Parents, 3rd grade FCAT scores are now available for viewing online. All parents should be receiving or already received the login id and password for the FCAT parent network so that they can view their child’s scores online as they become available. In the area of the 3^rd grade FCAT, the state of Florida had 72% of its students with a score of 3 or higher on the FCAT. A score of 3 or higher is considered passing.

For the counties in the Tampa Bay, Florida area the break-down of student that passed the 3^rd grade FCAT:

• Citrus County: 81% of 1,136
• Hernando County: 76% of 1,802
• Hillsborough County: 71% of 14,924
• Manatee: 71% of 3,309
• Pasco County : 72% of 5,353
• Pinellas County: 72% of 7,898
• Polk County: 67% of 7,640
• Sarasota County: 83% of 3,245

Florida’s FCAT Parent Network

Parents all over Florida with children in the public schools may be feeling the same type of pressure that their children may be feeling. FCAT may become a pass or fail type of situation that parents will feel pressured to make sure their children perform well. FCAT (Florida’s Comprehensive Assessment Test) was designed to assess a student’s academic achievement based on the Sunshine State’s standards. The Sunshine Standards are what public school use to base their instruction of students.

Passing the FCAT really becomes serious because it is one of the requirements for attaining a high diploma. High school students in Florida public schools are required to pass the 10th grade FCAT. Students do also have the option of obtaining an equivalent score on the SAT or ACT college admission tests.

With so much riding on the FCAT it is no wonder that students feel a lot of pressure when testing time comes. Some things that are recommended are that students try to relax on the testing day, get plenty of rest the night before, and have a good breakfast the day of the test.

Florida Department of Education does offer some free material that students can use to prepare for the FCAT exam.

Sample FCAT Questions are available online.

FCAT Explorer

How much do you dislike you kids old school or even there current school? Is it enough to start a blog about. Well according to a news report one mom is being sued by her daughter ex-school because of things she said about them on her blog.

New School of Orlando Inc. sued Sonjia McSween to stop her from publishing and talking about the school and force her to pay damages.

Now there things like freedom of speech that is what many would cite in this situation. But there are other things like libel and slander.

The lawsuit, filed in October, says McSween posted “false and otherwise libelous remarks” alleging that students were belittled, exposed to “extreme stress” and “dictatorial conditions.” Among other things, she also alleged that the school told parents how to run their homes and threatened them for speaking negatively about the 120-student school.

The kindergarten-through-eighth grade school alleges that McSween deliberately told unflattering lies, causing enrollment to drop. It alleges defamation, libel, slander and interference with business relations.

It is for the courts to decide if the blog crossed the line on those issues. This is a case that is definitely worth following. Any rulings in this case is sure to have some effect on bloggers everywhere.

Source:tbo.com

Now is the time of year that high school senior begins applying to different colleges and universities, if they have not already done so. The application process begins long before senior. Many would say that it begin when a student begin making a schedule of their ninth grade classes. Once a student enters ninth grade the grades that begin to make will affect their college admissions process.

Seniors should not be dismayed if they have a less than stellar gpa. There are opportunities to go to different schools across the state of Florida and the United States. The student can also work extra hard during their senior year to try to improve their gpa. Of course work done during the senior year will not have an overly dramatic effect, but it does have the ability of make some small improvements in the overall high school gpa.

Also those with low gpa have the opportunity to offset their low gpa with a high score on the college admissions test. Most college and universities will accept both the ACT and SAT test.

Some students have taken the SAT and ACT during their 11^th grade year. Some high school 10^th graders have also taken the PSAT test and that has provided some practice in taking the SAT. High school senior should talk to their school guidance counselor about these tests and college planning.

The test scores, academic record, and extracurricular activities all play a role in college admission and should not be taken lightly. High school seniors have the opportunity in improving all three aspects. The test scores can be improved by studying different portions of the test. The academic record can also be improved by working hard to make A’s during the senior year, and students also have plenty of opportunity to participate in different extracurricular activities.

The tax free week is from midnight August 4^th to midnight August 13^th. During this week certain items purchased in the state of Florida will not be taxed.

• Clothing and related items with a sales price of $50 or less
• Books with a sales price of $50 or less
• School supplies with a sales price of $10 or less

In other tax free weeks the state has had, some store ran out of high demand items quickly. So, let the smart shopping begin. You do not have a child to take advantage of tax free week; all purchases that meet the requirements are free from taxes. If you have any questions, ask a sales-associate and they should be able to tell you if an item is exempt from taxes.

Florida 2007 Tax-Free Week

Richard Ellenburg, a K-5 Science teacher in Orange County, is the Florida Department of Education/Macy’s 2008 teacher of the year. Mr. Ellenburg has been a teacher for the last 28 year and has a strong passion for science and teaching. Ellenburg will serve for one year as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for education, touring the state to spread the word about educational opportunities and challenges in Florida. He will receive a cash prize of $10,000 from Macy’s, a customized trophy and an all-expense paid trip to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

Macy’s will also award to each of the other four finalists — Deborah Fahmie, Cypress Elementary School, Osceola County; Robert Johnson, Port Charlotte High School, Charlotte County; Dr. Sandy Melillo, Northeast High School, Broward County; Diane Tomko, Flagler Palm Coast High School, Flagler County — a $5,000 check and a $500 Macy’s gift card. Macy’s also presented $1,000 to each of the finalists’ respective schools to be used toward educational programs.

Source: Florida Department of Education

Tampa police had a lock-down at Middleton high school today after shots were fired inside the building. Some people walked onto the school campus and fired shots at a student, who was part of a summer program, and then fled the scene. No one was hurt in this incident.

Source:

Tampa Police