As some of you may know, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (known simply as FCAT) has had its testing dates moved to the month of April. This change has forced the Florida District to reschedule its District Conventions for the next several years. This document aims to try and help explain the situation as well as introduce you to the new dates of Future DCONs.
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on Friday, May 7th, 2010 at 5:49 amand is filed under District Convention.
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David, thanks for the “heads up” on the conventions. I was comparing the new dates to next year’s AP testing dates and the changes are really going to hurt. The 5th and the 6th are the test dates for two of our most popular AP tests (Eng Lit and US History). Since these are typically taken by our best Juniors and Seniors, I am foreseeing a drastic drop in the number of kids I can take. Actually, I believe I only have one officer who will not be taking either one of these tests. The possibility of taking a late (make-up) test exists, but the decision whether to even offer these tests is left up to each school. Additionally, it would cost each student an additional $40, even if their school offered the late test. Public school students taking the AP course get the $78 test paid for by the state, but private schools do not. The state will not pay for the late test fee though. Also, I don’t know how many kids would spend four days at convention to come back to take the 2nd week’s exams. Our best students take a multitude of these tests during these two weeks.
I’m guessing there may not be any other solution, but I wanted to give you a “heads up” too. The website that shows next year’s AP testing dates is: http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap/about/dates/next-year I was trying to look for the 2012 dates, but I couldn’t find them. However, I believe the tests are always given the first two full weeks of May.
I hope there is something that can still be done :/
Betty
I am also concerned with the AP and IB testing. I checked with our testing coordinators and they suggested the second week of FCAT testing. Generally, in our district, the second week would be reserved for make-up testing. I believe most schools try to test during the first part of the first week if at all possible. I believe administrators could make an exception for the FCAT blackout dates. Since AP counts for school grades now, I think would be less likely to make an exception for the May testing.
Is there any way that DCON can be sooner rather than later? Besides the AP/IB testing, there are also a lot of senior activities that go on towards the end of the year. I’m sure our seniors would rather participate in their school proms and things like that then go to DCON. We don’t want less people attending DCON.
I am also very concerned about the new dates, they will interfere with AP tests and they will also interfere with normal exam schedules. Some schools have changed their year schedule, like Northwest Florida (Okaloosa County), so we might have EOCs on that week. I love going to DCON, and I’m super bummed out of the possiblity of not being able to go.
Thank you to all whom left input. Unfortunately, these are the only dates that we could use without having a great increase in room/convention prices. We want District Convention to remain as low cost as possible to give everyone the opportunity to come. We understand that these dates may be an inconvenience to you, but they are the only ones that work.
All of your input has been forwarded on to those planning District Convention for this year. We apologize, though, that we are unable to change these dates to accommodate all of you.