HB 415

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 the
5	physical education credit requirement, for high school
6	students; providing a waiver for students who request
7	to take and successfully complete a health education
8	assessment developed by the Department of Education;
9	reducing the number of credits in elective courses;
10	providing an effective date.
11
12	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14	Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 1003.428, Florida
15	Statutes, is amended to read:
16	1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;
17	revised.-
18	(2)  The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
19	integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
20	Education. The 24 credits shall be distributed as follows:
21	(a)  Sixteen and one-half core curriculum credits:
22	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
23	composition, reading for information, and literature.
24	2.  Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
25	Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
26	higher-level mathematics course. Beginning with students
27	entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year, in addition to
28	the Algebra I credit requirement, one of the four credits in
29	mathematics must be geometry or a series of courses equivalent
30	to geometry as approved by the State Board of Education.
31	Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school
32	year, the end-of-course assessment requirements under s.
33	1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I) must be met in order for a student to earn
34	the required credit in Algebra I. Beginning with students
35	entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year, the end-of-course
36	assessment requirements under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(I) must be
37	met in order for a student to earn the required credit in
38	geometry. Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2012-
39	2013 school year, in addition to the Algebra I and geometry
40	credit requirements, one of the four credits in mathematics must
41	be Algebra II or a series of courses equivalent to Algebra II as
42	approved by the State Board of Education.
43	3.  Three credits in science, two of which must have a
44	laboratory component. Beginning with students entering grade 9
45	in the 2011-2012 school year, one of the three credits in
46	science must be Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to
47	Biology I as approved by the State Board of Education. Beginning
48	with students entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year, the
49	end-of-course assessment requirements under s.
50	1008.22(3)(c)2.a.(II) must be met in order for a student to earn
51	the required credit in Biology I. Beginning with students
52	entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year, one of the three
53	credits must be Biology I or a series of courses equivalent to
54	Biology I as approved by the State Board of Education, one
55	credit must be chemistry or physics or a series of courses
56	equivalent to chemistry or physics as approved by the State
57	Board of Education, and one credit must be an equally rigorous
58	course, as determined by the State Board of Education.
59	4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
60	in United States history; one credit in world history; one-half
61	credit in economics; and one-half credit in United States
62	government.
63	5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
64	debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic
65	content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and
66	imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified
67	through the Course Code Directory.
68	6.  One credit in physical education to include integration
69	of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
70	junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
71	satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
72	student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
73	score of "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness
74	must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
75	school board may not require that the one credit in physical
76	education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
77	semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class,
78	in a physical activity class that requires participation in
79	marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
80	dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
81	or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
82	used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
83	requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
84	education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
85	Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
86	component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
87	requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
88	in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
89	personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
90	physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
91	504 plan.
92	7.  One-half credit in health education. The health
93	education requirement may be waived if the student requests to
94	take the health education assessment and scores a "C" or better.
95	The Department of Education shall develop the health education
96	assessment.
97	(b)  Seven and one-half Eight credits in electives.
98	1.  For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 on
99	FCAT Reading, the student must be enrolled in and complete an
100	intensive reading course the following year. Placement of Level
101	2 readers in either an intensive reading course or a content
102	area course in which reading strategies are delivered shall be
103	determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The department shall
104	provide guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and
105	meeting the varying instructional needs of students reading
106	below grade level. Reading courses shall be designed and offered
107	pursuant to the comprehensive reading plan required by s.
108	1011.62(9). A high school student who scores at Level 1 or Level
109	2 on FCAT Reading but who did not score below Level 3 in the
110	previous 3 years may be granted a 1-year exemption from the
111	reading remediation requirement; however, the student must have
112	an approved academic improvement plan already in place, signed
113	by the appropriate school staff and the student's parent, for
114	the year for which the exemption is granted.
115	2.  For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or
116	Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student must receive
117	remediation the following year. These courses may be taught
118	through applied, integrated, or combined courses and are subject
119	to approval by the department for inclusion in the Course Code
120	Directory.
121	(c)  Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2011-
122	2012 school year, at least one course within the 24 credits
123	required in this subsection must be completed through online
124	learning. However, an online course taken during grades 6
125	through 8 fulfills this requirement. This requirement shall be
126	met through an online course offered by the Florida Virtual
127	School, an online course offered by the high school, or an
128	online dual enrollment course offered pursuant to a district
129	interinstitutional articulation agreement pursuant to s.
130	1007.235. A student who is enrolled in a full-time or part-time
131	virtual instruction program under s. 1002.45 meets this
132	requirement.
133	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

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