The Florida Senate

1003.429  Accelerated high school graduation options.--

(1)  Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, all students scheduled to graduate in 2004 and thereafter may select one of the following three high school graduation options:

(a)  Completion of the general requirements for high school graduation pursuant to s. 1003.43;

(b)  Completion of a 3-year standard college preparatory program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18 academic credits in grades 9 through 12. The 18 credits shall be primary requirements and shall be distributed as follows:

1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in composition and literature;

2.  Three credits in mathematics at the Algebra I level or higher from the list of courses that qualify for state university admission;

3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must have a laboratory component;

4.  Three credits in social sciences;

5.  Two credits in the same second language unless the student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate competency in a language other than English. If the student demonstrates competency in another language, the student may replace the language requirement with two credits in other academic courses; and

6.  Three credits in electives; or

(c)  Completion of a 3-year career preparatory program requiring successful completion of a minimum of 18 academic credits in grades 9 through 12. The 18 credits shall be primary requirements and shall be distributed as follows:

1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in composition and literature;

2.  Three credits in mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I;

3.  Three credits in natural science, two of which must have a laboratory component;

4.  Three credits in social sciences;

5.  Two credits in the same second language unless the student is a native speaker of or can otherwise demonstrate competency in a language other than English. If the student demonstrates competency in another language, the student may replace the language requirement with two credits in other academic courses; and

6.  Three credits in electives.

(2)  Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, each district school board shall provide each student in grades 6 through 12 and their parents with the 3-year and 4-year high school graduation options listed in subsection (1) with curriculum for the students and parents to select the postsecondary education or career plan that best fits their needs. The options shall include a timeframe for achieving each graduation option.

(3)  Selection of one of the graduation options listed in subsection (1) is exclusively up to the student and parent. If the student and parent fail to select a graduation option, the student shall be considered to have selected the general requirements for high school graduation pursuant to paragraph (1)(a).

(4)  District school boards shall not establish requirements for accelerated 3-year high school graduation options in excess of the requirements in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c).

(5)  Students pursuing accelerated 3-year high school graduation options pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph (1)(c) are required to:

(a)  Earn passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s. 1008.22(3)(c).

(b)  Achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required by the chosen accelerated 3-year high school graduation option pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph (1)(c).

(6)  A student who meets all requirements prescribed in subsections (1) and (5) shall be awarded a standard diploma in a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.

History.--s. 12, ch. 2003-391.