Florida Senate - 2009 SB 346
By Senator Justice
16-00322-09 2009346__
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 high school
6 students who enter their first year of high school in
7 2008-2009; providing a waiver for students who request
8 to take and successfully complete a health education
9 assessment developed by the Department of Education;
10 reducing the number of credits in elective courses;
11 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 graduation;
18 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 encouraged
28 to set specific goals to increase enrollments in, and successful
29 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 credit
33 in American history; one credit in world history; one-half
34 credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government.
35 5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
36 debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
37 content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
38 imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
39 through the Course Code Directory.
40 6. One credit in physical education to include integration
41 of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
42 junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
43 satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
44 student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
45 score of “C” or better. The competency test on personal fitness
46 must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
47 school board may not require that the one credit in physical
48 education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
49 semester with a grade of “C” or better in a marching band class,
50 in a physical activity class that requires participation in
51 marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
52 dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
53 or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
54 used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
55 requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
56 education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
57 Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
58 component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
59 requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
60 in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
61 personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
62 physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
63 504 plan.
64 7. One-half credit in health education. The health
65 education requirement may be waived if the student requests to
66 take the health education assessment and scores a “C” or better.
67 The Department of Education shall develop the health education
68 assessment.
69 (b) Seven and one-half Eight credits in majors, minors, or
70 electives:
71 1. Four credits in a major area of interest, such as
72 sequential courses in a career and technical program, fine and
73 performing arts, or academic content area, selected by the
74 student as part of the education plan required by s. 1003.4156.
75 Students may revise major areas of interest each year as part of
76 annual course registration processes and should update their
77 education plan to reflect such revisions. Annually By October 1
78 of each year, the district school board shall approve major
79 areas of interest and submit the list of majors to the
80 Commissioner of Education for approval. Each major area of
81 interest is shall be deemed approved unless specifically
82 rejected by the commissioner within 60 days after the list of
83 majors is received. Upon approval, each district's major areas
84 of interest shall be available for use by all school districts
85 and shall be posted on the department's website.
86 2. Three and one-half Four credits in elective courses
87 selected by the student as part of the education plan required
88 by s. 1003.4156. These credits may be combined to allow for a
89 second major area of interest pursuant to subparagraph 1., a
90 minor area of interest, elective courses, or intensive reading
91 or mathematics intervention courses as described in this
92 subparagraph.
93 a. Minor areas of interest are composed of three credits
94 selected by the student as part of the education plan required
95 by s. 1003.4156 and approved by the district school board.
96 b. Elective courses are selected by the student in order to
97 pursue a complete education program as described in s.
98 1001.41(3) and to meet eligibility requirements for
99 scholarships.
100 c. For each year in which a student scores at Level l on
101 FCAT Reading, the student must be enrolled in and complete an
102 intensive reading course the following year. Placement of Level
103 2 readers in either an intensive reading course or a content
104 area course in which reading strategies are delivered shall be
105 determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The department shall
106 provide guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and
107 meeting the varying instructional needs of students reading
108 below grade level. Reading courses shall be designed and offered
109 pursuant to the comprehensive reading plan required by s.
110 1011.62(9).
111 d. For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or
112 Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student must receive
113 remediation the following year. These courses may be taught
114 through applied, integrated, or combined courses and are subject
115 to approval by the department for inclusion in the Course Code
116 Directory.
117 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.