(1) Definitions. For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply:
- (a) “Achievement level” means the level of content mastery a student has acquired in a particular subject as measured by a statewide, standardized alternate assessment. Achievement levels for the Florida Alternate Assessment (FAA) – Performance Task range from one (1) through four (4), with level 1 being the lowest achievement level, level 4 being the highest achievement level, and level 3 indicating satisfactory performance on the assessment. Achievement levels for the FAA – Datafolio range from one (1) to three (3), with level 1 being the lowest achievement level, and level 3 indicating satisfactory performance on the assessment.
- (b) “Alternate achievement standards” means state academic content standards that are aligned to grade-level achievement standards with reduced levels of complexity, designed to provide students with the most significant cognitive disability, as defined in Rule 6A-1.0943, F.A.C., access to the general curriculum.
- (c) “Baseline year” means the first school year in which an assessment is administered. Achievement levels are established using the results from the baseline year.
- (d) “Eligible students” means students who are eligible to participate in the statewide, standardized alternate assessment based upon subsection (5) of Rule 6A-1.0943, F.A.C.
- (e) “Level of Assistance” (LOA) means the assistance a teacher provides in order for a student participating in the FAA – Datafolio to meaningfully engage in academic content.
(2) The statewide, standardized alternate assessment program required by s. 1008.22, F.S., shall be developed under the direction and supervision of the Commissioner of Education and shall be:
- (a) Kept secured at all times, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 6A-10.042, F.A.C.
- (b) Provided to all school districts in the quantity needed for the students in the district.
- (c) Administered in accordance with standard written instructions appropriate for the assssment. The written instructions will be issued by the Commissioner in the form of test administration manuals and other written communications, and provided to school districts prior to each test.
- (d) As appropriate, developed in consultation with teachers and other appropriate professionals and shall be approved by the Commissioner prior to being administered to students.
(3) The alternate assessment program shall include comprehensive assessments in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Access end-of-course (EOC) assessments.
- (a) The statewide alternate ELA assessments shall measure reading skills in grade three and reading and writing skills in grades four through ten.
- (b) The statewide alternate Mathematics assessments shall measure students’ mathematics skills in grades three through eight.
- (c) The statewide alternate Science assessments shall measure students’ science skills in grades five and eight.
- (d) The statewide alternate EOC assessments shall consist of assessments measuring the skills specified in five (5) courses: Algebra 1, Biology 1, Geometry, Civics, and United States History.
(4) The alternative assessment program is designed for a student with the most significant cognitive disability and includes the FAA – Performance Task and the FAA – Datafolio assessments. The decisions of whether a student is eligible to particpate in the alternative assessment program and whether the student should participate in the FAA – Performance Task or FAA – Datafolio assessments is determined by the student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) team in accordance with Rule 6A-1.0943, F.A.C.
- (a) The FAA – Performance Task is designed for a student with the most significant cognitive disability who can make meaningful independent choices and requires direct instruction based on access points. The FAA – Performance Task measures a student’s academic performance based on the access points. The four (4) achievement levels are established based on scale scores.
- (b) The FAA – Datafolio is designed for those students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who typically do not have a formal mode of communication and who may be working at pre-academic levels. The FAA – Datafolio measures a student’s progress toward meeting individualized goals established for the student in two areas: level of assistance and knowledge of access points. A student receives a progress score assigned to each of the three (3) alternate achievement standards assessed in each content area. Progress scores range from zero (0) to five (5).
(5) The statewide FAA – Performance Task alternate assessment program shall be administered as follows:
- (a) All eligible students in grades three through ten shall take the FAA – Performance Task ELA assessment (baseline year 2023-2024).
- (b) All eligible students in grades three through eight shall take the FAA – Performance Task Mathematics assessment (baseline year 2023-2024).
- (c) All eligible students in grades five and eight shall take the FAA – Performance Task Science assessment (baseline year 2015-2016).
- (d) All eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Algebra 1 or equivalent course must take the FAA – Performance Task Access Algebra 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2023-2024); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Biology 1 or equivalent course must take the FAA – Performance Task Access Biology 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2015-2016); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Geometry or equivalent course must take the FAA – Performance Task Access Geometry EOC assessment (baseline year 2023-2024); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access United States History or equivalent course must take the FAA – Performance Task Access United States History EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); and all eligible students enrolled in a middle school Access Civics education course must take the FAA – Performance Task Access Civics EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
- (e) Provisions shall be made by the Commissioner to permit the test to be administered to home school students and private school students pursuant to ss. 1002.39 and 1002.395, F.S., under conditions which preserve the security of the assessment and require the public school districts to be responsible for the test administration procedures and requirements of Rule 6A-10.042, F.A.C.
(6) The statewide FAA – Datafolio alternate assessment program shall be administered as follows:
- (a) All eligible students in grades three through ten shall take the FAA – Datafolio ELA assessment (baseline year 2023-2024).
- (b) All eligible students in grades three through eight shall take the FAA – Datafolio Mathematics assessment (baseline year 2023-2024).
- (c) All eligible students in grades five and eight shall take the FAA – Datafolio Science assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
- (d) All eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Algebra 1 or equivalent course must take the FAA – Datafolio Access Algebra 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2023-2024); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Biology 1 or equivalent course must take the FAA – Datafolio Access Biology 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Geometry or equivalent course must take the FAA – Datafolio Access Geometry EOC assessment (baseline year 2023-2024); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access United States History or equivalent course must take the FAA – Datafolio Access United States History EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); and all eligible students enrolled in a middle school Access Civics education course must take the FAA – Datafolio Access Civics EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
- (e) Provisions shall be made by the Commissioner to permit the test to be administered to home school students and private school students pursuant to ss. 1002.39 and 1002.395, F.S., under conditions which preserve the security of the assessment and require the public school districts to be responsible for the test administration procedures and requirements of Rule 6A-10.042, F.A.C.
(7) Examinee scores on statewide alternate ELA, Mathematics, Science, and EOC assessments shall be reported by the use of achievement levels determined by the baseline year assessment administered according to the schedule established in subsections (4) and (5), of this rule.
(a) The achievement levels for the statewide FAA – Performance Task assessments are as shown in the following tables:
Statewide FAA – Performance Task ELA assessment standards (340 to 460) for each achievement level:
| Grade | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 3 | 340–387 | 388–399 | 400–420 | 421–460 |
| 4 | 340–386 | 387–400 | 401–419 | 420–460 |
| 5 | 340–384 | 385–401 | 402–417 | 418–460 |
| 6 | 340–384 | 385–400 | 401–417 | 418–460 |
| 7 | 340–383 | 384–400 | 401–416 | 417–460 |
| 8 | 340–384 | 385–399 | 400–416 | 417–460 |
| 9 | 340–383 | 384–399 | 400–415 | 416–460 |
| 10 | 340–384 | 385–399 | 400–416 | 417–460 |
Statewide FAA – Performance Task Mathematics assessment standards (340 to 460) for each achievement level:
| Grade | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 3 | 340–387 | 388–400 | 401–413 | 414–460 |
| 4 | 340–384 | 385–400 | 401–415 | 416–460 |
| 5 | 340–389 | 390–401 | 402–417 | 418–460 |
| 6 | 340–388 | 389–401 | 402–418 | 419–460 |
| 7 | 340–388 | 389–401 | 402–417 | 418–460 |
| 8 | 340–387 | 388–398 | 399–416 | 417–460 |
Statewide FAA – Performance Task Science assessment standards (540 to 660) for each achievement level:
| Grade | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 5 | 540-579 | 580-598 | 599-615 | 616-660 |
| 8 | 540-579 | 580-599 | 600-618 | 619-660 |
Statewide FAA – Performance Task Access Algebra 1 EOC assessment standards (525 to 675) for each achievement level:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 525–585 | 586–599 | 600–623 | 624–675 |
Statewide FAA – Performance Task Access Biology 1 EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 725-772 | 773-794 | 795-822 | 823-875 |
Statewide FAA – Performance Task Access Geometry EOC assessment standards (525 to 675) for each achievement level:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 525–580 | 581–599 | 600–618 | 619–675 |
Statewide FAA – Performance Task Access Civics EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 725-772 | 773-795 | 796-817 | 818-875 |
Statewide FAA – Performance Task United States History EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 |
|---|
| 725-777 | 778-791 | 792-817 | 818-875 |
(b) The achievement levels for the statewide FAA―Datafolio assessments are as shown below:
Statewide FAA – Datafolio assessment standards for ELA; Mathematics; Science; and Access Civics, Access Algebra 1, Access Geometry, Access Biology 1, and Access United States History EOC assessments for each achievement level: Level 1: The progress scores for each of the three standards assessed in the content area include a score of one (1) in at least one standard but do not include more than one score of two (2) or higher on any standard. Level 2: The progress scores for each of the three standards assessed in the content area include a score of two (2) in at least two standards or a score of three (3) or higher on one standard. Level 3: The progress scores for each of the three standards in the content area include a score of three (3) or higher in at least two standards.
- (8) The assessments shall be administered according to a schedule approved by the Commissioner.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(2)(n), 1008.22(15), 1008.25(11) FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1001.11, 1008.22, 1008.25 FS. History–New 5-3-10, Amended 6-20-17, 2-20-18, 12-24-24.