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    BEST Writing Assessment

    The BEST Writing Assessment is a computer-based assessment that consists of one text-based constructed-response item. Scholars will read a variety of texts and respond to a prompt. This assessment is administered in one 120-minute session. Any scholar not finished after the 120-minute session may continue working for up to half the length of a typical school day. Please review the schedule below to determine which date you will participate in the assessment.

    BEST Writing Administration Dates:

    • 9th Grade - Monday, April 01, 2024.
    • 10th Grade - Tuesday, April 02, 2024.

    For more information on the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. If you or your scholar would like to interact with the online testing platform or review BEST Writing sample items at home, sample test materials are available at https://flfast.org/families.html.

    Important Information Regarding Assessment Days:

    • School Attendance—it is important that your school attends school each day. Moreover, it is highly critical that your scholar attend school on time each day they are scheduled to take an assessment. Scholars must arrive to school no later than 7:15AM to ensure they are on time to enter the testing room.
    • School Issued Devices—it is imperative that your brings their school-issued laptop to school daily and, especially, brought with them on any scheduled assessment day. Moreover, help us ensure they fully charge their laptops each night.

    Please review the following policies with your scholar before testing:

    • Electronic Devices—Scholars are not permitted to have any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom), even if the devices are turned off or scholars do not use them. If your scholar is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test will be invalidated. At the beginning of test day, your scholar will be asked to place their powered-off devices into their bookbag and place their bookbags at the front of the testing room. Scholars will not be permitted to retrieve their bookbags or any items inside until testing has concluded for the day.
    • 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 scholars, and scholars acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by clicking the box in the secure browser indicating they understand the testing rules.
    • Discussing Test Content after Testing— The last portion of the testing rules read to scholars before they click the box to accept the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states that because the content of all statewide assessments is secure, students may not discuss or reveal details about the test content (including test items and passages) after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting to social media sites. Please make sure your student understands this policy prior to testing and remind them that “discussing” test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, posting to social media, or sharing online. While scholars may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent scholars from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families.
    • Working Independently—Scholars are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If scholars are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated.
    • Testing Accommodations—If your scholar has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, they will participate in the assessment using the accommodations listed in one of the aforementioned plans.

     

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    If you have any questions related to this test administration, please reach out to me.