Florida Senate - 2015                                    SB 1074
       
       
        
       By Senator Soto
       
       
       
       
       
       14-00745-15                                           20151074__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to a graduation transition program;
    3         creating s. 1003.565, F.S.; defining a term; creating
    4         the ESOL Graduation Transition Program within the
    5         Department of Education; providing for eligibility and
    6         requirements for the program; requiring an eligible
    7         student to continue taking certain classes while
    8         enrolled in the program; directing the department to
    9         adopt rules; providing an effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Section 1003.565, Florida Statutes, is created
   14  to read:
   15         1003.565 ESOL Graduation Transition Program.—
   16         (1) As used in this section, the term “ESOL” has the same
   17  meaning as in s. 1003.56.
   18         (2) The Department of Education shall create an ESOL
   19  Graduation Transition Program to provide for the transition from
   20  high school to college for students who have not been able to
   21  meet the requirements for graduation from high school in 4 years
   22  due to language barriers. To qualify for participation in the
   23  program, a student must satisfy all of the following conditions:
   24         (a) Have enrolled in a public high school in this state at
   25  age 15 or older.
   26         (b) Be 19 years of age or older.
   27         (c) Be enrolled in a public high school.
   28         (d) Be unable to pass the Florida Standards assessment or
   29  the courses required for graduation from a high school under s.
   30  1003.4282.
   31         (e) Be qualified to participate in an ESOL program operated
   32  in accordance with a school district’s approved English Language
   33  Learner plan.
   34         (3) A student who meets the requirements of subsection (2)
   35  may enroll in remedial classes at a Florida College System
   36  institution to work toward meeting the requirements for
   37  graduation from high school. While attending these remedial
   38  classes, a qualified student may also participate in a school’s
   39  dual enrollment program and take a limited number of courses for
   40  college credit.
   41         (4) A student who participates in the ESOL Graduation
   42  Transition Program must continue to take English classes to
   43  improve his or her English language proficiency while enrolled
   44  in the program.
   45         (5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
   46  implement this section.
   47         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.