PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
B
ETTY
C
OXE
C
HARLIE
C
RIST
D
EPUTY
C
OMMISSIONER
Commissioner
E
DUCATIONAL
P
ROGRAMS
CONTACT PERSON
Name: Brandy Bartol, Physical Education Specialist
Phone: (850) 413-0015
Suncom: 293-0015
E-mail: bartolb@mail.doe.state.fl.us
Name: June Hinckley, Arts Education Specialist
Phone: (850) 488-1701
Suncom: 278-1701
E-mail: hincklj@mail.doe.state.fl.us
DPS:
02-96
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
Betty Coxe
DATE:
May 24, 2002
SUBJECT:
Change in the School Code regarding Meeting the Physical Education
Graduation Requirement through Marching Band
Senate Bill 20E, passed by the Legislature in May 2002, revises the Florida School Code effective
January 7, 2003. Included in the revisions to Section 1003.43, Florida Statutes, regarding high
school graduation requirements, are changes to the way the physical education requirement for high
school graduation may be met. Completion, with a grade of "C" or better, of one semester in a
marching band class or in a physical activity class that requires participation in marching band
activities as an extracurricular activity now may satisfy one-half of the one-credit requirement in
physical education.
Only students who
•
are actually enrolled in an official Band course (I-VI) and who regularly practice and perform
marching activities during a full marching band season as part of the class or as an extracurricular
activity,
or
PLAZA LEVEL – 08, THE CAPITOL – TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0400 – (850) 413-0555 – FAX (850) 488-2869
http:/www.firn.edu/doe
An affirmative action/equal opportunity employer
District School Superintendents
May 24, 2002
Page Two
•
are enrolled in a physical activity class that addresses such activities as eurythmics, flag corps,
dance corps and who regularly practice and perform in marching band activities as an
extracurricular activity for a full marching band season are eligible for this option.
The Department of Education has established the non-credit Course Number 1500440, Marching
Band Physical Education Waiver, to be used to indicate on the student’s transcript that one-half of
the physical education requirement has been met through marching band. This non-credit course
number is used in concert with the band course number for transcript purposes.
Since the law states that this one-half credit may
not
be used to satisfy the personal fitness
requirement or the requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual educational plan
or 504 plan, such students must still take the one-half credit personal fitness course or, if appropriate,
an adaptive physical education course.
Marching band students are not required to pass the personal fitness competency test to exempt the ½
credit requirement. The marching band option may not be used in combination with participation in
an interscholastic sport for only one season in order to exempt the full credit physical education
requirement. Marching band students must still complete a minimum of 24 credits to meet
graduation requirements. A phase-in of this change is not required, and students graduating in 2003
and thereafter may use this option.
This change supplements current law which provides that students may fulfill the one credit physical
education graduation requirement by either taking the personal fitness course and any other one-half
credit physical education course
or
by participating in two full seasons of junior varsity or varsity
sports and passing a competency test on personal fitness with a score of “C” or better. Non-credit
course numbers have been established to record satisfaction of the physical education graduation
requirement in this way. Students who choose to satisfy their physical education requirements by
playing an interscholastic sport must complete additional credits in elective courses to meet the 24
credits required by the state for graduation.
The Department of Education is introducing an alternative to bulk mail communications to districts
and schools. We are excited about this project because it will not only reduce the amount of paper
and postage used, it will increase our ability to communicate with you. Please review the attachment
to this memorandum regarding how to register and receive electronic communications from the
Department.
BC/mtt
cc:
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Physical Education Contacts
Music Education Contacts
Student Services Contacts
MIS Contacts
