Half of Florida Students Fail State Standardized Test

The state is lowering their standards as a result

Close to half of Florida high school students fail the state's standardized test.

The test, which Florida officials made more difficult and is administered in elementary, middle and high schools, showed only half of freshmen students and sophomores scored at their grade levels. Students are required to pass the exam in order to graduate but can retake it if they fail.

The results came days after the Florida State Board of Education voted to lower the standards needed to pass the writing part of the test, known as FCAT. The move came after only one-third of students showed they would pass the test in preliminary results.

"We are asking more from our students and teachers than we ever have, and I am proud of their hard work," Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said in a statement.

"As Florida transitions to higher standards and higher expectations, we can expect our assessment results to reflect those changes."

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