FAST Assessments: How Collier County students tested

Florida's FAST scores have been released, and let's just say the sun isn't the only thing that shines in the Sunshine State.

Collier County students have outperformed the state in 20 of 21 assessed areas including ELA, mathematics, science, and state EOCS, making it a notable achievement for the 2023-24 school year. Additionally, Collier schools ranked 6th statewide for grades 3-8 math among the 67 school districts.

"I am immensely proud of our students' performance on the 2024 State assessments. In only the second year of implementation of new standards and a new assessment platform, our students continue to demonstrate remarkable growth and achievement" said Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli, the CCPS Superintendent.

The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) was implemented for Florida schools during the 2022-2023 school year. The assessment replaced the FSA exams that were used for many years prior.

Collier County's student scores have been published, detailing the mathematics and reading performance from grades Pre-K through 10th grade.

The progress assessment is given to students three times a year. The first test is administered at the beginning of the year. The second test is given in the middle of the school year and the third occurs at the end of the school year.

"Student performance on PM3 will be used for school and district accountability," according to the CCPS 2024 Assessment Brief.

Often referred to as “high-stakes exams," third-graders need passing FAST reading scores to move to fourth grade and 10th-grade students need passing reading scores to graduate.

Districts may allow third grade students to submit alternative assessments for "good cause promotion." This permits students to take pre-approved assessments that prove reading comprehension. Once a student has passed the exam they will move onto the fourth grade, according to the Florida Department of Education.

Tenth graders have the choice to take the FSA ELA Retake exam, or the FAST ELA Reading Retake, if they still need to meet graduation requirements. Students can participate in retakes until they reach a passing score to graduate. As of math graduation requirements, students are required to pass the Algebra 1 EOC. If a student does not meet these requirements by the end of their senior year, they will not graduate by their planned date.

How do the FAST assessments check student progress?

The FAST assessments allow teachers and administrators to gain information on student progress throughout the school year.

The first and second administrations (PM1 and PM2) are for informational purposes, providing teachers and families information to help guide instruction and support based on a student's strengths and weaknesses. The third administration (PM3) for grades 3 through 10, which occurs at the end of the school year, is the statewide, standardized assessment in ELA and mathematics administered for state and federal accountability, according to the Florida Department of Education.

What are the FAST math scores for Collier County vs. the state?

Below are the average math scores statewide and Collier County final scores for mathematics. These scores include grades 3-8 who tested the end of the 2023-24 school year. The percentages represent the rate of students who tested at or above grade level. Collier County had higher test scores compared to the state in almost every grade level.

∎ Third grade: State, 60%, Collier County, 66%

∎ Seventh grade: State, 47%, Collier County, 72%

What are the FAST language arts scores for Collier County vs. the state?

Below are the average statewide and Collier County final scores for English and language arts. These scores include grades 3-10 who tested at the end of the 2023-24 school year. The percentages represent the rate of students who tested at or above grade level. Collier County had higher test scores than the state at every grade level.

∎Third grade: State, 55%, Collier County, 60%

∎Seventh grade: State, 50%, Collier County, 53%

∎10th grade: State, 53%, Collier County, 58%

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: FAST Assessments: How Collier County students tested