House Bill hb0167
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 167
By Representative Lynn
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student assessment; amending
3 s. 229.57, F.S.; providing requirements
4 relating to passing scores on the grade 10
5 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test;
6 providing an effective date.
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8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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10 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
11 229.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
12 229.57 Student assessment program.--
13 (3) STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner
14 shall design and implement a statewide program of educational
15 assessment that provides information for the improvement of
16 the operation and management of the public schools, including
17 schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
18 services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
19 Pursuant to the statewide assessment program, the commissioner
20 shall:
21 (c) Develop and implement a student achievement
22 testing program as part of the statewide assessment program,
23 to be administered annually in grades 3 through 10 to measure
24 reading, writing, science, and mathematics. The testing
25 program must be designed so that:
26 1. The tests measure student skills and competencies
27 adopted by the state board as specified in paragraph (a). The
28 tests must measure and report student proficiency levels in
29 reading, writing, and mathematics. Science proficiency must be
30 measured statewide beginning in 2003. Other content areas may
31 be included as directed by the commissioner. The commissioner
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1 shall provide for the tests to be developed or obtained, as
2 appropriate, through contracts and project agreements with
3 private vendors, public vendors, public agencies,
4 postsecondary institutions, or school districts. The
5 commissioner shall obtain input with respect to the design and
6 implementation of the testing program from state educators and
7 the public.
8 2. The tests are a combination of norm-referenced and
9 criterion-referenced and include, to the extent determined by
10 the commissioner, items that require the student to produce
11 information or perform tasks in such a way that the skills and
12 competencies he or she uses can be measured.
13 3. Each testing program, whether at the elementary,
14 middle, or high school level, includes a test of writing in
15 which students are required to produce writings which are then
16 scored by appropriate methods.
17 4. A score is designated for each subject area tested,
18 below which score a student's performance is deemed
19 inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate
20 remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.
21 5. Except as provided in subparagraph 6., all 11th
22 grade students take a high school competency test developed by
23 the state board to test minimum student performance skills and
24 competencies in reading, writing, and mathematics. The test
25 must be based on the skills and competencies adopted by the
26 state board pursuant to paragraph (a). Upon recommendation of
27 the commissioner, the state board shall designate a passing
28 score for each part of the high school competency test. In
29 establishing passing scores, the state board shall consider
30 any possible negative impact of the test on minority students.
31 The commissioner may establish criteria whereby a student who
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1 successfully demonstrates proficiency in either reading or
2 mathematics or both may be exempted from taking the
3 corresponding section of the high school competency test or
4 the college placement test. A student must earn a passing
5 score or have been exempted from each part of the high school
6 competency test in order to qualify for a regular high school
7 diploma. The school districts shall provide appropriate
8 remedial instruction to students who do not pass part of the
9 competency test.
10 6. Students who enroll in grade 9 in the fall of 1999
11 and thereafter must earn a passing score on the grade 10
12 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) described in this
13 paragraph instead of the high school competency test described
14 in subparagraph 5. Such students must earn a passing score in
15 reading, writing, and mathematics to qualify for a regular
16 high school diploma. Upon recommendation of the commissioner,
17 the state board shall designate a passing score for each part
18 of the grade 10 FCAT assessment test. In establishing passing
19 scores, the state board shall consider any possible negative
20 impact of the test on minority students. All students who took
21 the grade 10 FCAT during the 2000-2001 school year shall be
22 required to earn the passing scores in reading and mathematics
23 established by the state board for the March 2001 test
24 administration. Students in this target population who did not
25 earn the established passing scores and must repeat the grade
26 10 FCAT are required to earn the passing scores established
27 for the March 2001 test administration. All students who take
28 the grade 10 FCAT for the first time in March 2002 and
29 thereafter shall be required to earn the passing scores in
30 reading and mathematics established by the state board for the
31 March 2002 test administration.
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1 7. Participation in the testing program is mandatory
2 for all students, including students served in Department of
3 Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise prescribed by
4 the commissioner. The commissioner shall recommend rules to
5 the state board for the provision of test adaptations and
6 modifications of procedures as necessary for students in
7 exceptional education programs and for students who have
8 limited English proficiency.
9 8. A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
10 meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
11 student must meet.
12 9. School districts must provide instruction to
13 prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the skills and
14 competencies necessary for successful grade-to-grade
15 progression and high school graduation. The commissioner shall
16 conduct studies as necessary to verify that the required
17 skills and competencies are part of the district instructional
18 programs.
19 10. By January 1, 2000, the Department of Education
20 must develop, or select, and implement a common battery of
21 assessment tools which will be used in all juvenile justice
22 programs in the state. These tools must accurately reflect
23 criteria established in the Florida Sunshine State Standards.
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25 The commissioner may design and implement student testing
26 programs for any grade level and subject area, based on
27 procedures designated by the commissioner to monitor
28 educational achievement in the state.
29 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
30 law.
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2 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Provides that passing score requirements for students who
4 took the grade 10 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
(FCAT) in the 2000-2001 school year shall not be
5 increased for students who must retake the test. Provides
passing score requirements for students taking the FCAT
6 for the first time in March 2002 and thereafter.
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