Florida Department of Education
    Education and Exit Options for Students Who Did Not Earn Passing Scores
    on the March 2004 FCAT
    By participating in continuing education, students may earn a diploma, improve
    their ability to obtain a job or advance in the workplace, enroll in higher education
    or technical training, or fulfill a lifelong goal. Students who did not earn passing
    scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) in March 2004
    have the following options for continuing education.
    HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS
    Continuation of High School Education
    Students may continue their educational program through attendance in summer
    school or during the next school year, followed by retaking the FCAT. The case
    management team should consider the number of credits that a student has
    earned, the student’s grade point average (GPA), and how close the student’s
    FCAT scores are to the required scores in order to determine which option is
    best for the student
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    remediation activities in summer school, such as accelerated credit or
    competency-based instruction for credit deficiency, grade forgiveness to
    improve student’s GPA of less than 2.0, and skills remediation to earn
    passing scores on the FCAT
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    an additional semester or full year of high school education in 2004-2005,
    including intense remediation in deficient areas
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    remediation and FCAT preparation classes available at adult and community
    education centers.
    General Educational Development (GED) Exit Option Model
    The GED Exit Option Model is an effective strategy for students who do not have
    the required credit hours, do not have the required GPA, or have not earned
    passing scores on the FCAT. In 2002-2003, more than 2,000 students
    participated in this option, and 92.2% of these students passed the GED Tests.
    All of these students were deficient in credits or did not meet the required
    minimum GPA for graduation. Based on follow-up data, these students were
    employed at a higher rate than other high school graduates and students who
    had dropped out of school and had higher quarterly earnings than other high
    school graduates and dropouts.
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    The GED Exit Option Model requires that the student continue to be enrolled
    in courses leading to a standard diploma and participate in a GED pre-test.
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    If the student takes and passes the GED tests before the end of the school
    year, he or she can graduate with a State of Florida Diploma and participate
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    in all graduation activities. This includes students who may be credit-deficient
    or who do not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA requirement.
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    If the student passes the GED Tests before the end of the school year and
    later passes the FCAT, he or she will graduate with a standard high school
    diploma and may participate in all graduation activities. This includes
    students who are credit-deficient or who do not meet the minimum 2.0 GPA
    requirement.
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    Students with disabilities may be offered the opportunity to request
    accommodations for taking the GED Tests. The use of nonstandard editions
    or accommodations of the standard administration procedures are permitted
    in accordance with guidelines developed by the American Council on
    Education. Nonstandard editions include audiocassette, Braille, and large
    print. Accommodations include extended time, private room, frequent breaks,
    interpreter, scribe, and calculator.
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    For more information, contact the School District Dropout Prevention
    Coordinator or Adult Education Coordinator. For a copy of the
    GED Exit
    Option Model Procedure Manual,
    contact the Clearinghouse Information
    Center, Florida Department of Education, at (850) 245-0477 or email
    cicbiscs@fldoe.org
    Certificate of Completion Followed by Continued Education
    Students who have completed the required coursework for graduation but have
    not earned passing scores on the FCAT or have not achieved a minimum
    cumulative GPA of 2.0 are eligible to receive a certificate of completion. The
    certificate of completion does not carry any of the privileges of a standard high
    school diploma. These students should be encouraged to participate in summer
    school, return for continued education during the following school year, or enroll
    in a GED preparation program through an adult education program.
    Common Placement Test (CPT)-Eligible Certificate of Completion Followed
    by Continued Education
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    Students who meet all requirements for graduation with a standard diploma
    except earning passing scores on the Grade 10 FCAT are eligible for a CPT-
    eligible certificate of completion.
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    Students who receive a CPT-eligible certificate of completion may enroll
    directly in community college or postsecondary career and technical
    education programs. Students may enroll in college credit courses if they
    pass the CPT with scores that meet the cutoff for admission into college credit
    courses. Students who do not meet the cutoff score are eligible to enroll in
    remedial coursework at the community college.
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    For additional information regarding CPT-eligible certificate of completion,
    refer to the technical assistance paper FY 2004-09, transmitted via DPA
    Memo #04-083, dated February 18, 2004, “High School Graduation – House
    Bill 23B” (available online at http://info.fldoe.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-
    1861/TAP.pdf).
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    Additional Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities
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    Some students with disabilities may receive an FCAT waiver and be awarded
    a standard diploma. This decision is made by the individual educational plan
    (IEP) team, and the student must meet all the requirements, including credits
    and GPA. For high school seniors with disabilities, refer to the May 2, 2003,
    memo, “Legislative Changes in High School Graduation Requirements for
    Students with Disabilities That Impact This Year’s Seniors” (available online
    at http://info.fldoe.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-1104/LegislativeChangesSupt.pdf).
    Also refer to DPS Memo # 04-060, dated December 18, 2003, “2003-2004
    Waiver Form for the Florida FCAT” (available online at
    http://info.fldoe.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-1711/FCATmemo.pdf) and
    attachment available online at http://info.fldoe.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-
    1746/DPS_04-060waiver.pdf) or by calling the Florida Department of
    Education, Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Services, at 850-
    245-0478.
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    A special certificate of completion is available to students with disabilities who
    are unable to meet all the requirements for a special diploma.
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    Students with disabilities who have not been awarded a standard diploma or
    its equivalent may choose to remain enrolled and continue to receive
    exceptional student education (ESE) services in pursuit of a standard diploma
    or its equivalent until their 22nd birthday.
    ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS
    Adult High School Credit Program
    The adult high school credit program includes courses designed for students to
    obtain credits required for completion of secondary requirements. Students must
    successfully complete these courses and earn passing scores on the FCAT in
    order to qualify for a high school diploma. In general, the graduation standards
    for adults are the same as those for secondary students. Instruction is designed
    to accommodate the needs of students requiring instruction in more than one
    high school subject area. Students must pass each course in which they are
    enrolled.
    GED Preparation Program in Adult Education
    GED Preparation Programs are offered at technical centers, adult and
    community education centers, and community colleges. Parents must be
    informed that students who choose the GED preparation program are withdrawn
    from their high school program and enrolled in adult education. Local school
    board rules must identify extraordinary circumstances for 16- to 17-year-old
    students who are allowed to take the GED tests. Documentation of extraordinary
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    circumstances and approval by the superintendent must be obtained for each
    student on an individual basis.
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    Students who successfully pass the GED tests are awarded a State of Florida
    Diploma. For information regarding the GED tests, call the toll-free number 1-
    877-352-4331.
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    Community colleges offer summer programs that focus on addressing
    academic deficiencies before students enter the community college.
    For information regarding adult education programs, visit
    www.12thgradeoptions.org, which provides contact information for Florida’s
    district directors of adult education, or contact the Florida Department of
    Education’s Workforce Education office at 1-800-315-0833.
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