HB 265

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to health education; amending s.
3	1003.428, F.S.; providing for a mandatory one-half
4	credit in health education, independent of physical
5	education credit requirements, for all high school
6	students beginning with those entering the first year of
7	high school in 2007-2008; providing a waiver for
8	students who request to take and successfully complete a
9	health assessment created by the Department of
10	Education; reducing the number of elective courses
11	chosen by students; providing an effective date.
12
13	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15	Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 1003.428, Florida
16	Statutes, is amended to read:
17	1003.428  General requirements for high school
18	graduation; revised.--
19	(2)  The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
20	integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
21	Education and shall be distributed as follows:
22	(a)  Sixteen and one-half core curriculum credits:
23	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
24	composition, reading for information, and literature.
25	2.  Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
26	Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
27	higher-level mathematics course. School districts are
28	encouraged to set specific goals to increase enrollments in,
29	and successful completion of, geometry and Algebra II.
30	3.  Three credits in science, two of which must have a
31	laboratory component.
32	4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one
33	credit in American history; one credit in world history; one-
34	half credit in economics; and one-half credit in American
35	government.
36	5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, which may
37	include speech and debate.
38	6.  One credit in physical education to include
39	integration of health. Participation in an interscholastic
40	sport at the junior varsity or varsity level for two full
41	seasons shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical
42	education if the student passes a competency test on personal
43	fitness with a score of "C" or better. The competency test on
44	personal fitness must be developed by the Department of
45	Education. A district school board may not require that the
46	one credit in physical education be taken during the 9th grade
47	year. Completion of one semester with a grade of "C" or better
48	in a marching band class, in a physical activity class that
49	requires participation in marching band activities as an
50	extracurricular activity, or in a dance class shall satisfy
51	one-half credit in physical education or one-half credit in
52	performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
53	personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
54	physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
55	504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a Reserve Officer Training
56	Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant component of which is
57	drills, shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical
58	education and the one-credit requirement in performing arts.
59	This credit may not be used to satisfy the personal fitness
60	requirement or the requirement for adaptive physical education
61	under an individual education plan (IEP) or 504 plan.
62	7.  One-half credit in health education. A student may
63	waive the health education requirement if the student requests
64	to take the health education assessment and scores a "C" or
65	better. The Department of Education shall develop the health
66	education assessment.
67	(b)  Seven and one-half Eight credits in majors, minors,
68	or electives:
69	1.  Four credits in a major area of interest, such as
70	sequential courses in a career and technical program, fine and
71	performing arts, or academic content area, selected by the
72	student as part of the education plan required by s.
73	1003.4156. Students may revise major areas of interest each
74	year as part of annual course registration processes and
75	should update their education plan to reflect such revisions.
76	Annually by October 1, the district school board shall approve
77	major areas of interest and submit the list of majors to the
78	Commissioner of Education for approval. Each major area of
79	interest shall be deemed approved unless specifically rejected
80	by the commissioner within 60 days. Upon approval, each
81	district's major areas of interest shall be available for use
82	by all school districts and shall be posted on the
83	department's website.
84	2.  Three and one-half Four credits in elective courses
85	selected by the student as part of the education plan required
86	by s. 1003.4156. These credits may be combined to allow for a
87	second major area of interest pursuant to subparagraph 1., a
88	minor area of interest, elective courses, or intensive reading
89	or mathematics intervention courses as described in this
90	subparagraph.
91	a.  Minor areas of interest are composed of three credits
92	selected by the student as part of the education plan required
93	by s. 1003.4156 and approved by the district school board.
94	b.  Elective courses are selected by the student in order
95	to pursue a complete education program as described in s.
96	1001.41(3) and to meet eligibility requirements for
97	scholarships.
98	c.  For each year in which a student scores at Level l on
99	FCAT Reading, the student must be enrolled in and complete an
100	intensive reading course the following year. Placement of
101	Level 2 readers in either an intensive reading course or a
102	content area course in which reading strategies are delivered
103	shall be determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The
104	department shall provide guidance on appropriate strategies
105	for diagnosing and meeting the varying instructional needs of
106	students reading below grade level. Reading courses shall be
107	designed and offered pursuant to the comprehensive reading
108	plan required by s. 1011.62(9) s. 1011.62(8).
109	d.  For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or
110	Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student must receive
111	remediation the following year. These courses may be taught
112	through applied, integrated, or combined courses and are
113	subject to approval by the department for inclusion in the
114	Course Code Directory.
115	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

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