Effective: November 21, 2005
Revised Date:

If you haven't yet done so, visit the FASTER web page and sign up for the FASTER listserv by clicking on the Sign up for the Listserv link. Documentation on how to use the listserv can be found at http://lserv.fldoe.org.

We still have participation problems. Institutions are dropping FASTER before completing migration to their new platform/software. IT IS NOT AN OPTION to drop FASTER. Also, there are many elementary/middle schools still not participating. This is not acceptable. If your institution is having problems getting responses from any Florida public PK-12 or postsecondary, contact Lavan Dukes, Howard Campbell, or Lynda Page (K-12, community colleges and SUS respectively). The committee will ask the Commissioner/Secretary to help get these schools in compliance.

The cutover to the new version of FASTER and SPEEDE/ExPRESS will begin on November 18, 2005. The new version will be in place on November 21st. FASTER users will be notified via e-mail from the listserve when more details are available on the FASTER web page.

There is still confusion about the new SAT test name code on Interdistrict/Secondary test records (I/S08). Test names SAT and SA1 are invalid for test dates on or after 3/01/2005. SAT tests taken on or after this date must be coded with test name SA3. If the Addressed Institution is 95, Bright Futures, then SAT must have Verbal (70) and Math (73) scores for tests taken before March 2005 (SAT or SA1), or Critical Reading (CR) and Math (73) scores for tests taken March 2005 forward (SA3).

Information concerning FIRN2 Network Encryption has been added to Chapter 10, Item I.

Districts Only

A new Hepatitus B code has been requested in order to distinguish between two doses and three doses. It is unavailable at this time. As soon as this new code becomes available, OAS will send out a notice on the FASTER Listserv.

A redesign of the FASTER edit error report has been requested to make it more Guidance Counselor-friendly. Unfortunately, this redesign is still in the planning stage.

FASTER PK-12 schools can be listed individually on the registrant list at the University of Texas, Austin, the server that handles SPEEDE/ExPRESS. OAS will continue to update the Texas server monthly per requests from the school districts.

Districts and Postsecondaries

NOTE: Changes that were made to FASTER over the course of the previous year (i.e., since the original 2004-2005 manual was published in November 2004) are listed in Updates to the 2004-2005 Version of FASTER.

Message Type Code R06 is reworded to emphasize the need to send archived information, as follows: SEND ALL ELECTRONIC AND HARD COPY.   A detailed explanation can be found in Appendix D.

!!IMPORTANT : JCL changes are required for running FASTER jobs after November 21, 2005!!

For new year 0506, the Master School ID file will be read from a DB2 table instead of a VSAM file. The following line must be removed from JCL you submit to run SRTS01 and SRTS03:

//MASTID DD DSN=DPSV.G4.F25031,DISP=SHR

New JCL will be required for running SRTS11, and has been sent as an attachment to the FASTER listserv message announcing the availability of the 0506 Manual.

The Master School ID file will still be available as a flat file on NWRDC named DPS.DISTRICT.G4.F25031.Y0506. The format has changed this year and can be found in DPS.DISTRICT.FORMAT.Y0506(F25031).

A new "End of Transcript" line has been added to transcripts printed by SRTS12AS, SRTS12IS and SRTS12CC.

Districts Only

A new parameter has been added to SRTS12IS and SRTS12AS to give districts the option of printing discipline information on the transcript. The default will be "N", which does NOT print discipline information. See Appendix W, for a detailed explanation of this parameter.

Header Formats - Appendix H

I/S/P00

• No changes

Postsecondary Formats - Appendix J

P01 through P06

• No changes

P07

• A new field has been added, Student Teaching Program, to indicate that the student completed a Student Teaching Program.
  
• A new field has been added, Teaching Ed Program, to indicate that the student completed a State Approved Teacher Education Program.
  
• A new code of 5, for Educator Preparation Institute, has been added to Degree Level.
  

P08

• No changes

Interdistrict/Secondary Formats - Appendix I

I/S01

• A new field has been added, Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma, to indicate that the diploma earned by the student was an Advanced International Certificate of Education diploma.
  

I/S02 through I/S08

• No changes

I09

• The following Discipline/Referral Action Codes and Definitions have been added or changed:

  P - Placement in Alternative Educational Setting (changed code) Student is removed from the school for an offense,, i.e., disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable or disruptive behavior, not expelled, and placed in an alternative educational setting.

  H - Suspension Extended, Pending Hearing (new code) Suspension (out-of-school) extended beyond 10 school days pending School Board hearing for expulsion. (This code should only be used when the district Superintendent grants an extension for suspension beyond 10 school days as per Ch. 1006.08, F.S.).

  E - Expelled, Without Continuing Educational Services (changed code) Student expelled from regular school without continuing educational services provided by the district. (Maintained for students in grades PK-12 and adult) NOTE: For state reporting purposes, only grade PK-12 students showing W21 sometime during the year should be sent to the state.

  F - Expelled, With Continuing Educational Services (new code) Student expelled from regular school with continuing educational services, which may include a disciplinary program or second chance school, and/or referred to the criminal justice or juvenile justice system. (Maintained for students in grades PK-12 and adult) NOTE: For state reporting purposes, only grade PK-12 students showing W21 sometime during the year should be sent to the state.