FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

BETTY COXE

 

CHARLIE CRIST

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

 

Commissioner

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

E

DUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

 

 

 

CONTACT PERSON

Name:

Michael Tremor

Phone: (850) 487-8804

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

Suncom:

277-8804

E-mail

: Michael.Tremor@FLDOE.ORG

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

DPS:

03-029

M E M O R A N D U M

 

TO:

District School Superintendents

 

FROM:

Betty Coxe

 

DATE:

August 30, 2002

SUBJECT:

Changes in the School Code regarding the Advanced International Certificate of

Education Program (AICE)

 

The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program is written and administered

throughout the world by a department of the University of Cambridge in England. It began in Florida in

1997 as a funded pilot program in three districts: Bay, Lake, and St. Johns. At that time these districts

were looking for a rigorous and challenging academic curriculum and international assessment program

which could be tailored to the individual strengths and interests of academically talented students. The

three-year pilot phase of this program was completed in 2000, and the conclusions of the pilot study have

lead to the availability of the AICE program

, with funding, to all school districts in Florida. Schools in

Orange and Clay counties have recently taken advantage of this opportunity.

 

Governor Jeb Bush signed the School Code rewrite, Senate Bill 20-E, into law on May 16, 2002. It

includes provisions related to AICE funding and several other features. A brief summary and the location

of Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) provisions in SB 20-E available for viewing

on the website at www.leg.state.fl.us are enclosed.

 

For further information on the AICE program, contact Sherry Reach, U.S. Representative, Cambridge

International Examinations, 131 Bid A Wee Lane, Panama City, FL 32413, (850) 234-8521, fax

(850) 230-4770, email: cieusrep@aol.com or www.cie.org.uk.

 

BC/mtt

 

Enclosure

 

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

 

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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

 

Advanced International Certificate of Education Program

August 2002

Overview

The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma program offers an international pre-

university curriculum and examination system which emphasizes the value of broad and balanced study

for academically able students. AICE is an academically rigorous and administratively flexible

international qualification. The AICE program offers students the opportunity to tailor their studies to

their individual interests, abilities, and future plans within an international curriculum framework. It

allows students to concentrate on science, mathematics, or other areas of interest while giving a well-

rounded and academically challenging overall curriculum that incorporates international focus and

acceptance. The AICE program meets the needs of highly motivated secondary students by preparing

them for honors degree programs. The program is written and administered by Cambridge International

Examinations (CIE) which is a division of the University of Cambridge’s Local Examinations Syndicate

(UCLES), which is a nonprofit department of the University in the United Kingdom.

AICE builds on the 100+ year history of testing by UCLES. Its strengths lie in the flexibility and

structure of the curriculum, encouraging in-depth, working knowledge of each subject, and in essay-based

examinations as assessment of that knowledge. It is economical to put in place and maintain, with the

only charges being the annual center registration fee (US $1550*), a nominal fee for materials such as

curriculum outlines and examination papers (the syllabi are available for download at no charge at the

CIE website), and a charge of US $244.80* for grading the examinations for each student completing the

full curriculum of six subjects over two examination sessions. Individual subjects can also be taken and

an individual certificate granted upon successful examination for US $28* per subject plus a once per

examination session candidate fee of US $16.55*.

* North America International Examination Fees from January 2002 to September 2003.

The AICE Curriculum

The Cambridge curriculum aims to encourage the skills of independent research and investigation, the use

of initiative and creativity, and the application of skills and knowledge. The Cambridge portfolio of

advanced qualifications offers a wide range of subject choice from three curriculum areas:

Group A: Mathematics and Sciences:

Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Environmental Science, Higher Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics,

Psychology, Technology, Thinking Skills, Mathematics: Statistics

Group B: Languages:

English Language, English Language and Literature, First Language Spanish, First Language

Portuguese, Foreign Language Afrikaans, Foreign Language Arabic, Foreign Language Chinese,

Foreign Language Portuguese, Foreign Language Spanish, Foreign Language French, Foreign

Language German, Latin Language (school-based, with approval)

Group C: Arts and Humanities:

Accounting, Art & Design, Business Studies, Economics, General Paper, Geography, History

(Modern European, International and US), Literature in all the Languages listed in Group B, Music,

Psychology, Sociology, Thinking Skills

Research Project Option:

Students may choose to submit two 3000 word indepth research projects from two different

subject areas from which they are taking an Advanced Subsidiary level examination.

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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

 

AICE Diploma Requirements

The two-year AICE curriculum leads to either an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level assessment after one

year of study in a subject or an Advanced (A) level assessment, generally taken after two years of study in

a course.

A Level would count as a double credit qualification, and an AS qualification would count as a full credit

course within the AICE award framework. To be considered for an AICE Diploma, a candidate must

earn the equivalent of six credits by passing a combination of examinations at either the full (1 credit) AS

Level or double (2 credits) A Level with at least one course coming from each of the curriculum areas.

While the AICE Diploma is a relatively new qualification from CIE, the A Level examinations have been

taken throughout the world for over fifty years and are recognized for college credit or advanced standing

in most US Universities. High school students in Florida have been earning prestigious AICE Diplomas

and succeeding on AICE examinations since 1998.

In order to offer these and other CIE assessments, schools must register as Examination Centers. This

costs $1550 and involves an inspection for which a reasonable charge is also made. Annually, $1550 is

charged but is waived if the total entry amounts to $7750.

In Florida, students passing AS Level examinations generate an additional .24 FTE per exam and those

earning an AICE Diploma generate an additional .30 FTE.

Florida Statutes

If you would like to review the statutory provisions online, go to the Florida Legislature’s website,

www.leg.state.fl.us., and click the "Constitution and Statutes" tab on top. Then select Title XLVIII, K-20

Education Code. Next click on Chapter 1007 ARTICULATION AND ACCESS, Part II:

ARTICULATION. Section 1007.27 identifies AICE as an acceleration mechanism. Section 1007.27(9)

defines AICE and states students will be awarded up to 30 hours of college credit for AICE exams passed

even if the full diploma is not awarded. Section 1007.27(10) states that AICE exams/credits will count

towards newly required 9 hours of summer school mandatory for all college students in the future.

Section 1011.62(1)(m) awards teacher bonuses of $50 per exam passed with an E up to a cap of $2000 for

AICE exams and provides funding at .24 FTE per full credit exam passed with an E and .12 FTE per half

credit exam and .30 FTE for each AICE Diploma earned.

AICE is not included as an automatic Florida Bright Future Award qualifier, nor is weighting for GPA

calculations for Bright Future purposes provided.

AICE courses have been given their own course numbers and tentative approval for the 2002-2003

Course Code Directory. They may be viewed online at www.firn.edu/doe under the pull down menu

"course descriptions/curriculum frameworks," under the Grades 9-12 section and the subject area (ex:

English). The AICE courses are listed with the others.

The Articulation Coordinating Council has reviewed the AICE courses and made recommendations on

the college course equivalencies.

For further information on the AICE program, contact Sherry Reach, U.S. Representative, Cambridge

International Examinations, 131 Bid A Wee Lane, Panama City, FL 32413, (850) 234-8521, fax (850)

230-4770, email: cieusrep@aol.com or www.cie.org.uk.