House Bill 3955
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Florida House of Representatives - 1998 HB 3955
By Representative Boyd
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s.
3 229.57, F.S., relating to the statewide
4 assessment program; authorizing exemption from
5 the high school competency test; amending s.
6 232.246, F.S., relating to general requirements
7 for high school graduation; requiring the
8 Commissioner of Education to specify certain
9 curriculum; amending s. 232.2466, F.S.;
10 revising requirements for receipt of a
11 college-ready diploma; deleting obsolete
12 language; amending s. 240.116, F.S., relating
13 to articulated acceleration; requiring rules
14 for certain dual enrollment programs; amending
15 s. 240.233, F.S., relating to university
16 admission; requiring rules to articulate
17 foreign language competency between secondary
18 and postsecondary institutions; providing an
19 effective date.
20
21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
24 229.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
25 229.57 Student assessment program.--
26 (3) STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner is
27 directed to design and implement a statewide program of
28 educational assessment that provides information for the
29 improvement of the operation and management of the public
30 schools. The program must be designed, as far as possible, so
31 as not to conflict with ongoing district assessment programs
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Florida House of Representatives - 1998 HB 3955
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1 and so as to use information obtained from district programs.
2 Pursuant to the statewide assessment program, the commissioner
3 shall:
4 (c) Develop and implement a student achievement
5 testing program as part of the statewide assessment program,
6 to be administered at designated times at the elementary,
7 middle, and high school levels to measure reading, writing,
8 and mathematics. The testing program must be designed so
9 that:
10 1. The tests measure student skills and competencies
11 adopted by the state board as specified in paragraph (a). The
12 tests must measure and report student proficiency levels in
13 reading, writing, and mathematics. Other content areas may be
14 included as directed by the commissioner. The commissioner
15 shall provide for the tests to be developed or obtained, as
16 appropriate, through contracts and project agreements with
17 private vendors, public vendors, public agencies,
18 postsecondary institutions, or school districts. The
19 commissioner shall obtain input with respect to the design and
20 implementation of the testing program from state educators and
21 the public.
22 2. The tests are criterion-referenced and include, to
23 the extent determined by the commissioner, items that require
24 the student to produce information or perform tasks in such a
25 way that the skills and competencies he or she uses can be
26 measured.
27 3. Each testing program, whether at the elementary,
28 middle, or high school level, includes a test of writing in
29 which students are required to produce writings which are then
30 scored by appropriate methods.
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1 4. A score is designated for each subject area tested,
2 below which score a student's performance is deemed
3 inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate
4 remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.
5 5. All 11th grade students take a high school
6 competency test developed by the state board to test minimum
7 student performance skills and competencies in reading,
8 writing, and mathematics. The test must be based on the skills
9 and competencies adopted by the state board pursuant to
10 paragraph (a). Upon recommendation of the commissioner, the
11 state board shall designate a passing score for each part of
12 the high school competency test. In establishing passing
13 scores, the state board shall consider any possible negative
14 impact of the test on minority students. The commissioner may
15 establish student performance criteria in communications and
16 mathematics which may allow a student to exempt the
17 corresponding section of the high school competency test, or
18 the college placement test when otherwise required. A student
19 must earn a passing score on, or be exempted from, each part
20 of the high school competency test taken to qualify for a
21 regular high school diploma. The school districts shall
22 provide appropriate remedial instruction to students who do
23 not pass part of the competency test.
24 6. Participation in the testing program is mandatory
25 for all students, except as otherwise prescribed by the
26 commissioner. The commissioner shall recommend rules to the
27 state board for the provision of test adaptations and
28 modifications of procedures as necessary for students in
29 exceptional education programs and for students who have
30 limited English proficiency.
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1 7. A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
2 meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
3 student must meet.
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5 The commissioner may design and implement student testing
6 programs for any grade level and subject area, based on
7 procedures designated by the commissioner to monitor
8 educational achievement in the state.
9 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 232.246, Florida
10 Statutes, is amended to read:
11 232.246 General requirements for high school
12 graduation.--
13 (1) Graduation requires successful completion of
14 either a minimum of 24 academic credits in grades 9 through 12
15 or an International Baccalaureate curriculum as specified by
16 the Commissioner of Education. The 24 credits shall be
17 distributed as follows:
18 (a) Four credits in English, with major concentration
19 in composition and literature.
20 (b) Three credits in mathematics. Effective for
21 students entering the 9th grade in the 1997-1998 school year
22 and thereafter, one of these credits must be Algebra I, a
23 series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a higher-level
24 mathematics course.
25 (c) Three credits in science, two of which must have a
26 laboratory component. The State Board of Education may grant
27 an annual waiver of the laboratory requirement to a school
28 district that certifies that its laboratory facilities are
29 inadequate, provided the district submits a capital outlay
30 plan to provide adequate facilities and makes the funding of
31 this plan a priority of the school board.
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1 (d) One credit in American history.
2 (e) One credit in world history, including a
3 comparative study of the history, doctrines, and objectives of
4 all major political systems.
5 (f) One-half credit in economics, including a
6 comparative study of the history, doctrines, and objectives of
7 all major economic systems. The Florida Council on Economic
8 Education shall provide technical assistance to the department
9 and local school boards in developing curriculum materials for
10 the study of economics.
11 (g) One-half credit in American government, including
12 study of the Constitution of the United States. For students
13 entering the 9th grade in the 1997-1998 school year and
14 thereafter, the study of Florida government, including study
15 of the State Constitution, the three branches of state
16 government, and municipal and county government, shall be
17 included as part of the required study of American government.
18 (h)1. One credit in practical arts career education or
19 exploratory career education. Any vocational course as
20 defined in s. 228.041(22) may be taken to satisfy the high
21 school graduation requirement for one credit in practical arts
22 or exploratory career education provided in this subparagraph;
23 2. One credit in performing fine arts to be selected
24 from music, dance, drama, painting, or sculpture. A course in
25 any art form, in addition to painting or sculpture, that
26 requires manual dexterity, or a course in speech and debate,
27 may be taken to satisfy the high school graduation requirement
28 for one credit in performing arts pursuant to this
29 subparagraph; or
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1 3. One-half credit each in practical arts career
2 education or exploratory career education and performing fine
3 arts, as defined in this paragraph.
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5 Such credit for practical arts career education or exploratory
6 career education or for performing fine arts shall be made
7 available in the 9th grade, and students shall be scheduled
8 into a 9th grade course as a priority.
9 (i) One-half credit in life management skills to
10 include consumer education, positive emotional development,
11 nutrition, prevention of human immunodeficiency virus
12 infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other
13 sexually transmissible diseases, benefits of sexual abstinence
14 and consequences of teenage pregnancy, information and
15 instruction on breast cancer detection and breast
16 self-examination, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, drug
17 education, and the hazards of smoking. Such credit shall be
18 given for a course to be taken by all students in either the
19 9th or 10th grade.
20 (j) One-half credit in physical education to include
21 assessment, improvement, and maintenance of personal fitness.
22 Participation in an interscholastic sport, whether at the
23 freshman, junior varsity, or varsity level, for a full season,
24 shall satisfy the one-half credit requirement in physical
25 education.
26 (k) Nine elective credits.
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28 School boards may award a maximum of one-half credit in social
29 studies and one-half elective credit for student completion of
30 nonpaid voluntary community or school service work. Students
31 choosing this option must complete a minimum of 75 hours of
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1 service in order to earn the one-half credit in either
2 category of instruction. Credit may not be earned for service
3 provided as a result of court action. School boards that
4 approve the award of credit for student volunteer service
5 shall develop guidelines regarding the award of the credit,
6 and school principals are responsible for approving specific
7 volunteer activities. A course designated in the Course Code
8 Directory as grade 9 through grade 12 which is taken below the
9 9th grade may be used to satisfy high school graduation
10 requirements or Florida Academic Scholar's Certificate Program
11 requirements as specified in a district's pupil progression
12 plan.
13 Section 3. Section 232.2466, Florida Statutes, is
14 amended to read:
15 232.2466 College-ready diploma program.--
16 (1) Beginning with the 1998-1999 1997-1998 school
17 year, each school district shall award a differentiated
18 college-ready diploma to each student who:
19 (a) Successfully completes the requirements for a
20 standard high school diploma as prescribed by s. 232.246.
21 Among courses taken to fulfill the 24-academic-credit
22 requirement, a student must take:
23 1. Two credits in algebra and one credit in geometry,
24 or their equivalents, as determined by the state board.
25 2. One credit in biology, one credit in chemistry, and
26 one credit in physics, or their equivalents, as determined by
27 the state board.
28 3. Two credits in the same foreign language, taken for
29 elective credit. A student whose native language is not
30 English is exempt from this requirement if the student
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1 demonstrates proficiency in the native language. American sign
2 language constitutes a foreign language.
3 (b) Achieves a 3.0 weighted grade point average, or
4 its equivalent, in high school courses that are adopted by the
5 Board of Regents and recommended by the State Board of
6 Community Colleges as college-preparatory academic courses.
7 (c) Obtains at least the qualifying score for the
8 Florida Merit Scholars award on the combined verbal and
9 quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
10 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
11 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
12 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program.
13 (b) Takes the postsecondary education common placement
14 test prescribed in s. 240.117, or an equivalent test
15 identified by the State Board of Education, before graduation
16 and scores at or above the established statewide passing score
17 in each test area.
18 (2) For purposes of calculating the grade point
19 average to be used in determining eligibility for a
20 college-ready diploma, the department shall assign additional
21 weights to grades earned in the following courses:
22 (a) Courses identified in the course code directory as
23 Advanced Placement, pre-International Baccalaureate, or
24 International Baccalaureate.
25 (b) Courses designated as academic dual enrollment
26 courses in the statewide course numbering system.
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28 The department may assign additional weights to courses, other
29 than those described in paragraphs (a) and (b), that are
30 identified by the Articulation Coordinating Committee as
31 containing rigorous academic curriculum and performance
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1 standards. The additional weight assigned to a course pursuant
2 to this subsection shall not exceed 0.5 per semester per
3 course.
4 (3)(2) A college-ready diploma entitles a student to
5 admission without placement testing to a public postsecondary
6 education program that terminates in a technical certificate,
7 an associate in science degree, or an associate in arts
8 degree, if the student enters postsecondary education within 2
9 years after earning the college-ready diploma.
10 (3) The Department of Education shall convene a task
11 force of educators and employers to recommend additional
12 incentives for students to pursue a college-ready diploma.
13 The incentives may include awards and recognition, preference
14 for positions in firms, and early registration privileges in
15 postsecondary education institutions.
16 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 240.116, Florida
17 Statutes, is amended to read:
18 240.116 Articulated acceleration.--
19 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that a variety
20 of articulated acceleration mechanisms be available for
21 secondary and postsecondary students attending public
22 educational institutions. It is intended that articulated
23 acceleration serve to shorten the time necessary for a student
24 to complete the requirements associated with the conference of
25 a degree, broaden the scope of curricular options available to
26 students, or increase the depth of study available for a
27 particular subject. Articulated acceleration mechanisms shall
28 include, but not be limited to, dual enrollment, early
29 admission, advanced placement, credit by examination, and the
30 International Baccalaureate Program. The State Board of
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1 Education shall adopt rules for any dual enrollment programs
2 involving requirements for high school graduation.
3 Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
4 240.233, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
5 240.233 Universities; admissions of students.--Each
6 university shall govern admissions of students, subject to
7 this section and rules of the Board of Regents.
8 (1) Minimum academic standards for undergraduate
9 admission to a university shall include the requirements that:
10 (b) Each student have earned two credits of sequential
11 foreign language at the secondary level or the equivalent of
12 such instruction at the postsecondary level. A student whose
13 native language is not English is exempt from this admissions
14 requirement, provided that the student demonstrates
15 proficiency in the native language. If a standardized test is
16 not available in the student's native language for the
17 demonstration of proficiency, the university may provide an
18 alternative method of assessment. The State Board of Education
19 shall adopt rules to articulate foreign language competency
20 and equivalency between secondary and postsecondary
21 institutions. A student who received an associate in arts
22 degree prior to September 1, 1989, or who enrolled in a
23 program of studies leading to an associate degree from a
24 Florida community college prior to August 1, 1989, and
25 maintains continuous enrollment shall be exempt from this
26 admissions requirement.
27 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1 of the
28 year in which enacted.
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2 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Authorizes exemption from the high school competency test
4 according to criteria established by the Commissioner of
Education. Requires the commissioner to specify certain
5 curriculum for high school graduation. Revises
requirements for receipt of a college-ready diploma.
6 Requires rules for certain dual enrollment programs.
Requires rules to articulate foreign language competency
7 between secondary and postsecondary institutions.
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