Education department calls first year progress monitoring assessment a ‘success’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – In a significant educational milestone, the recently released Florida Assessment of Student Thinking results have unveiled student growth and notable improvements among various subgroups of students.

The assessment is a newly implemented method of establishing student progress throughout the year, with three separate tests.

It revealed substantial advancements in student performance, with increases of up to 42 percentage points observed in various subjects, according to the department.

The number of students performing at grade level in mathematics tripled in grades 3-8, demonstrating the impact of targeted interventions and focused instruction.

Additionally, the state’s Civics and U.S. History statewide assessments exhibited commendable results, with a significant percentage of students scoring at or above Level 3, showcasing a strong grasp of the subject matter.

The department said Hispanic, African American, and economically disadvantaged students displayed double-digit increases in the percentage of students scoring at or above grade level.

Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. called the new program a “success.”

“The significant gains made by our students this school year prove that progress monitoring is a success,” Diaz said.

Teachers are also able to more effectively monitor their students’ progress with immediate access to FAST scores after each test.

Teacher of the year, Melissa Matz, said the new FAST assessments were having a “positive impact,” according to a press release.

“As I traveled the state this year, I heard teachers speak of the positive impact the FAST progress monitoring has made on their students’ success and instruction,” Matz said.