6A-1.094221 provides the alternative assessments and student portfolio expectations for third grade students to demonstrate reading ability to qualify for good cause promotion. The rule must be revised to align to the new ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-1.094221Alternative Standardized Reading Assessment and Use of Student Portfolio for Good Cause Promotion

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: 6A-1.094221 provides the alternative assessments and student portfolio expectations for third grade students to demonstrate reading ability to qualify for good cause promotion. The rule must be revised to align to the new Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T) Standards of English Language Arts. In addition, the criteria for the portfolio must align to the item specifications for the new standardized summative assessment, and more clarity is needed regarding the number of items to be assessed per benchmark to ensure adequate items are assessed to confidently state that the student has mastered each benchmark assessed (70% mastery).

SUMMARY: The rule is revised to align to the new Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T) Standards of English Language Arts. In addition, the criteria for the portfolio is aligned to the item specifications for the new standardized summative assessment, and more clarity has been provided regarding the number of items to be assessed per benchmark to ensure adequate items are assessed to confidently state that the student has mastered each benchmark assessed (70% mastery).

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Based upon the nature of the changes, this proposed rule is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness, or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification. No increase in regulatory costs are anticipated as a result of the rule changes.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1008.25(6)(b)4, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1008.25(6)(b)4, F.S.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: February 9, 2022, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Tallahassee Community College, Student Union Ballroom, 444 Appleyard Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32304.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Cari Miller, Vice Chancellor, Literacy Achievement, [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-1.094221 Alternative Standardized Reading Assessment and Use of Student Portfolio for Good Cause Promotion.

(1) Pursuant to Section 1008.25(6), F.S., relating to the statewide public school student progression law eliminating social promotion, students who score at Level 1 on the grade three statewide standardized English Language Arts Assessment under s. 1008.22, F.S., Florida Standards Assessment may be promoted to grade four if the student:

(a) Scores at or above the 45th percentile on the Reading SAT-10;

(b) Demonstrates an acceptable level of performance on an alternative standardized reading assessment approved pursuant to subsection (2) of this rule; or

(c) Demonstrates reading on grade level as evidenced through mastery of the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for English Language Arts (ELA) as set forth in Rule 6A-1.09401, F.A.C. Language Arts Florida Standards in reading equal to at least Level 2 performance on the grade three statewide standardized English Language Arts assessment under s. 1008.22, F.S., Florida Standards Assessment through a student portfolio pursuant to subsection (3) of this rule.

(2) The Department of Education shall review and approve the use of alternative standardized reading assessments to be used as a good cause exemption for promotion to fourth grade and will provide a list of approved alternative assessments to districts.

(a) through (C) No change. 

(d) The earliest the alternative assessment may be administered for student promotion purposes is following administration of the grade three statewide standardized English Language Arts assessment under s. 1008.22, F.S. Florida Standards Assessment. An approved standardized reading assessment may be administered two (2) times if there are at least thirty (30) days between administrations and different test forms are administered.

(3) To promote a student using a student portfolio as a good cause exemption there must be evidence that demonstrates the student’s mastery of the B.E.S.T. ELA Standards Language Arts Florida Standards in reading equal to at least a Level 2 performance on the grade three statewide standardized English Language Arts assessment under s. 1008.22, F.S. Florida Standards Assessment. Such evidence shall be an organized collection of the student’s mastery of the B.E.S.T. ELA Standards Language Arts Florida Standards that are assessed by the grade three statewide standardized English Language Arts assessment under s. 1008.22, F.S. Florida Standards Assessment. A school must immediately begin collecting evidence for a portfolio when a student in grade 3 is identified as being at risk of retention or upon the request of the parent, whichever occurs first. The student portfolio must meet the following criteria:

(a) Be selected by the student’s teacher,

(b) Be an accurate picture of the student’s ability and only include student work that has been independently produced in the classroom,

(c) Include evidence that the benchmarksstandards assessed by the grade three statewide standardized English Language Arts assessment under s. 1008.22, F.S., Florida Standards Assessment have been met. Evidence is to include grade level multiple choice items and passages that are approximately fifty (50) sixty (60) percent literary text and fifty (50) forty (40) percent informational text, and that are between 100-700 words with an average of  five hundred (500) words. Such evidence could include chapter or unit tests from the district’s/school’s adopted core reading curriculum or teacher-prepared assessments that are aligned with the B.E.S.T. ELA Standards. Language Arts Florida Standards or teacher-prepared assessments.

(d) Be an organized collection of evidence of the student’s mastery of the B.E.S.T. ELA Standards Language Arts Florida Standards that are assessed by the grade three statewide standardized English Language Arts assessment under s. 1008.22, F.S. Florida Standards Assessment. For each benchmark standard, there must be at least eight (8) items assessed and the student must three (3) examples of mastery as demostrate demonstrated by a grade of seventy (70) percent mastery for all items assessed per benchmark or above on each example, and,

(e) Be signed by the teacher and the principal as an accurate assessment of the required reading skills.

Rulemaking Authority 1008.25(9) FS. Law Implemented 1008.25(6) FS. History–New 5-19-03, Amended 7-20-04, 3-24-08, 2-1-09, 4-21-11, 11-4-14, 6-23-16.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Cari Miller, Vice Chancellor, Literacy Achievement.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 22, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: October 29, 2021