Florida Senate - 2021 SB 202



By Senator Cruz





18-00298-21 2021202__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to standard high school diploma award
3 requirements; amending s. 1002.3105, F.S.; conforming
4 a cross-reference; adding a new requirement for the
5 award of a standard high school diploma to
6 Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance
7 Learning students; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.;
8 requiring certain students to submit a Free
9 Application for Federal Student Aid in order to be
10 awarded a standard high school diploma; providing an
11 exception; amending s. 1003.5716, F.S.; conforming a
12 cross-reference; reenacting s. 1003.03(3)(c), F.S.,
13 relating to maximum class size, to incorporate the
14 amendment made to s. 1002.3105, F.S., in a reference
15 thereto; reenacting ss. 1002.20(8), 1003.4281(1),
16 1003.4285(1), 1003.5716(1), and 1011.62(1)(n), F.S.,
17 to incorporate the amendment made to s. 1003.4282,
18 F.S., in references thereto; reenacting ss.
19 409.1451(2)(a), 1002.33(7)(a), 1002.34(4)(g),
20 1002.45(4)(b), 1003.49(1), 1004.935(1), 1006.15(3)(a),
21 1009.531(1)(b), and 1009.893(4), F.S., relating to the
22 Road-to-Independence Program, charter schools, virtual
23 instruction, standard graduation requirements, the
24 Adults with Disabilities Workforce Education Program,
25 standards for participation in extracurricular student
26 activities, the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
27 program, and the Benacquisto Scholarship Program,
28 respectively, to incorporate the amendments made to
29 ss. 1002.3105 and 1003.4282, F.S., in references
30 thereto; providing an effective date.
31
32 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
33
34 Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 1002.3105, Florida
35 Statutes, is amended to read:
36 1002.3105 Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance
37 Learning (ACCEL) options.—
38 (5) AWARD OF A STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.—A student who
39 meets the applicable grade 9 cohort graduation requirements of
40 s. 1003.4282(3)(a)-(e) or s. 1003.4282(10)(a)1.-5. s.
41 1003.4282(9)(a)1.-5., (b)1.-5., (c)1.-5., or (d)1.-5., earns
42 three credits in electives, and earns a cumulative grade point
43 average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, and complies with the Free
44 Application for Federal Student Aid requirement of s.
45 1003.4282(5) shall be awarded a standard high school diploma in
46 a form prescribed by the State Board of Education.
47 Section 2. Present subsections (5) through (12) of section
48 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (6)
49 through (13), respectively, and a new subsection (5) is added to
50 that section, to read:
51 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
52 (5) FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID REQUIREMENT.
53 Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2022-2023 school
54 year, a student must submit a Free Application for Federal
55 Student Aid in order to be awarded a standard high school
56 diploma. However, a student is exempt from the requirements of
57 this subsection if the student’s parent or the student, if such
58 student is 18 years of age or older, submits a letter to the
59 school district declining to submit the Free Application for
60 Federal Student Aid.
61 Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
62 1003.5716, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
63 1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career
64 opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of
65 age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate
66 public education. As used in this section, the term “IEP” means
67 individual education plan.
68 (2) Beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect
69 when the student attains the age of 16, or younger if determined
70 appropriate by the parent and the IEP team, the IEP must include
71 the following statements that must be updated annually:
72 (b) A statement of intent to receive a standard high school
73 diploma before the student attains the age of 22 and a
74 description of how the student will fully meet the requirements
75 in s. 1003.4282, including, but not limited to, a portfolio
76 pursuant to s. 1003.4282(11)(b) s. 1003.4282(10)(b) which meets
77 the criteria specified in State Board of Education rule. The IEP
78 must also specify the outcomes and additional benefits expected
79 by the parent and the IEP team at the time of the student’s
80 graduation.
81 Section 4. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
82 made by this act to section 1002.3105, Florida Statutes, in a
83 reference thereto, paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
84 1003.03, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
85 1003.03 Maximum class size.—
86 (3) IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS.—District school boards must
87 consider, but are not limited to, implementing the following
88 items in order to meet the constitutional class size maximums
89 described in subsection (1):
90 (c)1. Repeal district school board policies that require
91 students to earn more than the 24 credits to graduate from high
92 school.
93 2. Implement the early graduation options provided in ss.
94 1002.3105(5) and 1003.4281.
95 Section 5. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
96 made by this act to section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, in a
97 reference thereto, subsection (8) of section 1002.20, Florida
98 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
99 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
100 school students must receive accurate and timely information
101 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
102 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
103 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
104 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
105 (8) STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.—Parents of public school
106 students with disabilities and parents of public school students
107 in residential care facilities are entitled to notice and due
108 process in accordance with the provisions of ss. 1003.57 and
109 1003.58. Public school students with disabilities must be
110 provided the opportunity to meet the graduation requirements for
111 a standard high school diploma as set forth in s. 1003.4282 in
112 accordance with the provisions of ss. 1003.57 and 1008.22.
113 Section 6. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
114 made by this act to section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, in a
115 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 1003.4281, Florida
116 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
117 1003.4281 Early high school graduation.—
118 (1) The purpose of this section is to provide a student the
119 option of early graduation and receipt of a standard high school
120 diploma if the student earns 24 credits and meets the graduation
121 requirements set forth in s. 1003.4282. For purposes of this
122 section, the term “early graduation” means graduation from high
123 school in less than 8 semesters or the equivalent.
124 Section 7. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
125 made by this act to section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, in a
126 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 1003.4285, Florida
127 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
128 1003.4285 Standard high school diploma designations.—
129 (1) Each standard high school diploma shall include, as
130 applicable, the following designations if the student meets the
131 criteria set forth for the designation:
132 (a) Scholar designation.—In addition to the requirements of
133 s. 1003.4282, in order to earn the Scholar designation, a
134 student must satisfy the following requirements:
135 1. Mathematics.—Earn one credit in Algebra II or an equally
136 rigorous course and one credit in statistics or an equally
137 rigorous course. Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the
138 2014-2015 school year, pass the Geometry statewide, standardized
139 assessment.
140 2. Science.—Pass the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC
141 assessment and earn one credit in chemistry or physics and one
142 credit in a course equally rigorous to chemistry or physics.
143 However, a student enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP),
144 International Baccalaureate (IB), or Advanced International
145 Certificate of Education (AICE) Biology course who takes the
146 respective AP, IB, or AICE Biology assessment and earns the
147 minimum score necessary to earn college credit as identified
148 pursuant to s. 1007.27(2) meets the requirement of this
149 subparagraph without having to take the statewide, standardized
150 Biology I EOC assessment.
151 3. Social studies.—Pass the statewide, standardized United
152 States History EOC assessment. However, a student enrolled in an
153 AP, IB, or AICE course that includes United States History
154 topics who takes the respective AP, IB, or AICE assessment and
155 earns the minimum score necessary to earn college credit as
156 identified pursuant to s. 1007.27(2) meets the requirement of
157 this subparagraph without having to take the statewide,
158 standardized United States History EOC assessment.
159 4. Foreign language.—Earn two credits in the same foreign
160 language.
161 5. Electives.—Earn at least one credit in an Advanced
162 Placement, an International Baccalaureate, an Advanced
163 International Certificate of Education, or a dual enrollment
164 course.
165 (b) Merit designation.—In addition to the requirements of
166 s. 1003.4282, in order to earn the Merit designation, a student
167 must attain one or more industry certifications from the list
168 established under s. 1003.492.
169 Section 8. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
170 made by this act to section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, in a
171 reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 1003.5716, Florida
172 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
173 1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career
174 opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of
175 age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate
176 public education. As used in this section, the term “IEP” means
177 individual education plan.
178 (1) To ensure quality planning for a successful transition
179 of a student with a disability to postsecondary education and
180 career opportunities, an IEP team shall begin the process of,
181 and develop an IEP for, identifying the need for transition
182 services before the student with a disability attains the age of
183 14 years in order for his or her postsecondary goals and career
184 goals to be identified and in place when he or she attains the
185 age of 16 years. This process must include, but is not limited
186 to:
187 (a) Consideration of the student’s need for instruction in
188 the area of self-determination and self-advocacy to assist the
189 student’s active and effective participation in an IEP meeting;
190 and
191 (b) Preparation for the student to graduate from high
192 school with a standard high school diploma pursuant to s.
193 1003.4282 with a Scholar designation unless the parent chooses a
194 Merit designation.
195 Section 9. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
196 made by this act to section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, in a
197 reference thereto, paragraph (n) of subsection (1) of section
198 1011.62, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
199 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
200 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
201 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
202 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
203 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
204 follows:
205 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
206 OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
207 determining the annual allocation to each district for
208 operation:
209 (n) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
210 membership based on college board advanced placement scores of
211 students and earning college board advanced placement capstone
212 diplomas.—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student
213 membership shall be calculated for each student in each advanced
214 placement course who receives a score of 3 or higher on the
215 College Board Advanced Placement Examination for the prior year
216 and added to the total full-time equivalent student membership
217 in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in the subsequent
218 fiscal year. A value of 0.3 full-time equivalent student
219 membership shall be calculated for each student who receives a
220 College Board Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma and meets the
221 requirements for a standard high school diploma under s.
222 1003.4282. Such value shall be added to the total full-time
223 equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades 9
224 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each district must
225 allocate at least 80 percent of the funds provided to the
226 district for advanced placement instruction, in accordance with
227 this paragraph, to the high school that generates the funds. The
228 school district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who
229 provided advanced placement instruction:
230 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
231 the Advanced Placement teacher in each advanced placement course
232 who receives a score of 3 or higher on the College Board
233 Advanced Placement Examination.
234 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced Placement
235 teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who
236 has at least one student scoring 3 or higher on the College
237 Board Advanced Placement Examination, regardless of the number
238 of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a 3 or
239 higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination.
240
241 Bonuses awarded under this paragraph shall be in addition to any
242 regular wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled
243 to receive. For such courses, the teacher shall earn an
244 additional bonus of $50 for each student who has a qualifying
245 score.
246 Section 10. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
247 made by this act to sections 1002.3105 and 1003.4282, Florida
248 Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (2)
249 of section 409.1451, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
250 409.1451 The Road-to-Independence Program.—
251 (2) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES AND SUPPORT.—
252 (a) A young adult is eligible for services and support
253 under this subsection if he or she:
254 1. Was living in licensed care on his or her 18th birthday
255 or is currently living in licensed care; or was at least 16
256 years of age and was adopted from foster care or placed with a
257 court-approved dependency guardian after spending at least 6
258 months in licensed care within the 12 months immediately
259 preceding such placement or adoption;
260 2. Spent at least 6 months in licensed care before reaching
261 his or her 18th birthday;
262 3. Earned a standard high school diploma pursuant to s.
263 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282, or its equivalent
264 pursuant to s. 1003.435;
265 4. Has been admitted for enrollment as a full-time student
266 or its equivalent in an eligible postsecondary educational
267 institution as provided in s. 1009.533. For purposes of this
268 section, the term “full-time” means 9 credit hours or the
269 vocational school equivalent. A student may enroll part-time if
270 he or she has a recognized disability or is faced with another
271 challenge or circumstance that would prevent full-time
272 attendance. A student needing to enroll part-time for any reason
273 other than having a recognized disability must get approval from
274 his or her academic advisor;
275 5. Has reached 18 years of age but is not yet 23 years of
276 age;
277 6. Has applied, with assistance from the young adult’s
278 caregiver and the community-based lead agency, for any other
279 grants and scholarships for which he or she may qualify;
280 7. Submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
281 which is complete and error free; and
282 8. Signed an agreement to allow the department and the
283 community-based care lead agency access to school records.
284 Section 11. For the p