The School Board of Hernando County 2017-18 Testing Information The following information will ensure your child s success during the implementation of the upcoming Florida s Standardized Assessments and End of Course Exams. By working together, we can make your child s test experience positive and successful. Here are some suggestions that will help your child succeed: Ensure your child gets a good night s rest Eat a healthy breakfast at home or in the school cafeteria Make sure your child arrives at school on time Gently encourage your child to do their best Spring 2018 Assessment Windows Please check your student's Edline Home Page for their schools specific test days for each grade and subject within the assessment windows. Each schools schedule will vary. Assessment Type Testing Window ELA Writing Retake February 26-March 2 Grades 8-10 March 1-March 9 Grades 4-7 Paper March 5 March 9 FCAT 2.0 Reading Retakes FSA ELA Reading Retakes FSA Algebra I Retakes March 19 - April 6 FSA ELA Writing Makeup Grades 4-10 & Retakes Paper/ April 2-April 6 Retakes-Late Reporting Grade 3 Reading Paper April 9-April 20 Grade 4-10 ELA Grade 3-8 Math April 16-May 18 Grade 5 Science Paper April 30-May 4 Grade 8 Science Paper April 30-May 4 FSA ELA Writing Makeup Grades 4-10 Paper/ May 14-May 18 Late Reporting-Fall 2018
Spring 2018 Assessment Windows End-of-Course Assessments Type Testing Window Civics April 16-May 18 FSA Geometry Schools must test in the order of the exams listed. U.S. History Once a school has finished one EOC subject, they move on to the next subject. Biology Each school will have a different weekly schedule. FSA Algebra Algebra I EOC is to be done last due to being a state graduation test requirement for graduation. Allows for more instructional time prior to the assessment. Are students required to take the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)? Florida Statutes Section 1008.22(3), states in pertinent part: Participation in the assessment program is mandatory for all school districts and all students attending public schools Furthermore, Florida Statutes Section 1008.25(4) further states in pertinent part: Each student must participate in the statewide, standardized assessment program required by s.1008.22 Grade 3 As required by Florida Statutes Section 1008.22(3), third grade students must participate in the statewide standardized assessment program and demonstrate proficiency in reading in order to be promoted to fourth grade. Additionally, Florida Statutes Section 1008.25 mandates that a student whose reading deficiency is not remedied by the end of Grade 3, as demonstrated by scoring at Level 2 or higher on the third grade FSA-ELA must be retained. Students who do not have a valid statewide standardized assessment program score (e.g. FSA ELA) are eligible to take the State-approved nationally-normed test, iready Reading Diagnostic Assessment to achieve promotion via demonstrating mastery of Grade 3 standards for reading. The iready is provided in May and after summer reading camp each year. A scale score of 535 or higher is needed on the iready Reading Diagnostic Assessment Period 3 to be promoted to Grade 4.
Students not achieving a Level 2 or higher on the statewide assessment (FSA ELA) or iready Reading Diagnostic scale score of 535 percent may qualify for one of 7 good cause promotion categories. If a student meets one of these good cause promotion categories, they would be exempt from retention and promoted to Grade 4: Limited English Proficient (LEP) students who have had less than 2 years of instruction in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program; Students with Disabilities whose Individual Educational Plan (IEP) indicates that participation in the statewide assessment program is not appropriate, consistent with the requirements of State Board of Education rule; Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on a state-approved alternative standardized reading or English Language Arts assessment approved by the State Board of Education; Students who demonstrate, through a student portfolio, that he or she is performing at least at Level 2 on the statewide standardized assessment; Students with Disabilities who participate in the statewide standardized assessment and whose IEP or 504 Plan reflects that the student has received intensive remediation in reading and English Language Arts for more than 2 years, but still demonstrates a deficiency and was previously retained in kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3; Students who have received intensive reading intervention for 2 or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency in reading and who were previously retained in kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 for a total of 2 years. A student may not be retained more than once in Grade 3. Students who have received intensive remediation in reading and English Language Arts for 2 or more years, but who still have a deficiency in reading and have already been retained in kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3 for a total of 2 years. Can a student be promoted to fourth grade without a Grade 3 FSA-ELA score using a good cause exemption? No, Grade 3 students must have either a score on the statewide standardized assessment, FSA- ELA, or a score on the alternative assessment, iready Reading Diagnostic Assessment Period 3, to be eligible for the good cause exemptions listed above.
Grade 10 To meet graduation requirements for a standard diploma, students must earn a passing score on the Grade 10 FSA-ELA and Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) assessments. Students who do not have a passing score on the Grade 10 FSA-ELA assessment or the Algebra I EOC may earn a state determined concordant score as listed below, and they can continue to sit for retake assessment administrations in the fall, winter, summer and spring of each year. Assessment Reading Concordant Scores FCAT 2.0 245 Old SAT Critical Reading (Prior to March 2016) 430 New SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing (March 2016 & Beyond) EBRW-430 OR New SAT Reading Subtest (March 2016 & Beyond) Reading -24 ACT Reading 19 Assessment Mathematics Concordant Scores NGSSS Algebra I EOC 399 PERT Math Concordant Score for Algebra I EOC 97 A few other reminders that are addressed in the State Test Administration Manual and state provided parent letters for each assessment: Electronic Devices Policy Tests will be invalidated if students are found with ANY electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones and smartphones, during testing OR during breaks. Leaving Campus If students leave campus before completing the test (for lunch, an appointment, illness, etc.), they WILL NOT be allowed to complete the test. Students and parents/guardians should be aware of this state mandated testing protocol. If a student does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best for the student to wait and be tested on a make-up day. Discussing Test Content after Testing While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this part of the state mandated testing protocol is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families. Discussing test content
includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing or posting to blogs or social media websites. Practice Tests All students participating in computer-based tests (CBT) are expected to participate in a scripted practice test session at school with a test administrator, with the exception of students who have already taken a practice test for a particular subject this school year. Where can I locate additional information regarding the spring assessments? You may go to http://fsassessments.org/ and go to the Students & Families Tab at the top of the Home Page. Who do I contact if I have additional questions related to the FSA? The first point of contact is the school principal. If the principal is unable to answer additional questions, he or she will contact the district staff for assistance. Thank you for your support of the Hernando County School Board and the success of our students!