(This question was asked in our July 24, 2023 Livestream. You can hear Brenda's full answer at timestamp 30:38 on that video. A condensed version of her answer is below for easy reference.)
Yes. You will have to submit a standardized test each year, starting at the end of 2023-2024 year, in order to renew the scholarship.
The composite test scores will not be made public for PEP students until the end of the 2027-2028 year. (This is likely where the confusion about the 2027-2028 timeframe comes from.)
This does not mean that you will not need to TAKE a test until then, just that the composite scores will not be made public until then.
So what are composite scores? Does this mean they're making my individual student's score public?!
No.
Composite scores mean the test scores are submitted to the SFOs, which tells them you want to renew or are eligible to renew. The SFOs submit those scores to a certain university--right now it's FSU--and that university puts all those scores into some kind of system that generates a composite score that shows the overall scores and results for the program. Your student's score information will never be known publicly. The state universities may not even get student's names. The composite score is not tracking the individual student's scores or progress--it is for tracking the program.
For more information about the standardized tests required for PEP, see our updated FAQ, "How do the standardized tests for PEP work?"
Can I piggyback on this? I have a kindergartner... I am curious what testing will look like for a child that may not be able to read well yet. The site shows it will be conducted at a school or administration building (cannot be done remotely or at home) so I am wondering how she is supposed to do a test in that environment.