The "lowering" of the score was actually holding the students to the standard in effect when they first took the test. Probably the state caved in the face of threatened lawsuits.
Most Florida school districts moved up the first day of school to early August in order to have "more time to prep for the FCAT." While this may be true, it also raises havoc with "normal" vacation plans, results is a dribble of "first day" students throughout August disrupting the class, places an enormous expense burden on the schools to keep classrooms air conditioned in the heat of August (money that could go to actually educating someone), and finally, is a nice way for teachers and administrators to hit parents (and voters) with a nice little "in your face."
Notice how little you hear questioning how these students got this far without learning real basic stuff. See post #7.
Remember, this is the workforce that will be taking care of you in your golden years.
I have guns...these knuckle-draggers will never take me alive. :-)
Shoot me. Just shoot me now........ Scary, isn't it?