Florida Senate - 2010                                     SB 420
       
       
       
       By Senator Bullard
       
       
       
       
       39-00195-10                                            2010420__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to student assessment in the public
    3         schools; terminating the administration of the Florida
    4         Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to students in
    5         grades 9 through 12; requiring the Preliminary
    6         SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
    7         (PSAT/NMSQT) to replace the grade 10 FCAT for purposes
    8         of measuring a student’s knowledge and skills;
    9         requiring students to take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 10;
   10         requiring students to earn passing scores on the
   11         PSAT/NMSQT to qualify for a standard high school
   12         diploma; requiring the State Board of Education to
   13         designate passing scores; requiring use of student
   14         performance on the PSAT/NMSQT for school grading
   15         purposes; providing for application beginning with
   16         students entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school
   17         year; providing an effective date.
   18  
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Notwithstanding ss. 1003.428, 1003.429, 1003.43,
   22  and 1008.22, Florida Statutes, and any other provision of law to
   23  the contrary, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT)
   24  shall not be administered to students in grades 9 through 12.
   25  The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
   26  (PSAT/NMSQT) shall replace the grade 10 FCAT for purposes of
   27  measuring a student’s knowledge and skills in reading,
   28  mathematics, and writing. The PSAT/NMSQT shall be taken by
   29  students in grade 10 to provide teachers and students with
   30  feedback on a student’s strengths and weaknesses and shall be
   31  used as practice and preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test
   32  (SAT) for students who will take the SAT as part of the college
   33  admission process. Students must earn a passing score on the
   34  PSAT/NMSQT in reading, mathematics, and writing to qualify for a
   35  standard high school diploma. The State Board of Education shall
   36  designate a passing score for each section of the PSAT/NMSQT
   37  that is aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
   38  and demonstrates the proficiency level required for high school
   39  graduation. If a required passing score is raised by the State
   40  Board of Education, the passing score shall apply only to
   41  students taking the PSAT/NMSQT for the first time after such
   42  designation. For purposes of the public school grading system
   43  under ss. 1008.34 and 1008.341, Florida Statutes, student
   44  performance on the PSAT/NMSQT shall be used in place of student
   45  performance on the FCAT, as applicable. The provisions of this
   46  section shall apply to public school students entering grade 9
   47  in the 2011-2012 school year and thereafter.
   48         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.