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Student Performance
Florida's future depends upon the success of today's students in public schools. It is difficult to know how the state is doing without measuring student performance.
One indicator is student testing in core subject matter. The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) measures student performance in reading, mathematics, writing and science that are defined by the Florida Sunshine State Standards.
Incentives and rewards are available for high performing students. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Programs rewards Florida high school students for high academic achievement and encourages them to continue their postsecondary education at a Florida institution of higher education.
Why Is This Important?
Accountability for student learning is the key focus of Florida's system of school improvement. Student achievement data from testing is used to report educational status and annual progress for individual students, schools, districts, and the state. The A+ school grades are based on the percent of students meeting high standards and the percent of students who make learning gains.
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program requires students to complete required college-preparatory coursework in high school and earn a qualifying standardized test score to receive the award. This preparation provides the foundation for students to be successful in college. Furthermore, the vast majority of Bright Futures students earn the necessary grade point average and complete the required credit hours to maintain their award after they enroll in college, keeping them on track towards completing a postsecondary degree or certificate.
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program also encourages Florida high school graduates to stay in Florida to pursue their postsecondary education. In turn, Florida college graduates are more likely to remain in Florida to work. Therefore, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is ultimately helping to provide a better educated Florida workforce.
How Is Florida Doing?
Student performance in Florida has been increasing during the past several years. The most current results show a continuation of that trend. In 2008-09, a total of 61 percent of students who participated in FCAT Reading in Grades 3 through 10 demonstrated reading skills at or above grade level (Level 3 and above) compared to 47 percent in 2001. Sixty-seven (67) percent of students who participated in math testing demonstrated mathematics skills at or above grade level (Level 3 and above) compared to 50 percent in 2001.
Students participating in science testing all showed significant improvement compared to past years.
The percentage of fifth and eight grade students testing at grade level or above has risen by 18 and 13 percent, respectively, over the past six years. Eleventh grade students have achieved between 37 and 38 percent over the past three years. The science portion of the FCAT has been administered in Grades 5 and 8 since 2003 and administered in Grade 11 since 2005.
Students passing FCAT reading and Math Graduation requirements on the first attempt remained at 2008 levels.
Writing testing results reflected an increase in the percent of students who scored 3.5 (on a scale of one to six) or higher on the essay portion of the test at all grade levels.The average score for fourth graders rose from 3.8 to 4.0. Over the past decade, the percentage of fourth graders scoring above 3.5 has risen from 34 to 85 percent. Ninety percent of eighth graders scored above 3.5 while the past decade has shown improvement from 51 percent to 90 percent. The tenth grade average decreased by one tenth from 3.9 to 3.8, but the number achieving 3.5 or higher has risen from 60 percent to 77 percent since 1999.
For more information about student testing and other K-12 assessments see http://www.fldoe.org/asp.
More students are completing the necessary college-preparatory coursework and earning the required standardized test score to qualify for a Bright Futures award each year. Since the program's inception in the 1997-98 academic year, the percent of Florida high school graduates eligible for a Bright Futures award has increased from 30 percent to 38 percent.
Scorecard
What Influences Student Performance?
Improvements in the quality of instruction, school and student accountability, plus a greater role played by parents in their child's education are factors influencing student performance.
What Is the State's Role?
The state's role in promoting student achievement is to provide rigorous academic standards, promote effective instruction and encourage accountability for results at every level. The state also works in cooperation with the state's 67 school districts to meet government's obligation to provide a quality education for Florida students.
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