(3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS.—(a) Four credits in English Language Arts (ELA).—The four credits must be in ELA I, II, III, and IV. A student must pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 Reading assessment or, when implemented, the grade 10 ELA assessment, or earn a concordant score, in order to earn a standard high school diploma.
(b) Four credits in mathematics.—A student must earn one credit in Algebra I and one credit in Geometry. A student’s performance on the statewide, standardized Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student must pass the statewide, standardized Algebra I EOC assessment, or earn a comparative score, in order to earn a standard high school diploma. A student’s performance on the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one mathematics credit. Substitution may occur for up to two mathematics credits, except for Algebra I and Geometry.
(c) Three credits in science.—Two of the three required credits must have a laboratory component. A student must earn one credit in Biology I and two credits in equally rigorous courses. The statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one science credit, except for Biology I.
(d) Three credits in social studies.—A student must earn one credit in United States History; one credit in World History; one-half credit in economics, which must include financial literacy; and one-half credit in United States Government. The United States History EOC assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.
(e) One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and debate, or practical arts.—The practical arts course must incorporate artistic content and techniques of creativity, interpretation, and imagination. Eligible practical arts courses are identified in the Course Code Directory.
(f) One credit in physical education.—Physical education must include the integration of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education. 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 better in 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 504 plan. Completion of 2 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 adaptive physical education under an IEP or 504 plan.
(g) Eight 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 result in 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.
(9) COHORT TRANSITION TO NEW GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.—The requirements of this section, in addition to applying to students entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter, shall also apply to students entering grade 9 before the 2013-2014 school year, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.(a) A student entering grade 9 before the 2010-2011 school year must earn:1. Four credits in English/ELA. A student must pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 Reading assessment, or earn a concordant score, in order to graduate with a standard high school diploma.
2. Four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra I. A student must pass grade 10 FCAT Mathematics, or earn a concordant score, in order to graduate with a standard high school diploma. A student who takes Algebra I or Geometry after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized EOC assessment for the course but is not required to pass the assessment in order to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the Algebra I or Geometry EOC assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one mathematics credit. Substitution may occur for up to two mathematics credits, except for Algebra I.
3. Three credits in science, two of which must have a laboratory component. A student who takes Biology I after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment but is not required to pass the assessment in order to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one science credit.
4. Three credits in social studies of which one credit in World History, one credit in United States History, one-half credit in United States Government, and one-half credit in economics are required. A student who takes United States History after the 2011-2012 school year must take the statewide, standardized United States History EOC assessment, but the student’s performance on the assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.
5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and debate, or practical arts as provided in paragraph (3)(e).
6. One credit in physical education as provided in paragraph (3)(f).
7. Eight credits in electives.
(b) A student entering grade 9 in the 2010-2011 school year must earn:1. Four credits in English/ELA. A student must pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 Reading assessment, or earn a concordant score, in order to graduate with a standard high school diploma.
2. Four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra I and Geometry. The statewide, standardized Algebra I EOC assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who takes Algebra I or Geometry after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized EOC assessment for the course but is not required to pass the assessment in order to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the Geometry EOC assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one mathematics credit. Substitution may occur for up to two mathematics credits, except for Algebra I and Geometry.
3. Three credits in science, two of which must have a laboratory component. A student who takes Biology I after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment but is not required to pass the assessment in order to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one science credit, except for Biology I.
4. Three credits in social studies of which one credit in World History, one credit in United States History, one-half credit in United States Government, and one-half credit in economics are required. A student who takes United States History after the 2011-2012 school year must take the statewide, standardized United States History EOC assessment, but the student’s performance on the assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.
5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and debate, or practical arts as provided in paragraph (3)(e).
6. One credit in physical education as provided in paragraph (3)(f).
7. Eight credits in electives.
(c) A student entering grade 9 in the 2011-2012 school year must earn:1. Four credits in English/ELA. A student must pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 Reading assessment, or earn a concordant score, in order to graduate with a standard high school diploma.
2. Four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra I and Geometry. A student who takes Algebra I after the 2010-2011 school year must pass the statewide, standardized Algebra I EOC assessment, or earn a comparative score, in order to earn a standard high school diploma. A student who takes Algebra I or Geometry after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized EOC assessment but is not required to pass the Algebra I or Geometry EOC assessment in order to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the Algebra I or Geometry EOC assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one mathematics credit. Substitution may occur for up to two mathematics credits, except for Algebra I and Geometry.
3. Three credits in science, two of which must have a laboratory component. One of the science credits must be Biology I. A student who takes Biology I after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment but is not required to pass the assessment in order to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one science credit, except for Biology I.
4. Three credits in social studies of which one credit in World History, one credit in United States History, one-half credit in United States Government, and one-half credit in economics are required. A student who takes United States History after the 2011-2012 school year must take the statewide, standardized United States History EOC assessment, but the student’s performance on the assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.
5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and debate, or practical arts as provided in paragraph (3)(e).
6. One credit in physical education as provided in paragraph (3)(f).
7. Eight credits in electives.
8. One online course as provided in subsection (4).
(d) A student entering grade 9 in the 2012-2013 school year must earn:1. Four credits in English/ELA. A student must pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 Reading assessment, or earn a concordant score, in order to graduate with a standard high school diploma.
2. Four credits in mathematics, which must include Algebra I and Geometry. A student who takes Algebra I after the 2010-2011 school year must pass the statewide, standardized Algebra I EOC assessment, or earn a comparative score, in order to earn a standard high school diploma. A student who takes Geometry after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment. A student is not required to pass the statewide, standardized EOC assessment in Algebra I or Geometry in order to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the Algebra I or Geometry EOC assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one mathematics credit. Substitution may occur for up to two mathematics credits, except for Algebra I and Geometry.
3. Three credits in science, two of which must have a laboratory component. One of the science credits must be Biology I. A student who takes Biology I after the 2010-2011 school year must take the statewide, standardized Biology I EOC assessment but is not required to pass the assessment to earn course credit. A student’s performance on the assessment is not required to constitute 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A student who earns an industry certification for which there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for one science credit, except for Biology I.
4. Three credits in social studies of which one credit in World History, one credit in United States History, one-half credit in United States Government, and one-half credit in economics are required. The statewide, standardized United States History EOC assessment constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.
5. One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and debate, or practical arts as provided in paragraph (3)(e).
6. One credit in physical education as provided in paragraph (3)(f).
7. Eight credits in electives.
8. One online course as provided in subsection (4).
(e) Policy adopted in rule by the district school board may require for any cohort of students that performance on a statewide, standardized EOC assessment constitute 30 percent of a student’s final course grade.
(f) This subsection is repealed July 1, 2020.