The stakes are now going to be higher than ever before for school kids taking the FCAT next week. Alachua County School Board Officials say this year, schools, teachers and students will be affected by the test results. Now that students are back from spring break, its time to break out the textbooks.
 

Parents were waiting to pick up their kids after they had a week off from school and now students at Talbot Elementary are getting ready for the FCAT.

"Our Teachers are going to give us packets,"  Anna Slayton, 5th Grader at Talbot Elementary said.

Slayton said she thought last year's test was simple.

"Its not like most teachers they over react about it," she said.

Her sister who's taking the test the first time is anxious.

"I'm kind of afraid because I never taken it before, kind of nervous about it," Sara Slayton said

Alachua County School Leaders say there's a change to the F-CAT this year. Everyone will be affected from schoools to teachers to even students.

"I'm just scared that I'm going to fail it," Sara Slayton said.

School leaders say the test is tougher and kids will have to score higher because the state raised the standards.  If students don't pass they may not be able to move to the next level, which means no electives and they'll have to take remedial courses.  Teachers can either be rewarded or penalized based on the scores.  School leaders say this test will make it harder fro schools to earn a higher grade.

The Slayton's say their preparation will pay off next week.

"I hope I pass,"  Sara Slayton said.

In hopes to moving up to the next grade.

School leaders say they don't teach the test but one way the Slayton's prepare is by going online to take practice questions on FCAT Explorer. Students will take the test next week.