Florida Senate - 2011 SB 1614
By Senator Alexander
17-01496-11 20111614__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to high school graduation
3 requirements; amending s. 1003.428, F.S.; revising
4 provisions relating to the general requirements for
5 high school graduation to include a Career Academy
6 curriculum and an Honors ROTC curriculum; providing an
7 effective date.
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
12 (2) of section 1003.428, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
13 1003.428 General requirements for high school graduation;
14 revised.—
15 (1) Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to s. 1003.429,
16 beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2007-2008 school
17 year, graduation requires the successful completion of a minimum
18 of 24 credits, an International Baccalaureate curriculum, or an
19 Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum, a
20 Career Academy curriculum, or an Honors ROTC curriculum.
21 Students must be advised of eligibility requirements for state
22 scholarship programs and postsecondary admissions.
23 (2) The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
24 integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
25 Education. The 24 credits shall be distributed as follows:
26 (a) Sixteen core curriculum credits:
27 1. Four credits in English, with major concentration in
28 composition, reading for information, and literature.
29 2. Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
30 Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
31 higher-level mathematics course. Beginning with students
32 entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, in addition to
33 the Algebra I credit requirement, one of the four credits in
34 mathematics must be geometry, or a series of courses equivalent
35 to geometry, or a rigorous course consistent with the intent of
36 the student’s career program in which he or she is enrolled as
37 approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning with
38 students entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, the end
39 of-course assessment requirements under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I)
40 must be met in order for a student to earn the required credit
41 in Algebra I. Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the
42 2011-2012 school year, the end-of-course assessment requirements
43 under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I) must be met in order for a student
44 to earn the required credit in geometry. Beginning with students
45 entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year, in addition to
46 the Algebra I and geometry credit requirements, one of the four
47 credits in mathematics must be Algebra II or a series of courses
48 equivalent to Algebra II as approved by the State Board of
49 Education.
50 3. Three credits in science, two of which must have a
51 laboratory component. Beginning with students entering grade 9
52 in the 2011-2012 school year, one of the three credits in
53 science must be Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to
54 Biology I as approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning
55 with students entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year, the
56 end-of-course assessment requirements under s.
57 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(II) must be met in order for a student to earn
58 the required credit in Biology I. Beginning with students
59 entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year, one of the three
60 credits must be Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to
61 Biology I as approved by the State Board of Education, one
62 credit must be chemistry or physics, or a series of courses
63 equivalent to chemistry or physics, or a rigorous course
64 consistent with the intent of the student’s career program in
65 which he or she is enrolled as approved by the State Board of
66 Education, and one credit must be an equally rigorous course, as
67 determined by the State Board of Education.
68 4. Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
69 in United States history; one credit in world history; one-half
70 credit in economics; and one-half credit in United States
71 government.
72 5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
73 debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
74 content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
75 imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
76 through the Course Code Directory.
77 6. One credit in physical education to include integration
78 of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
79 junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
80 satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
81 student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
82 score of “C” or better. The competency test on personal fitness
83 must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
84 school board may not require that the one credit in physical
85 education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
86 semester with a grade of “C” or better in a marching band class,
87 in a physical activity class that requires participation in
88 marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
89 dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
90 or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
91 used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
92 requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
93 education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
94 Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
95 component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
96 requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
97 in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
98 personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
99 physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
100 504 plan.
101 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.