Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

The Department of Education Has Taken Initial Steps to Improve Student Progression Data

Report 08-42, June 2008

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Report Summary

  • Since the implementation of Florida's third grade retention policy, student performance has improved and fewer third graders have scored at the lowest level on the FCAT, level 1. In addition, third grade retention has decreased since the first year of the new retention policy.
  • The Department of Education has taken initial steps to ensure that progression data reported by the districts is complete and accurate. In 2005 the department implemented data edits to ensure that the data is complete and accurate. This will likely help resolve two of the three data issues noted in our previous report. However, the department has not added data elements such as information on mid-year promotions to help resolve the situations where there is not enough information to determine why retained third grade level 1 students took the fourth grade FCAT in the following year.

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Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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