Key Takeaways
- The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (“FAST”) is the main progress monitoring assessment in Florida schools that measures how students grow in English Language Arts (ELA), Reading, and Mathematics throughout the school year.
- The FAST test offers teachers and families a clearer picture of a child’s progress by tracking student learning from the first weeks of school through the end, rather than assessing it at a single moment in time.
- FAST tests are administered three times a year, with each administration playing a different role:
- PM1, delivered at the beginning of the year to establish a baseline
- PM2, delivered halfway through the year to evaluate how well children comprehend their curriculum
- PM3, delivered near the end of the year, reflects the final performance against grade-level expectations
- Families can view FAST results through Florida’s Family Portal
- Educators and administrators can access results through the Florida Reporting System (“FRS”).
Current FAST Schedule (PM1, PM2, PM3) for This School Year
Each year, the Florida Department of Education publishes statewide testing windows that outline when FAST assessments may be administered. Generally, PM1 is administered in the early fall, PM2 during the winter, and PM3 in late spring.
Districts then choose their testing date ranges, offering flexibility without losing statewide consistency. That’s why one school may test in early January and another a few days later, even if they’re in the same district.
Since testing schedules change from year to year, families should rely on the official statewide assessment schedule, up-to-date district notices, and the Family Portal rather than older PDFs or third-party calendars. And when in doubt, they can always contact their school directly to confirm the class testing schedule.
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What Is FAST?
FAST is Florida’s coordinated, statewide progress monitoring system for English Language Arts, Reading, and Mathematics. It covers students in Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Programs through 10th grade in Reading, and from VPK through 8th grade in Mathematics.
As a progress-monitoring program, it is closely aligned with the state’s B.E.S.T. (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking) Standards and is designed to prioritize instruction and learning trends over time rather than serving as a single, high-stakes measure.
By administering three assessments throughout the school year, FAST allows teachers to track student progress and adjust instruction in real-time, when it can still have a positive impact, rather than playing catch-up. These changes ensure that the children in their classes receive additional support (if necessary) at the right time, and in turn, students do not fall behind their classmates as easily as they once did.
FAST Test Design
FAST is a computer-based assessment with a streamlined structure designed for easy completion within a single testing session. The testing design is more adaptive than traditional, standardized year-end testing.
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Is FAST computer-adaptive?
Yes, FAST is computer-adaptive, as the system automatically adjusts the difficulty of questions based on the student’s responses to previous questions. So, a correct answer may lead to more challenging questions, while an incorrect answer may shift the assessment towards content that better matches the student’s skill level. Since students see different questions based on their performance, the test can quickly estimate ability without requiring all students to answer the same questions.
This innovative, computer-adaptive approach helps deliver results faster and more precise information pertaining to student thinking and learning trends.
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How long is FAST?
FAST testing length varies according to grade level and the subject being tested. However, all FAST administrations are designed to be completed within a single class period. Compared to legacy statewide exams, they generally take less time while still offering clear insights into how students are progressing. Teachers and parents looking for more detailed information on testing time should refer to the official test design summaries published by Florida that provide grade-band ranges for item counts and testing time. -
What content is tested?
FAST measures state standards using reporting categories that group related skills. These categories appear on score reports for math and language arts to help teachers identify strengths and areas that may benefit from additional support. Tools like calculators are allowed according to grade-specific rules listed in the state’s official test design materials.
How to Access FAST Results
Families can access FAST test results once teachers complete the scoring and validation; results do not appear immediately after testing. Parents can log in to the Family Portal to view their child’s results at no cost. To log in and see results, they typically need:
- An access code from the school
- The student’s date of birth
- The student’s first name as it appears in school records
If an access code is lost, the school or district can reissue it.
Alternatively, some districts also provide FAST results through their local portals, such as Focus. Families should follow the specific instructions for their district, as availability and navigation can vary.
Florida Reporting System (FRS)
Florida educators, administrators, and authorized staff use the secure Florida Reporting System (“FRS”) platform to access students’ assessment results. Within the FRS platform, they can analyze class-wide data, compare how students performed across PM1-PM3, and take a closer look at reporting categories to evaluate whether they need to shift their instruction and, if so, in what direction.
FRS also includes FAST data alongside other Florida assessments that align with the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.). Standards. With access governed by role-based permissions, the system is designed to support instructional analysis rather than public reporting. It is one of the most valuable resources for schools planning targeted instruction or monitoring student progress, as it includes tools for tracking growth and comparing year-over-year performance.
Contact Our TeamHow to Read FAST Score Reports
FAST score reports are organized by scale score and achievement level (Levels 1–5), with Levels indicating how well a student demonstrates grade-level expectations on the test.
Besides the student’s overall performance, reports also include a breakdown of results by category to help identify learning patterns and highlight strengths, and determine areas that may require more instructional support.
When reviewing results at the end of a year, it’s important to look at the big picture to understand how a student has progressed. PM1 shows where a student begins; PM2 offers a mid-year look at their growth; and PM3 captures their end-of-year progress. Viewing results across the three administrations rather than a single score snapshot provides comprehensive insight.
Using FAST Results to Support Students
FAST results are meant to lead to actionable conversations and ongoing follow-up. For families, it’s an opportunity to collaborate with teachers on progress and next steps. If possible, families and teachers should review results together to clarify which skills are developing and where extra practice or accommodations may be beneficial.
Additionally, teachers may use results to form grouping decisions, tailor instruction, and adjust lesson plans to better match student needs. Receiving results throughout the year allows instructors to make adjustments before the end of the year, when the demands of final grading or graduation are higher-stakes.
Official FAST Resources
Families have access to an abundance of resources provided by the Florida Department of Education to ensure their child is administration-ready. FAST resources from the Florida Department of Education include fact sheets, test design summaries, sample questions, reporting guides, the statewide assessment schedule, and access points to the Family Portal and FRS.
These official materials are the most reliable sources for understanding how the program works, how scoring is determined, and how to check results.
Ask a QuestionView or Download the FAST PDF
The PDF linked below provides a comprehensive overview of FAST, including program details, score explanations, and guidance for families and schools. Use it as a helpful, single-source reference that explains the assessments from start to finish.
Download the PDFFAQ
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What is FAST?
FAST is Florida’s statewide progress-monitoring assessment aligned with B.E.S.T. standards. Families, teachers, and administrators use it to evaluate students’ learning in English Language Arts (ELA), Reading, and Mathematics. -
When are PM1, PM2, and PM3 administered?
Administrations occur within statewide windows set by the Florida Department of Education, and districts select specific test dates. The general schedule administers PM1 at the beginning of the year, PM2 mid-year, and PM3 near the end of the year. -
Is FAST computer-adaptive?
Yes, FAST is computer-adaptive, with subsequent question difficulty based on the accuracy of students’ previous responses. -
Where can I find my child’s FAST results?
Parents can view their child’s FAST results through the Family Portal and, in many districts, through local student portals. -
What do FAST achievement levels mean?
Achievement levels indicate how well a student meets grade-level expectations at the time they take the assessment. -
What is different about PM3?
PM3 serves as a summative measure for the year because schools administer it at the end of the year. It indicates where a student finishes relative to expectations. -
What is the Florida Reporting System?
The Florida Reporting System (FRS) is a secure online system designed for teachers and administrators to view and evaluate their students’ FAST results and other assessment data. -
What grades and subjects take FAST?
FAST includes Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) through grade 10 for ELA Reading and VPK through grade 8 for mathematics. -
Are practice resources available?
Yes, the state publishes official sample questions and preparation materials through its assessment hubs, including the Florida Statewide Assessments Portal.
Florida Fast Test
As an essential component of Florida’s approach to monitoring academic progress in its students, FAST helps make sure students receive the support they need in advance throughout the school year instead of relying on summer school or tutoring.
Whether families want to check the latest results, learn more about the program, or prepare for upcoming assessments, the statewide portals and official resources offer many ways to stay informed and move forward with confidence.
The content of this page is based on an original presentation, Introduction to Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), by Susie Lee, Executive Director of the Office of Assessment at the Florida Department of Education. The PDF is available for download here.
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