Amendment
Bill No. HB 7087
Amendment No. 291205
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
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1Representative Mayfield offered the following:
2
3     Amendment (with title amendment)
4     Between lines 673 and 674, insert:
5     Section 10.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
6(2) of section 1003.428, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7     1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;
8revised.--
9     (1)  Except as otherwise authorized pursuant to s.
101003.429, beginning with students entering grade 9 their first
11year of high school in the 2007-2008 school year, graduation
12requires the successful completion of a minimum of 24 credits,
13an International Baccalaureate curriculum, or an Advanced
14International Certificate of Education curriculum. Students must
15be advised of eligibility requirements for state scholarship
16programs and postsecondary admissions.
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 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. Beginning with students entering grade 9
30in the 2010-2011 school year, one of the three credits in
31science must be Biology I or a series of courses that have been
32approved by the State Board of Education as equivalent to
33Biology I.
34     4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
35in American history; one credit in world history; one-half
36credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government.
37     5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
38debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
39content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
40imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
41through the Course Code Directory.
42     6.  One credit in physical education to include integration
43of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
44junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
45satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
46student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
47score of "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness
48must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
49school board may not require that the one credit in physical
50education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
51semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class,
52in a physical activity class that requires participation in
53marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
54dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
55or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
56used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
57requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
58education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
59Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
60component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
61requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
62in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
63personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
64physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
65504 plan.
66     Section 11.  Subsection (1) of section 1003.429, Florida
67Statutes, is amended to read:
68     1003.429  Accelerated high school graduation options.--
69     (1)  Students who enter grade 9 in the 2006-2007 school
70year and thereafter may select, upon receipt of each consent
71required by this section, one of the following three high school
72graduation options:
73     (a)  Completion of the general requirements for high school
74graduation pursuant to s. 1003.43;
75     (b)  Completion of a 3-year standard college preparatory
76program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18
77academic credits in grades 9 through 12. At least 6 of the 18
78credits required for completion of this program must be received
79in classes that are offered pursuant to the International
80Baccalaureate Program, the Advanced Placement Program, dual
81enrollment, Advanced International Certificate of Education, or
82specifically listed or identified by the Department of Education
83as rigorous pursuant to s. 1009.531(3). The 18 credits required
84for completion of this program shall be primary requirements and
85shall be distributed as follows:
86     1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
87composition and literature;
88     2.  Three credits in mathematics at the Algebra I level or
89higher from the list of courses that qualify for state
90university admission;
91     3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must
92have a laboratory component. Beginning with students entering
93grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, one of the three credits
94in science must be Biology I or a series of courses that have
95been approved by the State Board of Education as equivalent to
96Biology I;
97     4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must include
98one credit in American history, one credit in world history,
99one-half credit in American government, and one-half credit in
100economics;
101     5.  Two credits in the same second language unless the
102student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate
103competency in a language other than English. If the student
104demonstrates competency in another language, the student may
105replace the language requirement with two credits in other
106academic courses; and
107     6.  Three credits in electives; or
108     (c)  Completion of a 3-year career preparatory program
109requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18 academic
110credits in grades 9 through 12. The 18 credits shall be primary
111requirements and shall be distributed as follows:
112     1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
113composition and literature;
114     2.  Three credits in mathematics, one of which must be
115Algebra I;
116     3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must
117have a laboratory component. Beginning with students entering
118grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, one of the three credits
119in science must be Biology I or a series of courses that have
120been approved by the State Board of Education as equivalent to
121Biology I;
122     4.  Three credits in social sciences, which must include
123one credit in American history, one credit in world history,
124one-half credit in American government, and one-half credit in
125economics;
126     5.  Three credits in a single vocational or career
127education program, three credits in career and technical
128certificate dual enrollment courses, or five credits in
129vocational or career education courses; and
130     6.  Two credits in electives unless five credits are earned
131pursuant to subparagraph 5.
132
133Any student who selected an accelerated graduation program
134before July 1, 2004, may continue that program, and all
135statutory program requirements that were applicable when the
136student made the program choice shall remain applicable to the
137student as long as the student continues that program.
138     Section 12.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
1391008.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
140     1008.22  Student assessment program for public schools.--
141     (3)  STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner shall
142design and implement a statewide program of educational
143assessment that provides information for the improvement of the
144operation and management of the public schools, including
145schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
146services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
147The commissioner may enter into contracts for the continued
148administration of the assessment, testing, and evaluation
149programs authorized and funded by the Legislature. Contracts may
150be initiated in 1 fiscal year and continue into the next and may
151be paid from the appropriations of either or both fiscal years.
152The commissioner is authorized to negotiate for the sale or
153lease of tests, scoring protocols, test scoring services, and
154related materials developed pursuant to law. Pursuant to the
155statewide assessment program, the commissioner shall:
156     (c)  Develop and implement a student achievement testing
157program known as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
158(FCAT) as part of the statewide assessment program to measure a
159student's content knowledge and skills in reading, writing,
160science, and mathematics. Other content areas may be included as
161directed by the commissioner. Comprehensive assessments of
162reading and mathematics shall be administered annually in grades
1633 through 10. Comprehensive assessments of writing and science
164shall be administered at least once at the elementary, middle,
165and high school levels. During the 2010-2011 school year, an
166end-of-course assessment in biology shall be administered as a
167field test at the high school level. Beginning with the 2011-
1682012 school year, the end-of-course assessment in biology shall
169replace the comprehensive assessment of science administered at
170the high school level. During the 2011-2012 school year, each
171student's performance on the end-of-course assessment in biology
172shall constitute 30 percent of the student's final course grade.
173Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, a student must earn a
174passing score on the end-of-course assessment in biology in
175order to pass the course and receive course credit. End-of-
176course assessments for a subject may be administered in addition
177to the comprehensive assessments required for that subject under
178this paragraph. An end-of-course assessment must be rigorous,
179statewide, standardized, and developed or approved by the
180department. The content knowledge and skills assessed by
181comprehensive and end-of-course assessments must be aligned to
182the core curricular content established in the Sunshine State
183Standards. The commissioner may select one or more nationally
184developed comprehensive examinations, which may include, but
185need not be limited to, examinations for a College Board
186Advanced Placement course, International Baccalaureate course,
187or Advanced International Certificate of Education course or
188industry-approved examinations to earn national industry
189certifications as defined in s. 1003.492, for use as end-of-
190course assessments under this paragraph, if the commissioner
191determines that the content knowledge and skills assessed by the
192examinations meet or exceed the grade level expectations for the
193core curricular content established for the course in the Next
194Generation Sunshine State Standards. The commissioner may
195collaborate with the American Diploma Project in the adoption or
196development of rigorous end-of-course assessments that are
197aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. The
198testing program must be designed as follows:
199     1.  The tests shall measure student skills and competencies
200adopted by the State Board of Education as specified in
201paragraph (a). The tests must measure and report student
202proficiency levels of all students assessed in reading, writing,
203mathematics, and science. The commissioner shall provide for the
204tests to be developed or obtained, as appropriate, through
205contracts and project agreements with private vendors, public
206vendors, public agencies, postsecondary educational
207institutions, or school districts. The commissioner shall obtain
208input with respect to the design and implementation of the
209testing program from state educators, assistive technology
210experts, and the public.
211     2.  The testing program shall be composed of criterion-
212referenced tests that shall, to the extent determined by the
213commissioner, include test items that require the student to
214produce information or perform tasks in such a way that the core
215content knowledge and skills he or she uses can be measured.
216     3.  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the
217commissioner shall discontinue administration of the selected-
218response test items on the comprehensive assessments of writing.
219Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, the comprehensive
220assessments of writing shall be composed of a combination of
221selected-response test items, short-response performance tasks,
222and extended-response performance tasks, which shall measure a
223student's content knowledge of writing, including, but not
224limited to, paragraph and sentence structure, sentence
225construction, grammar and usage, punctuation, capitalization,
226spelling, parts of speech, verb tense, irregular verbs, subject-
227verb agreement, and noun-pronoun agreement.
228     4.  A score shall be designated for each subject area
229tested, below which score a student's performance is deemed
230inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate
231remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.
232     5.  Except as provided in s. 1003.428(8)(b) or s.
2331003.43(11)(b), students must earn a passing score on the grade
23410 assessment test described in this paragraph or attain
235concordant scores as described in subsection (10) in reading,
236writing, and mathematics to qualify for a standard high school
237diploma. The State Board of Education shall designate a passing
238score for each part of the grade 10 assessment test and the end-
239of-course assessment in biology. In establishing passing scores,
240the state board shall consider any possible negative impact of
241the test on minority students. The State Board of Education
242shall adopt rules which specify the passing scores for each part
243of the grade 10 assessment test and the end-of-course assessment
244in biology FCAT. Any such rules, which have the effect of
245raising the required passing scores, shall apply only to
246students taking the assessment grade 10 FCAT for the first time
247after such rules are adopted by the State Board of Education.
248     6.  Participation in the testing program is mandatory for
249all students attending public school, including students served
250in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise
251prescribed by the commissioner. If a student does not
252participate in the statewide assessment, the district must
253notify the student's parent and provide the parent with
254information regarding the implications of such nonparticipation.
255A parent must provide signed consent for a student to receive
256classroom instructional accommodations that would not be
257available or permitted on the statewide assessments and must
258acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the
259implications of such instructional accommodations. The State
260Board of Education shall adopt rules, based upon recommendations
261of the commissioner, for the provision of test accommodations
262for students in exceptional education programs and for students
263who have limited English proficiency. Accommodations that negate
264the validity of a statewide assessment are not allowable in the
265administration of the FCAT. However, instructional
266accommodations are allowable in the classroom if included in a
267student's individual education plan. Students using
268instructional accommodations in the classroom that are not
269allowable as accommodations on the FCAT may have the FCAT
270requirement waived pursuant to the requirements of s.
2711003.428(8)(b) or s. 1003.43(11)(b).
272     7.  A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
273meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
274student must meet.
275     8.  District school boards must provide instruction to
276prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the core
277curricular content established in the Next Generation Sunshine
278State Standards adopted under s. 1003.41, including the core
279content knowledge and skills necessary for successful grade-to-
280grade progression and high school graduation. If a student is
281provided with instructional accommodations in the classroom that
282are not allowable as accommodations in the statewide assessment
283program, as described in the test manuals, the district must
284inform the parent in writing and must provide the parent with
285information regarding the impact on the student's ability to
286meet expected proficiency levels in reading, writing, and
287mathematics. The commissioner shall conduct studies as necessary
288to verify that the required core curricular content is part of
289the district instructional programs.
290     9.  District school boards must provide opportunities for
291students to demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on an
292alternative standardized assessment approved by the State Board
293of Education following enrollment in summer academies.
294     10.  The Department of Education must develop, or select,
295and implement a common battery of assessment tools that will be
296used in all juvenile justice programs in the state. These tools
297must accurately measure the core curricular content established
298in the Sunshine State Standards.
299     11.  For students seeking a special diploma pursuant to s.
3001003.438, the Department of Education must develop or select and
301implement an alternate assessment tool that accurately measures
302the core curricular content established in the Sunshine State
303Standards for students with disabilities under s. 1003.438.
304     12.  The Commissioner of Education shall establish
305schedules for the administration of statewide assessments and
306the reporting of student test results. The commissioner shall,
307by August 1 of each year, notify each school district in writing
308and publish on the department's Internet website the testing and
309reporting schedules for, at a minimum, the school year following
310the upcoming school year. The testing and reporting schedules
311shall require that:
312     a.  There is the latest possible administration of
313statewide assessments and the earliest possible reporting to the
314school districts of student test results which is feasible
315within available technology and specific appropriations;
316however, test results must be made available no later than the
317final day of the regular school year for students.
318     b.  Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a
319comprehensive statewide assessment of writing is not
320administered earlier than the week of March 1 and a
321comprehensive statewide assessment of any other subject is not
322administered earlier than the week of April 15.
323     c.  A statewide standardized end-of-course assessment is
324administered within the last 2 weeks of the course.
325
326The commissioner may, based on collaboration and input from
327school districts, design and implement student testing programs,
328for any grade level and subject area, necessary to effectively
329monitor educational achievement in the state, including the
330measurement of educational achievement of the Sunshine State
331Standards for students with disabilities. Development and
332refinement of assessments shall include universal design
333principles and accessibility standards that will prevent any
334unintended obstacles for students with disabilities while
335ensuring the validity and reliability of the test. These
336principles should be applicable to all technology platforms and
337assistive devices available for the assessments. The field
338testing process and psychometric analyses for the statewide
339assessment program must include an appropriate percentage of
340students with disabilities and an evaluation or determination of
341the effect of test items on such students.
342     Section 13.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (3) of
343section 1008.34, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
344     1008.34  School grading system; school report cards;
345district grade.--
346     (3)  DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.--
347     (b)1.  A school's grade shall be based on a combination of:
348     a.  Student achievement scores, including achievement
349scores for students seeking a special diploma.
350     b.  Student learning gains as measured by annual FCAT
351assessments in grades 3 through 10; learning gains for students
352seeking a special diploma, as measured by an alternate
353assessment tool, shall be included not later than the 2009-2010
354school year.
355     c.  Improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students
356in the school in reading, mathematics, or writing on the FCAT,
357unless these students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
358     2.  Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
359comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
36011, and 12, 50 percent of the school grade shall be based on a
361combination of the factors listed in sub-subparagraphs 1.a.-c.
362and the remaining 50 percent on the following factors:
363     a.  The high school graduation rate of the school;
364     b.  As valid data becomes available, the performance and
365participation of the school's students in College Board Advanced
366Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, dual
367enrollment courses, and Advanced International Certificate of
368Education courses; and the students' achievement of industry
369certification, as determined by the Agency for Workforce
370Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a career and professional
371academy, as described in s. 1003.493;
372     c.  Postsecondary readiness of the school's students as
373measured by the SAT, ACT, or the common placement test;
374     d.  The high school graduation rate of at-risk students who
375scored at Level 2 or lower on the grade 8 FCAT Reading and
376Mathematics examinations;
377     e.  As valid data becomes available, the performance of the
378school's students on statewide standardized end-of-course
379assessments not required for high school graduation, which are
380administered under s. 1008.22; and
381     f.  The growth or decline in the components listed in sub-
382subparagraphs a.-e. from year to year.
383     (c)  Student assessment data used in determining school
384grades shall include:
385     1.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
386in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT and
387standardized end-of-course assessments required for high school
388graduation, including, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year,
389the end-of-course assessment in biology.
390     2.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
391in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT and who have
392scored at or in the lowest 25th percentile of students in the
393school in reading, mathematics, or writing, unless these
394students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
395     3.  Effective with the 2005-2006 school year, the
396achievement scores and learning gains of eligible students
397attending alternative schools that provide dropout prevention
398and academic intervention services pursuant to s. 1003.53. The
399term "eligible students" in this subparagraph does not include
400students attending an alternative school who are subject to
401district school board policies for expulsion for repeated or
402serious offenses, who are in dropout retrieval programs serving
403students who have officially been designated as dropouts, or who
404are in programs operated or contracted by the Department of
405Juvenile Justice. The student performance data for eligible
406students identified in this subparagraph shall be included in
407the calculation of the home school's grade. As used in this
408section and s. 1008.341, the term "home school" means the school
409to which the student would be assigned if the student were not
410assigned to an alternative school. If an alternative school
411chooses to be graded under this section, student performance
412data for eligible students identified in this subparagraph shall
413not be included in the home school's grade but shall be included
414only in the calculation of the alternative school's grade. A
415school district that fails to assign the FCAT scores of each of
416its students to his or her home school or to the alternative
417school that receives a grade shall forfeit Florida School
418Recognition Program funds for 1 fiscal year. School districts
419must require collaboration between the home school and the
420alternative school in order to promote student success. This
421collaboration must include an annual discussion between the
422principal of the alternative school and the principal of each
423student's home school concerning the most appropriate school
424assignment of the student.
425     4.  Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
426comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
42711, and 12, the data listed in subparagraphs 1.-3. and the
428following data as the Department of Education determines such
429data are valid and available:
430     a.  The high school graduation rate of the school as
431calculated by the Department of Education;
432     b.  The participation rate of all eligible students
433enrolled in the school and enrolled in College Board Advanced
434Placement courses; International Baccalaureate courses; dual
435enrollment courses; Advanced International Certificate of
436Education courses; and courses or sequence of courses leading to
437industry certification, as determined by the Agency for
438Workforce Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a career and
439professional academy, as described in s. 1003.493;
440     c.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
441in the school in College Board Advanced Placement courses,
442International Baccalaureate courses, and Advanced International
443Certificate of Education courses;
444     d.  Earning of college credit by all eligible students
445enrolled in the school in dual enrollment programs under s.
4461007.271;
447     e.  Earning of an industry certification, as determined by
448the Agency for Workforce Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a
449career and professional academy, as described in s. 1003.493;
450     f.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
451in the school in reading, mathematics, and other subjects as
452measured by the SAT, the ACT, and the common placement test for
453postsecondary readiness;
454     g.  The high school graduation rate of all eligible at-risk
455students enrolled in the school who scored at Level 2 or lower
456on the grade 8 FCAT Reading and Mathematics examinations;
457     h.  The performance of the school's students on statewide
458standardized end-of-course assessments not required for high
459school graduation, which are administered under s. 1008.22; and
460     i.  The growth or decline in the data components listed in
461sub-subparagraphs a.-h. from year to year.
462
463The State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate criteria
464for each school grade. The criteria must also give added weight
465to student achievement in reading. Schools designated with a
466grade of "C," making satisfactory progress, shall be required to
467demonstrate that adequate progress has been made by students in
468the school who are in the lowest 25th percentile in reading,
469mathematics, or writing on the FCAT, unless these students are
470exhibiting satisfactory performance. Beginning with the 2009-
4712010 school year for schools comprised of high school grades 9,
47210, 11, and 12, or grades 10, 11, and 12, the criteria for
473school grades must also give added weight to the graduation rate
474of all eligible at-risk students, as defined in this paragraph.
475Beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, in order for a high
476school to be designated as having a grade of "A," making
477excellent progress, the school must demonstrate that at-risk
478students, as defined in this paragraph, in the school are making
479adequate progress.
480
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481
T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T
482     Between lines 39 and 40, insert:
483amending ss. 1003.428 and 1003.429, F.S.; requiring students
484entering grade 9 to earn one credit in Biology I or in a series
485of equivalent courses for high school graduation beginning with
486the 2010-2011 school year; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.; requiring
487the administration of an end-of-course assessment in biology as
488a field test during the 2010-2011 school year; requiring the
489end-of-course assessment in biology to replace the comprehensive
490assessment of science administered at the high school level
491beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; providing requirements
492for course grade and course credit; requiring the State Board of
493Education to designate a passing score for the end-of-course
494assessment in biology; amending s. 1008.34, F.S.; requiring the
495inclusion of biology end-of-course assessment data in
496determining school grades beginning with the 2011-2012 school
497year;


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