Fla. governor abandons PARCC test system meant to replace FCAT

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Parent and education advocate Christine Bramucci said she's left with more questions than answers.

Her confusion comes after Gov. Rick Scott made the sudden decision to abandon a new multi-state testing system known as Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, based on the Common Core standards.

PARCC was set to replace the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test next school year.

"I think the decision yesterday has cast even more uncertainty on the direction our education system is headed in this state," Bramucci said.

There is no indication the state will get rid of the Common Core standards, and several local school leaders said students shouldn't expect any major changes.

Some worry the transition will be rocky.

"Teachers are having to prepare their students, for some nameless, faceless test," Bramucci said.

Many said the governor's decision to pull out of PARCC was purely political and based on opposition among tea party conservatives who argued education decisions should be made on the local level, not handed down by the federal government.

Seminole Education Association leaders said they're welcoming the move and said the PARCC test was time consuming and costly.

"This is the one area where he (agrees) with those (conservatives), that it is important to be careful with how our kids are tested," said K. T. Caldwell of the Seminole Education Association.

Bidding for a new test to replace the PARCC is expected to begin in the spring. State officials say they'll have the new test in place next school year.

WFTV