Florida Student Assessments

The first quarter of the 2022 – 2023 school year has ended. In addition to their report card, your student should have received their beginning-of-the-year assessment results (also called Progress Monitoring 1). Below, the Education Corner gives parents and caregivers a breakdown of the various types of testing, how to access them, and decipher the results.

B.E.S.T. Standards

The core content of the reading and mathematics curricula taught in Florida. The FAST assessments measure whether students have progressed on the B.E.S.T. ELA Reading and Mathematics standards.

F.A.S.T. Assessments

FAST stands for Florida Assessment of Student Thinking. A progress monitoring assessment administered three times a year aligned with the B.E.S.T. standards.

Kindergarten – 2nd Grade

FAST for students in grades K-2 is administered three times a year using Renaissance Learning Star assessments for Literacy, Reading, and Math. The K-2 FAST Fact Sheet provides additional information regarding testing.

What information can you expect from the Star Assessments?

  • Students will receive an overall scale score and percentile rank.

  • Students will also receive the grade equivalent, which indicates the grade placement of students for whom a particular score is typical.

  • In addition, students will receive the Instructional Reading Level (IRL) and Lexile Range (Star Reading Only).

Learn more about your child’s K-2 Star assessment by viewing the Star Overview.

3rd – 8th Grade

Children in grades 3 – 8 participate in FAST testing for ELA Reading (English Language Arts) and Mathematics. Testing is administered to students three times a year. For more information regarding FAST testing for your 3rd – 8th grader(s), the Florida Department of Education has composed THIS Report.

What information can you expect from the FAST ELA Reading and Mathematics assessments?

Students will receive an Individual Student Report composed of the following:

  • Score information: the student’s scale score, achievement level, and a chart indicating the student’s scale score and where it falls in the achievement level.

  • Percentile Rank: the student’s percentile rank that compares your student to others who took the same test (in the progress monitoring window).

  • Performance by Reporting Category: a visual report of the student’s achievement level (below, at/near, above the standard) for each reporting category in the test. The classifications indicate a student’s level of success with items that assess the benchmarks within each category.

What do the FAST achievement levels mean?

The student’s report will have a graph of achievement levels in both ELA Reading and Math, rating 1-5. The achievement level is a student’s achievement in multiple testing categories. Overall results for ELA and Math are categorized as follows:

  • Inadequate: Highly likely to need substantial support for the next grade/course

  • Below Satisfactory: Likely to need substantial support for the next grade/ course

  • On-Grade Level: May need additional support for the next grade/ course

  • Proficient: Likely to excel in the next grade/course

  • Mastery: Highly likely to excel in the next grade/ course

For detailed information regarding the FAST assessments, progress monitoring, FAST reports, and more, please review the Florida Department’s Education document, Understanding FAST Grades 3-10 ELA and Mathematics Reports for Families.

Access and Accommodations

Does your child have an education plan with testing accommodations? Learn more by reviewing the FAST Accommodation Guide.

Didn’t receive your child’s results?

If you did not receive your child’s results, please get in touch with their teacher(s) to obtain a copy. Your student’s teacher also has access to a more detailed report, such as how your student performed on each benchmark assessed. Teachers may use this information to identify potential strengths and/or weaknesses to provide focused instruction.

Additionally (beginning Fall 2022), after the close of the first Progress Monitoring window, you can access your student’s FAST results in the FAMILY PORTAL using the login information provided by the school.

We’re here to help.

Are you concerned about your child’s testing results (Progress Monitoring 1)? Is your child performing below grade level? If so, act now! The Education Team and Collaborative Corner are here to support YOU and your child’s school experience.

In your corner, always.
Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children

References
Florida Department of Education – Standards Review
2022-2023 FAST Fact Sheet, K-2
Renaissance Star Assessments
Understanding FAST Reports, 3-10
FAST Accommodation Guide
FAST Family Portal
The Education Corner
The Education Team
Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children

Coordinated Care, Early Intervention, Education, Child Care, Client ConciergeJessica BarisanoCollaborative Corner for Exceptional Children Exceptional Student Education, Educational Psychology, Educational Advocacy, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, ESE Services, IEP Advocate, IEP, 504 Plan, Collaborative Corner, Special Education, Inclusive Education, Individual Education Plan, Learning Disability, Exceptional Child, Children with Exceptional Needs