HB 69

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to student assessment in the public
3schools; terminating the administration of the Florida
4Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to students in grades
59 through 12; requiring the Preliminary SAT/National Merit
6Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or the ACT's
7EXPLORE and PLAN tests to replace the grade 10 FCAT for
8purposes of measuring a student's knowledge and skills;
9requiring students to take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 10 or
10the ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN tests in grades 9 and 10,
11respectively; requiring students to earn passing scores on
12the PSAT/NMSQT or the ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN tests to
13qualify for a standard high school diploma; requiring the
14State Board of Education to designate passing scores;
15requiring use of student performance on the PSAT/NMSQT or
16the ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN tests for school grading
17purposes; providing for application beginning with
18students entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year;
19providing an effective date.
20
21Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23     Section 1.  Notwithstanding ss. 1003.428, 1003.429, and
241008.22, Florida Statutes, and any other provision of law to the
25contrary, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) shall
26not be administered to students in grades 9 through 12. The
27Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
28(PSAT/NMSQT) or the ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN tests shall replace
29the grade 10 FCAT for purposes of measuring a student's
30knowledge and skills in reading, mathematics, and writing. The
31PSAT/NMSQT shall be taken by students in grade 10 or the ACT's
32EXPLORE and PLAN tests shall be taken by students in grades 9
33and 10, respectively, to provide teachers and students with
34feedback on a student's strengths and weaknesses and shall be
35used as practice and preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test
36(SAT) or the ACT as part of the college admission process.
37Students must earn a passing score on the PSAT/NMSQT or the
38ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN tests in reading, mathematics, and
39writing to qualify for a standard high school diploma. The State
40Board of Education shall designate for each section of the
41PSAT/NMSQT and the ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN tests a passing score
42that is aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
43and demonstrates the proficiency level required for high school
44graduation. If a required passing score is raised by the State
45Board of Education, the passing score shall apply only to
46students taking the PSAT/NMSQT or the ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN
47tests for the first time after such designation. For purposes of
48the public school grading system under ss. 1008.34 and 1008.341,
49Florida Statutes, student performance on the PSAT/NMSQT or the
50ACT's EXPLORE and PLAN tests shall be used in place of student
51performance on the FCAT, as applicable. The provisions of this
52section shall apply to public school students entering grade 9
53in the 2012-2013 school year and thereafter.
54     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.