CS/CS/HB 1293

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to high school graduation; amending s.
3	1003.428, F.S.; requiring that students be advised of the
4	availability of certain courses for purposes of high
5	school graduation; providing credit requirements for high
6	school graduation with a standard diploma beginning with
7	students entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year and
8	students entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year;
9	deleting provisions relating to general requirements for
10	high school graduation to conform to changes made by the
11	act; creating s. 1003.4282, F.S.; providing for
12	accommodations for students with disabilities for purposes
13	of high school graduation; creating s. 1003.4287, F.S.;
14	authorizing the award of a standard high school diploma to
15	certain honorably discharged veterans; amending s.
16	1003.429, F.S.; requiring that students be advised of the
17	availability of certain courses for purposes of an
18	accelerated high school graduation option; amending s.
19	1003.43, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to general
20	requirements for high school graduation to conform to
21	changes made by the act; amending s. 1007.263, F.S.;
22	conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.;
23	requiring passing scores on the grade 10 FCAT to meet
24	grade-level proficiency; conforming cross-references;
25	amending s. 1009.531, F.S.; conforming provisions;
26	providing an effective date.
27
28	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
29
30	Section 1.  Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection
31	(2), and subsections (5) through (11) of section 1003.428,
32	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
33	1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;
34	revised.--
35	(1)  Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to s.
36	1003.429, beginning with students entering their first year of
37	high school in the 2007-2008 school year, graduation requires
38	the successful completion of a minimum of 24 credits, an
39	International Baccalaureate curriculum, or an Advanced
40	International Certificate of Education curriculum. Students must
41	be advised of the Advanced Placement, International
42	Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate of Education,
43	career academy coursework that leads to national industry
44	certification, and dual enrollment courses available, as well as
45	the availability of course offerings through the Florida Virtual
46	School. Students must also be advised of eligibility
47	requirements for state scholarship programs and postsecondary
48	admissions.
49	(2)  The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
50	integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
51	Education and shall be distributed as follows:
52	(a)  Sixteen core curriculum credits:
53	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
54	composition, reading for information, and literature.
55	2.  Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
56	Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
57	higher-level mathematics course. Beginning with students
58	entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, one of the four
59	credits must be Algebra I or a series of courses equivalent to
60	Algebra I as approved by the State Board of Education, and one
61	credit must be geometry or a series of courses equivalent to
62	geometry as approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning
63	with students entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year, one
64	of the four credits must be Algebra I or a series of courses
65	equivalent to Algebra I as approved by the State Board of
66	Education, one credit must be geometry or a series of courses
67	equivalent to geometry as approved by the State Board of
68	Education, and one credit must be Algebra II or a series of
69	courses equivalent to Algebra II as approved by the State Board
70	of Education. School districts are encouraged to set specific
71	goals to increase enrollments in, and successful completion of,
72	geometry and Algebra II.
73	3.  Three credits in science, two of which must have a
74	laboratory component. Beginning with students entering grade 9
75	in the 2010-2011 school year, one of the three credits must be
76	Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to Biology I as
77	approved by the State Board of Education, one credit must be a
78	physical science or a series of courses equivalent to a physical
79	science as approved by the State Board of Education, and one
80	credit must be a higher-level science course. At least two of
81	the science courses must have a laboratory component. Beginning
82	with students entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year, one
83	of the three credits must be Biology I or a series of courses
84	equivalent to Biology I as approved by the State Board of
85	Education, one credit must be chemistry or physics or a series
86	of courses equivalent to chemistry or physics as approved by the
87	State Board of Education, and one credit must be a higher-level
88	science course. At least two of the science courses must have a
89	laboratory component.
90	4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
91	in American history; one credit in world history; one-half
92	credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government.
93	5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
94	debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
95	content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
96	imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
97	through the Course Code Directory.
98	6.  One credit in physical education to include integration
99	of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
100	junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
101	satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
102	student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
103	score of "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness
104	must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
105	school board may not require that the one credit in physical
106	education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
107	semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class,
108	in a physical activity class that requires participation in
109	marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
110	dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
111	or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
112	used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
113	requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
114	education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
115	Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
116	component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
117	requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
118	in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
119	personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
120	physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
121	504 plan.
122	(5)  The State Board of Education, after a public hearing
123	and consideration, shall adopt rules based upon the
124	recommendations of the commissioner for the provision of test
125	accommodations and modifications of procedures as necessary for
126	students with disabilities which will demonstrate the student's
127	abilities rather than reflect the student's impaired sensory,
128	manual, speaking, or psychological process skills.
129	(6)  The public hearing and consideration required in
130	subsection (5) shall not be construed to amend or nullify the
131	requirements of security relating to the contents of
132	examinations or assessment instruments and related materials or
133	data as prescribed in s. 1008.23.
134	(5)(7)(a)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed
135	in subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) shall be awarded a
136	standard diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of
137	Education.
138	(b)  A student who completes the minimum number of credits
139	and other requirements prescribed by subsections (1), (2), and
140	(3), but who is unable to meet the standards of paragraph
141	(4)(b), paragraph (4)(c), or paragraph (4)(d), shall be awarded
142	a certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the State
143	Board of Education. However, any student who is otherwise
144	entitled to a certificate of completion may elect to remain in
145	the secondary school either as a full-time student or a part-
146	time student for up to 1 additional year and receive special
147	instruction designed to remedy his or her identified
148	deficiencies.
149	(8)(a)  Each district school board must provide instruction
150	to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate proficiency
151	in the core content knowledge and skills necessary for
152	successful grade-to-grade progression and high school
153	graduation.
154	(b)  A student with a disability, as defined in s.
155	1007.02(2), for whom the individual education plan (IEP)
156	committee determines that the FCAT cannot accurately measure the
157	student's abilities taking into consideration all allowable
158	accommodations, shall have the FCAT requirement of paragraph
159	(4)(b) waived for the purpose of receiving a standard high
160	school diploma, if the student:
161	1.  Completes the minimum number of credits and other
162	requirements prescribed by subsections (1), (2), and (3).
163	2.  Does not meet the requirements of paragraph (4)(b)
164	after one opportunity in 10th grade and one opportunity in 11th
165	grade.
166	(9)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
167	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
168	high school between 1937 and 1946 and were scheduled to graduate
169	between 1941 and 1950 but were inducted into the United States
170	Armed Forces between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946,
171	prior to completing the necessary high school graduation
172	requirements. Upon the recommendation of the commissioner, the
173	State Board of Education may develop criteria and guidelines for
174	awarding such diplomas.
175	(10)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
176	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
177	high school between 1946 and 1950 and were scheduled to graduate
178	between 1950 and 1954, but were inducted into the United States
179	Armed Forces between June 27, 1950, and January 31, 1955, and
180	served during the Korean Conflict prior to completing the
181	necessary high school graduation requirements. Upon the
182	recommendation of the commissioner, the State Board of Education
183	may develop criteria and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
184	(6)(11)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules
185	pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
186	provisions of this section and may enforce the provisions of
187	this section pursuant to s. 1008.32.
188	Section 2.  Section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is created
189	to read:
190	1003.4282  Accommodations for students with disabilities;
191	graduation requirements.--For purposes of high school
192	graduation:
193	(1)  The State Board of Education, after a public hearing
194	and consideration, shall adopt rules based upon the
195	recommendations of the Commissioner of Education for the
196	provision of test accommodations as necessary for students with
197	disabilities which will demonstrate the student's abilities
198	rather than reflect the student's impaired sensory, manual,
199	speaking, or psychological process skills.
200	(2)  The public hearing and consideration required in
201	subsection (1) shall not be construed to amend or nullify the
202	requirements of security relating to the contents of
203	examinations or assessment instruments and related materials or
204	data as prescribed in s. 1008.23.
205	(3)(a)  Each district school board must provide instruction
206	to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate proficiency
207	in the core content knowledge and skills necessary for
208	successful grade-to-grade progression and high school
209	graduation.
210	(b)  A student with a disability, as defined in s.
211	1007.02(2), for whom the individual education plan committee
212	determines that the FCAT cannot accurately measure the student's
213	abilities taking into consideration all allowable
214	accommodations, shall have the FCAT requirement of s.
215	1003.428(4)(b) or s. 1003.43(5)(a) waived for the purpose of
216	receiving a high school diploma, if the student:
217	1.  Completes the minimum number of credits and other
218	requirements prescribed in s. 1003.428(1)-(3) or s. 1003.43(1)
219	and (4).
220	2.  Does not meet the FCAT requirements of s.
221	1003.428(4)(b) or s. 1003.43(5)(a) after one opportunity in
222	grade 10 and one opportunity in grade 11.
223	Section 3.  Section 1003.4287, Florida Statutes, is created
224	to read:
225	1003.4287  Recognition of veterans; high school diploma.--
226	(1)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
227	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
228	high school between 1937 and 1946 and were scheduled to graduate
229	between 1941 and 1950 but were inducted into the United States
230	Armed Forces between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946,
231	prior to completing the necessary high school graduation
232	requirements. Upon the recommendation of the commissioner, the
233	State Board of Education may develop criteria and guidelines for
234	awarding such diplomas.
235	(2)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
236	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
237	high school between 1946 and 1950 and were scheduled to graduate
238	between 1949 and 1955 but were inducted into the United States
239	Armed Forces between June 1949 and January 1955 and served
240	during the Korean War prior to completing the necessary high
241	school graduation requirements. Upon the recommendation of the
242	commissioner, the State Board of Education may develop criteria
243	and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
244	Section 4.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
245	1003.429, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
246	1003.429  Accelerated high school graduation options.--
247	(1)  Students who enter grade 9 in the 2006-2007 school
248	year and thereafter may select, upon receipt of each consent
249	required by this section, one of the following three high school
250	graduation options:
251	(b)  Completion of a 3-year standard college preparatory
252	program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18
253	academic credits in grades 9 through 12. At least 6 of the 18
254	credits required for completion of this program must be received
255	in classes that are offered pursuant to the International
256	Baccalaureate Program, the Advanced Placement Program, dual
257	enrollment, or the Advanced International Certificate of
258	Education Program, or specifically listed or identified by the
259	Department of Education as rigorous pursuant to s. 1009.531(3).
260	Students must be advised of the Advanced Placement,
261	International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate
262	of Education, career academy coursework that leads to national
263	industry certification, and dual enrollment courses available,
264	as well as the availability of course offerings through the
265	Florida Virtual School. The 18 credits required for completion
266	of this program shall be primary requirements and shall be
267	distributed as follows:
268	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
269	composition and literature;
270	2.  Three credits in mathematics at the Algebra I level or
271	higher from the list of courses that qualify for state
272	university admission;
273	3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must
274	have a laboratory component;
275	4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must include
276	one credit in American history, one credit in world history,
277	one-half credit in American government, and one-half credit in
278	economics;
279	5.  Two credits in the same second language unless the
280	student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate
281	competency in a language other than English. If the student
282	demonstrates competency in another language, the student may
283	replace the language requirement with two credits in other
284	academic courses; and
285	6.  Three credits in electives; or
286
287	Any student who selected an accelerated graduation program
288	before July 1, 2004, may continue that program, and all
289	statutory program requirements that were applicable when the
290	student made the program choice shall remain applicable to the
291	student as long as the student continues that program.
292	Section 5.  Subsections (8) through (13) of section
293	1003.43, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
294	1003.43  General requirements for high school graduation.--
295	(8)  The State Board of Education, after a public hearing
296	and consideration, shall adopt rules based upon the
297	recommendations of the commissioner for the provision of test
298	accommodations and modifications of procedures as necessary for
299	students with disabilities which will demonstrate the student's
300	abilities rather than reflect the student's impaired sensory,
301	manual, speaking, or psychological process skills.
302	(9)  The public hearing and consideration required in
303	subsection (8) shall not be construed to amend or nullify the
304	requirements of security relating to the contents of
305	examinations or assessment instruments and related materials or
306	data as prescribed in s. 1008.23.
307	(8)(10)(a)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed
308	in subsections (1), (4), and (5) shall be awarded a standard
309	diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education. A
310	district school board may attach the Florida gold seal career
311	endorsement to a standard diploma or, instead of the standard
312	diploma, award differentiated diplomas to those exceeding the
313	prescribed minimums.
314	(b)  A student who completes the minimum number of credits
315	and other requirements prescribed by subsections (1) and (4),
316	but who is unable to meet the standards of paragraph (5)(a),
317	paragraph (5)(b), or paragraph (5)(c), shall be awarded a
318	certificate of completion in a form prescribed by the State
319	Board of Education. However, any student who is otherwise
320	entitled to a certificate of completion may elect to remain in
321	the secondary school either as a full-time student or a part-
322	time student for up to 1 additional year and receive special
323	instruction designed to remedy his or her identified
324	deficiencies.
325	(11)(a)  Each district school board must provide
326	instruction to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate
327	proficiency in the core content knowledge and skills necessary
328	for successful grade-to-grade progression and high school
329	graduation.
330	(b)  A student with a disability, as defined in s.
331	1007.02(2), for whom the individual educational plan (IEP)
332	committee determines that the FCAT cannot accurately measure the
333	student's abilities taking into consideration all allowable
334	accommodations, shall have the FCAT requirement of paragraph
335	(5)(a) waived for the purpose of receiving a standard high
336	school diploma, if the student:
337	1.  Completes the minimum number of credits and other
338	requirements prescribed by subsections (1) and (4).
339	2.  Does not meet the requirements of paragraph (5)(a)
340	after one opportunity in 10th grade and one opportunity in 11th
341	grade.
342	(12)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
343	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
344	high school between 1937 and 1946 and were scheduled to graduate
345	between 1941 and 1950 but were inducted into the United States
346	Armed Forces between September 16, 1940, and December 31, 1946,
347	prior to completing the necessary high school graduation
348	requirements. Upon the recommendation of the commissioner, the
349	State Board of Education may develop criteria and guidelines for
350	awarding such diplomas.
351	(13)  The Commissioner of Education may award a standard
352	high school diploma to honorably discharged veterans who started
353	high school between 1946 and 1950 and were scheduled to graduate
354	between 1949 and 1955, but were inducted into the United States
355	Armed Forces between June 1949 and January 1955, and served
356	during the Korean War prior to completing the necessary high
357	school graduation requirements. Upon the recommendation of the
358	commissioner, the State Board of Education may develop criteria
359	and guidelines for awarding such diplomas.
360	Section 6.  Subsection (4) of section 1007.263, Florida
361	Statutes, is amended to read:
362	1007.263  Community colleges; admissions of students.--Each
363	community college board of trustees is authorized to adopt rules
364	governing admissions of students subject to this section and
365	rules of the State Board of Education. These rules shall include
366	the following:
367	(4)  A student who has been awarded a special diploma as
368	defined in s. 1003.438 or a certificate of completion as defined
369	in s. 1003.43(8)(10) is eligible to enroll in certificate career
370	education programs.
371
372	Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify
373	students about, and place students into, adult basic education,
374	adult secondary education, or other instructional programs that
375	provide students with alternatives to traditional college-
376	preparatory instruction, including private provider instruction.
377	A student is prohibited from enrolling in additional college-
378	level courses until the student scores above the cut-score on
379	all sections of the common placement test.
380	Section 7.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
381	1008.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
382	1008.22  Student assessment program for public schools.--
383	(3)  STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner shall
384	design and implement a statewide program of educational
385	assessment that provides information for the improvement of the
386	operation and management of the public schools, including
387	schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
388	services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
389	The commissioner may enter into contracts for the continued
390	administration of the assessment, testing, and evaluation
391	programs authorized and funded by the Legislature. Contracts may
392	be initiated in 1 fiscal year and continue into the next and may
393	be paid from the appropriations of either or both fiscal years.
394	The commissioner is authorized to negotiate for the sale or
395	lease of tests, scoring protocols, test scoring services, and
396	related materials developed pursuant to law. Pursuant to the
397	statewide assessment program, the commissioner shall:
398	(c)  Develop and implement a student achievement testing
399	program known as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
400	(FCAT) as part of the statewide assessment program to measure a
401	student's content knowledge and skills in reading, writing,
402	science, and mathematics. Other content areas may be included as
403	directed by the commissioner. Comprehensive assessments of
404	reading and mathematics shall be administered annually in grades
405	3 through 10. Comprehensive assessments of writing and science
406	shall be administered at least once at the elementary, middle,
407	and high school levels. End-of-course assessments for a subject
408	may be administered in addition to the comprehensive assessments
409	required for that subject under this paragraph. An end-of-course
410	assessment must be rigorous, statewide, standardized, and
411	developed or approved by the department. The content knowledge
412	and skills assessed by comprehensive and end-of-course
413	assessments must be aligned to the core curricular content
414	established in the Sunshine State Standards. The commissioner
415	may select one or more nationally developed comprehensive
416	examinations, which may include, but need not be limited to,
417	examinations for a College Board Advanced Placement course,
418	International Baccalaureate course, or Advanced International
419	Certificate of Education course or industry-approved
420	examinations to earn national industry certifications as defined
421	in s. 1003.492, for use as end-of-course assessments under this
422	paragraph, if the commissioner determines that the content
423	knowledge and skills assessed by the examinations meet or exceed
424	the grade level expectations for the core curricular content
425	established for the course in the Next Generation Sunshine State
426	Standards. The commissioner may collaborate with the American
427	Diploma Project in the adoption or development of rigorous end-
428	of-course assessments that are aligned to the Next Generation
429	Sunshine State Standards. The testing program must be designed
430	as follows:
431	1.  The tests shall measure student skills and competencies
432	adopted by the State Board of Education as specified in
433	paragraph (a). The tests must measure and report student
434	proficiency levels of all students assessed in reading, writing,
435	mathematics, and science. The commissioner shall provide for the
436	tests to be developed or obtained, as appropriate, through
437	contracts and project agreements with private vendors, public
438	vendors, public agencies, postsecondary educational
439	institutions, or school districts. The commissioner shall obtain
440	input with respect to the design and implementation of the
441	testing program from state educators, assistive technology
442	experts, and the public.
443	2.  The testing program shall be composed of criterion-
444	referenced tests that shall, to the extent determined by the
445	commissioner, include test items that require the student to
446	produce information or perform tasks in such a way that the core
447	content knowledge and skills he or she uses can be measured.
448	3.  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the
449	commissioner shall discontinue administration of the selected-
450	response test items on the comprehensive assessments of writing.
451	Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, the comprehensive
452	assessments of writing shall be composed of a combination of
453	selected-response test items, short-response performance tasks,
454	and extended-response performance tasks, which shall measure a
455	student's content knowledge of writing, including, but not
456	limited to, paragraph and sentence structure, sentence
457	construction, grammar and usage, punctuation, capitalization,
458	spelling, parts of speech, verb tense, irregular verbs, subject-
459	verb agreement, and noun-pronoun agreement.
460	4.  A score shall be designated for each subject area
461	tested, below which score a student's performance is deemed
462	inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate
463	remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.
464	5.  Except as provided in s. 1003.4282 1003.428(8)(b) or s.
465	1003.43(11)(b), students must earn a passing score on the grade
466	10 assessment test described in this paragraph or attain
467	concordant scores as described in subsection (10) in reading,
468	writing, and mathematics to qualify for a standard high school
469	diploma. The State Board of Education shall designate a passing
470	score for each part of the grade 10 assessment test. In
471	establishing passing scores, the state board shall consider any
472	possible negative impact of the test on minority students. The
473	State Board of Education shall adopt rules which specify the
474	passing scores for the grade 10 FCAT. Beginning in the 2011-2012
475	school year, such passing scores must at a minimum meet grade-
476	level proficiency. Any such rules, which have the effect of
477	raising the required passing scores, shall apply only to
478	students taking the grade 10 FCAT for the first time after such
479	rules are adopted by the State Board of Education.
480	6.  Participation in the testing program is mandatory for
481	all students attending public school, including students served
482	in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise
483	prescribed by the commissioner. If a student does not
484	participate in the statewide assessment, the district must
485	notify the student's parent and provide the parent with
486	information regarding the implications of such nonparticipation.
487	A parent must provide signed consent for a student to receive
488	classroom instructional accommodations that would not be
489	available or permitted on the statewide assessments and must
490	acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the
491	implications of such instructional accommodations. The State
492	Board of Education shall adopt rules, based upon recommendations
493	of the commissioner, for the provision of test accommodations
494	for students in exceptional education programs and for students
495	who have limited English proficiency. Accommodations that negate
496	the validity of a statewide assessment are not allowable in the
497	administration of the FCAT. However, instructional
498	accommodations are allowable in the classroom if included in a
499	student's individual education plan. Students using
500	instructional accommodations in the classroom that are not
501	allowable as accommodations on the FCAT may have the FCAT
502	requirement waived pursuant to the requirements of s. 1003.4282
503	1003.428(8)(b) or s. 1003.43(11)(b).
504	7.  A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
505	meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
506	student must meet.
507	8.  District school boards must provide instruction to
508	prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the core
509	curricular content established in the Next Generation Sunshine
510	State Standards adopted under s. 1003.41, including the core
511	content knowledge and skills necessary for successful grade-to-
512	grade progression and high school graduation. If a student is
513	provided with instructional accommodations in the classroom that
514	are not allowable as accommodations in the statewide assessment
515	program, as described in the test manuals, the district must
516	inform the parent in writing and must provide the parent with
517	information regarding the impact on the student's ability to
518	meet expected proficiency levels in reading, writing, and
519	mathematics. The commissioner shall conduct studies as necessary
520	to verify that the required core curricular content is part of
521	the district instructional programs.
522	9.  District school boards must provide opportunities for
523	students to demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on an
524	alternative standardized assessment approved by the State Board
525	of Education following enrollment in summer academies.
526	10.  The Department of Education must develop, or select,
527	and implement a common battery of assessment tools that will be
528	used in all juvenile justice programs in the state. These tools
529	must accurately measure the core curricular content established
530	in the Sunshine State Standards.
531	11.  For students seeking a special diploma pursuant to s.
532	1003.438, the Department of Education must develop or select and
533	implement an alternate assessment tool that accurately measures
534	the core curricular content established in the Sunshine State
535	Standards for students with disabilities under s. 1003.438.
536	12.  The Commissioner of Education shall establish
537	schedules for the administration of statewide assessments and
538	the reporting of student test results. The commissioner shall,
539	by August 1 of each year, notify each school district in writing
540	and publish on the department's Internet website the testing and
541	reporting schedules for, at a minimum, the school year following
542	the upcoming school year. The testing and reporting schedules
543	shall require that:
544	a.  There is the latest possible administration of
545	statewide assessments and the earliest possible reporting to the
546	school districts of student test results which is feasible
547	within available technology and specific appropriations;
548	however, test results must be made available no later than the
549	final day of the regular school year for students.
550	b.  Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a
551	comprehensive statewide assessment of writing is not
552	administered earlier than the week of March 1 and a
553	comprehensive statewide assessment of any other subject is not
554	administered earlier than the week of April 15.
555	c.  A statewide standardized end-of-course assessment is
556	administered within the last 2 weeks of the course.
557
558	The commissioner may, based on collaboration and input from
559	school districts, design and implement student testing programs,
560	for any grade level and subject area, necessary to effectively
561	monitor educational achievement in the state, including the
562	measurement of educational achievement of the Sunshine State
563	Standards for students with disabilities. Development and
564	refinement of assessments shall include universal design
565	principles and accessibility standards that will prevent any
566	unintended obstacles for students with disabilities while
567	ensuring the validity and reliability of the test. These
568	principles should be applicable to all technology platforms and
569	assistive devices available for the assessments. The field
570	testing process and psychometric analyses for the statewide
571	assessment program must include an appropriate percentage of
572	students with disabilities and an evaluation or determination of
573	the effect of test items on such students.
574	Section 8.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
575	1009.531, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
576	1009.531  Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
577	student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--
578	(1)  Effective January 1, 2008, in order to be eligible for
579	an initial award from any of the three types of scholarships
580	under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student
581	must:
582	(b)  Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
583	equivalent as described in s. 1003.428, s. 1003.429, s. 1003.43,
584	or s. 1003.435 unless:
585	1.  The student completes a home education program
586	according to s. 1002.41; or
587	2.  The student earns a high school diploma from a non-
588	Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on
589	military or public service assignment away from Florida.
590	Section 9.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.
591

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