(1) Definitions. For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply:
    (a) “”Achievement level.”” Scores are reported by achievement levels, which are five (5) categories of achievement that represent the success students demonstrate with the content assessed. Achievement levels range from one (1) through five (5), with level 1 being the lowest achievement level, level 5 being the highest achievement level, and level 3 indicating on grade level performance on the assessment. The minimum score in achievement level 3 is the designated passing score for all assessments described in subsection (3), of this rule, pursuant to s. 1008.22(3)(e)2., F.S. Achievement level scale score ranges are established in subsections (5) and (6) of this rule.
    (b) “”Baseline year.”” The first school year in which an assessment is administered operationally, as referenced for each assessment in subsection (5) and (6), of this rule. Achievement levels are established for an assessment after the baseline year, and results from the baseline administration are used to establish the achievement standards.
    (c) “”Eligible students.”” All students except those who are prohibited from taking an assessment pursuant to s. 1008.22(3)(b)2., F.S., and those who are exempted from the assessment pursuant to ss. 1008.212, 1008.22(12), F.S. and Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.0909 Pursuant to s. 1008.22(3), F.S., participation in the assessment program is mandatory for all eligible students attending public schools, including adult students seeking a standard high school diploma under ss. 1003.4282, F.S., and students in the Department of Juvenile Justice education programs, except as otherwise provided by law.
    (d) “”Progress monitoring.”” The assessments that are a part of the coordinated screening and progress monitoring system required in s. 1008.25(9)(b), F.S. For Florida’s progress monitoring assessments, the first administration of each school year is referred to as Progress Monitoring (PM) 1, the second as PM2, and the third as PM3. In accordance with s. 1008.22(3)(a)2., F.S., beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the end-of-year comprehensive progress monitoring assessment (PM3) administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9)(b)2., F.S., is the statewide, standardized ELA assessment for students in grades three through ten and the statewide, standardized Mathematics assessment for students in grades three through eight.
    (e) “”Statewide, standardized assessments.”” The assessments required in s. 1008.22(3), F.S., including the end-of-year comprehensive progress monitoring assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) Reading and Mathematics administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9)(b)2., F.S., the comprehensive statewide assessments in ELA Writing and Science, the end-of-course assessments, and the alternate assessments.
    (2) The statewide, standardized 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-10.042
    (b) Provided to all school districts as computer-based or paper-based tests. Paper-based tests must be provided in the quantity needed for the students in the district for assessments that are not administered in computer-based format, and for students requiring paper-based accommodations in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.0943
    (c) Administered in accordance with standard written instructions appropriate for the assessment. The written instructions shall be issued by the Commissioner in the form of test administration manuals and other written communications, as required, and provided to school districts in sufficient time prior to each assessment.
    (d) Be aligned to the student performance standards adopted in Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.09401
    (3) The coordinated screening and progress monitoring system and statewide, standardized assessment program shall include progress monitoring assessments administered three (3) times per year in ELA Reading and Mathematics, comprehensive assessments in ELA Writing and Science, end-of-course (EOC) assessments, and pursuant to s. 1008.22(3)(e)3., F.S., retake administrations of former assessments required for graduation. In accordance with s. 1008.22(3)(a)2., F.S., the end-of-year comprehensive progress monitoring assessment (PM3) constitutes the statewide, standardized ELA and Mathematics assessment for students in grades three through eight.
    (a) The statewide ELA assessments shall measure students’ reading skills in kindergarten through grade ten.
    (b) The statewide ELA Writing assessments shall measure students’ writing skills in grades four through ten.
    (c) The statewide Mathematics assessments shall measure students’ mathematics skills in kindergarten through grade eight.
    (d) The statewide Science assessments shall measure students’ science skills in grades five and eight.
    (e) The EOC assessments shall consist of assessments measuring the skills specified in five (5) courses: Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1, United States History, and Civics.
    (f) The grade ten ELA retake assessment with a baseline administration of 2014-2015 shall measure reading and writing skills in grade ten and shall continue to have retake administrations through the 2023-2024 school year.
    (g) The Algebra 1 EOC assessment retake with a baseline administration of 2014-2015 shall measure Algebra 1 skills required of the Algebra 1 course, including course equivalents contained from 2014-2015 through December 2022, and shall continue to have retake administrations through the 2023-2024 school year.
    (4) The coordinated screening and progress monitoring system and statewide, standardized assessment program shall be administered as follows:
    (a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, all eligible students in Voluntary Prekindergarten Education through grade ten shall take the statewide ELA Reading progress monitoring assessments. This coordinated screening system will be administered three (3) times per year as a progress monitoring assessment, with the third administration constituting the statewide, standardized ELA assessment in grades three through ten in accordance with s. 1008.22(3)(a)2., F.S.
    (b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, all eligible students in Voluntary Prekindergarten Education through grade eight shall take the statewide Mathematics assessment. This assessment will be administered three (3) times per year as a progress monitoring assessment, with the third administration constituting the statewide, standardized Mathematics assessment in grades three through eight.
    (c) Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, all eligible students in grades five and eight shall take the statewide Science assessment.
    (d) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, all eligible students enrolled in a high school Algebra 1 or equivalent course must take the Algebra 1 EOC assessment with a baseline administration of 2022-2023 and all eligible students enrolled in a high school Geometry or equivalent course must take the Geometry EOC assessment.
    (e) Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, all eligible students enrolled in a high school Biology 1 or equivalent course must take the Biology 1 EOC assessment.
    (f) Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, all eligible students enrolled in a high school United States History or equivalent course must take the United States History EOC assessment.
    (g) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, all eligible students enrolled in a middle school civics education course must take the Civics EOC assessment.
    (h) Provisions shall be made by school districts to administer the assessment to students who are absent on the designated testing dates according to directions specified by the Commissioner. The directions shall be issued in the form of test administration manuals and other written communications, as required, and provided to school districts in sufficient time prior to each assessment.
    (i) Provisions shall be made by the Commissioner to permit the assessment to be administered to home school students pursuant to s. 1002.41, F.S., and private school students pursuant ss. 1002.394, 1002.395, and 1002.40, 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-10.042
    (j) Provisions shall be made by school districts to administer the retake assessments to students if they do not attain passing scores on the assessments required for graduation. Pursuant to s. 1008.22(3)(e)3., F.S., assessments required for graduation may not be discontinued until the graduation, based on normal student progression, of students participating in the final, regular administration of the former assessment.
    (5) Examinee scores on the progress monitoring assessments in kindergarten through grade two ELA Reading and in kindergarten through grade two Mathematics shall be reported by the use of scale scores and achievement levels defined after the baseline assessment administration administered during the 2022-2023 school year. The achievement levels for the kindergarten through grade two progress monitoring assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9), F.S., shall be as shown in the following tables.
ELA Reading progress monitoring assessment scale scores (0 to 341) for each achievement level:
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Kindergarten
0-113
114-133
134-146
147-161
162-341
1
0-134
135-152
153-169
170-187
188-341
2
0-165
166-182
183-195
196-210
211-341
Mathematics progress monitoring assessment scale scores (38 to 369) for each achievement level:
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Kindergarten
38-100
101-118
119-132
133-146
147-369
1
38-129
130-146
147-159
160-171
172-369
2
38-157
158-170
171-184
185-200
201-369
    (6) Examinee scores on the grades three through ten statewide ELA Reading, grades four through ten statewide ELA Writing, and grades three through eight statewide Mathematics assessments shall be reported by the use of scale scores and achievement levels defined after the baseline assessment administered during the 2022-2023 school year. Examinee scores on the statewide Science assessment shall be reported by the use of scale scores and achievement levels defined after the baseline assessment administered during the 2011-2012 school year. Examinee scores on EOC assessments shall be reported by the use of scale scores and achievement levels defined by the baseline assessment administered as follows: Algebra 1 EOC assessment (2022-2023), Algebra 1 EOC assessment for retake students (2014-2015), Geometry EOC assessment (2022-2023), Biology 1 EOC assessment (2011-2012), United States History EOC assessment (2012-2013), and Civics EOC assessment (2013-2014).
    (a) The achievement levels for the comprehensive statewide, standardized assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22(3)(a), F.S., and the progress monitoring assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9), F.S., shall be as shown in the following tables.
ELA Reading statewide assessment progress monitoring scale scores (140 to 308) for each achievement level:
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
3
140-185
186-200
201-212
213-224
225-260
4
154-198
199-212
213-223
224-236
237-270
5
160-205
206-221
222-231
232-245
246-279
6
161-208
209-224
225-236
237-249
250-284
7
165-214
215-231
232-241
242-256
257-292
8
169-219
220-237
238-250
251-261
262-300
9
174-223
224-241
242-253
254-266
267-303
10
179-229
230-246
247-257
258-270
271-308
Mathematics statewide assessment progress monitoring scale scores (140 to 291) for each achievement level:
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
3
140-182
183-197
198-208
209-224
225-260
4
155-199
200-210
211-220
221-237
238-273
5
158-206
207-221
222-233
234-245
246-285
6
168-212
213-228
229-238
239-253
254-287
7
175-222
223-234
235-246
247-257
258-288
8
183-226
227-243
244-253
254-262
263-291
ELA Writing statewide assessment minimum scale score (154-308) required for on grade level achievement:
Grade
On Grade Level
4
220
5
218
6
220
7
232
8
234
9
231
10
238
Science statewide assessment (baseline 2011-2012) grade-level scale scores (140 to 260) for each achievement level:
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
5
140-184
185-199
200-214
215-224
225-260
8
140-184
185-202
203-214
215-224
225-260
    (b) The achievement levels for the EOC assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22(3)(b), F.S., shall be as shown in the following tables.
Algebra 1 EOC assessment (baseline 2022-2023) scale scores (325 to 475) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
325-378
379-399
400-417
418-434
435-475
Geometry EOC assessment (baseline 2022-2023) scale scores (325 to 475) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
325-384
385-403
404-422
423-431
432-475
Biology 1 EOC assessment (baseline 2011-2012) scale scores (325 to 475) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
325-368
369-394
395-420
421-430
431-475
United States History EOC assessment (baseline 2012-2013) scale scores (325 to 475) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
325-377
378-396
397-416
417-431
432-475
Civics EOC assessment (baseline 2013-2014) scale scores (325 to 475) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
325-375
376-393
394-412
413-427
428-475
    (c) The achievement levels for the retake assessments administered pursuant to ss. 1008.22(3)(a) and (b), F.S., shall be as shown in the following tables.
Grade 10 ELA Retake assessment (baseline 2014-2015) scale scores (240 to 412) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
284-333
334-349
350-361
362-377
378-412
Algebra 1 EOC Retake assessment (baseline 2014-2015) scale scores (425 to 575) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
425-486
487-496
497-517
518-531
532-575
    (7) In accordance with s. 1008.22(3)(e)3., F.S., for students who participated in either the grade ten ELA assessment or the Algebra 1 EOC assessment prior to the adoption of achievement levels and scale scores for the assessment, the following alternate passing scores apply.
    (a) For students who took the statewide grade ten ELA Reading assessment (baseline 2022-2023), the Algebra 1 EOC assessment (baseline 2022-2023), or the Geometry EOC assessment (baseline 2022-2023), prior to the adoption of the achievement levels and scale scores defined herein, effective November 2023, the alternate passing scores are as follows:
    1. The alternate passing score for the grade ten ELA assessment (baseline 2022-2023) is 246 and above, which corresponds to the passing score of 350 and above on the grade ten ELA retake (baseline 2014-2015).
    2. The alternate passing score for the Algebra 1 EOC (baseline 2022-2023) is 398, which corresponds to the passing score of 497 and above for the Algebra 1 EOC retake (baseline 2014-2015).
    3. The alternate passing score for the Geometry EOC (baseline 2022-2023) is 401, which corresponds to the passing score of 499 and above for the Geometry EOC retake (baseline 2014-2015).
    (b) For students who took the statewide grade ten ELA assessment (baseline 2014-2015), the Algebra 1 EOC assessment (baseline 2014-2015), or the Geometry EOC assessment (baseline 2014-2015) prior to the adoption on February 9, 2016, of the achievement levels and scale scores defined herein, the alternate passing scores are as follows.
    1. The alternate passing score for the grade ten ELA assessment (baseline 2014-2015) is 349 and above, which corresponds to the passing score of 245 and above on grade ten Reading retake assessment (baseline 2010-2011).
    2. The alternate passing score for the Algebra 1 EOC is 489 and above, which corresponds to the passing score of 399 and above for the Algebra 1 EOC retake assessment (baseline 2010-2011).
    3. The alternate passing score for the Geometry EOC assessment (baseline 2014-2015) is 492 and above, which corresponds to the passing score of 396 and above for the previous Geometry EOC (2010-2011).
    (8) Concordant and comparative scores shall be applied to the statewide assessment program as follows:
    (a) Concordant scores shall be applied for the grade ten Reading or ELA assessment, as appropriate, according to this subsection:
    1. Beginning with students who entered grade nine in the 2010-2011 school year and ending with students who entered grade nine in the 2018-2019 school year, students and adults who have not yet earned their required passing score on the grade ten Reading or ELA assessment, as applicable, may meet this testing requirement to qualify for a high school diploma by earning a concordant passing score on the respective section of the SAT or ACT. For eligible students, the concordant passing scale score shall be a score equal to or greater than four hundred and thirty (430) on the 200 to 800 scale for the SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section, twenty-four (24) on the 10 to 40 scale of the SAT Reading Subtest section, or nineteen (19) on the 1 to 36 scale on the ACT Reading section. Eligible students may also use concordant scores set forth in subparagraph (7)(a)2. of this rule.
    2. Students and adults who are in the 2022-2023 graduating class, including students who entered grade nin in the 2019-2020 school year, and who have not yet earned the required passing score on the the grade ten statewide, standardized ELA assessment may meet this testing requirement to qualify for a high school diploma by earning a concordant passing score on the EBRW section of the SAT, the Reading subtest of the SAT or the ACT, or the average of the English and Reading subject test scores for the ACT. For eligible students, the concordant passing scale score for the SAT EBRW shall be a score equal to or greater than four hundred and thirty (430) on the 200 to 800 scale, and the concordant passing scale score for the SAT Reading subtest shall be equal to or greater than twenty four (24) on the 10 to 40 scale. The concordant passing scale score for the Reading section of the ACT shall be a score equal to or greater than nineteen (19) on the 1 to 36 scale, and the concordant passing score on the average of the English and Reading subtest scores of the ACT shall be a score equal to or greater than eighteen (18) on the 1 to 36 scale. For the average of the ACT English and Reading subtests, if the average of the two subject test scores results in a decimal of .5, the score shall be rounded up to the next whole number. The scores for the English and Reading subject tests on the ACT are not required to come from the same test administration.
    3. Beginning with students who entered grade nine in the 2020-2021 school year, students and adults who have not yet earned their required passing score on the grade ten statewide, standardized ELA assessment may meet this testing requirement to qualify for a high school diploma by earning a concordant passing score on the EBRW section of the SAT, or the average of the English and Reading subject test scores for the ACT, or the sum of the Verbal Reasoning and the Grammar/Writing sections of the Classic Learning Test (CLT). For eligible students, the concordant passing scale score for the SAT EBRW shall be a score equal to or greater than four hundred and eighty (480) on the 200 to 800 scale, the concordant passing scale score for the average of the English and Reading subject test scores on the ACT shall be a score equal to or greater than eighteen (18) on the 1 to 36 scale, and the concordant passing scale score for the sum of the Grammar/Writing and the Verbal Reasoning subject tests of the CLT shall be a score equal to or greater than thirty-six (36) on the 0 to 80 scale. For the ACT, if the average of the two subject test scores results in a decimal of .5, the score shall be rounded up to the next whole number. The scores for the English and Reading subject tests on the ACT or the Grammar/Writing and Verbal Reasoning subjects tests on the CLT are not required to come from the same test administration.
    (b) Comparative scores shall be applied for the Algebra 1 EOC assessment, as appropriate, according to this subsection:
    1. Beginning with students entering grade nine in the 2011-2012 school year and ending with students who entered grade 9 in the 2018-19 school year, students and adults who have not yet earned their required passing score on the Algebra 1 EOC assessment, may meet this testing requirement to qualify for a high school diploma by earning a comparative passing score on the Mathematics section of the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT). For eligible students, the comparative passing scale score for the PERT shall be a score equal to or greater than ninety-seven (97) on the 50 to 150 scale. Eligible students may also use comparative scores set forth in subparagraph (8)(b)2. of this rule.
    2. Students and adults who are in the 2022-2023 graduating class, including students who entered grade nine in the 2019-2020 school year, and who have not yet earned the required passing score on the Algebra 1 EOC assessment may meet this testing requirement to qualify for a high school diploma by earning a comparative passing score on the Math section of the PERT, the PSAT/NMSQT, the SAT or the ACT, or on the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment. For eligible students, the comparative passing scale score shall be a score equal to or greater than one hundred and fourteen (114) on the 50 to 150 scale for the PERT Mathematics section, equal to or greater than four hundred and thirty (430) on the 160 to 760 scale for the PSAT/NMSQT Math section, equal to or greater than four hundred and twenty (420) on the 200 to 800 scale for the SAT Math section, equal to or greater than sixteen (16) on the 1 to 36 scale for the ACT Math section, or equal to or greater than an achievement level 3 on the level 1 to level 5 achievement level scale for the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment.
    3. Beginning with students who entered grade nine in the 2020-2021 school year, students and adults who have not yet earned their required passing score on the Algebra 1 EOC assessment may meet this testing requirement to qualify for a high school diploma by earning a comparative passing score on the Math section of the PSAT/NMSQT, the SAT or the ACT, on the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment, or on the Quantitative Reasoning section of the CLT. For eligible students, the comparative passing scale score shall be a score equal to or greater than four hundred and thirty (430) on the 160 to 760 scale for the PSAT/NMSQT Math section, equal to or greater than four hundred and twenty (420) on the 200 to 800 scale for the SAT Math section, equal to or greater than sixteen (16) on the 1 to 36 scale for the ACT Math section, equal to or greater than an achievement level 3 on the 1 to level 5 achievement level scale for the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment, or equal to or greater than eleven (11) on the 0 to 40 scale for the CLT Quantitative Reasoning section.
    (c) When a student or adult earns a passing score on the respective section of the alternative assessment used to meet the graduation requirement(s), it shall be recorded in their cumulative record. Regardless of whether they have already been awarded a certificate of completion, a student or adult who has met all other high school graduation requirements but has taken and failed one or more standardized, statewide assessments associated with a graduation requirement (the grade ten Reading, the grade ten ELA, or the Algebra 1 EOC) shall be awarded a standard high school diploma if the student or adult earns or has earned a concordant or comparative score for an alternative assessment, set forth in subparagraph (8)(a) and (b). A student or adult may retest until they earn a passing score on the respective statewide assessment or a concordant or comparative score on an alternative assessment.
    (9) The assessments shall be administered according to a schedule approved by the Commissioner.
    (10) Students with disabilities may be provided test modifications or accommodations in accordance with the provisions of Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.0943 Requirements for the alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities are established in Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.0943
    (11) English Language Learners (ELLs) may be provided test accommodations in accordance with the provisions of Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.09091 Requirements for the annual English language proficiency assessment for ELLs are established in Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-6.09021
    (12) Pursuant to s. 1003.433(3), F.S., beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, students who have been enrolled in an English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program for less than 2 school years and have met all requirements for the standard high school diploma except for passage of any assessment required for graduation as specified by ss. 1003.4282 or 1008.22, F.S., or alternate assessment is eligible for a standard high school diploma if the student:
    (a) Passes the required assessment or alternate assessment after having received English language instruction offered by a public school during the summer following the student’s senior year through an instructional model for English Language Learners identified in “”FDOE Information Database Requirements: Volume I – Automated Student Information System”” incorporated by reference in Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.0014: Sheltered-English, Sheltered-Core/Basic Subject Areas, Mainstream/Inclusion-English, Mainstream/Inclusion-Core/Basic Subject Areas, Maintenance or Developmental Bilingual Education, or Dual Language; or
    (b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, meets the requirement to pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 ELA assessment by satisfactorily demonstrating grade-level expectations on a formative assessment that generates a score or metric that can be interpreted as a measure of grade ten level achievement in ELA.
    (c) Formative assessments that may be used for this purpose are:
    1. Benchmark assessments included as part of an instructional materials adoption;
    2. Portfolios of independently-produced student work; and
    3. Assessments developed or purchased by districts in order to monitor academic progress.
    (d) A portfolio used to meet the requirements of this subsection must meet the following criteria:
    1. Be selected by the student’s teacher;
    2. Be an accurate picture of the student’s ability and only include student work that has been independently produced in the classroom;
    3. Include evidence that the standards assessed by the grade 10 statewide, standardized assessment in ELA have been met, and such evidence may include chapter or unit tests from the district’s/school’s adopted core reading curriculum that are aligned with the ELA content standards, or teacher-prepared assessments;
    4. Be an organized collection of evidence of the student’s mastery of the ELA content standards that are assessed by the grade 10 statewide, standardized assessment in ELA; and
    5. Be signed by the teacher and the principal as an accurate assessment of the required skills.
    (e) By October 1st of each year, districts must report to the Department of Education the formative assessments they are using for this purpose and the score or metric that is used on the assessment to demonstrate that grade-level expectations have been met.
    (f) This rule shall not preclude native language support from being provided as needed and beneficial to students’ access to ELA curriculum and accelerating their English language learning.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(2)(n), 1003.433(3)(b), 1008.22(15), 1008.25(11) FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1001.11, 1003.4282, 1003.433, 1008.22, 1008.25 FS. History-New 1-24-99, Amended 10-7-01, 1-22-02, 12-23-03, 3-27-06, 3-1-07, 2-25-09, 7-19-10, 2-12-12, 2-3-13, 2-25-14, 2-17-15, 2-9-16, 1-1-18, 6-28-18, 8-18-20, 3-15-22, 8-22-23, 11-21-23.