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House Bill 0197

Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 197 By Representative Bradley 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to education; creating s. 3 232.2451, F.S., relating to student readiness 4 for postsecondary education and the workplace; 5 providing legislative intent; providing for 6 end-of-high-school destinations; providing for 7 student progression toward a chosen 8 destination; providing Department of Education 9 duties; providing course requirements; 10 providing school personnel duties; amending s. 11 232.2462, F.S.; providing for conversion of 12 college credit hours to high school credit 13 according to certain requirements; providing an 14 effective date. 15 16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17 18 Section 1. Section 232.2451, Florida Statutes, is 19 created to read: 20 232.2451 Readiness for postsecondary education and the 21 workplace.-- 22 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that students 23 and parents or guardians set early achievement and career 24 goals for the student's post-high-school experience. This 25 section sets forth a model which schools, through their school 26 advisory councils, may choose to implement to ensure that 27 students are ready for postsecondary education and the 28 workplace. Students and their parents or guardians shall have 29 the option of participating in this model to plan the 30 student's secondary-level course of study. Parents or 31 guardians and students are to become partners with school 1 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 197 547-114C-97 1 personnel in educational choice. Clear academic course 2 expectations shall be made available to all students by 3 allowing both student and parent or guardian choice. 4 (2)(a) Students entering the ninth grade and their 5 parents or guardians shall be active participants in choosing 6 an end-of-high-school student destination based upon both 7 student and parent or guardian goals. Four or more 8 destinations should be available with bridges between 9 destinations to enable students to shift destinations should 10 they choose to change goals. The destinations shall 11 accommodate the needs of students served in exceptional 12 education programs to the extent appropriate for individual 13 students. Exceptional education students may continue to 14 follow the courses outlined in the school district pupil 15 progression plan. Students and their parents or guardians 16 shall choose among destinations, which may include: 17 1. Four-year university, community college plus 18 university, or military academy. 19 2. Two-year postsecondary degree. 20 3. Postsecondary vocational-technical certificate. 21 4. Immediate employment or entry-level military. 22 (b) Student progression toward a chosen destination 23 shall include: 24 1. A "path" of core courses shall lead to each of the 25 destinations provided in paragraph (a). 26 2. A recommended group of electives shall help define 27 each path. 28 3. Students, with parental or guardian involvement, 29 shall declare their destinations by the end of grade 8. A 30 teacher, school administrator, other school staff member, or 31 community volunteer may be assigned to a student as an 2 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 197 547-114C-97 1 "academic advocate" if parental or guardian involvement is 2 lacking. 3 4. The common placement test authorized in s. 240.117 4 or a similar test may be administered to all high school 5 second semester sophomores who have chosen one of the four 6 destinations. The results of the placement test shall be used 7 to target additional instructional needs in reading, writing, 8 and mathematics prior to graduation. 9 5. Ample opportunity shall be provided for students to 10 move from one destination to another, and some latitude shall 11 exist within each destination, to meet the individual needs of 12 students. 13 6. Destinations specified in subparagraphs (a)1., 2., 14 and 3. shall support the goals of the Tech Prep program. 15 Students participating in Tech Prep shall be enrolled in 16 articulated, sequential programs of study which include a 17 technical component and at least a minimum of a postsecondary 18 certificate or 2-year degree. 19 7. In order for these destinations to be attainable, 20 the business community shall be encouraged to support 21 real-world internships and apprenticeships. 22 8. All students shall be encouraged to take part in 23 service learning opportunities. 24 (c) High school equivalency diploma preparation 25 programs shall not be a choice for high school students 26 leading to any of the four destinations provided in paragraph 27 (a) since the appropriate coursework, counseling component, 28 and career preparation cannot be ensured. 29 (d) Schools shall ensure that students and parents or 30 guardians are made aware of the destinations available and 31 provide the necessary coursework to assist the student in 3 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 197 547-114C-97 1 reaching the chosen destination. Students and parents or 2 guardians shall be made aware of the student's progress toward 3 the chosen destination. 4 (e) The Department of Education shall offer technical 5 assistance to school districts to ensure that the destinations 6 offered also meet the academic standards adopted by the state. 7 (3)(a) Access to Level I courses for graduation credit 8 and for pursuit of a declared destination shall be limited to 9 only those students for whom assessment indicates a more 10 rigorous course of study would be inappropriate. 11 (b) School personnel shall: 12 1. Designate a specialist in each high school to 13 coordinate the use of student achievement strategies to help 14 students succeed in their coursework. The specialist shall 15 also assist teachers in integrating the academic and 16 vocational curricula, utilizing technology, providing feedback 17 regarding student achievement, and implementing the Blueprint 18 for Career Preparation and Tech Prep programs. 19 2. Institute strategies to eliminate reading, writing, 20 and mathematics deficiencies of secondary students. 21 (4) This section shall take effect for those students 22 entering the ninth grade in 1997 and each year thereafter. 23 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 24 232.2462, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 25 232.2462 Attendance requirement for receipt of high 26 school credit; definition of "credit".-- 27 (1)(a) For the purposes of requirements for high 28 school graduation, one full credit means a minimum of 150 29 hours of bona fide instruction in a designated course of study 30 which contains student performance standards as provided for 31 in s. 232.2454. Six semester credit hours of instruction 4 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 197 547-114C-97 1 earned through enrollment pursuant to s. 240.116 shall also 2 equal one full credit. However, college credit hours earned 3 through dual enrollment and early admission programs may be 4 converted to high school credit based on mastery of course 5 outcomes, the process for which shall be included in the 6 interinstitutional articulation agreement required in s. 7 240.1161. 8 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997. 9 10 ***************************************** 11 HOUSE SUMMARY 12 Establishes a model which schools may choose to implement 13 to prepare students for postsecondary education and the workplace. Provides for end-of-high-school destinations 14 and student progression toward a chosen destination. Provides Department of Education and school personnel 15 duties. Provides for conversion of certain college credit hours to high school credit based on mastery of course 16 outcomes. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 5