The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking — Florida's progress-monitoring system that replaced FSA. Reading is assessed three times a year (PM1 in fall, PM2 in winter, PM3 in spring) starting in K.

What do the score levels mean?

FAST scores reading into 5 levels. Level 1 = inadequate, Level 2 = below satisfactory, Level 3 = satisfactory, Level 4 = proficient, Level 5 = mastery. Most state expectations target Level 3 and up by PM3.

Will my 3rd grader be held back if they score Level 1?

Florida's good-cause exemptions exist, but a Level 1 on the 3rd-grade PM3 ELA can trigger a retention conversation. Score-based retention rules change — confirm with the school.

State tests · Florida

Florida FAST reading test: a parent's guide

FAST — the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking — is Florida's reading progress monitor. Three times a year (PM1, PM2, PM3) your child takes a short adaptive ELA test, and the results land as a score level 1–5. Here's what each level means, and what you can actually do at home.

What FAST measures

FAST reading covers phonological awareness, phonics and word analysis, vocabulary, and reading comprehension — the same Science of Reading pillars we anchor our coaching on. The test adapts: harder items if your child is doing well, easier items if not.

The five score levels, plainly

Levels are not grades. They describe where your child sits relative to the state expectation.

Level 1 (Inadequate): substantially below grade expectations
Level 2 (Below satisfactory): below, but progressing
Level 3 (Satisfactory): on grade level
Level 4 (Proficient): above grade level
Level 5 (Mastery): substantially above

When the scores matter most

PM3 (spring) carries the most weight. For 3rd grade in particular, a low PM3 in ELA can trigger Florida's reading-retention conversation. PM1 and PM2 are most useful as early warnings — time to adjust at home or ask the teacher for screening data.

What to do at home, by level

Match the work at home to where your child actually is.

Level 1–2: lean into phonics and fluency — short daily decodable reading + repeated reading.
Level 3: keep reading volume high, broaden vocabulary, add nonfiction read-alouds.
Level 4–5: push knowledge — topic stacks, chapter books one level up, talking about themes.

Try these this week

1
10-minute daily read
Short and consistent beats long and rare. Pick a series your child likes and read every day.
2
Repeated reading
Same 100-word passage Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Fluency grows visibly.
3
Talk back to the text
After 5 minutes of reading: 'What surprised you? What was confusing?'
4
Topic deep dives
Nonfiction stacks build the background knowledge FAST passages assume.

What to watch for

A drop between PM1 and PM2 — talk to the teacher about screening.
Reading aloud sounds good but answers to passage questions miss.
Avoidance behavior around reading — confidence usually moves before scores do.

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Common questions

What is FAST?: The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking — Florida's progress-monitoring system that replaced FSA. Reading is assessed three times a year (PM1 in fall, PM2 in winter, PM3 in spring) starting in K.
What do the score levels mean?: FAST scores reading into 5 levels. Level 1 = inadequate, Level 2 = below satisfactory, Level 3 = satisfactory, Level 4 = proficient, Level 5 = mastery. Most state expectations target Level 3 and up by PM3.
Will my 3rd grader be held back if they score Level 1?: Florida's good-cause exemptions exist, but a Level 1 on the 3rd-grade PM3 ELA can trigger a retention conversation. Score-based retention rules change — confirm with the school.

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