The Floyd County Committee on Education held a meeting on February 11, 2025, focusing on the progress and results of the state's new progress monitoring system for student assessments. The meeting highlighted significant improvements in student performance across various subjects, including English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science.

The presentation began with an overview of the end-of-course assessments for subjects such as algebra, geometry, biology, U.S. history, and civics, specifically for middle school students. It also addressed progress monitoring results for younger grades, including kindergarten through second grade and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs.

A key point of discussion was the implementation of the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), which replaced the previous Florida Standards Assessment (FSA). This new system allows for assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year, providing immediate feedback to teachers and parents. The results from these assessments are now available within two weeks, a significant improvement over the previous system, which often delayed results until after students had left for summer break.

The committee reported substantial gains in student performance, with ELA scores rising from 33% to 53% at or above grade level from the beginning to the end of the school year. Mathematics showed even more impressive growth, with a 42 percentage point increase. The data indicates that students are starting the year at a higher level and achieving better outcomes by year-end.

The meeting concluded with a summary of recommendations for an independent review of the progress monitoring system, as mandated by state law. Overall, the discussions underscored the effectiveness of the new assessment approach and its positive impact on student learning outcomes in Floyd County.