1. Miami Gardens Elementary November 29 , 2016

2. Session Agenda Agenda •What is the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)?
•FSA Testing Dates
•FSA Test Length, Sessions, and Times
•Achievement Levels
•Promotion Requirements
•FSA Test Item Specifications
•How Can I Help My Child At Home?

3. 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.

4. 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 Third Grade FSAs?
English Language Arts (ELA)
Mathematics - Grades 3
Testing contractor - American Institutes for Research (AIR)

5. Are the tests timed? YES! English Language Arts - Grades 3
160 minutes
(2 – 80 minute sessions)
Tested over two days
56-60 Test Items
Mathematics - Grades 3
60-64 Test Items
NOTE: Students will be given short stretch/water/restroom breaks during sessions

6. Will There Be Accommodations
Students that are ELL Levels I, II, III, or IV receive extended time.
Students that are labeled with exceptionalities may receive accommodations on a case by case basis

7. FSA ELA Paper Based FSA Math Paper Based
When are the tests?
FSA ELA Paper Based
Grades 3 April 2017
FSA Math Paper Based
Grades 3-April 2017

8. Students will receive a Test and Answer Book for each subject
Paper-based Tests
Grade 3 ELA and Math
Students will receive a Test and Answer Book for each subject
Sample Tests will be provided by DOE for Paper Test subjects

9. 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

10. Multiple Choice: Select one answer
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

11. Test Item Types
Multiple-Choice with 2 Correct Responses

12. Test Item Types
Multiple-Choice with 2 Parts

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

14. Multiple Choice: Select one answer
Test Item Types
Math 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

15. Test Item Types
Multi-Select with 2 Parts

16. Test Item Types
Tom planted 5 rows of flowers with 7 flowers in each row. Write a multiplication equation that shows the number of flowers in Tom’s rectangular shaped garden?
(Equation Response)
Tom told Mary he planted 48 flowers in the rectangular-shaped garden. Select the correct sentence Mary could use to describe how the flowers were planted?
(Multiple Choice Response)

17. Test Item Types
Multiple-Choice with 2 Correct Responses

18. FSA Achievement Levels
•The success a student has achieved with the Florida Standards will be assessed by FSA ELA and Mathematics assessments and is described by Achievement Levels that range from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
•Level 3indicates satisfactory performance.
•The level of performance required to score in each Achievement Level will be established prior to the Spring 2017 test administration.

19. How Are Results Used How Do The Results Affect My Third Grade Child?

20. Third Grade Promotion Requirements F.S.1008.25
To be promoted to fourth grade, a third-grade student must score a Level 2 or above on the statewide FSA-ELA.

21. Third Grade Promotion Requirements F.S.1008.25
•Third grade is the only grade at which there is state-mandated retention for public school students
•Florida Statute (5), requires that any third-grade student scoring Level 1 on the grade 3 statewide FSA-ELA be retained

22. How are FSA Results Used?
Students who score a Level 1 on English Language Arts are required (by state law) to have further evaluation before being promoted to 4th grade

23. Third Grade Good Cause PromotionOR
Demonstrate, through the Third Grade Portfolio Assessment, that he or she is performing at least at Level 2 on targeted standards

24. Third Grade Portfolio Assessment
Test Administration Window: February through May 2017
FLDOE has announced the targeted assessed standards (benchmarks)
Third Grade Portfolio will be used as Good Cause Promotion Criteria

25. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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.”

29. 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 N

30. 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.
Provisions in the old model that raised or lowered a school’s grade beyond what the percentage of points would indicate have been eliminated

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

32. Miami Gardens Elementary School Building on “A” Solid Foundation
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:
MDCPS Assessment & Accountability Web Site:
Miami Gardens Elementary School
Building on “A” Solid Foundation

33. Questions, Suggestions,
Thank you!
Questions, Suggestions,
Accolades