December 8, 2016

Dear Home Education Parent/Guardian:

Students participating in an established Florida Home Education Program (FHEP) may participate in the Spring 2017 Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), Statewide Science Assessments (SSA), and the Florida End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments. A passing score on these tests fulfills the evaluation requirements for educational progress as stated in Chapter 1002.41, F.S.

If you wish for your student to participate in any of these tests, you must complete the attached registration form and submit it to Heather Himes, Senior Coordinator of State Assessments for Polk County Schools,no later than February 6, 2017.The attached registration form may be emailed or faxed, but the preferred method of registration is online at Late registrations will not be accepted. Once your student is registered, his/her student information will be verified, and the request disseminated to the appropriate home-zoned school. Schools will make arrangements for the student to participate in their testing programs.

Students must be present on all testing days and times arranged with the school. Students must take both English Language Arts and Math tests in order to satisfy the annual evaluation for a home education program under Florida Statute 1002.41.

Spring 2017 Testing Schedule

Testing Date or Window / Grades / Test / Computer or Paper-Based / Time / Additional Details
February 27 – March 10 / 8 - 10 / FSA ELA (Writing) / Computer-Based / 120 min/1 day / Exact date varies by school
February 28 / 4 - 7 / FSA ELA (Writing) / Paper-Based / 120 min/1 day
March 28 & 29 / 3 / FSA ELA (Reading) / Paper-Based / 80 min/2 day
April 10 – May 12 / 3 – 8 / FSA Math / Computer-Based / 3rd – 5th= 80 min/2 days
6th – 8th = 60 min Day 1; 120 min Day 2 / Exact dates varies by school
April 10 – May 12 / 4 – 10 / FSA ELA (Reading) / Computer-Based / 4th/5th = 80 min/2 days
6th – 8th = 85 min/2 days
9th/10th = 90 min/2 days / Exact dates varies by school
April 17 – May 12 / By Course / FSA EOCs (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) / Computer-Based / 90 – 210 min/2 days / Exact dates varies by school
April 17 – May 19 / By Course / NGSSS EOCs (Algebra 1, Biology, Civics – middle school only, US History – high school only) / Computer-Based / 160 – 420 min/1 day / Exact dates varies by school
May 2 & 3 / 5 / Statewide Science Assessment / Paper-Based / 80 min/2 days
May 2 / 8 / Statewide Science Assessment / Paper-Based / 160 min/1 day

The parent of a Florida Home Education Program (FHEP) student participating in the testing program is responsible for the following:

Completing returning the test registration form(online OR paper) to Heather Himes by February6, 2017.

Providing transportation for the student to and from the school for each test day.

Providing emergency contact information and any health concerns to school staff on each test day.

Providing proof of student’s identification -School photo ID, Government-issued ID, Passport, Fingerprint Card with Photo ID, Parent Driver’s License (if the student does not have photo ID)

Ensuring that the student adheres to all school regulations, in particular, those related to the testing program.

Notifying the school in a timely manner if the student will be absent on any scheduled test day.

The deadline of February 6thfor submitting the registration form must be met to prevent disruption to test administration at the school site. Once you have submitted the registration form, you will receive a call/email from the school with your student's specific testing details. If you do not hear from the home-zoned school at least one week prior to testing, it is your responsibility to contact the school and verify your student’s specific testing details. If your student requires special accommodations for instruction and will need accommodations for the test setting, such accommodations must be requested in writing on the TestRegistration Form, along with supporting documentation at the time of registration. Please note that the guidelines for provision of testing accommodations for each testing program and subject may differ. Some accommodations which may be provided in an instructional setting are specifically prohibited during testing; therefore, those accommodations cannot be provided, even if requested.

The table below notes which components of the FSA, FCAT 2.0, and EOC Assessments are administered at each grade level. The tests are available only to students in the grades listed. It is not required for a student to participate in all the tests available at a specific grade level. However, if you choose to have your student take a test that is administered in multiple sessions, your student will be expected to participate in all sessions of that test.

Grade Levels Tested: FSA, SSA, and Florida EOC Assessments

Test / Grade Level
K / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
FSA ELA Writing / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FSA ELA / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
FSA Mathematics / √ / √ / √ / √ / √ / √
Statewide Science Assessment / √ / √
Algebra 1 EOC Assessment / Algebra 1 or Equivalent Course
Algebra 2 EOC Assessment / Algebra 2 or Equivalent Course
Biology 1 EOC Assessment / Biology 1 or Equivalent Course
Civics EOC Assessment / Civics or Equivalent Course
(Middle School)
Geometry EOC Assessment / Geometry or Equivalent Course
US History EOC Assessment / US History or Equivalent Course
(High School)

Note: Due to limited computer resources, your student will be assigned a specific day, time, and location to take the test within the testing window. If the student is not present on the assigned day, rescheduling will be available at the school’s discretion.

All computer-based testing requires completion of a practice test prior to testing. If the student has not practiced prior to the assessment, he/she will be excused from the test site and will have to retake the test at the next available test window.

For any of the FSAs, please complete the appropriate ‘Practice Test’, located at: To access the practice tests for the NGSSS EOCs, please visit

Should you have any further questions, please contact:

Heather Himes, Senior Coordinator of Assessment

Assessment, Accountability, and Evaluation

Polk County Public Schools

863-647-4711-ph

863-647-4709-fax

For information regarding the State of Florida Home Education law, options and resources are available at or you may contact them at 1-877-ASK-FPEA (275-3732). For more information reading the Florida Department of Education’s K-12 Student Assessment Program, please visit

FLORIDA HOME EDUCATION PROGRAM TEST REGISTRATION FORM

In order for a Florida Home Education Program student to participate in the Spring 2017 Florida Standards Assessments (FSA), Statewide Science Assessments, and/or the Florida End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments, this form MUST be submittedto Heather Himes, Senior Coordinator of State Assessments, beforeMonday, February 6, 2017.

Complete online at . Email: or Fax: 863-647-4709

**No registrations will be accepted after February 6, 2017.**

Student’s Name (First and Last) / Florida ID Number / Grade / Home-Zoned School
Student’s Date of Birth / Student’s Gender / Student’s Race

Please place a check in the box below the test(s) you are requesting for your child:

FSA ELA (Writing & Reading) / FSA Math / Statewide Science / FSA Algebra 1 / Geometry / FSA Algebra 2 / Algebra 1 Retake / Biology 1 / Civics / US History
Writing = Grades
4 – 10
Reading =
Grades
3 – 10 / Grades
3 – 8 / Grades
5 & 8 / Participated in the FSA Algebra EOC Previously OR
Has NEVER Taken the Algebra EOC Before / In Geometry / In Algebra 2 / Only if the Student Has Previously Taken the NGSSS Algebra 1 EOC / In Biology 1 / In Civics
(Middle School Only) / In US History (High School Only)

______

Parent’s/Guardian’s SignaturePRINT Parent’s/Guardian’s Name

______

AddressCity Zip

______

Telephone Number (including area code)Email Address

______

Emergency Contact/Phone Number (include area code) Allergies/Medical Needs While on Campus

REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS:

If the student requires special format materials (i.e., large print or Braille) or special accommodations, please indicate the nature of any accommodations requested for testing below. All requests for accommodations must be accompanied by supporting documentation at the time of registration. My child uses the following accommodations on a regular basis to access his/her education and I am requesting such accommodations for the test(s): ______

District Office Use Only: Supporting Documentation Provided:

____Most recent IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan (expiration date: ______)

____Copy of medical or psychological evaluation (date: ______)

____Other (specify): ______