FCAT: Florida now giving parents more information

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The state Department of Education is launching a campaign to give parents more information about the new, tougher version of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

It was launched Monday, six days after the State Board of Education passed an emergency rule lowering scores on the FCAT 2.0 writing exam.

The rule allowed about 80 percent of students to pass -- the same as last year. Otherwise, only about a third of students would have passed.

One part of the campaign is a call center where parents can get questions answered from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The toll-free number is 866-507-1109.

There's also a website with information at www.floridapathtosuccess.org/ and a public forum at parents.fldoe.org/home .

Parents also can ask questions and voice opinions through email at justforparents@fldoe.org