Florida Standards Alternate Assessment

All Florida students participate in the state’s assessment and accountability system. The Florida Standards Alternate Assessment (FSAA) is designed for students whose participation in the general statewide assessment program (Florida Standards Assessments, Statewide Science Assessment, Next Generation Sunshine State Standards End-of-Course Assessments) is not appropriate, even with accommodations. The FSAA is based on the Florida Standards Access Points (FS-APs) for English language arts and mathematics, and on the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Access Points (NGSSS-APs) for science and social studies. Access Points are academic expectations written specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities. They reflect the essence or core intent of the standards that apply to all students in the same grade, but at reduced levels of complexity.

The FSAA program includes two components: the FSAA—Performance Task (FSAA—PT) and FSAA—Datafolio, which form a continuum of assessment to meet the needs of Florida’s students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The FSAA—PT is designed to assess students at three levels of complexity and results are reported through achievement levels. The FSAA—Datafolio is designed to address the needs of a small population of students who typically do not have a formal mode of communication and may be working at pre-academic levels. Regardless of the component with which a student is assessed, it is expected that only students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are eligible under IDEA will participate in the FSAA program.

Guidelines for Participation

• Graduation/Standard Diploma Requirements for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (PDF)

Resources

• Department of Education, Information for Families
• Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Resource and Information Center
• National Alternate Assessment Center
• Florida Standards and Access Points
• U.S. Department of Education: Standards, Assessment, and Accountability
• Information on Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Disabilities
• Standard Setting
• FSAA—Performance Task Achievement Level Descriptions (PDF)
• FSAA—Datafolio Achievement Level Descriptions (PDF)
• Final FSAA—Performance Task (ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) Achievement Levels (PDF)
• Final FSAA—Datafolio (ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) Achievement Levels (PDF)

Florida Statutes, State Laws, and Federal Regulations

• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
• Section 1008.22, Florida Statutes (F.S.), Student Assessment Program for Public Schools
• Section 1008.25, F.S., Public School Student Progression; Student Support; Reporting Requirements
• Rule 6A-1.0943, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), Statewide Assessment for Students with Disabilities
• Rule 6A-6.03028, F.A.C., Provision of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Development of Individual Educational Plans for Students with Disabilities
• IDEA
• Federal Register: 34 CFR Parts 300 and 303: Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children With Disabilities Program; Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (PDF)
• No Child Left Behind (USED)

State and District Contacts

• Alternate Assessment/District Assessment Coordinators (PDF)
• Florida Standards Alternate Assessment Program Specialist
  • Angela Nathaniel: 850-245-0972, Angela.Nathaniel@fldoe.org

Presentations

• Annual DAC/AAC Meeting Presentations

FSAA Reports, Scores, and Publications

• 2020–21 Understanding the FSAA—Performance Task Reports
  • English (PDF)
  • Spanish (PDF)
  • Haitian Creole (PDF)
• 2020–21 Understanding the FSAA—Datafolio Reports
  • English (PDF)
  • Spanish (PDF)
  • Haitian Creole (PDF)
• 2017–18 District Summary (PDF)
• 2017 Standard Setting Report for FSAA—Performance Task Social Studies (PDF)
• 2017 Standard Setting Report for FSAA—Datafolio (all content areas) (PDF)

Online FSAA Resource and Training Portal (FSAA)

The FSAA Portal contains the most recent information and resources available for Florida educators. The Portal is arranged with differentiated access for teachers and administrators within Datafolio and Performance Task subpages. The following outlines the information available with direct links when applicable.

FSAA—Performance Task: Teacher

• Performance Task Teacher Resources
  • Training Modules and Tutorials
  • Blueprints – sortable by content area and grade
  • Practice Materials – sortable by grade span, end-of-course content area, component
  • Training Materials
    • Assessment Planning Resource Guide for IEP Teams (PDF)
    • Instructional Resources – Project ACCESS
  • Administration Support Documents
    • Procedural Manual (PDF)
  • FSAA Service Center:
    • Phone: 877-655-3001
    • Email: FSAAServiceCenter@cambiumassessment.com
    • Chat: https://fsaa.fsassessments.org/contact/html
• FSAA Online System Resources
  • FSAA TIDE User Guide
  • Data Entry Interface (DEI) for FSAA—Performance Task

FSAA—Performance Task: AAC/District Trainer

• DEI for FSAA—Performance Task
• DEI for FSAA—Performance Task User Guide
  • Templates, Forms, Checklists, and Activities
  • Online System Training
  • TIDE
  • Reporting