House Bill hb1773

    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                HB 1773

        By Representative Arza






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to requirements for high school

  3         graduation; amending s. 232.246, F.S.;

  4         authorizing participation in specified

  5         activities as a means to satisfy the physical

  6         education credit requirement; providing an

  7         effective date.

  8

  9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

10

11         Section 1.  Paragraph (j) of subsection (1) of section

12  232.246, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

13         232.246  General requirements for high school

14  graduation.--

15         (1)  Graduation requires successful completion of

16  either a minimum of 24 academic credits in grades 9 through 12

17  or an International Baccalaureate curriculum. The 24 credits

18  shall be distributed as follows:

19         (j)  One credit in physical education to include

20  assessment, improvement, and maintenance of personal fitness.

21  Participation in an interscholastic sport at the junior

22  varsity or varsity level, for two full seasons, or

23  participation for 1 school year in cheerleading, marching

24  band, auxiliary, flag corps, or dance team shall satisfy the

25  one-credit requirement in physical education if the student

26  passes a competency test on personal fitness with a score of

27  "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness must be

28  developed by the Department of Education. A school board may

29  not require that the one credit in physical education be taken

30  during the 9th grade year.

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                HB 1773

    742-126-02






  1  School boards may award a maximum of one-half credit in social

  2  studies and one-half elective credit for student completion of

  3  nonpaid voluntary community or school service work.  Students

  4  choosing this option must complete a minimum of 75 hours of

  5  service in order to earn the one-half credit in either

  6  category of instruction.  Credit may not be earned for service

  7  provided as a result of court action.  School boards that

  8  approve the award of credit for student volunteer service

  9  shall develop guidelines regarding the award of the credit,

10  and school principals are responsible for approving specific

11  volunteer activities. A course designated in the Course Code

12  Directory as grade 9 through grade 12 which is taken below the

13  9th grade may be used to satisfy high school graduation

14  requirements or Florida Academic Scholars award requirements

15  as specified in a district's pupil progression plan. A student

16  shall be granted credit toward meeting the requirements of

17  this subsection for equivalent courses, as identified pursuant

18  to s. 229.551(1)(f)6., taken through dual enrollment.

19         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

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22                          HOUSE SUMMARY

23
      With respect to credit requirements for high school
24    graduation, provides that a student may satisfy the
      physical education credit requirement by participation in
25    cheerleading, marching band, auxiliary, flag corps, or
      dance team.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.