May 20, 2013
The U.S Department of Education is investigating whether the state's standardized test discriminates against disabled students.
The investigation is in response to 13 complaints that the Florida Comprehensive Assessment test violated the rights of disabled students to a free education. If the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights finds the FCAT violates federal law, it can force the state to change test policies or withhold federal money.
The complaints say the students' rights are violated because they are required to pass the FCAT to be promoted to the next grade.
