Florida's state, local officials at odds of FCAT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson and Florida's school boards are at odds over high-stakes testing.

Robinson defended the state's heavy reliance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test as a measuring stick in a statement Friday.

It was in response to a resolution passed Thursday by the Florida School Boards Association calling for an independent review of the FCAT's reliability.

Robinson disputed the association's contention the test is too expensive, narrows the curriculum as teachers focus on what's tested and is a detriment to student success.

He said the $59 million that goes to testing is only a half a percent of overall annual state and local spending on public schools.

Robinson also cited growing enrollment in such courses as dance, drama and foreign languages as evidence the curriculum hasn't been narrowed.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)