{"id":17411,"date":"2013-03-15T12:03:49","date_gmt":"2013-03-15T16:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/?p=17411"},"modified":"2013-03-15T12:03:50","modified_gmt":"2013-03-15T16:03:50","slug":"how-florida-lawmakers-would-change-high-school-graduation-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/florida\/2013\/03\/15\/how-florida-lawmakers-would-change-high-school-graduation-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"How Florida Lawmakers Would Change High School Graduation Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"
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kthypryn \/ Flickr<\/p>

Two bills could give Florida students more flexibility in earning their high school diploma.<\/p><\/div>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A House proposal (HB 7091<\/a>) would create three diploma tracks: College and career; industry and scholar. All three diplomas require four years of English language arts.<\/p>\n

Students seeking an industry diploma would have to take four math courses, but the only required course is Algebra I and its end-of-course exam. College and career track students must add Geometry. And instead of requiring students pass the Geometry end-of-course exam, the bill would make the test 30 percent of the final grade.<\/p>\n

The scholar track adds a requirement for Algebra II and Statistics, or an equally rigorous course.<\/p>\n

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In science, students would still have to take three courses including Biology and another course with a laboratory component. But students in the college and career and industry tracks would no longer have to pass the Biology end-of-course exam. Instead, the test would count for 30 percent of the final grade.<\/p>\n

Students seeking a scholar diploma add a requirement for Chemistry and Physics or an equally rigorous course.<\/p>\n

The other big change is in electives, where students on the industry track would take eight career education credits in a filed identified by state or local need. That could include earning industry certifications. The State Board of Education would adopt a list of acceptable certifications each year.<\/p>\n

Students in the college and career track could also take courses to earn industry certification.<\/p>\n

Scholar-track students would have six elective credits focused on liberal arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) or career education — one of which must be an accelerated course such as Advanced Placement or a dual enrollment course through a local college.<\/p>\n

The bill was opposed by the Foundation for Florida’s Future, the influential non-profit group founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush. Director Patricia Levesque told House lawmakers<\/a> the foundation opposed lifting the Geometry requirement.<\/p>\n

Levesque said they favor a bill in the Senate with similar goals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That bill, SB 1076, would let the State Board of Education approve industry training programs which could be substituted for graduation requirements.<\/p>\n

For instance, a student could earn an aerospace certification instead of taking Algebra II, Chemistry or Physics. Certifications could also replace English language arts courses.<\/p>\n

Students could also take multiple Algebra I credits to satisfy their math requirements, but must still pass the end-of-course exam.<\/p>\n

Read the staff analysis of the House bill here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read the staff analysis of the Senate bill here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both bills are below.<\/p>\n