HB 429

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to health education; amending s. 1003.428,
3	F.S.; providing for a mandatory one-half credit in health
4	education, independent of physical education credit
5	requirements, for high school students; providing a waiver
6	for students who request to take and successfully complete
7	a health education assessment developed by the Department
8	of Education; reducing the number of credits in elective
9	courses; providing an effective date.
10
11	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13	Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 1003.428, Florida
14	Statutes, is amended to read:
15	1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;
16	revised.-
17	(2)  The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
18	integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
19	Education. The 24 credits shall be distributed as follows:
20	(a)  Sixteen and one-half core curriculum credits:
21	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
22	composition, reading for information, and literature.
23	2.  Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
24	Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
25	higher-level mathematics course. Beginning with students
26	entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, in addition to
27	the Algebra I credit requirement, one of the four credits in
28	mathematics must be geometry or a series of courses equivalent
29	to geometry as approved by the State Board of Education.
30	Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school
31	year, the end-of-course assessment requirements under s.
32	1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I) must be met in order for a student to earn
33	the required credit in Algebra I. Beginning with students
34	entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year, the end-of-course
35	assessment requirements under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I) must be
36	met in order for a student to earn the required credit in
37	geometry. Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2012-
38	2013 school year, in addition to the Algebra I and geometry
39	credit requirements, one of the four credits in mathematics must
40	be Algebra II or a series of courses equivalent to Algebra II as
41	approved by the State Board of Education.
42	3.  Three credits in science, two of which must have a
43	laboratory component. Beginning with students entering grade 9
44	in the 2011-2012 school year, one of the three credits in
45	science must be Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to
46	Biology I as approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning
47	with students entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year, the
48	end-of-course assessment requirements under s.
49	1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(II) must be met in order for a student to earn
50	the required credit in Biology I. Beginning with students
51	entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year, one of the three
52	credits must be Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to
53	Biology I as approved by the State Board of Education, one
54	credit must be chemistry or physics or a series of courses
55	equivalent to chemistry or physics as approved by the State
56	Board of Education, and one credit must be an equally rigorous
57	course, as determined by the State Board of Education.
58	4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
59	in United States history; one credit in world history; one-half
60	credit in economics; and one-half credit in United States
61	government.
62	5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
63	debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
64	content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
65	imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
66	through the Course Code Directory.
67	6.  One credit in physical education to include integration
68	of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
69	junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
70	satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
71	student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
72	score of "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness
73	must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
74	school board may not require that the one credit in physical
75	education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
76	semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class,
77	in a physical activity class that requires participation in
78	marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
79	dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
80	or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
81	used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
82	requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
83	education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
84	Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
85	component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
86	requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
87	in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
88	personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
89	physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
90	504 plan.
91	7.  One-half credit in health education. The health
92	education requirement may be waived if the student requests to
93	take the health education assessment and scores a "C" or better.
94	The Department of Education shall develop the health education
95	assessment.
96	(b)  Seven and one-half Eight credits in electives.
97	1.  For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 on
98	FCAT Reading, the student must be enrolled in and complete an
99	intensive reading course the following year. Placement of Level
100	2 readers in either an intensive reading course or a content
101	area course in which reading strategies are delivered shall be
102	determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The department shall
103	provide guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and
104	meeting the varying instructional needs of students reading
105	below grade level. Reading courses shall be designed and offered
106	pursuant to the comprehensive reading plan required by s.
107	1011.62(9).
108	2.  For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or
109	Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student must receive
110	remediation the following year. These courses may be taught
111	through applied, integrated, or combined courses and are subject
112	to approval by the department for inclusion in the Course Code
113	Directory.
114	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

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