Florida Senate - 2011                                    SB 1166
       
       
       
       By Senator Detert
       
       
       
       
       23-00941A-11                                          20111166__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to high school accountability;
    3         amending ss. 1003.435 and 1008.34 F.S.; revising
    4         provisions relating to the high school equivalency
    5         diploma program and the school rating system to
    6         include students who receive a high school equivalency
    7         diploma in the high school graduation rates for
    8         purposes of determining a school’s grade; providing an
    9         effective date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 1003.435, Florida
   14  Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.—
   16         (6)(a) All high school equivalency diplomas issued under
   17  the provisions of this section shall have equal status with
   18  other high school diplomas for all state purposes, including
   19  admission to any state university or community college.
   20         (b) Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, students who
   21  earn a high school equivalency diploma shall be included in the
   22  high school graduation rate for purposes of determining a
   23  school’s grade pursuant to s. 1008.34(3)(b).
   24         (c)(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
   25  providing for the award of a standard high school diploma to
   26  holders of high school equivalency diplomas who are assessed as
   27  meeting designated criteria, and the commissioner shall
   28  establish procedures for administering the assessment.
   29         Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
   30  1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   31         1008.34 School grading system; school report cards;
   32  district grade.—
   33         (3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.—
   34         (b)1. A school’s grade shall be based on a combination of:
   35         a. Student achievement scores, including achievement on all
   36  FCAT assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)1., end-of
   37  course assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., and
   38  achievement scores for students seeking a special diploma.
   39         b. Student learning gains in reading and mathematics as
   40  measured by FCAT and end-of-course assessments, as described in
   41  s. 1008.22(3)(c)1. and 2.a. Learning gains for students seeking
   42  a special diploma, as measured by an alternate assessment tool,
   43  shall be included not later than the 2009-2010 school year.
   44         c. Improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students in
   45  the school in reading and mathematics on the FCAT or end-of
   46  course assessments described in s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., unless
   47  these students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
   48         2. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
   49  comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
   50  11, and 12, 50 percent of the school grade shall be based on a
   51  combination of the factors listed in sub-subparagraphs 1.a.-c.
   52  and the remaining 50 percent on the following factors:
   53         a. The high school graduation rate of the school. Beginning
   54  with the 2011-2012 school year, at least 75 percent of the
   55  students who earn a high school equivalency diploma pursuant to
   56  s. 1003.435 shall be included in the calculation of the high
   57  school graduation rate;
   58         b. As valid data becomes available, the performance and
   59  participation of the school’s students in College Board Advanced
   60  Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, dual
   61  enrollment courses, and Advanced International Certificate of
   62  Education courses; and the students’ achievement of national
   63  industry certification identified in the Industry Certification
   64  Funding List, pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of
   65  Education;
   66         c. Postsecondary readiness of the school’s students as
   67  measured by the SAT, ACT, or the common placement test;
   68         d. The high school graduation rate of at-risk students who
   69  scored at Level 2 or lower on the grade 8 FCAT Reading and
   70  Mathematics examinations;
   71         e. As valid data becomes available, the performance of the
   72  school’s students on statewide standardized end-of-course
   73  assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.b. and c.; and
   74         f. The growth or decline in the components listed in sub
   75  subparagraphs a.-e. from year to year.
   76         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.