Teachers fired over FCAT help ...

[Sue Allison <sueallison@comcast.net>]

From today's Miami Herald ....
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/6014881.htm
      Posted on Thu, Jun. 05, 2003  
     


      Two teachers lose jobs over FCAT scandal




      VIERA - (AP) -- Two fifth-grade teachers who admitted to helping their students take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test will not return to their Brevard County classrooms this fall.

      Mary Hughey, who taught at Jupiter Elementary School in Palm Bay, and Kimberlyn Fowles, a teacher at Gardendale Elementary School in Merritt Island, did not have their annual contracts renewed by the Brevard County district.

      Also, a state Professional Practices review is being conducted to determine if their teaching licenses will be suspended or revoked.

      Stacy Stinson, a third teacher who also admitted to helping her students take the rigorous exam, remains on administrative leave. She had been working in the school district's office in Viera until the school year ended.

      While Hughey wrote in a statement that she ''did not materially, knowingly or willfully provide answers,'' she added that a math problem generated concern among several students in her class. 'In responding to one student, I did mention that they were `off by six,' '' Hughey wrote.

      Fowles said she helped special-education students by reading questions to them. That can be allowed for some students, but Fowles said she ``knew it was a modification for their tests.''

      The FCAT is given each year to public school students in Grades 3 through 10 in reading and math. The FCAT also tests writing in three grades -- fourth, eighth and 10th -- and, starting this year, science in fifth, eighth and 10th.

      Much depends on the FCAT. Third-graders may be retained if they fail the reading portion of the test, and high school seniors must pass the 10th-grade FCAT to graduate.

      How well students do also determines the A-F grade their school will earn, and that grade determines whether schools get bonuses or their students become eligible to receive vouchers to private schools.

      A math teacher at Florida A&M's Developmental Research School was fired last month for copying and distributing portions of the FCAT as a study tool.
     




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