This amendment aligns the rule with changes in House Bill 7069, making it consistent with governing law.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-10.0315Common Placement Testing and Instruction

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: This amendment aligns the rule with changes in House Bill 7069, making it consistent with governing law.

SUMMARY: Changes to the statutory provisions resulting from House Bill 7069 passed during the 2015 Legislative session requires this rule be revised.

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: 1) No requirement for SERC was triggered under s. 120.541(1), F.S., and 2.) Based on past experiences with common placement testing there would be no economic impact from this amendment and the adverse impact or regulatory cost, if any, does not exceed nor would be expected to exceed any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in Section 120.541(2)(a), Florida Statutes.

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(6), 1008.30(3), FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1001.02, 1008.30, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: October 26, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: Room LL03, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Dr. Karinda Barrett, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs, [phone], [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-10.0315 Common Placement Testing 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, F.S. A student who demonstrates readiness by achieving or exceeding standard 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. “Developmental education” prepares students for college level reading, writing and mathematics courses. A student admitted to a Florida College System institution whose score on a 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. Colleges must allow students to enroll in developmental education courses.

(a) Further in accordance with Section 1008.30, F.S., 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 a the common placement test and shall be considered exempt. Exempt students shall not be required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution. However, an exempt 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 courses instruction upon the student’s request.

(b) Non-exempt students who have not earned 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, 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 for reading, writing, and mathematics 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. Non-exempt sStudents earning scores less than those listed below shall enroll in developmental education communication and computation instruction in the area of the deficiency.:

(2) Exempt and non-exempt students meeting or exceeding standard scores on any of the following tests, using the highest score in the case of multiple scores, may be enrolled in college level courses. Institutions shall accept scores on the public high school transcript as an official record of scores.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Standard Score

Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)

Reading106

Writing103

Mathematics114

(c) Students who 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 Accuplacer, The College Board

Reading Comprehension                                          83

Sentence Writing Skills                                          83

Elementary Algebra                                          72

 

SAT, The College Board

Prior to March 1, 2016

Critical Reading Verbal                                          440

Mathematics                                          440

 

Since March 1, 2016

Reading                                          24

Writing and Language                                           25

Math                                          24

Enhanced ACT with Writing, ACT, Inc. American College Testing Program

Reading                                          19

English                                          17

Mathematics                                          19

 

Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test 2.0 (FCAT 2.0)

Through March, 2017

Demonstrates readiness for college-level coursework in reading and writing                                          262

(d) 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) School districts must administer the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test or an approved alternative identified in paragraph (1)(c) 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) 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) of this rule must complete postsecondary preparatory instruction prior to high school graduation.

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

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

(5) Institutions affected by this rule shall accept the highest test scores on any of the tests or combination of tests identified in subsection (1) 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.

(4) (6) 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.

(5) (7) 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), (4) 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, 10-22-13,                            .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Madeline Pumariega, Chancellor, Florida College System.

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 26, 2016

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: January 27, 2016