Florida Department of Education
     
     
    The Talented 20 Program: Profile of the Class of 2008
     
    Students eligible for the Talented Twenty Program are guaranteed admission to one of the
    eleven state universities and are given priority funding from the Florida Student Assistance
    Grant (FSAG).
     
    All of the following requirements must be met to qualify for the Talented 20 Program:
     
    Be enrolled in a Florida public high school and graduate with a standard diploma
     
    Be ranked in the top 20 percent of the senior class after posting of the seventh
    semester grades
     
    Take the ACT or SAT
     
    Complete all 18-core course credit requirements as specified in Rule 6C-6.002, Florida
    Administrative Code (FAC.)
     
    Points to Consider
    Suggested points to consider for reviewing the data are as follows:
    When staff reviews the Talented 20 Evaluation Report after initial transcript submission:
    o
     
    Are students being reported who are working toward a special diploma?
    o
     
    Is there a particular pattern of students missing specific core academic credits (for
    example, foreign language or mathematics)?
    o
     
    Are students deemed ineligible because they are missing half a credit? This may
    indicate a problem with reporting dual enrollment or block scheduling.
    o
     
    Do students have postsecondary plans other than university/college entrance?
     
    Strategies
     
    Suggested strategies to help prepare more students to participate in rigorous academic high
    school curriculum and to increase access to postsecondary educational opportunities include:
    Parent involvement and seminars relating to student education and career plans
    Postsecondary educational opportunities and financial aid (e.g., demonstrating and sharing
    information on the www.FACTS.org Web site such as the e-Personal Education Planner
    [ePEP])
    Review of grade 10 PSAT/PLAN data reports and improving academic and career
    advisement strategies
    Review of disaggregated data to help uncover areas where groups of students are having
    difficulty and address equity and access issues
    Curricula alignment across grade levels, such as vertical teaming
    Early identification of students that can take more rigorous curricula
    Volunteer and mentoring programs to support student achievement
    Elementary to middle and middle to high school collaboration for articulation planning
    Professional development activities for school counselors.

    Florida Department of Education
     
     
    The Talented 20 Program: Profile of the Class of 2008
     
     
     
    Percentage of Each Racial/Ethnic Group’s Qualifying for Talented 20
     
      
    Black/
    Non-
    Hispanic
     
    Asian/
    Pacific
    Islander
     
     
     
    Hispanic
    American
    Indian/
    Alaskan
    Native
     
     
    Multi-
    racial
     
     
     
    White
     
     
     
    Total
    2004
    82.5% 93.2% 89.8%
    92.8%
    89.9%
    91.8%
    90.3%
    2005
    82.7% 95.3% 91.2%
    86.4%
    92.3%
    93.1%
    91.6%
    2006
    82.5% 94.0% 90.2%
    85.5%
    90.9%
    92.3%
    90.7%
    2007
    85.7% 93.1% 89.9%
    91.4%
    93.7%
    92.7%
    91.3%
    2008
    84.0% 94.0% 89.0%
    93.0%
    90.0%
    93.0%
    91.0%
     
     
    Percentage of Students Qualifying for Talented 20 by Race
     
      
    Black/
    Non-
    Hispanic
     
    Asian/
    Pacific
    Islander
     
     
     
    Hispanic
    American
    Indian/
    Alaskan
    Native
     
     
    Multi-
    racial
     
     
     
    White
     
     
    Total
    Minority
    2004
    11.3% 5.2% 17.5%
    .32%
    .74%
    65.0%
    35.0%
    2005
    12.5% 5.2% 18.3%
    .33%
    1.1%
    62.6%
    37.4%
    2006
    12.5% 5.2% 19.1%
    .27%
    1.2%
    62.5%
    38.4%
    2007
    11.6% 5.7% 20.2%
    .28%
    1.3%
    60.9%
    39.1%
    2008
    11.5% 5.8% 20.9%
    .24%
    1.5%
    60.1%
    39.9%
     
    Overall, Florida’s eligibility for Talented 20 continues to increase for minority populations from 32.1% (6,984) students
    in 2000 to 39.9% (10,410 students) in 2008.
    The largest percent increase in minority students eligible for Talented 20 was in Hispanic (.7% increase from 20.2% in
    2007 to 20.9% in 2008).
     
    Of the 26,078 students who ranked in the top 20 percent of their graduating class, 91.0 percent were
    eligible for the program. In addition, 18 districts and university lab schools had greater than 95 percent
    student eligibility. Overall, eligibility for the Talented 20 Program continues to increase for minority student
    populations from 32.1 percent in 2000 to 39.9 percent in 2008.
     
    Professional development and training, paid for by the state, is available via the Minority and Under
    Represented Student Achievement Partnership (College Board). The program was designed to reach this
    particular population. Many of your suggestions and strategies form the basis of Florida's partnership with
    the College Board. Information concerning the College Board Partnership can be found at
    www.collegeboard.com/floridapartnership. We encourage a careful examination of strategies your district
    may use to prepare all students to participate in taking a rigorous academic high school curriculum to
    increase access to postsecondary educational opportunities.

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