Florida Senate - 2013 SB 162
By Senator Detert
28-00123-13 2013162__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to school grades; amending ss.
3 1003.435 and 1008.34, F.S.; requiring that high
4 schools be given a minimum percentage of credit for
5 students who receive high school equivalency diplomas
6 for purposes of calculating the school’s graduation
7 rate, beginning with the 2013-2014 school year;
8 providing an effective date.
9
10 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12 Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 1003.435, Florida
13 Statutes, is amended to read:
14 1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.—
15 (6)(a) All high school equivalency diplomas issued under
16 the provisions of this section shall have equal status with
17 other high school diplomas for all state purposes, including
18 admission to any state university or Florida College System
19 institution.
20 (b) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, a high
21 school’s graduation rate shall include at least 75 percent
22 credit for each student who receives a high school equivalency
23 diploma pursuant to this section.
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 as
36 measured by FCAT assessments under s. 1008.22(3)(c)1.,
37 statewide, standardized end-of-course assessments under s.
38 1008.22(3)(c)2.a. and b., and achievement scores for students
39 seeking a special diploma.
40 b. Student learning gains in reading and mathematics as
41 measured by FCAT and statewide, standardized end-of-course
42 assessments, as described in s. 1008.22(3)(c)1. and 2.a.,
43 including learning gains for students seeking a special diploma,
44 as measured by an alternate assessment.
45 c. Improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students in
46 the school in reading and mathematics on the FCAT or end-of
47 course assessments described in s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., unless
48 these students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
49 2. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, for schools
50 comprised of middle school grades 6 through 8 or grades 7 and 8,
51 the school’s grade shall include the performance and
52 participation of its students enrolled in high school level
53 courses with end-of-course assessments administered under s.
54 1008.22(3)(c)2.a. Performance and participation must be weighted
55 equally. As valid data becomes available, the school grades
56 shall include the students’ attainment of national industry
57 certification identified in the Industry Certification Funding
58 List pursuant to rules adopted by the state board.
59 3. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
60 comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
61 11, and 12, at least 50 percent of the school grade shall be
62 based on a combination of the factors listed in sub
63 subparagraphs 1.a.-c. and the remaining percentage on the
64 following factors:
65 a. The high school graduation rate of the school, which,
66 beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, shall include at least
67 75 percent credit for each student who receives a high school
68 equivalency diploma pursuant to s. 1003.435;
69 b. As valid data become becomes available, the performance
70 and participation of the school’s students in College Board
71 Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses,
72 dual enrollment courses, and Advanced International Certificate
73 of Education courses; and the students’ achievement of national
74 industry certification identified in the Industry Certification
75 Funding List, pursuant to rules adopted by the state board;
76 c. Postsecondary readiness of all of the school’s on-time
77 graduates as measured by the SAT, the ACT, the Postsecondary
78 Education Readiness Test, or the common placement test;
79 d. The high school graduation rate of at-risk students, who
80 are students scoring at Level 1 or Level 2 on grade 8 FCAT
81 Reading and FCAT Mathematics;
82 e. As valid data become becomes available, the performance
83 of the school’s students on statewide, standardized end-of
84 course assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.c. and
85 d.; and
86 f. The growth or decline in the components listed in sub
87 subparagraphs a.-e. from year to year.
88 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.