thanks for getting the word out Dan.Pearson and DOE's behavior is reprehensible.If this were teachers they'd be all over us demanding to cut our salaries, eliminate tenure and seniority.Where is the outrage from our Republican friends?

I love your use of the term "core competencies"! On the ground level, we teachers are so very tired of those who can't or won't do our jobs telling us how their "new and improved" plan is going to "revolutionize" our classrooms. Pearson is a company that had already proved themselves suspect. The group that selected this company had prior knowledge but failed to incorporate what they already knew about Pearson's problems into the bidding/selection process. Where can I input the grade for that assignment?

Finally someone that I can agree with. Our K-12 students deserve much better than what they are getting. I also hate the FCAT. I think it hinders our teachers. The money that was spent on Pearson should have been spent on our teachers.

The FCATs proved how bad the FL education system is. In Hillsborough County they are doing shortened days. When I moved to Miami Beach from OH I was at least 2 years ahead in most subjects... that was 1962! When I worked as a substitute teacher in the early 80's, my daughter was studying the same things, in private school, that I was teaching to advanced placement 5th graders!

Last year as a 4th grader at a charter school in Aventura, the teacher informed me that my child was not passing social studies. When I inquired as to how much time per day was alloted to social studies, the answer was 30 minutes. When I further asked as to what year they conduct FCAT testing for social studies, was told that they don't test for that. Bingo. There was the answer. Most social studies assigments were largely reports done at home, and subsequently done by the parents. My daughter did her own, and barely rec'd a passing grade.It is long known that Neil Bush is involved with FCAT software licensing. Picture gets very clear as to why we have this horrendous teaching to the test mentality. Not ONE teacher I have ever asked likes this method of teaching.

Why are we not suprised? Another failed BUSH poilicy has taken its toll!FCAT was a disaster waiting to happen - Dan, you and I did NOT take this and our generation, and our kids should not have to either!