FCAT is always on a student's mind.

FCAT is always on a teacher's mind.

FCAT is a lways on the state's mind.

Ever since the announcement of students performance on the state exam, superintendents, parents and even students are wondering, "Why is the FCAT still around?"

The purpose of the standardized test is to measure the students performance in the classroom throughout the year. Really, the state wants to see how many students perform well to get extra money for the government. I guess these politicians in office remember the numerous amount of tests they were given in junior high, senior high school, or can they can even go back that far?

School districts are suffering for the result of so many students performing their worst on the test. For example, this year's reading proficiency rate on the FCAT was 57 percent in Hillsborough county. This is very bad.

Overall, students are pouring hours and hours of studying and teachers explaining on how to do well on a state test so that maybe (if possible) the teachers can get their yearly bonus if all of their students perform extremely well on the test.

Get rid of this test. This is rotting the students brain. No more state mandated tests. Let kids be kids. Measure a student in their performances on tests and assignments, not a booklet from the state.