The board, via telephone conference, voted unanimously to lower the  proficiency score from 4.0 to 3.0 for the writing portion of the Florida  Comprehensive Assessment Test. This means the number of students achieving  passing scores on the test will not drop as significantly, although many still  will have lower scores than their counterparts did in 2011.

It also means the state won't use the 2012 FCAT writing test scores in the  formula determining individual school grades. Because its a 90-day emergency  rule, the reprieve, however, is only good for this year, according to the  board.

"Optically, a change from 4.0 to 3.0 looks like we are lowering standards,  and I for one am against that," board member John Padgett said. "... I am only  voting for this to hold the schools harmless only on this year's writing  test."