Bill Text: FL S0420 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Student Assessment/Public Schools/FCAT [SPSC]

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on Education Pre-K - 12, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 4 (Ch. 2010-22) [S0420 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-S0420-Introduced.html

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Florida Senate - 2010                                     SB 420 
 
By Senator Bullard 
39-00195-10                                            2010420__ 
1                        A bill to be entitled 
2         An act relating to student assessment in the public 
3         schools; terminating the administration of the Florida 
4         Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) to students in 
5         grades 9 through 12; requiring the Preliminary 
6         SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test 
7         (PSAT/NMSQT) to replace the grade 10 FCAT for purposes 
8         of measuring a student’s knowledge and skills; 
9         requiring students to take the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 10; 
10         requiring students to earn passing scores on the 
11         PSAT/NMSQT to qualify for a standard high school 
12         diploma; requiring the State Board of Education to 
13         designate passing scores; requiring use of student 
14         performance on the PSAT/NMSQT for school grading 
15         purposes; providing for application beginning with 
16         students entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school 
17         year; providing an effective date. 
18 
19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
20 
21         Section 1. Notwithstanding ss. 1003.428, 1003.429, 1003.43, 
22  and 1008.22, Florida Statutes, and any other provision of law to 
23  the contrary, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) 
24  shall not be administered to students in grades 9 through 12. 
25  The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test 
26  (PSAT/NMSQT) shall replace the grade 10 FCAT for purposes of 
27  measuring a student’s knowledge and skills in reading, 
28  mathematics, and writing. The PSAT/NMSQT shall be taken by 
29  students in grade 10 to provide teachers and students with 
30  feedback on a student’s strengths and weaknesses and shall be 
31  used as practice and preparation for the SAT Reasoning Test 
32  (SAT) for students who will take the SAT as part of the college 
33  admission process. Students must earn a passing score on the 
34  PSAT/NMSQT in reading, mathematics, and writing to qualify for a 
35  standard high school diploma. The State Board of Education shall 
36  designate a passing score for each section of the PSAT/NMSQT 
37  that is aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards 
38  and demonstrates the proficiency level required for high school 
39  graduation. If a required passing score is raised by the State 
40  Board of Education, the passing score shall apply only to 
41  students taking the PSAT/NMSQT for the first time after such 
42  designation. For purposes of the public school grading system 
43  under ss. 1008.34 and 1008.341, Florida Statutes, student 
44  performance on the PSAT/NMSQT shall be used in place of student 
45  performance on the FCAT, as applicable. The provisions of this 
46  section shall apply to public school students entering grade 9 
47  in the 2011-2012 school year and thereafter. 
48         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.