FSA: Florida Standards Assessment
What is it? The Florida Standards in Mathematics and English Language Arts were approved by the Florida State Board of Education in February 2014 and will be fully implemented in grades K–12 in the 2014–2015 school year. All Florida schools will teach the Florida Standards, and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has contracted with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to develop and administer THE FLORIDA STANDARDS ASSESSMENT (FSA).
When is it? The schedule of the FSA for the school year is as follows: March Grade 4 & 5: FSA ELA Writing Test March 23 – 24 Grade 3 & 4 : FSA Math March 25 – 26 Grade 3 & 4 : FSA ELA (English Language Arts) April 13 – 17 Grade 5: FSA Math April 20 – 24 Grade 5: FSA ELA April 27 – 28 Grade 5: FCAT Science
Computer or Paper/Pencil? Paper/Pencil Grade 3 ELA & Math Grade 4 ELA & Math Grade 5 Science Computer Grade 5 ELA & Math
Florida’s Transition to Computer-Based Testing for the FSA Assessment Grade 3 ELAPBT 1st year CBT Grade 3 MathematicsPBT 1st year CBTCBT Grade 4 ELAPBT 1st year CBTCBT Grade 4 MathematicsPBT 1st year CBTCBT Grade 5 ELA 1st year CBTCBT Grade 5 MathematicsCBT
Training Tests Training tests are found at the FSA portal. There are training tests for ELA, Math, and the ELA writing component. The main purpose of the training tests is for the students to become familiar with the system, functionality, and item types. The more students take the training tests, the more familiar they will be with all the different tools and response types.
Response Mechanisms ELA Hot Text (one or two part) Multiple Choice Open Response Multi-Select Grid Item Math Equation Response Natural Language Multi-Select Graphic Response Table Response Matching Item
ELA Training Test Read a passage. Answer questions Editing Task : choose the correct form of a word from a drop down menu. Listening passage. Answer questions
ELA – open response This is paragraph 4 from the passage “Online Learning” It is also possible for students to live in different places and be part of an online class together. Each person goes to a website for a class they are taking. Thousands of people can watch and listen to this class at the same time. When they want to speak, they can use a microphone to ask and answer questions. When the lesson is complete and all good-byes have been said, the students and teacher in the online class log out. The connection over the internet is broken, and the online classroom disappears. What is the main idea of paragraph 4? Type your answer in the space provided.
ELA – multiple choice What is the meaning of the word located as it is used in this sentence? “The class of kids can live in one country, and the teacher can be located in a different country.” a. bordered b. found c. moved d. searched
ELA – Multi-select Select the two correct meanings of the phrase good to go as it is used in the sentence. “Students who live far apart, students who can’t leave home, students who want to take a class they can’t take nearby – all they need is a computer and an internet connection and they’re good to go!” okay to leave able to learn quickly able to begin prepared to travel ready to start to learn
ELA – hot text Select two sentences that show how online classrooms and regular classrooms are alike. Today, students who live far away from their teacher have classes on the Internet. In some online classrooms, a classroom full of kids can use a special computer program at the same time as the teacher. The students can live in one country, and the teacher can be located in a different country. Still, it’s just like a classroom at your school. The teacher can teach the kids. The kids can ask questions. Everyone can see and hear everything that’s being said as it happens.
Math – Multi-select Select all the expressions that have the same value as 30÷10. 1 x 3 10÷30 30 x 10 30÷10÷1 30÷(2÷5) (30÷2)÷5
Math – equation response A bakery uses 48 pounds of flour each day. It orders flour every 28 days. Create an equation that shows how many pounds of flour the bakery needs to order every 28 days.
Math – Natural language –open response Describe what an equilateral triangle is. Type your answer in the space provided.
Math – open response Two fractions with different denominators have a sum of 7/12. What are two possible addends that result in this sum? Enter each answer on a separate line. _______________________________
Math Consider the equation d ÷ 3 = 12 remainder 2 What is the dividend, d? What would the dividend, d, be if there was no remainder? Enter each answer on a separate line. ____________________________
Writing Component Overall Task Description Students will read a stimulus about a single topic. A stimulus consists of several texts written on a single topic. The stimulus should consist of informational or literary fiction or nonfiction texts (2-4) and can cover a wide array of topics. After reading the stimulus, the students will respond to a writing prompt in which they will provide information on a topic or take a stance to support an opinion or argument.
Finding Resources Families are encouraged to take advantage of the information and resources available on the Florida Standards Assessments portal ( and the FDOE website ( More resources will be made available throughout the 2014–2015 school year, so parents should check these websites regularly for updates.
FSA Portal fsassessments.org Contact me: Teresa Teal ext Minneola Charter Elementary web page…Departments… ….Testing
Other Assessments Grades 3, 4, and 5 will take the FAIR-FS Assessment 3 times per year. Lake Standards Assessments may be given to K – 5. The plan is to have a baseline in October and a midyear assessment. There may be EOC (End of Course) exams for some or all grades. Florida is in a transition year as we move to the FSA and the new Florida Standards. I will put information about any assessments on my webpage as I receive it.
HEADPHONES!!! ALL students need to have headphones at school. The headphones are used for different assessments as well as other programs on the computers.