Bill Text: FL S0478 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: High School Graduation Requirements/Health Ed. [SPSC]

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on Education Pre-K - 12 [S0478 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-S0478-Introduced.html

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Florida Senate - 2010                                     SB 478 
 
By Senator Sobel 
31-00475-10                                            2010478__ 
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 physical 
5         education credit requirements, 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 and 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. School districts are encouraged 
27  to set specific goals to increase enrollments in, and successful 
28  completion of, geometry and Algebra II. 
29         3. Three credits in science, two of which must have a 
30  laboratory component. 
31         4. Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit 
32  in American history; one credit in world history; one-half 
33  credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government. 
34         5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and 
35  debate, or a practical arts course that incorporates artistic 
36  content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and 
37  imagination. Eligible practical arts courses shall be identified 
38  through the Course Code Directory. 
39         6. One credit in physical education to include integration 
40  of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the 
41  junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall 
42  satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the 
43  student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a 
44  score of “C” or better. The competency test on personal fitness 
45  must be developed by the Department of Education. A district 
46  school board may not require that the one credit in physical 
47  education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one 
48  semester with a grade of “C” or better in a marching band class, 
49  in a physical activity class that requires participation in 
50  marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a 
51  dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education 
52  or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be 
53  used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the 
54  requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual 
55  education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a 
56  Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant 
57  component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit 
58  requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement 
59  in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the 
60  personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive 
61  physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or 
62  504 plan. 
63         7. One-half credit in health education. The health 
64  education requirement may be waived if the student requests to 
65  take the health education assessment and scores a “C” or better. 
66  The Department of Education shall develop the health education 
67  assessment. 
68         (b) Seven and one-half Eight credits in majors, minors, or 
69  electives: 
70         1. Four credits in a major area of interest, such as 
71  sequential courses in a career and technical program, fine and 
72  performing arts, or academic content area, selected by the 
73  student as part of the education plan required by s. 1003.4156. 
74  Students may revise major areas of interest each year as part of 
75  annual course registration processes and should update their 
76  education plan to reflect such revisions. Annually By October 1 
77  of each year, the district school board shall approve major 
78  areas of interest and submit the list of majors to the 
79  Commissioner of Education for approval. Each major area of 
80  interest is shall be deemed approved unless specifically 
81  rejected by the commissioner within 60 days after the list of 
82  majors is received. Upon approval, each district’s major areas 
83  of interest shall be available for use by all school districts 
84  and shall be posted on the department’s website. 
85         2. Three and one-half Four credits in elective courses 
86  selected by the student as part of the education plan required 
87  by s. 1003.4156. These credits may be combined to allow for a 
88  second major area of interest pursuant to subparagraph 1., a 
89  minor area of interest, elective courses, or intensive reading 
90  or mathematics intervention courses as described in this 
91  subparagraph. 
92         a. Minor areas of interest are composed of three credits 
93  selected by the student as part of the education plan required 
94  by s. 1003.4156 and approved by the district school board. 
95         b. Elective courses are selected by the student in order to 
96  pursue a complete education program as described in s. 
97  1001.41(3) and to meet eligibility requirements for 
98  scholarships. 
99         c. For each year in which a student scores at Level l on 
100  FCAT Reading, the student must be enrolled in and complete an 
101  intensive reading course the following year. Placement of Level 
102  2 readers in either an intensive reading course or a content 
103  area course in which reading strategies are delivered shall be 
104  determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The department shall 
105  provide guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and 
106  meeting the varying instructional needs of students reading 
107  below grade level. Reading courses shall be designed and offered 
108  pursuant to the comprehensive reading plan required by s. 
109  1011.62(9). 
110         d. For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or 
111  Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student must receive 
112  remediation the following year. These courses may be taught 
113  through applied, integrated, or combined courses and are subject 
114  to approval by the department for inclusion in the Course Code 
115  Directory. 
116         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.