FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
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INDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
LINDA K. TAYLOR
MEMORANDUM
To:
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District School Superintendents
From:
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Jim Horne
Date:
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May 13, 2004
Subject:
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2004 Legislative Changes Regarding Alternative Assessment Options for
Meeting Grade 10 FCAT Graduation Requirement
The 2004 Legislature passed Committee Substitute for Senate Bill (CS/SB) 364 that amended
several requirements for high school graduation, including the provision of additional
opportunities and alternatives for students to meet certain high school graduation requirements.
The law directs me to approve the use of the SAT and ACT tests as alternative assessments to
the grade 10 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for students graduating in the
2003-04 school year.
The SAT and ACT generally measure the same curriculum areas contained in the Sunshine
State Standards for tenth grade, and are widely accepted measures of college preparation by
public and private colleges and universities. The Department conducted concordance studies to
determine the score relationship between the FCAT and the SAT and ACT. The concordance
studies were based on Florida students who had taken the FCAT in the spring of 2000 and 2001
score reports for more than 71,000 students who had taken both the FCAT and the SAT and
more than 47,000 students who had taken both the FCAT and the ACT.
The studies resulted in the concordant scores shown below. Twelfth grade students scheduled
to graduate in the 2003-2004 school year who have attained the SAT or ACT scores concordant
with the FCAT passing scores shown below shall satisfy the assessment requirement for a
standard high school diploma as provided by Florida law [sections 1003.43(5)(a) (General
requirements for high school graduation.--) and 1003.429(6)(a) (Accelerated high school
graduation options.--), Florida Statutes]. Please note that CS/SB 364 also requires that a
student must take the grade 10 FCAT a total of three times without earning a passing score in
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
May 13, 2004
Page Two
order to use the scores on an alternative assessment to meet graduation requirements.
However, the requirement to take the FCAT three times prior to using alternative assessment
scores to satisfy graduation requirements shall not apply to a student who transferred into the
Florida public school system in the twelfth grade.
The grade 10 FCAT passing scores of 300 in reading and mathematics apply to all seniors
graduating in the 2003-04 school year.
Concordant Scores for 2003-2004
Reading Math
FCAT
300
FCAT
300
SAT
410
SAT
370
ACT
15
ACT
15
School districts are responsible for identifying students who are eligible to use concordant
scores on the SAT or ACT to satisfy the assessment requirement for graduation. Districts must
document that students using this option have met all other graduation requirements pursuant to
sections 1003.43 and 1003.429, Florida Statutes, and provide a process for documenting the
concordant SAT and ACT scores. Students who meet all graduation requirements except
passing the FCAT and use the SAT or ACT to meet that requirement must be reported in
Survey 5 using one of the following Withdrawal Codes:
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WFT – Any student who graduated from school with a standard diploma and satisfied
the graduation test requirement through an alternate assessment.
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WFA – Any student who graduated from school with a standard diploma based on an
18-credit college preparatory graduation option and satisfied the graduation test
requirement through an alternate assessment.
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WFB – Any student who graduated from school with a standard diploma based on an
18-credit career preparatory graduation option and satisfied the graduation test
requirement through an alternate assessment.
The 2004 Legislature authorized the use of concordant standardized test scores as an option
only for seniors in the 2003-04 graduating class. This option will not be in effect for students
graduating in future school years unless the Legislature authorizes the continued use of an
alternative assessment for meeting high school graduation requirements.
If you have questions regarding the use of the alternative assessment option, please contact
Mary Jo Butler at (850) 245-0479, Suncom 205-0479, or via email at maryjo.butler@fldoe.org.
JH/mjbo
cc:
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Assistant Superintendents for Curriculum
District Student Services Directors
District Guidance Supervisors
District Assessment Coordinators
District MIS Directors
