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The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards. The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will participate in the first and second administrations PM1 and PM2 of the Grade 9 or 10 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading assessment on September 14, 2026 and December 1, 2026. Any student who has not completed the session by the end of the allotted time may continue working up to the length of a typical school day. Your student’s results from PM1 are for informational purposes only, PM2 provides mid-year information on student progress, and you will be provided with information about how to see the results after testing is completed.
You or your student can interact with the online testing platform and review computer-based sample test items and certain released tests at home at flfast.org/families.html.
Please review the following policies with your student before testing:
- Electronic Devices – Students are not allowed to have any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smart glasses, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom), even if the devices are turned off or students do not use them. Students may not wear smart glasses during statewide testing, even if they are prescription glasses. Students with prescription smart glasses will need to remove them or test another day with standard glasses. If your student is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test will be invalidated (not scored).
- Testing Rules Acknowledgment – All 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 click a box in the test to show that they understand the testing rules.
- Discussing Test Content after Testing – The last part of the testing rules read to students states that because the test content is secure, students may not discuss or share details about the test items and passages after testing. This includes texting, emailing, or posting test content to social media sites. While students may not share information about what questions were on their test, this policy is not meant to prevent students from talking about 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 (not scored).
- Illness/Leaving Campus – If your student leaves campus before completing a test session (e.g., for lunch, an appointment), he or she may not be allowed to return to 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.
- Testing Accommodations – If your student has an Individual Educational Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss the testing accommodations that will be provided for your student.
- Testing Irregularities – If a testing irregularity occurs in your student’s testing room, as part of a school investigation, your student may be asked questions to provide information about the incident. In addition, your student may need to retake the test if a suspected irregularity is reported that may affect the validity of the test results.
- Extra Time – Any student still working at the end of the allotted time for the session will be provided extra time, as allowed, to complete the test. However, based on directions from the district, students who are not actively working (e.g., sleeping) at the end of regular time may be dismissed rather than being given extra time.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Mrs. Hemsath.
For more information about the Florida Statewide Assessments program, please visit the portal at flfast.org/fsa.html.
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best on the test.