Assessing college-level communication and computation skills for public postsecondary education

(1) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common placement test for the purpose of assessing the basic communication and computation skills of students who intend to enter a degree program at any public postsecondary educational institution. Alternative assessments that may be accepted in lieu of the common placement test shall also be identified in rule. Public postsecondary educational institutions shall provide appropriate modifications of the test instruments or test procedures for students with disabilities. (2) By January 31, 2022, the State Board of Education shall adopt rules to develop and implement alternative methods for assessing the basic communication and computation skills of students who intend to enter a degree program at a Florida College System institution. Florida College System institutions may use these alternative methods in lieu of the common placement tests under subsection (1) to assess student readiness for college-level work in communication and computation. (3) The rules adopted under subsection (2) must specify the following: (a) 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 is not required to be assessed for readiness for college-level work in communication and computation and is not required to enroll in developmental education instruction in a Florida College System institution. However, a student who is not required to be assessed for readiness for college-level work in communication and computation 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. (b) A student who is assessed for readiness for college-level communication and computation and whose assessment results indicate a need for developmental education must be advised of all the developmental education options offered at the institution and, after advisement, may enroll in the developmental education option of his or her choice. (c) A student who demonstrates readiness by achieving or exceeding the test scores established by the state board and enrolls in a Florida College System institution within 2 years after achieving such scores shall not be required to retest or complete developmental education when admitted to any Florida College System institution. (4)(a) Each Florida College System institution shall implement the developmental education strategies defined in s. 1008.02 and rules established by the State Board of Education. (b) Each Florida College System institution shall use placement test results or alternative methods as established by the State Board of Education to determine the extent to which each student demonstrates sufficient communication and computation skills to indicate readiness for his or her chosen meta-major. Florida College System institutions shall counsel students into college credit courses as quickly as possible, with developmental education limited to that content needed for success in the meta-major. (c) A university board of trustees may contract with a Florida College System institution board of trustees for the Florida College System institution to provide developmental education on the state university campus. Any state university in which the percentage of incoming students requiring developmental education equals or exceeds the average percentage of such students for the Florida College System may offer developmental education without contracting with a Florida College System institution; however, any state university offering college-preparatory instruction as of January 1, 1996, may continue to provide developmental education instruction as defined in s. 1008.02(1). (5) A student may not be enrolled in a college credit mathematics or English course on a dual enrollment basis unless the student has demonstrated adequate precollegiate preparation in the basic communication and computation skills appropriate for successful student participation in the course.