HB 1917

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to class size reduction; amending s.
31003.03, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
4determination of class size averages; providing for
5reversal of class size reduction operating categorical
6transfers under certain circumstances; amending s.
71003.429, F.S.; revising course requirements in the
8college preparatory accelerated high school graduation
9program; revising course requirements in the career
10preparatory accelerated high school graduation program;
11providing students already participating in an accelerated
12graduation program the right to continue in the current
13program; establishing requirements for selection of
14accelerated graduation options; requiring districts to
15establish a policy for extending the deadline for certain
16students to choose an accelerated graduation option;
17authorizing use of alternate assessments; revising
18requirements for grades that must be earned to participate
19in the accelerated graduation program; requiring schools
20to provide specific notices to students and parents if, at
21the end of the grade 10, the student is not on track to
22graduate; specifying certain situations in which a student
23shall be moved from a 3-year to a 4-year graduation
24program; amending s. 1003.43, F.S., relating to general
25requirements for high school graduation; authorizing use
26of alternate assessments; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.;
27authorizing the SAT and the ACT as alternate assessments
28for the grade 10 FCAT for students entering a Florida
29public school in grade 11 or grade 12 and for students who
30have exhausted all attempts to pass the grade 10 FCAT;
31deleting obsolete language; amending s. 1013.735, F.S.;
32modifying the formula for the allocation of funds from the
33Classrooms for Kids appropriation; providing an effective
34date.
35
36Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
37
38     Section 1.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and paragraph
39(a) of subsection (4) of section 1003.03, Florida Statutes, are
40amended to read:
41     1003.03  Maximum class size.--
42     (2)  IMPLEMENTATION.--
43     (c)  The Department of Education shall annually calculate
44each of the three average class size measures defined in
45paragraphs (a) and (b) based upon the October student membership
46survey. For purposes of determining the baseline from which each
47district's average class size must be reduced for the 2003-2004
48school year, the department shall use data from the February
492003 student membership survey updated to include classroom
50identification numbers as required by the department. Beginning
51in the 2004-2005 school year, if the actual student membership
52in the October survey exceeds the student membership estimate
53included in the Florida Education Finance Program first
54calculation, the maximum student membership enrollment used in
55determining the October class size averages shall be the student
56membership estimate included in the Florida Education Finance
57Program first calculation.
58     (4)  ACCOUNTABILITY.--
59     (a)  Beginning in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, if the
60department determines for any year that a school district has
61not reduced average class size as required in subsection (2) at
62the time of the third FEFP calculation, the department shall
63calculate an amount from the class size reduction operating
64categorical which is proportionate to the amount of class size
65reduction not accomplished. Upon verification of the
66department's calculation by the Florida Education Finance
67Program Appropriation Allocation Conference, the Executive
68Office of the Governor shall transfer undistributed funds
69equivalent to the calculated amount from the district's class
70size reduction operating categorical to an approved fixed
71capital outlay appropriation for class size reduction in the
72affected district pursuant to s. 216.292(13). The amount of
73funds transferred shall be the lesser of the amount verified by
74the Florida Education Finance Program Appropriation Allocation
75Conference or the undistributed balance of the district's class
76size reduction operating categorical. However, based upon a
77recommendation by the Commissioner of Education that the State
78Board of Education has reviewed evidence indicating that a
79district has been unable to meet class size reduction
80requirements despite appropriate effort to do so, the
81Legislative Budget Commission may approve an alternative amount
82of funds to be transferred from the district's class size
83reduction operating categorical to its approved fixed capital
84outlay account for class size reduction. Beginning in the 2004-
852005 school year, a district that fully achieves the required
86class size averages when compared to the February 2003 baseline
87student membership survey shall be eligible for a reversal of
88the prior year class size reduction operating categorical
89transfer that resulted from its inability to achieve the
90required class size averages as required in subsection (2).
91     Section 2.  Section 1003.429, Florida Statutes, is amended
92to read:
93     1003.429  Accelerated high school graduation options.--
94     (1)  Students who enter grade 9 in the 2004-2005 school
95year Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, all students
96scheduled to graduate in 2004 and thereafter may select one of
97the following three high school graduation options:
98     (a)  Completion of the general requirements for high school
99graduation pursuant to s. 1003.43;
100     (b)  Completion of a 3-year standard college preparatory
101program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18
102academic credits in grades 9 through 12. At least 6 of the 18
103credits required for completion of this program must be received
104in classes that are honors, dual enrollment, advanced placement,
105International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certificate
106of Education, specifically listed or identified by the
107Department of Education as rigorous pursuant to s. 1009.531(3),
108or weighted by the district school board for class ranking
109purposes. The 18 credits required for completion of this program
110shall be primary requirements and shall be distributed as
111follows:
112     1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
113composition and literature;
114     2.  Three credits in mathematics at the Algebra I level or
115higher from the list of courses that qualify for state
116university admission;
117     3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must
118have a laboratory component;
119     4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must include
120one credit in American history, one credit in world history,
121one-half credit in American government, and one-half credit in
122economics;
123     5.  Two credits in the same second language unless the
124student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate
125competency in a language other than English. If the student
126demonstrates competency in another language, the student may
127replace the language requirement with two credits in other
128academic courses; and
129     6.  Three credits in electives; or
130     (c)  Completion of a 3-year career preparatory program
131requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18 academic
132credits in grades 9 through 12. The 18 credits shall be primary
133requirements and shall be distributed as follows:
134     1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
135composition and literature;
136     2.  Three credits in mathematics, one of which must be
137Algebra I;
138     3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must
139have a laboratory component;
140     4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must include
141one credit in American history, one credit in world history,
142one-half credit in American government, and one-half credit in
143economics;
144     5.  Three Two credits in a single vocational or career
145education program, three credits in career and technical
146certificate dual enrollment courses, or five credits in
147vocational or career education courses the same second language
148unless the student is a native speaker of or can otherwise
149demonstrate competency in a language other than English. If the
150student demonstrates competency in another language, the student
151may replace the language requirement with two credits in other
152academic courses; and
153     6.  Two Three credits in electives unless five credits are
154earned pursuant to subparagraph 5.
155
156Any student who selected an accelerated graduation program
157before July 1, 2004, may continue that program, and all
158statutory program requirements that were applicable when the
159student made the program choice shall remain applicable to the
160student as long as the student continues that program.
161     (2)  Prior to selecting a program described in paragraph
162(1)(b) or paragraph (1)(c), the following requirements must be
163met:
164     (a)  Designated school personnel shall meet with the
165student and student's parent to give an explanation of the
166relative requirements, advantages, and disadvantages of each
167graduation option.
168     (b)  The student shall submit to the high school principal
169and guidance counselor a signed parental consent to enter the 3-
170year accelerated graduation program.
171     (c)  The student shall have achieved at least an FCAT
172reading achievement level of 3, an FCAT mathematics achievement
173level of 3, and an FCAT Writing score of 3 on the most recent
174assessments taken by the student.
175     (3)(2)  Beginning with the 2004-2005 2003-2004 school year,
176each district school board shall provide each student in grades
1776 through 9 12 and their parents with information concerning the
1783-year and 4-year high school graduation options listed in
179subsection (1), including the respective curriculum requirements
180for those options, so that with curriculum for the students and
181their parents may to select the postsecondary education or
182career plan that best fits their needs. The information options
183shall include a timeframe for achieving each graduation option.
184     (4)(3)  Selection of one of the graduation options listed
185in subsection (1) must be completed by the student prior to the
186end of grade 9 and is exclusively up to the student and parent,
187subject to the requirements in subsection (2). Each district
188school board shall establish policies for extending this
189deadline to the end of a student's first semester of grade 10
190for a student who entered a Florida public school after grade 9
191upon transfer from a private school or another state or who was
192prevented from choosing a graduation option due to illness
193during grade 9. If the student and parent fail to select a
194graduation option, the student shall be considered to have
195selected the general requirements for high school graduation
196pursuant to paragraph (1)(a).
197     (5)(4)  District school boards shall not establish
198requirements for accelerated 3-year high school graduation
199options in excess of the requirements in paragraphs (1)(b) and
200(c).
201     (6)(5)  Students pursuing accelerated 3-year high school
202graduation options pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph
203(1)(c) are required to:
204     (a)  Earn passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.
2051008.22(3)(c) or scores on a standardized test that are
206concordant with passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.
2071008.22(9).
208     (b)1.  Achieve a cumulative weighted grade point average of
2093.0 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses
210required for the college preparatory by the chosen accelerated
2113-year high school graduation option pursuant to paragraph
212(1)(b); or
213     2.  Achieve a cumulative weighted grade point average of
2142.5 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required
215for the career preparatory accelerated 3-year high school
216graduation option pursuant to paragraph (1)(c).
217     (c)  Receive a weighted or unweighted grade that earns at
218least 3.0 points, or its equivalent, to earn course credit
219toward the 18 credits required for the college preparatory
220accelerated 3-year high school graduation option pursuant to
221paragraph (1)(b).
222     (d)  Receive a weighted or unweighted grade that earns at
223least 2.0 points, or its equivalent, to earn course credit
224toward the 18 credits required for the career preparatory
225accelerated 3-year high school graduation option pursuant to
226paragraph (1)(c).
227
228Weighted grades referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d)
229shall be applied to those courses specifically listed or
230identified by the department as rigorous pursuant to s.
2311009.531(3) or weighted by the district school board for class
232ranking purposes.
233     (7)  If, at the end of grade 10, a student is not on track
234to meet the credit, assessment, or grade-point-average
235requirements of the accelerated graduation option selected, the
236school shall notify the student and parent of the following:
237     (a)  The requirements that the student is not currently
238meeting.
239     (b)  The specific performance necessary in grade 11 for the
240student to meet the accelerated graduation requirements.
241     (c)  The right of the student to change to the 4-year
242program set forth in s. 1003.43.
243     (8)  A student who selected one of the accelerated 3-year
244graduation options shall automatically move to the 4-year
245program set forth in s. 1003.43 if the student:
246     (a)  Exercises his or her right to change to the 4-year
247program;
248     (b)  Fails to earn 5 credits by the end of grade 9 or fails
249to earn 11 credits by the end of grade 10;
250     (c)  Does not achieve a score of 3 or higher on the grade
25110 FCAT Writing assessment; or
252     (d)  By the end of grade 11 does not meet the requirements
253of subsections (1) and (6).
254     (9)(6)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed in
255subsections (1) and (6)(5) shall be awarded a standard diploma
256in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.
257     Section 3.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
2581003.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
259     1003.43  General requirements for high school graduation.--
260     (5)  Each district school board shall establish standards
261for graduation from its schools, and these standards must
262include:
263     (a)  Earning passing scores on the FCAT, as defined in s.
2641008.22(3)(c) or scores on a standardized test that are
265concordant with passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.
2661008.22(9).
267
268The standards required in this subsection, and any subsequent
269modifications, shall be reprinted in the Florida Administrative
270Code even though not defined as "rules."
271     Section 4.  Subsection (9) of section 1008.22, Florida
272Statutes, is amended to read:
273     1008.22  Student assessment program for public schools.--
274     (9)  EQUIVALENCIES FOR STANDARDIZED TESTS.--Any student who
275enters a Florida public school at the eleventh grade or the
276twelfth grade or any student who has exhausted all of his or her
277attempts to pass the grade 10 FCAT and The Commissioner of
278Education shall determine the comparable validity of other
279available standardized tests, including the SAT, ACT, College
280Placement Test, PSAT, PLAN, and tests used for entry into the
281military. If such tests are deemed to be valid and reliable
282measures, the commissioner shall approve the use of such tests
283as alternate assessments to the grade 10 FCAT for the 2002-2003
284school year. Students who attains attain scores on the SAT or
285the ACT that are concordant with equate to the passing scores on
286the grade 10 FCAT for purposes of high school graduation on any
287of the approved alternative assessments shall satisfy the
288assessment requirement for a standard high school diploma as
289provided in s. 1003.429(6)(a) or s. 1003.43(5)(a) for the 2002-
2902003 school year graduating class. Prior to the application of
291these alternative assessments in subsequent school years, the
292Legislature shall review the continued use of these alternative
293tests.
294     Section 5.  Subsection (1) of section 1013.735, Florida
295Statutes, is amended to read:
296     1013.735  Classrooms for Kids Program.--
297     (1)  ALLOCATION.--The department shall allocate funds
298appropriated for the Classrooms for Kids Program. It is the
299intent of the Legislature that this program be administered as
300nearly as practicable in the same manner as the capital outlay
301program authorized under s. 9(a), Art. XII of the State
302Constitution. Each district school board's share of the annual
303appropriation for the Classrooms for Kids Program must be
304calculated according to the following formula:
305     (a)  Twenty-five percent of the appropriation shall be
306prorated to the districts based on each district's percentage of
307K-12 base capital outlay full-time equivalent membership, and 65
308percent shall be based on each district's percentage of K-12
309growth capital outlay full-time equivalent membership as
310specified for the allocation of funds from the Public Education
311Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund by s. 1013.64(3).
312     (b)  Ten percent of the appropriation must be allocated
313among district school boards according to the allocation formula
314in s. 1013.64(1)(a), excluding adult vocational technical
315facilities.
316     Section 6.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.