Dear Parent/Guardian,
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that Grade 5 and Grade 8 students will participate in the Statewide Science Assessment in May. The Statewide Science Assessment measures Grades 5 and 8 student achievement of Florida’s State Academic Standards in Science.
The Grade 5 Statewide Science Assessment consists of two 80-minute paper-based test sessions administered over two days. The Grade 8 Statewide Science Assessment consists of two 80-minute paper-based test sessions administered in one day. If you or your student would like to gain familiarity with the item types and response formats your student will see on his or her Statewide Science Assessment, sample questions and answer keys are available at https://fsassessments.org/families.html under the “Paper-Based Practice Tests” tab.
Please review the following policies with your student before testing:
- Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to have any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom), even if the devices are turned off or students do not use them. If your student is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test will be invalidated.
- Calculators—Four-function calculators will be provided to students for Grade 8 Science at the time of testing. No other calculators may be used. For the Grade 5 Science assessment, calculators may not be used.
- Testing Rules Acknowledgment—All Statewide Science Assessments include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.” Prior to testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by signing below the statement in their test books.
- Discussing Test Content after Testing—The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they sign below the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states: “Because the content in all statewide assessments is secure, you may not discuss or reveal details about the test content (including test items and passages) after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting on social media.” Please make sure your student understands this policy prior to testing and remind them that “discussing” test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, posting to social media, or sharing online. While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families.
- Working Independently—Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated. In addition, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) employs Caveon Test Security to analyze student test results to detect unusually similar answer patterns. Student tests within a school that are found to have extremely similar answer patterns will be invalidated.
- Leaving Campus—If your student begins a test session and leaves campus before completing it (e.g., for lunch, an appointment), he or she will not be allowed to return to that test session. If your student does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best for him or her to wait and be tested on a make-up day. Please remember not to schedule appointments on testing days.
- Testing Accommodations—If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss the testing accommodations that will be provided for your student.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, please contact Mrs. Coniglio, Assessment Coordinator, at 352-797-7072, ext. 157 or coniglio_e@hcsb.k12.fl.us. For more information about the statewide assessment program, visit the FDOE website at FLFAST.org.
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.
Sincerely,
Zana Wiseman
Principal, Hernando eSchool