Senate Bill sb0364er

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  1                                 

  2         An act relating to public K-12 educational

  3         instruction; amending s. 1003.429, F.S.;

  4         revising course requirements in the college

  5         preparatory accelerated high school graduation

  6         program; revising course requirements in the

  7         career preparatory accelerated high school

  8         graduation program; providing students already

  9         participating in an accelerated graduation

10         program the right to continue in the current

11         program; establishing requirements for

12         selection of accelerated graduation options;

13         requiring districts to establish a policy for

14         extending the deadline for certain students to

15         choose an accelerated graduation option;

16         authorizing use of alternate assessments;

17         revising requirements for grades that must be

18         earned to participate in the accelerated

19         graduation program; requiring schools to

20         provide specific notices to students and

21         parents if, at the end of the grade 10, the

22         student is not on track to graduate; specifying

23         certain situations in which a student shall be

24         moved from a 3-year to a 4-year graduation

25         program; amending s. 1003.43, F.S., relating to

26         general requirements for high school

27         graduation; authorizing use of alternate

28         assessments; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.;

29         authorizing the SAT and the ACT as alternative

30         assessments to the grade 10 FCAT required for

31         high school graduation if students have


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 1         attempted to pass the grade 10 FCAT at least 3

 2         times; deleting obsolete language; amending s.

 3         1013.735, F.S.; modifying the formula for the

 4         allocation of funds from the Classrooms for

 5         Kids appropriation; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.;

 6         providing certain rights to parents of students

 7         with reading deficiencies; requiring that

 8         parents receive understandable information and

 9         are consulted regarding a child's academic

10         progress; amending s. 1008.25, F.S.; removing

11         an obsolete date; providing notification of

12         additional information to parents of students

13         who exhibit a substantial reading deficiency;

14         revising certain good cause exemptions from

15         mandatory retention; requiring school districts

16         to provide certain reading interventions to

17         students who have been retained; providing

18         school district requirements relating to

19         remediation of student reading deficiencies,

20         parental notification, implementation of a

21         mid-year promotion policy, provision of

22         instructional options for students,

23         establishment of a Reading Enhancement and

24         Acceleration Development (READ) Initiative and

25         an Intensive Acceleration Class, and reporting;

26         providing an effective date.

27  

28  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

29  

30         Section 1.  Section 1003.429, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:


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 1         1003.429  Accelerated high school graduation options.--

 2         (1)  Students who enter grade 9 in the 2004-2005 school

 3  year Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, all students

 4  scheduled to graduate in 2004 and thereafter may select one of

 5  the following three high school graduation options:

 6         (a)  Completion of the general requirements for high

 7  school graduation pursuant to s. 1003.43;

 8         (b)  Completion of a 3-year standard college

 9  preparatory program requiring successful completion of a

10  minimum of 18 academic credits in grades 9 through 12. At

11  least 6 of the 18 credits required for completion of this

12  program must be received in classes that are honors, dual

13  enrollment, advanced placement, International Baccalaureate,

14  Advanced International Certificate of Education, specifically

15  listed or identified by the Department of Education as

16  rigorous pursuant to s. 1009.531(3), or weighted by the

17  district school board for class ranking purposes. The 18

18  credits required for completion of this program shall be

19  primary requirements and shall be distributed as follows:

20         1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration

21  in composition and literature;

22         2.  Three credits in mathematics at the Algebra I level

23  or higher from the list of courses that qualify for state

24  university admission;

25         3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must

26  have a laboratory component;

27         4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must

28  include one credit in American history, one credit in world

29  history, one-half credit in American government, and one-half

30  credit in economics;

31  


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 1         5.  Two credits in the same second language unless the

 2  student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate

 3  competency in a language other than English. If the student

 4  demonstrates competency in another language, the student may

 5  replace the language requirement with two credits in other

 6  academic courses; and

 7         6.  Three credits in electives; or

 8         (c)  Completion of a 3-year career preparatory program

 9  requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18 academic

10  credits in grades 9 through 12. The 18 credits shall be

11  primary requirements and shall be distributed as follows:

12         1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration

13  in composition and literature;

14         2.  Three credits in mathematics, one of which must be

15  Algebra I;

16         3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must

17  have a laboratory component;

18         4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must

19  include one credit in American history, one credit in world

20  history, one-half credit in American government, and one-half

21  credit in economics;

22         5.  Three Two credits in a single vocational or career

23  education program, three credits in career and technical

24  certificate dual enrollment courses, or five credits in

25  vocational or career education courses the same second

26  language unless the student is a native speaker of or can

27  otherwise demonstrate competency in a language other than

28  English. If the student demonstrates competency in another

29  language, the student may replace the language requirement

30  with two credits in other academic courses; and

31  


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 1         6.  Two Three credits in electives unless five credits

 2  are earned pursuant to subparagraph 5.

 3  

 4  Any student who selected an accelerated graduation program

 5  before July 1, 2004, may continue that program, and all

 6  statutory program requirements that were applicable when the

 7  student made the program choice shall remain applicable to the

 8  student as long as the student continues that program.

 9         (2)  Prior to selecting a program described in

10  paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph (1)(c), the following

11  requirements must be met:

12         (a)  Designated school personnel shall meet with the

13  student and student's parent to give an explanation of the

14  relative requirements, advantages, and disadvantages of each

15  graduation option.

16         (b)  The student shall submit to the high school

17  principal and guidance counselor a signed parental consent to

18  enter the 3-year accelerated graduation program.

19         (c)  The student shall have achieved at least an FCAT

20  reading achievement level of 3, an FCAT mathematics

21  achievement level of 3, and an FCAT Writing score of 3 on the

22  most recent assessments taken by the student.

23         (3)(2)  Beginning with the 2004-2005 2003-2004 school

24  year, each district school board shall provide each student in

25  grades 6 through 9 12 and their parents with information

26  concerning the 3-year and 4-year high school graduation

27  options listed in subsection (1), including the respective

28  curriculum requirements for those options, so that with

29  curriculum for the students and their parents may to select

30  the postsecondary education or career plan that best fits

31  


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 1  their needs. The information options shall include a timeframe

 2  for achieving each graduation option.

 3         (4)(3)  Selection of one of the graduation options

 4  listed in subsection (1) must be completed by the student

 5  prior to the end of grade 9 and  is exclusively up to the

 6  student and parent, subject to the requirements in subsection

 7  (2). Each district school board shall establish policies for

 8  extending this deadline to the end of a student's first

 9  semester of grade 10 for a student who entered a Florida

10  public school after grade 9 upon transfer from a private

11  school or another state or who was prevented from choosing a

12  graduation option due to illness during grade 9. If the

13  student and parent fail to select a graduation option, the

14  student shall be considered to have selected the general

15  requirements for high school graduation pursuant to paragraph

16  (1)(a).

17         (5)(4)  District school boards shall not establish

18  requirements for accelerated 3-year high school graduation

19  options in excess of the requirements in paragraphs (1)(b) and

20  (c).

21         (6)(5)  Students pursuing accelerated 3-year high

22  school graduation options pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) or

23  paragraph (1)(c) are required to:

24         (a)  Earn passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.

25  1008.22(3)(c) or scores on a standardized test that are

26  concordant with passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.

27  1008.22(9).

28         (b)1.  Achieve a cumulative weighted grade point

29  average of 3.0 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the

30  courses required for the college preparatory by the chosen

31  


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 1  accelerated 3-year high school graduation option pursuant to

 2  paragraph (1)(b); or

 3         2.  Achieve a cumulative weighted grade point average

 4  of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses

 5  required for the career preparatory accelerated 3-year high

 6  school graduation option pursuant to paragraph (1)(c).

 7         (c)  Receive a weighted or unweighted grade that earns

 8  at least 3.0 points, or its equivalent, to earn course credit

 9  toward the 18 credits required for the college preparatory

10  accelerated 3-year high school graduation option pursuant to

11  paragraph (1)(b).

12         (d)  Receive a weighted or unweighted grade that earns

13  at least 2.0 points, or its equivalent, to earn course credit

14  toward the 18 credits required for the career preparatory

15  accelerated 3-year high school graduation option pursuant to

16  paragraph (1)(c).

17  

18  Weighted grades referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d)

19  shall be applied to those courses specifically listed or

20  identified by the department as rigorous pursuant to s.

21  1009.531(3) or weighted by the district school board for class

22  ranking purposes.

23         (7)  If, at the end of grade 10, a student is not on

24  track to meet the credit, assessment, or grade-point-average

25  requirements of the accelerated graduation option selected,

26  the school shall notify the student and parent of the

27  following:

28         (a)  The requirements that the student is not currently

29  meeting.

30         (b)  The specific performance necessary in grade 11 for

31  the student to meet the accelerated graduation requirements.


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 1         (c)  The right of the student to change to the 4-year

 2  program set forth in s. 1003.43.

 3         (8)  A student who selected one of the accelerated

 4  3-year graduation options shall automatically move to the

 5  4-year program set forth in s. 1003.43 if the student:

 6         (a)  Exercises his or her right to change to the 4-year

 7  program;

 8         (b)  Fails to earn 5 credits by the end of grade 9 or

 9  fails to earn 11 credits by the end of grade 10;

10         (c)  Does not achieve a score of 3 or higher on the

11  grade 10 FCAT Writing assessment; or

12         (d)  By the end of grade 11 does not meet the

13  requirements of subsections (1) and (6).

14         (9)(6)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed

15  in subsections (1) and (6)(5) shall be awarded a standard

16  diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.

17         Section 2.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section

18  1003.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         1003.43  General requirements for high school

20  graduation.--

21         (5)  Each district school board shall establish

22  standards for graduation from its schools, and these standards

23  must include:

24         (a)  Earning passing scores on the FCAT, as defined in

25  s. 1008.22(3)(c) or scores on a standardized test that are

26  concordant with passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.

27  1008.22(9).

28  

29  The standards required in this subsection, and any subsequent

30  modifications, shall be reprinted in the Florida

31  Administrative Code even though not defined as "rules."


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 1         Section 3.  Subsection (9) of section 1008.22, Florida

 2  Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         1008.22  Student assessment program for public

 4  schools.--

 5         (9)  EQUIVALENCIES FOR STANDARDIZED TESTS.--

 6         (a)  The Commissioner of Education shall determine the

 7  comparable validity of other available standardized tests,

 8  including the SAT, ACT, College Placement Test, PSAT, PLAN,

 9  and tests used for entry into the military. If such tests are

10  deemed to be valid and reliable measures, the commissioner

11  shall approve the use of the SAT and ACT such tests as

12  alternative alternate assessments to the grade 10 FCAT for the

13  2003-2004 2002-2003 school year. Students who attain scores on

14  the SAT or ACT which that equate to the passing scores on the

15  grade 10 FCAT for purposes of high school graduation on any of

16  the approved alternative assessments shall satisfy the

17  assessment requirement for a standard high school diploma as

18  provided in s. 1003.429(6)(a) or s. 1003.43(5)(a) for the

19  2003-2004 2002-2003 school year graduating class if the

20  students meet the requirement in paragraph (b). Prior to the

21  application of these alternative assessments in subsequent

22  school years, the Legislature shall review the continued use

23  of these alternative tests.

24         (b)  A student shall be required to take the grade 10

25  FCAT a total of three times without earning a passing score in

26  order to use the scores on an alternative assessment pursuant

27  to paragraph (a). This requirement shall not apply to a

28  student who is a new student to the public school system in

29  grade 12.

30         Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 1013.735, Florida

31  Statutes, is amended to read:


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 1         1013.735  Classrooms for Kids Program.--

 2         (1)  ALLOCATION.--The department shall allocate funds

 3  appropriated for the Classrooms for Kids Program. It is the

 4  intent of the Legislature that this program be administered as

 5  nearly as practicable in the same manner as the capital outlay

 6  program authorized under s. 9(a), Art. XII of the State

 7  Constitution. Each district school board's share of the annual

 8  appropriation for the Classrooms for Kids Program must be

 9  calculated according to the following formula:

10         (a)  Twenty-five percent of the appropriation shall be

11  prorated to the districts based on each district's percentage

12  of K-12 base capital outlay full-time equivalent membership,

13  and 65 percent shall be based on each district's percentage of

14  K-12 growth capital outlay full-time equivalent membership as

15  specified for the allocation of funds from the Public

16  Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund by s.

17  1013.64(3).

18         (b)  Ten percent of the appropriation must be allocated

19  among district school boards according to the allocation

20  formula in s. 1013.64(1)(a), excluding adult vocational

21  technical facilities.

22         Section 5.  Subsections (11) through (22) of section

23  1002.20, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (12)

24  through (23), respectively, and a new subsection (11) is added

25  to said section to read:

26         1002.20  K-12 student and parent rights.--Parents of

27  public school students must receive accurate and timely

28  information regarding their child's academic progress and must

29  be informed of ways they can help their child to succeed in

30  school. K-12 students and their parents are afforded numerous

31  statutory rights including, but not limited to, the following:


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 1         (11)  STUDENTS WITH READING DEFICIENCIES.--Each

 2  elementary school shall regularly assess the reading ability

 3  of each K-3 student. The parent of any K-3 student who

 4  exhibits a reading deficiency shall be immediately notified of

 5  the student's deficiency with a description and explanation,

 6  in terms understandable to the parent, of the exact nature of

 7  the student's difficulty in learning and lack of achievement

 8  in reading; shall be consulted in the development of a

 9  detailed academic improvement plan, as described in s.

10  1008.25(4)(b); and shall be informed that the student will be

11  given intensive reading instruction until the deficiency is

12  corrected. This subsection operates in addition to the

13  remediation and notification provisions contained in s.

14  1008.25 and in no way reduces the rights of a parent or the

15  responsibilities of a school district under that section.

16         Section 6.  Subsection (5) and paragraph (b) of

17  subsection (6) of section 1008.25, Florida Statutes, are

18  amended, subsections (7), (8), and (9) are renumbered as

19  subsections (8), (9), and (10), respectively, and a new

20  subsection (7) is added to said section, to read:

21         1008.25  Public school student progression; remedial

22  instruction; reporting requirements.--

23         (5)  READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.--

24         (a)  It is the ultimate goal of the Legislature that

25  every student read at or above grade level. Any student who

26  exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading, based upon

27  locally determined or statewide assessments conducted in

28  kindergarten or grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3, or through

29  teacher observations, must be given intensive reading

30  instruction immediately following the identification of the

31  reading deficiency. The student's reading proficiency must be


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 1  reassessed by locally determined assessments or through

 2  teacher observations at the beginning of the grade following

 3  the intensive reading instruction. The student must continue

 4  to be provided with intensive reading instruction until the

 5  reading deficiency is remedied.

 6         (b)  Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, if the

 7  student's reading deficiency, as identified in paragraph (a),

 8  is not remedied by the end of grade 3, as demonstrated by

 9  scoring at Level 2 or higher on the statewide assessment test

10  in reading for grade 3, the student must be retained.

11         (c)  Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, The

12  parent of any student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in

13  reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be notified in

14  writing of the following:

15         1.  That his or her child has been identified as having

16  a substantial deficiency in reading.

17         2.  A description of the current services that are

18  provided to the child.

19         3.  A description of the proposed supplemental

20  instructional services and supports that will be provided to

21  the child that are designed to remediate the identified area

22  of reading deficiency.

23         4.  That if the child's reading deficiency is not

24  remediated by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained

25  unless he or she is exempt from mandatory retention for good

26  cause.

27         5.  Strategies for parents to use in helping their

28  child succeed in reading proficiency.

29         6.  That the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test

30  (FCAT) is not the sole determiner of promotion and that

31  additional evaluations, portfolio reviews, and assessments are


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 1  available to the child to assist parents and the school

 2  district in knowing when a child is reading at or above grade

 3  level and ready for grade promotion.

 4         7.  The district's specific criteria and policies for

 5  mid-year promotion. Mid-year promotion means promotion of a

 6  retained student at any time during the year of retention once

 7  the student has demonstrated ability to read at grade level.

 8         (6)  ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL PROMOTION.--

 9         (b)  The district school board may only exempt students

10  from mandatory retention, as provided in paragraph (5)(b), for

11  good cause. Good cause exemptions shall be limited to the

12  following:

13         1.  Limited English proficient students who have had

14  less than 2 years of instruction in an English for Speakers of

15  Other Languages program.

16         2.  Students with disabilities whose individual

17  education plan indicates that participation in the statewide

18  assessment program is not appropriate, consistent with the

19  requirements of State Board of Education rule.

20         3.  Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of

21  performance on an alternative standardized reading assessment

22  approved by the State Board of Education.

23         4.  Students who demonstrate, through a student

24  portfolio, that the student is reading on grade level as

25  evidenced by demonstration of mastery of the Sunshine State

26  Standards in reading equal to at least a Level 2 performance

27  on the FCAT.

28         5.  Students with disabilities who participate in the

29  FCAT and who have an individual education plan or a Section

30  504 plan that reflects that the student has received the

31  intensive remediation in reading, as required by paragraph


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 1  (4)(b), for more than 2 years but still demonstrates a

 2  deficiency in reading and was previously retained in

 3  kindergarten, grade 1, or grade 2, or grade 3.

 4         6.  Students who have received the intensive

 5  remediation in reading as required by paragraph (4)(b) for 2

 6  or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency in reading

 7  and who were previously retained in kindergarten, grade 1, or

 8  grade 2, or grade 3 for a total of 2 years. Intensive reading

 9  instruction for students so promoted must include an altered

10  instructional day based upon an academic improvement plan that

11  includes specialized diagnostic information and specific

12  reading strategies for each student. The district school board

13  shall assist schools and teachers to implement reading

14  strategies that research has shown to be successful in

15  improving reading among low performing readers.

16         (7)  SUCCESSFUL PROGRESSION FOR RETAINED READERS.--

17         (a)  Students retained under the provisions of

18  paragraph (5)(b) must be provided intensive interventions in

19  reading to ameliorate the student's specific reading

20  deficiency, as identified by a valid and reliable diagnostic

21  assessment. This intensive intervention must include effective

22  instructional strategies, participation in the school

23  district's summer reading camp, and appropriate teaching

24  methodologies necessary to assist those students in becoming

25  successful readers, able to read at or above grade level, and

26  ready for promotion to the next grade.

27         (b)  Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, each

28  school district shall:

29         1.  Conduct a review of student academic improvement

30  plans for all students who did not score above Level 1 on the

31  reading portion of the FCAT and did not meet the criteria for


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 1  one of the good cause exemptions in paragraph (6)(b). The

 2  review shall address additional supports and services, as

 3  described in this subsection, needed to remediate the

 4  identified areas of reading deficiency. The school district

 5  shall require a student portfolio to be completed for each

 6  such student.

 7         2.  Provide students who are retained under the

 8  provisions of paragraph (5)(b) with intensive instructional

 9  services and supports to remediate the identified areas of

10  reading deficiency, including a minimum of 90 minutes of

11  daily, uninterrupted, scientifically research-based reading

12  instruction and other strategies prescribed by the school

13  district, which may include, but are not limited to:

14         a.  Small group instruction.

15         b.  Reduced teacher-student ratios.

16         c.  More frequent progress monitoring.

17         d.  Tutoring or mentoring.

18         e.  Transition classes containing 3rd and 4th grade

19  students.

20         f.  Extended school day, week, or year.

21         g.  Summer reading camps.

22         3.  Provide written notification to the parent of any

23  student who is retained under the provisions of paragraph

24  (5)(b) that his or her child has not met the proficiency level

25  required for promotion and the reasons the child is not

26  eligible for a good cause exemption as provided in paragraph

27  (6)(b). The notification must comply with the provisions of s.

28  1002.20(14) and must include a description of proposed

29  interventions and supports that will be provided to the child

30  to remediate the identified areas of reading deficiency.

31  


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 1         4.  Implement a policy for the mid-year promotion of

 2  any student retained under the provisions of paragraph (5)(b)

 3  who can demonstrate that he or she is a successful and

 4  independent reader, reading at or above grade level, and ready

 5  to be promoted to grade 4. Tools that school districts may use

 6  in reevaluating any student retained may include subsequent

 7  assessments, alternative assessments, and portfolio reviews,

 8  in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.

 9  Students promoted during the school year after November 1 must

10  demonstrate proficiency above that required to score at Level

11  2 on the grade 3 FCAT, as determined by the State Board of

12  Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt standards

13  that provide a reasonable expectation that the student's

14  progress is sufficient to master appropriate 4th grade level

15  reading skills.

16         5.  Provide students who are retained under the

17  provisions of paragraph (5)(b) with a high-performing teacher

18  as determined by student performance data and

19  above-satisfactory performance appraisals.

20         6.  In addition to required reading enhancement and

21  acceleration strategies, provide parents of students to be

22  retained with at least one of the following instructional

23  options:

24         a.  Supplemental tutoring in scientifically

25  research-based reading services in addition to the regular

26  reading block, including tutoring before and/or after school.

27         b.  A "Read at Home" plan outlined in a parental

28  contract, including participation in "Families Building Better

29  Readers Workshops" and regular parent-guided home reading.

30         c.  A mentor or tutor with specialized reading

31  training.


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 1         7.  Establish a Reading Enhancement and Acceleration

 2  Development (READ) Initiative. The focus of the READ

 3  Initiative shall be to prevent the retention of grade 3

 4  students and to offer intensive accelerated reading

 5  instruction to grade 3 students who failed to meet standards

 6  for promotion to grade 4 and to each K-3 student who is

 7  assessed as exhibiting a reading deficiency. The READ

 8  Initiative shall:

 9         a.  Be provided to all K-3 students at risk of

10  retention as identified by the statewide assessment system

11  used in Reading First schools. The assessment must measure

12  phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and

13  comprehension.

14         b.  Be provided during regular school hours in addition

15  to the regular reading instruction.

16         c.  Provide a state-identified reading curriculum that

17  has been reviewed by the Florida Center for Reading Research

18  at Florida State University and meets, at a minimum, the

19  following specifications:

20         (I)  Assists students assessed as exhibiting a reading

21  deficiency in developing the ability to read at grade level.

22         (II)  Provides skill development in phonemic awareness,

23  phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

24         (III)  Provides scientifically based and reliable

25  assessment.

26         (IV)  Provides initial and ongoing analysis of each

27  student's reading progress.

28         (V)  Is implemented during regular school hours.

29         (VI)  Provides a curriculum in core academic subjects

30  to assist the student in maintaining or meeting proficiency

31  levels for the appropriate grade in all academic subjects.


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    ENROLLED

    2004 Legislature                  CS for SB 364, 2nd Engrossed



 1         8.  Establish at each school, where applicable, an

 2  Intensive Acceleration Class for retained grade 3 students who

 3  subsequently score at Level 1 on the reading portion of the

 4  FCAT. The focus of the Intensive Acceleration Class shall be

 5  to increase a child's reading level at least two grade levels

 6  in one school year. The Intensive Acceleration Class shall:

 7         a.  Be provided to any student in grade 3 who scores at

 8  Level 1 on the reading portion of the FCAT and who was

 9  retained in grade 3 the prior year because of scoring at Level

10  1 on the reading portion of the FCAT.

11         b.  Have a reduced teacher-student ratio.

12         c.  Provide uninterrupted reading instruction for the

13  majority of student contact time each day and incorporate

14  opportunities to master the grade 4 Sunshine State Standards

15  in other core subject areas.

16         d.  Use a reading program that is scientifically

17  research-based and has proven results in accelerating student

18  reading achievement within the same school year.

19         e.  Provide intensive language and vocabulary

20  instruction using a scientifically research-based program,

21  including use of a speech language therapist.

22         f.  Include weekly progress monitoring measures to

23  ensure progress is being made.

24         g.  Report to the Department of Education, in the

25  manner described by the department, the progress of students

26  in the class at the end of the first semester.

27         9.  Report to the State Board of Education, as

28  requested, on the specific intensive reading interventions and

29  supports implemented at the school district level. The

30  Commissioner of Education shall annually prescribe the

31  required components of requested reports.


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    ENROLLED

    2004 Legislature                  CS for SB 364, 2nd Engrossed



 1         10.  Provide a student who has been retained in grade 3

 2  and has received intensive instructional services but is still

 3  not ready for grade promotion, as determined by the school

 4  district, the option of being placed in a transitional

 5  instructional setting. Such setting shall specifically be

 6  designed to produce learning gains sufficient to meet grade 4

 7  performance standards while continuing to remediate the areas

 8  of reading deficiency.

 9         Section 7.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

10  law.

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                                  19

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