FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
MEMORANDUM
Contact Information:
Rich Downs
TO:
District School Superintendents
(850) 922-3727
rdowns@tempest.coedu.usf.edu
FROM:
Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.
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K12: 2006-04
DATE:
January 27, 2006
SUBJECT: Louisiana
Diplomas for Displaced Students
Florida Commissioner of Education John Winn has received a memorandum from Cecil J.
Picard, Louisiana Superintendent of Education, regarding the opportunity for Louisiana students
displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to receive Louisiana high school diplomas. The
Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to allow students who relocated
to other states due to hurricanes to receive Louisiana diplomas during the 2005-2006 and 2006-
2007 school years. The purpose of this memo is to provide preliminary information to assist
students and school officials in making scheduling decisions.
Following is a broad outline of the process:
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Schools distribute the attached flyer to displaced Louisiana juniors and seniors.
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The current school counselor notifies the Louisiana Department of Education of the
student’s decision by supplying the student’s name, social security number or date of
birth, and former school on an electronic form on the Louisiana Department of Education
website, www.louisianaschools.net.
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After the student completes the necessary courses, the current school counselor sends the
transcript to the student’s Louisiana district. Instructions for submitting the transcript
electronically will be available soon on the website. A paper transcript may be submitted
if preferred.
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The Louisiana district will evaluate the transcript and send the diploma to the student’s
current school.
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Students needing to take the Louisiana Graduation Exit Exam (GEE) will be provided
three opportunities to take the GEE online in Spring 2006. Additional information will be
provided regarding the online administration as plans are completed.
CHERI P
IERSON YECKE, PH.D.
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CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
Louisiana Diplomas for Displaced Students
January 27, 2006
Page 2
We appreciate your assistance in disseminating this information to Louisiana students attending
Florida schools. A flyer for students is enclosed for your convenience. If you have questions,
please contact Nancy Beben, Louisiana Department of Education, at (225) 342-1152, toll free 1-
(877) 453-2721, or via email at nancy.beben@la.gov.
If you have additional questions or need additional information, please contact Rich Downs via
email at rdowns@tempest.coedu.usf.edu or at (850) 922-3732.
CPY:rd
Attachment
cc:
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Assistant
Superintendents
for Curriculum and Instruction
District Student Services Directors
District Guidance Supervisors
