Demonstration of College Readiness
In 2021, the Florida Legislature amended multiple statutes expanding the mechanisms colleges may use to determine college readiness. Specifically, Florida College System (FCS) institutions may implement alternative placement methods to common placement tests that students may use to demonstrate readiness in college-level communication and computation for dual enrollment eligibility purposes, section (s.) 1007.271, Florida Statutes, (F.S.), admissions into college credit programs, s. 1007.263, F.S., and developmental education placement and meta-major advising, s. 1008.30, F.S.
State Board Rule 6A-10.0315, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), Demonstration of Readiness for College-Level Communication and Computation (formerly Common Placement Testing and Instruction) establishes the standard test scores used to determine whether a student is ready for college level coursework. If a student does not meet the state established standard score, this indicates that additional preparation may be necessary before entering college level courses. Previously, students could only demonstrate college readiness in communication and computation via an approved common placement test.
The amendment to Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C., adds the following categories of alternative methods and associated minimum standards for dual enrollment eligibility determinations, admissions counseling, and developmental education placement:
- Tests and assessments;
- Performance in high school coursework (courses taught at Florida public high schools and accelerated high school courses);
- Credit-by-examination; and
- Local placement methods (Form No. ALTPLACE-01) (Developmental Education Only).
Effective March 15, 2022, institutions may use a common placement test, an alternative method approved in rule, and/or apply to use a local method to assess students for college readiness.
College Readiness Assessments and Standards Approved by the State Board of Education
Common Placement Tests
- Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)
- Reading (106)
- Writing (103)
- Mathematics (114)
- Next-Generation ACCUPLACER, The College Board
- Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) (261)
- Reading (256)
- Writing (253)
- SAT, The College Board
- Reading Test (24)
- Writing and Language Test (25)
- Math Test (24)
- ACT with Writing or ACT, Inc.
- Reading (19)
- English (17)
- Mathematics (19)
Alternative Methods
Tests and Assessments:
- PSAT/NMSQT (PSAT 10), The College Board
- Reading Test (24)
- Writing and Language Test (25)
- Mathematics Test (24)
- PreACT®
- Reading (22)
- English (18)
- Mathematics (22)
- General Educational Development (GED®) Test
- Reasoning Through Language Arts (165)
- Mathematical Reasoning (165)
- Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC™)
- Language Arts Reading (580)
- Language Arts Writing (560 and 6 on the essay)
- Mathematics (560)
- High School Equivalency Test (HiSET®)
- Language Arts Reading (15)
- Language Arts Writing (15)
- Mathematics (15)
- End-of-Course Assessments
- Algebra 1 End-of-Course Assessment (4)
- Geometry End-of-Course Assessment (4)
- ALEKS® PPL
- Mathematics (30)
Performance in High School Coursework
Any student who has an unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 and achieves a grade of “B” or better in any of the courses listed below shall have demonstrated readiness for college-level work. Institutions shall accept courses and grades on the public high school transcript as an official record.
Courses Taught at Florida Public High Schools:
- Mathematics
- Algebra 1/Algebra 1 Honors
- Algebra 2/Algebra 2 Honors
- Pre-Calculus/Pre-Calculus Honors
- Calculus/Calculus Honors
- Geometry/Geometry Honors
- Probability and Statistics/Probability and Statistics Honors
- Math for College Algebra
- Math for College Statistics
- Math for College Liberal Arts
- English Language and Literature
- English 4/English 4 Honors
Accelerated High School Courses:
- Mathematics
- Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) mathematics courses
- Advanced Placement (AP) mathematics courses
- International Baccalaureate (IB) mathematics courses
- English Language and English Literature
- Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) English courses
- Advanced Placement (AP) English courses
- International Baccalaureate (IB) English courses
Credit-by-Exam
Students achieving passing scores and receiving credit for college-level communication or computation pursuant to the credit-by-examination equivalency list in Rule 6A-10.024, F.A.C., shall have previously demonstrated readiness for college-level coursework.
Local Placement Methods for Developmental Education
Colleges can apply to use a local placement method not currently approved in rule. To use a local placement method, an institution must first receive approval by the Department of Education. Approval is based on a satisfactory demonstration that the method is a valid and reliable indication of a student’s readiness for college-level coursework in the subject area addressed in the method. Colleges must submit Form No. ALTPLACE-01, Application to Use Local Method to Determine College Readiness for Developmental Education, which is incorporated by reference in rule for purposes of granting approval to use a local placement method.
Florida Statutes & State Board of Education Rule
- 1008.30 - Assessing college-level communication and computation skills for public postsecondary education
- 6A-10.0315 - Demonstration of Readiness for College-Level Communication and Computation (effective March 15, 2022)
Additional Resources
- DFC Memorandum 2022-02: Demonstration of College Readiness Rule Amendment Approval (PDF)
- Form No. ALTPLACE-01 – Application to Use Local Method to Determine College Readiness for Developmental Education
- Alternative Methods FAQs (PDF)
- Alternative Methods Toolkit (PDF)
- Rule Development Workshop/Technical Assistance Materials: