All Florida students participate in the state’s assessment and accountability system. The Florida Standards Alternate Assessment (FSAA) is designed for students whose participation in the general statewide assessment program (Florida Standards Assessments, Statewide Science Assessment, Next Generation Sunshine State Standards End-of-Course Assessments) is not appropriate, even with accommodations. The FSAA measures student academic performance on the Access Points (FS–AP) in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Access Points are academic expectations written specifically for students with significant cognitive disabilities. They reflect the essence or core intent of the standards that apply to all students in the same grade, but at reduced levels of complexity. Beginning in 2016–2017, the FSAA program will include two assessment components. The FSAA—Performance Task (FSAA–PT) is designed to assess students at three levels of complexity and results are reported through achievement levels.

The FSAA—Datafolio is a new assessment component designed to address the needs of a small population of students who typically do not have a formal mode of communication and may be working at pre-academic levels. Student work is aligned to pre-determined standards and submitted via an online portfolio system during three collection periods throughout a school year. Scoring outcomes are designed to show progress along a continuum of access to academic content via reduced levels of assistance and increased accuracy. Regardless of the component with which a student is assessed, it is expected that only students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are eligible under IDEA will participate in the FSAA program.

Guidelines for Participation

• Statewide Assessment for Students with Disabilities – Technical Assistance Paper, Course and Assessment Participation Checklist and Exemption Request Sample Forms (PDF) - (Effective March 20, 2015)
• Graduation/Standard Diploma Requirements for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities (PDF)

Resources

• Department of Education, Information for Families
• Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Resource and Information Center
• National Alternate Assessment Center
• Florida Standards and Access Points
• U.S. Department of Education: Standards, Assessment, and Accountability
• Information on Accommodations and Modifications for Students with Disabilities
• Standard Setting
• FSAA—Performance Task Achievement Level Descriptions (PDF)
• FSAA—Datafolio Achievement Level Descriptions (PDF)
• Final FSAA—Performance Task (ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) Achievement Levels (PDF)
• Final FSAA—Datafolio (ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) Achievement Levels (PDF)

Florida Statutes, State Laws, and Federal Regulations

• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
• No Child Left Behind (FDOE)
• Section 1008.22, Florida Statutes (F.S.), Student Assessment Program for Public Schools
• Section 1008.25, F.S., Public School Student Progression; Student Support; Reporting Requirements
• Rule 6A-1.0943, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), Statewide Assessment for Students with Disabilities
• Rule 6A-6.03028, F.A.C., Provision of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Development of Individual Educational Plans for Students with Disabilities
• IDEA
• Federal Register: 34 CFR Parts 300 and 303: Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children With Disabilities Program; Early Intervention Program for Instands and Toddlers with Disabilities (PDF)
• No Child Left Behind (USDOE)

State and District Contacts

• District Assessment Coordinators (PDF)
• Florida Alternate Assessment Program Specialist
  • Angela Nathaniel: 850-245-0972, Angela.Nathaniel@fldoe.org

Presentations

• 2017–18 Annual AAC Meeting Presentations (PPT)
• FSAA Technical Advisory Committee Presentations
  • FSAA—Performance Task (PDF)
  • FSAA—Datafolio (PDF)

FSAA Reports, Scores, and Publications

• 2016–17 Understanding FSAA Reports (PDF)
• 2016–17 District Summary (PDF)
• 2016–17 Florida Standards Alternate Assessment Test Design and Blueprint Specifications (PDF)
• 2017 Standard Setting Report for FSAA—Performance Task Social Studies (PDF)
• 2017 Standard Setting Report for FSAA—Datafolio (all content areas) (PDF)

Online FSAA Resource and Training Portal (FSAA)

The FSAA Portal contains the most recent information and resources available for Florida educators. The Portal is arranged with differentiated access for Teachers and Administrators within Datafolio and Performance Task subpages.The following outlines the information available with direct links when applicable.

FSAA—Performance Task

FSAA—Performance Task: Important Dates 2018-19

• Preorder Materials Window
• Assessment Dates Window

FSAA—Performance Task: Teachers

• Performance Task Teacher Training Resources and Materials
  • Training Modules and Tutorials
  • Blueprints - sortable by content and grade
  • Practice Materials - sortable by grade span, EOC content, component
  • Administration Support Documents
    • 2018–19 Teacher Administration Manual (PDF)
    • Procedural Manual (PDF)
  • Helpdesk: 866-239-2149, fsaaservicecenter@measuredprogress.org
• FSAA Online System
  • User Guides and Templates
  • FSAA Online System Link

FSAA—Performance Task: Coordinator/Trainer

• Performance Task AAC/District Trainer Resources
  • 2018–19 Teacher Administration Manual (PDF)
• FSAA Online System
  • User Guides and Templates
  • Administration and Registration Tools (ART) User Guide
  • FSAA Online System Link