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Lawmakers Clear Up High School Graduation Requirements

Last year the Legislature approved a bill which overhauled Florida’s high school graduation requirements. The bill maintains a standard diploma and created two new diploma tracks; a scholar track for students considering competitive universities; and a career-focused track for students who want to earn industry certifications before graduation. But the bill created some confusion about […]

Testing Requirements Around The Globe

Florida students may not advance to fourth grade or earn a high school diploma if they fail a state test, but NPR’s Cory Turner reports the stakes are even higher in other countries. Starting at age 16, students in England take between 15 and 20 big exams each year. If they do well, they’ll get […]

Meet The New SAT

The new SAT will take a little less time, focus on words students are more likely to encounter and have fewer answers for each multiple choice question, according to a preview from the College Board, to non-profit which oversees the college entrance exam. Changes to the SAT are particularly important in Florida, because the Sunshine […]

How Florida High School Graduation Requirements Will Change in 2013-2014

Gov. Rick Scott is scheduled to sign an education bill which changes high school graduation requirements, expands career education options and creates new elementary and middle school computer training programs. The most significant change is to high school graduation requirements. For students beginning high school in the 2013-2014 school year, the bill will eliminate some […]

House Committee Approves Bill Creating Three High School Diploma Options

The House Education committee unanimously approved a bill creating three high school diploma options for Florida students. Students could choose from scholar, college and career and industry options. The scholar option requires high-level courses — such as Physics and foreign language — while the industry option lets students opt for professional training classes and certification. […]

How Florida Lawmakers Would Change High School Graduation Requirements

After years of adding requirements to earn a high school diploma, Florida lawmakers have proposed bills which would allow students more flexibility in how they earn a diploma. A House proposal (HB 7091) would create three diploma tracks: College and career; industry and scholar. All three diplomas require four years of English language arts. Students […]

Should Algebra Remain Part Of The Graduation Equation?

Is there a growing push to trim advanced math requirements for students who won’t use the lessons in “the real world?” City University of New York political science professor Andrew Hacker authored a Sunday op-ed in the New York Times which questions whether U.S. schools should require students to pass algebra in order to graduate. […]

Why Florida’s Education Commissioner Raised the Bar on Reading

Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said his decision to raise reading test requirements means fewer students will pass, but that state teachers and students will rise to the occasion Of particular concern are the new reading requirements for 10th graders on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Students must meet a minimum score in order to […]

Virtual Schools Expand Students’ Network

When does heading back to class not involve a school? When students tick off Florida’s new graduation requirement for an online course. Miami Herald reporter Laura Isensee examined the advantages and criticisms of online schooling Sunday. More than 150,000 Florida students will take virtual courses this year. Students told Isensee they liked the ability to […]

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