a letter from their child's school with the appropriate login and

password information.  Scores will be posted to the website on Wednesday,

May 3, 2006.

Promotion and Graduation

The FCAT is not the sole factor for determining a child?s promotion to

fourth grade. Parents of third graders in need of additional remediation may

learn more at HYPERLINK

"http://www.justreadflorida.com/." The options

available to help third graders achieve their goals include:

*       Summer Reading Camps ? Reading camps consist of six to eight weeks

of intensive, remedial reading instruction. 

*       Reading Mentors ? Mentors work in coordination with the summer

reading camps to give participating students more opportunities to improve

their reading ability.

*       Families Building Better Readers Workshops ? The workshops provide

parents simple ways to improve their child's literacy. The sessions also

highlight strategies and methods to help their children through the remedial

process.

High school seniors and their parents who want to learn more about their

options should visit the 12th Grade Options website at HYPERLINK

"http://www.12thgradeoptions.org/".  In addition,

HYPERLINK "http://www.facts.org/," Florida's one-stop student

advising system designed by the Department of Education will help high

school students understand their options during and after high school.

Students can get all their information in one place, including information

on admission to a four-year college, a two-year degree program at a

community college,  attending a vocational or technical center, registering

for military service or entering the workforce.  FACTS.org provides access

to complete transcripts and academic counseling online at no cost to

students.  Options to help students achieve their goals include:

*       FCAT Remediation ? Schools offer many opportunities for students to

participate in intensive remediation programs to help them pass the FCAT,

including before and after school programs, summer school, tutoring,

intensive reading or mathematics classes and computer assisted instruction.

Many students take advantage of this opportunity and retake the FCAT in

June.

*       Common Placement Test (CPT)-Eligible Certificate of Completion ?

Students who meet all requirements for a standard high school diploma except

earning passing scores on the 10th grade FCAT are eligible to receive the

CPT-Eligible Certificate of Completion. Students who choose this option may

enroll directly in one of Florida?s 28 community colleges. 

*       General Educational Development Credential (GED) Preparation/Exit

Option ? Students who did not earn passing scores on the 10th grade FCAT may

choose to participate in an adult education program and prepare to take the

GED. Students who pass the GED will earn the State of Florida high school

diploma. 

*       Technical/Vocational Training ? Students will also be counseled

about high demand occupational training programs in which they can enroll

while pursing their high school diploma.

*       Community College Acceptance ? Once students earn their GED,

CPT-Eligible Certificate of Completion or high school diploma, they are

eligible to enroll at a Florida public community college. 

Providing a quality education for each and every student in Florida is

Governor Bush's priority and the state's most important mission. Florida's

investment in the A+ Plan for Education continues to achieve results. The

accountability in Florida's A+ Plan school grading system ensures the state

measures the progress of every student in every school each year. Today,

more of Florida's students than ever are reading on their own, taking

college entrance exams, graduating from high school and earning college

degrees.

To view school and district FCAT scores for third and twelfth grade reading

and mathematics visit HYPERLINK

"http://fcat.fldoe.org/"

 

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