FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
R
OBERTO MARTÍNEZ
P
HOEBE RAULERSON
L
INDA K. TAYLOR
Memorandum Number 05-34
December 14, 2005
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
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District School Superintendents
Community College Presidents
FROM:
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J. David Armstrong, Jr.
Chancellor, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education
Cheri Yecke
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Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools
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SUBJECT:
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Mid-Year High School Graduates and Dual Enrollment Eligibility Issues -
Technical Assistance Paper
The Department has identified Highest Student Achievement and Seamless
Articulation/Maximum Access as two of its primary goals. In support of this, a Technical
Assistance Paper (TAP) was developed to address recent questions and concerns regarding the
interrelated issues of articulation of mid-year high school graduates into postsecondary
institutions and dual enrollment eligibility of seniors.
Please share the attached TAP with all school district and community college professionals who
work with academic advising, counseling, and postsecondary transition articulation issues.
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
Memorandum Number 05-34
Page Two
December 14, 2005
Thank you for your assistance with sharing this important information.
JDA/CPY/shh
Attachment
c:
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Assistant Superintendents for Instruction
Student Services Directors
Guidance Supervisors
Directors of Secondary Education
High School Principals
High School Counselors
Community College Chief Academic Officers
Community College Chief Student Affairs Officers
Community College Registrars
Community College Articulation Officers
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PAPER
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MID-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND DUAL ENROLLMENT ISSUES
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December 2005
The purpose of this Technical Assistance Paper (TAP) is to provide guidance on
statewide issues related to the articulation of high school students who complete and exit
in the middle of the academic year (e.g., December) or who take dual enrollment courses
in their senior year.
ISSUE 1 – MID-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
Summary of the Issue
In some cases, local school districts have not been placing the appropriate withdrawal
code on student records and releasing transcripts of their mid-year graduates until the end
of the academic year in May. This practice has caused articulation problems for those
students who want to enroll in postsecondary institutions for the spring term. Without an
official transcript from the high school, these students cannot receive financial aid funds
which are critical for many students.
What is the obligation of the school district for placing withdrawal codes on student
records and releasing transcripts of mid-year high school graduates?
Policy Requirements
For clarification, school districts are required to place the appropriate withdrawal code on
the student record immediately upon separation from the public school. This requirement
is clarified in the 2005 Automated Student Attendance Recordkeeping System Handbook
(p.6):
WITHDRAWAL:
Withdrawal is the date (and associated code) on which a student is removed from a
Florida public school attendance recordkeeping unit (class, grade, or school). Please reference
http://www.firn.edu/doe/eias/dataweb/database_0405/student_0405/appendixu/pdfappu/appenda.pdf for
PK-12 Withdrawal Codes. The appropriate withdrawal code and the date should be entered for the student
upon that student’s official withdrawal from school. If a student withdraws from school prior to the end of
the school year, enter the withdrawal code and date as follows:
•
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If a student withdraws from school on a day the student is in attendance, the appropriate
withdrawal code must be recorded on the day following the last day of the student’s
membership.
•
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If a student is withdrawn while absent, record the withdrawal code on the day following the
day it was officially determined that the student withdrew.
(NOTE: If the “day following” falls on a Saturday, record the code on the date of the following Monday.)
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A withdrawal is official when one or more of the following occurs:
1.
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A parent or legal guardian notifies the school that the child is permanently leaving the school
to enroll in another school;
2.
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A request for the student’s school record is received from a public or private school, in- or
out-of-state, which the student is enrolled or plans to enroll;
3.
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The student has been transferred within the school or district by school officials;
4.
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The student has been promoted, graduated, has a certificate of completion, special
certification of completion, or holds a valid certificate of exemption from the superintendent
as provided under Section 1003.21, Florida Statutes, or
5.
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A school official determines that the child has moved and permanently left school, has died,
or has become eligible for withdrawal from school under provisions of Section 1003.53,
Florida Statutes.
At the end of the school year, appropriate withdrawal codes must be recorded on the day after the last day
of school for all students who are in membership on the last day of the regular 180 day school year. On the
day after the last day of summer school, the appropriate withdrawal code must also be assigned to all
students who are in membership on the last day of summer school.
Advising Options for Students Completing High School Mid-Year
Those students who will complete the required credits for 4-year high school graduation
by the middle of their senior year should be advised by high school guidance counselors
of the following options from which the student and his or her parents may choose.
Option 1:
Student may choose to stay in high school and, if GPA eligible, may dual
enroll or early admit to earn high school and postsecondary credit simultaneously, even if
they already have earned 24 or more high school credits. (See subsequent discussion on
dual enrollment.)
Option 2
: Student may choose to leave high school and enter postsecondary education.
The appropriate withdrawal code must be placed on the student record immediately
according to the aforementioned requirements, and the transcript must be provided to the
postsecondary institution so that the student is eligible for financial aid. However, the
student should be advised that the Bright Futures scholarship as well as other state-
funded financial aid (if applicable) will not be available until the following Fall.
Question and Answer
Is it sufficient for the school district to verify in writing that the student has graduated
and then send the transcript to the postsecondary institution in May?
No. That action does not meet the requirements of placing the withdrawal code on the
student record upon removal from the school. Additionally, the student may not be
eligible for financial aid until the high school transcript is received by the postsecondary
institution.
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ISSUE 2 – DUAL ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE
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COMPLETED THE REQUIRED HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS
Summary of the Issue
Some school districts and community colleges are, without authority, prohibiting high
school students from enrolling in dual enrollment courses after they have earned all of the
high school credits required for graduation.
Statutory Requirements and Intent
According to Section 1007.271(1), Florida Statutes:
(1) The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an eligible secondary student or home education
student in a postsecondary course creditable toward high school completion and a career certificate or an
associate or baccalaureate degree.
Nothing in statute restricts students from taking dual enrollment courses once they have
earned the required number of high school credits. Since high school students are not
prohibited from earning more than the 24 required credits (4-year option), then they
cannot be prohibited from taking dual enrollment courses for the remainder of the term(s)
enrolled at the high school. Dual enrollment courses taken after completion of the 24
required credits can count as additional elective credit at the high school level. The
legislative intent of the dual enrollment program is to provide acceleration opportunities,
which have both academic and economic benefits to students. This approach also affords
high school students the opportunity to take more rigorous and relevant coursework.
ISSUE 3 – DUAL ENROLLMENT ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENTS TAKING
COURSES THAT END AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Summary of the Issue
Some school districts and community colleges are allowing students to enroll in dual
enrollment courses that end after high school graduation, while other districts and
colleges are not allowing this.
Are high school students permitted to take dual enrollment courses that end after high
school graduation, even though the credit will not be recorded on the high school
transcript?
Statutory Requirements and Intent
During the 2005 Legislative Session, subsection (1) of the dual enrollment statute
(Section 1007.271, Florida Statutes), was amended to clarify that dual enrollment is the
enrollment of an eligible student in a course that is creditable to
both
high school
completion
and
a college certificate or degree. Therefore, if the course cannot be
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recorded on the high school transcript by the date of high school graduation, then it is not
a course that is eligible for the dual enrollment program.
Question and Answer
Can a high school student elect to pay the tuition and fees to take a postsecondary
course, while in high school, that will count only as postsecondary credit?
Some community colleges have “Credit in Escrow” or “Credit Bank” programs that
might permit a high school student to enroll in a postsecondary course prior to high
school graduation with permission of the school district. Such programs require students
to pay for tuition and fees as well as instructional materials for the course. The student
will not be eligible for financial aid under these circumstances.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If you have any questions about the material presented in this TAP, you may contact one
of the following individuals.
Dr. Sara Hamon
Director, Articulation & Educational Services
Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education
(850) 245-9523
(850) 245-9947
Dr. Heather Sherry
Director, Office of Articulation
(850) 245-9483
heather.sherry@fldoe.org
sara.hamon@fldoe.org
Ms. Samantha Love
Guidance Program Specialist
Bureau of School Improvement
samantha.love@fldoe.org
Florida Department of Education
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