HB 473 Summary

• Discontinues administration of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and replaces it with subject area assessments for grades 3-5, subject area assessments and end-of-course examinations for grades 6-12, and diagnostic assessments for grades 6, 8, and 10.

• Changes high school graduation requirements to emphasize end-of-course examinations, grade point average, student portfolios, and overall academic performance rather than FCAT passage, effective with students entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year.

• Establishes the "Every Child Matters Program" to provide financial assistance to schools for remediation and intervention services for low-performing students, replacing the Florida School Recognition Program.

• Revises school grading and school improvement rating formulas to use subject area assessments and end-of-course examination scores instead of FCAT results, and incorporates additional factors including graduation rates, Advanced Placement participation, and postsecondary readiness.

• Creates a public school assessment and accountability alignment committee to develop standards for the revised assessment program and transition procedures, with implementation beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.