The Florida Department of Education has reported notable improvements in student performance based on mid-year results from the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST). Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas announced that 49% of students are now performing at or above grade level in English Language Arts, which marks a 10 percentage point increase since the start of the school year and a 4-point rise compared to the same period last year. In mathematics, 34% of students reached or exceeded grade-level expectations, an increase of 18 percentage points from the beginning of the year and up by 3 points over last year.
According to the department, more than 50,000 additional students are now meeting or surpassing grade-level standards in English language arts compared to last year. Mathematics also saw nearly 20,000 more students reaching these benchmarks. These gains indicate that students are mastering end-of-year standards earlier than before.
Commissioner Kamoutsas addressed teachers and parents about these results, encouraging continued collaboration to help all students succeed through the remainder of the academic year.
“Mid-year progress monitoring results show that Florida’s students are continuing to succeed. I commend the hard work of students across our state and the dedication of teachers whose classroom instruction is pivotal to these gains,” said Commissioner Kamoutsas. “Thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida replaced high-stakes testing with the nation’s first progress monitoring system, an approach that is consistently delivering improved outcomes for students.”
The Florida Department of Education operates from its headquarters in Tallahassee and oversees education throughout Florida, including early childhood programs and higher learning initiatives. The department works with parents, educators, and communities to enhance student achievement and offers support through resources such as academic materials and professional training for educators. Its mission includes providing a comprehensive education system aimed at improving outcomes for diverse groups statewide. More information about its programs can be found on its official website.
