Fast Parent Letter Gr. 3-5

Dear Parent/Guardian,
Collier County
Public Schools
Eden Park Elementary School
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 throughout this school year.
The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your student will participate in the first administration (PM I) of the Grades 3-5 Florida
Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading assessment, September 8-11, 2026, and the FAST Mathematics
assessment, September 15-18, 2026,. Your student's results from PM I are for informational purposes only, and you will be provided
with information about how to access the results after testing is completed.
FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on
how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each test attempt (PM I. PM2, and
PM3) will present 35-40 items that will cover the entire test "blueprint," meaning students will encounter items representative of the
standards within the subject or grade level. For more information on the test design. please visit
https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k- I 2-student-assessment'best/. If you or your student would like to interact with the
online testing platform or review FAST ELA Reading and Mathematics sample items at home, sample test materials are available at
httgs://flfast.org families.html.
Please review the following policies with your student before testing:
• Electronic Devices--Students are not permitted to access 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). If your student is found with an
electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones,earbuds during testing, his or her test may be invalidated.
• Testing Rules Acknowledgment- All tests include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: ··1 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 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 students 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 students may not share
information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing 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.
• Testing Accommodations- If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English
Language Leamer (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss any testing accommodations that will
be provided for your student.
• Testing Irregularities--In the event a testing irregularity occurs in your studem's testing room, as part of a school
investigation, your student may be asked questions to provide clarification of the incident. In addition, your student may be
required to retake the assessment 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
for each assessment, to complete the test. However, according to directions from the district. students who are not active ly
working (e.g., sleeping) at the end of regular time may be dismissed rather than being provided with extra time.
If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Dr. Joy at 239-377-9200.
For more information about the FAST program, please visit the portal at FLFAST.org.
Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration.
Sincerely,

Maryann Caseres