THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

DANIEL GOHL
CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER

April 9, 2018 Signatures on file

TO: Ty Thompson
Principal, Marjory Stoneman Douglas

FROM: Daniel Gohl

Chief Academic Officer

VIA: Valerie Wanza, Ph.D.

Chief of School Performance and Accountability

SUBJECT: SPRING 2018 STATE ASSESSMENTS AT STONEMAN DOUGLAS HS

As a result of the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the Florida
Legislature passed Section 50 of HB 7055 to exempt students enrolled at the school on
February 14, 2018 from statewide standardized assessments. The District has worked
with the Florida Department of Education, Office of the Governor, House and Senate staff
to provide a consistent interpretation of HB 7055 for each case of course enrollment,
grade level, and graduation status. Pages three and four of this document provide a
summary of the Spring 2018 testing requirements by assessment. This document also
provides the current exemption status on which examination scores each student must
meet to earn a standard diploma.

In brief, all students in the graduating Class of 2018 are exempt from any examinations
and score requirements. Students currently enrolled in US History, Biology, Geometry,
and Grade 9 ELA are exempt from the respective End-Of-Course (EOC) or Florida
Standards Assessment (FSA). Students enrolled in Algebra I and/or Grade 10 ELA are
exempt from having to take the examination in Spring 2018 but currently must meet
these requirements prior to graduation in 2019, 2020, or 2021. BCPS continues to
advocate with the State of Florida to extend the exemption to meet the graduation
requirement.
SPRING 2018 STATE ASSESSMENTS AT STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL
Page 2

While HB 7055 states “the school shall administer” …. “statewide standardized

assessments for any student who chooses to take the assessment”, it is my strong
recommendation that students opt not to take the Algebra 1 EOC or Grade 10 FSA
in spring 2018. The priority should be on healing, mental health, and the establishment
of a learning environment. Assessment for accountability is not appropriate during spring
2018.

Students that opt not to take the Algebra I EOC in spring 2018 can meet the graduation
requirement of passing the Algebra 1 EOC by earning a score of 3, 4 or 5 on a future
examination administration (currently offered four times a year), or earn a passing
comparative score on the PERT, SAT or ACT examinations. Students that opt not to take
the Grade 10 ELA FSA can meet the graduation requirement of passing the Grade 10
ELA FSA by earning a score of 3, 4 or 5 on a future examination administration (currently
offered twice a year), or earn a passing concordant score on the SAT or ACT
examinations.

Additionally, BCPS will continue to advocate for the interpretation of HB 7055 to provide
an exemption from the graduation requirement for first time test takers as this is consistent
with the relief provided to the Class of 2018 and the exemption from being required to
take the test in spring 2018. If such relief is not able to be provided by Executive branch
action then relief will be sought by statutory action during the 2019 Florida Legislative
session. The final decision on whether to take an EOC or FSA examination in spring
2018 rests with each student.

2
SPRING 2018 STATE ASSESSMENTS AT STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL
Page 3

Summary of Spring 2018 testing requirements by assessment

Spring 2018
Testing
Assessment Grade Level Requirement Detail
12 Exemption is explicitly
ALL None
(Class of 2018) provided in HB 7055
Exemption is explicitly
US History EOC All None
provided in HB 7055
Exemption is explicitly
Biology EOC All None
provided in HB 7055
Exemption is explicitly
Geometry EOC All None
provided in HB 7055
Exemption is explicitly
ELA Grade 9 FSA All None
provided in HB 7055

ELA Grade 10 FSA 10 Not in

Please see note 1 below
(First time enrollees) (Class of 2020) spring 2018
10
(Class of 2020) Student Must score a
ELA Grade 10 FSA
(Student previously Available “3”, “4”, or “5” prior to
(Retakes)
took the EOC and graduation
scored a “1” or “2”)

Any – (Student has

Not in
Algebra 1 EOC never taken the Please see note 2 below
spring 2018
test)
Any –
Student Must score a
Algebra 1 EOC (Student previously
Available “3”, “4”, or “5” prior to
(Retakes) took the EOC and
graduation
scored a “1” or “2”)

Note 1: Students can meet the graduation requirement of passing the Grade 10 ELA
FSA by earning a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the examination, or earn a passing
concordant score on the SAT or ACT examinations.
Note 2: Students can meet the graduation requirement of passing the Algebra 1 EOC
by earning a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the examination, or earn a passing
comparative score on the PERT, SAT or ACT examinations.

3
SPRING 2018 STATE ASSESSMENTS AT STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL
Page 4

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions related Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) and End-Of-Course (EOC)
administration and utilization at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in spring 2018
1. Will students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School be required to take
FSA and/or EOC exams in the spring of 2018?
A) No. Students enrolled at Marjory Stoneman Douglas are exempt from taking
the FSA or EOC in the 2017-18 school year. However, Marjory Stoneman
Douglas High School will still administer industry certification assessments,
national assessments, and statewide standard assessments for any student
who chooses to take the assessment.

2. Will students in the graduating class of 2018 (current seniors) that have not
completed the FSA/EOC requirement be eligible for a standard diploma in
June 2018?
A) Yes, if the student meets all other requirements for earning a standard high
school diploma by passing required courses, earning a minimum number of
credits, and earning a minimum grade point average.

3. Will the graduation testing requirements for all current 9th, 10th, and 11th
grade students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas be waived?
A) No, the graduating testing requirements are only waived for students in the
2017-2018 graduating class. Students are exempt from taking an assessment
for the course or courses in which the student was enrolled in spring 2018.
Currently, we do not have an interpretation from the State of Florida providing
a graduation requirement exemption for current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade
students. Therefore, they will still need to pass the Algebra I EOC and Grade
10 FSA ELA, or earn a passing concordant/comparative score, to receive a
standard diploma.

4. How will students final course grades for the 2017-18 school year be
calculated in the absence of an EOC or FSA score?
A) This concern will only require modification of course grade calculation for those
courses (i.e. Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, United States History) that require
inclusion of an EOC score for 30% of the course grade. BCPS has an
established method of calculating the final grade in the absence of the EOC
component.

5. Will students be promoted to the next grade level?

A) Promotion will be contingent on local review under SBBC Policy 6000.1 in the
absence of any State requirement.
VW/DG