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

February 8, 2010

Escambia County students in grades four, eight and ten will take the writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) On Tuesday, and 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.

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

Comments

6 Responses to “FCAT Warning For Students, Parents: No Cell Phones, No Cameras”

  1. joleenk on February 10th, 2010 11:08 am

    teachers at fl schools are texting and using their phones? I thought they were supposed to be top notch teachers that care about their students and want them to learn…..???????????

  2. Angi on February 10th, 2010 10:51 am

    I have a real problem with ■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.
    You mean to tell me that if a child is at school, running high fever and throwing up all over the place;(example) then they have the rights taken away from them on taking this FCAT if they leave school campus? This is just way out of hand! I can understand if it’s not for good reasoning of leaving school, but come on…This is going a little bit too far.

  3. mom on February 10th, 2010 10:42 am

    Yes, this is true of what Denise is saying. I have been told of the same thing about teachers at school texting and other things on their cell phones.

  4. denise on February 9th, 2010 3:44 pm

    Students is cell phones is only part of the problem. Teachers giving students “busy work” and then kicking back texting on their phones is a bigger issue! Ask your kids…

  5. none of your business on February 9th, 2010 9:54 am

    Yes we lived without them and kids need to go back to no cell phones,
    hall monitors and teachers who can control their classrooms and turn
    out an educated child.

  6. bill, big b little ill on February 9th, 2010 7:57 am

    Cell phones need to be left at home or in a locker, they have no place in the class room. America needs to wake up. Other countries are excelling in education, America is falling behind.