Half of Florida's 9th and 10th graders failed the reading portion of the new FCAT.

The state released the test scores Friday.

Statewide, 52 percent of 9th graders and 50 percent of 10th graders are reading at or above grade level, according to the results of the new, more rigorous test.

High school students must pass the 10th grade FCAT 2.0 reading exam to graduate. They can retake it if they fail.

FCAT writing test scores were also released Friday. About 80 percent of students passed the writing test, but that's only after the State Board of Education passed an emergency rule this week to lower the passing score.

Had the board not done that, only about a third of Florida's students would have passed the tougher test.

Starting Monday, the state will open an FCAT call center for people with questions. The phone number is 1-866-507-1109. Parents can also email questions starting Monday to this address: justforparents@fldoe.org .

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

FCAT Reading: Percent who scored a "3" or above in Central Florida

County Grade 2012 Scores 2011 Scores
Brevard 9 66 64
  10 64 64
Flagler 9 51 52
  10 50 50
Lake 9 49 48
  10 45 45
Marion 9 52 50
  10 44 47
Orange 9 48 49
  10 49 48
Osceola 9 43 42
  10 44 45
Seminole 9 64 64
  10 63 65
Sumter 9 58 56
  10 51 56
Volusia 9 52 52
  10 50 50