F.A.S.T. Testing Math

The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. Your student will participate in the first administration (PM1) of the Grade 6-10 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading and Mathematics assessments on the following dates.  Your student’s results from PM1 are for informational purposes only, and you will be provided with information about how to access the results after testing is completed. 

FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a standard item bank. Each test attempt (PM1, PM2, and PM3) will present 35–40 items covering the entire test “blueprint,” meaning students will encounter items representative of the standards within the subject or grade level. For more information on the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. 

If you or your student would like to interact with the online testing platform or review FAST ELA Reading and Mathematics sample items at home, sample test materials are available at https://flfast.org/families.html. 

Please review the following policies with your student before testing:

• Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to access any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or breaks (e.g., restroom). If your student is found with an electronic device or using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test may be invalidated. 

• Calculator Policy—For Grades 7–8 FAST Mathematics, approved handheld scientific calculators may be used. For Grade 6 FAST Mathematics, a handheld four-function calculator may be used.

• Testing Rules Acknowledgment—All tests 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.” Before testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by clicking the box in the secure browser, indicating they understand the testing rules.

• Discussing Test Content after Testing—The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they click the box to accept the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states that because the content of all statewide assessments is secure, students may not discuss or reveal details about the test content (including test items and passages) after the test. This includes electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting to social media sites. Please make sure your student understands this policy before 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 protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated. 

Grievance Procedures

Step 1: Request Teacher conference to clarify issue

Step 2: Contact the Site Administrator if unresolved with the teacher

Step 3: **Contact Board Designated Parent Representative

Step 4: Contact the President of the Governing Board

Step 5: Present issue at the next monthly Board Meeting if unresolved

Step 6: Seek mediation with the Sponsor

**Mrs. Amber Miller has been designated by the OCS Board of Directors as the Representative to Facilitate Parental Involvement, provide access to information, assist parents and others with questions and concerns, and resolve disputes according to charter requirements. Ms. Miller can be reached at millera@odysseycharterschool.com or 321-442-2742.