Bill Text: FL S0776 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: School Grades

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2012-03-09 - Died in Education Pre-K - 12 [S0776 Detail]

Download: Florida-2012-S0776-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2012                                     SB 776
       
       
       
       By Senator Detert
       
       
       
       
       23-00594-12                                            2012776__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to school grades; amending ss.
    3         1003.435 and 1008.34, F.S.; requiring that high
    4         schools be given at least 75 percent credit for
    5         students who receive high school equivalency diplomas
    6         for purposes of calculating the school’s graduation
    7         rate, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9  
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 1003.435, Florida
   13  Statutes, is amended to read:
   14         1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.—
   15         (6)(a) All high school equivalency diplomas issued under
   16  the provisions of this section shall have equal status with
   17  other high school diplomas for all state purposes, including
   18  admission to any state university or Florida College System
   19  institution.
   20         (b) Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, a high
   21  school’s graduation rate shall include at least 75 percent
   22  credit for each student who receives a high school equivalency
   23  diploma pursuant to this section.
   24         (c)(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
   25  providing for the award of a standard high school diploma to
   26  holders of high school equivalency diplomas who are assessed as
   27  meeting designated criteria, and the commissioner shall
   28  establish procedures for administering the assessment.
   29         Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
   30  1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   31         1008.34 School grading system; school report cards;
   32  district grade.—
   33         (3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.—
   34         (b)1. A school’s grade shall be based on a combination of:
   35         a. Student achievement scores, including achievement on all
   36  FCAT assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)1., end-of
   37  course assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., and
   38  achievement scores for students seeking a special diploma.
   39         b. Student learning gains in reading and mathematics as
   40  measured by FCAT and end-of-course assessments, as described in
   41  s. 1008.22(3)(c)1. and 2.a. Learning gains for students seeking
   42  a special diploma, as measured by an alternate assessment tool,
   43  shall be included not later than the 2009-2010 school year.
   44         c. Improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students in
   45  the school in reading and mathematics on the FCAT or end-of
   46  course assessments described in s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., unless
   47  these students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
   48         2. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, for schools
   49  comprised of middle school grades 6 through 8 or grades 7 and 8,
   50  the school’s grade shall include the performance and
   51  participation of its students enrolled in high school level
   52  courses with end-of-course assessments administered under s.
   53  1008.22(3)(c)2.a. Performance and participation must be weighted
   54  equally. As valid data becomes available, the school grades
   55  shall include the students’ attainment of national industry
   56  certification identified in the Industry Certification Funding
   57  List pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
   58         3. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
   59  comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
   60  11, and 12, 50 percent of the school grade shall be based on a
   61  combination of the factors listed in sub-subparagraphs 1.a.-c.
   62  and the remaining 50 percent on the following factors:
   63         a. The high school graduation rate of the school, which,
   64  beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, shall include at least
   65  75 percent credit for each student who receives a high school
   66  equivalency diploma pursuant to s. 1003.435;
   67         b. As valid data becomes available, the performance and
   68  participation of the school’s students in College Board Advanced
   69  Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, dual
   70  enrollment courses, and Advanced International Certificate of
   71  Education courses; and the students’ achievement of national
   72  industry certification identified in the Industry Certification
   73  Funding List, pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of
   74  Education;
   75         c. Postsecondary readiness of the school’s students as
   76  measured by the SAT, ACT, or the common placement test;
   77         d. The high school graduation rate of at-risk students who
   78  scored at Level 2 or lower on the grade 8 FCAT Reading and
   79  Mathematics examinations;
   80         e. As valid data becomes available, the performance of the
   81  school’s students on statewide standardized end-of-course
   82  assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.c. and d.; and
   83         f. The growth or decline in the components listed in sub
   84  subparagraphs a.-e. from year to year.
   85         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.