{"id":23004,"date":"2014-11-24T10:01:31","date_gmt":"2014-11-24T15:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=23004"},"modified":"2014-11-25T16:07:29","modified_gmt":"2014-11-25T21:07:29","slug":"meet-floridas-new-statewide-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2014\/11\/24\/meet-floridas-new-statewide-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Florida&#8217;s New Statewide Test"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_23010\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"This is a sample math question from the Florida Standards Assessment. The questions asks students to...\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-MathFillBlanks.png\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23010\" alt=\"This is a sample math question from the Florida Standards Assessment. The questions asks students to...\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-MathFillBlanks-300x168.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-MathFillBlanks-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-MathFillBlanks-620x348.png 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-MathFillBlanks.png 974w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Screen shot \/ Florida Department of Education<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">This is a sample math question from the Florida Standards Assessment. The questions asks students to fill in the blanks, but provides more possible choices than answer spaces.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>This spring, Florida students will take a brand new test tied to the state\u2019s new math, reading and writing standards.<\/p>\n<p>This is the test that replaces the FCAT. It&#8217;s known as the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fsassessments.org\/\" data-cke-saved-href=\"http:\/\/www.fsassessments.org\/\">Florida Standards Assessment, and it\u2019ll be online<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s on the test won\u2019t be the only thing different about the exam. Students will also find new types of questions.<\/p>\n<p>We gathered your questions about the new exam from our Public Insight Network. Here\u2019s what you you wanted to know &#8212; and what it\u2019ll mean for students and schools.<\/p>\n<p>Bill Younkin from Miami Beach is wondering about the fact that the exam\u2019s online.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u201cWhat type of test will it be? How will it be administered?&#8221; he asks. &#8220;Will there be a paper and pencil alternative? What types of questions will it contain? How long will it take to administer?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Florida students took 3.8 million tests using computers \u2013 so online exams are nothing new in Florida. But the Florida Standards Assessment is different from past exams<\/p>\n<p>The new exam will be more interactive (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fsassessments.org\/training-tests\" data-cke-saved-href=\"http:\/\/www.fsassessments.org\/training-tests\">you can see practice questions <strong>here<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Some questions ask students to move items around, sorting correct answers from those that are wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Others ask students to choose the correct answer from drop-down menus or fill in the blanks in math problems.<\/p>\n<p>There are also audio questions on the exam. Students will have to listen to a recording \u2013 a student talks about Diwali in one, another was a science podcast about Pluto \u2013 and answer questions based on the clip.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/178002955&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false\" height=\"166\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/178002921&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false\" height=\"166\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/178002868&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false\" height=\"166\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The new test is longer than the FCAT exams being replaced \u2013 but not as long as tests other states have adopted. The Florida Standards Assessment adds 40 minutes to third grade testing, 160 minutes to sixth and seventh grade testing and 270 minutes for high school juniors who previously didn\u2019t have to take the FCAT exam.<\/p>\n<p>And every student in fourth through 11th grade will now take a writing test each year. Previously, only students in fourth, eighth and 10th grades took the FCAT writing exam.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23015\"  class=\"wp-caption module image center\" style=\"max-width: 620px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"This chart compares testing time on the FCAT to the new Florida Standards Assessment.\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-TestTimeChart2.png\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-23015\" alt=\"This chart compares testing time on the FCAT to the new Florida Standards Assessment.\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-TestTimeChart2-620x248.png\" width=\"620\" height=\"248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-TestTimeChart2-620x248.png 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-TestTimeChart2-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-TestTimeChart2.png 738w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">John O&#39;Connor \/ StateImpact Florida<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">This chart compares testing time on the FCAT to the new Florida Standards Assessment.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Younkin worries scoring well on the Florida Standards Assessment could depend more on a student\u2019s computer skills than on what they learned in school.<\/p>\n<p>Education Commissioner Pam Stewart doesn\u2019t share that concern as she told the State Board of Education last week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre we actually testing their writing,\u201d she asked, \u201cor are we then testing their computer skills? I would suggest to you the answer to that really is we need to be doing both.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Third and fourth graders will use pencil and paper for their math and reading tests.<\/p>\n<p>But Stewart compromised with educators on the new writing test. Students will take a pencil and paper version through seventh grade &#8212; this year. The state will decide later whether or not to use pencil and paper again next year.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23005\"  class=\"wp-caption module image left\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"This chart shows which test will be taken on a computer, and which ones will be pencil and paper.\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart.png\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23005\" alt=\"This chart shows which test will be taken on a computer, and which ones will be pencil and paper.\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart-300x296.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart-300x296.png 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart-32x32.png 32w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart-64x64.png 64w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart-96x96.png 96w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart-60x60.png 60w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-CBTChart.png 442w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Screen shot \/ Florida Department of Education<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">This chart shows which test will be taken on a computer, and which ones will be pencil and paper.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Sunrise resident Mark Eckert asked: \u201cHas this test been field tested?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Field testing is a way to verify whether a test measures what it\u2019s intended to measure. Field testing is a big concern for teachers, administrators and parents.<\/p>\n<p>Usually, test-makers give prototypes to the same students who will eventually take the new exam.<\/p>\n<p>But when <a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2014\/03\/17\/florida-schools-chief-picks-air-for-next-statewide-test\/\" data-cke-saved-href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2014\/03\/17\/florida-schools-chief-picks-air-for-next-statewide-test\/\">Florida chose the American Institutes of Research to produce the Florida Standards Assessment<\/a>, the state was short on time. \u00a0So AIR &#8212; as it\u2019s known &#8212; \u00a0is using questions from Utah\u2019s statewide exam.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose items were field tested in Utah,\u201d said Vince Verges, who is in charge of testing decisions for the Florida Department of Education.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2014\/03\/20\/miami-schools-chief-selection-of-new-test-is-insufficient\/\" data-cke-saved-href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2014\/03\/20\/miami-schools-chief-selection-of-new-test-is-insufficient\/\">Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho<\/a> and other critics say trying out questions on Utah\u2019s mostly white students won\u2019t work for Florida. There are more low-income students here and a higher percentage of Hispanic and black students.<\/p>\n<p>Verges says test-makers account for those demographic differences when they analyze the test questions. But as test-maker <a href=\"http:\/\/researchnetwork.pearson.com\/college-career-success\/standardized-testing-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work\" data-cke-saved-href=\"http:\/\/researchnetwork.pearson.com\/college-career-success\/standardized-testing-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work\">Pearson says on their website<\/a>, with field testing \u201cwe can see if gender, ethnicity or even English proficiency impact a child\u2019s ability to successfully perform the task at hand.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Items for the writing exam will be field-tested with Florida students this winter. And Florida staff spent three weeks in Utah hand-picking some of the reading and math questions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo we chose the Utah items that best matched the standards,\u201d Verges says.<\/p>\n<p>How the questions are chosen is important because the results of the test matter.<\/p>\n<p>Every year, Florida issues A through F grades for public schools.<\/p>\n<p>The State Board of Education will set the new passing scores over the summer based on the first batch of student scores.<\/p>\n<p>So next year\u2019s public school grades will be released in the fall of 2015, but those grades won\u2019t force any changes at low-rated schools next year.<\/p>\n<p>Penalties &#8212; like having to replace the principal or teachers &#8212; will return in 2016.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_23006\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"A question on an elementary reading test. Students have to correct answers into the box.\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-DragDropItem.png\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23006\" alt=\"A question on an elementary reading test. Students have to correct answers into the box.\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-DragDropItem-300x143.png\" width=\"300\" height=\"143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-DragDropItem-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-DragDropItem-620x296.png 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/files\/2014\/11\/11-24-DragDropItem.png 1183w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Screen shot \/ Florida Department of Education<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">A question on an elementary reading test. Students have to correct answers into the box.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But students with low scores on the third grade reading exam can still be held back a year. And students have to pass the tenth grade reading exam to graduate high school.<\/p>\n<p>Teachers will be rated using their students\u2019 test scores according to their district&#8217;s plan.<\/p>\n<p>Which is why Hollywood resident Dan McMurtrie has one more question for state leaders about the test.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf the legislators and governor are so confident about how good this test is for education, why don\u2019t they take the seventh grade test?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n<p>McMurtie wants to compare lawmaker scores with seventh grade teachers\u2019 to see who does better.<\/p>\n<p><em>This article includes comments from the Public Insight Network, an online community of people who have agreed to share their opinions with the Miami Herald and WLRN. Become a source at MiamiHerald.com\/insight.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been corrected to note that the Florida Department of Education hasn&#8217;t yet made a decision about whether to use paper and pencil writing exams next year.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This spring, Florida students will take a brand new test tied to the state\u2019s new math, reading and writing standards. This is the test that replaces the FCAT. It&#8217;s known as the Florida Standards Assessment, and it\u2019ll be online. What\u2019s on the test won\u2019t be the only thing different about the exam. Students will also [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":23010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[14,1019,962,1062,1169,693,1120,1006,1153],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23004"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23004"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23004\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23047,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23004\/revisions\/23047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23004"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}