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Learning Standards Standards

What does a student learn in ?

Florida runs on its own playbook. The state rewrote its reading and math standards in 2020 as the B.E.S.T. Standards, breaking from the Common Core that most states still use. Civics gets its own end-of-course exam in seventh grade, a signal that the state takes the subject seriously as its own discipline rather than a thread inside social studies.

  • Florida Department of Education — Sunshine State Standards: Arts
  • Florida Department of Education — CTE / Career Ready Practices
  • Florida Department of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)
  • Florida Department of Education — NextGen Sunshine State Standards: Health Education
  • Florida Department of Education — NextGen Sunshine State Standards: Physical Education
  • Florida Department of Education — SEL (CASEL-aligned)
  • Florida Department of Education — World Languages Standards
Source: Florida B.E.S.T. Standards
The shape of K-12
A plain-language read of how the state runs school.
What students learn
Reading and math follow the B.E.S.T. Standards from kindergarten through high school, with math moving into a traditional Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II sequence in the upper grades. Science still runs on the 2008 Next Generation Sunshine State Standards, which lean toward content knowledge rather than the hands-on practices used in newer frameworks. Social studies was refreshed in 2023 and treats civics as a standalone course in middle school.
How students are measured
Florida checks in on reading and math three times a year through the FAST progress monitoring system in grades 3 through 10. The third check, given in spring, is the score that counts for accountability. High schoolers also sit for end-of-course exams in Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, and US History, plus the seventh-grade Civics EOC. Passing the grade 10 reading check and the Algebra I EOC is required to earn a diploma.
Frameworks adopted, by subject
The standards documents the state writes against in each subject.
Subject Framework Adopted Source
Mathematics
B.E.S.T. Standards
2020View
English Language Arts
B.E.S.T. Standards
2020View
Science
B.E.S.T. Standards
2008View
Social Studies
B.E.S.T. Standards
2023View
Computer Science & Digital Fluency
Florida Department of Education — Computer Science (K-12 CS-aligned)K-12 CS Framework-aligned
2016View
Arts: Visual Arts
Florida Department of Education — Sunshine State Standards: ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Dance
Florida Department of Education — Sunshine State Standards: ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Media Arts
Florida Department of Education — Sunshine State Standards: ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Music
Florida Department of Education — Sunshine State Standards: ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
Arts: Theatre
Florida Department of Education — Sunshine State Standards: ArtsNCAS-aligned
2014View
World Languages
Florida Department of Education — World Languages StandardsACTFL-aligned
2015View
Physical Education
Florida Department of Education — NextGen Sunshine State Standards: Physical EducationSHAPE-aligned
2024View
Health Education
Florida Department of Education — NextGen Sunshine State Standards: Health EducationNHES-aligned
2022View
Career Development & Occupational Studies
Florida Department of Education — CTE / Career Ready PracticesCCTC-aligned
2012View
Social Emotional Learning
Florida Department of Education — SEL (CASEL-aligned)CASEL-aligned
2020View
Assessments
The tests students take across K-12, grouped by purpose.

Other

Tests that do not fit the buckets above.

State Progress Monitoring

FAST ELA Reading (Grades 3-5)

Florida Assessment of Student Thinking ELA Reading is given three times per year (PM1 fall, PM2 winter, PM3 spring) in grades 3 through 5. PM3 is the summative test of record used for accountability.

When given:
fall, winter, spring
Frequency:
three times per year
Official source
State Progress Monitoring

FAST ELA Reading (Grades 6-8)

FAST ELA Reading for grades 6 through 8, given three times per year with PM3 as the summative result.

When given:
fall, winter, spring
Frequency:
three times per year
Official source
State Progress Monitoring

FAST ELA Reading (Grades 9-10)

FAST ELA Reading for grades 9 and 10, given three times per year with PM3 as the summative result. Students must achieve a passing score on the grade 10 PM3 to graduate.

When given:
fall, winter, spring
Frequency:
three times per year
Official source
State Progress Monitoring

FAST Mathematics (Grades 3-5)

FAST Mathematics for grades 3 through 5, given three times per year with PM3 as the summative result for accountability.

When given:
fall, winter, spring
Frequency:
three times per year
Official source
State Progress Monitoring

FAST Mathematics (Grades 6-8)

FAST Mathematics for grades 6 through 8, given three times per year.

When given:
fall, winter, spring
Frequency:
three times per year
Official source
State Summative

Statewide Science Assessment (Grade 5)

Florida Statewide Science Assessment given annually in grade 5 covering NGSSS Science.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

Statewide Science Assessment (Grade 8)

Florida Statewide Science Assessment given annually in grade 8 covering NGSSS Science.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
State Summative

B.E.S.T. EOC Algebra I

End-of-course exam taken at the completion of Algebra I, typically grade 8 or 9. Students must pass this EOC to graduate.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

B.E.S.T. EOC Geometry

End-of-course exam in Geometry, typically grade 9 or 10.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

B.E.S.T. EOC Biology I

End-of-course exam in Biology I, typically grade 9 or 10.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

B.E.S.T. EOC Civics

End-of-course exam in Civics, typically grade 7.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
State Summative

B.E.S.T. EOC US History

End-of-course exam in US History, typically grade 11.

When given:
end-of-course
Frequency:
by course completion
Official source
National Monitoring

NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress)

Federally administered sample-based assessment in reading, mathematics, science, and writing. NAEP results inform state-by-state comparisons rather than individual student or school accountability.

When given:
biennial in winter
Frequency:
every two years
Official source
Browse by grade and subject
Pick a cell to see exactly what students learn that year.
Subjects covered
15
Grade levels
14
Standards on file
1,566
Assessments tracked
13
Most recent adoption
2024
Common questions
  • Does Florida use Common Core?

    No. Florida replaced Common Core with the B.E.S.T. Standards in 2020 for English and math. Science still runs on the older NGSSS framework, and social studies was rewritten in 2023.

  • What's the spring test, and who takes it?

    Most students in grades 3 through 10 take the FAST assessments in reading and math three times a year, with the spring round (PM3) counting for accountability. Grade 5 and grade 8 students also take a science test, and high schoolers take end-of-course exams in Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, and US History.

  • What does a student have to pass to graduate?

    Students need a passing score on the grade 10 FAST ELA Reading and the Algebra I end-of-course exam. Seventh graders also take a Civics end-of-course exam, and juniors take one in US History.

  • Which subjects are required beyond reading and math?

    Schools cover science, social studies, the arts (visual art, dance, media arts, music, and theatre), world languages, physical education, health, computer science, career and technical education, and social emotional learning. Civics gets its own end-of-course exam in seventh grade.

  • How often do the standards change?

    Each subject runs on its own cycle. English and math were rewritten in 2020, social studies in 2023, health in 2022, and physical education in 2024. Science has been on the same framework since 2008.

Sources
Every page link goes back to the state's own document.

Frameworks

Assessments