New F.A.S.T. Scale Cuts and What You Need to Know

October 20, 2023•5 min read

New F.A.S.T. Scale Cuts and What You Need to Know

October 20, 2023|Education, Florida, B.E.S.T. Standards, Florida's Standards, Testing

Originally published October 20, 2023. Updated links and republished on October 23, 2023.

Earlier this week, the Florida State Board of Education passed the new FAST scale and level cuts. We’re here to help break these down and uncomplicate them for you. Roll up your sleeves, and let’s go!

1. New Scale Cuts Approval

The new scale cuts were officially approved on October 18, 2023, based on the recommendations made by the Commissioner in September.
These new scales are different from the previous ones, making direct comparisons challenging at this stage. However, overall percentages are available for reference in the document linked above. EDITED: Updated (10.20.23) memo from FLDOE linked here.
We have created a side-by-side comparison of the original percentages on the previous scale and the new preliminary percentages on the new scale for your convenience. See the chart below.

Spring F.A.S.T. 2023 Original Results Compared to Newly Approved… (Above): This chart is not from the state and should be used for educational purposes only. The data in the left columns are derived from the FAST results by grade found here: https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/results/2023.stml. The data in the right columns are derived from the Commisoner Recommendations found here: https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5663/urlt/BESTCommRecALCuts.pdf

2. Implementation Date

The new scale will be effective starting from PM2 of this school year.
We are hopeful that "retrofitted" scores, which allow you to understand where your students fall on the new scale for PM3 of 2023, will be provided soon.

UPDATED: Assessments Aligned to Bencharks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Scale Score for Each Achievement Level (From FLDOE). Click on image for pdf original.

3. Reformatting and Uncomplicating

To simplify matters, we have reformatted the information as follows:
- Converted the line graph into a table for easier understanding of scale ranges. Presented the line graph next to the table to clarify the source of the data.
- Placed the old scale score table alongside the new one for straightforward comparisons.

New Scale Scores Reformatted for Ease of Viewing (Above): Charts on the left are from the Comissioner’s recommended scale cuts found here: https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5663/urlt/BESTCommRecALCuts.pdf. The chart on the right is the same information from the line graph viewed in a table. Disclaimer: The reformatted table is not from the state, and is to be used for educational purposes only. If you see an error, please notify us.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Achievement Level Scale Scores… (Above): Charts on the left are from “Understanding FAST and BEST Report for Families” found here: https://fsassessments.org/-/media/project/client-portals/florida-fast/pdf/manuals-and-user-guides/understanding-fast-and-best-eoc-reports-for-families---english.pdf. The chart on the right is the reformatted table from the “New Scale Scores Reformatted for Ease of Viewing.” Disclaimer: The reformatted table is not from the state, and is to be used for educational purposes only. The scales are completely different, so they cannot be used as a one-to-one comparison. We positioned them side-by-side to make it easier to see how different the scales are. If you see an error, please notify us.

4. Retrofitting

Please note that one-to-one comparisons between the old and new scales are not feasible due to the substantial scale changes.
"Retrofitting" will be conducted to align previous scores on the old scale with the new scale, covering PM3 22-23 and PM1 23-24.
Although no specific timeline has been provided, it is anticipated that retrofitting will occur before or during the PM2 window, enabling growth comparisons from PM1 to PM2 on the same scale.

5. Implications

Students who took the Algebra 1 EOC and/or the 10th Reading ELA (both requiring a passing score for graduation) will not be disadvantaged if the new scale negatively affects their level.
The new scale, including retrofitted scores, will determine the 22-23 school grade. School grades will be calculated by essentially ranking each school and making cuts that align with average past school grades. For example, 32% of schools in the past were an “A,” so the top 32% of schools will be an “A.” The next 25% a “B,” the next 37% a “C,” the next 5% a “D,” and the bottom 1% an “F.”
“No negative consequences shall result from these grades, as they are purely informational.”

Above is a direct slide from the "Approval of Ammendment to Rule 6A-1.09981, F.A.C.: School and District Accountability" presentation on 10.18.23. This can be viewed in its entirety here: https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/20680/urlt/6-3.pdf

6. Sub-Levels and Learning Gains

Learning gains will be factored into the 23-24 school grade. The criteria for making gains are yet to be released, but we expect them to be similar to previous standards.
Sub-Levels (Low Level 1, Mid Level 1, High Level 1, Low Level 2, and High Level 2) were not mentioned in any of the presentation materials. These are the names given to previous levels and are subject to change.

Your Input

If you come across any errors or have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We value your feedback and are here to assist you.

You may view all the presentations and information from the board meeting here: https://www.fldoe.org/policy/state-board-of-edu/meetings/2023/2023-10-18/

We look forward to continuing to uncomplicate education in Flordia and beyond. We are all in this evolving educational landscape together.

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Links and References:

UPDATED: State Board of Education Approves Cut Scores for B.E.S.T.-aligned Assessments, October 20, 2023

UPDATED: Assessments Aligned to Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Scale Score for Each Achievement Level, n.d.

Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Commissioner's Achievement Level Cut Score Recommendations, n.d.

Understanding FAST and B.E.S.T. Reports for Families, September 2023

Approval of Amendment to Rule 6A-1.09981, F.A.C.: School and District Accountability, State Board of Education, October 18, 2023

Approval of Amendment to Rule 6A-1.09422, F.A.C. Statewide, Standardized Assessment Program Requirements, State Board of Education, October 18, 2023