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Freedom High School, Orlando
Community Brief
2016 Special Testing Edition
1
Friday, February 26, 2016
  
The spring standardized testing season has "officially" begun. FSA, EOC, FCAT RETAKES, PERT and AP tests will all take place during the few months before summer begins. We have designed this special edition to keep you informed about the upcoming testing. Below, you will find testing information, links to practice sites and testing dates; make sure to mark your calendar and begin preparing.

Providing an excellent testing environment is important to us. But I also want to assure you of this: Even with the numerous tests that will occur, first-rate instruction will continue in every classroom, every day.

Sincerely,

Rolando R. Bailey 
Principal   
Contents
In This Issue
(click link to drop to that section)
Testing Coordinator's Message
FSA ELA
FCAT Reading Retakes
NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC
FSA/NGSSS EOC Tests
SAT
PERT
AP
Common Final Exams
Acronyms
AP - Advanced Placement
ELA - English Language Arts
EOC - End of Course Exam
EPAT - Electronic Practice Assessment Tool
FSA - Florida Standards Assessment
FCAT - Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
FLVS - Florida Virtual School
NGSS - Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
PERT - Postsecondary Education Readiness Test
SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test
'State' - Florida Department of Education
Testing Coordinator's MessageTCMessage
Contacts, Communications, and Policies
Contacts:

1. AP Tests
- Mr. Douglas Farley (Assistant Principal - Testing) -407-816-5600 [email protected] or Ms. Maria Tarantino (AP Coordinator) - 407-816-5675

2. FSA, EOC, FCAT Retakes or PERT Tests - Laura Schomberg (Testing Coordinator) - 407-816-5620 [email protected] or Maria Tarantino (Testing Coordinator) - 407-816-5675 [email protected]

3. PSAT, SAT, or ACT Tests - Laura Schomberg - 407-816-5620 [email protected]

Communications:
Freedom High School has devised a multi-part plan to communicate the date, time, and location of each of your son or daughter's tests. These include:
  • Connect Orange Phone Calls: The principal will send a Connect Orange phone call home 2-3 days before the date of the test. This call will inform you of the date of the test and to expect a location ticket to be delivered to your student.
  • Location Tickets: Students receive a location ticket from their first period teacher a few days before each test indicating the date, time, and location of their test.  
  • Emails: Students will receive an email reminding them of the date, time, and location of their test the day before the test.  This email will be sent to students @students.ocps.net email address.
  • Edmodo: Students testing rooms, time, dates, and location will be posted on the Freedom Patriots 15-16 Edmodo page.  Students can join this page using the group code: pv2zze
  • Dean's office window: Students testing rooms, time, dates and location are posted on the main office window for their review.
Policies:
The Florida Dept. of Education has the following policies in place for state testing:
  • Electronic Devices - Students are not permitted to have any electronic devices, including but not limited to cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing OR during breaks (e.g., restroom), even if they are turned off or students do not use them. If your student is found with an electronic device, his or her test will be invalidated.
  • Calculators - For EOC assessments, approved calculators may be used during SESSION 2 ONLY. If students have handheld calculators during Session 1, their tests will be invalidated.
  • Testing Rules Acknowledgment - All FSA tests include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads, "I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated." Prior to testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by signing below the statement on their planning sheets, worksheets, or work folders.
  • Discussing Test Content after Testing - The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they sign below the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states, "Because the content in all statewide assessments is secure, you may not discuss or reveal details about the passages or items after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting online, for example, on websites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram." Please make sure your student understands that "discussing" test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting to blogs or social media websites. While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families.
  • Working Independently - Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated. FDOE employs a test security company, Caveon Test Security, to analyze student test results to detect unusually similar answer patterns. Student tests within a school that are found to have extremely similar answer patterns will have their results invalidated.
  • Leaving Campus - If your student begins a test session and leaves campus before completing it (for lunch, an appointment or illness, etc.), he or she WILL NOT be allowed to complete that test session. If your student does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best for him or her to wait and be tested on a make-up day. Please remember not to schedule appointments on testing days.
FSA ELAFSAELA
State testing window: February 29th - March 11th
Freedom Testing Date(s): March 3rd (9th and 10th grade), March 4th (11th grade retakes)
* What: Students will take part in the FSA ELA assessment. The FSA ELA has two components: writing (1 session) and reading (2 sessions). Both components and all sessions must be taken to receive a score.  The combined score is reported on a 1 - 5 scale with a score of 3 or above considered passing.

* Who: All students that are in 9th and 10th grades and 11th graders that have not yet taken or passed the 10th grade FSA ELA assessment.

* Why: The FSA ELA is a state requirement for all students in 3rd to 10th grade. Passing the 10th grade FSA ELA is a state requirement for graduation.

* When:
FSA Writing Component (1 session):
  • State window: February 29th - March 11th
  • Freedom testing dates: March 3rd (9th and 10th grade), March 4th (11th grade retakes)
  • Makeups: March 7th - March 11th
FSA Reading Component (2 sessions):
Retakes:
  • State window: March 28th - April 8th
  • Freedom testing dates: April 4th and April 5th
Makeups: April 6th to 8th
  • 9th and 10th grades:
  • State window: April 11th - May 6th
  • Freedom testing dates:  April 14th and 15th
  • Makeups: April 18th - 20th and May 2nd - 6th
* Resources: Students and parents who wish to get additional help may click on the following link:
FSA Portal: Students and Families - You can review student/parent resources as well as practice training tests.
FCAT Reading RetakesFCATreadingretakes
* What: Students read multiple fiction and non-fiction passages and answer comprehension, application, and vocabulary questions based on those passages. The test is graded on a 1 - 5 scale with a score of 3 or above considered "passing."

* Who: Any 12th grade students who have not yet taken or passed the test.

* Why: 12th grade students must pass the 10th grade FCAT 2.0 Reading test for a graduation requirement.

* When: State window: March 28th - April 8th  Freedom
  • Freedom testing dates: March 31st and April 1st
  • Makeups: April 6th - 8th     
* Resources: Students and parents who wish to get additional help may click on the following links:
FLDOE EPAT Tool - You can download this practice tool on your home computer so that your student can practice the computer format along with a few practice questions.
FLDOE Assessments & Publications Archive - You can find out more information about what is on any test by going to this site and clicking on the link for the various tests.
NGSSS Algebra 1 EOCNGSSSalgebra1eoc
* What: Test to measure understanding of Algebra 1.  The test is graded on a 1 - 5 scale with a score of 3 or above considered "passing."  This is a one day test.

* Who: Any student who first took the NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC before the 2014-2015 school year and have not yet passed the test.

* Why: Passing the test is a graduation requirement.

* When: State window: March 28th - April 8th  Freedom
  • Freedom testing dates: March 29th  
  • Makeups: April 6th - 8th     
* Resources: Students and parents who wish to get additional help may click on the following links:
FLDOE EPAT Tool - You can download this practice tool on your home computer so that your student can practice the computer format along with a few practice questions.
FLDOE Assessments & Publications Archive - You can find out more information about what is on any test by going to this site and clicking on the link for the various tests.
FSA/NGSSS End-of-Course Tests (EOCs)FSANGSSSeoctests

* What: Exit tests to measure understanding in FSA Algebra 1, FSA Algebra 2, FSA Geometry, NGSSS Biology, and NGSSS US History.

* Who: Students who are currently taking Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Biology, and/or US History must take the test as well as students who have taken any of those subjects in other schools/states/countries in the past, but did not take an equivalent exit test. Also, students who have taken and failed the FSA Algebra 1 EOC must retake it until they pass the test.  Students taking AP Biology for their Biology credit must take the Biology EOC.  The math EOCs have two sessions.  The Biology and US History EOCs have one session.

* When:
State window: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry April 18th - May 13th
Biology and US History: April 18th - May 20th

Freedom test dates:
  • April 21st and April 22nd: FSA Alg. 1 for students that have not passed the FSA Alg. 1 EOC
  • April 26th: Biology and US History EOCs
  • April 28th and 29th: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry
  • Makeups: May 2nd - 13th (math EOCs) and May 9th - 20th (Biology and US History)
* Why: Students must take the test for 30% of their final grade. The Algebra 1 EOC test is a graduation requirement.  

* Resources: Students and parents who wish to get additional help, click on the following links:

FSA Portal: Students and Families - You can review student/parent resources as well as practice training tests.

FLDOE EPAT Tool - You can download this practice tool on your home computer so that your student can practice the computer format along with a few practice questions.

FLDOE Assessments & Publications Archives - You can find out more information about what is on any test by going to this site and clicking on the link for the various tests.

FLVS Resources - Numerous resources including practice tests with answers.

Algebra Nation -  An online practice with video review.
SATSAT
* What: College Board entrance exam

* Who: All juniors

* When: April 12th

* Why: This is an opportunity for all juniors to take a college entrance exam for free during the school day.

* Resources:  Students and parents who wish to get additional help, click on the following link:

Khan Academy - Students can link their October PSAT scores to their Khan Academy account for individualized practice for the SAT.
Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.)PERT
* What: Measures students' college readiness in math, reading, and writing before they graduate.

* Who: Students in college readiness courses

* When: May 16th

* Why: Can be used for admission to Florida colleges and the Algebra score can also be used as a concordant score for the Algebra 1 EOC requirement (if needed).

* Resources: Students and parents who wish to get additional help, click on the following links:

FLDOE PERT Website - Gives info on the concordant scores and other background info on the test.

Seminole State College Academic Success Center -  Good Website with skill reviews and other resources including a practice test and sample questions.

Northwest Florida State College - Sample tests and study guide.
Advanced Placement Tests (AP)AP
May 2nd - May 13th
* What: These tests are exit tests to measure understanding in AP subjects.

* Who: Students who are currently taking AP courses

* Why: Students who are taking or have taken all of these subjects must take the test in order to get credit for the course.

* Where: These are paper-based tests. Most AP tests will take place at Nova Southeastern University.  AP foreign language tests and AP Music Theory will take place in classrooms on Freedom's campus.  AP Art History and AP Computer Science exams will also take place in classrooms on Freedom's campus.

* Resources: Students and parents who wish to get additional help can go to the following link:

College Board Website - Provides information about AP tests and student tools

* When: AP Testing Schedule (from the College Board Website)
Common Final ExamsCommonfinalexams
* What: Final exams for all courses without a state assessment. The district created Common Final Exams for all courses without a state or national assessment.

* Who: All students who are take one or more courses without a state or national assessment

* When:
  • 12th grader students - May 16th - May 19th
  • 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students - June 1st - June 6th
* Why: Students must take a test as 20% of student's final grade.


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