HB 1503

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to health education; amending s. 1003.428,
3F.S.; providing for a mandatory one-half credit in health
4education, independent of physical education credit
5requirements, for high school students; providing a waiver
6for students who request to take and successfully complete
7a health education assessment developed by the Department
8of Education; reducing the number of credits in elective
9courses; providing an effective date.
10
11Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13     Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 1003.428, Florida
14Statutes, is amended to read:
15     1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;
16revised.--
17     (2)  The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
18integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
19Education and shall be distributed as follows:
20     (a)  Sixteen and one-half core curriculum credits:
21     1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
22composition, reading for information, and literature.
23     2.  Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
24Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
25higher-level mathematics course. School districts are encouraged
26to set specific goals to increase enrollments in, and successful
27completion of, geometry and Algebra II.
28     3.  Three credits in science, two of which must have a
29laboratory component.
30     4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
31in American history; one credit in world history; one-half
32credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government.
33     5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
34debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
35content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
36imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
37through the Course Code Directory.
38     6.  One credit in physical education to include integration
39of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
40junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
41satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
42student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
43score of "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness
44must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
45school board may not require that the one credit in physical
46education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
47semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class,
48in a physical activity class that requires participation in
49marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
50dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
51or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
52used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
53requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
54education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
55Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
56component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
57requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
58in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
59personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
60physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
61504 plan.
62     7.  One-half credit in health education. The health
63education requirement may be waived if the student requests to
64take the health education assessment and scores a "C" or better.
65The Department of Education shall develop the health education
66assessment.
67     (b)  Seven and one-half Eight credits in majors, minors, or
68electives:
69     1.  Four credits in a major area of interest, such as
70sequential courses in a career and technical program, fine and
71performing arts, or academic content area, selected by the
72student as part of the education plan required by s. 1003.4156.
73Students may revise major areas of interest each year as part of
74annual course registration processes and should update their
75education plan to reflect such revisions. Annually By October 1
76of each year, the district school board shall approve major
77areas of interest and submit the list of majors to the
78Commissioner of Education for approval. Each major area of
79interest is shall be deemed approved unless specifically
80rejected by the commissioner within 60 days after the list of
81majors is received. Upon approval, each district's major areas
82of interest shall be available for use by all school districts
83and shall be posted on the department's website.
84     2.  Three and one-half Four credits in elective courses
85selected by the student as part of the education plan required
86by s. 1003.4156. These credits may be combined to allow for a
87second major area of interest pursuant to subparagraph 1., a
88minor area of interest, elective courses, or intensive reading
89or mathematics intervention courses as described in this
90subparagraph.
91     a.  Minor areas of interest are composed of three credits
92selected by the student as part of the education plan required
93by s. 1003.4156 and approved by the district school board.
94     b.  Elective courses are selected by the student in order
95to pursue a complete education program as described in s.
961001.41(3) and to meet eligibility requirements for
97scholarships.
98     c.  For each year in which a student scores at Level l on
99FCAT Reading, the student must be enrolled in and complete an
100intensive reading course the following year. Placement of Level
1012 readers in either an intensive reading course or a content
102area course in which reading strategies are delivered shall be
103determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The department shall
104provide guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and
105meeting the varying instructional needs of students reading
106below grade level. Reading courses shall be designed and offered
107pursuant to the comprehensive reading plan required by s.
1081011.62(9).
109     d.  For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or
110Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student must receive
111remediation the following year. These courses may be taught
112through applied, integrated, or combined courses and are subject
113to approval by the department for inclusion in the Course Code
114Directory.
115     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.


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