1. Frequently Asked Questions FACTS.org ePEP   

 
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
S
  
TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
 
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
DR. AKSHAY DESAI
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
 
Jeanine Blomberg
Commissioner of Education
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
April 16, 2007
 
 
M E M O R A N D U M
 
TO:
District Superintendents
 
FROM:
Dr. Cheri P. Yecke, Chancellor K-12 Education
 
SUBJECT:
 
2007-2008 ePEP NOW AVAILABLE ON FACTS.ORG
 
 
I am pleased to announce that the new version of the FACTS.org ePersonal Education Planner (ePEP)
will be available April 18. The 2007-08 ePEP will include the new graduation requirements and major
areas of interest that are effective for this coming fall. The ePEP helps middle and high school students
map out coursework based on a college prep curriculum, career prep curriculum, standard high school
graduation curriculum, or special diploma. There are several items of importance related to the roll out of
the 2007 ePEP: 1) Middle School Career and Academic Advising Workshops; 2) Reporting the Major
Areas of Interest; 3) Status of incoming ninth graders with ePEP; and 4) Counselor/Teacher access to
ePEPs.
 
Middle School Career and Academic Advising Workshops
The A++ bill requires that all current sixth graders take a career and education planning course in seventh
or eighth grade that will result in the completion of an ePEP in order to be promoted to ninth grade. The
Department will be holding Middle School Career and Academic Advising Workshops in June, July and
August throughout the state. The workshops are intended to inform middle school teachers, who will be
teaching the career and education planning course, about the proposed course curriculums, how to create
an ePEP, and career exploration with CHOICES. Registration for the workshops will be required; please
go to http://data.fldoe.org/register/wf-flchoices/default.cfm for more information.
 
Reporting the Major Areas of Interest
The Department of Education has been in discussions with an advisory group of Management Information
Systems (MIS) directors about the process for reporting major areas of interest. The group recommended
that FACTS.org, which is already collecting student’s majors and associated courses with the ePEP, pass
this information to school districts so they will not have to build a new reporting system.
 
 
CHERI PIERSON YECKE, PH.D.
CHANCELLOR, K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
 
325 W. GAINES STREET •TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org

Page Two
April 16, 2007
District Superintendents
 
 
This means the major area of interest that is recorded in a student’s ePEP will be used for the
official reporting of major areas of interest
. Therefore, in order to meet this proposed reporting
requirement, every student who is required to follow the 2007-2008 graduation requirements and have a
major area of interest must also have an ePEP and provide accurate information regarding their
enrollment in a major. The new proposed reporting process will be discussed at the Florida Association
of Management Information Systems (FAMIS) meeting in Ocala on April 16. Please view the FAMIS
website at http://www.santarosa.k12.fl.us/famis for more information. Reporting will also be discussed at
the Department of Education Information Database Workshop on June 19 in Orlando
(http://www.firn.edu/doe/databaseworkshop/).
 
Incoming ninth graders who have an ePEP
Middle school students who have already created an ePEP using the old high school graduation
requirements will automatically be converted to the 2007 ePEP. These students will be notified when
they login that their plans have been upgraded to the new 2007 standards and will be given instructions
for completing the process of selecting a major area of interest. Current high school students under the
old graduation requirements will be unaffected as their graduation requirements did not change.
 
Counselor/Teacher Access to ePEP
A new "ePEP & Evaluations Activity System" is currently being developed. District Guidance
Supervisors will be asked to identify and electronically designate district, middle school, and high school
personnel who need to view student ePEP activity information in order to perform their jobs. These
individuals will be given login IDs to access ePEP Activity Reports. The Activity Reports will include a
roster of students, their respective grade levels, diploma type, graduation plan, major area of interest and
other variables. Counselors will be able to see student ePEPs and make comments to individuals or to
groups of students. Instructions for establishing the logins will be sent to the District Guidance
Supervisors in May 2007.
 
For more information, please contact the FACTS.org Helpdesk at facts@admin.usf.edu or call toll-free
(866) 324-2618.
  
Enclosure
 
CWG/al
  
c: Assistant or Deputy Superintendents for Curriculum
District Guidance Directors
District Student Services Directors
Middle and High School Principals
Middle and High School Guidance Counselors
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Frequently Asked Questions
FACTS.org ePEP
 
 
1.
 
What is an ePersonal Education Planner (ePEP)?
An ePEP is a high school course planner that helps middle and high school students set a graduation
goal and select coursework from their high school to meet that goal. For instance, students may select
college prep, career prep, college & career prep, standard graduation prep, or special diploma. Each
of these goals have specific course requirements in order to be eligible for graduation, Bright Futures
Scholarship awards, and/or State University System admissions.
 
2.
 
Who is required to have an ePEP?
Section 1003.4156, Florida Statutes (General requirements for middle grades promotion) requires,
beginning with students entering grade six in the 2006-2007 school year, that an ePEP be created as
part of a career and education planning course to be completed in seventh or eighth grade. This
means the first group of middle school students that must have an ePEP before they are promoted to
high school is the 2008-2009 eighth graders.
 
3.
 
Should current seventh and eighth graders have an ePEP even though it's not required?
Yes. It is strongly recommended that current seventh or eighth graders create an ePEP. Even though
these students are not required to complete the career and education planning course for promotion to
high school, they are required to have a major area of interest in grade nine. The ePEP is a critical
piece for major areas of interest and to how districts will report student enrollment in an area.
 
4.
 
How will students change their major area of interest?
Students entering grade nine in 2007 and thereafter will select a major area of interest while
completing an ePEP. Students must earn four (4) credits in an area for graduation, however, the
credits do not all have to be from the same major area of interest. Students may revise major areas of
interest each year as part of annual course registration processes and should update their education
plan to reflect such revisions. Because the ePEP will be used to officially report the major area of
interest, this section must be kept current at all times.
 
5.
 
What constitutes a complete ePEP?
Section 1007.21, Florida Statutes (Readiness for postsecondary education and the workforce) states:
 
Subsection (1): “It is the intent of the Legislature that students and parents develop academic
achievement and career goals for the student's post-high-school experience during the middle
grades. Parents and students are to become partners with school personnel in career exploration
and educational decision-making. Clear academic course expectations that emphasize rigorous
and relevant coursework shall be made available to all students by allowing both student and
parent choice.”
 
Subsection (2)(a): “Students entering the ninth grade and their parents shall have developed
during the middle grades a 4- to 5-year academic and career plan based on postsecondary and
career goals….”
 
Therefore, a complete ePEP developed during the middle grades should reflect a 4- to 5-year high
school academic plan. Understanding there are circumstances that may change or alter a student’s
plan makes it even more important to review and update the ePEP as part of annual course
registration processes.
 
 
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In addition, each ePEP plan must be signed by the student, the student’s parent/guardian, and the
student’s guidance counselor or academic advisor. The print tab (above the course area on the ePEP
screen) will provide a reformatted print version with the signature lines. Each district should develop
a policy for collection and retention of the signed academic plans.
 
6.
 
Should an ePEP be completed by the end of the middle school course?
Yes. Career exploration and the creation of a 4- to 5-year academic plan using the FACTS.org ePEP
are outcomes of the middle school career and education planning course. It would be difficult to
cover the content separately or spread it over two years. If the course is offered in seventh grade, it is
recommended that the school provide a follow-up in the eighth grade to allow students to revisit their
ePEP and make updates prior to high school course registration.
 
7.
 
Will student course selections from the ePEP be available to download?
Yes. FACTS.org will make student course selections available for download so course information
can be used in local course registration systems or for needs analysis/forecasting, etc. If school
districts are interested in aligning high school course registration and the creation of an ePEP, it is
recommended that the timing of the course be addressed. More information about course downloads
will be shared as the process is developed.
 
8.
 
Will students who transfer to a middle or high school from outside a Florida public school
(private schools, home education programs, out-of-state, out-of-country) be required to create
an ePEP?
Yes. Students entering grade nine in 2007 and thereafter that are required to have a major area of
interest will be required to have an ePEP. Additional technical assistance on transfer students will be
forthcoming.
 
9.
 
How can I receive training for the ePEP?
For counselors, teachers, and administrators who would like more hands-on training with the ePEP,
there are several options:
 
online, on-demand training on FACTS.org;
 
Middle School Career and Academic Advising Workshops (professional development
designed for teachers of the new middle school career and education planning course;
registration required); and
 
FACTS.org training staff may be available upon request to do group or district trainings.
Support guides, curriculum materials, training CDs, presentations, etc., will be available throughout
the summer. For training information, please visit www.FACTS.org, click on "Counselor and
Administrator Access" at the bottom of the homepage, then click on the link for Training Services.
 
10.
 
When are the two-day Middle School Career and Academic Advising Workshops?
The schedule is listed below, seats are limited and registration is required. For more information,
please view the registration website at http://data.fldoe.org/register/wf-flchoices/default.cfm.
 
 
Thursday - May 31, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday – June 1, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Lively Technical Center
500 North Appleyard Drive, Room 119
Tallahassee, FL 32304
 
 
Monday – June 18, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday – June 19, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Kight Center for Emerging Technologies
Indian River Community College
Building “V” – 35th Street
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
 
 
Monday – June 4, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday – June 5, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Martin Luther King Jr. Administration Center
5775 Osceola Trail, Board Room
Naples, FL 34109
 
 
Wednesday – June 20, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday – June 21, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Olympia High School Auditorium
4301 South Apopka-Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 32835
 
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Wednesday – June 6, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday – June 7, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Children’s Board of Hillsborough County
1002 East Palm Avenue (Ybor City)
Tampa, FL 33605
 
 
Monday, July 30, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday, July 31, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Hyatt Regency Riverfront
225 E. Coastline Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32202
 
 
Monday – June 11, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday – June 12, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Miami Dade College
Wolfson Campus, ETCOTA Auditorium
Bldg. 7, Room 7128
300 North East Second Avenue
Miami, FL 33132
 
 
Thursday – August 2, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday – August 3, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
J.E. Hall Educational Service Center
30 East Texar Drive, Room 160
Pensacola, FL 32503
 
 
Wednesday – June 13, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday – June 14, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
 
Pompano Beach High School
600 North East 13th Avenue
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
 
 
 
11.
 
Will middle school teachers and counselors be able to view student activity?
Yes. A new "ePEP & Evaluations Activity System" is currently being developed. District Guidance
Supervisors will be asked to add district, middle school, and high school personnel who need to view
student activity information in order to perform their jobs. Instructions for establishing the logins will
be released in May 2007.
 
12.
 
How will middle school teachers and counselors access the new "ePEP & Evaluations Activity
System"?
After authorized personnel receive their login ID from the District Guidance Supervisor, users should
go to www.FACTS.org, click on "Counselor and Administrator Access" at the bottom of the
homepage, then click on the link for the Activity System. High school counselors may continue to
use the Bright Futures System to access FACTS.org student activity for now.
 
13.
 
What information will be available from the new "ePEP & Evaluations Activity System"?
It is important to emphasize that district and school personnel will have access to personally
identifiable student records and must adhere to all standards included in the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); Protection of Pupil Privacy Acts, Section 1002.22(3)(d), Florida
Statutes; and other applicable laws and regulations related to the release of student information.
Student information will be viewable by school and grade level. The information includes the
student's login information, their planned diploma type, graduation plan, career cluster, major area of
interest, and date of last transcript update. Planned courses and completed courses from transcripts
are viewable, as well as transcript evaluations (with grades and GPA calculations) for graduation,
Bright Futures Scholarship awards, and State University System admission.
 
14.
 
The ePEP graduation requirements are based on the minimum State graduation requirements
of 24 credits; what if our district/school has additional requirements?
A method for displaying district/school specific graduation requirements is currently under
development. More information on this topic will be forthcoming as the summer progresses. In the
meantime, counselors may create a "Counselor Note" with the information and it will appear inside
this area of the student's ePEP.
 
 
 
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15.
 
How will major areas of interest be reported? Is ePEP involved?
The Department of Education has been in discussions with an advisory group of Management
Information Systems (MIS) directors about the process for reporting major areas of interest. The
group recommended that FACTS.org, which is already collecting student’s majors and associated
courses with the ePEP, share this information with school districts so they will not have to build a
new reporting system. The details are still being developed.
 
There are two conferences this summer where the major area of interest reporting will be discussed:
the Florida Association of Management Information Systems (FAMIS) on April 16 in Ocala
(http://www.santarosa.k12.fl.us/famis/index.htm); and the DOE Information Database Workshop on
June 19 in Orlando (http://www.firn.edu/doe/databaseworkshop/). For more information, please visit
the organizations' website.
 
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