2015 State Assessments Informational Meeting

7th Grade

What parents and students need to know

What test is 7th grade taking?

March 2–13, 2015 Computer-Based (including Paper-Based Accommodations):

FSA Grades 8–11 English Language Arts Writing Component

April 13–May 8, 2015 Computer-Based:

FSA Grades 5–11 English Language Arts

FSA Grades 5–8 Mathematics

April 13–May 8, 2015 Paper-Based:

FCAT 2.0 Grades 5 and 8 Science

April 20–May 22, 2015 Computer-Based:

Biology 1, Civics, U.S. History

Only applicable for students enrolled in

these courses

Testing Calendar

See Handout #1

Why FSA?

With new, more rigorous standards in place to help Florida students succeed, the FCAT 2.0 no longer serves the purpose of measuring student progress and achievement.

Best serves Florida students by accurately measuring education gains and progress.

This new method of assessment will allow teachers to emphasize critical thinking, which will provide our students with even greater opportunities to succeed in college, career, and life.

The new test will provide a more authentic assessment of the Florida Standards, because it will include more than multiple choice questions. Students will be asked to create graphs, interact with test content and write and respond in different ways than on traditional tests.

New question types will assess students’ higher-order thinking skills in keeping with the higher expectations of the Florida Standards.

Types of Questions7th Grade Math

(see handout #2) Table Items

Matching Items

Grid Items with Action Buttons

Equation Response Items

Multi-Select Items

Multiple Choice Items

Hot Text Items

Open Response Items

Editing Task Items

Editing Task Choice Items

Sample QuestionsMiddle School Math

GRAPHIC Response Sample (Visit http://fsassessments.org for more info):

Types of Questions7th Grade ELA

(see handout #3) Item Types

Multiple Choice Items

Multiple- Select Items

Grid Items

Hot Text Items

Open Response Items

Evidence-Based Selective Response Items

Editing Task Items

Editing Task Choice Items

Multimedia/Listening Items

Sample QuestionsMiddle School ELA

Hot Text Item Sample (Visit http://fsassessments.org for more info):

Sample QuestionsMiddle School ELA

Multimedia/Listening Item Sample (Visit http://fsassessments.org for more info):

Writing Component

New FSA Writing Component

The FSA ELA includes the Text-Based Writing Component, administered separately from the rest of FSA ELA to allow time for hand scoring; will be reported as part of a single ELA score.

Writing component will be paper-based for grades 6th and 7th.

Students will have up to 120 minutes to complete the essay.

Students will be faced with either an argumentative or informative/explanatory prompt (see handout #4)

EOC – End of Course Exams

EOC’s

Subjects Tested: Biology 1

Civics

U.S. History

Algebra 1

Algebra 2

Geometry

ONLY Middle School Students who are enrolled in those courses will be required to take the End of Course Exams.

ALL EOC’s are computer-based.

Where do we go from here?

Three-Tier Tutoring Program

After School Tutoring:

Mandatory for FCAT Levels 1 and 2

Monday & Wednesday (2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.) – MATH

Tuesday & Thursday (2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.) - READING

Saturday Tutoring:

FCAT Levels 3, 4, and 5

See Handout #5 for dates and times

Pull-Out Tutoring

Designed for bubble students

Students will be pulled-out of elective classes for 45 minutes

Rewards

Students who come to ALL Saturday and/or After School Tutoring: Parents will receive ALL volunteer hours for the 2014-

2015 School Year

Students will participate in a Sundae Ice Cream Party and a raffle for: Tablets

Gift Cards

Movie Tickets

Students will receive snacks at the end of the Saturday Tutoring Sessions

For more Information…

PowerPoint will be posted at www.matermiddlehigh.org

For more information on FSA Assessments, please visit http://fsassessments.org

http://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/fsa.stml

Questions

Counselors, teachers and administrators will be available for questions at the end of this presentation.