(1) Definitions. For the purpose of this rule, the following definitions shall apply:
    (a) “”Achievement level”” means the level of content mastery a student has acquired in a particular subject as measured by a statewide, standardized alternate assessment. Achievement levels for the Florida Standards Alternate Assessment (FSAA) – Performance Task range from one (1) through four (4), with level 1 being the lowest achievement level, level 4 being the highest achievement level, and level 3 indicating satisfactory performance on the assessment. Achievement levels for the FSAA – Datafolio range from one (1) to three (3), with level 1 being the lowest achievement level, and level 3 indicating satisfactory performance on the assessment.
    (b) “”Alternate achievement standards”” means state academic content standards that are aligned to grade-level achievement standards with reduced levels of complexity, designed to provide students with a significant cognitive disability access to the general curriculum.
    (c) “”Baseline year”” means the first school year in which an assessment is administered. Achievement levels are established using the results from the baseline year.
    (d) “”Eligible students”” means students who are eligible to participate in the statewide, standardized alternate assessment based upon subsection (5), of Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.0943
    (e) “”Level of Assistance”” (LOA) means the assistance a teacher provides in order for a student participating in the FSAA – Datafolio to meaningfully engage in academic content.
    (2) The statewide, standardized alternate assessment program required by Florida Statutes § 1008.22, 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 in the quantity needed for the students in the district.
    (c) Administered in accordance with standard written instructions appropriate for the assssment. The written instructions will be issued by the Commissioner in the form of test administration manuals and other written communications, and provided to school districts prior to each test.
    (d) As appropriate, developed in consultation with teachers and other appropriate professionals and shall be approved by the Commissioner prior to being administered to students.
    (3) The alternate assessment program shall include comprehensive assessments in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Access end-of-course (EOC) assessments.
    (a) The statewide alternate ELA assessments shall measure reading skills in grade three and reading and writing skills in grades four through ten.
    (b) The statewide alternate Mathematics assessments shall measure students’ mathematics skills in grades three through eight.
    (c) The statewide alternate Science assessments shall measure students’ science skills in grades five and eight.
    (d) The statewide alternate EOC assessments shall consist of assessments measuring the skills specified in five (5) courses: Algebra 1, Biology 1, Geometry, Civics, and United States History.
    (4) The alternative assessment program is designed for a student with a significant cognitive disability and includes the FSAA – Performance Task and the FSAA – Datafolio assessments. The decisions of whether a student is eligible to particpate in the alternative assessment program and whether the student should participate in the FSAA – Performance Task or FSAA – Datafolio assessments is determined by the student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) team in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.0943
    (a) The FSAA – Performance Task is designed for a student with a significant cognitive disability who can make meaningful independent choices and requires direct instruction based on access points. The FSAA – Performance Task measures a student’s academic performance based on the access points. The four (4) achievement levels are established based on scale scores.
    (b) The FSAA – Datafolio is designed for those students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who typically do not have a formal mode of communication and who may be working at pre-academic levels. The FSAA – Datafolio measures a student’s progress toward meeting individualized goals established for the student in two areas: level of assistance and knowledge of access points. A student receives a progress score assigned to each of the three (3) alternate achievement standards assessed in each content area. Progress scores range from zero (0) to five (5).
    (5) The statewide FSAA – Performance Task alternate assessment program shall be administered as follows:
    (a) All eligible students in grades three through ten shall take the FSAA – Performance Task ELA assessment (baseline year 2015-2016).
    (b) All eligible students in grades three through eight shall take the FSAA – Performance Task Mathematics assessment (baseline year 2015-2016).
    (c) All eligible students in grades five and eight shall take the FSAA – Performance Task Science assessment (baseline year 2015-2016).
    (d) All eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Algebra 1 or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Performance Task Access Algebra 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2015-2016); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Biology 1 or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Performance Task Access Biology 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2015-2016); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Geometry or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Performance Task Access Geometry EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access United States History or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Performance Task Access United States History EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); and all eligible students enrolled in a middle school Access Civics education course must take the FSAA – Performance Task Access Civics EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
    (e) Provisions shall be made by the Commissioner to permit the test to be administered to home school students and private school students pursuant to Sections 1002.39 and 1002.395, 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
    (6) The statewide FSAA – Datafolio alternate assessment program shall be administered as follows:
    (a) All eligible students in grades three through ten shall take the FSAA – Datafolio ELA assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
    (b) All eligible students in grades three through eight shall take the FSAA – Datafolio Mathematics assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
    (c) All eligible students in grades five and eight shall take the FSAA – Datafolio Science assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
    (d) All eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Algebra 1 or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Datafolio Access Algebra 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Biology 1 or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Datafolio Access Biology 1 EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access Geometry or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Datafolio Access Geometry EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); all eligible students enrolled in a high school Access United States History or equivalent course must take the FSAA – Datafolio Access United States History EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017); and all eligible students enrolled in a middle school Access Civics education course must take the FSAA – Datafolio Access Civics EOC assessment (baseline year 2016-2017).
    (e) Provisions shall be made by the Commissioner to permit the test to be administered to home school students and private school students pursuant to Sections 1002.39 and 1002.395, 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
    (7) Examinee scores on statewide alternate ELA, Mathematics, Science, and EOC assessments shall be reported by the use of achievement levels determined by the baseline year assessment administered according to the schedule established in subsections (4) and (5), of this rule.
    (a) The achievement levels for the statewide FSAA – Performance Task assessments are as shown in the following tables:
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task ELA assessment standards (540 to 660) for each achievement level:
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
3
540-582
583-598
599-617
618-660
4
540-581
582-596
597-617
618-660
5
540-582
583-598
599-617
618-660
6
540-582
583-598
599-617
618-660
7
540-582
583-598
599-617
618-660
8
540-581
582-597
598-613
614-660
9
540-581
582-597
598-619
620-660
10
540-583
584-597
598-616
617-660
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task Mathematics assessment standards (540 to 660) for each achievement level:
    Grade
    Level 1
    Level 2
    Level 3
    Level 4
    3
    540-585
    586-599
    600-616
    617-660
    4
    540-586
    587-598
    599-617
    618-660
    5
    540-585
    586-599
    600-616
    617-660
    6
    540-585
    586-599
    600-616
    617-660
    7
    540-586
    587-599
    600-616
    617-660
    8
    540-585
    586-597
    598-614
    615-660
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task Science assessment standards (540 to 660) for each achievement level:
Grade
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
5
540-579
580-598
599-615
616-660
8
540-579
580-599
600-618
619-660
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task Access Algebra 1 EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
725-773
774-796
797-822
823-875
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task Access Biology 1 EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
725-772
773-794
795-822
823-875
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task Access Geometry EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
725-776
777-798
799-826
827-875
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task Access Civics EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
725-772
773-795
796-817
818-875
Statewide FSAA – Performance Task United States History EOC assessment standards (725 to 875) for each achievement level:
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
725-777
778-791
792-817
818-875
    (b) The achievement levels for the statewide FSAA—Datafolio assessments are as shown below:
Statewide FSAA – Datafolio assessment standards for ELA; Mathematics; Science; and Access Civics, Access Algebra 1, Access Geometry, Access Biology 1, and Access United States History EOC assessments for each achievement level: Level 1: The progress scores for each of the three (3) standards assessed in the content area include a 1 in at least one standard but do not include a 2 or higher on any standard. Level 2: The progress scores for each of the three (3) standards assessed in the content area include at least a 2 in at least one standard. Level 3: The progress scores for each of the three (3) standards in the content area include a 3 or higher in at least two (2) standards.
    (8) The assessments shall be administered according to a schedule approved by the Commissioner.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1008.22, 1008.25 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1001.11, 1008.22, 1008.25 FS. History-New 5-3-10, Amended 6-20-17, 2-20-18.