October 15, 2016
Dear Home Education Parent:
Students participating in an established Florida Home Education Program (FHEP) may participate in the Spring 2016
Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), Statewide Science Assessments (SSA), and the Florida End-of-Course (EOC)
Assessments. A passing score on these tests fulfills the evaluation requirements for educational progress as stated in
Chapter 1002.41, F.S.
If you wish for your child to participate in any of these tests, you must complete the attached registration form and submit
it to Heather Himes, Senior Coordinator of Assessment for Polk County Schools, no later than February 15, 2016. The
attached registration form may be emailed or faxed, but the preferred method of registration is online at
http://goo.gl/forms/yfpxcnukwO. Late registrations will not be accepted. Once your student is registered, his/her
student information will be verified, and the request disseminated to the appropriate home-zoned school. Schools will
make arrangements for your child to participate in their testing programs.
Students must be present on all days and times of testing arranged with the school. Students must take both English
Language Arts and Math tests in order to satisfy the annual evaluation for a home education program under Florida Statute
1002.41.
Spring 2016 Testing Schedule
Testing Date or
Computer or
Additional
Grades
Test
Time
Window
Paper-Based
Details
February 29 –
FSA ELA
Exact date
8 - 10
Computer-Based
120 min/1 day
March 11
(Writing)
varies by school
FSA ELA
March 1
4-7
Paper-Based
120 min/1 day
(Writing)
FSA ELA
March 29 & 30
3
Paper-Based
80 min/2 day
(Reading)
April 4 & 5
3&4
FSA Math
Paper-Based
80 min/2 day
5th = 80 min/2 days
Exact date
April 11 – May 6
5–8
FSA Math
Computer-Based 6th – 8th = 60 min Day 1;
varies by school
120 min Day 2
th
9 /10th = 90 min/2 days
FSA ELA
Exact date
April 11 – May 6
4 – 10
Computer-Based 6th – 8th = 85 min/2 days
(Reading)
varies
by school
4th/5th = 80 min/2 days
FSA EOCs
April 18 – May
(Algebra 1,
Exact date
By Course
Computer-Based
90 – 210 min/2 days
13
Geometry,
varies by school
Algebra 2)
NGSSS EOCs
(Algebra 1,
April 18 – May
Biology, Civics –
Exact date
By Course
Computer-Based
160 – 420 min/1 day
20
middle school
varies by school
only, US History –
high school only)
Statewide Science
April 27 & 28
5
Paper-Based
80 min/2 days
Assessment
Statewide Science
May 3
8
Paper-Based
160 min/1 day
Assessment
The parent of a Florida Home Education Program (FHEP) student participating in the testing program is responsible for the
following:
 Complete & return test registration form (online OR paper) to Heather Himes by February 15, 2016.
 Provide transportation for your child to and from the school for each test day.
 Provide emergency contact information and any health concerns to school staff on each test day.
 Provide proof of student’s identification- School photo ID, Government-issued ID, Passport, Fingerprint Card
with Photo ID, Parent Driver’s License (if the student does not have photo ID)
 Ensure that your child adheres to all school regulations, in particular, those related to the testing program.
 Notify the school in a timely manner if your child will be absent on any scheduled test day.
The deadline of February 15th for submitting the registration form must be met to prevent disruption to test administration at
the school site. Once you have submitted the registration form, you will receive a call/email from the school letting you know
when and where to show up for testing. If you do not hear from the home-zoned school at least one week prior to testing,
it is your responsibility to contact the school and verify your child’s specific testing details. If your child requires
special accommodations for instruction and will need accommodations for the test setting, such accommodations must be
requested in writing on the Test Registration Form, along with supporting documentation at the time of registration.
Please note that the guidelines for provision of testing accommodations for each testing program and subject may differ.
Some accommodations which may be provided in an instructional setting are specifically prohibited during testing; therefore,
those accommodations cannot be provided, even if requested.
The table below notes which components of the FSA, FCAT 2.0, and EOC Assessments are administered at each grade level.
The tests are available only to students in the grades listed. It is not required for a student to participate in all the tests
available at a specific grade level. However, if you choose to have your child take a test that is administered in multiple
sessions, your child will be expected to participate in all sessions of that test.
Grade Levels Tested: FSA, SSA, and Florida EOC Assessments
Grade Level
Test
K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
FSA ELA Writing
√ √ √ √
FSA ELA
√ √ √ √ √
FSA Mathematics
√ √ √ √ √
Statewide Science Assessment
√
8
√
√
√
√
9
√
√
10
√
√
Algebra 1 EOC Assessment
Algebra 2 EOC Assessment
Biology 1 EOC Assessment
Civics EOC Assessment
Algebra 1 or Equivalent Course
Algebra 2 or Equivalent Course
Biology 1 or Equivalent Course
Civics or Equivalent Course
(Middle School)
Geometry EOC Assessment
Geometry or Equivalent Course
US History EOC Assessment
US History or Equivalent Course
(High School)
Note: Due to limited computer resources, you will be given a specific day, time, and location where your child will be
assigned to take the test within the testing window. If the student is not present on the assigned day, rescheduling will
be available at the school’s discretion.
All computer-based testing requires completion of a practice test prior to testing. If the student has not practiced prior to the
assessment, he/she will be excused from the test site and will have to retake the test at the next available test window.
For any of the FSAs, please complete the appropriate ‘Training Test’, located at: http://fsassessments.org/students-andfamilies/training-tests/. To access the practice tests for the NGSSS EOCs, please follow the instructions for downloading
the ePAT by selecting the ePAT tab at www.pearsonaccess.com/fl.
Should you have any further questions, please contact:
Heather Himes, Senior Coordinator of Assessment
Assessment, Accountability, and Evaluation
Polk County Public Schools
863-647-4711-ph
863-647-4709-fax
heather.himes@polk-fl.net
For information regarding the State of Florida Home Education law, options and resources are available at www.fpea.com or you may
contact them at 1-877-ASK-FPEA (275-3732). For more information reading the Florida Department of Education’s K-12 Student
Assessment Program, please visit http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment.
FLORIDA HOME EDUCATION PROGRAM TEST REGISTRATION FORM
In order for a Florida Home Education Program student to participate in the Spring 2016 Florida Standards Assessments
(FSA), Statewide Science Assessments, and/or the Florida End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments, this form MUST be
submitted to Heather Himes, Senior Coordinator of Assessment, before Monday, February 15, 2016.
Complete online at http://goo.gl/forms/yfpxcnukwO. Email: heather.himes@polk-fl.net or Fax: 863-647-4709
**No registrations will be accepted after February 15, 2016.**
Student’s Name (First and Last)
Florida ID Number
Grade
Home-Zoned School
Student’s Date of Birth
Student’s Gender
Student’s Race
Please place a check in the box below the test(s) you are requesting for your child:
FSA ELA
(Writing &
Reading)
Writing =
Grades
4 – 10
Reading =
Grades
3 – 10
FSA
Math
Statewide
Science
Grades
3–8
Grades
5&8
FSA Algebra
1
Participated
in the FSA
Algebra EOC
Previously
OR
Has NEVER
Taken the
Algebra EOC
Before
Geometry
FSA
Algebra 2
Algebra 1
Retake
In
Geometry
In
Algebra 2
Has
Previously
Taken the
NGSSS
Algebra 1
EOC
Biology 1
Civics
US
History
In
Biology 1
In
Civics
(Middle
School
Only)
In US
History
(High
School
Only)
______________________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature
______________________________________
PRINT Parent’s/Guardian’s Name
______________________________________
Address
______________________________________
City
Zip
______________________________________
Telephone Number (including area code)
______________________________________
Email Address
______________________________________
Emergency Contact/Phone Number (include area code)
______________________________________
Allergies/Medical Needs While on Campus
REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS:
If the student requires special format materials (i.e., large print or Braille) or special accommodations, please indicate the
nature of any accommodations requested for testing below. All requests for accommodations must be accompanied by
supporting documentation at the time of registration. My child uses the following accommodations on a regular basis
to access his/her education and I am requesting such accommodations for the test(s):
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
District Office Use Only: Supporting Documentation Provided:
____Most recent IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan (expiration date: _______)
____Copy of medical or psychological evaluation (date: _______)
____Other (specify): _____________________________________________________________________