Why parents matter for FCAT performance
Children depend on parents and guardians to help guide their lives in a
positive direction. This guidance is especially beneficial when it comes to
education.

Standardized testing is a measurable way to quantify what children are
learning while identifying areas for improvement, helping outline their
future life paths.

How the FCAT benefits your child
The FCAT benefits children in a number of ways: its first objective is to
ensure Florida's schools meet student needs. Secondly, its outcomes help
determine the grade each school will receive, leading to the aquisition of
additional resources and teacher training. The outcomes also help determine
which children will be accepted into university or another form of post-
secondary education.

Top ten ways parents can help children succeed on the FCAT
Care about your child's education. Get involved by communicating with their
teacher - they will appreciate your involvement.
Know what is expected of your child at each grade level and in each subject
area, and then ask the teacher for suggestions to help you help your child.
You can start by reading about Florida's Sunshine State Standards.
Help your child by voicing questions or concerns about their progress with
teachers and school administrators as they arise. Discuss what your role in
the process will look like.
Review homework assignments with your child each evening. This will
increase the absorption of the material and help you keep abreast of what
your child is learning.
Talk with your child. Let them know you value their opinions. This also
helps them think about a particular subject/issue and ask questions.
Listen to your child. The responses will help you identify their goals and
worries while letting your child know you're open-minded.
Encourage your child in every aspect of their life. This will increase
their confidence and help build their abilities. Let your child know that
it's only expected that they give their best - not that they be the best.
Practice exercises that help your child improve their weaker areas. Use
games, flashcards and exercises to work through these problem areas in a
fun and entertaining way.
Raise your child to read. This helps them develop their communication and
literacy skills. It's also a great way to create open discussion, improving
the lines of communication between parent and child.
Lead by example. When children see adults reading and learning, whether
from the newspaper, magazines, how-to-manuals, or books, they will view
both as everyday activities rather than as difficult tasks.
Links to additional information and help with FCAT preparation
How parents can help prepare children with general test preparation
FCAT Explorer Parent and Family Guide: Help Children Succeed
U.S. Department of Education - Help Your Child Improve in Test-Taking
How parents can help prepare children through a web-based FCAT-specific
practice program
FCAT Explorer is a set of free, web-based practice programs for students
built from the Sunshine State Standards tested on the FCAT. To help your
child prepare for the FCAT, go to www.fcatexplorer.com.

Everything a parent could want to know about the FCAT
FCAT Explorer Parent and Family Guide: Information About the FCAT
Florida Department of Education: FCAT Information
Florida Department of Education: FCAT Fact Sheet (PDF)
Teacher's Corner: Tips on showing parents how they can be more involved and
help students with the FCAT
SP Snapshot: FCAT Preparation
Please see the section titled User Tips
Understanding the FCAT
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, is a standardized test
given to public school students in Florida. FCAT scores offer teachers and
administrators a way to measure student achievement in math and reading.

The Florida Department of Education developed the FCAT to help ensure that
children in Florida receive an education that will prepare them to meet the
challenges of a changing world and workplace.

All public school students in grades 3—10 are required to take the FCAT.
Home education students are tested only if their parents or guardians
select this as an evaluation option. Students receiving an opportunity
scholarship who attend a private school must also take the FCAT. Students
with disabilities (ESE) and Limited English Proficient students (LEP) are
assessed, often with accommodations, if they are working toward a standard
high school diploma.

The FCAT tests the student's ability to think through problems rather than
simply to memorize information and is made up of multiple choice questions
and open-response questions called "performance tasks."

Florida Department of Education www.fcatexplorer.com
This page brought to you by Student Performance SnapShot, your school's
data analysis program. SP SnapShot turns student performance data into
useful information for school improvement. www.studentperformance.com