Florida Senate - 2019 SB 1768
By Senator Cruz
18-01701A-19 20191768__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to English language learners; amending
3 s. 1003.4282, F.S.; exempting certain English language
4 learners from a specified graduation requirement;
5 requiring such English language learners to meet other
6 criteria to earn a standard high school diploma;
7 amending s. 1008.22, F.S.; conforming provisions to
8 changes made by the act; amending s. 1008.34, F.S.;
9 revising school grade components to include certain
10 English language learners that meet specified
11 criteria; providing an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
16 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
17 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
18 (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
19 REQUIREMENTS.—
20 (a) Four credits in English Language Arts (ELA).—The four
21 credits must be in ELA I, II, III, and IV. A student must pass
22 the statewide, standardized grade 10 Reading assessment or, when
23 implemented, the grade 10 ELA assessment, or earn a concordant
24 score, in order to earn a standard high school diploma. However,
25 beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, an English Language
26 Learner who enrolled in a public school within the state in
27 grade 9 or later is exempt from the assessment requirements of
28 this paragraph and, in lieu of such requirements, must show
29 sufficient Learning Gains in English Language Arts, as
30 demonstrated on the WIDA test and at thresholds established by
31 the State Board of Education, to earn a standard high school
32 diploma. Such student must take the grade 10 ELA assessment and
33 any necessary assessment retakes for progress monitoring
34 purposes.
35 Section 2. Present subsections (11), (12), and (13) of
36 section 1008.22, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections
37 (12), (13), and (14), respectively, and a new subsection (11) is
38 added to that section, to read:
39 1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.—
40 (11) EXEMPTION FROM ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS.—Beginning in
41 the 2019-2020 school year, an English Language Learner who
42 enrolled in a public school within the state in grade 9 or later
43 is exempt from the grade 10 ELA assessment graduation
44 requirement pursuant to s. 1003.4282(3)(a). However, such
45 student must take the grade 10 ELA assessment and any necessary
46 assessment retakes for progress monitoring purposes.
47 Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
48 1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
49 1008.34 School grading system; school report cards;
50 district grade.—
51 (3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.—
52 (b)1. Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, a school’s
53 grade shall be based on the following components, each worth 100
54 points:
55 a. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
56 standardized assessments in English Language Arts under s.
57 1008.22(3).
58 b. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
59 standardized assessments in mathematics under s. 1008.22(3).
60 c. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
61 standardized assessments in science under s. 1008.22(3).
62 d. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
63 standardized assessments in social studies under s. 1008.22(3).
64 e. The percentage of eligible students who make Learning
65 Gains in English Language Arts as measured by statewide,
66 standardized assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3).
67 f. The percentage of eligible students who make Learning
68 Gains in mathematics as measured by statewide, standardized
69 assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3).
70 g. The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25
71 percent in English Language Arts, as identified by prior year
72 performance on statewide, standardized assessments, who make
73 Learning Gains as measured by statewide, standardized English
74 Language Arts assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3).
75 h. The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25
76 percent in mathematics, as identified by prior year performance
77 on statewide, standardized assessments, who make Learning Gains
78 as measured by statewide, standardized Mathematics assessments
79 administered under s. 1008.22(3).
80 i. For schools comprised of middle grades 6 through 8 or
81 grades 7 and 8, the percentage of eligible students passing high
82 school level statewide, standardized end-of-course assessments
83 or attaining national industry certifications identified in the
84 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to rules
85 adopted by the State Board of Education.
86
87 In calculating Learning Gains for the components listed in sub
88 subparagraphs e.-h., the State Board of Education shall require
89 that learning growth toward achievement levels 3, 4, and 5 is
90 demonstrated by students who scored below each of those levels
91 in the prior year. In calculating the components in sub
92 subparagraphs a.-d., the state board shall include the
93 performance of English language learners only if they have been
94 enrolled in a school in the United States for more than 2 years.
95 2. For a school comprised of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or
96 grades 10, 11, and 12, the school’s grade shall also be based on
97 the following components, each worth 100 points:
98 a. The 4-year high school graduation rate of the school as
99 defined by state board rule.
100 b. The percentage of students who were eligible to earn
101 college and career credit through College Board Advanced
102 Placement examinations, International Baccalaureate
103 examinations, dual enrollment courses, or Advanced International
104 Certificate of Education examinations; or who, at any time
105 during high school, earned national industry certification
106 identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List; or
107 who enrolled in a public school in this state in grade 9 or
108 later as an English language learner and passed the grade 10 ELA
109 assessment administered under s. 1008.22(3), pursuant to rules
110 adopted by the state board.
111 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.