Bill Text: FL S1036 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Student Assessment in the Public Schools

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2012-03-09 - Died in Education Pre-K - 12 [S1036 Detail]

Download: Florida-2012-S1036-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2012                                    SB 1036
       
       
       
       By Senator Bullard
       
       
       
       
       39-00764A-12                                          20121036__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to student assessment in the public
    3         schools; terminating the administration of the Florida
    4         Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to students in
    5         grades 9 through 12; requiring the Preliminary
    6         SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
    7         (PSAT/NMSQT) or the ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN tests to
    8         replace the grade 10 FCAT for purposes of measuring a
    9         student’s knowledge and skills; requiring students to
   10         take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 10 or the ACT’s EXPLORE
   11         and PLAN tests in grades 9 and 10, respectively;
   12         requiring students to earn passing scores on the
   13         PSAT/NMSQT or the ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN tests to
   14         qualify for a standard high school diploma; requiring
   15         the State Board of Education to designate passing
   16         scores; requiring use of student performance on the
   17         PSAT/NMSQT or the ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN tests for
   18         school grading purposes; providing for application
   19         beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2013
   20         2014 school year; providing an effective date.
   21  
   22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   23  
   24         Section 1. Notwithstanding ss. 1003.428, 1003.429, and
   25  1008.22, Florida Statutes, and any other provision of law to the
   26  contrary, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) shall
   27  not be administered to students in grades 9 through 12. The
   28  Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
   29  (PSAT/NMSQT) or the ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN tests shall replace
   30  the grade 10 FCAT for purposes of measuring a student’s
   31  knowledge and skills in reading, mathematics, and writing. The
   32  PSAT/NMSQT shall be taken by students in grade 10 or the ACT’s
   33  EXPLORE and PLAN tests shall be taken by students in grades 9
   34  and 10, respectively, to provide teachers and students with
   35  feedback on a student’s strengths and weaknesses and shall be
   36  used as practice and preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test
   37  (SAT) or the ACT as part of the college admission process.
   38  Students must earn a passing score on the PSAT/NMSQT or the
   39  ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN tests in reading, mathematics, and
   40  writing to qualify for a standard high school diploma. The State
   41  Board of Education shall designate for each section of the
   42  PSAT/NMSQT and the ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN tests a passing score
   43  that is aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
   44  and demonstrates the proficiency level required for high school
   45  graduation. If a required passing score is raised by the State
   46  Board of Education, the passing score shall apply only to
   47  students taking the PSAT/NMSQT or the ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN
   48  tests for the first time after such designation. For purposes of
   49  the public school grading system under ss. 1008.34 and 1008.341,
   50  Florida Statutes, student performance on the PSAT/NMSQT or the
   51  ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN tests shall be used in place of student
   52  performance on the FCAT, as applicable. The provisions of this
   53  section shall apply to public school students entering grade 9
   54  in the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter.
   55         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.