FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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JIM HORNE
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
SALLY BRADSHAW
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
CONTACT PERSONS
Name: Mary Jo Butler
Phone: (850) 245-0479
Suncom: 205-0479
Email:
Name: Heather Sherry
Phone: (850) 245-0407
Suncom: 205-0407
Email:
maryjo.butler@fldoe.org
heather.sherry@fldoe.org
Name: Rose Raynak
DPS:
04-023
Phone: (850) 245-9020
Suncom: 205-9020
Email:
rose.raynak@fldoe.org
MEMORANDUM
To:
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District School Superintendents
From:
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Jim Warford
Date:
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August 29, 2003
Subject:
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LEGISLATIVE CHANGES REGARDING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION – HOUSE
BILL 23B
The 2003 Legislature passed House Bill 23B to provide learning opportunities for certain students to meet
high school graduation requirements and to authorize an alternate assessment for the Grade 10 Florida
Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for students in the graduating class of 2002-2003. In a memo
dated July 7, 2003, Commissioner Horne provided you with information regarding the alternate
those students who use this option to meet the 2002-2003 graduation requirements.
Section 1008.22, Florida Statutes, further specifies that students who meet all requirements for the
standard high school diploma except earning passing scores on the Grade 10 FCAT by the end of the
twelfth grade must be provided with the following learning opportunities:
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Participation in an accelerated high school equivalency diploma preparation program during the
summer
JIM WARFORD
K – 12 Chancellor
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
Legislative Changes Regarding High School Graduation – House Bill 23B
August 29, 2003
Page Two
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Upon receipt of a certificate of completion, be allowed to take the College Placement Test and be
admitted to remedial or credit courses at a state community college, as appropriate
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Participation in an adult general education program until they master English, reading,
mathematics, or other subjects required for high school graduation. Students attending adult
basic, adult secondary, or vocational preparatory instruction who do not have a high school
diploma are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees. Students attending an adult general
education program shall have the opportunity to take the Grade 10 FCAT an unlimited number of
times in order to receive a standard high school diploma.
Students enrolled in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program for less than two
school years who meet all graduation requirements except for passing the Grade 10 FCAT may receive
immersion English language instruction during the summer following their senior year. These students
will earn a standard diploma upon successfully passing the Grade 10 FCAT.
The district school superintendent is responsible for notifying all parents of the consequences of failure to
receive a standard high school diploma, including the potential ineligibility for financial assistance at
postsecondary educational institutions.
Implementation Guidelines
An appropriate review of the transcript is necessary to ensure that students who transfer from out of the
country or state have been promoted to the eleventh or twelfth grade and have met all graduation
requirements of the school district, state, or country from which they are transferring. Work or credits from
state or regionally accredited public or private schools should automatically be accepted at face value,
subject to validation if deemed necessary. When validation is required, it is recommended that it be
reviewed first for scholastic performance. If a copy of the sending school’s graduation requirements is not
included with the official transcript, school staff at the receiving school must provide a follow-up request
for this information or communicate directly with the previous school. It is recommended that the principal
or principal’s designee document that the student has been promoted to the eleventh or twelfth grade and
is on track for graduation from the sending school as evidenced by receipt of the official transcript in the
cumulative record. If the student is from out of the country, the principal or principal’s designee may need
to interview the student and parent(s) to determine, to the extent possible, whether the student has been
promoted to the eleventh or twelfth grade and is on track for graduation. In some cases, a translation of
transcripts will occur. Florida state graduation requirements shall not be retroactive for a transfer student
provided that the student has been promoted to the eleventh or twelfth grade and has met all
requirements of the school district, state, or country from which he or she is transferring. A school district
may not require these students to spend additional time in a Florida public school in order to meet Florida
high school graduation requirements.
For students who did not earn a passing score on the FCAT, it is important that assistance and support
from their schools and the community be made available as soon as possible. The assistance must be
tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual student. School districts may consider convening a
case management team, consisting of the student, parent, and guidance counselor or career specialist to
consider all of the information regarding the student to determine an appropriate course of action. After
the case management team decides which option best meets the needs of the student, the guidance
counselor or other designated member should track the success of the student, and communicate with
the parent and student concerning progress.
Legislative Changes Regarding High School Graduation – House Bill 23B
August 29, 2003
Page Three
Students have many opportunities to obtain their high school diploma:
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Continuation of high school education.
Students may choose to continue their high school
education through attendance in summer school or during the 2003-2004 school year to receive
remediation for retaking and passing the FCAT. These activities may include computer assisted
instruction, tutoring, FCAT Explorer, adult education, work study programs, and mentoring.
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Participation in the GED Exit Option Model.
This option is available for high school students
who are at risk of not graduating with their peer group. These programs are usually provided by
local high schools and require students to be enrolled in high school courses while preparing for
the General Education Development (GED) Tests. Students who earn passing scores on the
FCAT and the GED Tests are awarded a standard high school diploma. Students who pass only
the GED Tests are awarded a State of Florida Diploma. Students with disabilities may be offered
the opportunity to request accommodations for taking the GED Tests, including nonstandard
editions (audiocassette, Braille, large print, and Spanish). More information regarding this option
is available from the district dropout prevention coordinator.
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Participation in the GED Preparatory Program.
The GED Tests provide students with an
opportunity to earn a high school diploma and earn a State of Florida High School Diploma. This
opportunity is available at local community colleges, technical centers, and adult education
programs.
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Utilization of the graduation option for certain students with disabilities.
More detailed
information about this option is available from the district director of exceptional student
education.
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Certificate of completion followed by continued education.
Students are eligible to receive a
certificate of completion if they complete the minimum number of credits and school district
requirements but are unable to pass the FCAT, complete applicable requirements in the district
student progression plan, or earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. These
students should be reported by districts in Survey 5 using Withdrawal Reason “W08 – Any
student who received a certificate of completion.”
If a student meets all of the requirements except passing the FCAT, he or she is eligible to
receive a
different type of certificate of completion
and take the College Placement Test and be
admitted to remedial or credit courses at a state community college. This certificate of completion
must be reported by districts in Survey 5 using Withdrawal Reason “W8A - Any student who met
all of the requirements to receive a standard diploma except passing the graduation test and
received a certificate of completion and is eligible to take the College Placement Test and be
admitted to remedial or credit courses at a state community college, as appropriate.” In addition,
to assist community colleges in identifying these students during the admissions process, the
certificate itself must bear the designation
College Placement Test Eligible.
This is necessary
because community colleges do not require students to submit a copy of their transcript prior to
admission.
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Participation in immersion English language instruction.
Students who have been enrolled
in an ESOL program for less than two years and have met all other graduation requirements
except passing the FCAT are eligible to receive immersion English language instruction during
the summer. (The two years are calculated from the date of entry into the ESOL program with
one full year equating to two FTE reporting periods, not necessarily consecutive.) After receiving
the English instruction, students may retake the FCAT and, if successful, earn a standard
diploma.
Legislative Changes Regarding High School Graduation – House Bill 23B
August 29, 2003
Page Four
It is important to note that the Department of Education has defined “immersion” as “intensive” language
arts instruction provided by a qualified teacher delivering comprehensible instruction. Documentation of
the use of appropriate ESOL strategies is required. Currently, the
Florida Course Code Directory and
Instructional Personnel Assignments
includes ESOL Developmental Language Arts (course code
#1002380) that has been developed to assist limited English proficient (LEP) students in listening,
speaking, reading, and writing. This course has been correlated to the Language Arts Sunshine State
Standards, and students may be enrolled in this course for multiple credits. It is an appropriate course for
LEP high school students as the intensive summer course geared at assisting them to pass the FCAT.
The district school superintendent is responsible for notifying all parents of the benefits of a standard high
school diploma and the impact of not receiving a standard diploma on post secondary and career options.
Not receiving a standard high school diploma affects lifelong wages, potential driving privileges, and
admission to vocational and college programs that ensure careers with higher skill levels and earning
potential. Leadership in the development of parent notification materials can be provided by guidance
staff in the district. It is important for school districts to continue providing assistance and resources for
those students who do not pass the FCAT to assist them in improving their future educational
opportunities.
If you have questions regarding academic advisement in grades 9-12, please contact Mary Jo Butler or
Helen Lancashire at hlancash@tempest.coedu.usf.edu or (850) 488-1842. Questions regarding adult
education or career and technical education should be directed to Rose Raynak. Questions related to
admission requirements for state community colleges should be directed to Heather Sherry.
JW:mjbo
cc:
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Assistant Superintendents for Instruction
Student Services Directors
Guidance Supervisors
ESOL Coordinators
High School Principals
Adult Education Directors
Area Technical Center Directors
Local Vocational Education Directors
Community College Occupational Deans
