The Florida Department of Education reported notable gains in student achievement based on the latest mid-year progress monitoring results from the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST). Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas announced that 49% of students are performing at or above grade level in English Language Arts, a 10 percentage point increase since the start of the school year and a 4 percentage point rise compared to the same period last year. In mathematics, 34% of students reached or exceeded grade level, marking an 18 percentage point improvement since the beginning of the year and a 3 percentage point increase over last year.
These figures indicate that more than 50,000 additional students are now meeting or surpassing grade-level expectations in English language arts compared to last year. Mathematics saw nearly 20,000 more students achieving similar results. The department attributes these outcomes to high-quality instruction throughout Florida classrooms.
Commissioner Kamoutsas addressed teachers and parents in a message about the mid-year results, encouraging collaboration to help all students complete the school year successfully.
“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 programs statewide, ranging from early learning through higher education. The agency works with parents, educators, and communities to advance student achievement and offers resources such as academic support and professional training for educators and students. It also manages data systems to monitor student progress and implements initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes for diverse groups across Florida. More information can be found on their official website.
