Tampa Senator Wants to Know 'Who Is Grading the FCAT'

Senator Les Miller (D-Tampa, see photo), along with Sen. Walter "Skip" Campbell (D-Tamarac), have been denied information about who is grading the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). As a result, they are considering a lawsuit to open the process up public scrutiny.

According to CTB/McGraw-Hill, the company which grades the test, graders must have a bachelor's degree in a field related to the essay subjects students write about. They are paid only $10/hour for their services.

According to one report, they contracted out to the temp agency, Kelly Services, to hire several hundred workers.

CTB/McGraw-Hill maintains that the information that Senators Miller and Campbell want is a "trade secret" and exempt from Florida's sunshine laws.

Sen. Miller is a candidate for the 11th Congressional District, which is currently held by Rep. Jim Davis. Davis, a Democratic candidate for governor, is not running for re-election.

Sen. Campbell is a Democratic candidate for Attorney General.