Understanding the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST)
The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a new progress-monitoring system designed to track student learning throughout the school year. Replacing the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA), FAST aims to provide teachers and parents with timely data to support student success. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the FAST program, including its purpose, administration, and key features.
What is FAST?
The new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking - or FAST - is a progress-monitoring assessment for reading and math that will be administered for students in pre-kindergarten through 10th grade. Issued three times each school year, the exam tracks a student’s progress in learning the required reading and mathematics materials within Florida’s Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards, according to the Florida Department of Education.
FAST is administered to students from Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) through grade 10.
How FAST Differs from FSA
What makes Florida FAST different from the old FSA testing model? The primary difference is the frequency and intent of the assessments. The Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) was a single, high-stakes “snapshot” taken at the end of the year. In contrast, Florida FAST (Assessment of Student Thinking) is a through-year progress monitoring system that tests students three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring). This allows teachers to track academic growth in real time and adjust instruction while the school year is still in progress.
Who Takes the FAST Assessments?
FAST is administered to a wide range of students across the state. It covers English Language Arts (ELA) Reading for students in VPK through Grade 10 and Mathematics for students in VPK through Grade 8. For younger students in VPK through Grade 2, the assessment often focuses on foundational skills like early literacy and numeracy to ensure they are on track for success in later grades.
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When are FAST Exams Taken?
FAST will be administered three times during this school year, during a window established by the state to allow schools flexibility:
- First: Between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30.
- Second: Between Dec. 5 and Jan. 27.
- Third: Between May 1 and June 2.
The Computer-Adaptive Nature of FAST
Unlike traditional paper-and-pencil tests where every student sees the same questions, FAST is computer-adaptive. This means the test difficulty adjusts based on the student’s previous answers. If a student answers correctly, the next question becomes more challenging; if they struggle, it becomes easier. This provides a more precise measurement of a student’s specific skill level and reduces the frustration of facing questions that are far above or below their current ability. The assessments are 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 common question bank.
Understanding FAST Scores and Their Use
Achievement levels range from Level 1 to Level 5. For all assessments, Level 3 indicates on-grade-level performance. The first and second exams of the school year will be used to establish a baseline and see mid-year results of how students are progressing. The results are for informational purposes and should be used to identify areas that may need additional instruction and support. The final exam provides a summative score at the end of the year to measure student mastery of the grade-level content standards.
However, students in Grade 3 must achieve a Level 2 or higher on the third exam of the Grade 3 FAST ELA Reading Assessment for promotion purposes.
FAST Star Early Literacy for VPK Students
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) providers use the coordinated screening and progress monitoring system, a statewide standardized program known as the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Star Early Literacy, to evaluate students’ early literacy and math skills. FAST Star Early Literacy is a short screening and progress monitoring tool to gauge your child’s academic growth in early literacy and math. VPK providers are required to administer FAST Star Early Literacy at least three times during the program year-at the beginning, middle, and end. The assessment is tailored for emerging readers and uses audio narration to ensure accessibility for non-readers. It adapts in real time to each student’s responses, adjusting the difficulty of questions accordingly.
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Information for Parents Regarding FAST
On the day of progress monitoring, which your provider should advise you of, ensure your child gets a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast and that they arrive at school on time and unrushed. After your child completes a progress monitoring session, it is helpful for parents to review their child’s results with the VPK teacher and ask questions during a parent/teacher conference. Schedule a parent/teacher conference to talk with the teacher to find out how you can help support your child with specific skills at home. The Division of Early Learning’s Prekindergarten Family Guide is a resource to help you prepare your child for kindergarten and a successful future. To learn more about FAST Star Early Literacy, families are encouraged to read the Family Guide to Star Assessments (PDF) for more information. Dr. Dan Evans and Dr. Anna Brown help families interpret FAST results. Florida adopted new state education standards and changed the way testing is done in our schools. It is important that students take the assessment seriously, so teachers have accurate information to use for planning future lessons. You can find more information about the test and see sample questions at flfast.org/families.
Test Structure and Time
Each test will provide 35 to 40 questions that will cover the entire year’s lessons, including material that has not yet been covered by the teacher. All FAST assessments are administered in one session in one day, and it is recommended that students only take one subject test per day. State recommendations are:
| Grades/Subjects | 1st/2nd exams | 3rd exam |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 3-10: ELA reading | 90 minutes | 120 minutes |
| Grades 3-5: Mathematics | 80 minutes | 100 minutes |
| Grades 6-8: Mathematics | 100 minutes | 120 minutes |
Calculator and Reference Sheet Policies
Students must be provided with blank scratch paper for all FAST Mathematics tests. Students will be able to access and use the calculator provided in the student testing platform for grades 6-8 FAST mathematics. For students taking grades 6-8 mathematics, it is strongly encouraged that they become familiar with the online calculator prior to testing. Students can familiarize themselves with the calculator online: Grade 6 (four-function calculator); Grades 7 and 8 (scientific calculator) Allowable handheld calculators are permitted if school districts choose to allow or provide them. Online mathematics reference sheets are available in the testing platform for students in grades 4-8. For more information about calculators and reference sheets, please refer to the Florida Statewide Assessments Calculator and Reference Sheet Policies document.
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