What accommodation do ESOL students receive in their third year of FCAT testing?

In the context of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students, those in their third year of testing are eligible for certain accommodations. During their third year of testing, ESOL students typically receive a two-year exemption from having their scores included in the school’s accountability measures. This policy is designed to allow ESOL learners more time to acquire proficiency in the English language and to better understand the test material, which ultimately aids in their learning and integration into the educational system.

While ESOL students may be provided extra time or other forms of support, the essential aspect of the option selected is the two-year exemption, which acknowledges their unique challenges during the language acquisition process. This exemption specifically supports the educational needs of these students, ensuring their test scores do not adversely affect their school’s performance evaluation while they are still adapting to the language.