Florida Senate - 2009 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 2654
Barcode 947522
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: WD .
04/07/2009 .
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The Committee on Education Pre-K - 12 (Sobel) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment to Amendment (575226) (with directory and
2 title amendments)
3
4 Delete lines 10 - 82
5 and insert:
6 (2) The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
7 integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
8 Education and shall be distributed as follows:
9 (a) Sixteen and one-half core curriculum credits:
10 1. Four credits in English, with major concentration in
11 composition, reading for information, and literature.
12 2. Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
13 Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
14 higher-level mathematics course. Beginning with students
15 entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, one of the four
16 credits must be Algebra I or a series of courses equivalent to
17 Algebra I as approved by the State Board of Education, and one
18 credit must be geometry or a series of courses equivalent to
19 geometry as approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning
20 with students entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year, one
21 of the four credits must be Algebra I or a series of courses
22 equivalent to Algebra I as approved by the State Board of
23 Education, one credit must be geometry or a series of courses
24 equivalent to geometry as approved by the State Board of
25 Education, and one credit must be Algebra II or a series of
26 courses equivalent to Algebra II as approved by the State Board
27 of Education. School districts are encouraged to set specific
28 goals to increase enrollments in, and successful completion of,
29 geometry and Algebra II.
30 3. Three credits in science, two of which must have a
31 laboratory component. Beginning with students entering grade 9
32 in the 2010-2011 school year, one of the three credits must be
33 Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to Biology I as
34 approved by the State Board of Education, one credit must be a
35 physical science or a series of courses equivalent to a physical
36 science as approved by the State Board of Education, and one
37 credit must be a higher-level science course. At least two of
38 the science courses must have a laboratory component. Beginning
39 with students entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year, one
40 of the three credits must be Biology I or a series of courses
41 equivalent to Biology I as approved by the State Board of
42 Education, one credit must be chemistry or a series of courses
43 equivalent to chemistry as approved by the State Board of
44 Education, and one credit must be a higher-level science course.
45 At least two of the science courses must have a laboratory
46 component.
47 4. Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
48 in American history; one credit in world history; one-half
49 credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government.
50 5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
51 debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
52 content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
53 imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
54 through the Course Code Directory.
55 6. One credit in physical education to include integration
56 of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
57 junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
58 satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
59 student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
60 score of “C” or better. The competency test on personal fitness
61 must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
62 school board may not require that the one credit in physical
63 education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
64 semester with a grade of “C” or better in a marching band class,
65 in a physical activity class that requires participation in
66 marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
67 dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
68 or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
69 used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
70 requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
71 education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
72 Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
73 component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
74 requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
75 in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
76 personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
77 physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
78 504 plan.
79 7. One-half credit in health education. The health
80 education requirement may be waived if the student requests to
81 take the health education assessment and scores a “C” or better.
82 The Department of Education shall develop the health education
83 assessment.
84 (b) Seven and one-half Eight credits in majors, minors, or
85 electives:
86 1. Four credits in a major area of interest, such as
87 sequential courses in a career and technical program, fine and
88 performing arts, or academic content area, selected by the
89 student as part of the education plan required by s. 1003.4156.
90 Students may revise major areas of interest each year as part of
91 annual course registration processes and should update their
92 education plan to reflect such revisions. Annually By October 1
93 of each year, the district school board shall approve major
94 areas of interest and submit the list of majors to the
95 Commissioner of Education for approval. Each major area of
96 interest is shall be deemed approved unless specifically
97 rejected by the commissioner within 60 days after the list of
98 majors is received. Upon approval, each district’s major areas
99 of interest shall be available for use by all school districts
100 and shall be posted on the department’s website.
101 2. Three and one-half Four credits in elective courses
102 selected by the student as part of the education plan required
103 by s. 1003.4156. These credits may be combined to allow for a
104 second major area of interest pursuant to subparagraph 1., a
105 minor area of interest, elective courses, or intensive reading
106 or mathematics intervention courses as described in this
107 subparagraph.
108 a. Minor areas of interest are composed of three credits
109 selected by the student as part of the education plan required
110 by s. 1003.4156 and approved by the district school board.
111 b. Elective courses are selected by the student in order to
112 pursue a complete education program as described in s.
113 1001.41(3) and to meet eligibility requirements for
114 scholarships.
115 c. For each year in which a student scores at Level l on
116 FCAT Reading, the student must be enrolled in and complete an
117 intensive reading course the following year. Placement of Level
118 2 readers in either an intensive reading course or a content
119 area course in which reading strategies are delivered shall be
120 determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The department shall
121 provide guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and
122 meeting the varying instructional needs of students reading
123 below grade level. Reading courses shall be designed and offered
124 pursuant to the comprehensive reading plan required by s.
125 1011.62(9).
126 d. For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or
127 Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student must receive
128 remediation the following year. These courses may be taught
129 through applied, integrated, or combined courses and are subject
130 to approval by the department for inclusion in the Course Code
131 Directory.
132
133 ====== D I R E C T O R Y C L A U S E A M E N D M E N T ======
134 And the directory clause is amended as follows:
135 Delete line 5
136 and insert:
137 Section 1. Subsection (2) and subsections
138
139 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
140 And the title is amended as follows:
141 Delete line 561
142 and insert:
143 changes made by the act; providing for a mandatory
144 one-half credit in health education, independent of
145 physical education credit requirements, for high
146 school students who enter their first year of high
147 school in 2008-2009; providing a waiver for students
148 who request to take and successfully complete a health
149 education assessment developed by the Department of
150 Education; reducing the number of credits in elective
151 courses; creating s. 1003.4282, F.S.;