Parent/Guardian,
This is to inform you that your student will take the computer-based Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) ELA Writing and Reading Retake between September 11, 2018-September 28, 2018. The FSA ELA Retake is administered over three days and consists of one 120-minute ELA Writing session and two 90-minute ELA Reading sessions. For the FSA ELA Writing Retake and ELA Reading Retake sessions, any student who has not completed a session by the end of the allotted time may continue working up to half the length of a typical school day for that session.
Your student will have or has previously had an opportunity to participate in a practice test to become familiar with the computer-based testing platform, item types, and response formats he or she will see on the FSA assessment(s). If you or your student would like to review the computer-based practice test at home, the practice tests and answer keys are available here.
Please review the following policies with your student before testing:
- Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to have any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom), even if the devices are turned off or students do not use them. If your student is found with an electronic device, his or her test will be invalidated.
- Calculators—For EOC assessments, approved calculators may be used during Session 2 only. If students have handheld calculators during Session 1, their tests will be invalidated.
- Testing Rules Acknowledgment—All FSA tests include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.” Prior to testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by signing below the statement on their planning sheets, worksheets, or work folders.
- Discussing Test Content after Testing—The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they sign below the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states: “Because the content of all statewide assessments is secure, you may not discuss or reveal details about the test items or passages after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting online, for example, on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram.” Please make sure your student understands that “discussing” test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, posting to social media, or sharing online. While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families.
- Working Independently—Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated. In addition, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) employs Caveon Test Security to analyze student test results to detect unusually similar answer Student tests within a school that are found to have extremely similar answer patterns will be invalidated.
- Leaving Campus—If your student leaves campus before completing a test session (e.g., for lunch, an appointment, illness), he or she will not be allowed to return to that test session. If your student does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best for him or her to wait and be tested on a make-up day. Please remember not to schedule appointments on testing days.
- Testing Accommodations—If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL), please contact the school to discuss the testing accommodations that will be provided for your student.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Amanda Shaffer, School Assessment Coordinator at Amanda.Shaffer@stlucieschools.org or 772-337-6722.
For more information about the FSA program, please visit the FSA Portal.
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.
Sincerely,
Adrian Ocampo, Principal
Port St. Lucie High School
