Florida Education Frequently Asked Questions

Florida Education Frequently Asked Questions

Standards & Curriculum

Q: What is the status of Common Core Standards in Florida? A: Common Core was officially eliminated in Florida by Executive Order 19-32 in 2019. The 2024-2025 school year operates entirely under B.E.S.T. Standards for ELA and Math. Any materials referencing Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are obsolete and non-compliant.

Q: Can I use leveled readers (e.g., Fountas & Pinnell levels) for core instruction? A: No. B.E.S.T. Standards require grade-level complex texts for ALL students during Tier 1 (core) instruction. Leveled readers may only be used during small-group intervention to build fluency and confidence. The goal is to scaffold students UP to grade-level complexity, not bring text DOWN to their level.

Q: Can I use three-cueing for struggling readers? A: NO. Florida HB 7039 explicitly prohibits three-cueing. Use systematic phonics only. This includes guessing from pictures, initial letters, or context.

Q: Where can I find aligned instructional materials? A: - CPALMS (cpalms.org): Florida's official standards and resources portal - FCRR (fcrr.org): Florida Center for Reading Research - free printable activities - Just Read, Florida!: State reading office resources - Florida Statewide Assessments Portal (flfast.org): Sample items and test specs

FAST Assessment

Q: How does PM3 differ from PM1 and PM2? A: PM1 and PM2 are formative assessments for diagnostic and progress monitoring. PM3 is the summative accountability assessment at year-end. PM3 scores are used for: - School grades - Teacher VAM calculations - Grade 3 retention decisions - Grade 10 graduation requirements

Q: Are calculators allowed on FAST Math? A: Grade-specific policy: - K-5: NO calculators - focus on computational fluency - Grade 6: Four-function calculator provided online - Grades 7-8, Algebra 1, Geometry EOC: Scientific calculator provided online - IEP accommodations may differ

Q: What is the text-to-speech policy for FAST ELA Reading? A: Text-to-speech for ELA Reading passages is a "unique accommodation" - only for students who are "truly non-readers" due to specific disability. Requires FDOE approval. Text-to-speech IS generally available for Math and Science items for eligible students.

Instructional Planning

Q: How should the 90-minute reading block be structured? A: Recommended structure: - 30-40 min: Whole group explicit phonics/reading instruction - 20-30 min: Small group differentiated instruction - 15-20 min: Independent/center work (literacy stations) - 10-15 min: Read-aloud or shared reading

Q: How many phonics patterns should be introduced per week? A: Typically 1-2 new patterns per week for Tier 1 instruction, with extensive review and application. Pace should be determined by student mastery, not calendar. Don't move on until students have achieved proficiency.

Q: What's the pacing for phonics in K-2? A: Follow Florida's scope & sequence: - K: Letter sounds, CVC words - 1st: Digraphs, blends, silent e, vowel teams - 2nd: Variable vowel teams, r-controlled, prefixes/suffixes Master each skill before moving on.

Q: Is the 5E model required for Science instruction? A: While not strictly codified as the ONLY method, the 5E Model is Florida's widely preferred framework. It aligns with NGSSS Nature of Science benchmarks requiring inquiry-based learning.

Intervention

Q: What if a student scores Level 1 on FAST PM1? A: Immediate actions required: 1. Diagnostic assessment to identify specific skill gaps 2. Placement in Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention 3. Parent notification 4. Intensive reading intervention plan 5. More frequent progress monitoring

Q: How often should progress monitoring occur? A: - Tier 1 students: 3 times/year (FAST PM1, PM2, PM3) - Tier 2 students: Every 2-4 weeks - Tier 3 students: Weekly

Q: My student is guessing words using pictures. How do I stop this? A: Remove leveled readers with picture cues. Use only decodables. Teach phoneme blending explicitly. Practice with word lists before text. Document intervention for MTSS.

Resources

Q: How do I find decodable texts aligned to B.E.S.T. on CPALMS? A: Go to cpalms.org → Resources → Search "decodable" → Filter by Grade K-5 → Look for resources with "FCRR" in title (Florida Center for Reading Research)

Q: Where can I find FAST practice items? A: Search "FAST formative" + your grade level on CPALMS. Download PDFs of item-type examples. Use "Student Tutorials" on FloridaStudents.org to teach tech skills for computer-based testing.