Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-1.094221: Alternative Standardized Reading Assessment and Use of Student Portfolio for Good Cause Promotion
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule revision is to provide guidance relating to the statewide public school student progression law eliminating social promotion, by removing the FCAT Norm Referenced Test (NRT) as an alternative assessment good cause exemption for students scoring at Level 1 on the grade three Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) in Reading. Since the original rule adoption, the FCAT Norm Referenced Test (NRT) has been eliminated from the FCAT assessment program. The effect of this rule revision will be that students who score at Level 1 on the grade three FCAT Reading may be promoted to grade four if an acceptable level of performance is demonstrated on the alternative assessment, (SAT-9 or SAT-10) or using a student portfolio.
SUMMARY: Relating to the statewide public school student progression law eliminating social promotion, students who score at Level 1 on the grade three Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) in Reading may be promoted to grade four if the student demonstrates an acceptable level of performance on the Reading SAT-9 or Reading SAT-10 alternative assessment or through a student portfolio that demonstrates the student’s mastery of the Sunshine State Standards in reading equal to at least a Level 2 performance on the grade three FCAT Reading.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1008.25(8)(b) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1008.25(6)(b)3. FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: August 19, 2008, 8:30 a.m.
PLACE: 400 South Monroe Street, Room LL03, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32399
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Evan Lefsky, Executive Director, Office of Just Read, Florida, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-1.094221 Alternative Standardized Reading Assessment and Use of Student Portfolio for Good Cause Promotion.

(1) Pursuant to Section 1008.25(6), F.S., relating to the statewide public school student progression law eliminating social promotion, students who score at Level 1 on the grade three Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Reading may be promoted to grade four if the student demonstrates:

(a) An acceptable level of performance on the FCAT Norm Referenced Test (NRT) in Reading or the Reading SAT-9 or Reading SAT-10 alternative assessment; or

(b) Reading on grade level as evidenced through mastery of the Sunshine State Standards in reading equal to at least Level 2 performance on the grade three FCAT Reading.

(2) The acceptable levels of performance on the alternative assessment for grade three are as follows:

(a) To promote a student using the grade three FCAT NRT In Reading as an alternative assessment good cause exemption, the grade three student scoring at Level 1 FCAT Reading must score at or above the 45th percentile on the grade three FCAT NRT in Reading.

(2)(b) To promote a student using the SAT-9 or SAT-10 as an alternative assessment good cause exemption, the grade three student scoring at Level 1 on FCAT Reading must score at or above the 51st percentile on the SAT-9 or at or above the 45th percentile on the Reading SAT-10. The SAT-9 or SAT-10 may only be administered one (1) time.

(c) The earliest the alternative assessment may be administered for student promotion purposes is following the receipt of the grade three student FCAT Reading scores or during the last two (2) weeks of school, whichever occurs first.

(3) No change.

Specific Authority 1008.25(8)(b) FS. Law Implemented 1008.25(6)(b)3. FS. History–New 5-19-03, Amended 7-20-04, 3-24-08,_________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Melinda Webster, Elementary Reading Specialist, Just Read, Florida!
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Evan Lefsky, Executive Director, Office of Just Read, Florida!
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 26, 2008
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: June 13, 2008