Historical and Legislative Context
This Florida accountability law, signed by Governor Jeb Bush in 1999, introduced school letter grades.
What is the A+ Plan / Accountability Act?
This assessment replaced the FSA in the 2022–2023 school year.
What is FAST (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking)?
Florida’s statewide assessments are primarily this type — meaning they measure against fixed standards.
What is Criterion-referenced?
This phrase refers to teachers feeling pressured to only prepare students for test questions.
What is “teaching to the test”?
Grade 3 ELA FAST is considered high-stakes because it determines this.
What is promotion to 4th grade?
This year marked the first required high school graduation test in Florida.
What is 1983?
This exam is required to complete a U.S. Government course in grades 6–12.
What is the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE)?
FAST provides data three times per year in these two core subjects.
What are Reading and Math?
This 2015 law capped state-mandated testing at 45 hours per year.
What is Executive Order 15-31?
Schools that earn an A or improve two letter grades receive more control over this.
What is budget authority?
This federal law, signed in 2002, increased the federal role in tracking student performance.
What is No Child Left Behind (NCLB)?
This statewide test measures science knowledge in grades 5 and 8.
What is the Statewide Science Assessment?
FSAA data helps ensure compliance with this federal law protecting students with disabilities.
What is IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)?
One major criticism of testing is that it narrows this — meaning non-tested subjects get reduced.
What is curriculum narrowing?
At least one-third of a Florida teacher’s evaluation must be based on this.
What is student performance data?
Florida law requires that at least this percentage of students be assessed for a school to receive a grade.
What is 95%?
This test is designed specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
What is the Florida Standards Alternate Assessment (FSAA)?
This group uses assessment data to determine which courses should be offered or removed.
What are District-level decision makers?
Parents often appreciate detailed score reports, but may struggle with this emotional reaction.
What is feeling overwhelmed or stressed?
Students may use this type of portfolio as a “good cause exemption” to avoid retention.
What is a state-approved alternative assessment portfolio?
This 1995 proposal aimed to improve academic standards and align assessments with real-world skills.
What is the Comprehensive Assessment Design?
This type of assessment adjusts question difficulty based on student responses.
What is an Adaptive Assessment?
Teachers often use this report format to group students by skill level and plan instruction.
What is a Student performance report or data dashboard?
FAST replaced FSA to provide three annual progress checks instead of a single _________ test.
What is a single end-of-year test?
This organization helps develop both FAST and FSAA assessments.
What is Cambium Assessment Inc.?