CS/HB 7069

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to college and career preparation;
3	amending s. 1003.413, F.S.; providing for an annual review
4	of a high school student's electronic personal education
5	plan; creating s. 1003.4285, F.S.; providing for
6	designations on standard high school diplomas; creating s.
7	1003.4287, F.S.; providing for access to postsecondary
8	education credit courses in public high schools;
9	specifying courses that may be accessed; requiring the
10	State Board of Education to develop a comprehensive plan;
11	amending s. 1004.91, F.S.; providing an exemption relating
12	to career-preparatory instruction; amending s. 1007.21,
13	F.S.; conforming provisions relating to administration of
14	the common placement test; creating s. 1007.212, F.S.;
15	creating the Remediation Reform Pilot Project with
16	participation by community colleges and school districts;
17	requiring the Department of Education to develop an
18	application process; specifying contents of the
19	application; requiring the Commissioner of Education to
20	evaluate applications and recommend proposals to the
21	Legislature for final approval; requiring annual status
22	reports by participants and analysis by the Office of
23	Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability;
24	providing for funding; amending s. 1007.235, F.S.;
25	requiring district interinstitutional articulation
26	agreements to include responsibility for assignment of
27	grades for dual enrollment courses; amending s. 1007.271,
28	F.S.; providing requirements for state universities to
29	weigh dual enrollment courses; amending s. 1008.30, F.S.;
30	revising provisions relating to administration and use of
31	the results of the common placement test; requiring the
32	State Board of Education to adopt rules requiring high
33	school evaluation of student college or career readiness
34	and establishing minimum test scores for such readiness;
35	providing for remedial instruction; providing for
36	development of remedial content to be offered online;
37	providing an effective date.
38
39	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
40
41	Section 1.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (3) of section
42	1003.413, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
43	1003.413  Florida Secondary School Redesign Act.--
44	(3)  Based on these guiding principles, district school
45	boards shall establish policies to implement the requirements of
46	ss. 1003.4156, 1003.428, and 1003.493. The policies must
47	address:
48	(i)  An annual review of each high school student's
49	electronic personal education plan pursuant to s. 1003.4156 and
50	procedures for high school students who have not prepared an
51	electronic personal education plan pursuant to s. 1003.4156 to
52	prepare such plan.
53	Section 2.  Section 1003.4285, Florida Statutes, is created
54	to read:
55	1003.4285  Standard high school diploma designations.--By
56	the 2008-2009 school year, each standard high school diploma
57	shall include, as applicable:
58	(1)  A designation of the student's major area of interest
59	pursuant to the student's completion of credits as provided in
60	s. 1003.428.
61	(2)  A designation reflecting completion of accelerated
62	college credit courses if the student is eligible for college
63	credit pursuant to s. 1007.27 in four or more Advanced
64	Placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced International
65	Certificate of Education, or dual enrollment courses. The
66	Commissioner of Education shall establish guidelines for
67	successful passage of examinations or coursework in each of the
68	accelerated college credit options for purposes of this
69	subsection.
70	(3)  A designation reflecting career education
71	certification in accordance with s. 1003.431.
72	(4)  A designation reflecting Florida Ready to Work
73	Certification in accordance with s. 1004.99.
74	Section 3.  Section 1003.4287, Florida Statutes, is created
75	to read:
76	1003.4287  Postsecondary education credit courses;
77	comprehensive plan.--
78	(1)  The purpose of this section is to provide each public
79	high school student with access to a substantive and rigorous
80	curriculum that is designed to challenge the student's mind,
81	enhance the student's knowledge and skills, and prepare the
82	student for success in college and work.
83	(2)  For purposes of this section, the term "postsecondary
84	education credit course" means a course through which a high
85	school student may earn postsecondary credit and includes
86	Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses,
87	Advanced International Certificate of Education courses, and
88	dual enrollment courses.
89	(3)  By the 2009-2010 school year, each public high school
90	in the state must provide students access to at least four
91	Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced
92	International Certificate of Education, or dual enrollment
93	courses, one each in English, mathematics, science, and social
94	studies, and at least four courses in career and technical dual
95	enrollment. To fulfill this requirement, schools may utilize
96	course offerings provided by the Florida Virtual School, a
97	career center, a charter technical career center, a community
98	college, a state university, or an independent college or
99	university eligible for inclusion in the dual enrollment program
100	pursuant to s. 1011.62.
101	(4)  To assist with implementation of this section, the
102	State Board of Education shall develop and adopt a comprehensive
103	plan that:
104	(a)  Provides all students with access to a substantive and
105	rigorous curriculum that is designed to challenge their minds
106	and enhance their knowledge and skills and with opportunities to
107	acquire postsecondary education credits while in high school.
108	(b)  Supports school administrators and guidance counselors
109	in the receipt of professional development that enables them to
110	create strong and effective postsecondary opportunities for
111	their students.
112	(c)  Establishes guidelines and timelines for teachers and
113	school leaders in middle schools and high schools to receive
114	training in content knowledge and instructional skills to
115	prepare students for success in a rigorous curriculum that leads
116	to postsecondary education credit.
117	(d)  Creates long-term and annual statewide goals for
118	increasing:
119	1.  The number and percentage of students enrolling in and
120	completing postsecondary education credit courses.
121	2.  The number and percentage of students receiving
122	postsecondary education credits in such courses.
123	3.  The number and percentage of low-income and
124	underrepresented students enrolling in and completing
125	postsecondary education credit courses.
126	4.  The number and percentage of low-income and
127	underrepresented students receiving postsecondary education
128	credit in such courses.
129	(e)  Leverages federal and private funding available for
130	incentives and training.
131	(f)  Focuses state and federal funding to carry out
132	activities that target school districts serving high
133	concentrations of low-income and underrepresented students.
134	(g)  Provides a plan of communication that emphasizes the
135	importance of postsecondary education credit courses to a
136	student's ability to gain access to and succeed in postsecondary
137	education. The plan for such communication should include
138	information to students, teachers, counselors, administrators,
139	school districts, community colleges, and state universities.
140	(h)  Annually evaluates the impact of the implementation of
141	this section on the rates of student enrollment and success in
142	postsecondary education credit courses, on high school
143	graduation rates, and on college enrollment rates. The
144	evaluation must include a review of the progress toward meeting
145	goals established pursuant to paragraph (d).
146	Section 4.  Subsection (3) of section 1004.91, Florida
147	Statutes, is amended to read:
148	1004.91  Career-preparatory instruction.--
149	(3)  An adult student with a disability may be exempted
150	from the provisions of this section. A student who possesses a
151	college degree at the associate in applied science level or
152	higher is exempt from this section. A student who has completed
153	or who is exempt from the college-level communication and
154	computation skills examination pursuant to s. 1008.29, or who is
155	exempt from the college entry-level examination pursuant to s.
156	1008.29, is exempt from the provisions of this section. Students
157	who have passed a state, national, or industry licensure exam
158	are exempt from this section. An adult student who is enrolled
159	in an apprenticeship program that is registered with the
160	Department of Education in accordance with the provisions of
161	chapter 446 is exempt from the provisions of this section.
162	Section 5.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
163	1007.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
164	1007.21  Readiness for postsecondary education and the
165	workplace.--
166	(2)
167	(c)  The common placement test authorized in ss.
168	1001.03(10) and 1008.30 or a similar test may be administered to
169	all high school students second semester sophomores who have
170	chosen one of the four destinations. The results of the
171	placement test shall be used to target additional instructional
172	needs in reading, writing, and mathematics prior to graduation.
173	Section 6.  Section 1007.212, Florida Statutes, is created
174	to read:
175	1007.212  Remediation Reform Pilot Project.--
176	(1)  The Legislature finds that the cost to the state and
177	to students for remedial education has exceeded $100 million in
178	recent years. The Legislature further finds that it is in the
179	public's best interest to identify policies and best practices
180	that reduce the need for and the cost of remediation for recent
181	high school graduates who enter postsecondary education.
182	(2)  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, there is
183	created the Remediation Reform Pilot Project with the goal of
184	reducing the need for and the cost of remediation for recent
185	high school graduates who enter postsecondary education.
186	(3)  The Department of Education shall develop by August 1,
187	2008, an application process for community colleges and school
188	districts to participate in the pilot project. Each application
189	must represent a collaborative effort between one or more
190	community colleges and one or more school districts in each
191	community college's service area.
192	(4)  Each application shall:
193	(a)  Identify the specific area or areas of remediation to
194	be addressed as part of the pilot project.
195	(b)  Provide the most recent data available from the
196	postsecondary feedback reports produced pursuant to s. 1008.37
197	for each community college and school district that will
198	participate in the pilot project for the area or areas of
199	remediation that will be addressed during the course of the
200	project.
201	(c)  Describe the strategies currently used by the
202	participating institutions to address remediation needs,
203	including mechanisms used to identify students who need
204	remediation, corrective actions employed to address identified
205	needs, and methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of these
206	strategies.
207	(d)  Describe any proposed changes to current strategies
208	that have been designed to reduce the need for postsecondary
209	remediation, including, but not limited to:
210	1.  Specific intervention efforts that will be employed to
211	address identified deficiencies.
212	2.  The process the community college and the school
213	district will use to determine the effectiveness of the changes.
214	3.  A projected timeline for implementation of the changes.
215	(e)  Describe specific professional development activities
216	that will be provided for secondary education faculty.
217	(f)  Provide itemized estimates of the costs to each
218	participating community college and school district of
219	implementing the proposal.
220	(g)  Identify any local, federal, or private funding that
221	may be available to support the project.
222	(h)  Project any reductions in the need for and the cost of
223	remediation that are anticipated following implementation and
224	describe the method used to develop the projections.
225	(5)  By October 1, 2008, the Commissioner of Education
226	shall evaluate the applications and recommend no more than four
227	proposals to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
228	House of Representatives for consideration and final approval.
229	To the extent possible, the proposals recommended by the
230	commissioner shall be representative of the geographic regions
231	of the state and representative of large, medium, and small
232	school districts.
233	(6)  Each community college and school district
234	participating in the pilot project shall submit an annual status
235	report, including a description of the strategies implemented,
236	any costs incurred, and the effectiveness of the strategies used
237	in reducing the need for and the cost of postsecondary
238	remediation to students and the state. This report shall be
239	submitted to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President
240	of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
241	Commissioner of Education, and the Office of Program Policy
242	Analysis and Government Accountability by September 1. The
243	Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
244	shall analyze the reports submitted pursuant to this subsection
245	to identify the policies and practices that are most effective
246	in reducing the need for and the cost of remediation, including
247	any cost savings realized as a result of implementation.
248	(7)  The pilot project shall be funded as provided in the
249	General Appropriations Act. The Department of Education, school
250	districts, and community colleges may redirect existing
251	resources for purposes of the pilot project and are encouraged
252	to seek and accept grants from additional public and private
253	sources to implement the pilot project.
254	Section 7.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
255	1007.235, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
256	1007.235  District interinstitutional articulation
257	agreements.--
258	(2)  The district interinstitutional articulation agreement
259	for each school year must be completed before high school
260	registration for the fall term of the following school year. The
261	agreement must include, but is not limited to, the following
262	components:
263	(b)1.  A delineation of courses and programs available to
264	students eligible to participate in dual enrollment. This
265	delineation must include a plan for the community college to
266	provide guidance services to participating students on the
267	selection of courses in the dual enrollment program. The process
268	of community college guidance should make maximum use of the
269	automated advisement system for community colleges. The plan
270	must assure that each dual enrollment student is encouraged to
271	identify a postsecondary education objective with which to guide
272	the course selection. At a minimum, each student's plan should
273	include a list of courses that will result in an Applied
274	Technology Diploma, an Associate in Science degree, or an
275	Associate in Arts degree. If the student identifies a
276	baccalaureate degree as the objective, the plan must include
277	courses that will meet the general education requirements and
278	any prerequisite requirements for entrance into a selected
279	baccalaureate degree program.
280	2.  A delineation of the process by which students and
281	their parents are informed about opportunities to participate in
282	articulated acceleration programs.
283	3.  A delineation of the process by which students and
284	their parents exercise their option to participate in an
285	articulated acceleration program.
286	4.  A delineation of high school credits earned for
287	completion of each dual enrollment course.
288	5.  Provision for postsecondary courses that meet the
289	criteria for inclusion in a district articulated acceleration
290	program to be counted toward meeting the graduation requirements
291	of s. 1003.43.
292	6.  An identification of eligibility criteria for student
293	participation in dual enrollment courses and programs.
294	7.  A delineation of institutional responsibilities
295	regarding student screening prior to enrollment and monitoring
296	student performance subsequent to enrollment in dual enrollment
297	courses and programs.
298	8.  An identification of the criteria by which the quality
299	of dual enrollment courses and programs are to be judged and a
300	delineation of institutional responsibilities for the
301	maintenance of instructional quality.
302	9.  A delineation of institutional responsibilities for
303	assuming the cost of dual enrollment courses and programs that
304	includes such responsibilities for student instructional
305	materials.
306	10.  An identification of responsibility for providing
307	student transportation if the dual enrollment instruction is
308	conducted at a facility other than the high school campus.
309	11.  A delineation of the process for converting college
310	credit hours earned through dual enrollment and early admission
311	programs to high school credit based on mastery of course
312	outcomes as determined by the Department of Education in
313	accordance with s. 1007.271(6).
314	12.  An identification of the responsibility of the
315	postsecondary educational institution for assigning letter
316	grades for dual enrollment courses and the responsibility of
317	school districts for posting dual enrollment course grades to
318	the high school transcript as assigned by the postsecondary
319	institution awarding the credit.
320	Section 8.  Subsection (16) of section 1007.271, Florida
321	Statutes, are amended to read:
322	1007.271  Dual enrollment programs.--
323	(16)  Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2006-
324	2007 school year, school districts and community colleges must
325	weigh dual enrollment courses the same as advanced placement,
326	International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International
327	Certificate of Education courses when grade point averages are
328	calculated. Alternative grade calculation or weighting systems
329	that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are
330	prohibited. Beginning with students applying for admission to a
331	state university for the 2009-2010 academic year, state
332	universities must weigh dual enrollment courses the same as
333	comparable Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and
334	Advanced International Certificate of Education courses when
335	calculating grade point averages for purposes of making
336	admissions decisions.
337	Section 9.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
338	1008.30, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
339	1008.30  Common placement testing for public postsecondary
340	education.--
341	(1)  The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the
342	Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common
343	placement test for the purpose of assessing the basic
344	computation and communication skills students need to continue
345	their education at the postsecondary level or enter the
346	workforce of students who intend to enter a degree program at
347	any public postsecondary educational institution. Public
348	postsecondary educational institutions shall provide appropriate
349	modifications of the test instruments or test procedures for
350	students with disabilities.
351	(2)  The common placement testing program shall include at
352	a minimum the following: the capacity to diagnose basic
353	competencies in the areas of English, reading, and mathematics
354	which are essential to perform at the postsecondary level or
355	enter the workforce college-level work; prerequisite skills that
356	relate to progressively advanced instruction in mathematics,
357	such as algebra and geometry; prerequisite skills that relate to
358	progressively advanced instruction in language arts, such as
359	English composition and literature; prerequisite skills which
360	relate to the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST); and
361	provision of test information to students on the specific
362	deficiencies.
363	(3)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that
364	would require high schools to evaluate prior to the beginning of
365	grade 12 the college or career readiness of each student scoring
366	at Level 2 or Level 3 on the reading portion of the grade 10
367	FCAT or Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 on the mathematics portion
368	of the grade 10 FCAT. High schools shall perform this evaluation
369	using results from give the corresponding component of the
370	common placement test prescribed in this section, or an
371	equivalent test identified by the State Board of Education. The
372	State Board of Education shall establish in rule the minimum
373	test scores a student must achieve to demonstrate readiness.
374	Students who demonstrate readiness by achieving the minimum test
375	scores established by the State Board of Education shall not be
376	required to enroll in remediation courses as a condition of
377	acceptance to any community college. The high school shall use
378	the results of the test to advise the students of any identified
379	deficiencies and provide students any necessary remedial
380	instruction prior to, or the summer immediately following, high
381	school graduation. The remedial instruction provided pursuant to
382	this subsection shall be developed as a collaborative effort
383	between secondary and postsecondary educational institutions.
384	Contingent upon appropriation of funds in the General
385	Appropriations Act, the Florida Virtual School shall partner
386	with one or more community colleges to develop remedial content
387	that may be offered online, at the beginning of the tenth grade
388	year before enrollment in the eleventh grade year in public high
389	school for the purpose of obtaining remedial instruction prior
390	to entering public postsecondary education.
391	Section 10.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

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