Title: High School Graduation Requirements

Summary: Requires students to earn one-half credit in health education for high school graduation; authorizes waiver for students who request to take & successfully complete health education assessment; reduces number of required credits in elective courses.

Full Text:
An act relating to high school graduation requirements; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; requiring students to earn one-half credit in health education, independent of the physical education credit requirements, for high school graduation; authorizing a waiver for students who request to take and successfully complete a health education assessment developed by the Department of Education; reducing the number of required credits in elective courses; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (g) of tha tsubsection is redesignated as paragraph (h) and amended, and a new paragraph (g) is added to that subsection, to read: 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.-(3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS.-(f) One credit in physical education.-Physical education must include the integration of health,except that beginning with students entering grade in the 2016-2017 school year, health education shall not be included in physical education. HB 2016 Participatio nin an interscholastic sport at the junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall satisfy the one credit requirement in physical education if the student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a score of "C" or better. The competen cy test on personal fitness developed by the Department of Education must be used. A district school board may not require that the one credit in physical education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one semester with a grade of "C" or bette rin a marching band class, in a physical activity class that requires participation in marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or plan. Completion of years in a Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adapti ve physical education under an IEP or plan. (g) One-half credit in health education.-Beginning with students entering grade in the 2016-2017 school year, a student must earn one-half credit in health education. The health education requirement may be waived if the student HB 2016 requests to take a health education assessment and scores a "C" or better, in which case the student must earn eight credits in electives. The Department of Education shall develop the health education assessment. (h)(g) Eight cr edits in electives or, beginning with students entering grade in the 2016-2017 school year, seven and one-half credits in electives.-School districts must develop and offer coordinated electives so that a student may develop knowledge and skills in his or her area of interest, such as electives with a STEM or liberal arts focus. Such electives must include opportunities for students to earn college credit, including industry-certified career education programs or series of career-themed courses that resul tin industry certification or articulate into the award of college credit, or career education courses for which there is a statewide or local articulation agreement and which lead to college credit. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.