The purpose of this rule amendment is to address revisions to Section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, as required by the passing of Senate Bill 1720 (effective July 1, 2013). The provisions of the bill include the requirement that the State Board of ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-10.0315College Preparatory Testing, Placement, and Instruction

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to address revisions to Section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, as required by the passing of Senate Bill 1720 (effective July 1, 2013). The provisions of the bill include the requirement that the State Board of Education establish test scores a student must achieve to demonstrate readiness to perform college-level work and also specify the criteria by which a student is exempted from common placement testing and developmental education. In addition, the common placement test scores for the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.) are being revised to reflect the recommendations resulting from standard setting. The ACT Reading score is also being recommended for change. The phrase, “college preparatory” is replaced with “developmental education” to conform with statutory terminology and limitations on enrollment in developmental education courses are eliminated.

SUMMARY: The proposed revisions will ensure the rule is aligned with Section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, and raise college readiness scores for the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test and the ACT Reading.

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: Due to exemptions from mandatory developmental education, less students will be required to take developmental education courses, thereby reducing costs, notwithstanding slightly higher cut-scores on the P.E.R.T. Similarly, the elimination of current limitations on developmental education will reduce costs.

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: 1001.02, 1008.30 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1008.30 FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: September 17, 2013, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Forest Hill Community High School, 6901 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Julie Alexander, Division of Florida Colleges, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida, [phone], [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-10.0315 Common Placement College Preparatory Testing, Placement, and Instruction.

(1) The purpose of this rule is to establish the test scores a student must achieve to demonstrate readiness to perform college-level work pursuant to Section 1008.30, Florida Statutes. A student who demonstrates readiness by achieving or exceeding the test scores established herein and enrolls in a Florida College System institution within two (2) years after achieving such scores shall not be required to retest or complete developmental education at a Florida College System institution. A student admitted to a Florida College System institution whose score on the common placement test indicates a need for developmental education must be advised of all the developmental education options offered at the institution and, after advisement, shall be allowed to enroll in the developmental education option of his or her choice.

(a) Further in accordance with Section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, a student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a Florida standard high school diploma or a student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services shall not be required to take the common placement test and shall not be required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution. However, a student who is not required to take the common placement test and is not required to enroll in developmental education under this paragraph may opt to be assessed and to enroll in developmental education instruction, and the college shall provide such assessment and instruction upon the student’s request.

(b)(1) With the exception of students who meet the criteria for an exemption from common placement testing and developmental education instruction identified in subsection (1) of this rule For admissions, first-time-in-college degree seeking students and students who have not met college level competency either through the completion of developmental education requirements in the Florida College System or have not been awarded credit for college level coursework in the area of deficiency shall be tested for reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency prior to the completion of initial registration, using the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.). “Developmental education requirements” are the courses required when a student does not meet the college ready cut score. It is also referred to as remediation or preparatory instruction. Students earning scores less than those listed below shall enroll in developmental education college preparatory communication and computation instruction in the area of the deficiency:

              Standard Score

(a) Reading              106 104

(b) Writing              103 99

(c) Mathematics              114 113

(c)(2)(a) Students who achieve scores on either the College Board’s Accuplacer or SAT-I or the American College Testing Program’s Enhanced ACT test that meet or exceed the scores shown below, and enroll in a Florida College System institution within 2 years of achieving such a score are exempted from taking the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test:

              Standard Score

Accuplacer, The College Board

Reading Comprehension                            83

Writing Skills                            83

Elementary Algebra                            72

SAT-I, The College Board

Verbal                            440

Mathematics                            440

Enhanced ACT, American College Testing Program

Reading                            19 18

English                            17

Mathematics                            19

(d)(b) A score of 262 on Grade 10 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0 (FCAT 2.0) Reading demonstrates readiness for college-level coursework in reading and writing. Students who achieve such a score and enroll in a Florida College System institution within 2 years of achieving such a score are exempted from taking the reading and writing subtests of the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test pursuant to subsection (1) above.

(2)(3) School districts must administer the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test or an approved alternative identified in paragraph (1)(c) (2)(a) of this rule to high school students who meet the criteria established in Section 1008.30(3), F.S., except those students who have passed an alternative assessment as described in paragraph (1)(c) (2)(a) of this rule. High school students are exempt from payment for tests administered pursuant to Section 1008.30(3), F.S. Students who do not meet or exceed the scores established in subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(a) of this rule must complete postsecondary preparatory instruction prior to high school graduation. Students who complete the postsecondary preparatory instruction required in Section 1008.30(3), F.S., will have completed an alternative remediation opportunity. Completion of alternative remediation in high school does not satisfy the requirement for demonstrating college readiness or completing college preparatory instruction. A student will be required to retest after alternative remediation and meet or exceed the scores established in subsection (1) or (2) of this rule to avoid required enrollment in college preparatory communication and computation instruction in accordance with subsection (1) of this rule.

(3)(4) Nothing provided in subsection (1) of this rule shall be construed to prevent the enrollment of a student in developmental education college preparatory instruction.

(4)(5) Students whose first language is not English may be placed in college preparatory instruction prior to the testing required herein, if such instruction is otherwise demonstrated as being necessary. Such students shall not be exempted from the testing required herein.

(5)(6) Institutions affected by this rule shall accept the highest test scores on any of the tests or combination of tests identified in subsections (1) and (2) of this rule. Individual student scores shall be valid for two (2) years. Institutions shall accept P.E.R.T. scores on the public high school transcript as an official record of scores.

(6)(7) Student P.E.R.T. records and test scores are confidential education records under Section 1002.221, F.S. Institutions are required to comply with Section 1002.221, F.S., in maintaining confidentiality of these records.

(8) Prior to administering a retest, the test administrator must require documentation from the student that verifies alternative remediation has occurred since the prior attempt. Alternative remediation opportunities shall be identified, defined and included in a written Florida College System institution policy.

(9) During their first term, full-time students who are registered for at least twelve (12) credits, shall begin competency-based preparatory instruction based on the placement test results. Part-time students shall enroll prior to completing twelve (12) credits.

(10) Students shall not enroll for more than three (3) attempts in each course to complete college preparatory instruction. Students who withdraw from a course under major extenuating circumstances may be granted an exception. Such exceptions require approval under guidelines established by the Florida College System institution the board of trustees.

(7) (11) The Commissioner shall report to the State Board of Education each year the results of the common placement testing.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(6), 1008.30(3) FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1008.30 FS. History–New 7-15-84, Amended 6-6-85, Formerly 6A-10.315, Amended 5-17-88, 7-25-91, 10-18-94, 8-28-95, 6-25-96, 3-28-00, 2-12-12, 8-21-12, 6-27-13,_________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Randy Hanna, Chancellor, Division of Florida Colleges

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Commissioner, Department of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 12, 2013

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 10, 2013