Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) Spring 2015 Clermont Elementary 4 th grade Parent Night

Agenda What are the Florida Standards Assessments? – Subjects and Grades Assessed – Test Timing – Test Schedule – Test Design and Test Item Types – Score Information How is the FSA used? Helpful Resources

3 Transition from FCAT to FSA Assessments Assessments in , and Assessments in FCAT 2.0 Reading Grades 3 to 10FSA English Language Arts Grades 3 to 11 FCAT 2.0 Writing Grades 4, 8, 10FSA English Language Arts Writing Component Grades 4 to 11 FCAT 2.0 Mathematics Grades 3 to 8FSA Mathematics Grades 3 to 8

What are the new Florida Standards? The new Florida Standards were adopted in 2014 in English/Language Arts and Mathematics to help prepare Florida students for success in college, career, and in life by emphasizing analytical thinking skills. The new test will provide a more authentic assessment of the Florida Standards, because it will include more than multiple choice questions. Students will be asked to create graphs, interact with test content and write and respond in different ways than on traditional tests. New question types will assess students' higher-order thinking skills in keeping with the higher expectations of the Florida Standards.

What are the Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs)? Florida Standards Assessments were developed to measure student success with the new Florida State Standards adopted in 2014 and implemented into instruction this school year What subjects are assessed with FSAs? – English Language Arts (ELA) - Grades 3-11 Reading and Listening and Grades 4-11 Writing – Mathematics - Grades 3-8 – End of Course exams in Science, Social Studies and PE Testing contractor - American Institutes for Research (AIR)

Changes in Student Expectations The Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) developed by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) demand students… maintain an increased sense of accountability toward their own learning develop a concept beyond an opinion and move to “support and evidence” think in a more conceptual, analytical and global manner utilize higher-order, critical thinking skills shift from mere memorization of terms to a deep understanding of meaning transfer skills to new experiences operate in a more student-centered environment with built in peer collaboration

Are the tests timed? YES! English Language Arts - Grades 3, 4, and minutes (2 – 80 minute sessions) Tested over two days Mathematics - Grades 3, 4, and minutes (2 – 80 minute sessions) Tested over two days NOTE: Students will be given short stretch/water/restroom breaks during sessions

When are the tests? FSA ELA – Grades 3-4: March FSA Math – Grades 3-4: March 25-26

Paper-based Tests Grades 3 and 4 ELA and Math – Students will receive a Test and Answer Book for each subject

How is the FSA English Language Arts designed? Content Categories and approximate percentage of raw-score points for each category Depth of Knowledge* *Depth of Knowledge refers to the complexity level of the cognitive process demanded by a test item rather than the difficulty of the item. Level 1 = Recall and Reproduction; Level 2 = Skills and Concepts; Level 3 = Strategic Thinking

Test Item Types ELA Question Types: – Multiple Choice: Select one answer – Multi-Select: More than one answer should be chosen – Two Part: two questions pertaining to the same topic – Graphics: interacting with the text – Editing Task: make edits within the text

Passage Example English Language Arts FSA

Test Item Types Multiple-Choice with 2 Correct Responses

Test Item Types Multiple-Choice with 2 Parts

Test Item Types Multi-Select (computer-based)

Test Item Types Graphics (computer-based) Place the characteristics that describe the narrator, Cassie, or both in the diagram in the correct locations. – Sure – Reflective – Adventurous – Cautious – Determined – Biology career – Careless about friendship – Impressed by the ocean – **Not all words need to be used!

READING SMART 7 STRATEGIES: Step 1: Read and Box the title & Number Paragraphs. Step 2: Read Each Question and circle important words in the question. Step 3: Read each paragraph or section carefully and ask yourself, “Do I understand what I just read?” Make comments in the margins. Step 4: Read each question and put a check, question mark or X beside each choice. Step 5/6: Underline and prove your answer correct. This question may be author and me, think and search, on my own or right there. Step 7: Mark your answer.

How is the FSA Mathematics designed? Content Categories and approximate percentage of raw-score points for each category Depth of Knowledge

Test Item Types Math Question Types: – Multiple Choice: Select one answer – Multi-Select: More than one answer should be chosen

Test Item Types Graphics

Test Item Types Multiple-Choice with 2 Correct Responses

Example Question Math FSA

MATH SMART 7 STRATEGIES: Step 1: Read each problem. Underline the question. Step 2: Circle Key Words ( altogether, how many more, each, in all, difference, equal, groups, total, not, per). Step 3: Think about what the problem is asking you to do ( +, -, x, /, complete a pattern, measure, find area, analyze data). Step 4: Solve the problem and show your work. Think real hard is it a two part problem? Steps 5/6: Compare the answer choices to your work using the process of elimination. Check to make sure your answer makes sense.

Do you have SWAG? S= Spot the Question W= What are the Key Words A= Analyze how to Solve G= Get the Answer

W.W.M.K.D What Would Ms. King Do

FSA Scores for 2015 Grade 3 will receive scores linked to FCAT 2.0 student performance expectations – basically an FCAT 2.0 score based upon how the student would have scored on the FCAT 2.0 scale. Score will be released at end of school year for promotion/retention purposes. Grades 4-5 will receive FSA scores after all data has been studied and score ranges set. Scores are anticipated to be released in late Fall 2015.

Helping Your Child Test Preparation – Help your child to realize that it is important to do their best every day, as well as on the FSA – Review class and homework with your child – Help your child practice the skills they are learning in real- life situations so that the skills have meaning beyond the tests and the classroom – Help your child get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast – Overemphasizing the tests can increase your child’s anxiety Work with your child to help them learn how to handle anxiety

FSA Portal The FSA Portal contains all published information regarding FSA assessments, and released Training Tests FSA Portal: To access Training Tests: 1.Click on Students and Parents 2.Click Training Tests Click on Training Test Guide for instructions on how to use the training tests 3.Click on Take the Training Test 4.Click Sign In 5.Select Student Grade and Click Yes 6.Click on test you wish to take

Test Rules Acknowledgment – Students will be required to sign (paper tests) or agree to (computer test) the Test Rules Acknowledgment before taking any FSA assessment. Test Rules read, “During the test, you must no talk to other students or make any disturbance; look at another student’s test or computer screen; ask for help answering any test questions; give help to another student in answering test questions; have notes or scratch paper; have any electronic or recording devices in your possession at any time, including breaks, even if you do not use them; fail to follow any other instructions given. After the test, you may not discuss the test items with anyone. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, ing, or posting to blogs or websites like Facebook or Twitter. If you are found sharing information about test items, even without the intent to cheat, your test will be invalidated.” Test Rules Acknowledgment reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score will be invalidated.”

Electronic Devices Reminder No electronic devices permitted during testing – Students CANNOT have any electronic device (e.g., cell phone, mp3 player, game system, etc.) on them OR within arm’s reach even if they do not use them – Cause for immediate invalidation of test

How are FSA Results Used? FSA results provide teachers and schools with additional information about each student’s proficiencies Results are used IN ADDITION TO teacher observations and coursework throughout the year in making determinations of student strengths and areas of opportunity

How are FSA Results Used? Grade 3 English Language Arts Scores – Students who score a Level 1 on English Language Arts are required (by state law) to have further evaluation before being promoted to 4 th grade Options for Students who Score at Level 1 – ‘Good Cause’ Promotion Options SAT 10 test Portfolio of 3 rd grade work demonstrating proficiency – Decisions are made on an individual-student basis

How are FSA Results Used? Students who score at Levels 1 or 2 on the English Language Arts and/or Mathematics tests are required (by state law) to have intensive remedial assistance classes during the following school year – This intensive remediation must be different from previously received instruction – Students in this category are progress-monitored to ensure their success

Florida’s Revised A+ Program The Florida Department of Education uses FSA/FCAT 2.0 results to evaluate each public school and each school district Grades are determined through performance on the FSA English Language Arts (Reading and Writing combined), Mathematics, and FCAT 2.0 Science tests. The school grade is based upon the percentage of total points earned. Each component is worth up to 100 percentage points School Grades will be released in late fall

Florida’s Revised A+ Program English/ Language Arts MathematicsScience Achievement (0% to 100%) Achievement (0% to 100%) Achievement (0% to 100%) Learning Gains (0% to 100%) Learning Gains (0% to 100%) Learning Gains of the Low 25% (0% to 100%) Learning Gains of the Low 25% (0% to 100%) Elementary School Grades Model

Florida Standards information site 

Helpful Resources Contact your child’s teacher and school administrator – Florida Department of Education Web Site: – FSA Portal: – FCAT School Accountability Reports: – Florida State Standards: I-ready and I-station Math Boot camp tomorrow until 5:30 and Saturday 10:30-2:00 Clermont Elementary School 4 th grade Building Success for Every Student

Thank you for coming tonight, and for all the things you do for Clermont Elementary!