Florida replaced its math standards in the 2022–2023 school year, and the changes behind that transition reshaped how math instruction now looks in Florida classrooms.
B.E.S.T., which stands for Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking, replaced the Common Core-aligned standards Florida had used since around 2010. The change affected both what students are expected to learn at each grade level and how their progress is measured throughout the year.
Our education specialists at Mathnasium put together this guide to explain what B.E.S.T. requires, how it differs from what came before, and what families can do at home to support their child.
Common Core was a set of national academic standards that most US states, including Florida, adopted around 2010.
The goal was to create consistent expectations across states so that students moving between them would encounter the same material at the same grade levels.
Florida used Common Core-aligned standards in both mathematics and English language arts for about a decade. In February 2020, Florida adopted B.E.S.T., its own state-developed standards framework.
Common Core included Standards for Mathematical Practice that many districts and textbook publishers interpreted as requiring specific teaching approaches, including the multi-step visual strategies and diagram-based approaches many Florida families recognized from homework.
B.E.S.T. places greater emphasis on what students need to know and be able to do. Full implementation across K-12 mathematics began in the 2022-2023 school year.
📕 You May Also Like: Common Core Math Demystified: A California Parent's Guide to the 'New Math'
B.E.S.T. math standards organize math instruction around two connected expectations:
Procedural fluency: the ability to execute mathematical procedures accurately and efficiently
Conceptual understanding: grasping why a procedure works rather than only following steps
Florida assessments now evaluate both skills together.
Your child may calculate the correct answer and still need more support explaining why the method works and how the reasoning connects to the problem.
Alongside the grade-level content standards, B.E.S.T. introduces seven Mathematical Thinking and Reasoning standards, known as MTR. These are habits of mathematical practice that run through every topic from elementary arithmetic through high school algebra and geometry.
The seven MTR standards expect your child to:
Persist through challenging problems with a growth mindset
Represent problems in multiple ways, using objects, drawings, tables, graphs, and equations
Complete tasks with fluency, meaning accurately and efficiently
Discuss and reflect on their own mathematical thinking and that of others
Assess whether their answers are reasonable
Apply mathematics to real-world situations
Common Core addressed similar habits through its eight Standards for Mathematical Practice. Florida's MTR standards cover comparable ground with language designed to be more accessible to students and families.
B.E.S.T. also moved foundational topics to earlier grade levels than the Common Core did. Fraction concepts are one example.
Under Common Core, formal fraction standards began in grade 3, while earlier grades focused mostly on informal partitioning concepts. B.E.S.T. introduces foundational fraction concepts earlier, so students begin building that understanding sooner.
📕 You May Also Like: Critical Thinking vs. Memorizing: What Really Builds Math Skills?
FAST, which stands for Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, replaced the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) as the primary statewide assessment aligned to B.E.S.T. standards.
FAST is the active assessment for the 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026 school years.
The most important thing Florida parents need to grasp about FAST is that it is not a single end-of-year test. FAST is administered three times per year for mathematics through grade 8, producing three results:
PM1: administered in the fall and gives an early baseline picture of where your child is at the start of the year
PM2: administered in winter, shows progress since PM1 and signals whether support is needed before the year ends
PM3: administered in May, the end-of-year result that carries the most weight for grade-level determinations and school accountability
PM1 and PM2 are the most actionable results for families. A lower-than-expected PM1 or PM2 score is an early signal, not a final verdict.
The period between PM2 and PM3 is a zone when targeted support has the greatest impact, especially when instruction focuses on the specific B.E.S.T. standards your child still needs to strengthen.
📕 You May Also Like: 4 Ways Diagnostic Math Tests Benefit Students & Parents
B.E.S.T. emphasizes both knowing how to execute a procedure and grasping why it works. Parents can support that process at home by asking thoughtful questions and creating consistent math habits during practice time. Five strategies connect directly to what B.E.S.T. requires:
Ask your child to explain their answer. B.E.S.T. assesses mathematical reasoning through the MTR standards. Your child builds exactly the kind of mathematical thinking B.E.S.T. rewards when they can explain why an answer makes sense.
Build the habit of estimating before calculating. MTR 6 expects your child to assess whether their answer is reasonable. A quick estimate gives your child a benchmark to check against. If your child estimates that three pizzas divided among four people gives each person less than one pizza, and then calculates two slices per person, they immediately know something went wrong. That habit of checking results against expectations is one of the most practical things B.E.S.T. rewards.
Focus on efficient standard algorithms alongside visual methods. B.E.S.T. emphasizes procedural fluency, meaning accurate and efficient execution of standard algorithms. Visual strategies like area models remain useful for building understanding, but your child benefits from also practicing the standard step-by-step methods Florida assessments expect.
Practice fraction concepts earlier in elementary math. B.E.S.T. introduces fraction concepts progressively from grade 1, building toward formal operations earlier in the elementary years. Your child builds that foundation naturally when they count equal parts, split objects, and compare portions at home.
Use PM1 and PM2 results as a starting point for targeted support. A FAST progress monitoring score from the fall or winter shows which B.E.S.T. standards your child still needs to strengthen. Targeted support before PM3 in May is much more effective than broad review work, especially when the specific gap is already clear.
📕 You May Also Like: How to Support Your Student's Math Homework [Parent Tips]
At Mathnasium, our specially trained tutors know exactly which B.E.S.T. standards your child needs to strengthen before PM3 arrives in May.
Mathnasium is a math-only learning center dedicated to empowering K-12 students of all skill levels to excel in math.
For families in Windermere navigating B.E.S.T. standards and FAST assessments, the most important step is understanding which concepts your child has already mastered and where they still need support.
Clear answers to those questions make targeted instruction possible and help students strengthen gaps before they grow into larger challenges later in the school year.
The Mathnasium Method™ is our proprietary teaching approach that begins with a diagnostic assessment measuring your child’s current skills, learning gaps, and how they approach math in general.
From those insights, we create a personalized learning plan tailored to your child's needs. When relevant, the plan can align with Florida's B.E.S.T. standards and can sharpen its focus on FAST preparation as PM3 approaches in May.
With the plan in place, our specially trained tutors follow it closely, delivering face-to-face math instruction in a supportive and fun group environment.
We teach for true understanding, using clear everyday language and a mix of verbal, visual, mental, tactile, and written techniques so each concept lands in a way that makes sense to your child.
When a student is stuck, we break the concept down into manageable steps and work through both the how and the why. Gradually, students build real problem-solving skills and critical thinking tools they can carry into math and beyond.
Our sessions are designed to be dynamic and engaging. Activities are often game-based and hands-on, and students get to earn rewards along the way. We celebrate every bit of progress, keeping learning enjoyable and growing confidence session by session.
The results speak for themselves:
94% of parents report improvement in their child's math skills and understanding
93% of parents report an improved attitude toward math after attending Mathnasium
90% of students saw improvement in their school grades
With over 1,100 learning centers across North America, there is likely a Mathnasium close to you.
Families across Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Apopka, Horizon West, and Winter Garden trust Mathnasium of Windermere to help their children meet and exceed Florida B.E.S.T. expectations at every grade level.
If your child needs targeted support aligned to B.E.S.T. standards or FAST preparation, our team is ready to help.
📅 Schedule a Free Assessment at Mathnasium of Windermere
Not near Windermere?
Mathnasium of Windermere FL is a math-only learning center for K-12 students in Winter Garden, FL. Trusted by over a million parents, Mathnasium uses personalized learning plans and the proprietary Mathnasium Method™ to help students catch up, keep up, and get ahead on their math journey.
Our specially trained tutors deliver face-to-face instruction in a supportive and fun small-group environment, working with students to develop a deep understanding of math, build confidence, and improve academic performance.
Schedule Free Assessment
(407) 243-6284
