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State Releases Results for 2021 Florida Standards Assessments and End of Course Exams
On Thursday, July 29, 2021, the Florida Department of Education released results for the Spring 2021 Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) for English Language Arts (ELA) (grades 4 –10), Mathematics (grades 3 – 8) and Science (grades 5 and 8). In addition, the state released results for End of Course (EOC) exams in Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, U.S. History and Civics.
The results show Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) performance significantly decreased overall as compared to 2018/19, the most recent results to make comparisons due to the cancellation of statewide testing in 2019/20.
- The most dramatic decreases were in mathematics. For grades 3 – 8, FSA Math and EOC Algebra I and Geometry decreased by 18 percentage points compared to 2018/19.
- While overall ELA performance for grades 3 – 10 decreased by six percentage points compared to 2018/19, BCPS scores met or exceeded the statewide average in seven out of eight of these tested grade levels.
Given that many students were attending school remotely last school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and some parents were reluctant to send their children in person to test, participation in the FSA and EOC were lower overall, with 88% of BCPS students being tested in 2020/21, compared to approximately 98% in 2018/19. Additionally, BCPS had significantly higher rates of students remain at home for instruction in comparison to other districts in Florida.
“We’re concerned about the achievement results released today,” said BCPS Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “The decrease in performance on the assessments correlates with the very low rate of return by students for in-school, face-to-face instruction last school year. The return of students for brick-and-mortar instruction this coming school year is imperative to ensure students can work with teachers and receive supplemental supports.”
These results provide a baseline for addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student achievement. During the spring of 2021, in preparation for supporting students in the coming years, the District developed plans and identified instructional materials to provide extensive resources and interventions to students upon the start of the new school year on Wednesday, August 18. These initiatives will focus on reading development in the primary grades of K – 3, strengthening student writing skills and providing high-intensity tutoring. The District’s summer experience for all students in pre-K – 12 concluded on July 29. It provided academic support and enrichment to help students get back on track academically and get ready for the new school year.
Moving forward, District staff, principals and teachers will examine each student’s performance and prepare personalized support for his or her learning. A School Board workshop is scheduled for August 24, 2021, to review the FSA and EOC results, the District’s analysis and any subsequent reports from the Florida Department of Education.
For more information on the 2020/21 FSA and EOC results, visit fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/results/2021.stml.
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ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.”
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth largest school district in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has nearly 261,500 students and approximately 110,000 adult students in 241 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 93 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 170 different countries and 147 different languages. To connect with BCPS, visit browardschools.com, follow us on Twitter @browardschools, on Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools.com and download the free BCPS mobile app.