State Board of Education Votes in Favor of Commissioner Stewart’s FSA Passing Score Recommendations and Proposed School Grades Rule

December 6, 2015

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State Board of Education Votes in Favor of Commissioner Stewart’s FSA Passing Score Recommendations and Proposed School Grades Rule

Tallahassee, Fla., January 6, 2016 – Today, during the State Board of Education meeting in Tallahassee, the State Board of Education voted in favor of Education Commissioner Pam Stewart’s recommended passing scores for the Florida Standards Assessments and adopted the rule that determines how, on an A-F scale, school grades will be formulated.  

Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said, “I am thrilled with the outcome of today’s meeting. I am convinced that the State Board of Education’s decision is right for Florida’s students. We have an obligation to the people of Florida to provide a public education system that prepares all students for future success, and today’s actions enable us to continue moving full-steam ahead. I want to acknowledge all of the educators, community leaders and members of the public whose input on these issues was critical in getting to this point.”   

State Board of Education Chair Marva Johnson said, “Today marks an important milestone for all Floridians. As both a mother and a businesswoman, I understand that what happens in today’s classrooms will affect our state’s economy for generations to come. I was proud to vote in favor of Commissioner Stewart’s recommendations on these two items, because I believe this is the right baseline for our transition and that we will keep our focus on student and school success.”   

Florida Standards Assessments Passing Scores

In September, Commissioner Stewart released her recommended passing scores for the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA). The passing scores determine whether students learned what they are expected to know at every grade level. Each time a new assessment is administered, the Department of Education conducts a comprehensive process through which passing scores are set. The process for setting the FSA passing scores followed, and even exceeded national industry standards. It began in April 2015 and included multiple panels and workshops, through which the Department received input from more than 300 education experts, a diverse group of business and community leaders, as well as members of the public. 

When the state transitioned from FCAT to FCAT 2.0 in 2011, there was a significant increase in rigor as it became much more difficult than in previous years. Commissioner Stewart’s FSA passing score recommendations, which were adopted today, continue the theme of striving for excellence and continuous improvement by raising the bar even higher in nearly every category.

School Grades

The State Board of Education also voted to adopt a new school grades rule, which sets the formula the state will use to issue annual grades for each Florida school. This rule went through the standard rulemaking process and was developed after careful consideration of nearly 1,000 comments from district staff, educators and members of the public.

Florida uses an A-F scale to issue school grades, which provide students, parents, educators, district leaders and members of the public with a clear way to understand student performance by school and district.

The state first issued school grades in 1999. Since that time, Florida’s education system has seen significant improvement:  

• Since graduation rates were included in school grade calculations, Florida has jumped more than 25 percentage points, from 52% to 77.8%;
• Florida went from less than one-half (47%) of students reading on grade level in 2001 to 58% in 2010. 
• Florida went from one-half of students passing mathematics in 2001 to 58% passing in 2010.
• Florida went from about one-third (35%) of fifth-graders passing science in 2006, before science was added to School Grades, to over one-half (53%) passing in 2011; and
• Prior to strong school accountability, Florida’s fourth graders underperformed the nation in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  Since 2003, Florida’s fourth graders have consistently exceeded the national average in reading.

The Department will issue final 2014-2015 school grades on February 9, once the rule goes into effect.

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