Each school district is required to establish a comprehensive plan for student progression as specified in s. 1008.25, Florida Statutes. The plan must provide for a student's progression from one grade to another based on the student's mastery of the standards in s. 1003.41, Florida Statutes, specifically English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies standards. The plan must include criteria that emphasizes student reading proficiency in kindergarten through grade 3 and provide targeted instructional support for students with identified deficiencies in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.

All students in grades 3 through 10 must be assessed using the statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment per s. 1008.22, Florida Statutes. Any student in grades 3 through 10 who does not achieve a Level 3 or above on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment; the statewide, standardized mathematics assessment in grades 3 through 8; or the Algebra I end-of-course assessment must be evaluated to determine the nature of the student's difficulty, the areas of academic need, and strategies for providing academic supports to improve the student's performance.

To be promoted to grade 4, a student must score a Level 2 or higher on the grade 3 statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment required under s. 1008.22, Florida Statutes. Students in grade 3 who score at Level 1 must be retained or meet a good cause exemption in order to be promoted.

Districts use assessments or teacher observations to determine deficiencies in reading for students in kindergarten through grade 3. Districts identify their assessments in their K-12 Comprehensive Evidence-Based District Reading Plan.

• a federally required student plan such as an individual education plan (IEP);
• a school-wide system of progress monitoring for all students, except that a student who scores Level 4 or above on the English Language Arts and mathematics assessments may be exempted from participation by the principal; or
• an individualized progress monitoring plan.

• students in kindergarten through grade 3 who have a substantial deficiency in reading; and
• students who fail to meet performance levels required for promotion consistent with the district school board's plan for student progression.

• evidence-based, explicit, systematic, and multisensory reading instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and other strategies prescribed by the school district;
• participation in the school district's summer reading camp; and
• a minimum of 90 minutes of daily, uninterrupted reading instruction. This instruction may include
  • integration of content-rich texts in science and social studies within the 90-minute block;
  • small group instruction;
  • reduced teacher-student ratios;
  • more frequent progress monitoring;
  • tutoring or mentoring;
  • transition classes containing 3rd and 4th grade students; and
  • extended school day, week, or year.

Chapter 2022-16, Laws of Florida, substantially changes Florida's statewide standardized assessment program to include a statewide coordinated screening and progress monitoring (CSPM) tool to replace the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA). The law modifies the statewide standardized assessment program to include a CSPM system, but maintains the statewide standardized science assessment and the end-of-course (EOC) assessments in Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology I, United States History, and Civics. The bill specifies the implementation of English Language Arts (ELA) grades 3-10 and mathematics grades 3-8 assessment and progress monitoring, which must include

• a screening and progress monitoring assessment administered at the beginning and middle of the school year; and
• an end-of-year assessment administered in the spring, the results of which replace the Florida Standards Assessment to be used for accountability purposes in grade three retention, high school graduation, school grades, and school improvement ratings.

For more information about how Florida's statewide standardized assessments are related to the broader state accountability and school improvement programs, see School Improvement, Assessment, and Accountability.

Student performance on Florida's statewide assessments is categorized into five achievement levels.

• Level 1: Inadequate — Highly likely to need substantial support for the next grade/course
• Level 2: Below Satisfactory — Likely to need substantial support for the next grade/course
• Level 3: Satisfactory — May need additional support for the next grade/course
• Level 4: Proficient — Likely to excel in the next grade/course
• Level 5: Mastery — Highly likely to excel in the next grade/course

Achievement Level Descriptions specify what students should know and be able to do in each grade level and subject as indicated in the Florida Standards. Section 1008.22, Florida Statutes, requires the State Board of Education to designate by rule a passing score, indicating grade-level performance, for each statewide, standardized assessment. For this reason, on the State Board of Education adopted achievement level scale scores for statewide and end-of-course (EOC) assessments in Rule 6A-1.09422, Florida Administrative Code. Level 3 is the passing score for each grade level and subject. The Department of Education published the statewide and EOC assessment scale scores for each on its website.

New World Reading Scholarship Accounts. Section 1002.411, Florida Statutes, established the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts. The scholarship is contingent upon available funds, and on a first-come, first-served basis, is available to students who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade 5 and have a substantial reading deficiency identified under s. 1008.25(5)(a), Florida Statutes, or scored below a Level 3 on a statewide, standardized English Language Arts (ELA) assessment in the prior school year. An eligible student who is classified as an English Language Learner and is enrolled in a program or receiving services that are specifically designed to meet the instructional needs of English Language Learner students shall receive priority. The amount of the scholarship is currently $500 per eligible student and may be spent on instructional materials, curriculum, tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services, and fees for after-school or specialized summer education programs designed to improve reading or literacy skills.

Mathematics Remediation. Chapter 2023-108, Laws of Florida, creates a framework for increasing mathematics proficiency by requiring

• the identification of any student in kindergarten through grade 4 who exhibits a substantial deficiency in mathematics or the characteristics of dyscalculia;
• immediate systematic and explicit mathematics instruction to address specific deficiencies;
• monitoring and instruction be adjusted to student needs;
• school district early warning systems include early warning indicators to identify such students;
• such students be covered by a federally required student plan, such as an individual education plan or an individualized progress monitoring plan and that specific elements must be included in an individualized progress monitoring plan;
• student evaluation at the end of every grading period;
• the Florida Department of Education to identify state approved mathematics intervention programs, curricula, and high-quality supplemental materials; and
• renames the New World Reading Scholarship Accounts to the New World Scholarship Accounts, and extends the program to include supports for students with a deficiency in mathematics or having demonstrated characteristics of dyscalculia.

Other Reports
Understanding Florida Standards Assessments Reports, Florida Department of Education, 2022
Understanding FAST Grades 3-10 ELA Reading and Mathematics Reports for Families, Florida Department of Education, 2022-2023

Websites of Interest
Bureau of Standards and Instructional Support
Florida K-12 Student Assessment
Florida Statewide Assessments Portal
Florida K-12 Student Assessment Technical Reports
Florida End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments
Florida K12-Student Assessment Results
Florida School Grades
Just Read, Florida!

Performance Information

Angela Rivers, Bureau of Standards and Instructional Support, 850-245-0853, email: Angelia.Rivers1@fldoe.org
Website