Practice makes perfect — and that goes for virtual testing too. As you prep for Florida Assessments, ensure you give your students ample opportunities to practice, not just for the test content but for the test technology.
Formally called Florida Standards Assessment (FSA), beginning with the 2022–23 school year, Florida’s statewide standardized assessments in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics will be aligned with the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.). The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), which includes VPK through grade 10 Reading and VPK through grade 8 Mathematics assessments, will be administered as a progress monitoring assessment, which students will participate in three times per year. B.E.S.T. assessments not part of the FAST progress monitoring program include grades 4–10 Writing and end-of-course (EOC) assessments in Algebra 1 and Geometry.
What Is FAST?
FAST, or Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, are annual English language arts and mathematics exams that test students on their mastery of Florida Standards. Along with FAST assessments, Florida students also take a statewide science assessment in science in grades 5 and 8, which measures their achievement of Next Generation Sunshine State Standards.
Florida Standards Assessments are as follows:
- ELA Reading (grades 3–10)
- ELA Writing (grades 4–10)
- Mathematics (grades 3–8)
FSA assessments for grades 3 through 6 are on paper, with accommodations such as large print or Braille for students with disabilities that require such adjustments to testing materials. FSA assessments for grades 7 through 10 are on the computer. Qualifying students with disabilities, however, may be able to take paper-based versions or receive virtual accommodations, such as text-to-speech for the vision-impaired. Both grades 5 and 8 science tests are paper-based.
Students can’t take any Florida Standards Assessments below their enrolled grade level. Still, if they are receiving accelerated instruction, they will take the FSA assessment that matches the grade level of that instruction.
High school students take end-of-course assessments that measure Florida Standards in math and Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in the other subjects. These end-of-course tests are computer-based, though paper versions are available for qualifying students with disabilities. There’s an end-of-course exam for each of these subjects:
- Algebra 1
- Geometry
- Biology 1
- Civics
- U.S. History
Retakes of ELA reading and writing tests for grade 10, Algebra 1, and Geometry are available in the early fall and spring.
The Florida Standards Alternate Assessment (FSAA) is provided for qualifying students whose disabilities prevent them from accessing FAST, even with the available accommodations. FSAA tests students on the Florida Standards Access Points (FS-APs) for ELA and math and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Access Points (NGSSS-APs) for science and social studies, learning standards designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
English language learners are tested with ACCESS for ELLs, a suite of tests that assess English language proficiency. This paper-based test is given to ELLs in grades 1–12, and a speaking section is delivered one-on-one with a teacher. Kindergarten students and ELLs with significant cognitive disabilities receive a version of the test delivered entirely one-on-one with a teacher.
How to Prep Your Students for Florida Assessments
If your students are in grade 7 or above, they will face a computer-based assessment this year. Whether it’s their first or fifth time taking a virtual test, they’ll need time and space to prepare — not just for the content they’ll be tested on, but for the environment they’ll be tested in.
Virtual tests go beyond basic multiple-choice questions, taking advantage of digital technology to test students’ problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. You’ll want your students to be familiar with the questions they may encounter on the Florida Assessment, whether drag-and-drop, multiple selection, or tables and charts.
For an added benefit, have your students take practice tests on the same device they’ll use for the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking. This way, they’ll know the ins and outs of their tablet, laptop, or desktop computer and how virtual test-taking technology interacts with their screen.
By providing practice in a virtual testing environment, you’ll ensure your students know exactly what to expect on test day. They’ll be confident and prepared for whatever the FAST throws their way.
Practice for the Florida Standards Assessments in Edulastic
Good news: Edulastic has already uploaded practice test content to our Edulastic Public Library — so providing virtual test practice is easier than ever! All you have to do is set up a free Edulastic account, and you’ll be able to welcome your students into practice test sessions (or use the tool with your real class tests).
Ready to get started?
Resource Links
- https://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-8789/dps-2019-197a.pdf
- https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5663/urlt/2223StatewideAssessmentSched.pdf
- https://fsassessments.org/-/media/project/client-portals/florida/pdf/fact-sheets/2021-2022-florida-statewide-eoc-assessments-fact-sheet.pdf
- https://fsassessments.org/-/media/project/client-portals/florida/pdf/fact-sheets/2021-22-florida-grade-level-assessments-fact-sheet_final_508.pdf
- https://fsaa.fsassessments.org/
- https://fsaa.fsassessments.org/families.html
- https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/
- https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/fsa.stml
- https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/computer-based-testing.stml
- https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/end-of-course-eoc-assessments/
- https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/access-for-ells.stml
