House Bill hb0603
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 603
By Representative Wilson
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 that administration of the Florida
7 Comprehensive Assessment Test is contingent on
8 full funding for low-performing schools;
9 providing a definition; providing an effective
10 date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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14 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
15 229.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
16 229.57 Student assessment program.--
17 (3) STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner
18 shall design and implement a statewide program of educational
19 assessment that provides information for the improvement of
20 the operation and management of the public schools, including
21 schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
22 services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
23 Pursuant to the statewide assessment program, the commissioner
24 shall:
25 (c) Develop and implement a student achievement
26 testing program as part of the statewide assessment program,
27 to be administered annually in grades 3 through 10 to measure
28 reading, writing, science, and mathematics. The testing
29 program must be designed so that:
30 1. The tests measure student skills and competencies
31 adopted by the state board as specified in paragraph (a). The
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 603
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1 tests must measure and report student proficiency levels in
2 reading, writing, and mathematics. Science proficiency must be
3 measured statewide beginning in 2003. Other content areas may
4 be included as directed by the commissioner. The commissioner
5 shall provide for the tests to be developed or obtained, as
6 appropriate, through contracts and project agreements with
7 private vendors, public vendors, public agencies,
8 postsecondary institutions, or school districts. The
9 commissioner shall obtain input with respect to the design and
10 implementation of the testing program from state educators and
11 the public.
12 2. The tests are a combination of norm-referenced and
13 criterion-referenced and include, to the extent determined by
14 the commissioner, items that require the student to produce
15 information or perform tasks in such a way that the skills and
16 competencies he or she uses can be measured.
17 3. Each testing program, whether at the elementary,
18 middle, or high school level, includes a test of writing in
19 which students are required to produce writings which are then
20 scored by appropriate methods.
21 4. A score is designated for each subject area tested,
22 below which score a student's performance is deemed
23 inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate
24 remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.
25 5. Except as provided in subparagraph 6., all 11th
26 grade students take a high school competency test developed by
27 the state board to test minimum student performance skills and
28 competencies in reading, writing, and mathematics. The test
29 must be based on the skills and competencies adopted by the
30 state board pursuant to paragraph (a). Upon recommendation of
31 the commissioner, the state board shall designate a passing
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 603
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1 score for each part of the high school competency test. In
2 establishing passing scores, the state board shall consider
3 any possible negative impact of the test on minority students.
4 The commissioner may establish criteria whereby a student who
5 successfully demonstrates proficiency in either reading or
6 mathematics or both may be exempted from taking the
7 corresponding section of the high school competency test or
8 the college placement test. A student must earn a passing
9 score or have been exempted from each part of the high school
10 competency test in order to qualify for a regular high school
11 diploma. The school districts shall provide appropriate
12 remedial instruction to students who do not pass part of the
13 competency test.
14 6. Students who enroll in grade 9 in the fall of 1999
15 and thereafter must earn a passing score on the grade 10
16 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) described in this
17 paragraph instead of the high school competency test described
18 in subparagraph 5. Such students must earn a passing score in
19 reading, writing, and mathematics to qualify for a regular
20 high school diploma. Upon recommendation of the commissioner,
21 the state board shall designate a passing score for each part
22 of the grade 10 FCAT assessment test. In establishing passing
23 scores, the state board shall consider any possible negative
24 impact of the test on minority students. All students who took
25 the grade 10 FCAT during the 2000-2001 school year shall be
26 required to earn the passing scores in reading and mathematics
27 established by the state board for the March 2001 test
28 administration. Students in this target population who did not
29 earn the established passing scores and must repeat the grade
30 10 FCAT are required to earn the passing scores established
31 for the March 2001 test administration. All students who take
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 603
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1 the grade 10 FCAT for the first time in March 2002 and
2 thereafter shall be required to earn the passing scores in
3 reading and mathematics established by the state board for the
4 March 2002 test administration.
5 7. Participation in the testing program is mandatory
6 for all students, including students served in Department of
7 Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise prescribed by
8 the commissioner. The commissioner shall recommend rules to
9 the state board for the provision of test adaptations and
10 modifications of procedures as necessary for students in
11 exceptional education programs and for students who have
12 limited English proficiency.
13 8. A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
14 meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
15 student must meet.
16 9. School districts must provide instruction to
17 prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the skills and
18 competencies necessary for successful grade-to-grade
19 progression and high school graduation. The commissioner shall
20 conduct studies as necessary to verify that the required
21 skills and competencies are part of the district instructional
22 programs.
23 10. By January 1, 2000, the Department of Education
24 must develop, or select, and implement a common battery of
25 assessment tools which will be used in all juvenile justice
26 programs in the state. These tools must accurately reflect
27 criteria established in the Florida Sunshine State Standards.
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29 The commissioner may design and implement student testing
30 programs for any grade level and subject area, based on
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Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 603
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1 procedures designated by the commissioner to monitor
2 educational achievement in the state.
3 Section 2. Administration of the Florida Comprehensive
4 Assessment Test (FCAT) each school year is contingent on full
5 funding for low-performing schools in that fiscal year. For
6 the 2002-2003 fiscal year, "full funding" means an amount
7 equal to the funds provided for low-performing schools in
8 Specific Appropriations 7B and 131 of the 2001-2002 General
9 Appropriations Act. For subsequent fiscal years, "full
10 funding" means an amount equal to the funds appropriated for
11 low-performing schools in the prior fiscal year, adjusted
12 annually for inflation or deflation and any increase or
13 decrease in student population.
14 Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
15 law.
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18 HOUSE SUMMARY
19
Provides that passing score requirements for students who
20 took the grade 10 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
(FCAT) in the 2000-2001 school year shall not be
21 increased for students who must retake the test. Provides
passing score requirements for students taking the FCAT
22 for the first time in March 2002 and thereafter. Provides
that administration of the FCAT is contingent on full
23 funding for low-performing schools.
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