“`html

Since 2022, the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) at Florida State University has been offering direction and assistance to the Florida Department of Education’s inaugural PreK-2 assessment initiative. LSI’s role in this phase of the endeavor will conclude in August, leading to the creation of 4,000 new test items and 200 trained educators in Florida.

“The partnership between the Florida Department of Education Test Development Center’s (TDC) and LSI has greatly enhanced the creation of high-quality, Florida-centric assessments rooted in the B.E.S.T. Standards and the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards: 4 Years Old to Kindergarten,” remarked Racquel Harrell, Executive Director at the Florida Department of Education Test Development Center.

LSI Director Rabieh Razzouk acted as the principal investigator on the grant from the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). The aim was to create test items aligned with the newly established math and English language arts standards adopted by FLDOE in 2022, targeting students from prekindergarten through second grade. Formerly, testing commenced in the third grade.

“LSI was delighted to receive the grant to spearhead this project and assist in the creation of an entirely new assessment from scratch,” Razzouk commented. “It was a significant acknowledgment of the efforts and the individuals that position LSI as a leader in educational methodologies and a clear proof of how we deliver impactful results. We take immense pride in supporting the Florida Department of Education and in the foundation we’ve established for years of future achievements contributing to excellence in Florida’s early learning framework.”

Over the course of three years guiding the project, teams from LSI and the Florida Center for Research in STEM (FCR-STEM) developed professional learning workshops to assist educators in examining assessments from various perspectives. Subjects covered included aligning assessments with optimal practices in early childhood education, crafting items that facilitate feedback based on learning trajectories, identifying common misconceptions students may have based on research, and ensuring genuine alignment with Florida B.E.S.T. standards (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking).

“We were privileged to provide direction and assistance to FLDOE’s inaugural PreK-2 Assessment program,” expressed Carrie Meyers, director of STEM outreach at LSI, who collaborated as co-principal investigator and led the FCR-STEM team on the math assessment items. “Our teams at LSI and FCR-STEM guaranteed that Florida educators were involved from the outset, formulating test item specifications in committee meetings, participating in professional development regarding best practices from early grade assessments, to crafting and evaluating test items that will accurately assess Florida B.E.S.T. standards.”

While the principal objective was to create test items, the work unfolded on multiple fronts. The assessment teams devised test item specifications for math and English language arts (ELA) to steer the development of initial and future test items for the evaluation in partnership with the FLDOE.

“I have been immensely impressed with our assessment teams at LSI and FCR-STEM, as well as the Florida educators collaborating to devise test items for ELA and math assessments,” stated Stephanie Zuilkowski, associate director for research at LSI who also acted as co-principal investigator on the project and led the LSI team on the ELA assessment items. “The core goal of these assessments is to furnish insights into student learning in Florida, which resonates with the work LSI undertakes with learning systems both locally and globally. This initiative was a joint effort among our LSI teams and numerous Florida educators to create ELA and mathematics assessment items to aid 800,000 students in achieving their academic aspirations.”

“This initiative was a collaborative endeavor among our LSI teams and hundreds of Florida educators to create ELA and mathematics assessment items to aid 800,000 students in achieving their academic aspirations.”

— Stephanie Zuilkowski, associate director for research at LSI who also acted as co-principal investigator on the project and led the LSI team on the ELA assessment items.

LSI and FCR-STEM effectively utilized previous research in literacy and reading, alongside their Math Formative Assessment System and Cognitive Guided Instruction, to steer the project and guarantee optimal practices for the statewide assessment.

In orchestrating the rollout of Florida’s inaugural PreK-2 assessment program, LSI team members recognized that classroom educators would be pivotal to the procedure. Throughout the three years, it was the educators who steered the project, and their perspectives are reflected in the test items.

LSI aims to pioneer innovative educational solutions that seamlessly bridge theory with practice. Through advanced research, we create industry-leading methods and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in all environments. For over fifty years, LSI has been dedicated to fostering measurable enhancements in performance for both individuals and organizations.

To discover more, visit lsi.fsu.edu.

The article Learning Systems Institute leaves legacy leading Florida’s first-ever PreK-2 Assessment Program originally appeared on Florida State University News.

“`