Tallahassee, Fla. (WTXL) - After years of criticism and discussion, Florida has a new test expected to replace the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart announced Monday that the state is approving a six-year contract with not-for-profit American Institutes for Research to develop the test. The contract is worth an estimated $220 million.
The new test will be administered in the spring of 2015.
The test will be based largely on Common Core State Standards, although Florida officials tweaked the standards somewhat earlier this year.
“The new assessment will measure each child’s progress and achievement on the Florida Standards, which were developed with an unprecedented amount of public input,” said Stewart.
Last August, Governor Rick Scott convened the state’s top education leaders to discuss the sustainability and transparency of the state’s accountability system. Based on information from the summit, the Governor issued Executive Order 13-276. The order, initiated the move away from the national PARCC consortium so the state could get a test specifically designed for Florida’s needs without federal intervention.
Details about the new assessment and its benefits for Florida students are available at www.fldoe.org/eduaccsummit.asp.
