SARASOTA COUNTY — The school boards of Sarasota, Charlotte and Manatee counties met this week to improve their best practices policies by sharing ideas and asking questions of one another, particularly on anticipated lower scores on the FCAT, which is setting higher benchmarks this year.

The tougher Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is aimed at raising school standards. However, Tim McGonegel, superintendent of the Manatee County school district, expressed concerns that the public might equate a drop in test scores with a decrease in learning. Students are scored from 1-5 on the FCAT in reading, writing, math and science, with 3 or better needed to demonstrate they are at grade level.