The
Florida
Standards
Assessments:
What Every
Parent Should
Know
Greenfield Elementary
Literacy Night
February 25, 2015
Questions Answered:
• How does the new FSA (Florida Standards Assessment) differ
from the FCAT?
• When will students in Florida take the FSA?
• Where can you find additional information?
• What resources are available for you to help prepare your
child?
New Tests for New Standards
• The Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) will measure
student mastery of the newly adopted Florida
Standards through a variety of item types.
• The Florida Standards are more closely aligned with the
educational standards used throughout the country,
more commonly known as ‘Common Core’.
What is Different about
the Florida Standards Assessments?
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Higher expectations
Able to compare FL students to others nationwide
Emphasizes analytical thinking
Variety of item question formats
• Increased complexity of texts
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Increased focus on providing evidence of their thinking
Implications for Our Students
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3rd Grade Promotional Requirements
Middle School Elective Course Scheduling
School Grade & Funding
Preparing students for higher paying jobs (College
and Career Ready)
• Student, Parent & Teacher Pride
Florida Standards Assessment Test Design
English Language Arts/Literacy
Text-based Writing
Writing Assessment CHANGES
OLD: Writing FCAT
• Scored as a separate test
• 4th Grade Students Only
• Given a Topic (Prompt Writing)
• 45 minutes to write a narrative
(story) or expository essay
NEW: FSA Writing
• Scored as part of the Reading
Assessment
• 4th and 5th Grade Students
• Given 2 – 4 Articles (Text Sets) to
Read & Respond to a Related Prompt
• 120 minutes to read, annotate, and
write an informative or opinion
based essay
• Must include references from the
text & cite evidence to support
their ideas
Reading Assessment CHANGES
OLD: Reading FCAT
NEW: FSA Reading
• Multiple Choice
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Editing Task Items
Multiple Choice Items
Multi-select Items
Two-part Items
Hot Text Items
Open Response Items
Graphic Response Items (GRID)
Listening Items (Grade 5 only)
Text-based Writing Sample Prompt
Write an essay in which you give your opinion about whether technology
should be used all the time. Use information from the passages in your essay.
Manage your time carefully so that you can
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read the passages;
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plan your essay;
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write your essay; and
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revise and edit your essay.
Be sure to include
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an introduction;
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support for your opinion using information from the passages; and
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a conclusion that is related to your opinion.
Your writing should be in the form of a well-organized multi-paragraph essay.
Editing Task Item
Text with a Series of Questions
Text with a Series of Questions
Audio Multiple-Choice Item
Multi-Select Items
Two-Part Items
Hot Text Items
Graphic Response Item (GRID)
Open Response Item
Florida Standards Assessment Test Design
Math
FSA Standard Based Examples:
Third grade
Fourth grade
Fifth grade
MAFS.3.OA.4.8 Solve two-step
word problems using the four
operations. Represent these
problems using equations with a
letter standing for the unknown
quantity. Assess the
reasonableness of answers using
mental computation and
estimation strategies including
rounding.
MAFS.4.OA.1.3 Solve multistep word
problems posed with whole numbers
and having whole-number answers
using the four operations, including
problems in which remainders must
be interpreted. Represent these
problems using equations with a letter
standing for the unknown quantity.
Assess the reasonableness of answers
using mental computation and
estimation strategies including
rounding
MAFS.5.OA.1.2 Write simple
expressions that record calculations
with numbers, and interpret numerical
expressions without evaluating them.
For example, express the calculation
"add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2" as 2 ×
(8 + 7). Recognize that 3 × (18932 +
921) is three times as large as 18932 +
921, without having to calculate the
indicated sum or product.
EXAMPLE:
On Monday, the bookstore sold 75
books. On Tuesday, the bookstore
sold 125 books. The bookstore
must sell 500 books by Friday.
Write an equation that can be
used to find how many more
books, b, the bookstore must sell.
EXAMPLE:
Jack bought 2 umbrellas and 3 hats
and spent between $30 and $50. Each
umbrella costs the same amount. Each
hat costs the same amount. The price
of a hat is $4.00. What is the least
amount Jack could have spent on an
umbrella? What is the most Jack could
have spent on an umbrella?
EXAMPLE:
An expression is shown.
3x4x5–5+3
Which statement describes this
expression?
A. Three more than 5 subtracted from
the sum of 3, 4, and 5
B. The product of 3, 4, and 5 subtracted
from 5 plus 3
C. Multiply 3, 4, and 5, then subtract 5
and add 3.
D. Three added to 5, then subtracted
from the product of 3, 4, and 5
Third grade
• Each shape shown represents 1/2 of a whole. Drag
the shapes into the box to show 5/2.
Fourth grade
• Gretchen needs to bake 3 pies. Each pie takes 12
minutes to bake. She needs to let the oven re-heat
for 4 minutes between each pie. She begins baking at
8:05 a.m. Drag pies onto the number line to show
when each pie is finished baking.
Fifth grade
• Richard and Gianni each bought a pizza. The pizzas
are the same size.
• Richard cut his pizza into 12 slices.
• Gianni cut his pizza into 6 slices, and ate 2 slices.
• Together, Richard and Gianni ate 9/12 of one pizza.
• How many slices of his pizza did Richard eat?
Changes in Student Expectations
The Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) developed by the American Institutes for
Research (AIR) demand students…
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maintain an increased sense of accountability toward their own learning
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develop a concept beyond an opinion and move to “support and evidence”
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think in a more conceptual, analytical and global manner
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utilize higher-order, critical thinking skills
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shift from mere memorization of terms to a deep understanding of meaning
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transfer skills to new experiences
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operate in a more student-centered environment with built in peer collaboration
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Florida Standards
Assessment
Timeline
&
Dates
General FSA Timeline
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March 10th: Writing: (Grades 4-5)
March 26th and 27th: Reading (Grades 3-4)
March 31st and April 1st: Math (Grades 3-4)
April 13th and 14th: Science (Grade 5)
April 28th and 29th: Reading (Grade 5)
May 5th and 6th: Math (Grade 5)
Where can students go for reading
practice and reinforcement at home?
Computer Based Resources:
• Achieve 3000: (Reading ONLY)
www.portal.achieve3000.com
• iReady (Math and Reading):
learn.i-ready.com
If you need help with online username and or password,
please write a note to your child’s teacher in their planner.
These are some ways on how YOU can help at
home with Math:
• Reinforce classwork at home
– Check their homework for accuracy
– Have your child correct/redo any errors
– Review all graded and checked papers with your child
• Reflecting in journals that were created in class as a
resource
• Visit fsassessment.org
– You can take the practice test with your child
• I-ready: learn.i-ready.com
Informational Resources
Florida Department of Education
www.fldoe.org
CPALMS
http://www.cpalms.org/Public/
FLDOE Assessment Website
http://www.fldoe.org/asp/
FSA Portal
http://www.fassessments.org/
Parent Guides to Student Success
www.pta.org/common_core_standards.asp
Improving Instruction Today;
Preparing for Tomorrow