Florida B.E.S.T. Standards Overview

Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards are the state’s academic benchmarks for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, designed to ensure students are prepared for success in college, career, and life. These standards were developed by Florida educators and adopted in 2020 to replace the previous Common Core-based standards.

Why It Matters

The B.E.S.T. Standards aim to raise academic expectations and provide all Florida students with equitable access to high-quality education. They guide curriculum development, instructional strategies, and assessments across the state.

Key Features of the B.E.S.T. Standards

• Back-to-Basics Approach| Emphasizes foundational skills in reading, writing, and math, especially in early grades 
• Clarity and Simplicity| Written in clear, concise language to be easily understood by teachers, parents, and students 
• Content-Rich Instruction| Focuses on deep understanding and real-world application of knowledge 
• Progression and Alignment| Ensures logical development of skills from one grade level to the next 
• Mathematical Thinking and Reasoning (MTR)| Encourages students to engage in problem-solving, use multiple strategies, and apply math in real-life contexts 

English Language Arts (ELA) Highlights

• Systematic phonics instruction as the foundation of literacy.
• Emphasis on reading comprehension through content knowledge.
• Integration of reading and writing standards with curated text lists.
• Introduction of rhetoric and reasoning skills starting in middle school 

Mathematics Highlights

• Focus on conceptual understanding and procedural fluency.
• Real-world applications and financial literacy are embedded throughout.
• Standards are organized by strands such as Number Sense, Algebraic Reasoning, and Geometry 
• Mathematical Thinking and Reasoning standards promote active learning, collaboration, and critical thinking 

Link to Cpalms, which is the State of Florida’s offical soure for standards information and course descriptions. Through this link, after clikcing, “Grades PreK to 12 Education Courses,” you can choose the course name, the grade level, and see the individual standards that are taught: Cpalms.org FL Standards Website  

Grading Scale (2nd-5th)

Sources of grades should be indicated as grades are entered in Skyward:
A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=59 or below

Grading Scale (K-1)
Sources of grades should be indicated as grades are entered in Skyward:
S=80-100 (Satisfactory)
W=70-79 (Working)
N=60-69 (Needs Improvement)
U=0-59 (Unsatisfactory)

A student must be enrolled in our school for half of the total days in a grading period plus one more day for the student to receive grades on a report card. For example, if a nine week period has 44 days a student would need to be present for 23 days to receive a report card. 

Skyward Parent Access Login Information:

Skyward is the system where teachers post student's grades, we track attendance etc. and below is a link that will support you with Skyward access. Please follow the "user instructions" link for directions to create your account.   You will need to register with the cell phone number or email address that is on file with the school. If you have multiple children at different schools, the information in Skyward must all match. After this you can access your portal with the "OCPS Skyward Parent Portal" link. Skyward Resources

You will then access OCPS Skyward Parent Portal to log in. If you still have any questions or difficulty logging in, please contact the school at 407-656-0809.