FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
S
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
Jeanine Blomberg
Commissioner of Education
MEMORANDUM
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Jeanine Blomberg, Commissioner of Education
DATE:
August 31, 2007
SUBJECT:
2007-08 Florida Alternate Assessment and Comprehensive English Language
Learning Assessment Schedules
The Florida Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce the 2007-08 Florida
Alternate Assessment and Comprehensive English Language Learning Assessment (CELLA)
schedules. This information is important for future planning; however, please recognize that
there are many factors which may impact testing schedules, and we have tried to consider them
all. Regrettably, we could not avoid some overlap in various testing periods. We suggest you
share this schedule with schools and community groups in your district as soon as possible.
The statewide
Florida Alternate Assessment
is used to assess students with significant
cognitive disabilities who are working on the Sunshine State Standards (SSS) Access Points for
Reading, Mathematics (Grades 3-10), and Writing (Grades 4, 8, & 10). The Science (Grades 5, 8,
& 11) assessment will be linked to a combination of the Sunshine State Standards for Special
Diploma Strand B, Standard 4 and the SSS science content areas. The administration of the
assessment is scheduled to begin on
Monday, March 3, 2008
.
A field test for the Florida Alternate Assessment will take place
October 29-November 9, 2007
.
During this time, teachers who have been trained on the Florida Alternate Assessment will
administer the assessment to a sample of specific students in grades 3-11. A total of 4,500
students throughout the state will be included in the field test, stratified by grade, level of
complexity, gender, and ethnicity.
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 614 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0475 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
August 31, 2007
Page Two
The CELLA measures the growth of students classified as English Language Learners (ELLs) in
mastering the skills in English they will need to succeed in school. Its administration is
scheduled to begin on
Tuesday,
April 22, 2008
.
The dates for the 2007-08 test administrations are shown below. The following schedule will
allow for spring results of the Florida Alternate Assessment to be used in late June for standard
setting.
•
Field Test Administration of the Florida Alternate Assessment
– All testing for
Grades 3-11 will occur during the nine-day assessment window of
October 29-
November 9, 2007
. Administered to a sample of 4,500 pre-determined students with
significant cognitive disabilities, the test will include all four core subject areas: Reading,
Mathematics (Grades 3-10), Writing (Grades 4, 8, & 10), and Science (Grades 5, 8, &
11).
•
Operational Test Administration of the Florida Alternate Assessment
– All testing
for Grades 3-11 will occur during the twenty-day assessment window of
March 3-28,
2008
. The test will include all four core subject areas: Reading, Mathematics (Grades 3-
10), Writing (Grades 4, 8, & 10), and Science (Grades 5, 8, & 11).
•
Comprehensive English Language Learning Assessment
– The CELLA tests four
areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. These sections are included in each of the
four test levels: Level A (Grades K-2), Level B (Grades 3-5), Level C (Grades 6-8), and
Level D (Grades 9-12). The CELLA will be administered during the twenty-three-day
assessment window of
April 22-May 24, 2008
.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the Florida Alternate Assessment, please contact
Karen Denbroeder, Administrator of Special Programs Information and Evaluation, at
850-245-0475 (SunCom 205-0475) or at Karen.Denbroeder@fldoe.org. Questions relating to the
CELLA should be directed to Lisa Saavedra, Executive Director of the Office of Academic
Achievement through Language Acquisition, at 850-245-0417 (SunCom 205-0417) or at
FloridaCELLA@fldoe.org.
cc: Assistant Superintendents for Instruction
Exceptional Student Education Directors
District Alternate Assessment Coordinators
District Coordinators of Assessment
District Coordinators of Accountability
Jay Pfeiffer, Deputy Commissioner, ARM
Cornelia Orr, Deputy Commissioner, Assessment
Cheri Yecke, Chancellor
