FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
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T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
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Members
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SALLY BRADSHAW
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LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
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CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
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JULIA L. JOHNSON
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WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
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FROM:
John L. Winn
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DATE:
June 20, 2003
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SUBJECT:
PSAT and PLAN Student Testing
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JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
The PSAT and PLAN Student Testing Program represents a win-win situation for educators,
students and parents. In 1999, participation rates were below 50 percent; recent data indicate that
with the increased numbers of test takers in 2002, we are closing in on a 63% participation rate.
The pre-college test and the comprehensive, diagnostic reports that are sent to schools and
parents provide an invaluable resource in the Florida educational system efforts to level the
playing field. Thanks to the cooperation and support of many of you, our students are benefiting
from this important student access initiative.
The Florida Legislature has appropriated funds to support the administration of the PSAT or
PLAN pre-college entrance examinations to grade 10 students in public high schools. The
purpose of this memorandum is to provide additional information to each school district about
the implementation of this program.
In accordance with the language in Specific Appropriation 109, each school district shall choose
either the PSAT or the PLAN for implementation of this program. Please make this selection no
later than July 11, 2003. The tests are scheduled to be administered from late September to late
December (PLAN) or October (PSAT).
John L. Winn
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
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ACCOUNTABILITY, RESEARCH, AND MEASUREMENT
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325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1548 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0436 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
June 20, 2003
Page Two
As a first step in arranging for the administration of one of these two tests in your district, it is
necessary for districts to submit the following information to the Department:
1.
?
A district decision as to which test will be administered, the PSAT or the PLAN;
and
2.
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Information describing which high schools will be administering the selected test,
the anticipated Fall 2003 grade 10 enrollment at each site, and the number of
grade 10 students each school expects to test.
Attached to this letter, please find a form to complete and fax to the Department no later than
July 11, 2003. This form requires you to identify your test selection and estimate the total
number of grade 10 students to be tested.
In addition, we request that you submit an Excel spreadsheet containing the following five data
elements in the specified columns:
1.
Florida school district number (column A)
2.
Florida school number (column B)
3.
College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) code (column C)
4.
School name (column D)
5.
Fall 2003 estimated school enrollment of grade 10 students (column E)
6.
?
Estimated number of grade 10 students who will take the test that your district
selects (column F)
Districts should submit their spreadsheets, no later than August 1, 2003, as an attachment to an e-
mail message to Wanda Akisanya at: wanda.akisanya@fldoe.org
This is not your actual order form, but rather, a form that provides an estimate to be used by the
Department for procurement purposes.
Sc
hools will separately submit an order to the
selected testing organizations to receive test materials.
The purpose of this program is to contribute to increased college preparation for our high school
students, so it is to a student’s advantage to participate in this program. Please take the necessary
steps to inform students about the testing program and encourage their participation.
District School Superintendents
June 20, 2003
Page Three
Test results will provide each high school guidance counselor with student assessment data to
identify students who are ready, or who need additional work in order to enroll and be successful
in Advanced Placement and other college preparatory courses. Materials are also available to
allow guidance counselors to use preliminary examinations to identify students who can be
successful in advanced courses if given the encouragement and information on the importance of
these courses to their future success.
If there are any questions about the nature of these tests, the reports of results, optional services,
or registration details, please contact either of the following two people:
PLAN - Mary D. Hendrix, ACT, (850) 878-2729
PSAT - Maria Eckard, The College Board, (850) 222-7999
The testing organizations will track the number of students who are actually tested and will
invoice the Department of Education accordingly.
Please be aware that schools are
responsible for the cost of testing students who are not in grade 10. Districts have the
responsibility of cooperating with the testing organizations to arrange for test registration
and administration.
If you have any additional questions or need assistance, please contact Victoria Wagner via e-
mail at Victoria.Wagner@fldoe.org or by telephone at (850) 245-0513 or SunCom 205-0513.
Thank you for your cooperation.
JLW/cok
District Assistant Superintendents of Instruction
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District Coordinators of Assessment
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Mary Hendrix, ACT
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Maria Eckard, The College Board
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Enclosure
cc
Florida Pre-College Entrance Examination Program
DIRECTIONS:
Each school district shall complete this form and return it to the Department of Education
no later than July 11, 2003.
Send the completed form to Wanda Akisanya, Office of Assessment and School
Performance, Department of Education, by fax transmission to (850) 245-0771.
Please provide the following information:
NAME OF SCHOOL DISTRICT:
NAME OF PERSON COMPLETING FORM:
TELEPHONE NUMBER OF PERSON COMPLETING FORM:
Mark below your district’s selection for the pre-college entrance examination to be
administered:
(
) PSAT (from The College Board)
(
) PLAN (from ACT)
WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF GRADE 10 STUDENTS TO BE
TESTED THIS FALL? (write in the space below)
Please send the school population data spreadsheet separately by e-mail to
wanda.akisanya@fldoe.org
Thank you for your assistance.
