Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 FSA ELA and Mathematics Fact Sheet

October 2017

2017–18 Florida Standards Assessments English Language Arts and Mathematics

Fact Sheet

Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Overview This fact sheet provides information regarding grades 3–10 ELA and grades 3–8 mathematics assessments that measure student achievement of the Florida Standards. For information on FSA End-of-Course (EOC) assessments, see the 2017–18 FSA End-of-Course Assessments Fact Sheet.

Students to Be Tested in 2017–18

• Students enrolled in grades 3–10 will participate in FSA ELA assessments. o All students will participate in ELA Reading. o Students enrolled in grades 4–10 will also participate in ELA Writing. o Retained grade 10 or grades 11–12 students who have not yet passed the Grade 10 ELA

assessment will participate in the ELA Retake assessment. • Students enrolled in grades 3–8 will participate in FSA Mathematics assessments.

o In accordance with section 1008.22(3)(b)2., Florida Statutes, middle grades students will not be tested on both FSA Mathematics and a mathematics EOC assessment. Students enrolled in Algebra 1 or Geometry must take the corresponding EOC assessment, not the grade-level FSA mathematics assessment.

Test Administration Schedule For a full schedule of all statewide assessments, see the 2017–18 Statewide Assessment Schedule. Test Administration Information

• In 2017–18, the following FSA assessments are delivered in a paper-based format: o Grade 3 ELA Reading o Grades 4–7 ELA Writing

• In 2017–18, the following FSA assessments are delivered in a computer-based format: o Grades 8–10 ELA Writing, ELA Writing Retake o Grades 4–10 ELA Reading, ELA Reading Retake o Grades 3–8 Mathematics o Computer-based tests (CBT) are delivered via a CBT platform called the Test Delivery System

(TDS). o Paper-based tests (PBT), including regular print, large print, one-item-per-page and braille, of

computer-based tests are provided for students with disabilities who cannot access assessments on the computer, as specified in their Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

o CBT accommodations (e.g., text-to-speech) are available for students whose IEPs indicate these accommodations.

• ELA Writing o The Writing component of the ELA assessment consists of one text-based constructed-response

item (students read a variety of texts and respond to a prompt). Grades 4–7 students take ELA Writing on paper and have three lined pages on which to

write their responses.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 FSA ELA and Mathematics Fact Sheet

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Grades 8–10/Retake students take ELA Writing on computer and type their responses in a text box within the student interface (TDS).

o Grades 4–10 ELA Writing tests are administered in one 120-minute session. o The ELA Writing Retake is one 120-minute session, but students may use up to half the length of

a typical school day to complete the test. o All students (PBT and CBT) are provided with a planning sheet to plan their writing. A sample of

the Writing Planning Sheet is available on the FSA Portal. • ELA Reading and Mathematics

o ELA Reading and Mathematics assessments contain 56–66 items. o More information, including the number-of-items range for each assessment, can be found in

the test design summaries located on the FSA Portal. o FSA ELA and Mathematics sessions are administered over two days. Test session lengths are as

follows: ELA Reading Grades 3–5: Two 80-minute sessions Grades 6–8: Two 85-minute sessions Grades 9–10: Two 90-minute sessions The ELA Reading Retake is administered in two 90-minute sessions, but students may

use up to half the length of a typical school day to complete each session. ELA Mathematics Grades 3–5: Two 80-minute sessions Grades 6–8: Three 60-minute sessions* * Schools are required to administer Session 1 on day one and Sessions 2 and 3 on day two.

o Students are provided CBT Work Folders for each mathematics session. A sample of the work folder is available on the FSA Portal.

o Students are provided CBT Worksheets for each reading session. A sample of the worksheet is available on the FSA Portal.

o For ELA Reading tests, students will respond to some items associated with audio passages, with the exception of Grade 3 Reading. Students must have headphones or earbuds to access the passages. For information about the types of accommodations available for ELA Reading audio passages for students with the appropriate IEP or Section 504 plan, see the Accommodations Guide on the FSA Portal.

o Scientific calculators are provided as part of the CBT platform for Sessions 2 and 3 only of grades 7 and 8 FSA Mathematics. The calculator is available for practice on the FSA Portal. In addition, reference sheets are provided for some mathematics assessments. Please see the Calculator and Reference Sheet Policies for Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) Mathematics Assessments for more information. Calculators are not permitted for Grades 3–6 Mathematics.

Practice Tests • Computer-based and paper-based practice tests as well as paper-based test item practice handouts

for each assessment are available on the FSA Portal. Practice tests allow teachers, parents/guardians and students to become familiar with the system, functionality, tools and item types that will be encountered on the FSA. For resources to help students better understand the Florida Standards to which the assessments are aligned, please visit CPALMS.

• Students are required to participate in a practice test session at their school prior to testing. • Districts may order paper-based large print or braille practice materials for students participating

with these accommodations.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 FSA ELA and Mathematics Fact Sheet

October 2017

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Achievement Levels and FSA Scale Scores Student performance on Florida’s statewide assessments is categorized into five achievement levels. Table 1 provides information regarding student performance at each achievement level; this information is provided on student reports so that students, parents and educators may interpret student results in a meaningful way. Table 1. Achievement Levels

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

Inadequate: Highly likely to need substantial support for the next grade

Below Satisfactory: Likely to need substantial support for the next grade

Satisfactory: May need additional support for the next grade

Proficient: Likely to excel in the next grade

Mastery: Highly likely to excel in the next grade

Achievement Level Descriptions (ALDs) further specify what students should know and be able to do in each grade level and subject as indicated in the Florida Standards. The FSA ALDs are available on the FSA Portal. Achievement level cut scores for FSA assessments were adopted in State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.09422, Florida Administrative Code, in January 2016. The lowest score in Level 3 is the passing score for each grade level and subject. The table on the following page shows the score ranges for each achievement level on the FSA score scale. For grades 4–10 ELA, a combined score is reported that includes student performance on both the Writing and Reading components. Table 2. FSA Scale Scores for Each Achievement Level

Assessment Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

English Language Arts Scale Scores (240-412) for Each Achievement Level

Grade 3 ELA 240–284 285–299 300–314 315–329 330–360

Grade 4 ELA 251–296 297–310 311–324 325–339 340–372

Grade 5 ELA 257–303 304–320 321–335 336–351 352–385

Grade 6 ELA 259–308 309–325 326–338 339–355 356–391

Grade 7 ELA 267–317 318–332 333–345 346–359 360–397

Grade 8 ELA 274–321 322–336 337–351 352–365 366–403

Grade 9 ELA 276–327 328–342 343–354 355–369 370–407

Grade 10 ELA 284–333 334–349 350–361 362–377 378–412

Mathematics Scale Scores (240-393) for Each Achievement Level

Grade 3 Mathematics 240–284 285–296 297–310 311–326 327–360

Grade 4 Mathematics 251–298 299–309 310–324 325–339 340–376

Grade 5 Mathematics 256–305 306–319 320–333 334–349 350–388

Grade 6 Mathematics 260–309 310–324 325–338 339–355 356–390

Grade 7 Mathematics 269–315 316–329 330–345 346–359 360–391

Grade 8 Mathematics 273–321 322–336 337–352 353–364 365–393

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Additional Information • Students in grade 3 must achieve a Level 2 or higher on the FSA ELA Reading assessment for

promotion purposes. For more information on this requirement, as well as good cause exemption information for students who score in Level 1, please see the Third Grade Guidance page on the FDOE website.

• Students who entered grade 9 in 2013–14 and beyond must pass the Grade 10 FSA ELA assessment for graduation purposes. For more information, including concordant score and alternate passing score information, please see Graduation Requirements for Statewide Assessments.

• Achievement level cut scores for FSA ELA and Mathematics assessments were established in January 2016 (see Table 2). For more information on these scores, please see Understanding FSA Reports. For more information on the standard-setting process, please visit the Standard Setting page on the FDOE website.

• Students with IEPs or Section 504 plans, as well as English Language Learners (ELLs), may be eligible for allowable accommodations on statewide assessments. For more information about accommodations, see the Assessment Accommodations FAQ document on the FSA Portal.

Please visit the FDOE website and the FSA Portal for more information about the statewide assessment program.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 FSA EOC Fact Sheet

October 2017

2017–18 Florida Standards Assessments End-of-Course Assessments

Fact Sheet Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) End-of-Course (EOC) Overview This fact sheet provides information about the Algebra 1 and Geometry EOC assessments that measure student achievement of the Florida Standards as outlined in their course descriptions. For information on the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) EOC assessments, please see the 2017–18 NGSSS End-of-Course Assessments Fact Sheet. For more information on FSA English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics assessments, see the 2017–18 FSA English Language Arts and Mathematics Fact Sheet. FSA EOC Assessments—Students to Be Tested All students enrolled in and completing one of the following courses aligned to the Florida Standards must participate in the appropriate assessment as follows:

Table 1: FSA EOC Assessment Corresponding Course List

Assessments Course

Algebra 1* Algebra 1 – 1200310 Algebra 1 Honors – 1200320 Algebra 1-B – 1200380 Pre-AICE Mathematics 1 – 1209810 IB Middle Years Program/Algebra 1 Honors – 1200390

Geometry Geometry – 1206310 Geometry Honors – 1206320 IB Middle Years Program Geometry Honors – 1206810 Pre-AICE Mathematics 2 – 1209820

*In accordance with section 1008.22(3)(b)2., Florida Statutes, middle grades students will not be tested on both FSA Mathematics and a mathematics EOC assessment. Students enrolled in Algebra 1 or Geometry must take the corresponding EOC assessment, not the grade-level mathematics assessment. The following students are eligible to participate in FSA EOC assessments:

• Students who need to retake an assessment for graduation purposes (Algebra 1 only). • Students who have not yet taken an assessment to be averaged as 30% of their course grade. • Students who are in grade forgiveness programs and wish to retake an assessment to improve their

course grade. • Students who need to earn a passing score for a standard diploma with a Scholar designation (Geometry

only). • Students in a credit acceleration program (CAP) who wish to take the assessment to earn course credit.

Test Administration Schedule For a full schedule of EOC assessments, see the 2017–18 Statewide Assessment Schedule.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 FSA EOC Fact Sheet

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Test Administration Information • The FSA EOC assessments are delivered via a computer-based test (CBT) platform called the Test

Delivery System (TDS). • Paper-based versions (regular print, large print, braille, and one-item-per-page) of CBT assessments are

provided for students with disabilities who cannot access assessments on the computer as specified in their Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

• CBT accommodations (e.g., text-to-speech) are available for students whose IEPs indicate these accommodations.

• Each assessment is administered in two 90-minute sessions over two days. • Any student not finished by the end of each 90-minute session may continue working for up to half the

length of a typical school day. • There are multiple test forms for each assessment, with a maximum of 68 items on each test form. For

more information, see the Test Design Summary located on the FSA Portal. • Students are provided CBT Work Folders for each EOC session. An example of the work folder is

available on the FSA Portal. • Scientific calculators are provided as part of the CBT platform for Session 2 only of FSA EOC

assessments. The calculator is available for practice on the FSA Portal. Please see the Calculator and Reference Sheet Policies for Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) Mathematics Assessments for more information.

Practice Tests

• Computer-based and paper-based practice tests and answer keys for each assessment, as well as paper-based test item practice handouts, are available on the FSA Portal. Practice tests allow teachers, parents/guardians and students to become familiar with the system, functionality, tools and item types that will be encountered on the FSA. For resources to better understand the Florida Standards to which the assessments are aligned, please visit CPALMS.

• Students are required to participate in a practice test session at their school prior to testing unless they are retaking an assessment.

• Districts may order paper-based large print or braille practice materials for students participating with these accommodations.

Achievement Levels and FSA Scale Scores Student performance on Florida’s statewide assessments is categorized into five achievement levels. Table 2 provides information regarding student performance at each achievement level; this information is provided on student reports so that students, parents and educators may interpret student results in a meaningful way. Table 2. Achievement Levels

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

Inadequate: Highly likely to need substantial support for the next grade

Below Satisfactory: Likely to need substantial support for the next grade

Satisfactory: May need additional support for the next grade

Proficient: Likely to excel in the next grade

Mastery: Highly likely to excel in the next grade

Achievement Level Descriptions (ALDs) further specify what students should know and be able to do in each grade level and subject as indicated in the Florida Standards. The FSA ALDs are available on the FSA Portal.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 FSA EOC Fact Sheet

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Achievement level cut scores for FSA assessments were adopted in State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.09422, Florida Administrative Code, in January 2016. The lowest score in Level 3 is the passing score for each grade level and subject. The table below shows the score ranges for each achievement level on the FSA score scale. Table 3. FSA EOC Scale Scores for Each Achievement Level

Assessment Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

End-of-Course Assessment Scale Scores (425-575) for Each Achievement Level

Algebra 1 EOC 425–486 487–496 497–517 518–531 532–575

Geometry EOC 425–485 486–498 499–520 521–532 533–575

Additional Information

• For more information about graduation requirements related to EOC assessments, including information about earning a standard diploma with a Scholar designation as well as comparative score and alternate passing score information, please see Graduation Requirements for Statewide Assessments.

• Achievement level cut scores for FSA EOC assessments were established in January 2016 (see Table 3). For more information on these scores, please see Understanding FSA Reports. For more information on the standard-setting process, please visit the Standard Setting page on the FDOE website.

Please visit the FDOE website and the FSA Portal for more information about the statewide assessment program.

2017–18 Next Generation Sunshine State Standards End-of-Course Assessments

Fact Sheet

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 NGSSS EOC Fact Sheet

October 2017

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards End-of-Course Assessments Overview This fact sheet provides information for the following end-of-course (EOC) assessments that measure student achievement of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) as outlined in their course descriptions:

• Biology 1 EOC assessment • Civics EOC assessment • U.S. History EOC assessment

For information about the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) Algebra 1 and Geometry EOC assessments, please see the 2017–18 FSA End-of-Course Assessments Fact Sheet.

The NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC Assessment was administered for the final time in summer 2017. Students whose graduation requirement is the NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC may satisfy this requirement by earning the alternate passing score of 489 on the FSA Algebra 1 EOC assessment or a comparative score of 97 on the mathematics portion of the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT).

Students to Be Tested—Biology 1, Civics, and U.S. History All students enrolled in and completing one of the following courses aligned to the NGSSS will participate in the appropriate assessment:

Table 1: NGSSS EOC Assessment Corresponding Course List Assessment Course

Biology 1 Biology 1 – 2000310 Biology 1 Honors – 2000320 Pre-AICE Biology IGCSE Level – 2000322 Biology Technology – 2000430 Florida’s PreIB Biology 1 – 2000800 IB Middle Years Program Biology – 2000850 Integrated Science 3 – 2002440 Integrated Science 3 Honors – 2002450

Civics M/J Civics – 2106010 M/J Civics – 2106015 M/J Civics & Career Planning – 2106016 M/J Civics, Advanced – 2106020 M/J Civics, Advanced – 2106025 M/J Civics, Advanced & Career Planning – 2106026 M/J Civics and Digital Technologies – 2106029 M/J U.S. History & Civics – 2100045 M/J IB Middle Years Program Civics Advanced – 2106027 M/J IB Middle Years Program Civics Advanced & Career Planning – 2106028

U.S. History United States History – 2100310 United States History Honors – 2100320 Visions and Countervisions: Europe, U.S. and the World from 1848 – 2100390 Visions and Countervisions: Europe, U.S. and the World from 1848 Honors – 2100480

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 NGSSS EOC Fact Sheet

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The following students are eligible to participate in the NGSSS Biology 1, Civics and U.S. History EOC assessments:

• Students who have not yet taken the assessment to be averaged as 30% of their course grade. • Students who are in grade forgiveness programs and wish to retake the assessment to improve their

course grade. • Students who need to earn a passing score for a standard diploma with a Scholar designation (Biology 1

and U.S. History only). • Students in a credit acceleration program (CAP) who wish to take the assessment to earn course credit

(Biology 1 and U.S. History only). • Students enrolled in an accelerated course that satisfies the appropriate course requirement but does

not require participation in the EOC assessment (Biology 1 only). In accordance with section 1008.22(3)(b)2., Florida Statutes, middle grades students will not be tested on both the Statewide Science Assessment and the Biology 1 EOC assessment. Students enrolled in Biology 1 must take the EOC assessment, not the Statewide Science Assessment. Test Administration Schedule For a full schedule of all statewide assessments, see the 2017–18 Statewide Assessment Schedule.

Test Administration Information • The NGSSS EOC assessments are delivered via a computer-based test (CBT) platform called TestNav 8. • Paper-based versions (regular print, large print, braille and one-item-per-page) of CBT assessments are

provided for students with disabilities who cannot access assessments on the computer, as specified in their Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

• CBT accommodations (e.g., text-to-speech) are available for students whose IEPs or 504 plans indicate these accommodations.

• Each NGSSS EOC assessment is given in one 160-minute session with a 10-minute break after the first 80 minutes.

• Any student not finished by the end of the 160-minute session may continue working for up to the length of a typical school day.

• There are multiple forms of each NGSSS EOC assessment. The number and type of items are as described below:

o For Biology 1, there are 60–66 multiple-choice items. o For Civics, there are 52–56 multiple-choice items. o For U.S. History, there are 50–60 multiple-choice items.

• For the Biology 1 EOC, students are provided with a four-function calculator, Periodic Table of the Elements, and CBT Work Folder.

Practice Tests

• Computer-based practice tests (ePATs) are available on PearsonAccess Next. Teachers, parents/guardians and students can review the browser-based ePAT for each assessment.

• Students are required to participate in an ePAT practice session at their school prior to testing, unless they have taken the subject test previously.

• Paper-based regular print practice tests are available on the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) EOC page. Districts may order paper-based large print or braille practice materials for students participating with these accommodations.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 NGSSS EOC Fact Sheet

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Achievement Levels and Scale Scores Student performance on Florida’s statewide assessments is categorized into five achievement levels. Table 4 provides information regarding student performance at each achievement level for the NGSSS EOC assessments; this information is provided on student reports so that students, parents and educators may interpret student results in a meaningful way. Table 4. Achievement Levels

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

Indicates an inadequate level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates a below satisfactory level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates a satisfactory level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates an above satisfactory level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates mastery of the most challenging content of the NGSSS.

Achievement level scale score ranges for NGSSS EOC assessments are provided in the table below. The lowest score in Level 3 is the passing score for each assessment. Table 5: Achievement Levels for the EOC Assessment Scale Scores (325–475)

Course Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Biology 1 325–368 369–394 395–420 421–430 431–475

Civics 325–375 376–393 394–412 413–427 428–475 U.S. History 325–377 378–396 397–416 417–431 432–475

Additional Information • For more information regarding graduation requirements, please see Graduation Requirements for Florida’s

Statewide Assessments. • For more information about student reports, reporting categories and achievement levels, please see

Understanding NGSSS Science and EOC Reports. • For information about the FSA EOC assessments, please visit the FSA Portal. Please visit the FDOE website for more information about the statewide assessment program.

Fact Sheet

2017–18 Next Generation Sunshine State Standards S tatewide Science Assessment and FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 Statewide Science and FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake Fact Sheet

October 2017

Statewide Science Assessment and FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake Overview This fact sheet provides information about the Grades 5 and 8 Statewide Science Assessment and the Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake that measure student achievement of the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS). Students to Be Tested in 2017–18

• Statewide Science Assessment o Students enrolled in grades 5 and 8 will participate in the Statewide Science Assessment. o Students receiving accelerated instruction in science may participate in the appropriate Statewide

Science Assessment. o In accordance with section 1008.22(3)(b)2., Florida Statutes, middle grades students will not be

tested on both the Statewide Science Assessment and the Biology 1 EOC Assessment. Students enrolled in Biology 1 must take the EOC assessment, not the Statewide Science Assessment.

• FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake* o Students who entered Grade 9 in the 2009–10 school year through the 2012–13 school year and are

pursuing a standard Florida high school diploma must pass the Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading test or obtain a concordant score on the ACT or SAT as one of the requirements for graduation. Students eligible to participate in this administration are as follows: Adult students who did not pass the Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading test and have not yet passed

the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake or earned a concordant score. Students who enrolled in Grade 9 prior to the 2009–10 school year but did not pass the Grade

10 FCAT Reading test or Retake. Because the FCAT Reading Retake is no longer offered, these students will participate in the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake.

o Students who entered Grade 9 in 2013–14 and beyond are required to pass the Grade 10 Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) English Language Arts (ELA) Assessment.

Test Administration Schedule For a full schedule of all statewide assessments, see the 2017–18 Statewide Assessment Schedule. Please note that the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake will be administered for the final time in Spring 2018. Test Administration Information

• Statewide Science Assessment o The Statewide Science Assessment is administered as a paper-best test (PBT). o Test materials for paper-based accommodations (large print, braille, one-item-per-page) are

available for students whose IEPs or Section 504 plans indicate these accommodations. o The Statewide Science Assessment is administered in two 80-minute sessions. Grade 5 Science is

administered over two days; Grade 8 Science is administered in one day. o Students taking the Grade 8 Statewide Science Assessment will receive a hand-held, four-function

calculator and a Periodic Table of the Elements for use during the assessment. o The Statewide Science Assessments consists of multiple-choice items only.

• FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake o The FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake is delivered via a computer-based test (CBT) platform called TestNav 8.

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 Statewide Science and FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake Fact Sheet

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o Paper-based versions (regular print, large print, one-item-per-page and braille) of the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake are provided for students with disabilities who cannot access assessments on the computer, as specified in their Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) or Section 504 plans.

o CBT accommodations (e.g., masking) are available for students whose IEPs or Section 504 plans indicate these accommodations.

o The FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake will be administered in two sessions over two days. Students have up to half a typical school day to complete each session.

o The FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake consists of multiple-choice items only. Practice Tests

• Computer-based practice tests (ePATs) for the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake are available on PearsonAccess Next. Teachers, parents/guardians and students can review the browser-based ePAT for each assessment.

• A sample test book and answer key book for students taking the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake with a paper-based accommodation are available for student use on the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake page of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) website.

• Sample test books and answer key books for students taking the Statewide Science Assessment are available for student use on the FDOE Statewide Science Assessment page.

• Districts may order paper-based large print or braille practice materials for students participating with these accommodations.

Achievement Levels and Scale Scores Student performance on Florida’s statewide assessments is categorized into five achievement levels. Table 1 provides information regarding student performance at each achievement level for the Statewide Science Assessment and the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake; this information is provided on student reports so that students, parents and educators may interpret student results in a meaningful way.

Table 1. Achievement Levels

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

Indicates an inadequate level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates a below satisfactory level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates a satisfactory level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates an above satisfactory level of success with the challenging content of the NGSSS.

Indicates mastery of the most challenging content of the NGSSS.

Achievement level scale score ranges for NGSSS assessments are provided in the tables below. The lowest score in Level 3 is the passing score for each assessment. Table 2: Achievement Levels for the Statewide Science Assessment Scale Scores (140–260)

Grade Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 5 140–184 185–199 200–214 215–224 225–260 8 140–184 185–202 203–214 215–224 225–260

Table 3: Achievement Levels for the FCAT 2.0 Reading Scale Scores (140–302)

Grade Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 10 188–227 228–244 245–255 256–270 271–302

Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment 2017–18 Statewide Science and FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake Fact Sheet

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Additional Information • For more information regarding graduation requirements, please see Graduation Requirements for

Florida’s Statewide Assessments. • For more information about student reports, reporting categories and achievement levels, please see

Understanding NGSSS Science and EOC Reports for the Statewide Science Assessment and Understanding NGSSS Retake Reports for the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake.

• For information about the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), which replaced the NGSSS assessments in Reading, Writing and Mathematics in 2014–15, please visit the FSA Portal.

Please visit the FDOE website for more information about the statewide assessment program.

Florida’s S tatewide Assessments

Graduation Requirements for

Revised October 4, 2017

Overview According to Florida law, students must meet certain academic requirements to earn a standard high school diploma from a public school. This means that students must pass required courses, earn a minimum number of credits, earn a minimum grade point average and pass the required statewide assessments. Students who meet these requirements but do not pass the required assessments will receive a certificate of completion, which is not equivalent to a standard high school diploma. Passing scores for the statewide assessments are determined by the State Board of Education.

Graduation Requirements Reading/English Language Arts (ELA) Assessment Requirement

The reading/ELA assessments students must pass to graduate with a standard high school diploma are determined by each student’s year of enrollment in grade 9. Table 1 lists the required reading/ELA assessments for each grade 9 cohort and the passing score for each assessment.

Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading

Students who entered grade 9 in 2010–11 through 2012–13 are required to pass the Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading assessment aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS). The State Board of Education established performance standards for FCAT 2.0 Reading on December 19, 2011. Students may satisfy this requirement by earning a concordant score (as described on the following page) or by earning the alternate passing score of 349 on the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) ELA Retake (Reading and Writing). For more information on the FCAT 2.0 and NGSSS assessments, please see the 2017–18 NGSSS Statewide Science Assessment and FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake Fact Sheet.

FSA Grade 10 English Language Arts

In 2014–15, the Florida Standards Assessments, aligned to the Florida Standards, were introduced and the Grade 10 FSA ELA assessment was administered for the first time in spring 2015. Passing status was determined by linking student performance on the 2015 Grade 10 FSA ELA test to student performance on the 2014 Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading test, using a linked passing score of 245 on the Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading test. These students, as well as students who took the Retake assessment in fall 2015, are eligible to use the alternate passing score.

Beginning with students who entered grade 9 in 2014–15, students must pass the Grade 10 FSA ELA by earning the passing score of 350, adopted in State Board of Education rule in January 2016. For more information on the FSA ELA, please see the 2017–18 FSA English Language Arts and Mathematics Fact Sheet.

Table 1: Reading/ELA Assessment Requirement and Passing Score by School Year School Year When Assessment Requirements

Began for Students Entering Grade 9 Assessment that Students Must

Pass in Order to Graduate Passing Score for the Required

Assessment

2010–11 to 2012–13 Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading 245

2013–14 Grade 10 FSA ELA 349*

2014–15 to current Grade 10 FSA ELA 350

*Students who took the assessment prior to the adoption of the passing score on the new scale adopted by the State Board are eligible to use the alternate passing score for graduation, which is linked to the passing score for the previous assessment requirement.

Revised October 4, 2017

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Algebra 1 End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment Requirement

Beginning with students entering grade 9 in 2011–12, students must take and pass the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment to satisfy this graduation requirement.

NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC Assessment

The last administration of the NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC Assessment was in summer 2017. Students whose graduation requirement is the NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC may satisfy this requirement by earning the alternate passing score of 489 on the FSA Algebra 1 EOC assessment or a comparative score of 97 on the mathematics portion of the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT).

FSA Algebra 1 EOC Assessment

The FSA Algebra 1 EOC Assessment was first administered in spring 2015. Passing status was determined by linking student performance on the Algebra 1 EOC to student performance on the NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC using a linked passing score of 399 on the NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC Assessment. These students, as well as students who took the assessment in summer, fall or winter 2015, are eligible for an alternate passing score of 489. Students taking the assessment for the first time after performance standards were set must pass the Algebra 1 EOC by earning the passing score of 497, adopted in State Board of Education rule in January 2016. For more information on the FSA Algebra 1 EOC, please see the 2017–18 FSA End-of-Course Assessments Fact Sheet.

Table 2: Algebra 1 EOC Assessment Requirement and Passing Score by Implementation Year

Implementation Year Assessment that Students Must Pass to Graduate Passing Score for the Required Assessment

2011–12* NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC 399

2014–15 FSA Algebra 1 EOC Assessment 489**

2014–15 to current FSA Algebra 1 EOC Assessment 497

*Students who entered Grade 9 in the 2010–11 school year were required to earn course credit in Algebra 1 or an equivalent course and participate in the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment. The results of the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment must constitute 30% of these students’ final course grade, but there is not a passing requirement for this cohort of students.

**Students who took the assessment prior to the adoption of the passing score on the new scale adopted by the State Board in January 2016 are eligible to use the alternate passing score for graduation, which is linked to the passing score for the previous assessment requirement.

Graduation Options

• Retaking Statewide Assessments—Students can retake the Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading retake, Grade 10 FSA ELA Retake, or FSA Algebra 1 EOC Assessment each time the test is administered until they achieve a passing score, and students can continue their high school education beyond the twelfth-grade year should they need additional instruction. Students currently have up to five opportunities to pass the Grade 10 ELA test before their scheduled graduation. Students who do not pass the Grade 10 ELA in the spring of their tenth-grade year may retest in fall and spring of their eleventh- and twelfth-grade years. The number of opportunities to retake the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment will depend on the grade students are in when they first take the test, since it is taken at the conclusion of the course. The Algebra 1 EOC Assessment is currently administered four times each year, in the fall, winter, spring, and summer.

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• Concordant and Comparative Scores Option—A student can also meet assessment graduation requirements by receiving a score concordant to the FCAT 2.0 Reading passing score on either the ACT or SAT and a score comparative to the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment (NGSSS) passing score on the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT). FCAT 2.0 Reading concordant scores for students entering grade 9 in 2010–11 and after and the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment comparative score for students entering grade 9 in 2011–12 and after were established in rule by the State Board of Education in September 2013. New concordant and comparative scores will be established for the Grade 10 FSA ELA Assessment and the FSA Algebra 1 EOC Assessment once a concordant/comparative score analysis is completed and new scores are adopted by the State Board of Education. Until these new scores are established, the current scores may be used by all students.

Table 3 shows the current concordant and comparative scores students must achieve to satisfy graduation requirements. All students enrolled in grade 10 are required to participate in the Grade 10 FSA ELA Assessment in accordance with s. 1008.22, Florida Statutes (F.S.), regardless of whether they have a passing concordant score on file.

Additionally, if students have achieved a comparative score on the PERT prior to enrolling in and completing Algebra 1 or an equivalent course, they must take the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment in accordance with s. 1008.22, F.S.

Table 3: Concordant and Comparative Scores Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading or

Grade 10 FSA ELA Old SAT Critical Reading* 430 New SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing** 430 New SAT Reading Subtest** 24 ACT 19

Algebra 1 EOC (NGSSS or FSA) PERT Mathematics 97

*Administered prior to March 2016. **Administered in March 2016 or beyond; either the 430 score on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing OR the 24 score on Reading may be used.

• Scholar Diploma Designation—To qualify for a Scholar diploma designation on a standard high school diploma, a

student must earn a passing score on each of the statewide assessments shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Passing Scores Required for a Scholar Diploma Designation EOC Assessment Student Entered Ninth Grade Geometry Biology 1* U.S. History* 2010–11 through 2013–14 X X 2014–15 and beyond X X X *A student meets this requirement without passing the Biology 1 or U.S. History EOC Assessment if the

student is enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Biology 1 or U.S. History course and the student: o Takes the respective AP, IB, or AICE assessment, and o Earns the minimum score to earn college credit.

The passing score for each EOC assessment is the minimum score in Achievement Level 3 (see the Assessment Results section on the End-of-Course Assessments page on the Florida Department of Education [FDOE] website). For students who took an EOC assessment during its implementation year, districts may opt to convert the reported T scores to the established score scale to determine the Achievement Level a student would have earned on the new scale, or a district may allow these students to retake the test to earn a passing score. Districts have received a formula that may be used to convert students’ T scores to the established scale scores.

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Additionally, districts may choose to administer an EOC assessment to students who did not have an opportunity to take it if they wish to qualify for the Scholar designation. The passing score for FSA Geometry EOC was adopted in State Board of Education rule in January 2016.

For students who took the FSA Geometry EOC (2014–15) prior to the adoption of passing scores, the alternate passing score is 492 and above, which corresponds to the passing score of 396 and above for the NGSSS Geometry EOC (2010–11), last administered December 2014.

• Waivers for Students with Disabilities—Students with disabilities who entered grade 9 in 2014–15 and beyond are required to work toward a standard high school diploma and are expected to participate in statewide, standardized assessments. (Students with disabilities who entered grade 9 in 2013–14 or earlier and are working toward a standard high school diploma are also expected to participate in statewide, standardized assessments.) State law, however, provides for a waiver of statewide, standardized assessment graduation requirements for students with disabilities whose abilities cannot be accurately measured by the assessments. Pursuant to s. 1008.22(3)(c)2., F.S., “A student with a disability, as defined in s. 1007.02(2), for whom the individual education plan (IEP) team determines that the statewide, standardized assessments under this section cannot accurately measure the student’s abilities, taking into consideration all allowable accommodations, shall have assessment results waived for the purpose of receiving a course grade and a standard high school diploma. Such waiver shall be designated on the student’s transcript.” For additional information, visit the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services webpage at http://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu.

• High School Equivalency Diploma Program (2014 GED® Test)—The high school equivalency diploma program is designed to provide an opportunity for adults who have not graduated from high school to earn a GED®, the only state-approved high school equivalency diploma, by measuring the major academic skills and knowledge associated with a high school program of study, with increased emphasis on workplace and higher education. The state selected the 2014 GED® test as the assessment for the high school equivalency program during a competitive process conducted in 2014. The 2014 GED® Test includes four required content area tests: Reasoning through Language Arts, Mathematical Reasoning, Science, and Social Studies. It is a computer-based test. Passing the test may require some preparation. Adult education programs located in school districts, colleges and community organizations provide instruction and the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to meet the minimum passing score of 145. Additional information and resources regarding the GED® Test may be accessed at http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/hse/. Information about the high school equivalency program can be found at http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/adult-edu/2017-2018-adult-edu-curriculum-framewo.stml.

Previous Scores Required for Graduation Assessment requirements for students originally scheduled to graduate between 2004 and 2013 are as follows:

• Students who entered grade 9 in the 2000–01 school year through the 2008–09 school year and were originally scheduled to graduate between 2004 and 2013 were required to earn passing scores on Grade 10 FCAT Reading and Mathematics, or their equivalents.

• Students who entered grade 9 in the 2009–10 school year were required to earn an alternate passing score (comparable to the passing score for Grade 10 FCAT Reading) on Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading and a passing score on Grade 10 FCAT Mathematics, or their equivalents.

Students with these requirements currently have the following opportunities to meet them:

• The FCAT Reading Retake is no longer administered. Students who still need to satisfy this requirement must earn an alternate passing score on the FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake or a concordant score on the SAT or ACT.

• The FCAT Mathematics Retake is no longer administered. Students who still need to satisfy this requirement must earn a concordant score on the SAT or ACT. Students may also meet the FCAT Mathematics requirement by passing the FSA Algebra 1 EOC Assessment.

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The required passing and concordant scores for students who entered grade 9 from 2000–01 to 2009–10 are provided in Table 5.

Table 5: Passing Scores for Students Entering Grade 9 from 2000–01 to 2009–10

Assessment Reading Mathematics

FCAT 1926 (scale score of 300) or above 1889 (scale score of 300) or above

FCAT 2.0 241 or above* N/A

SAT Concordant Score

SAT administered prior to March 2016 410 (for students who entered grade 9 in 2006–07 or earlier) 420 (for students who entered grade 9 in 2007–08, 2008–09, or 2009–10) SAT administered after March 2016 For students who entered grade 9 in 2006–07 or earlier: 410 – New SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing OR 22 – New SAT Critical Reading For students who entered grade 9 in 2007–08, 2008–09, or 2009–10: 420 – New SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing OR 23 – New SAT Critical Reading

340**

ACT Concordant Score

15 (for students who entered grade 9 in 2006–07 or earlier) 18 (for students who entered grade 9 in 2007–08, 2008–09, or 2009–10)

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*Students who participated in the spring 2011 Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading test received scores called FCAT Equivalent Scores that were reported on the FCAT score scale, and the passing score was 1926 (scale score of 300). This is comparable to a score of 241 on the FCAT 2.0. **A concordant score of 370 on SAT Mathematics was previously established in 2003 as an alternative for the Grade 10 FCAT Mathematics requirement. This alternative passing score was lowered to a score of 340 after a concordance study was conducted in November 2009 on a revised, more challenging version of the SAT. Students required to pass FCAT Mathematics for graduation may submit a score of 340 or higher regardless of their year of enrollment in grade 9 if the score is dated March 2005 and beyond.

Class of 2003—Students who were originally scheduled to graduate in 2003 may satisfy their graduation requirements by earning a Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading score of 236 or higher.

High School Competency Test (HSCT) Requirement—The HSCT State Board Rule (6A-1.09421, Florida Administrative Code [F.A.C.]) was repealed in Fall 2015. Students who were scheduled to graduate in 2002 or earlier and have not passed the HSCT as part of their graduation requirements will need to enroll in an adult education program to earn a standard high school diploma. In accordance with Rule 6A-6.020, F.A.C., those who enter adult high school after their ninth-grade cohort has graduated or who are not part of a ninth-grade cohort must meet the current grade 12 cohort’s graduation requirements that are in effect the year they enter adult high school.

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Helpful Resources • An academic advisement flyer for students related to graduation requirements is available on the Graduation

Requirements page. • The FSA Portal and the following pages on the FDOE website provide information about the assessments

currently administered and serve as valuable resources to students, parents/guardians, and educators: FSA, FCAT 2.0 Reading Retake, Statewide Science Assessment, and EOC Assessments. For previous assessments, please visit the FCAT page and the FCAT 2.0 Historical page on the FDOE website.

• Schedules for FSA, FCAT 2.0, Statewide Science Assessment and EOC assessment administrations are accessible from the Assessment Schedules page on the FDOE website.

• FloridaStudents.org provides student tutorials and resources for the Florida Standards. • CPALMS.org is Florida’s official source for standards information and course descriptions and includes helpful

resources for educators and students.