RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:
6A-1.09981School and District Accountability
NOTICE OF CHANGE
Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 50 No. 118, June 17, 2024 issue of the Florida Administrative Register.
In response to public comment the rule is amended as follows:
(1) No change.
(2) Definitions. For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) No change.
(b) “Learning gains” means that the student demonstrates growth from one (1) year to the next year sufficient to meet the criteria below. Learning gains may be demonstrated in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
1. No change.
2. Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, students with two (2) consecutive years of valid scores on the statewide, standardized alternate assessment may demonstrate learning gains in four (4) different ways.
a. Students who increase at least one (1) achievement level on the on the statewide, standardized alternate assessment in the same subject area.
b. Students who scored below Achievement Level 3 on the on the statewide, standardized alternate assessment in the prior year and who advance from one subcategory within Achievement Level 1 or 2 in the prior year to a higher subcategory in the current year in the same subject area. Achievement Level 1 is comprised of three (3) equal subcategories, and Achievement Level 2 is comprised of two (2) equal subcategories. Subcategories are determined by dividing the scale of Achievement Level 1 into three (3) equal parts and dividing the scale of Achievement Level 2 into two (2) equal parts. If the scale range cannot be evenly divided into three (3) equal parts for Achievement Level 1 or into two (2) equal parts for Achievement Level 2, no subcategory may be more than one (1) scale score point larger than the other subcategories; the highest subcategories shall be the smallest.
c. Students who scored at Achievement Level 3 on the on the statewide, standardized alternate assessment in the prior year and who maintain the same Achievement Level 3 subcategory or move from the lower subcategory to the higher subcategory. Subcategories are determined by dividing the scale of Achievement Level 3 into two (2) equal parts. If the scale range cannot be evenly divided into two (2) equal parts for Achievement Level 3, then the highest subcategory shall be the smallest.
d. Students who scored at Achievement Level 4 in the prior year on the on the statewide, standardized alternate assessment and who score in the same Achievement Level in the current year in the same subject area.
(c) through (h) No change.
(3) No change.
(4) School Grading System. The school grade components shall be calculated as a percentage, with the possible points listed by the component.
(a) through (d) No change.
(e) Procedures for Calculating School Grades.
1. through 2. No change.
3. Letter grades shall be assigned to schools based on the percentage of total applicable points earned as follows:
a. For elementary schools:
(I) Sixty-two (62) percent of total applicable points or higher equals a letter grade of A;
(II) Fifty-four (54) to sixty-one (61) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of B;
(III) Forty-one (41) to fifty-three (53) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of C;
(IV) Thirty-two (32) to forty (40) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of D; and
(V) Thirty-one (31) percent of total applicable points or less equals a letter grade of F.
b. For middle schools:
(I) Sixty-four (64) percent of total applicable points or higher equals a letter grade of A;
(II) Fifty-seven (57) to sixty-three (63) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of B;
(III) Forty-four (44) to fifty-six (56) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of C;
(IV) Thirty-four (34) to forty-three (43) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of D; and
(V) Thirty-three (33) percent of total applicable points or less equals a letter grade of F.
c. For high schools:
(I) Sixty-four (64) percent of total applicable points or higher equals a letter grade of A;
(II) Fifty-seven (57) to sixty-three (63) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of B;
(III) Forty-four (44) to fifty-six (56) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of C;
(IV) Thirty-four (34) to forty-three (43) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of D; and
(V) Thirty-three (33) percent of total applicable points or less equals a letter grade of F.
d. For combination schools:
(I) Sixty-four (64) percent of total applicable points or higher equals a letter grade of A;
(II) Fifty-seven (57) to sixty-three (63) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of B;
(III) Forty-four (44) to fifty-six (56) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of C;
(IV) Thirty-four (34) to forty-three (43) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of D; and
(V) Thirty-three (33) percent of total applicable points or less equals a letter grade of F.
4. Pursuant to s. 1008.34(3)(c)1., F.S., the school grading scales in subparagraph (4)(e)3. shall be adjusted for the following school year’s school grades if the percentage of schools earning a grade of A or B in the current year represents seventy-five (75) percent or more of all graded schools within a particular school type, which consists of elementary, middle, high, and combination. The adjustment must reset the minimum required percentage of points for each grade of A, B, C, or D at the next highest percentage ending in the numeral 5 or 0, whichever is closest to the current percentage. Annual reviews of the percentage of schools earning a grade of A or B and adjustments to the required points must be suspended when the following grading scale for a specific school type is achieved:
a. Ninety (90) percent or more of the points for a grade of A.
b. Eighty (80) to eighty-nine (89) percent of the points for a grade of B.
c. Seventy (70) to seventy-nine (79) percent of the points for a grade of C.
d. Sixty (60) to sixty-nine (69) percent of the points for a grade of D.
e. Fifty-nine (59) percent of the points or less for a grade of F.
a. Sixty-two (62) percent of total applicable points or higher equals a letter grade of A;
b. Fifty-four (54) to sixty-one (61) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of B;
c. Forty-one (41) to fifty-three (53) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of C;
d. Thirty-two (32) to forty (40) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of D; and
e. Thirty-one (31) percent of total applicable points or less equals a letter grade of F.
(5) District Grading System. The Commissioner shall assign a letter grade of A, B, C, D, or F to each school district annually as provided in Section 1008.34(5), F.S., based on the components in subsection (4) of this rule and the processes in subsections (2) and (3). In addition to the students included in the district’s schools’ grades, students who were not full-year-enrolled at a school but who were full-year-enrolled within the district shall be included in the district’s grade. Letter grades shall be assigned to school districts based on the scale used for combination schools described in sub-subparagraph (4)(e)3.d. of this rule, including any adjustments, as applicable, pursuant to subparagraph (4)(e)4. of this rule. percentage of total applicable points earned as follows:
(a) Sixty-two (62) percent of total applicable points or higher equals a letter grade of A;
(b) Fifty-four (54) to sixty-one (61) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of B;
(c) Forty-one (41) to fifty-three (53) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of C;
(d) Thirty-two (32) to forty (40) percent of total applicable points equals a letter grade of D; and
(e) Thirty-one (31) percent of total applicable points or less equals a letter grade of F.
(6) through (7) No change.
