JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- There is a new test students across Florida are being required to take.
Some say the test is pointless and it's costing you money. School officials though say it helps students gage their college readiness. School leaders say it's important for kids who sit in the classrooms everyday, so they know whether they're ready for college. The debate here is, not every student wants to go on to college, but they still have to take the test you're paying for.
Angel Ramirez doesn't really like taking tests, but the high school senior knows the SAT, FCAT or ACT will help him get into the college he wants.
But students who don't score high enough on those exams have to take a new state test. It's called the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test or PERT. "It's designed to see if students are ready to go to college," said Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals.
The test is also costing tax payers extra money. According to the Department of Education's website, the state pays $2.82 per student to take the exam. "It doesn't affect a student's grade, it's more of whether they're ready to go on to the next level," said Pratt-Dannals.
When kids already take so many tests, it has some asking why take another that won't impact their grades and one that's already very similar to the FCAT. We took the question to the Department of Education. The spokesperson says the test replaces an old one and helps make sure kids in Florida high schools are ready for college.
If students don't do well on the test, the district has to get them into more classes their senior year to get them ready for college.
If you want to learn more about the PERT test, we've put information from the Department of Education on the side of the page.
