Florida’sFlorida’sSunshine State StandardsSunshine State Standards

Matthew C. Robinson, Summer B 2006

The SSSThe SSS

The SSS were approved by the State The SSS were approved by the State Board of Education in 1996 to Board of Education in 1996 to “provide expectations for student “provide expectations for student achievement” in Florida. achievement” in Florida.

The SSSThe SSS

The Standards are written in 11 The Standards are written in 11 subject areas subject areas

The Standards are divided into four The Standards are divided into four grade clustersgrade clusters– PreK – 2PreK – 2– 3 – 53 – 5– 6 – 86 – 8– 9 – 129 – 12

The SSSThe SSS

School districts have the flexibility to School districts have the flexibility to design curriculum based on their design curriculum based on their local needslocal needs

Grade Level Expectation (GLE’s) Grade Level Expectation (GLE’s) provide more detailed objectives that provide more detailed objectives that students must meet. students must meet.

The GLE’s exist in mathematics for The GLE’s exist in mathematics for 66thth – 8 – 8thth grades grades

The SSSThe SSS

Curriculum and instruction that teachers teach Curriculum and instruction that teachers teach must be organized around the standardsmust be organized around the standards

The Sunshine State Standards do not tell The Sunshine State Standards do not tell teachers teachers howhow to teach. They are simply to teach. They are simply guidelines to assist teachers in designing guidelines to assist teachers in designing instruction to meet student needs, and more instruction to meet student needs, and more importantly, to identify the essential importantly, to identify the essential knowledge and skills that students should knowledge and skills that students should learn and for which the state will hold schools learn and for which the state will hold schools accountable. accountable.

The SSSThe SSS

Course specific information for Course specific information for students in grades 6 – 12 can be students in grades 6 – 12 can be found in the Florida Course found in the Florida Course Descriptions: Descriptions: http://www.firn.edu/doe/curriculum/crhttp://www.firn.edu/doe/curriculum/crscode/basic612/readfirs.htmscode/basic612/readfirs.htm

The FCATThe FCAT

The FCAT is used to measure students The FCAT is used to measure students progress towards the SSS.progress towards the SSS.

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) is the latest version of Test (FCAT) is the latest version of Florida’s statewide assessment Florida’s statewide assessment program.program.

The assessment program was initiated The assessment program was initiated about 1972 and has gone through many about 1972 and has gone through many changes over the years.changes over the years.

The FCATThe FCAT

In 1976, the Florida Legislature enacted In 1976, the Florida Legislature enacted a new accountability act that moved a new accountability act that moved the statewide assessment tests to the statewide assessment tests to grades 3, 5, 8, and 11.grades 3, 5, 8, and 11.

The Legislature also authorized the The Legislature also authorized the nation’s first required high school nation’s first required high school graduation test, which subsequently graduation test, which subsequently was implemented in October 1977.was implemented in October 1977.

The first pilot “FCAT” was given in 1998The first pilot “FCAT” was given in 1998

The FCATThe FCAT

The FCAT was designed to meet both The FCAT was designed to meet both the requirements of the the requirements of the Comprehensive Assessment Design Comprehensive Assessment Design (1995) and the rigorous content (1995) and the rigorous content defined by the Sunshine State defined by the Sunshine State Standards.Standards.

The FCATThe FCAT

Initially, the FCAT was designed to assess Initially, the FCAT was designed to assess reading, writing, and mathematics at four reading, writing, and mathematics at four grade levels so that each subject was grade levels so that each subject was assessed at all levels of schooling: assessed at all levels of schooling: elementary, middle, and high. elementary, middle, and high.

With legislative approval of Governor With legislative approval of Governor Bush’s A+ Plan in 1999, the FCAT was Bush’s A+ Plan in 1999, the FCAT was expanded to include grades 3-10. expanded to include grades 3-10.

In 2001, achievement for all grade levels In 2001, achievement for all grade levels was reported for the first time. was reported for the first time.

The FCAT become the test required for The FCAT become the test required for high school graduation for the class of high school graduation for the class of 2003. 2003.

The SSSThe SSS

StandardStrand

LevelSubject Benchmark

The MakeupThe Makeup

A A strandstrand is the most general type of is the most general type of information. It is a label for a category of information. It is a label for a category of knowledge.knowledge.

A A standardstandard is a description of general is a description of general expectations in regards to the knowledge expectations in regards to the knowledge and skill development within a strand.and skill development within a strand.

A A benchmarkbenchmark is the most specific level of is the most specific level of information. It is a statement of expectation information. It is a statement of expectation about student knowledge and skill by the about student knowledge and skill by the end of each developmental level.end of each developmental level.

The SSSThe SSS

To which grade band does this To which grade band does this standard apply?standard apply?

What is the standard?What is the standard? What is the benchmark?What is the benchmark?

To which grade band does this To which grade band does this standard apply?standard apply?

What is the subject?What is the subject? What is the strand?What is the strand?

The SSSThe SSS