Florida Senate - 2020                                    SB 1550
       
       
        
       By Senator Cruz
       
       
       
       
       
       18-01418-20                                           20201550__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to high school graduation
    3         requirements; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; requiring
    4         students to submit a Free Application for Federal
    5         Student Aid in order to be awarded a standard high
    6         school diploma; providing an exception; amending ss.
    7         1002.3105 and 1003.5716, F.S.; conforming cross
    8         references to changes made by the act; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Present subsections (5) through (12) of section
   14  1003.4282, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (6)
   15  through (13), respectively, and a new subsection (5) is added to
   16  that section, to read:
   17         1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
   18         (5) FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID REQUIREMENT.
   19  Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2021-2022 school
   20  year, a student must submit a Free Application for Federal
   21  Student Aid in order to be awarded a standard high school
   22  diploma. However, a student meets the requirements of this
   23  subsection if the student’s parent or the student, if such
   24  student is 18 years of age or older, submits a letter to the
   25  school district declining to submit the Free Application for
   26  Federal Student Aid.
   27         Section 2. Subsection (5) of section 1002.3105, Florida
   28  Statutes, is amended to read:
   29         1002.3105 Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance
   30  Learning (ACCEL) options.—
   31         (5) AWARD OF A STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.—A student who
   32  meets the applicable grade 9 cohort graduation requirements of
   33  s. 1003.4282(3)(a)-(e) or s. 1003.4282(10)(a)1.-5. s.
   34  1003.4282(9)(a)1.-5., (b)1.-5., (c)1.-5., or (d)1.-5., earns
   35  three credits in electives, and earns a cumulative grade point
   36  average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale shall be awarded a standard
   37  high school diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of
   38  Education.
   39         Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
   40  1003.5716, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   41         1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career
   42  opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of
   43  age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate
   44  public education. As used in this section, the term “IEP” means
   45  individual education plan.
   46         (2) Beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect
   47  when the student attains the age of 16, or younger if determined
   48  appropriate by the parent and the IEP team, the IEP must include
   49  the following statements that must be updated annually:
   50         (b) A statement of intent to receive a standard high school
   51  diploma before the student attains the age of 22 and a
   52  description of how the student will fully meet the requirements
   53  in s. 1003.4282, including, but not limited to, a portfolio
   54  pursuant to s. 1003.4282(11)(b) s. 1003.4282(10)(b) which meets
   55  the criteria specified in State Board of Education rule. The IEP
   56  must also specify the outcomes and additional benefits expected
   57  by the parent and the IEP team at the time of the student’s
   58  graduation.
   59         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.