The Facts

Evidence Based
This program is based on the results of effective pedagogical practices in the content area of writing in the state of Florida. This school-wide writing program was developed in order to meet the challenge of being confronted with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) writing test, formerly the Florida Writes test, which is the state’s standardized test that measures students’ ability to write a five paragraph essay. It is administered in fourth, eighth, and tenth grade. Michalec developed this program which is grounded in research and is helpful in obtaining high writing scores on this state test.

One Elementary Title One school who used this writing curriculum achieved tremendous results with their fourth grade students who took the state writing test. Their scores increased from 14% of the students scoring at or above a 3.0, as measured on the FCAT writing test, to 97% of students scoring at or above a 3.0 in the 1999-2000 school year. A 3.0 is considered a passing score and a 6 is the highest possible score. This school had a 64.2% free and reduced lunch rate, a 45.1% mobility rate and a 39% minority rate. Another Elementary Title One school who used this program in 2000-2001 and 2002 achieved and average score of a 4.1 and then a 3.8 in 2002. Both years these scores were at the top in the state of Florida. Furthermore, in 2000-2001, this Title One school had 100% of the students pass the test and 96% passed in 2002.