Predicting 3rd Grade and 10th Grade FCAT Success for 2007-08. Research Brief. Volume 0702

For the past few years the Florida School Code has set the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) performance requirements for promotion of 3rd graders and graduation for 10 graders. Grade 3 students who do not score at level 2 or higher on the FCAT SSS Reading must be retained unless exempted for special circumstances. Grade 10 students must earn a passing score of 300 or higher in reading and mathematics to qualify for a standard diploma. Many of our students are at risk of not meeting these requirements and having their academic progress interrupted. Clearly, any help in predicting which students may be in jeopardy of not passing the FCAT would help in providing targeted academic remediation to the students most in need. The service of providing predictions has been very well received by school sites and has proved useful in identifying and prioritizing those students needing additional attention. This research brief is a continuation of that annual service. [For the 2006-07 edition of this report, see ED538075.]