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
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Contact Information:
LINDA K. TAYLOR
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Alan Ramos
(850) 245-0745
MEMORANDUM
Alan.Ramos@fldoe.org
K12: 2006-106
TO:
District Superintendents
FROM:
Cheri Pierson Yecke, Ph.D.
J. David Armstrong, Jr.
DATE:
July 27, 2006
SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE CHANGES RELATING TO MIDDLE GRADES
PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS (HOUSE BILL 7087- A++)
The 2006 Legislature passed House Bill 7087 (A++) which, in part, revised Florida Statutes
related to middle grades promotion requirements. The purpose of this memorandum and the
attachments are to assist districts and schools with the implementation of the legislative changes
related to middle grades course requirements. This memorandum will summarize the statutory
changes made in A++ and provide implementation options to fulfill the requirements.
LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
Course Requirements
Section 1003.4156, Florida Statutes (General requirements for middle grades promotion), is
created to provide general requirements for promotion from middle school to high school. It
provides that beginning with students entering grade 6 in the 2006-2007 school year, in order to
be promoted to the ninth grade, students are required to complete:
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Three (3) middle school or higher courses in English. These courses shall emphasize
literature, composition, and technical text.
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Three (3) middle school or higher courses in mathematics. Each middle school must
offer at least one high school-level mathematics course for which students may earn high
school credit.
J. DAVID ARMSTRONG, JR.
CHERI PIERSON YECKE, PH.D.
Chancellor, Community Colleges and Workforce Education
Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools
325 W. GAINES STREET •SUITE 514• TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
Legislative Changes Related to Middle Grades
Promotion Requirements (House Bill 7087, A++)
July 27, 2006
Page Two
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Three (3) middle school or higher courses in social studies, one semester of which must
include the study of state and federal government and civics education.
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Three (3) middle school or higher courses in science.
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One (1) semester-long course in career and education planning to be completed in
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seventh or eighth grade.
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Each school must hold a parent meeting either in the evening or on a weekend to inform parents
about the course curriculum and activities.
For each year in which a student scores at Level l on FCAT Reading, the student must be
enrolled in and complete an intensive reading course the following year. Placement of Level 2
readers in either an intensive reading course or a content area course in which reading strategies
are delivered shall be determined by diagnosis of reading needs. The Department shall provide
guidance on appropriate strategies for diagnosing and meeting the varying instructional needs of
students reading below grade level. Reading courses shall be designed and offered pursuant to
the comprehensive reading plan.
For each year in which a student scores at Level 1 or Level 2 on FCAT Mathematics, the student
must receive remediation the following year, which may be integrated into the student's required
mathematics course.
These changes apply to all students in grades 6, 7, or 8, independent of the grade configuration at
the school.
English Courses
Students are required to take three (3) year-long courses in English in order to be promoted to
high school. The main change in this requirement is the addition of technical text as an area of
emphasis in the middle grades courses.
Mathematics Courses
Students are required to take three (3) year-long courses in mathematics in order to be promoted
to high school. Middle schools must now offer at least one high school-level mathematics course
for which students may earn high school credit. Additionally, weighted funding is available for
the middle schools that offer Algebra I (1200310), Algebra I Honors (1200320), Algebra IA
(1200370), or Algebra IB (1200380) for high school credit, provided that students earn a grade
of ‘C’ or better.
Reporting High School Course Enrollment and Completion with a Grade of C or Better in
the Middle Grade Years
Districts that have not been in the practice of submitting high school courses enrolled in or
credits completed by students in middle grades into Florida’s Automated System for Transferring
Records (F.A.S.T.E.R.) must now accurately and in a timely manner report this information to
ensure course credit that can be used to fulfill graduation requirements is granted. Reporting high
Legislative Changes Related to Middle Grades
Promotion Requirements (House Bill 7087, A++)
July 27, 2006
Page Three
school course grades from the middle school in the year enrolled provides more accurate data for
both financial incentives and for reporting information on student course taking achievement
trends.
Science
Middle school students are required to successfully complete three (3) year-long science courses.
Social Studies and Civics Requirement
In order to meet the middle school social studies requirement, a student must complete three (3)
year-long courses in social studies, of which at least one semester must include the study of state
and federal government and civics education.
To meet the requirement to provide students the study of state and federal government and civics
education, districts will have three options:
1)
Offer a year-long Civics course:
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M/J Civics, Course Number 2106010
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M/J Civics Advanced, Course Number 2106020
2)
Offer a semester-long civics course and a semester-long social studies course during the
same school year. These courses are new:
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M/J World Geography, Course Number 2103015
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M/J World Geography Advanced, Course Number 2103025
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M/J Civics, Course Number 2106015
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M/J Civics Advanced, Course Number 2106025
3)
Offer a year-long U.S. History course, one semester of which must include the study of
state and federal government and civics education. Inclusion of course requirements 4, 8,
and 9 during a semester of this year-long course could allow this course to fulfill the
requirement for the study of state and federal government and civics education.
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M/J United States History, Course Number 2100010
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M/J United States History Advanced, Course Number 2100020
Schools within a district may offer any one of these options or a combination of these courses in
order to provide students the opportunities to meet the requirement to study state and federal
government and civics education.
Career and Education Planning Course
As part of the requirements for middle grades promotion, each student should be enrolled in a
career and education planning course in seventh or eighth grade. The course must include career
exploration using CHOICES or a comparable cost effective program and education planning
using the ePersonal Education Planner (ePEP) available online at www.FACTS.org. The course
must result in the completion of a personalized career and education plan. This plan will allow
each student to chart their courses for high school and major area of interest; set short and long
term goals; record personal assessments such as interests, values, skills, aptitudes, and career
options; and plan for postsecondary education.
Legislative Changes Related to Middle Grades
Promotion Requirements (House Bill 7087, A++)
July 27, 2006
Page Four
The plan must be signed by the student, the student’s parent, and the student’s guidance
counselor or academic advisor, and should serve as a portfolio of information that students can
update as they continue their education and the career decision making process.
Districts will have nine options for adding a career exploration and planning course.
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A new course description, Career Exploration and Decision Making, has been developed
as a semester long course, Course Number 1700060
The following eight courses have been updated so that districts/schools can integrate the course
outcomes into an existing course. (The revised requirements are underlined in the course
descriptions, which are attached.)
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M/J Career Education, Course Number 2305000
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M/J Exploratory Wheel 2, Course Number 0600010
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M/J Exploratory Career Wheel 1, Course Number 8000200
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Exploring Technology, Course Number 8600020
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Orientation to Agriscience, Course Number 8100110
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Computer Applications in Business, Course Number 8200220
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Life Choices, Course Number 8500130
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Exploration of Health Occupations, Course Number 8400210
Final approval of these courses by the State Board of Education will occur this fall. While the
law states that students entering sixth grade in the 2006-2007 school year should be enrolled in a
career and education planning course in seventh or eighth grade, districts may implement any of
these courses beginning the second semester of school year 2006-2007. Each course description
is attached.
Instructors of this course may request training on CHOICES by calling (800) 342-9271 or
FACTS by calling (813) 974-2118 or electronic mail through the FACTS Help Desk at
facts@admin.usf.edu. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Zelda
Rogers at Zelda.rogers@fldoe.org.
Standardized Grading Scale
Section 1003.437, Florida Statutes, has been amended to create a uniform grading system for
public schools in grades 6-12. The statewide grading scale applies to all public school students
in grades 6-12 and requires schools to use the same grading system and interpretation of letter
grades that is currently in effect for high school students. The grading scale is:
A= 90-100%
B= 80-89%
C= 70-79%
D= 60-69%
F= 0-59%
Legislative Changes Related to Middle Grades
Promotion Requirements (House Bill 7087, A++)
July 27, 2006
Page Five
General Contact Information
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Alan Ramos, Educational
Policy Consultant, by telephone at (850) 245-0745 or by electronic mail at
Alan.Ramos@fldoe.org.
This memorandum and the attachments will be available online at www.fldoe.org/APlusPlus
along with all other documents published by the Department of Education pertinent to House Bill
7087 (A++). This site is designed to serve as a tool for you to access at your convenience and
will be updated regularly.
We appreciate your commitment to educational excellence.
CPY/ar
Attachments:
Technical Assistance Paper
First-Time Milestones for Secondary Reform
Proposed New Courses Available for Middle Schools
