Heavy rains and threats of storms prompted the Pasco school district on Tuesday to seek permission to postpone the FCAT writing test for one day, a request the state approved. The district gave principals the option of whether to proceed.

The weather didn't deter the district's early start schools. But a half-dozen elementary schools, which start closer to 10 a.m., decided to put off the testing. They were Moon Lake, Woodland, Chasco, Double Branch, Pine View and Gulf Highlands elementary schools. (Richey Elementary initially was on the list until officials chose to give the test.)

Research and evaluation director Peggy Jones told the Gradebook that the schools did not make the decision lightly, knowing that students had prepared and were expecting to take the test Tuesday. But they have many students in portables, Jones said, and did not want to risk dealing with weather related problems in the middle of testing.

"They were looking out for the safety of our kids," she said.

Hillsborough schools, by contrast, did not delay testing because of the weather.

"If we were really concerned about weather, we should not have had kids standing out at bus stops this morning," Hillsborough district spokesman Steve Hegarty told the Gradebook. "We went ahead."