Dept. of Ed releases results from FAST progress monitoring assessments showing ‘significant student growth’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., announced “successful” results of Florida’s second year of the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking progress monitoring assessments on Monday.
The assessment, also known as FAST, is a newly implemented method of establishing student progress throughout the year, with three separate tests.
Results from the 2023-2024 assessments show “substantial student growth” throughout the school year and “notable year-over-year improvement across the state,” according to a press release.
One of the major highlights this past school year for grades 3-10 showed performance increased by 20% in English Language Arts. In the third assessment (PM3), 53% of students scored on grade level or above compared to 33% on the first assessment (PM1). Results outpaced the previous year by 3%.
Another highlight included performance increased by 42% in mathematics during the school year in grades 3-8. In the third assessment (PM3), 56% of students scored on grade level or above, compared to 14% in the first test (PM1).
The department said the results are a “testament to the power of progress monitoring and its effectiveness in driving student achievement.”
The progress monitoring is intended to provide real-time data at the beginning, middle and end of the school year to “drive student improvement.”
By doing so, this “enables immediate adjustments to teaching methods,” and “improved communication between educators and families.”
Diaz said the “substantial gains achieved by Florida’s students on all statewide assessments demonstrate that progress monitoring is working.”
“I want to thank our teachers for their hard work in the classroom and the dedication of Florida’s students to growing throughout the year. Our dedication to our students and our willingness to change the status quo is why Florida is the number one state for education,” Diaz said.
Year-over-year Improvement
- Grades 3-10 ELA: Statewide, 53% of students scored on or above grade level in PM3 in 2024, an increase of 4% from 2023.
- Mathematics (PM3 and EOCs): Statewide, 55% of students scored on or above grade level in 2024, an increase of 4% from 2023.
Takeaways from Statewide Science Assessments
- Grade 5 Science: 53% scored on or above grade level in 2024, a 2% increase from 2023.
- Grade 8 Science (including Grade 8 students who took Biology 1): 49% scored on or above grade level in 2024, a 2% increase from 2023.
- Biology 1: 66% scored at or above Level 3 in 2024, a 3% increase from 2023.
Takeaways from Statewide Algebra 1 and Geometry Assessments
- Algebra 1: 53% of students scored at or above Level 3 in 2024, a 3% increase from 2023.
- Geometry: 52% of students scored at or above Level 3 in 2024, a 6% increase from 2023.
Takeaways from Statewide Social Studies Assessments
- Civics: 67% of students scored at or above Level 3 in 2024, a 1% increase from 2023.
- U.S. History: 67% of students scored at or above Level 3 in 2024, a 5% increase from 2023.
