Spring 2021 State Assessments Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes. State assessments are scheduled for students in grades 3-10 as follows:

State Testing Schedule:

• April 2021: Grade 3 Reading. Grades 4-10 Writing.
• May 2021: Grades 4-10 Reading. Grades 3-8 Mathematics. Grades 5 and 8 Science. State EOC exams in Civics, U.S. History, Algebra 1, Geometry and Biology 1.

Yes. Schools will be in contact with remote learners to schedule testing times and locations. The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) requires that all state assessments be completed in-person and on-campus in accordance with testing security and validity protocols. In keeping with health and wellness practices, the state has provided greater flexibility with testing schedules, so schools can provide smaller test settings, maintain social distancing, and have adequate time to sanitize testing locations.

Student assessments this spring will be used to assess how students are performing according to the grade-level standards in the specific subject area. Parents will receive detailed reports from the assessment results to measure how their child is performing according to grade-level standards. Schools and teachers will use the results to identify if learning loss has occurred and to what extent students need additional support next school year. The results will also benefit teachers and school leaders as they plan for curriculum adjustments for 2021-22 and allocate additional resources from state and federal grants to accelerate student learning.

Results from all state FSA and EOC assessments will not be used to determine student grades (unless the score helps the student) and will not impact promotion status or course selection for the following school year. For individual students, assessment scores will strictly be used to diagnose performance of grade-level standards and then determine which supports are necessary to accelerate student learning moving forward. School leaders may use the aggregate results in adjustments to the 2021-22 curriculum and schoolwide tutoring/programming.

An Emergency Order (EO-2021-01) was issued by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) on February 15, 2021, that extends the spring testing window for each subject by two (2) weeks. EO-2021-01 takes into account that many districts delayed the start of school in August 2020. This extension allowed for additional testing days and for more
flexibility in scheduling tests. The emergency order established adjusted assessment data reporting timelines. Results for the grade 3 ELA FSA will be released no later than June 30, 2021, and all other assessment data will be released no later than July 31, 2021. The emergency order does not address any other aspect of state standardized testing.

New information from this emergency order (EO-2021-02) is the basis for this Frequently Asked Questions webpage, including updates to graduation requirements, End-of-Course (EOC) exams, promotion/retention, Bright Futures requirements and more.

For students currently receiving in-person instruction at their schools, testing structures will be similar to previous school years but will be adjusted in keeping with PCPS health and wellness protocols (face coverings/masks, social distancing, etc.).

For students currently in virtual instruction (eSchool and Polk Virtual School), families are asked to remain in contact with their schools to determine the most efficient and safest method for in-person, on-campus testing. PCPS will continue to ensure the safest testing environments possible. The multi-layered health and wellness efforts include:

• Daily deep cleaning of testing locations
• Social distancing between test-takers
• Required face coverings/masks for students and adults
• No sharing of materials

Parents who choose to have their child not take one or more Florida Standards Assessments will not receive the grade- level performance data for their child relative to the grade-level standards. Schools will not be able to provide personalized learning plans based on this data. Students will not be academically penalized, but they will not receive the benefits of measuring their performance relative to grade-level standards as well as their performance versus other students in the state.

For the 2020-21 school year, school grades will not be calculated for schools by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE). In lieu of school grades, the FDOE will be posting all federally required data on the Florida Know Your Schools website.

A grade for a school will only be calculated by the FLDOE if the district requests for this to occur. For a school grade to be calculated, a school must meet the criteria set by the FLDOE.

Student-specific performance data will be provided to parents/guardians, as done each year. School and district aggregate data will be publicly available through the Florida Know Your Schools website.

Students are still required to demonstrate at least a Level 2 performance on the third grade Florida Standards Assessment (Note: Level 1 is the lowest level of performance to Level 5 as the highest level of performance). In the absence of Florida Standards Assessment score the student may demonstrate at least a Level 2 performance through a performance portfolio, online eportfolio, Star, Istation, or other means reasonably calculated to provide reliable evidence of a student’s performance.

Retention and promotion decisions must be based solely on academic performance. Parents may provide input regarding retention or promotion, but ultimately the school principal must decide promotion or retention based on academic performance of the student during the 2020-21 school year.

Returning PCPS students have already made course selections for the 2021-22 school year based on parent, student, teacher and school counselor input as well as multiple achievement data points. This will continue to include overall student classroom grades, district assessments and teacher recommendations when making these determinations. No single assessment will determine access to advanced or remedial coursework.

The results of End-of-Course assessments (EOCs) for courses with state EOCs (Civics, Algebra, Geometry, Biology and U.S. History) will not count as 30 percent of the student final grade unless the test grade improves the student’s overall course grade. If the EOC test score would lower the student final grade, it will not be used. In all cases, the results will be used to measure to what extent students learned the course content and what supports are needed to ensure success in the next sequential course.

Yes. Taking End-of-Course (EOCs) assessments ensures students and parents know student achievement, progress and skills within the classes they were enrolled during the 2020-21 school year. While the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) has waived the FSA/EOC requirements for the class of 2021 only, at this time this requirement has not been waived for other cohorts of students. The Algebra 1 or Geometry EOCs are currently the required math graduation EOC depending on the graduating class. Currently, all students except the class of 2021 need to sit for and pass the Algebra 1 or Geometry EOC assessment for graduation.

No. Students in the class of 2021 may have the graduation test requirements waived, on a case-by-case basis, if they meet all other graduation requirements, including all course credits and at least a 2.0 grade point average. Students or parents with questions about these requirements should contact the high school assistant principal for curriculum at the student’s school for assistance.

The governing bodies of AP, AICE and IB exams set forth the administrative regulations. Polk County has determined the test schedules that maximizes instructional time. The district’s intent is to provide every student with a supportive and quiet testing environment that is free from distraction where a trained adult can assist in the event something goes wrong during testing. Assessments will be administered in person and on campus. Check with your child’s teacher for specific testing times and dates.

Students who are expected to graduate in the spring of 2021 may still qualify for the Scholar Diploma Designation found in s. 1003.4285, Fla. Statute. The EOC assessment requirement for the Scholar Designated Diploma may be waived on a case-by-case basis if the student’s high school academic record establishes a comparable level of achievement. See the Florida Department of Education diploma designations chart for more information. Students or parents with questions about these requirements should contact the high school assistant principal for curriculum at the student’s school for assistance.

There are two changes for students who are expected to graduate in the spring of 2021 and who are working to qualify for any of the four Bright Futures Scholarships:

• Extension of Testing Deadline: Students working toward the Florida Academic or Medallion Scholars awards will have until December 1, 2021, to earn the minimum required SAT or ACT score specified for each scholarship award.
• Volunteer Hours: Students working toward qualifying for any of the four Bright Futures Scholarship awards
  (Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars, or the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars) and who have not been able to complete the required number of volunteer service hours due to circumstances listed below, may still be found eligible for these awards through a transcript documentation process submitted by your student’s school counselor to the Florida Department of Education. The circumstances are:
  • Student had planned for, and intended to, complete the service hours prior to the student’s graduation but was unable to do so because the pandemic created a lack of access to volunteer opportunities will contact their school counselor and completed the appropriate form to verify the student’s hours.
  • Student, due to health concerns, fell short of the volunteer service hours.