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The Florida Senate

2014 Florida Statutes

Title XLVIII K-20 EDUCATION CODE
Chapter 1003 PUBLIC K-12 EDUCATION Entire Chapter
SECTION 4156
General requirements for middle grades promotion.
F.S. 1003.4156
1003.4156 General requirements for middle grades promotion.—
(1) In order for a student to be promoted to high school from a school that includes middle grades 6, 7, and 8, the student must successfully complete the following courses:
(a) Three middle grades or higher courses in English Language Arts (ELA).
(b) Three middle grades or higher courses in mathematics. Each school that includes middle grades must offer at least one high school level mathematics course for which students may earn high school credit. Successful completion of a high school level Algebra I or Geometry course is not contingent upon the student’s performance on the statewide, standardized end-of-course (EOC) assessment. To earn high school credit for Algebra I, a middle grades student must take the statewide, standardized Algebra I EOC assessment and pass the course, and in addition, beginning with the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter, a student’s performance on the Algebra I EOC assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. To earn high school credit for a Geometry course, a middle grades student must take the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment, which constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade, and earn a passing grade in the course.
(c) Three middle grades or higher courses in social studies. Beginning with students entering grade 6 in the 2012-2013 school year, one of these courses must be at least a one-semester civics education course that includes the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments; the structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; and the meaning and significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, each student’s performance on the statewide, standardized EOC assessment in civics education required under s. 1008.22 constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A middle grades student who transfers into the state’s public school system from out of country, out of state, a private school, or a home education program after the beginning of the second term of grade 8 is not required to meet the civics education requirement for promotion from the middle grades if the student’s transcript documents passage of three courses in social studies or two year-long courses in social studies that include coverage of civics education.
(d) Three middle grades or higher courses in science. Successful completion of a high school level Biology I course is not contingent upon the student’s performance on the statewide, standardized EOC assessment required under s. 1008.22. However, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, to earn high school credit for a Biology I course, a middle grades student must take the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment, which constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade, and earn a passing grade in the course.
(e) One course in career and education planning to be completed in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. The course may be taught by any member of the instructional staff. At a minimum, the course must be Internet-based, easy to use, and customizable to each student and include research-based assessments to assist students in determining educational and career options and goals. In addition, the course must result in a completed personalized academic and career plan for the student; must emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship skills; must emphasize technology or the application of technology in career fields; and, beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year, must include information from the Department of Economic Opportunity’s economic security report as described in s. 445.07. The required personalized academic and career plan must inform students of high school graduation requirements, including a detailed explanation of the diploma designation options provided under s. 1003.4285; high school assessment and college entrance test requirements; Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program requirements; state university and Florida College System institution admission requirements; available opportunities to earn college credit in high school, including Advanced Placement courses; the International Baccalaureate Program; the Advanced International Certificate of Education Program; dual enrollment, including career dual enrollment; and career education courses, including career-themed courses and courses that lead to industry certification pursuant to s. 1003.492 or s. 1008.44.

Each school must inform parents about the course curriculum and activities. Each student shall complete a personal education plan that must be signed by the student and the student’s parent. The Department of Education shall develop course frameworks and professional development materials for the career and education planning course. The course may be implemented as a stand-alone course or integrated into another course or courses. The Commissioner of Education shall collect longitudinal high school course enrollment data by student ethnicity in order to analyze course-taking patterns.

(2) If a middle grades student scores Level l or Level 2 on the statewide, standardized Reading assessment or, when implemented, the English Language Arts (ELA) assessment, the following year the student must enroll in and complete a remedial course or a content area course in which remediation strategies are incorporated into course content delivery. The department shall provide guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and meeting the varying instructional needs of students performing below grade level.
(3) If a middle grades student scores Level 1 or Level 2 on the statewide, standardized Mathematics assessment, the following year the student must receive remediation, which may be integrated into the student’s required mathematics courses.
(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section and may enforce this section pursuant to s. 1008.32.
History.—s. 21, ch. 2006-74; s. 179, ch. 2008-4; s. 2, ch. 2010-22; s. 3, ch. 2010-48; s. 33, ch. 2011-5; s. 16, ch. 2011-175; s. 7, ch. 2012-134; s. 7, ch. 2012-191; s. 13, ch. 2013-27; s. 37, ch. 2014-39.