THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA JEFFREY S. MOQUIN
TASK ASSIGNED CHIEF OF STAFF
Telephone: 754-321-2650 Facsimile: 754-321-2701 Signatures on File July 19, 2012
TO: High School Principals
FROM: Jeffrey S. Moquin
Task Assigned Chief of Staff VIA: Desmond K. Blackburn, Ph.D.
Chief Performance & Accountability Officer SUBJECT: FCAT 2 CONCORDANCE UPDATE
The purpose of this memorandum is to notify students, parents, and school staff that SAT and American College Test (ACT) concordant scores previously used for students who did not pass the 10th grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) will differ from concordant scores needed to pass the FCAT 2 or End of Course (EOC) assessments. All students entering 9th grade in 2010-11 or later, must pass the required statewide assessments in order to earn a standard high school diploma from a public high school. However, a student may graduate by receiving a score comparable (concordant scores) to the FCAT 2 or EOC passing score on the SAT or ACT. Concordant scores for students entering 9th grade in 2010-11, and scheduled to graduate in 2013-14 or later, are not yet available. These students should attempt to pass the FCAT 2 or EOC until concordant scores are set by Florida Department of Education (FDOE) (http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fcatpass.pdf).
What you need to do?
Notify students and parents that the SAT and ACT concordant scores that were used for students who did not pass the FCAT will differ from the concordant scores needed to pass the FCAT 2 or EOC. The scores have not been established yet, but schools will be notified as soon as FDOE has conducted the concordant analysis and set new scores.
What will happen if you do not know that the concordant scores will change?
Students and parents will think that they have met the graduation requirement when they have not. Current rising grade 11 students may forego an opportunity to retake FCAT 2 or EOC because they think they have met the appropriate SAT or ACT concordant scores required for graduation.
Who needs to know?
School administration, parents, students, teachers, all staff involved in testing, including the testing coordinators and guidance data specialists.
FCAT 2 CONCORDANCE UPDATE July 19, 2012
Page 2
How will you communicate follow up?
E-mails will be sent periodically to Principals and Testing Coordinators. Attached to this memorandum, is a sample letter that can be used to distribute to parents and students regarding this FCAT 2 concordance information.
If you need further information, contact Paul Houchens, Director, Student Assessment and Research, 754-321-2500.
JSM/DKB/PH/RB:ds Attachment
cc: Senior Leadership Team
Directors, School Performance & Accountability
Dr. Marie P. Wright, Executive Director, Instruction and Interventions Ms. Jody Perry, Director, Charter Schools Support
Ms. Laura Cohen, Coordinator, Guidance, BRACE and Academic Advisement High School Guidance Directors
SAMPLE LETTER
Date
Dear Parent/Student:
This letter is intended to inform students who have not met the current test requirements for graduation. Students who have not passed the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2) Reading test or the Algebra End of Course (EOC) test should continue to attempt to pass these exams because a comparable passing score or concordant score on the SAT or American College Test (ACT) has not yet been established. The District will inform schools and student when the Florida Department of Education establishes these concordant scores. All students entering 9th grade in 2010-11 or later, must pass the required statewide assessments in order to earn a standard high school diploma from a public high school. However, a student may graduate by receiving a score comparable (concordant scores) to the FCAT 2 or EOC passing score on the SAT or ACT. Concordant scores for students entering 9th grade in 2010-11, and scheduled to graduate in 2013-14 or later, are not yet available. These students should attempt to pass the FCAT 2 or EOC until concordant scores are set by Florida Department of Education (FDOE) (http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fcatpass.pdf).
(Haitian Creole)
ED<HC#202/is/08/12
Document translated by ESOL Department (08/12)
SAMPLE LETTER
Date
Pou Paran/Elèv:
Rezon nou ekri lèt-sa-a se pou enfòme elèv ki pa satisfè kondisyon pou diplome. Gen nouvo kondisyon pou tès yap pran. Elèv ki pa pase tès lekti FCAT 2 (Florida Comprehensive
Assessment Test (FCAT 2) Reading oswa ki pa pase egzamen final Aljèb (Algebra End of Course - EOC) dwe kontinye eseye pran toude ekzamen-sa-yo paske yo poko tabli yon nòt pasaj
konparab oswa nòt konkòdan avèk tès SAT oswa tès American College Test (ACT). Distrik-la va enfòme lekòl-yo ak elèv ki konsènen lè Depatman Edikasyon Leta Florid (Florida Department of
Education) va tabli rezilta ki konparab. Tout elèv kap pral fè klas nevyèm anne (9th grade) diran
anne eskolè 2010-11 oswa apre sa, dwe pase tès evalyasyon Leta, obligatwa pou yo kab diplome nan ayeskoul (lekòl segondè) lekòl piblik. Sepandan, yon elèv kapab diplome lè li resevwa yon nòt konparab (nòt konkòdan) avèk tès FCAT 2 oswa gen yon nòt pasaj nan egzamen final (EOC) nan tès SAT oswa ACT. Nòt konkòdan pou elèv kap antre nan 9vyèm anne diran anne eskolè 2010-11, epi ki pare pou diplome an 2013-14 oswa apre sa, poko disponnib. Elèv-sa-yo ta dwe eseye pase tès FCAT 2 oswa EOC annatandan nòt konkòdan Depatman Edikasyon Leta Florid (FDOE) tabli (http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fcatpass.pdf).
(Spanish)
ED<Sp#109/rlo/08/12>
Document Translated by the ESOL Department (08/12) SAMPLE LETTER
Fecha:
Estimado Padre/ Estudiante:
Esta carta tiene el propósito de informar a los estudiantes que no han cumplido con los actuales requisitos de examinación para poder graduarse. Los estudiantes que no aprobaron el examen de lectura, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2) o el examen de fin de curso de Algebra (EOC), deben continuar tratando de aprobar estos exámenes porque todavía no se ha establecido una puntuación comparable o concordante con el SAT o el American College Test
(ACT). El distrito le informará a las escuelas y a los estudiantes cuándo el Departamento de
Educación de la Florida (FDOE) establezca estas puntuaciones concordantes. Todos los
estudiantes que comenzaron el 9no grado en el año escolar 2010-11 o después, deben aprobar los exámenes estatales requeridos para poder obtener el diploma regular de escuela secundaria que otorga la escuela pública. Sin embargo, un estudiante puede graduarse si obtiene una puntuación comparable (puntuación concordante) con el FCAT 2 o la puntuación concordante en el EOC del
SAT o ACT. Las puntuaciones concordantes para los estudiantes que comenzaron el 9no
grado en el año escolar 2010- 11, y que se espera se gradúen en el año 2013- 14 o después, todavía no están disponibles. Estos estudiantes deben tratar de aprobar el FCAT 2 o el EOC hasta que el Departamento de Educación de la Florida establezca las puntuaciones concordantes. (http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fcatpass.pdf).
(Portuguese)
ED<Por#197/jl/08/12>
Document translated by ESOL Department (08/12)
SAMPLE LETTER
Data
Prezado(a) Pai/Mãe/Estudante:
O objetivo desta carta é informar os estudantes que não tenham cumprido com os requisitos atuais de exames para a graduação. Os estudantes que não passaram no exame de leitura do
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT 2), ou no exame de final de curso de álgebra
(EOC), devem continuar a tentar passar esses exames porque ainda não foi definida uma pontuação comparável de aprovação, ou uma pontuação correspondente no SAT ou ACT (American College Test). O Distrito irá informar as escolas e os estudantes quando o Departamento de Educação da Flórida definir essas pontuações correspondentes. Todos os estudantes que entraram na 9ª série em 2010-11, ou depois, devem passar nas avaliações estaduais exigidas para receber um diploma padrão de ensino secundário de uma escola pública. No entanto, o estudante pode se graduar ao receber uma pontuação comparável (pontuação correspondente) à pontuação de aprovação do FCAT 2 ou do EOC no exame de SAT ou ACT. As pontuações correspondentes para os estudantes que entraram na 9ª série em 2010-11, e que devem se formar em 2013-2014 ou depois, aind não estão disponíveis. Estes estudantes devem tentar passar no FCAT 2 ou EOC até que as pontuações correspondentes sejam definidas pelo Departamento de Educação da Flórida (FDOE) (http://fcat.fldoe.org/pdf/fcatpass.pdf).
