Standard Setting

As assessments are implemented for the first time, a standard setting process is required. The Department seeks input from educators, school districts, and business and community leaders to determine the proposed Achievement Level standards for the new statewide assessments, and the State Board of Education ultimately establishes the standards in State Board of Education Rule based on these recommendations. The list below provides standard setting information and resources for Florida’s statewide assessments in chronological order, beginning with the most recently adopted assessments.

Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Assessments

• Final Achievement Levels for Assessments Aligned to B.E.S.T. Standards (PDF)
• Establishing the B.E.S.T. Scale Score for the FAST and B.E.S.T. EOC Assessments FAQ (PDF)

Rule Development

• State Board of Education Approves Cut Scores for B.E.S.T.-aligned Assessments - Memo (PDF)
• The Commissioner's Recommended B.E.S.T. Achievement Level Cut Scores (PDF)
• Florida Department of Education Submits Historically Significant Standards for Students to Ensure Florida Continues to Move Forward in Education
• Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop (B.E.S.T. Standard Setting) - August 11, 2023
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Development Workshop Presentation (PDF)
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop Recording
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop (Transcript)
• B.E.S.T. Standard Setting Public Input Survey
• Rule 6A-1.09422 Notice of Development of Rulemaking

Standard Setting

• B.E.S.T. Standard Setting Educator Panel General Session Presentation (PDF)
• Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking Assessments Standard Setting Panels memo (PDF)

Concordant and Comparative Scores

2023 Rule Development

• Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop - May 22, 2023
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF)
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop Recording
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop Transcript (RTF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422
• Proposed Rulemaking Feedback Form

2021 Rule Development

• Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop - November 30, 2021
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422
• Draft Proposed Rule Language - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422
• Proposed Rulemaking Feedback Form

2020 Rule Development

• Rule 6A-1.09422, effective August 18, 2020
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422
• Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop - May 20, 2020
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF)
  • Rule 6A-1.09422 Rule Development Workshop Transcript (RTF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422

2018 Rule Development

• Rule 6A-1.09422, effective June 28, 2018
• Rule 6A-1.09422 Proposed Amendment Language Annotation and FAQ (PDF)
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422

Florida Standards Alternate Assessment (FSAA)

• Final FSAA—Performance Task (ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) Achievement Levels (PDF)
• Final FSAA—Datafolio (ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) Achievement Levels (PDF)

FSAA—Performance Task (Social Studies) and FSAA—Datafolio Rule Development

• FSAA Standard Setting Rule Development Workshop Presentation - October 26, 2017 (PDF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09430

FSAA—Performance Task (ELA, Mathematics, and Science) Rule Development

• FSAA Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09430

Florida Standards Assessments (FSA)

• Final FSA Achievement Levels (PDF)

Rule Development

• The New FSA: Continuously Raising the Bar - Proposed Cut Scores (PDF)
• Florida Standards Assessments Achievement Level Descriptions 2015 (PDF) (Updated January 25, 2016)
• FSA Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF)
• Standard Setting Educator Panel General Session Presentation (PDF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422

Civics EOC Assessment

• Final Civics EOC Assessment Achievement Levels (PDF)

Rule Development

• 2014 Reactor Panel Feedback Summary (PDF)
• Civics EOC Assessment Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF)
• Rule Development Workshop Reference Sheet (PDF)
• Rule Development Feedback Form - Due by September 1, 2014 (Word)
• 2014 Civics EOC Assessment Standard Setting Summary (PDF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422

U.S. History EOC Assessment

• Final U.S. History EOC Assessment Achievement Levels (PDF)

Rule Development

• 2013 Reactor Panel Feedback Summary (PDF) (9/2/2013)
• U.S. History EOC Assessment and Passing Scores Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF) (9/2/2013)
• Rule Development Workshop Reference Sheet (PDF) (9/2/2013)
• Rule Development Feedback Form - Due by October 4, 2013 (PDF) (9/2/2013)
• 2013 U.S. History EOC Assessment Standard Setting Summary (PDF) (8/30/2013)
• Educator Panel General Session Presentation (PDF) (8/13/2013)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards Concordant and Comparative Scores

State Board of Education Meeting

• September 17, 2013

Rule Development

• Rule Development Workshop Feedback Form (PDF)
  • 2013 Algebra 1 EOC Assessment Comparative Study (PDF)
  • 2013 Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading Concordance Study (PDF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.094223

FCAT 2.0 Science, Biology 1 EOC Assessment, and Geometry EOC Assessment

The State Board of Education established the Achievement Levels and passing scores for FCAT 2.0 Science, the Biology 1 EOC Assessment, and the Geometry EOC Assessment on December 12, 2012. A link to the final Rule, effective February 3, 2013, is provided.

• State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.09422
• Final FCAT 2.0 Science and Biology 1 and Geometry EOC Assessments Achievement Levels (PDF)

Rule Development

• Standard Setting Recommendations for FCAT 2.0 Science (Grades 5 and 8), Biology 1, and Geometry EOC Assessments (PDF) (11/19/2012)
• FCAT 2.0 Science, Biology 1 EOC Assessment, and Geometry EOC Assessment Standard Setting Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF) (10/15/2012)
• Rule Development Workshop Reference Sheet (PDF) (10/15/2012)
• Rule Development Workshop Feedback Form (PDF) (10/15/2012)
• Rule Development Workshop Feedback Survey (10/15/2012)
• 2012 Standard Setting Summary (PDF) (10/10/2012)
• 2012 Standard Setting Detailed Summary (PDF) (10/10/2012)
• 2012 Standard Setting Reactor Panel Feedback Summary (PDF) (10/3/2012)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422 (Word) (9/28/2012)
• Educator Panel General Session Presentation (PDF) (9/18/2012)

FCAT 2.0 Writing

Rule development workshops for the impact of FCAT 2.0 Writing on school grades were held on August 24th, 27th, and 28th of 2012. A link to more information on these workshops is provided below.

• Revisions to School Grades Rule

FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics and the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment

The State Board of Education established the Achievement Levels and passing scores for FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics and the Algebra 1 EOC Assessment on December 19, 2011. A link to the final Rule, effective February 2, 2012, is provided.

• State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.09422
• FCAT 2.0 and Florida EOC Assessments: Achievement Levels (PDF)
• Final FCAT 2.0 Reading, Mathematics, and Algebra 1 EOC Assessment Achievement Levels (PDF)

Rule Development

• Impact on Subgroups - Recommended Cuts (PDF) (12/9/11)
• The Department solicited public feedback on rule development from October 12 - December 1, 2011, via the State Board Rules under Review website.
• The Department solicited public feedback on the proposed cut scores from October 14 - 26, 2011, via the following forms:
  • FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics/ Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment Public Input - Algebra 1 (Word)
  • FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics/ Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment Public Input - Mathematics (Word)
  • FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics/ Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment Public Input - Reading (Word)
• FCAT 2.0 Reading, Mathematics, and Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment Standard Setting Rule Development Workshop Presentation (PDF) (10/10/11 - 10/12/11)
• FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics and the Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment Standard Setting (PDF) (10/10/11 - 10/12/11)
• Committee Feedback for Achievement Level Standards (PDF) (10/7/11)
• 2011 FCAT 2.0 Reading and Mathematics/Algebra 1 End-of-Course (EOC) Assessment Reactor Panel Committee List (PDF) (9/29/11 - 9/30/11)
• Proposed FCAT 2.0 and Algebra 1 EOC Achievement Level Standards (PDF)
• Notice of Development of Rulemaking - SBE Rule 6A-1.09422 (8/19/11)

Memoranda and Press Releases

• Florida Standards Assessments Standard Setting Panels (PDF)
  • 2015 Standard Setting Nomination Form (PDF)
• Civics End-of-Course Standard-Setting Committee (PDF)
  • 2014 Standard Setting Nomination Form: Civics End-of-Course Assessment (PDF)
• Rule Development Workshops - September 3-5, 2013 (PDF) (8/30/2013)
• Public Review of Draft U.S. History End-of-Course Assessment Achievement Level Descriptions - Ends April 22, 2013 (PDF) (3/22/2013)
• U.S. History End-of-Course Assessment Standard-Setting Committee (PDF) (2/1/2013)
  • Standard Setting Nomination Form (PDF)
• Press Release: Statement from Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart on Achievement Level Recommendations for Geometry and Biology End-Of-Course Assessments and FCAT 2.0 Science (11/19/2012)
• Press Release: Assessment Standards Defined as Standard Setting Process Continues (10/24/12)
• Press Release: Floridians Weigh in as New Assessment Standards Take Shape (10/3/12)
• Back-to-School Information (PDF) (8/14/12)
• Press Release: Diverse Group Meets, Provides Input as Standard-Setting Process for FCAT 2.0 Writing Gets Underway (7/26/12)
• Public Review of Draft FCAT 2.0 Science and Biology 1 and Geometry End-of-Course Assessments Achievement Level Descriptions (PDF) (5/22/12)
• Statement By: Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Regarding his FCAT 2.0 and Algebra I EOC achievement level cut score recommendations to the State Board of Education (12/7/11)
• Statement By: Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Regarding FCAT 2.0 and Algebra 1 cut scores (10/26/11)
• Statement By: Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson Regarding FCAT 2.0 and Algebra 1 standard setting process (10/7/11)
• Back to School Information (PDF) (8/2/11)
• Public Review of Draft FCAT 2.0 and Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment Achievement Level Descriptions (PDF) (3/25/11)
• FCAT 2.0/EOC Assessment Standard Setting Committee Nominations Needed (PDF) (3/21/11)
  • Standard Setting Committee Nominations - Summary (PDF)
  • Standard Setting Nomination Form (PDF)
• FCAT 2.0 and Florida End-of-Course Assessments Standard-Setting Committees - Update (PDF) (10/15/10)
  • Standard Setting Nomination Form (PDF)
• FCAT 2.0 and Florida End-of-Course Assessments Standard-Setting Committees (PDF) (9/15/10)
  • Draft Achievement Level Policy Definitions (PDF)
  • Standard Setting Nomination Form (PDF)
  • Study of Best Practices for Vertical Scaling and Standard Setting with Recommendations for FCAT 2.0 (PDF)