Title: High School Graduation Requirements

Summary: Authorizes student to use credit earned upon completion of apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program to satisfy specified high school graduation requirements; requires SBE to approve & identify registered apprenticeship & preapprenticeship programs.

Full Text:
An act relating to high school graduation requirements; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; authorizing the use of credits earned upon completion of a registered apprenticeship or preapprenticeship to satisfy specified high school graduation credit requirements; requiring that the State Board of Education approve and identify apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs for such purpose; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.-(8) CAR EER EDUCATION COURSES THAT SATISFY HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS.-(a) Participation in career education courses engages students in their high school education, increases academic achievement, enhances employability, and increases postsecondary success. By July 1, 2014, the department shall develop, for approval by the State Board of Education, multiple, additional career education courses or a series of courses that meet the CS/HB 2017 requirements set forth in s. 1003.493(2), (4), and (5) and this subsection an dallow students to earn credit in both the career education course and courses required for high school graduation under this section and s. 1003.4281. 1. The state board must determine if sufficient academic standards are covered to warrant the award of academic credit. 2. Career education courses must include workforce and digital literacy skills and the integration of required course content with practical applications and designated rigorous coursework that results in one or more industry certifica tions or clearly articulated credit or advanced standing in a-year or 4-year certificate or degree program, which may include high school junior and senior year work-related internships or apprenticeships. The department shall negotiate state licenses for material and testing for industry certifications. The instructional methodology used in these courses must be comprised of authentic projects, problems, and activities for contextually learning the academics. 3. A student who earns credit upon completi on of an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program registered with the Department of Education under chapter may use such credit to satisfy the high school graduation credit requirements in paragraph (3)(e) or paragraph (3)(g). The state board shall approve and identify in the Course Code Directory the apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs from which earned CS/HB 2017 credit may be used pursuant to this subparagraph. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.