College Readiness in Florida through the Early Assessment Program

Cassandra BrownCassandra.Brown@fldoe.org

Division of Florida CollegesFlorida Department of Education

Outline• What is the Early Assessment Program?– Legislation history– Development of standards, assessment, and college-

readiness courses– Initial results and challenges

• The Current Program– Requirements and Components

• Identification, Assessment, Coursework, Postsecondary– Current enrollment

• New Legislation• Resources

Florida’s Early Assessment Program

• Florida launched the early assessment program in 2008 with revisions to FL Statute 1008.30.

• Early program was voluntary and permitted students interested in college to take a college placement test in the 11th grade.

• For those whose scores indicated a need for additional preparation, targeted instruction was to be made available in their senior year, prior to high school graduation.

Initial Early Assessment Program

• College-readiness standards and assessment were developed for use by high schools and colleges.– Postsecondary Readiness Competencies (PRCs)– Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT)– High school courses developed to match highest level of

developmental education at the college-level.• Colleges worked collaboratively with school districts

and high schools.– Colleges tested eleventh grade students.– High schools offered half-credit College Success elective

courses.

Results of Initial Early Assessment Program

2009-2010 2010-2011

Mathematics

Reading

Writing

Test Takers 18, 842 21,573

College Ready 5,741 30.5% 6,359 29.5%

Success Course 354 615

Test Takers 17,578 20,272

College Ready 5,971 34.0% 7,003 34.6%

Success Course 564 1,356

Test Takers 17,492 19,276

College Ready 8,481 48.5% 9,445 49.0%

Success Course 256 622

Florida Statute 1008.30 – Revised with 2011 House Bill 1255

• Required high schools to evaluate college-readiness of students in eleventh grade.

• High schools will administer the P.E.R.T. (or other approved assessment) starting fall 2011.– Other approved assessments that can be used to

demonstrate readiness - ACT, SAT, CPT• Students who do not meet college ready scores will

be required to complete postsecondary preparatory instruction before graduation.

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College Readiness in High School - Mathematics

College Readiness in High School – Reading/Writing

Enrollment in Current Early Assessment Program

2011-2012 2012-2013

Reading for College Success 1,196 1,373

Writing for College Success 271 515

Math for College Success 382 2,210

Math for College Readiness 17,906 66,418

English IV: College Prep 5,271 54,711

New Legislation - Testing & Placement 1008.30 Common placement testing for public postsecondary education

4(a) A student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a Florida standard high school diploma or a student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services shall not be required to take the common placement test and shall not be required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution. However, a student who is not required to take the common placement test and is not required to enroll in developmental education under this paragraph may opt to be assessed and to enroll in developmental education instruction, and the college shall provide such assessment and instruction upon the student’s request.

Resources• Florida’s Postsecondary Education Readiness Test

Website• Florida’s College and Career Readiness Website• Testing Ground: How Florida Schools and Colleges

Are Using a New Assessment to Increase College Readiness

• Crossing Boundaries - Postsecondary Readiness Assessment in Florida

• Florida’s Postsecondary Readiness Test – Zoom Publication

College-ready scoresSubject Area Standard Score Course

Postsecondary Education Readiness Test  (a) Reading 104

ENC 1101(b) Writing 99(c) Mathematics 113 MAT 1033Accuplacer, The College Board  Reading Comprehension 83

ENC 1101Writing Skills 83

Elementary Algebra 72 MAT 1033SAT-I, The College Board  Verbal 440 ENC 1101

Mathematics 440 MAT 1033Enhanced ACT, American College Testing Program  Reading 18

ENC 1101English 17Mathematics 19 MAT 1033Grade 10 FCAT 2.0 Reading  

Reading 262 ENC 1101, REA