FCAT Warning For Students, Parents: No Cell Phones, No Cameras

February 12, 2008

Escambia County students in grades four, eight and ten will take the writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) today. Students in grades six, seven and nine will take the Escambia Writes! test, a district test similar to the FCAT.

There are several important things for students and parents to remember prior to the FCAT test, according the Gayle Hanks, guidance counselor at Ernest Ward Middle School, including the importance of a good night’s sleep tonight.

Also, students must not have a cell phone or any other electronic device “within arm’s reach” even if the device is not visible, according to Hanks. Students should not have cell phones in their pockets, clipped to their belts, at their desks, or anywhere they can be easily accessed during testing. If they do, their entire FCAT test will be invalidated.

“We have announced it over the PA and made phone calls with the ConnectEd system to let them know they can’t have cell phones and other devices with them during the test,” Northview High School Principal Gayle Weaver said.

Students can leave their cell phones or other electronic devices in the office at their school or with their teacher prior to the test, Weaver said.

Some other important FCAT points on this day before the big writing test, according to Hanks:

  • If a student starts a test and leaves without finishing (for an appointment, illness, etc.), he/she will NOT be allowed to complete the test. NO EXCEPTIONS will be made once the student leaves the school’s campus.
  • If a student arrives at school after the test begins, he/she will not be admitted to the testing site. The student will be required to sit in the office until testing is finished for the day.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News