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If you are a Florida parent or educator, the Florida BEST Standards and Florida FAST Test are likely on your radar. But what exactly are these standards, and how do they shape your student’s education from kindergarten to high school?
At gatorFAST, we’re here to break down the Florida BEST Standards for English Language Arts (ELA), including their unique structure, and show you how to support your student’s success.
With our Spring Sale happening now, it’s the perfect time to dive in.
What are Florida BEST Standards for ELA?
Launched in 2020, the B.E.S.T. Standards (Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking) are Florida’s K-12 academic framework, replacing the Common Core.
For ELA, they define what students should master in reading, writing, speaking, and listening at each grade level.
According to Florida’s official ELA standards document, the B.E.S.T. Standards aim to “develop critical thinkers and effective communicators prepared for college, careers, and civic life” (Florida B.E.S.T. ELA Standards).
The standards emphasize critical thinking, clear communication, and engagement with classic literature and civic-focused texts, ensuring students build skills for academic and real-world success.
Structure and Organization of the Florida BEST Standards
The B.E.S.T. Standards for ELA are organized into 4 key strands, each with specific benchmarks that outline mastery goals by grade level, creating a clear progression of skills:
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Foundations: Focuses on phonics, word analysis, fluency, and foundational reading skills. In early grades (K-2), this includes learning letter sounds and decoding words. For secondary students, it offers interventions to address reading gaps.
| Strand | Standard | Benchmark | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations (F) | Learning and Applying Foundational Reading Skills | Print Concepts | F.1.1 |
| Phonological Awareness | F.1.2 | ||
| Phonics and Word Analysis | F.1.3 | ||
| Fluency | F.1.4 | ||
| Applying Foundational Reading Skills for Secondary Students Needing Reading Interventions | Phonological Awareness | F.2.1 | |
| Phonics | F.2.2 | ||
| Encoding | F.2.3 | ||
| Fluency | F.2.4 |
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Reading: Divided into reading prose and poetry, informational text, and across genres. It emphasizes text complexity, comprehension, and analysis, like identifying themes in a novel or evaluating arguments in an article.
| Strand | Standard | Benchmark | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading (R) | Reading Prose and Poetry | Literary Elements | R.1.1 |
| Theme | R.1.2 | ||
| Perspective and Point of View | R.1.3 | ||
| Poetry | R.1.4 | ||
| Reading Informational Text | Structure | R.2.1 | |
| Central Idea | R.2.2 | ||
| Purpose and Perspective | R.2.3 | ||
| Argument | R.2.4 | ||
| Reading Across Genres | Interpreting Figurative Language | R.3.1 | |
| Paraphrasing and Summarizing | R.3.2 | ||
| Comparative Reading | R.3.3 | ||
| Understanding Rhetoric | R.3.4 |
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Communication: Covers writing (narrative, argumentative, expository), oral communication, conventions (grammar and punctuation), research, and collaboration. Students learn to write essays, deliver presentations, and work in teams.
| Strand | Standard | Benchmark | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication (C) | Communicating Through Writing | Handwriting | C.1.1 |
| Narrative Writing | C.1.2 | ||
| Argumentative Writing | C.1.3 | ||
| Expository Writing | C.1.4 | ||
| Improving Writing | C.1.5 | ||
| Communicating Orally | Oral Presentation | C.2.1 | |
| Following Conventions | Conventions | C.3.1 | |
| Researching | Researching and Using Information | C.4.1 | |
| Creating and Collaborating | Multimedia | C.5.1 | |
| Technology in Communication | C.5.2 |
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Vocabulary: Concentrates on academic vocabulary, morphology (word parts like prefixes), and understanding context and connotation. This helps students decipher new words and use them effectively.
| Strand | Standard | Benchmark | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary (V) | Finding Meaning | Academic Vocabulary | V.1.1 |
| Morphology | V.1.2 | ||
| Context and Connotation | V.1.3 |
Each strand ensures students develop interconnected literacy skills, from decoding words in kindergarten to crafting research papers in 12th grade (Florida B.E.S.T. ELA Standards).
Florida BEST Standards Coding Scheme
Following representation shows the coding scheme for Florida’s B.E.S.T Standards
How Do Florida BEST Standards Connect to the FAST Test?
The Florida FAST Test (Florida Assessment of Student Thinking) assesses students in grades K-10 three times a year to monitor progress in ELA and Math.
It’s fully aligned with the B.E.S.T. Standards, testing skills across the four strands:
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Foundations: Early grades focus on reading fluency and phonics (e.g., decoding multisyllabic words).
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Reading: Students analyze fiction, nonfiction, and informational texts, like comparing poems or summarizing articles.
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Communication: Tasks include writing short responses or essays and answering questions logically.
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Vocabulary: Questions test context clues and word meanings.
For example, a 3rd-grader might read a story and identify its main idea (Reading, ELA.3.R.2.2), while a 9th-grader could write an argumentative paragraph (Communication, ELA.9.C.1.3).
The FAST Test’s adaptive format adjusts question difficulty, reflecting each student’s mastery of B.E.S.T. benchmarks. Excelling in these strands prepares students for the test and lifelong literacy.
Why Do Florida BEST Standards Matter?
The B.E.S.T. Standards are more than a test prep tool—they equip students for success in school and beyond. By integrating the four strands, they foster:
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Academic Growth: Strong reading and writing skills support all subjects.
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Career Skills: Clear communication and critical thinking are vital for most professions.
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Civic Engagement: Analyzing texts about history and government prepares informed citizens.
For parents, the strands provide a clear guide to support learning. For educators, they align instruction with FAST Test goals and long-term outcomes.
How to Support the BEST Strands at Home?
You can help your student excel in the B.E.S.T. Standards with simple, strand-focused strategies:
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Foundations (K-2 or Struggling Readers)
Practice phonics with games like rhyming or letter hunts. For older students, use reading apps to build fluency. -
Reading (All Grades)
Read diverse texts together, from poems to news articles. Ask, “What’s the author’s purpose?” to build skills like ELA.7.R.3.2. Discuss books to spark a love for reading. -
Communication (All Grades)
Encourage writing, like journals for young kids or essays for teens. Practice presentations at home to boost oral skills (ELA.10.C.2.1). Offer feedback on clarity. -
Vocabulary (All Grades)
Play word games or explore prefixes and suffixes. When reading, guess word meanings from context (ELA.5.V.1.1). Build academic vocabulary for older students. -
Use B.E.S.T.-Aligned Tools
gatorFAST’s platform offers practice questions tailored to all four strands. -
Build Confidence
Celebrate progress in any strand to reduce test anxiety. Use positive reinforcement: “Your writing is so clear!” Try deep breathing before practice sessions.
Why Choose gatorFAST for BEST Success?
gatorFAST is your partner in mastering the B.E.S.T. Standards and FAST Test. Unlike other platforms, gatorFAST is dedicated only for Florida FAST Test Prep.
Here’s why families choose us:
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Strand-Aligned Content: Our practice covers Foundations, Reading, Communication, and Vocabulary
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Engaging Platform: Challenges keep students motivated across all grades.
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Parent Support: Track progress.
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Proven Results: Thousands of students have improved skills and confidence with gatorFAST.
Read our article Top 5 Reasons to Choose gatorFAST
Our Spring Sale offers exclusive discounts, making it easy to start today! Checkout gatorFAST All Courses
The First Step Towards BEST Success
Florida BEST Standards for ELA, with their four strands, empower students to read critically, communicate effectively, and engage with the world.
By understanding these standards and supporting your student’s growth, you’re preparing them for the FAST Test and a lifetime of opportunities. gatorFAST is here to make that journey seamless.
Visit gatorfast.com to explore our B.E.S.T. aligned courses and save big with our Spring Sale.
Questions? Leave a comment or contact us. Let’s help your student shine in 2025!