FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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    STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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    John L. Winn
    Commissioner of Education
    T. WILLARD FAIR,
    Chairman
    F. PHILIP HANDY,
    Vice Chairman
    Members
    DONNA G. CALLAWAY
    ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
    PHOEBE RAULERSON
    KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
    CONTACT PERSON
    NAME:
    Lillian Finn
    Antionette
    Meeks
    PHONE:
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    (850) 245-0480
    SUNCOM:
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    205-0480
    E-MAIL:
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    Lillian.Finn@fldoe.org
    Antionette.Meeks@fldoe.org
    K12:
    2007- 03
    MEMORANDUM
    TO:
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    District Superintendents
    FROM:
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    Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.
    DATE:
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    January 8, 2007
    SUBJECT:
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    GUIDANCE ON NEW PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADUATION
    REQUIREMENT
    As a result of legislative action through House Bill 7078 in 2006, a one credit Physical Education
    with the integration of Health course is required for all of Florida students entering high school
    as of school year 2007/08 for students earning a standard Florida diploma. (statute link:
    1003.428 (2)(a)6.)
    Students enrolled in high school as of the 2006-07 school year will continue
    under the current graduation requirements (½ credit in Personal Fitness, ½ credit in Physical
    Education, and ½ credit in Life Management Skills).
    Background:
    The newly required course is entitled “Health Opportunities through Physical
    Education” or “HOPE.” It was written by a statewide committee of 16 public school district
    health and physical education professionals as well as two health and physical education
    related associations. Half of the committee consisted of district level health and physical
    education curriculum coordinators and the other half were currently practicing public school
    health education and physical education teachers. The committee was organized by the
    Department of Education’s CSHP Director, Health Education Coordinator and Physical
    Education Coordinator and was facilitated by a Health Professor from Florida A & M, and a
    Physical Education Professor from the University of West Florida. The course incorporates the
    key components of the currently required Life Management Skills Course and the Personal
    Fitness Course.
    325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
      
    District Superintendents
    January 5, 2007
    Page Two
    The following information will assist in the implementation of the HOPE course.
    1)
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    The course codes for the HOPE Course and its variations are as follows:
    3026010 – HOPE
    Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE)
    1506310 – HOPE – HOPE Health Education Variation
    1506320 – HOPE – HOPE Physical Education Variation
    The HOPE course and its variations are full one credit courses to be taken by the
    student throughout one school year.
    2)
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    As written, the course requires two certifications: Physical Education and Health
    Education. A teacher who holds a dual certification will qualify to teach this course in its
    entirety or the course must be “team taught” using a Physical Education certified teacher
    and a Health Education certified teacher.
    This will ensure that the most qualified
    teachers will be teaching those course components that best apply to their level of
    expertise.
    3)
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    It is recommended that districts use the Personal Fitness and Life Management Skills
    textbooks that will be approved and under contract with publishers by April 2007, until
    new instructional materials can be written and adopted. These materials will serve the
    instructional materials need temporarily in view of the fact that this course incorporates
    the key components of the Life Management Skills Course and the Personal Fitness
    Course.
    4)
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    No waivers can be applied to the HOPE course or its variations.
    5)
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    The physical education and health education variations have been submitted as a
    phase-in option
    for those districts and schools that currently may not have the capacity
    to deliver the core course as written. By close of school year 2009/10 (three years), the
    two variations will be completely phased out and all districts and schools will be required
    to deliver the core course.
    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lillian Finn at Lillian.Finn@fldoe.org or
    Antionette Meeks at Antionette.Meeks@fldoe.org or at (850)245-0480.
    CPY:lf:am
    cc:
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    Assistant or Deputy Superintendents for Curriculum
    District Curriculum Directors
    District Health Education Coordinators
    District Physical Education Coordinators
    District Guidance Counselors
    Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinators

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