HB 881

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to postsecondary education; amending s.
3	1004.04, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to the
4	College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST); amending s.
5	1004.68, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to the use of
6	test scores for assessment of college-level communication
7	and computation skills; amending s. 1007.01, F.S.;
8	providing legislative intent and requirements relating to
9	articulation; requiring the establishment of the
10	Articulating Coordinating Committee and providing its
11	responsibilities; amending s. 1007.25, F.S.; deleting
12	provisions relating to the CLAST and authorized
13	examinations that demonstrate mastery of certain academic
14	competencies; revising degree requirements; amending ss.
15	1007.264 and 1007.265, F.S.; deleting provisions that
16	exclude students with intellectual disabilities from
17	eligibility for substitute requirements for admission to
18	or graduation from a public postsecondary educational
19	institution; amending s. 1008.30, F.S.; revising
20	requirements of the common placement testing program;
21	requiring access to approved remedial instruction;
22	requiring rules for remediation opportunities, retesting,
23	and academic competencies; requiring that students be
24	advised of academic requirements, financial aid
25	eligibility, and certain costs; amending s. 1008.345,
26	F.S.; deleting Department of Education duties relating to
27	tests and assessment procedures that measure student
28	achievement of college-level communication and computation
29	skills; amending s. 1008.38, F.S.; revising and conforming
30	provisions relating to the articulation process; amending
31	s. 1009.534, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
32	approval of community service work for eligibility for the
33	Florida Academic Scholars award; amending ss. 467.009 and
34	1012.56, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to the CLAST;
35	providing an effective date.
36
37	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
38
39	Section 1.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
40	1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
41	1004.04  Public accountability and state approval for
42	teacher preparation programs.-
43	(4)  INITIAL STATE PROGRAM APPROVAL.-
44	(b)  Each teacher preparation program approved by the
45	Department of Education, as provided for by this section, shall
46	require students to meet the following as prerequisites for
47	admission into the program:
48	1.  Have a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0
49	scale for the general education component of undergraduate
50	studies or have completed the requirements for a baccalaureate
51	degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
52	from any college or university accredited by a regional
53	accrediting association as defined by State Board of Education
54	rule or any college or university otherwise approved pursuant to
55	State Board of Education rule.
56	2.  Demonstrate mastery of general knowledge, including the
57	ability to read, write, and compute, by passing the General
58	Knowledge Test of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination,
59	the College Level Academic Skills Test, a corresponding
60	component of the National Teachers Examination series, or a
61	similar test pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education.
62
63	Each teacher preparation program may waive these admissions
64	requirements for up to 10 percent of the students admitted.
65	Programs shall implement strategies to ensure that students
66	admitted under a waiver receive assistance to demonstrate
67	competencies to successfully meet requirements for
68	certification.
69	Section 2.  Section 1004.68, Florida Statutes, is amended
70	to read:
71	1004.68  Community college; degrees and certificates; tests
72	for certain skills.-
73	(1)  Each community college board of trustees shall adopt
74	rules establishing student performance standards for the award
75	of degrees and certificates.
76	(2)  Each community college board of trustees shall require
77	the use of scores on tests for college-level communication and
78	computation skills provided in s. 1008.345(7) as a condition for
79	graduation with an associate in arts degree.
80	Section 3.  Section 1007.01, Florida Statutes, is amended
81	to read:
82	1007.01  Articulation; legislative intent; purpose; role of
83	the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors;
84	articulation coordinating committee.-
85	(1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to facilitate
86	articulation and seamless integration of the K-20 education
87	system by building, and sustaining, and strengthening
88	relationships among K-20 public organizations, between public
89	and private organizations, and between the education system as a
90	whole and Florida's communities. The purpose of building, and
91	sustaining, and strengthening these relationships is to provide
92	for the efficient and effective progression and transfer of
93	students within the education system and to allow students to
94	proceed toward their educational objectives as rapidly as their
95	circumstances permit. The Legislature further intends that
96	articulation policies and budget actions be implemented
97	consistently in the practices of the Department of Education and
98	postsecondary educational institutions and expressed in the
99	collaborative policy efforts of the State Board of Education and
100	the Board of Governors.
101	(2)  To improve and facilitate articulation systemwide, the
102	State Board of Education and the Board of Governors shall
103	collaboratively establish recommend policies and guidelines to
104	the Legislature with input from statewide K-20 advisory groups
105	established by the Commissioner of Education and the Chancellor
106	of the State University System and shall recommend the policies
107	and guidelines to the Legislature. The policies and guidelines
108	shall relate relating to:
109	(a)  The alignment between the exit requirements of one
110	system and the admissions requirements of another system into
111	which students typically transfer.
112	(b)  The identification of common courses, the level of
113	courses, institutional participation in a statewide course
114	numbering system, and the transferability of credits among such
115	institutions.
116	(c)  Identification of courses that meet general education
117	or common degree program prerequisite requirements at public
118	postsecondary educational institutions.
119	(d)  Dual enrollment course equivalencies.
120	(e)  Articulation agreements.
121	(3)  The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with
122	the Chancellor of the State University System, shall establish
123	the Articulation Coordinating Committee, which shall report to
124	the commissioner. The committee shall be a K-20 advisory group
125	that consists of members representing the State University
126	System, the Florida College System, public career and technical
127	education, public K-12 education, and nonpublic education, with
128	at least one member representing students. The commissioner
129	shall appoint a chair from the membership. The committee shall:
130	(a)  Propose monitoring, compliance, and reporting systems
131	to facilitate and ensure institutional compliance with state
132	articulation policies.
133	(b)  Propose guidelines for interinstitutional agreements
134	between and among public schools, career and technical education
135	centers, Florida College System institutions, and state
136	universities.
137	(c)  Establish groups of public and nonpublic educational
138	institution representatives to facilitate articulation.
139	(d)  Conduct a continuing review of statewide articulation
140	statutes, rules, regulations, and agreements and make
141	recommendations to the State Board of Education and the Board of
142	Governors for revisions.
143	(e)  Review the application of transfer credit requirements
144	from public and nonpublic institutions participating in the
145	statewide course numbering system, including, but not limited
146	to, instances of student transfer and admissions difficulties.
147	(f)  Examine statewide data regarding articulation,
148	recommend resolutions for issues, and propose programmatic and
149	budget policies and procedures to improve articulation
150	throughout the K-20 education system.
151	(g)  Recommend roles and responsibilities of public
152	education entities in interfacing with the single, statewide
153	computer-assisted student advising system established pursuant
154	to s. 1007.28, including, but not limited to, functionality
155	requirements, data needs, and appropriate reporting timelines.
156	Section 4.  Subsection (12) of section 1007.25, Florida
157	Statutes, is amended to read:
158	1007.25  General education courses; common prerequisites;
159	and other degree requirements.-
160	(12)(a)  A public postsecondary educational institution may
161	not confer an associate in arts or baccalaureate degree upon any
162	student who fails to successfully complete one of the following
163	requirements:
164	1.  Achieve a score that meets or exceeds a minimum score
165	on a nationally standardized examination, as established by the
166	State Board of Education in conjunction with the Board of
167	Governors; or
168	2.  demonstrate successful mastery remediation of any
169	academic competencies deficiencies and achieve a cumulative
170	grade point average of 2.0 2.5 or above, on a 4.0 scale, in
171	postsecondary-level coursework identified by the State Board of
172	Education in conjunction with the Board of Governors. The
173	Department of Education shall specify the means by which a
174	student may demonstrate successful remediation.
175	(b)  Any student who, in the best professional opinion of
176	the postsecondary educational institution, has a specific
177	learning disability such that the student cannot demonstrate
178	successful mastery of one or more of the authorized examinations
179	but is achieving at the college level in every area despite his
180	or her disability, and whose diagnosis indicates that further
181	remediation will not succeed in overcoming the disability, may
182	appeal through the appropriate dean to a committee appointed by
183	the president or the chief academic officer for special
184	consideration. The committee shall examine the evidence of the
185	student's academic and medical records and may hear testimony
186	relevant to the case. The committee may grant a waiver for one
187	or more of the authorized examinations based on the results of
188	its review.
189	(c)  Each public postsecondary educational institution
190	president shall establish a committee to consider requests for
191	waivers from the requirements in paragraph (a). The committee
192	shall be chaired by the chief academic officer of the
193	institution and shall have four additional members appointed by
194	the president as follows:
195	1.  One faculty member from the mathematics department;
196	2.  One faculty member from the English department;
197	3.  The institutional test administrator; and
198	4.  One faculty member from a department other than English
199	or mathematics.
200	(d)  Any student who has taken the authorized examinations
201	and has not achieved a passing score, but has otherwise
202	demonstrated proficiency in coursework in the same subject area,
203	may request a waiver from the examination requirement. Waivers
204	shall be considered only after students have been provided test
205	accommodations or other administrative adjustments to permit the
206	accurate measurement of the student's proficiency in the subject
207	areas measured by the authorized examinations. The committee
208	shall consider the student's educational records and other
209	evidence as to whether the student should be able to pass the
210	authorized examinations. A waiver may be recommended to the
211	president upon a majority vote of the committee. The president
212	may approve or disapprove the recommendation. The president may
213	not approve a request that the committee has disapproved. If a
214	waiver is approved, the student's transcript shall include a
215	statement that the student did not meet the requirements of this
216	subsection and that a waiver was granted.
217	Section 5.  Subsection (1) of section 1007.264, Florida
218	Statutes, is amended to read:
219	1007.264  Persons with disabilities; admission to
220	postsecondary educational institutions; substitute requirements;
221	rules and regulations.-
222	(1)  Any student with a disability, as defined in s.
223	1007.02(2), who is otherwise eligible except those students who
224	have been documented as having intellectual disabilities, shall
225	be eligible for reasonable substitution for any requirement for
226	admission into a public postsecondary educational institution
227	where documentation can be provided that the person's failure to
228	meet the admission requirement is related to the disability.
229	Section 6.  Subsection (1) of section 1007.265, Florida
230	Statutes, is amended to read:
231	1007.265  Persons with disabilities; graduation, study
232	program admission, and upper-division entry; substitute
233	requirements; rules and regulations.-
234	(1)  Any student with a disability, as defined in s.
235	1007.02(2), in a public postsecondary educational institution,
236	except those students who have been documented as having
237	intellectual disabilities, shall be eligible for reasonable
238	substitution for any requirement for graduation, for admission
239	into a program of study, or for entry into the upper division
240	where documentation can be provided that the person's failure to
241	meet the requirement is related to the disability and where
242	failure to meet the graduation requirement or program admission
243	requirement does not constitute a fundamental alteration in the
244	nature of the program.
245	Section 7.  Subsections (2) and (3) and paragraph (a) of
246	subsection (4) of section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, are amended
247	to read:
248	1008.30  Common placement testing for public postsecondary
249	education.-
250	(2)  The common placement testing program shall include at
251	a minimum the following: the capacity to diagnose basic
252	competencies in the areas of English, reading, and mathematics
253	which are essential to perform college-level work; an assessment
254	of prerequisite skills that relate to progressively advanced
255	instruction in mathematics and, such as algebra and geometry;
256	prerequisite skills that relate to progressively advanced
257	instruction in language arts, such as English composition and
258	literature; prerequisite skills which relate to the College
259	Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST); and provision of specific
260	test information to students on skill the specific deficiencies.
261	The State Board of Education shall establish by rule the test
262	scores a student must achieve to demonstrate readiness.
263	(3)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that
264	require high schools to evaluate before the beginning of grade
265	12 the college readiness of each student who indicates an
266	interest in postsecondary education and scores at Level 2 or
267	Level 3 on the reading portion of the grade 10 FCAT or Level 2,
268	Level 3, or Level 4 on the mathematics assessments under s.
269	1008.22(3)(c). High schools shall perform this evaluation using
270	results from the corresponding component of the common placement
271	test prescribed in this section, or an equivalent test
272	identified by the State Board of Education. The Department of
273	Education shall adopt purchase or develop the assessments
274	necessary to perform the evaluations required by this subsection
275	and shall work with the school districts to administer the
276	assessments. The State Board of Education shall establish by
277	rule the minimum test scores a student must achieve to
278	demonstrate readiness. Students who demonstrate readiness by
279	achieving the minimum test scores established by the state board
280	and enroll in a community college within 2 years after of
281	achieving such scores shall not be required to enroll in
282	remediation courses as a condition of acceptance to any
283	community college. The high school shall use the results of the
284	test to advise the students of any identified deficiencies and
285	to the maximum extent practicable provide 12th grade students
286	access to approved appropriate remedial instruction prior to
287	high school graduation. The remedial instruction provided under
288	this subsection shall be a collaborative effort between
289	secondary and postsecondary educational institutions, as
290	prescribed by State Board of Education rule. To the extent
291	courses are available, the Florida Virtual School may be used to
292	provide the remedial instruction required by this subsection.
293	Students who demonstrate readiness through successful completion
294	of the approved remedial instruction are eligible to repeat the
295	common placement test prior to high school graduation.
296	(4)(a)  Public postsecondary educational institution
297	Students who have been identified as requiring additional
298	preparation pursuant to subsection (1) shall enroll in college-
299	preparatory or other adult education pursuant to s. 1004.93 in
300	community colleges to develop needed college-entry skills. The
301	State Board of Education shall specify by rule provisions for
302	alternative remediation opportunities and retesting policies.
303	These students shall be permitted to take courses within their
304	degree program concurrently in other curriculum areas for which
305	they are qualified while enrolled in college-preparatory
306	instruction courses. A student enrolled in a college-preparatory
307	course may concurrently enroll only in college credit courses
308	that do not require the skills addressed in the college-
309	preparatory course. The State Board of Education, in conjunction
310	with the Board of Governors, shall specify the college credit
311	courses that are acceptable for students enrolled in each
312	college-preparatory skill area. A degree-seeking student who
313	wishes to earn an associate in arts or a baccalaureate degree,
314	but who is required to complete a college-preparatory course,
315	must successfully complete the required college-preparatory
316	studies by the time the student has accumulated 12 hours of
317	lower-division college credit degree coursework; however, a
318	student may continue enrollment in degree-earning coursework
319	provided the student maintains enrollment in college-preparatory
320	coursework for each subsequent semester until college-
321	preparatory coursework requirements are completed, and provided
322	the student demonstrates satisfactory performance in degree-
323	earning coursework. A student who has accumulated 12 college
324	credit hours and has not yet demonstrated proficiency in the
325	basic competency areas of reading, writing, and mathematics must
326	be advised in writing of the requirements for associate degree
327	completion and state university admission, including information
328	about future financial aid eligibility and the potential costs
329	of accumulating excessive college credit as described in s.
330	1009.286. A passing score on a standardized, institutionally
331	developed test must be achieved Before a student is considered
332	to have met basic computation and communication skills
333	requirements, the student must demonstrate successful mastery of
334	the required developmental education competencies as defined in
335	State Board of Education rule; however, no student shall be
336	required to retake any test or subtest that was previously
337	passed by said student. Credit awarded for college-preparatory
338	instruction may not be counted toward fulfilling the number of
339	credits required for a degree.
340	Section 8.  Subsection (7) of section 1008.345, Florida
341	Statutes, is amended to read:
342	1008.345  Implementation of state system of school
343	improvement and education accountability.-
344	(7)  As a part of the system of educational accountability,
345	the Department of Education shall:
346	(a)  Develop minimum standards for various grades and
347	subject areas, as required in ss. 1001.03, 1008.22, and 1008.34.
348	(b)  Administer the statewide assessment testing program
349	created by s. 1008.22.
350	(c)  Review the school advisory councils of each district
351	as required by s. 1001.452.
352	(d)  Conduct the program evaluations required by s.
353	1001.03.
354	(e)  Maintain a listing of college-level communication and
355	mathematics skills defined pursuant to s. 1008.29 as being
356	associated with successful student performance through the
357	baccalaureate level and submit it to the State Board of
358	Education and the Board of Governors for approval.
359	(f)  Maintain a listing of tests and other assessment
360	procedures which measure and diagnose student achievement of
361	college-level communication and computation skills and submit it
362	to the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors for
363	approval.
364	(g)  Maintain for the information of the State Board of
365	Education, the Board of Governors, and the Legislature a file of
366	data to reflect achievement of college-level communication and
367	mathematics competencies by students in state universities and
368	community colleges.
369	(h)  Develop or contract for, and submit to the State Board
370	of Education and the Board of Governors for approval, tests
371	which measure and diagnose student achievement of college-level
372	communication and mathematics skills. Any tests and related
373	documents developed are exempt from the provisions of s.
374	119.07(1). The commissioner shall maintain statewide
375	responsibility for the administration of such tests and may
376	assign administrative responsibilities for the tests to any
377	state university or community college. The state board, upon
378	recommendation of the commissioner, may enter into contracts for
379	such services beginning in one fiscal year and continuing into
380	the next year which are paid from the appropriation for either
381	or both fiscal years.
382	(f)(i)  Perform any other functions that may be involved in
383	educational planning, research, and evaluation or that may be
384	required by the commissioner, the State Board of Education, the
385	Board of Governors, or law.
386	Section 9.  Subsections (4) and (6) of section 1008.38,
387	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
388	1008.38  Articulation accountability process.-The State
389	Board of Education, in conjunction with the Board of Governors,
390	shall develop articulation accountability measures which assess
391	the status of systemwide articulation processes authorized under
392	s. 1007.23 and establish an articulation accountability process
393	which at a minimum shall address:
394	(4)  The smooth transfer of Florida College System
395	community college associate in arts degree graduates to a
396	Florida College System institution or a state university.
397	(6)  The relationship between student attainment of
398	college-level the College Level academic skills Test Program and
399	articulation to the upper division in public postsecondary
400	institutions.
401	Section 10.  Subsection (1) of section 1009.534, Florida
402	Statutes, is amended to read:
403	1009.534  Florida Academic Scholars award.-
404	(1)  A student is eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars
405	award if the student meets the general eligibility requirements
406	for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and the
407	student:
408	(a)  Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
409	calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or its equivalent, in high
410	school courses that are designated by the State Board of
411	Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has
412	attained at least the score pursuant to s. 1009.531(6)(a) on the
413	combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic
414	Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered
415	Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination,
416	or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
417	(b)  Has attended a home education program according to s.
418	1002.41 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
419	International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
420	International Baccalaureate Diploma or has completed the
421	Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum but
422	failed to earn the Advanced International Certificate of
423	Education Diploma, and has attained at least the score pursuant
424	to s. 1009.531(6)(a) on the combined verbal and quantitative
425	parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment
426	Test, or the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the
427	College Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT
428	Assessment Program;
429	(c)  Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
430	Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office or an
431	Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma from the
432	University of Cambridge International Examinations Office;
433	(d)  Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
434	programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
435	scholar or finalist; or
436	(e)  Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
437	Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
438
439	A student must complete a program of community service work, as
440	approved by the district school board, or the administrators of
441	a nonpublic school, or the Department of Education for home
442	school students, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of
443	service work and require the student to identify a social
444	problem that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her
445	personal involvement in addressing the problem, and, through
446	papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or
447	her experience.
448	Section 11.  Subsection (3) of section 467.009, Florida
449	Statutes, is amended to read:
450	467.009  Midwifery programs; education and training
451	requirements.-
452	(3)  To be accepted into an approved midwifery program, an
453	applicant shall have:
454	(a)  A high school diploma or its equivalent.
455	(b)  Passed the college level academic scholastic test
456	(CLAST) or Taken three college-level credits each of math and
457	English or demonstrated competencies in communication and
458	computation.
459	Section 12.  Subsection (3) of section 1012.56, Florida
460	Statutes, is amended to read:
461	1012.56  Educator certification requirements.-
462	(3)  MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.-Acceptable means of
463	demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
464	(a)  Achievement of passing scores on basic skills
465	examination required by state board rule;
466	(b)  Achievement of passing scores on the College Level
467	Academic Skills Test earned prior to July 1, 2002;
468	(b)(c)  A valid professional standard teaching certificate
469	issued by another state;
470	(c)(d)  A valid certificate issued by the National Board
471	for Professional Teaching Standards or a national educator
472	credentialing board approved by the State Board of Education; or
473	(d)(e)  Documentation of two semesters of successful
474	teaching in a community college, state university, or private
475	college or university that awards an associate or higher degree
476	and is an accredited institution or an institution of higher
477	education identified by the Department of Education as having a
478	quality program.
479	Section 13.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

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