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
    LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
    CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
    JULIA L. JOHNSON
    WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
    TAP NUMBER: FY 2005-02
    MEMORANDUM
    To:
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    District School Superintendents
    Community College Presidents
    State University Presidents
    From:
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    Jim Warford, Office of the Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools
    David Armstrong, Office of the Chancellor, Florida Community Colleges & Workforce Education
    Debra Austin, Office of the Chancellor, Colleges and Universities
    Date:
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    July 15, 2004
    Subject:
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    TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER 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. Consistent with section 1008.22, Florida Statutes
    (Student assessment program for public schools.--), Commissioner Horne approved 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, and disseminated information regarding the concordant scores
    for the alternative assessments via memo dated May 13, 2004.
    Please find attached the technical assistance paper related to
    Alternative Assessment for the Grade 10 FCAT
    developed by the Department to provide guidance related to the implementation of this provision. This
    document provides school and school district personnel with information essential to the implementation of this
    new legislation.
    325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
    Technical Assistance Paper Regarding Alternative Assessment Options for Meeting Grade 10
    FCAT Graduation Requirement
    July 15, 2004
    Page Two
    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.
    The Legislature also passed CS/CS/SB 1604 to create section 1008.221, Florida Statutes
    (Dependent children of military personnel transferring to Florida schools; equivalencies for
    standardized tests.--), to provide that a dependent child of a member of the Armed Forces who
    transfers to a Florida public school during his or her senior year can satisfy the FCAT requirement
    for graduation by attaining a score on the SAT or ACT concordant to a passing score on the grade
    10 FCAT. This provision is not limited to military-dependent students scheduled to graduate in 2004
    but to all military-dependent students who transfer to a Florida school in their last year of high
    school. Technical assistance related to this provision will be disseminated in the near future.
    If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Mary Jo Butler at (850) 245-
    0479 or Mike Tremor at (850) 245-0423 in the Bureau of School Improvement.
    JW:DA:DA:mjbo
    Attachment
    cc:
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    Assistant Superintendents for Curriculum
    District Student Services Directors
    District Guidance Supervisors
    District Assessment Coordinators
    District MIS Directors
    Community College Admission Directors and Registrars
    Community College Vice Presidents for Student Affairs
    State University Admission Directors and Registrars

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