This year’s new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is administered three times during the year
(beginning of year -PM1, middle of year-PM2, and end of year-PM3). The administration of PM1 and PM2
are designed for the purpose of information for instruction in the classroom.
The test is administered as a computer adaptive test which provides students with questions on the grade
level standards the student will be taught during the year. The test does not present students with
questions above or below the student’s tested grade level.
It is important to note that students are not expected to have mastery of grade-level skills at the
beginning of the year. Students are taught skills throughout the year and should move towards mastery
as the school year progresses.
Your child’s scores will populate into their myStudent account which you can access through the Pasco
Parent Portal. You can access the scores by clicking on Check Grades/Attendance and then click on your
child’s name, and then Test History. Below is an explanation of what scores will appear in the Pasco
Parent Portal:
Achievement Level
Florida has established unique benchmarks that students must reach to be considered proficient. The
Achievement Levels range from 1 to 5 with 3 being on-grade-level. Descriptions of the levels are listed
below.
Level Description
Level 1 Inadequate: Students who score in Level 1 demonstrate an inadequate level of
mastery of the B.E.S.T. Standards for their grade. To be prepared for the next
grade, they are highly likely to need substantial support.
Level 2 Below Satisfactory: Students who score in Level 2 demonstrate a below
satisfactory level of mastery of the B.E.S.T. Standards for their grade. To be
prepared for the next grade, they are likely to need substantial support.
Level 3 On-Grade-Level: Students who score in Level 3 demonstrate on-grade-level
mastery of the B.E.S.T. Standards for their grade. They may need additional
support to excel in the next grade.
Level 4 Proficient: Students who score in Level 4 demonstrate proficiency in the B.E.S.T.
Standards for their grade. They are likely to excel in the next grade.
Level 5 Mastery: Students who score in Level 5 demonstrate mastery of the B.E.S.T.
Standards for their grade. They are highly likely to excel in the next grade.
Students who scored a Level 1 or Level 2 may be eligible to receive free books on a monthly basis through
the New Worlds Reading Initiative. Visit http://newworldsreading.com for more information.
In addition, the Level 1 and 2 students may be eligible for a $500 reading scholarship to be used for
instructional materials, tutoring, and summer or after school educational programs. Visit
http://Stepupforstudents.org/reading for more information
