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.