South Florida School Tests FCAT Placebo

Parents and students protest outside then-Gov. Jeb Bush's Miami office in this 2003 photo.

A South Florida school is feeding students “FCAT power bars” and hoping the apple-flavored cereal bar gives students more confidence facing the annual Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

The district says they don’t want kids at Palm Beach County’s Hagen Road Elementary School to take the test on an empty stomach.

But check out this quote from Robert De Gennaro a teacher and union representative, who argues basing teacher performance on the FCAT only encourages the power bar and other ideas. School districts must base 50 percent of a teacher’s evaluation on FCAT scores.

“If you were given a choice between your salary and hoodwinking kids, which would you choose?” De Gennaro asked.

Read out the full story here.

What do you think of the school’s idea? Any tricks used in your school to try and boost FCAT performance.