FSA Math Scores Decline Due to COVID

Florida students struggled more on the state's standardized tests this spring compared to counterparts tested before the pandemic struck, with scores dropping most sharply in math, according to data posted online Thursday by the Florida department of Education.

On the math section of the FSA (Florida Standards Assessment), 53% of 4th graders scored at or above their grade level compared to 64% in 2019, which was the last time the state administered these assessments in math, reading, science, and social studies.

Lower scores were expected due to the pandemic's effect on our schools, teachers, and students. This drop in scores was quickly blamed on the "COVID Slide" as thousands of students were now recieving their education through virtual classrooms and Zoom meetings. #rd grade reading scores showed a similar decline to the 4th grade math scores stated above.

Due to the challenges of being able to administer the FSA to students online, the state waived testing consequences this year so that Seniors could gradute, students could move up to the next grade level, and they could earn course credit even if they had skipped exams or did not pass them.

In 2021, these tests were administered and their were clear trends amongst school districts. In Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties students showed smaller drops on the language arts exams on average (about 2% since 2019) but larger drops in on the math exams (an average drop of 7% since 2019).

     “This data only partially represents an extremely difficult year for our schools,The data is still useful, as it         informs instructional decisions for the new school year. Teachers and principals will evaluate student             outcomes and determine how to accelerate learning.” - Superintendent Barbara Jenkins

Statewide, in all subjects, smaller percentages of students tested at grade level, or passed, in 2021 when compared to 2019. That State cancelled it's annual string of standardized tests like the FSA, State Science Tests, and EOC (End of Course) Exams, in 2020 when schools shut down due to COVID 19.

This year on FSA language arts and reading tests the percentage of 9th and 10th graders passing dropped 54% in 2019 to 50% in 2021. On the EOC civics exam, typically taken in 7th grade, the percentage passing dfropped from 71% to64%, and the percentage passing the US history exam, typically done in 11th grade, dropped from 69% to 63%. The Biology scores dropped from 67% to 62%.

The steepest decline by far was in math where we saw drops of 10% for most grade groups on most exams. The percentage of middle schoolers passing the Algebra 1 EOC went from 88% to 78%, and the percentage of students in grades 3rd thru 8th passing whatever exam they took dropped from 61% to 51%.

Walt Griffin, who recently retired as superintendent for the Seminole County school district, had predicted math scores would be lower this year. That’s because parents were likely more comfortable helping with reading lessons when their children were home last spring — when all classes were remote — and if those youngsters did online classes for the 2020-21 school year. Parents typically are more unsure about how to help with math, Griffin had said.

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran had urged schools to test as many students as possible this spring, asking those doing online classes to come in and sit for exams, so school districts could understand what students had learned, or failed to grasp in the past year.

Some parents objected, saying if they didn’t feel comfortable having their students on campus for classes they didn’t want to send them in to take state exams. About 30% of Florida’s students were studying remotely when testing began.

The number of test-takers did fall, as did overall enrollment, though most students took the exams, officials said. This year, for example, nearly 8,000 fewer 4th graders took the FSA math exam in 2021 compared to 2019, with 202,664 sitting for the test this year compared to 210,377 two years ago.

Local educators, who’d urged Corcoran to drop high-stakes testing consequences this year, were relieved when he did, but they said the test scores still would provide some useful data, helping to pinpoint academic gaps that need to be filled in this year.Opponents of high-stakes tests, however, said the data should be disregarded.

“Rather than fixating on the fully expected score declines, Florida education policymakers should focus    on providing necessary resources to schools and educators so they can address the academic, social      and emotional needs of the kids and families they serve,” said Bob Schaeffer, executive director of FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing, in an emailed statement Thursday.

“Once again, standardized exam scores are not telling us anything useful for improving learning or equity,” he added.