HB 1183

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to high school graduation; creating s.
3	1003.452, F.S.; establishing the Florida National Guard
4	Youth Challenge Program for the purpose of training and
5	mentoring certain high school dropouts; requiring that the
6	Clay County School District, the Department of Juvenile
7	Justice, the Department of Children and Family Services,
8	and the Florida National Guard jointly administer the
9	program; providing for the program to be located at Camp
10	Blanding Military Reservation; requiring that certain core
11	academic courses be taught; requiring that the program
12	include occupational or technical studies and physical
13	training or applied health studies; requiring that
14	students be prepared to assume leadership roles and
15	demonstrate the principles of followership; requiring that
16	each student volunteer to benefit his or her community and
17	work as an unpaid intern or paid employee in order to
18	successfully complete the program; providing for a
19	residential and postresidential component of the program;
20	providing for mentorship; requiring that students pass all
21	sections of the General Education Development test and
22	both parts of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test;
23	providing for funding the program; creating s. 1003.4282,
24	F.S.; establishing the general education development exit
25	option for the purpose of providing an alternative route
26	to receiving a standard high school diploma for students
27	who are enrolled in the Florida National Guard Youth
28	Challenge Program or programs offered by or under contract
29	with the Department of Juvenile Justice and approved by
30	the Department of Education; specifying eligibility
31	requirements for student participation; providing certain
32	exemptions and requirements for successful completion of
33	the GED exit option; requiring that a student's transcript
34	identify certain information regarding the program;
35	requiring that the Department of Education include the
36	program in its calculation of the high school graduation
37	rate; amending s. 1003.435, F.S.; providing that the
38	Department of Education may authorize a school district to
39	award high school equivalency diplomas; amending s.
40	1008.34, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the student
41	assessment data used in determining school grades;
42	providing that a school may earn additional points toward
43	its grade if a significant percentage of the school's
44	students are earning high school equivalency diplomas in
45	lieu of standard diplomas; providing an effective date.
46
47	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
48
49	Section 1.  Section 1003.452, Florida Statutes, is created
50	to read:
51	1003.452  The Florida National Guard Youth Challenge
52	Program.-
53	(1)  PURPOSE.-The Florida National Guard Youth Challenge
54	Program is created as a community-based program for the purpose
55	of leading, training, and mentoring at-risk youths to become
56	productive citizens in the future.
57	(2)  ADMINISTRATION.-The program shall be jointly
58	administered on a statewide basis by the Clay County School
59	District, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of
60	Children and Family Services, and the Florida National Guard.
61	The program facilities shall be located at Camp Blanding
62	Military Reservation.
63	(3)  ELIGIBILITY.-High school dropouts who are between the
64	ages of 16 years and 19 years, who have not been convicted of a
65	felony, and who are drug free are eligible to participate in the
66	program.
67	(4)  PROGRAM DURATION.-
68	(a)  The program shall consist of at least a 22-week
69	residential component during which each student must raise his
70	or her mathematics, science, and reading scores.
71	(b)  After the residential component of the program, each
72	student shall be assigned a case manager and a highly trained
73	mentor for a period of at least 12 months.
74	(5)  CORE ACADEMICS.-Each core academic course shall be
75	taught in a traditional classroom setting by computer-assisted
76	instructors or shall be taught virtually. The core academic
77	courses must include, at a minimum:
78	(a)  Mathematics;
79	(b)  Communications;
80	(c)  Science;
81	(d)  Social studies; and
82	(e)  Literature.
83	(6)  OCCUPATIONAL OR TECHNICAL STUDIES.-The program must
84	also include occupational or technical studies taught in
85	cooperation with a technical training center or college that
86	awards occupational or technical certificates.
87	(7)  PHYSICAL TRAINING OR APPLIED HEALTH STUDIES.-The
88	program must also include physical training or applied health
89	studies.
90	(8)  LEADERSHIP ROLES.-Students shall be prepared to assume
91	leadership roles and demonstrate the principles of good
92	followership and the value of collaborative effort.
93	(9)  VOLUNTEERISM.-In addition to the program's academic
94	requirements, each student shall be required to volunteer his or
95	her service for the benefit of the student's community.
96	(10)  INTERNSHIPS OR EMPLOYMENT.-Each student must also
97	successfully work as an unpaid intern or paid worker during the
98	12-month, postresidential component of the program in order to
99	successfully complete the program.
100	(11)  MENTORSHIP.-Each student must be paired with an
101	individual who, through his or her accomplishments, rank, or
102	social posture, serves as a positive role model and mentor who
103	will help guide the student on a successful path to productivity
104	and social assimilation.
105	(12)  TESTING REQUIREMENTS.-Students must also pass all
106	five sections of the General Education Development (GED) test
107	and pass both parts of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
108	(FCAT).
109	(13)  FUNDING.-The Department of Defense, through a
110	cooperative agreement with the National Guard Bureau and the
111	Florida National Guard, and in conjunction with the Department
112	of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Children and Family
113	Services, shall provide for the costs associated with the
114	program, including student housing, food, and clothing. The Clay
115	County School District shall fund the instructional component of
116	the program through funds provided in the Florida Education
117	Finance Program.
118	Section 2.  Section 1003.4282, Florida statutes, is created
119	to read:
120	1003.4282  General education development exit option.-
121	(1)  GENERAL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT EXIT OPTION.-The general
122	education development (GED) exit option is a graduation strategy
123	for students who are enrolled in the Florida National Guard
124	Youth Challenge Program created in s. 1003.452 or programs
125	offered by or under contract with the Department of Juvenile
126	Justice and approved by the Department of Education.
127	(a)  Eligibility.-To be eligible to participate in the GED
128	exit option, a student must be enrolled in the Florida National
129	Guard Youth Challenge Program or a selected program offered by
130	or under contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice and
131	approved by the Department of Education and must meet the
132	following criteria:
133	1.  Be enrolled in courses that meet high school graduation
134	requirements.
135	2.  Have been a drop-out student or currently be in the
136	custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
137	3.  Have earned acceptable scores on the official GED
138	practice test administered under the student-testing conditions
139	approved by the school district.
140	4.  Have a student cumulative record that indicates that
141	the GED exit option is the most appropriate educational program
142	for the student.
143	(b)  Exemption and requirements.-
144	1.  A student who participates in the GED exit option shall
145	be exempt from the minimum graduation requirements prescribed
146	for the standard high school diploma, including the grade point
147	average and credit requirements. For exceptional education
148	students, this exemption shall be included in the individual
149	education plan.
150	2.  Upon entering the GED exit option, a student who has
151	not previously met the requirements for promotion to grade 10
152	shall be promoted to grade 10 to enable the student to take the
153	grade 10 FCAT.
154	3.  A student who does not meet the requirements for high
155	school graduation in grade 12 and who chooses to return for a
156	13th year of school in order to participate in the GED exit
157	option is not required to continue classes upon meeting the GED
158	exit option requirements for graduation. After completing the
159	requirements of the GED exit option, a student shall be
160	considered a high school graduate. If the school district or
161	school to which the student returns for a 13th year has
162	implemented a program that requires a vocational component for
163	graduation, the student may be required to complete this
164	requirement in addition to the GED exit option requirements in
165	order to be considered a high school graduate.
166	(c)  Successful completion.-
167	1.  To successfully complete the GED exit option and
168	receive a standard high school diploma, a student must pass the
169	GED test and all sections of the grade 10 FCAT. A student must
170	also complete any vocational components included in an approved
171	school program.
172	2.  A student who participates in the GED exit option may
173	not graduate before his or her cohort group.
174	(d)  Transcripts.-The transcript shall identify only the
175	actual credits earned, the successful completion of the FCAT
176	requirements, and the date on which the diploma is awarded.
177	(2)  GRADUATION RATE.-A student who successfully completes
178	the GED exit option and receives a standard high school diploma
179	shall be included in the graduation rate calculated by the
180	Department of Education.
181	Section 3.  Subsection (2) of section 1003.435, Florida
182	Statutes, is amended to read:
183	1003.435  High school equivalency diploma program.-
184	(2)  The department may award high school equivalency
185	diplomas or authorize a school district to award high school
186	equivalency diplomas to candidates who meet the performance
187	standards prescribed by the State Board of Education.
188	Section 4.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
189	1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
190	1008.34  School grading system; school report cards;
191	district grade.-
192	(3)  DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.-
193	(c)  Student assessment data used in determining school
194	grades shall include:
195	1.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
196	in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT.
197	2.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
198	in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT and who have
199	scored at or in the lowest 25th percentile of students in the
200	school in reading, mathematics, or writing, unless these
201	students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
202	3.  Effective with the 2005-2006 school year, the
203	achievement scores and learning gains of eligible students
204	attending alternative schools that provide dropout prevention
205	and academic intervention services pursuant to s. 1003.53. The
206	term "eligible students" in this subparagraph does not include
207	students attending an alternative school who are subject to
208	district school board policies for expulsion for repeated or
209	serious offenses, who are in dropout retrieval programs serving
210	students who have officially been designated as dropouts, or who
211	are in programs operated or contracted by the Department of
212	Juvenile Justice. The student performance data for eligible
213	students identified in this subparagraph shall be included in
214	the calculation of the home school's grade. As used in this
215	section and s. 1008.341, the term "home school" means the school
216	to which the student would be assigned if the student were not
217	assigned to an alternative school. If an alternative school
218	chooses to be graded under this section, student performance
219	data for eligible students identified in this subparagraph shall
220	not be included in the home school's grade but shall be included
221	only in the calculation of the alternative school's grade. A
222	school district that fails to assign the FCAT scores of each of
223	its students to his or her home school or to the alternative
224	school that receives a grade shall forfeit Florida School
225	Recognition Program funds for 1 fiscal year. School districts
226	must require collaboration between the home school and the
227	alternative school in order to promote student success. This
228	collaboration must include an annual discussion between the
229	principal of the alternative school and the principal of each
230	student's home school concerning the most appropriate school
231	assignment of the student.
232	4.  Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
233	comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
234	11, and 12, the data listed in subparagraphs 1.-3. and the
235	following data as the Department of Education determines such
236	data are valid and available:
237	a.  The high school graduation rate of the school as
238	calculated by the Department of Education;
239	b.  The participation rate of all eligible students
240	enrolled in the school and enrolled in College Board Advanced
241	Placement courses; International Baccalaureate courses; dual
242	enrollment courses; Advanced International Certificate of
243	Education courses; and courses or sequence of courses leading to
244	industry certification, as determined by the Agency for
245	Workforce Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a career and
246	professional academy, as described in s. 1003.493;
247	c.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
248	in the school in College Board Advanced Placement courses,
249	International Baccalaureate courses, and Advanced International
250	Certificate of Education courses;
251	d.  Earning of college credit by all eligible students
252	enrolled in the school in dual enrollment programs under s.
253	1007.271;
254	e.  Earning of an industry certification, as determined by
255	the Agency for Workforce Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a
256	career and professional academy, as described in s. 1003.493;
257	f.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
258	in the school in reading, mathematics, and other subjects as
259	measured by the SAT, the ACT, and the common placement test for
260	postsecondary readiness;
261	g.  The high school graduation rate of all eligible at-risk
262	students enrolled in the school who scored at Level 2 or lower
263	on the grade 8 FCAT Reading and Mathematics examinations;
264	h.  The performance of the school's students on statewide
265	standardized end-of-course assessments administered under s.
266	1008.22; and
267	i.  The growth or decline in the data components listed in
268	sub-subparagraphs a.-h. from year to year.
269	j.  Beginning in the 2010-2011 school year, a school may
270	earn additional points toward its grade if a significant
271	percentage of the school's students are earning high school
272	equivalency diplomas pursuant to ss. 1003.435 and 1003.4282 in
273	lieu of standard diplomas pursuant to s. 1003.43.
274
275	The State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate criteria
276	for each school grade. The criteria must also give added weight
277	to student achievement in reading. Schools designated with a
278	grade of "C," making satisfactory progress, shall be required to
279	demonstrate that adequate progress has been made by students in
280	the school who are in the lowest 25th percentile in reading,
281	mathematics, or writing on the FCAT, unless these students are
282	exhibiting satisfactory performance. Beginning with the 2009-
283	2010 school year for schools comprised of high school grades 9,
284	10, 11, and 12, or grades 10, 11, and 12, the criteria for
285	school grades must also give added weight to the graduation rate
286	of all eligible at-risk students, as defined in this paragraph.
287	Beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, in order for a high
288	school to be designated as having a grade of "A," making
289	excellent progress, the school must demonstrate that at-risk
290	students, as defined in this paragraph, in the school are making
291	adequate progress.
292	Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 2, 2010.

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