5/13/2003
FCAT backlash building
A plan for a Florida economic boycott received subdued and rather skeptical play in most Florida papers But the NY Times runs it nationally.
(Style Note: The AP style is FCAT the NY Times style is "F.C.A.T." Some Florida papers seem to have dispensed with spelling out what it stands for in the first reference.)
The Legislature is still in denial over this issue. It thinks everything will blow over. Not likely.
Despite the usual photo ops in classrooms, the governor's office hasn't done much of anything to deal with kids who fail the test. The Department of Education can't even notify kids whether they've passed or failed on a timely basis. The anecdotal evidence suggests a huge spike in the dropout rate that won't show up in the official figures for a couple of years.
(Style Note: The AP style is FCAT the NY Times style is "F.C.A.T." Some Florida papers seem to have dispensed with spelling out what it stands for in the first reference.)
The Legislature is still in denial over this issue. It thinks everything will blow over. Not likely.
Despite the usual photo ops in classrooms, the governor's office hasn't done much of anything to deal with kids who fail the test. The Department of Education can't even notify kids whether they've passed or failed on a timely basis. The anecdotal evidence suggests a huge spike in the dropout rate that won't show up in the official figures for a couple of years.
