Florida FAST test for homeschoolers (2026-27): what you need to know

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Published November 7, 2025

Last updated September 17, 2026

At a glance: who takes FAST in 2026-27

The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is the statewide progress-monitoring system aligned to Florida's B.E.S.T. standards. Public-school kids sit it. Home education families often do not have to, even though search results talk as if everyone in Florida does.

Home education under s. 1002.41. You still owe an annual evaluation that shows progress commensurate with ability, but FAST is only one of five legal options. You can use a Florida-certified teacher portfolio review, a nationally normed test administered by a certified teacher, a state assessment administered under district conditions, an evaluation by a licensed psychologist, or another valid tool the superintendent agrees to. Full notice-of-intent and portfolio rules live on Florida homeschool requirements. This article does not replace that requirements page.

PEP / FTC scholarship families. Step Up’s PEP handbook requires an annual nationally norm-referenced test identified by FLDOE, or the statewide assessment. FAST can satisfy that scholarship rule even when home-education law would have let you skip it. Confirm the current SFO instruction in the PEP family handbook before you skip testing.

FLVS Full Time or district virtual. Those enrollments follow public assessment rules, including FAST windows and, in high school, certain end-of-course exams. If your teen is dual-enrolled only for a course, ask the receiving school which tests attach to that course.

What is the Florida FAST test, and why does it matter?

FAST replaced FSA. It covers ELA reading in grades K-10 and mathematics in grades K-8, with three progress-monitoring windows (PM1, PM2, PM3). Scores use a five-level scale. Level 3 and above is generally treated as satisfactory for grade level. Families who might return to public school, or who want a Florida-aligned snapshot, sometimes sit FAST even when the law does not require it.

Homeschool hours and evaluation timing are easier to plan when you also know how many hours to log by grade. FAST is a snapshot, not a daily hour log.

2026-27 FAST windows (statewide)

Districts pick days inside these FLDOE windows. The dates below are the amount of time districts have to schedule, not the length of the test itself. Official windows are on the 2026-27 statewide assessment schedule (PDF).

PM1: Grades K-2, August 3 through September 25, 2026. Grades 3-10 ELA and grades 3-8 math, August 10 through September 25, 2026.

PM2: Grades K-10 ELA and K-8 math, November 30, 2026 through January 22, 2027. That window sits at the school-year midpoint around the holidays, not at back-to-school.

PM3: Grades K-2, April 12 through May 28, 2027. Grades 3-10 ELA and 3-8 math, May 3 through May 28, 2027.

Grade 10 ELA retakes and Algebra 1 / Geometry EOCs run on separate calendars. If you only need a homeschool evaluation, you usually need one sitting, not all three PMs.

Do homeschoolers in Florida need to take the FAST test?

Often, no. Home education law lets you pick the evaluation method. Scholarship rules can be stricter. If you want FAST anyway, contact your district testing coordinator in the fall. Most districts need advance registration and a certified teacher to administer a state assessment under s. 1002.41(1)(f)3.

For how Florida scholarship funds work with classes, see how to use ESA funds to homeschool in Florida and the Florida Step Up guide.

Comparing FAST with Stanford 10 or Iowa is reasonable when you want a national percentile instead of a Florida progress-monitoring score. Pick the tool that matches the question you are trying to answer.

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What to log after the test

Whether you used FAST or another option, file the evaluation copy with the district superintendent as required, then keep your own set for two years with the portfolio.

Date, test name, and who administered it
Grade band tested and subjects (ELA, math, or both)
Score report or teacher evaluation letter
A short note of what you will change in the next term, if anything
Scholarship SFO upload confirmation, if you are on PEP

Comparing FAST with other homeschool assessments

Pick FAST when you want Florida-focused feedback or a familiar benchmark for a possible return to public school.

Pick a nationally normed test such as Stanford 10 when you want a national percentile and more scheduling flexibility.

College-bound teens sometimes add SAT, ACT, or CLT later. FAST is not a Bright Futures substitute by itself. See Florida graduation requirements for homeschool families for diploma and credit planning.

Preparing at home without turning the week into a drill camp

Blend sample questions into regular learning time. Use cooking for fractions. Ask for a short retell after read-aloud. Keep “skill checks” short so they feel like the rest of the week.

Frequently asked questions

What are the annual evaluation options for homeschoolers in Florida?

Section 1002.41 lists five: certified-teacher portfolio review, nationally normed achievement test, state student assessment, licensed psychologist, or another tool agreed with the superintendent.

Can homeschoolers take FAST if they want to?

Yes. Contact the district testing coordinator in the fall. Availability varies.

Do FAST scores decide homeschool graduation?

No. Parents issue the homeschool diploma. FAST does not award or deny it.

Are there testing exemptions?

Kids with documented disabilities may use a different evaluation. Work with the professionals who already know your kid rather than forcing a one-size sitting.