Career/Technical Program Testing

 Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System, Greater Opportunities for Adult Learning Success (CASAS, GOALS) Reading and Math is the primary assessment for the Career Technical Education Programs.

Section 1004.91, Florida Statutes (F.S.), Career-Preparatory Instruction and State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.040 Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) requires students who enroll in a career certificate or applied technology diploma program offered for career credit of 450 clock hours or more to complete an entry-level examination within the first six weeks after admission into the program.

The purpose of assessment is to determine whether or not the student has the basic skills necessary to be successful in the chosen CTE program. Assessment instruments meeting this requirement are annually adopted in Rule 6A-10.040, F.A.C., and include: 

• Any common placement test where a minimum score has been achieved pursuant to Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C.; 
• CASAS, GOALS 900 Series; and
• 2014 GED® Tests: Reasoning through Language Arts and Mathematics Reasoning where a minimum score (145), as required in Rule 6A-.6.0201, F.A.C., has been achieved, on each test. 

Exceptions and Exemptions from the Basic Skills Examination

•  Adult students with disabilities may be exempted from meeting the basic skills level required to earn a Career Certificate of Completion and be reported as a completer.
• Students who are exempt from basic skills exit requirements include those who: 

1. Possess a college degree at the associate in applied science (AAS) level or higher; 

2. Demonstrate readiness for public postsecondary education pursuant to s. 1008.30, F.S. and applicable rules adopted by the State Board of Education. A student who entered 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a Florida standard high school diploma or a student who is serving as an active duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services shall not be required to take the common placement test and shall not be required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution. However, a student who is not required to take the common placement test and is not required to enroll in developmental education under this paragraph may opt to be assessed and to enroll in developmental education instruction, and the college shall provide such assessment and instruction upon the student’s request.

3. Pass a state or national industry certification or licensure examination that is identified in State Board of Education rules and aligned to the CTE program in which the student is enrolled; or 

4. Is enrolled in an apprenticeship program that is registered with FDOE in accordance with Chapter 446.

If a student has met or exceeded standard scores in one area of one test, another test may be used to meet the additional skill area requirements. It is acceptable to combine test scores from more than one test. 

A student who was previously tested and referred to developmental education at a Florida College System (FCS) institution college may be reported as meeting basic skills requirements once they successfully complete the required developmental education and will not need to be retested. 

A student who has taken the 2014 GED® and attained the minimum achievement scores on both the Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) and Mathematic Reasoning, does not need to be tested. A student who takes the 2014 GED® and does not attain the minimum score on the initial test, but then subsequently attains the minimum score on each test after admission into the CTE program, may be counted as a full completer from the program once the student successfully demonstrates mastery of program content as determined locally. Earning the achievement scores on both the 2014 GED® RLA and Mathematical Reasoning subtests must occur before or within the reporting year that the student completes the CTE program. All requirements for full program completion would need to be earned by the end of the reporting year for the year in which there was enrollment. Once a reporting year has closed, there is no longer an opportunity to update records and indicate the student was a full program completer. School districts and FCS institutions may still update local system records, it just would not be transmitted to the state and the student would not be included in Perkins calculations as a full program completer. 

If a student successfully completes his or her coursework, does not meet the basic skills requirements for completion from the program utilizing an approved assessment instrument, takes and passes a related licensure exam (PDF) identified by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Division of Career and Adult Education (DCAE),  the student shall be counted as a completer and does not have to be retested on one of the basic skills examinations. This provision includes career dual enrollment students.