2A Bradford County Telegraph Thursday, March 24, 2011 Evolving Graduation Requirements I Chemistry School Algebra I Geometry Biology Chemisry Grade This Year O End of End of End of orPycs FCAT 2 FCAT 2 FCAT Additional Graduation End of Algebra II Science Year Entering Yr Course Course Course Coure Reading Math Science racience 9th Grade Exam Exam Exam Exam 92010-11 2013-14 Exam is 30% Pass course NA NA Yes No No NA NA of grade for credit Pass course Pass course Pass for end- for credit; end for credit; end 8"t-Yes 8 2011-12 2014-15 of-course of-course of-course NA Yes No NA NA credit exam is 309 exam is 30% 1 l--No of grade of grade Pass for end- Pass for end- Pass for end- h-Y Credit 7 2012-13 2015-16 of-course of-course of-course NA Yes No 11th-No required to NA credit credit credit graduate Pass for end- Pass for end- Pass for end- Pass either 8th-Yes Credit Credit 6 2013-14 2016-17 of-course of-course of-course exam to Yes No 11th-No required to required to credit credit credit graduate graduate graduate 2014-15 4 2015-16 3 2016-17 2017-18 Pass for end- of-course credit Pass for end- of-course credit Pass for end- of-course credit Pass either exam to graduate 8th-Yes 11th-No Credit required to graduate Credit required to graduate Pass for end- Pass for end- Pass for enc- Pass either8h-Y Credit Credit of-course of-course of-course exam to Yes No 8th-N required to required to 11th-No credit credit credit graduate graduate graduate Pass for end- Pass for end- Pass for end- Pass either 8th-Yes Credit Credit of-course of-course of-course exam to Yes No required to required to credit credit credit graduate graduate graduate The chart depicts some of the changing graduation requirements coming down the road. In addition to the changes shown, an end-of-course exam in U.S. history will be taken beginning in 2013-14, although a projected date students must pass the exam to graduate has not been scheduled. An end-of-course exam in civics will be added at the middle school in 2012-13. The exam will be part of the final civics grade in 2013-14, and students will have to pass the test to get credit for civics in 2014-15. QRAD Continued from page 1A will still be taken in grades three- eight (only grades five and eight for science). FCAT reading will continue to be taken in grades three through 10, however, and passing the test in. 'tOe grade is another graduation requirement. FCAT writing will continue to be offered in grades four, eight and 10, and the score required to pass the test is going up half a point. A major difference moving forward will be the move to computerized testing. This year the district has had to implement computerized testing at the high school level for ninth and 10Oh- grade math. Next year, that will include seventh grade, reading, Clyatt said, and as the years go by more and more of the tests will be taken on computers. Other states have led the way, and Florida is following suit, she said. Some of the specific requirements may be modified over time, but end-of-course and computerized examinations are the future. Assistant Principal Chad Farn- sworth said he was worried how things would go, but students have been excited during practice examinations. Taking the full- length tests could be a different story, but there are some advan- tages as well, such as on-screen tools that mimic test taking strat- egies they've learned in class, such as striking out responses to narrow the field of possible an- swers or pulling up a calculators to quickly compute solutions to math problems. "I'm optimistic, and the kids seem excited," he said. Assistant Superintendent Lisa Preva't said that because test re- sults will be part of evaluating teacher performance (see related story), exams are being devel- oped for all secondary areas, in- cluding physical education, mu- sic and art. Although an emphasis on test- ing persists, evaluations won't be based on test scores alone, she said, which has helped win teacher support. "There's other data that will be used in addition to end-of-course or FCAT data, which is very fair and better for teachers and stu- dents," Prevatt said. She said graduation require- ments are becoming tougher to meeq. .becaUse .i '., harder. aa4-, harder to, graduate high sghool- and get a good job that doesn't require some postsecondary training. "That's why you see the addi- tion of requirements for chemis- try or physics, you see the addi- tion of algebra II, because that's preparing them to be ready for postsecondary schooling," she said. Clyde's Tire &Brake in Waldo "Be Ready For The Hot Summer!" 15 Freon extra BY MARK J. CRAWFORD Telegraph Editor Student struggling to pass the FCAT at the high school or to earn enough credits for gradu- ation at Bradford High School will now have a new option. The public school district has partnered with EdOptions Online Academy to assist these students. At the same time, the partnership is another initiative designed to help improve the BHS' gradua- tion rate. SEdOptions is a fully accredited high school. It is for those who prefer to attend a virtual school or for students who want to en- rich their traditional high school experience by pursue additional coursework. EdOptions also has a .Safety Net program for students Who are in danger of not graduating with their class. These could be stu- dents who are behind on credits or have a low grade point aver- age. They can recover or earn the credits needed in their final year 'of school to graduate on time and without needing to earn passing FCAT scores. Bradford High 'School will try to identify struggling juniors for whom on-time graduation is not at all certain. Those stu- dents will have an opportunity to take several classes through EdOptions while pursuing other courses at BHF. If toward the end of their sernor year it looks like the student will be eligible for graduation under BHS' re- quirements, then the high school will recognize the credits earned through EdOptions and issue the diploma. If, however, it looks like the student will not graduate on time at BHS, they will be officially transferred to EdOptions, which will still offer the opportunity to receive a fully accredited. high school diploma. The student will benefit by srabforb ountp elegraplb USPS 062-700 Published each Thursday and entered as Periodical Postage S Paid at Starke, Florida under Act of March 3, 1879. < POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: S Bradford County Telegraph 131 West Call Street Starke, Florida 32091 Phone: 964-6305 P.O. Drawer A Starke, FL 32091 John M. Miller, Publisher Subscription Rate in Trade Area $39.00 per year: $20.00 six months Outside Trade Area: $39.00 per year: $20.00 six months Editor: Sports Editor: Advertising: Typesetting Advertising and JNewspaper Prod. Classified Adv. Bookkeeping: Mark J. Crawford Cliff Smelley Kevin Miller Darlene Douglass Melisa Nobles Earl W. Ray Mary Johnson Kathi Bennett having a high school diploma. BHS will benefit because its graduation rate hasn't been nega- tively impacted. The school board unanimously voted to participate in the Safety Net program through EdOptions, which until recently was known as the Blue Ridge Academy. At the lower grade levels, Prevatt said teaching teams are using data to see what teaching methods work and what needs improvement. In addition, that data is used to identify students who are struggling with particu- lar concepts and to provide inter- vention. Reteaching troublesome concepts to struggling students help avoid a pattern of frustration and failure, Prevatt said. If after three levels of interven- tion a student is still struggling, that is an indication something more may be going on, at which time the data is turned over to exceptional student education for evaluation. Need Help? (onec Sweet 1omHe *leaCiSg Services, ce ,Cicresed insured Commercial/ ARsidcit/ial Karen Adams 904-263-2989 Quality and Satisfaction at Clyde's! Tires & Brakes Alignments SOil Changes And More! 11(3521 468-1140 Gift Certificates Available I i I ,L k7he care and wel'ein, o yiou ecdews is vet{y important to the stai at SAssisted Living Facility YOUR DECISION REGARDING WHO WILL HELP CARE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE IS IMPORTANT Our room rate is $2,350 per month for all aspects of our care. *Assessment of each individual's needs and abilities is required before admitting. Located in Downtown Starke- Next to Wainwright Park ' ' Call Cathey Pitts, Administrator, For Directions (904) 964-2220 Students now have a new option for graduation I 0. I i I - .. . I