House Bill hb1275
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
By Representative Rubio
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Florida Bright Futures
3 Scholarship Program; amending s. 240.4015,
4 F.S., relating to the testing program; revising
5 provisions relating to the use of specified
6 examinations for purposes of awarding college
7 credit; expanding the testing program to
8 include Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars;
9 clarifying provisions relating to the award of
10 credit; deleting obsolete provisions; revising
11 provisions relating to payment for
12 examinations; requiring the Department of
13 Education to provide a financial incentive to
14 students for passing examinations; requiring
15 the department to contract for centralized
16 administrative services; amending s. 240.40203,
17 F.S.; revising provisions relating to the
18 maximum number of credit hours for which a
19 student may receive a Florida Bright Futures
20 Scholarship; amending ss. 240.40205, 240.40206,
21 and 240.40207, F.S.; requiring Florida Academic
22 Scholar, Florida Merit Scholar, and Florida
23 Gold Seal Vocational Scholar award recipients
24 to have taken examinations or the equivalent
25 required by the Florida Bright Futures
26 Scholarship Testing Program; conforming
27 provisions; providing an effective date.
28
29 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
30
31
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 Section 1. Section 240.4015, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 240.4015 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Testing
4 Program.--
5 (1) By January 1, 2002, The Articulation Coordinating
6 Committee shall identify the minimum scores, maximum credit,
7 and course or courses for which credit is to be awarded for
8 each College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general
9 examination, CLEP subject examination, College Board Advanced
10 Placement Program examination, and International Baccalaureate
11 examination, or other examination approved by a state
12 university or community college. In addition, the Articulation
13 Coordinating Committee shall identify such courses in the
14 general education core curriculum of each state university and
15 community college.
16 (2) Each community college and state university must
17 award credit for specific courses for which competency has
18 been demonstrated by successful passage of one of these
19 examinations unless the award of credit duplicates credit
20 already awarded. Community colleges and universities may not
21 exempt students from courses without the award of credit if
22 competencies have been so demonstrated. If a student
23 successfully completes five examinations as approved by the
24 Articulation Coordinating Committee, the student shall receive
25 credits equivalent to successfully completing the equivalent
26 courses of study for those five subjects in a state university
27 or community college.
28 (3) Beginning with initial award recipients for the
29 2002-2003 academic year and continuing thereafter, in order to
30 receive a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, a student
31 students eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars award or a
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 Florida Merit Scholars award who are admitted to and enroll in
2 a community college or state university shall, prior to
3 registering for courses that may be earned through an approved
4 a CLEP examination and no later than registration for the
5 their second term, complete at least five examinations from
6 those specified in subsection (1) in any of the following
7 areas: English; humanities; mathematics; natural sciences; and
8 social sciences. Successful completion of dual enrollment
9 courses, Advanced Placement examinations, and International
10 Baccalaureate examinations in these areas may be used to taken
11 prior to high school graduation satisfy this requirement. The
12 Articulation Coordinating Committee shall identify the
13 examinations that satisfy each component of this requirement.
14 (4) Initial award recipients for the 2001-2002
15 academic year who are eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars
16 award or a Florida Merit Scholars award and who are admitted
17 to and enroll in a community college or state university may
18 choose, prior to registering for courses that may be earned
19 through CLEP examination, to complete up to five CLEP
20 examinations, one in each of the following areas: English;
21 humanities; mathematics; natural sciences; and social
22 sciences.
23 (5) Each community college and state university shall
24 pay for the CLEP examinations required pursuant to this
25 section from the funds appropriated from the Educational
26 Enhancement Trust Fund. Institutions shall pay no more than
27 $46 per examination for the program, which shall include
28 access to a student guide to prepare for the test. The
29 Department of Education shall negotiate with the College Board
30 for a reduced rate for the examinations. The institution shall
31 not charge the student for preparation and administration of
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 the test, access to a student guide to prepare for the test,
2 or recordkeeping and reporting of each student's test results
3 to the department.
4 (4)(6) The credit awarded pursuant to this section to
5 students who are enrolled in associate or baccalaureate degree
6 level programs shall apply toward the 120 hours of college
7 credit required pursuant to s. 240.115(6).
8 (5) The Department of Education shall pay for the
9 approved examinations required pursuant to this section from
10 the funds appropriated for public schools from the Educational
11 Enhancement Trust Fund. The department shall negotiate with
12 examination providers to provide for examinations and test
13 administration services on a cost effective, lowest cost per
14 test available basis.
15 (6) The Department of Education shall provide a $50
16 incentive to each student for each approved examination passed
17 that is required in this section. Funds for this incentive
18 shall be provided from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund.
19 (7) The maximum number of credit hours for which a
20 student is eligible to receive a Florida Bright Futures
21 Scholarship Program award shall be reduced by the number of
22 hours for which credit is awarded pursuant to this section.
23 (7)(8) Beginning with the 2002-2003 award recipients,
24 The Department of Education shall administer this testing
25 program for all students in the state in order to track and
26 annually report on the effectiveness of the program, and in
27 order to determine eligibility for scholarship programs. These
28 reports shall include information on the number of students
29 participating in the program; the number of approved CLEP
30 examinations taken and the passage rate of Florida Academic
31 Scholars, and Florida Merit Scholars, and Florida Gold Seal
4
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 Vocational Scholars award recipients; the use of Advanced
2 Placement and International Baccalaureate examinations and
3 dual enrollment courses to satisfy the requirements of the
4 program; and the course credit provided.
5 (8) From the funds appropriated from the Educational
6 Enhancement Trust Fund, the Department of Education shall
7 contract for centralized administrative services for this
8 program, to include: a website with appropriate links for
9 student registration; delivery of on-line test preparation,
10 study guides, and practice tests; recordkeeping; and technical
11 support.
12 Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 240.40203,
13 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
14 240.40203 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
15 student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.--
16 (2) A student who is enrolled in an associate or
17 baccalaureate degree level a program that terminates in an
18 associate degree or a baccalaureate degree may receive an
19 award for not more than 120 credit hours. If the a maximum of
20 110 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete
21 the program exceeds 120 credit hours, the student may receive
22 an award up to the maximum number of credit hours required to
23 complete the program. A student who is enrolled in a program
24 that terminates in a technical certificate may receive an
25 award for a maximum of 110 percent of the credit hours or
26 clock hours required to complete the program up to 90 credit
27 hours. A student who transfers from one of these program
28 levels to another becomes eligible for the higher of the two
29 credit hour limits.
30 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 240.40205,
31 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
5
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 240.40205 Florida Academic Scholars award.--
2 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic
3 Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility
4 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
5 Program and the student:
6 (a) Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as
7 calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in
8 high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents
9 and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
10 college-preparatory academic courses; and
11 (b) Has attained at least the score identified by
12 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
13 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
14 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
15 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
16 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; and
17 or
18 (c) Beginning with initial award recipients for the
19 2002-2003 academic year and continuing thereafter, has taken
20 five approved examinations or the equivalent as required in s.
21 240.4015; or
22 (d)(c) Has attended a home education program according
23 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
24 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
25 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
26 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
27 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
28 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
29 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
30 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
31 College Testing Program; or
6
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 (e)(d) Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate
2 Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or
3 (f)(e) Has been recognized by the merit or achievement
4 programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a
5 scholar or finalist; or
6 (g)(f) Has been recognized by the National Hispanic
7 Recognition Program as a scholar recipient.
8
9 Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, a student must
10 complete a program of community service work, as approved by
11 the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic
12 school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service
13 work and require the student to identify a social problem that
14 interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal
15 involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or
16 other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her
17 experience.
18 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 240.40206,
19 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
20 240.40206 Florida Merit Scholars award.--
21 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Merit Scholars
22 award if the student meets the general eligibility
23 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
24 Program and the student:
25 (a) Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0
26 as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or the equivalent, in
27 high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents
28 and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as
29 college-preparatory academic courses; and
30 (b) Has attained at least the score identified by
31 rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal
7
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the
2 Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic
3 Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an
4 equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; and
5 or
6 (c) Beginning with initial award recipients for the
7 2002-2003 academic year and continuing thereafter, has taken
8 five approved examinations or the equivalent as required in s.
9 240.4015; or
10 (d)(c) Has attended a home education program according
11 to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the
12 International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the
13 International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least
14 the score identified by rules of the Department of Education
15 on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the
16 Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or
17 the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College
18 Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American
19 College Testing Program.
20 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (4) of section
21 240.40207, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
22 240.40207 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
23 award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is
24 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
25 to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational
26 preparation by high school students who wish to continue their
27 education.
28 (1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal
29 Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general
30 eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures
31 Scholarship Program and the student:
8
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 (a) Completes the secondary school portion of a
2 sequential program of studies that requires at least three
3 secondary school vocational credits taken over at least 2
4 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related
5 postsecondary education program. If the student's school does
6 not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the
7 student must complete a job-preparatory career education
8 program selected by the Workforce Estimating Conference or
9 Workforce Florida, Inc., for its ability to provide high-wage
10 employment in an occupation with high potential for employment
11 opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for
12 any of the three required vocational credits.
13 (b) Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education
14 by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level
15 Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the
16 Department of Education.
17 (c) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point
18 average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all
19 subjects required for a standard high school diploma,
20 excluding elective courses.
21 (d) Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of
22 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising
23 the vocational program.
24 (e) Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready
25 diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of
26 Education.
27 (f) Beginning with initial award recipients for the
28 2002-2003 academic year and continuing thereafter, has taken
29 five approved examinations or the equivalent as required in s.
30 240.4015.
31
9
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2002 HB 1275
736-134-02
1 (4) A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational
2 Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours
3 required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the
4 equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative
5 grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education
6 work attempted may apply for a Florida Merit Scholars award at
7 any renewal period. All other provisions of that program
8 apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by
9 subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of
10 credit hours the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal
11 Vocational Scholarship.
12 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2002.
13
14 *****************************************
15 HOUSE SUMMARY
16
Revises provisions relating to the Florida Bright Futures
17 Scholarship Program. With respect to the Florida Bright
Futures Scholarship Testing Program, revises provisions
18 relating to the use of specified examinations for receipt
of college credit, expands the testing program to include
19 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars, revises provisions
relating to payment for examinations, provides for a
20 financial incentive to students for passing examinations,
and provides for centralized administrative services.
21 Revises provisions relating to the maximum number of
credit hours for which a student may receive a Florida
22 Bright Futures Scholarship.
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
10
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.