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MIAMI HIGH STUDENTS RALLY FOR FCAT REFORM
May 13, 2003
On Thursday, May 8, some 300 Miami Senior High School
students held a peaceful rally outside their school to
protest the impact of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment
Test (FCAT) on their ability to graduate. Current Florida
law requires that all students pass the test to earn a high
school diploma. Those who fail but otherwise meet graduation
requirements receive certificates of completion rather than
diplomas, limiting their employment prospects and precluding
their enrollment in state colleges and universities.
Upon learning of the rally, Miami-Dade School Board Member
Agustin Barrera met with the students, heard their concerns
and invited them and their parents to discuss their concerns
at an upcoming town hall meeting at the school, 2450 S.W. 1
St., on May 16, at 7 p.m.
State Rep. Ralph Arza, a Miami High teacher, also met with
the students and later with school district officials to
convey the students' concerns. Superintendent Merrett R.
Stierheim and members of his senior staff met with Rep. Arza
and agreed to continue to work together to maintain high
standards of accountability in the FCAT program while
amending the current law to allow the flexibility to address
the special circumstances of some student populations.
The district, Rep. Arza and the students all raised issues
addressed in HB 0467, which passed the House unanimously but
did not pass the Senate during the Florida Legislature's
recently concluded regular session. The bill would have
allowed students who otherwise meet all graduation
requirements but fail the FCAT to receive remedial help and
pursue education at community colleges. The bill would also
have directed the Florida Department of Education to adopt
alternative tests deemed equivalent to the FCAT. A similar
bill could be considered during the special Legislative
session convened yesterday, pending either the governor's
decision to add it to the agenda or a two-thirds vote of
both houses of the Legislature.
Miami-Dade school officials, Rep. Arza and other members of
Miami-Dade's Legislative delegation, including
Representatives Marco Rubio, Gaston Cantens, Gustavo
Barreiro, Manuel Prieguez and Rene Garcia, are working
jointly to urge the Legislature to give more flexibility to
students who fail the FCAT but complete all other
requirements for graduation.
Echoing Rep. Arza's words, Miami-Dade Superintendent of
Schools Merrett R. Stierheim expressed confidence that the
Legislature would find a solution that would "give our
students greater hope and greater opportunity while
maintaining high academic standards."
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03-MV/0133/JJR
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