1. Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) Parent Night
February 5, 2015

2. Agenda What is the FSA? EOC/FSA test dates
FSA test length, Sessions and Times
Achievement Levels
FSA Test Specifications
How can I help my child at home?

3. The Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)
What is the FSA?
The Florida Standards Assessment (FSA)
FSA is an authentic assessment that includes more than just multiple choice questions.
Students will be expected to respond to multiple choice questions, create graphs, write and respond in different ways than on other traditional tests.
Will prepare Florida students for success in college, career, and in life by emphasizing analytical thinking.
Measures student mastery of the standards taught.
Meets high quality standards for assessment, including reliability and validity for a variety of accountability purposes.
Emphasizes critical thinking.

4. FSA Test Dates 4th – 8th 3rd – 4th 5th – 8th 5th and 8th March 2–13
Testing Window:
Test:
Test Mode:
Grade (s):
March 2–13
FSA English Language Arts Text-based Writing Component
Paper Based – 4-7th
Computer Based – 8th
4th – 8th
March 23–April 10
FSA ELA/Mathematics
Paper Based
3rd – 4th
April 13–May 8
FSA ELA (Grades 5–11)
and FSA Mathematics (Grades 5–8)
Computer Based
5th – 8th
April 14 – April 15
FCAT Science
5th and 8th
April 20 ‐ May 22   
EOC - Biology 1, Civics EOC
Grades 6‐12, Students enrolled in Biology 1,
Civics EOC
April 20 ‐ May 15
FSA EOC - Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2
Grades 6‐12, Students
enrolled in Algebra,
Algebra 2, or Geometry

6. (Not Including the Writing Component)
Sessions and Times
FSA ELA
(Not Including the Writing Component)
Grade/Subject
Administration Time
Number of Sessions**
Computer-Based in 2015
3-4
160 minutes 2 No 5
Yes
6-8
170 minutes
9-11
180 minutes
** All sessions are administered over two days
3rd grade – will not be assessed in writing

7. FSA Mathematics Grade/Subject Administration Time Number of Sessions**
Computer-Based in 2015
3-4
160 minutes 2 No 5
Yes
6-8
180 minutes 3
9-11
** All sessions are administered over two days

8. Test Length Grade/Course Number of Items 3 56-60 4 5 6 58-62 7 8 9
60-64 10 11
Note: Approximately 6-10 items within the Reading, Language, and Listening components listed above are experimental (field test) items and are included in the ranges above but are not included in students’ scores.

9. Number of Words per Passage
The length and complexity of texts should vary within each grade-level assessment. The table below suggests an approximate word count range for a text or text set for the FSA ELA (Writing and Reading).
Grade Level
Number of Words
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
In choosing the text(s), the test developers created a test with a balanced the tasks the students are required to complete and the text type.
2 kinds of text: Literature and Informational Text or rather fiction and nonfiction
Graphics such as infographics, photographs, tables, and diagrams, can be included with the stimuli.

10. Percentage of Points by Depth of Knowledge Level
The DOK has 4 levels. Depth of Knowledge, or DOK, is a way to think about content complexity, not content difficulty.
Level 1  DOK is recall and recognition.
Level 2 – is about using a skill or a concept, i.e. Paraphrase.
Level 3 DOK requires strategic thinking. Analysis and other examples are given here. Non-routine problem solving like in reading and determining author’s purpose is Level 3.
Level 4  DOK requires extended thinking usually requires work over a period of time, including gathering information, analyzing findings, and presenting findings. 

11. FSA Achievement Levels
“The success a student has achieved with the Florida Standards will be assessed by FSA ELA and Mathematics assessments and is described by Achievement Levels that range from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Level 3 indicates satisfactory performance. The level of performance required to score in each Achievement Level will be established prior to the spring 2016 administration.”
(Source: FLDOE FSA ELA and Mathematics Fact Sheet, November 2014)

12. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)

13. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)
Sample Item
Editing Task Choice - The student selects a highlighted word or phrase, which reveals options for correcting an error as well as the highlighted word or phrase as it is shown in the sentence to indicate that no correction is needed.

14. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)
Sample Item
Selectable Hot Text - Excerpted sentences from the text are presented in this item type. When the student hovers over certain words, phrases, or sentences, the options highlight. This indicates that the text is selectable (“hot”). The student can then click on an option to select it. These items may have one or two parts. In a two-part hot text item, Part A might ask the student to make an analysis or an inference, and Part B might require the student to use the text to support the answer in Part A. In other cases, the two parts might function independently.

15. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)
Sample Item
Open Response - The student uses the keyboard to enter a response into a text field. These items can usually be answered in a sentence or two.

16. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)
Sample Item
Multiselect - The student is directed to select all of the correct answers from among a number of options. These items are different from multiple- choice items, which allow the student to select only one correct answer.

17. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)
Sample Item
Evidence-Based Selected Response (EBSR) - In this two-part item, the student is directed to select the correct answers from Part A and Part B. Typically Part A is multiple-choice, whereas Part B may be either multiple-choice or multiselect. Part A often asks the student to make an analysis or an inference, and Part B requires the student to use the text to support the answer in Part A.

18. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)
Sample Item
Graphic Response Item Display (GRID) - In a GRID item, the student might select words, phrases, or images and use the drag-and-drop feature to place them into a graphic organizer or other format.

19. Technology-Enhanced Items (FSA)
Sample Item
Multimedia - Technology- enhanced content may include multimedia elements such as audio clips, slideshows, or animations. Multimedia elements may appear within passages (stimuli) or test items.

20. A+ Parent Resources

21. Forthcoming Information
Exact administration dates
Scoring criteria

22. How can I help my child at home?
Ask about school and visit teacher website on a daily basis.
Help infuse what is being learned in class at home.
READ with children at least 30 minutes each day. Students can then use the books read at home, and take tests at school using Accelerated Reader (AR) program.
Use computer websites:
Power School– keep up-to-date with student progress
Discoveryeducation.com
Studyisland.com
ThinkCentral.com
Use this website to read about updates, and have your child complete the training tests in both Reading and Math.

23. Questions??
Created By:
Franklin Academy
Cooper City Campus

24. End of Course Exams Info Sessions
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM           General Overview of the Florida Standards Assessment
6:40 PM – 7:30 PM           4th, 5th and 6th Grade Q & A Time – Cafeteria
6:40 PM – 7:15 PM           8th Grade - Science FCAT – Ms. Holm - Room 220
6:40 PM – 7:15 PM           7th Grade - Civics EOC - Ms. Barros/Ms. Lalanne – Room 202
7:20 PM – 8:00 PM           Algebra and Geometry EOC - Mr. Abinsay – Room 233