Florida Senate - 2024                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for CS for HB 537
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì766044&Î766044                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
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       Senator Burgess moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete lines 30 - 152
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) and paragraph
    6  (a) of subsection (8) of section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes,
    7  are amended to read:
    8         1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
    9         (5) AWARD OF A STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.—
   10         (c) A student who earns the required 24 credits, or the
   11  required 18 credits under s. 1002.3105(5), but fails to pass the
   12  assessments required under s. 1008.22(3) or achieve a 2.0 GPA
   13  shall be awarded a certificate of completion in a form
   14  prescribed by the State Board of Education, which must clearly
   15  state that the certificate of completion is not a standard high
   16  school diploma. A student who is awarded a certificate of
   17  completion must be informed of secondary and postsecondary
   18  educational opportunities that are available to an individual
   19  who has not received a standard high school diploma. However, A
   20  student who is otherwise entitled to a certificate of completion
   21  may elect to remain in high school either as a full-time student
   22  or a part-time student for up to 1 additional year and receive
   23  special instruction designed to remedy his or her identified
   24  deficiencies.
   25         (8) STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.—Beginning with students
   26  entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year, this subsection
   27  applies to a student with a disability.
   28         (a) A parent of the student with a disability shall, in
   29  collaboration with the individual education plan (IEP) team
   30  during the transition planning process pursuant to s. 1003.5716,
   31  declare an intent for the student to graduate from high school
   32  with either a standard high school diploma or a certificate of
   33  completion. A student with a disability who does not satisfy the
   34  standard high school diploma requirements pursuant to this
   35  section shall be awarded a certificate of completion. A student
   36  who is awarded a certificate of completion must be informed of
   37  secondary and postsecondary educational opportunities that are
   38  available to an individual who has not received a standard high
   39  school diploma.
   40         (b) The following options, in addition to the other options
   41  specified in this section, may be used to satisfy the standard
   42  high school diploma requirements, as specified in the student’s
   43  individual education plan:
   44         1. For a student with a disability for whom the IEP team
   45  has determined that the Florida Alternate Assessment is the most
   46  appropriate measure of the student’s skills:
   47         a. A combination of course substitutions, assessments,
   48  industry certifications, other acceleration options, or
   49  occupational completion points appropriate to the student’s
   50  unique skills and abilities that meet the criteria established
   51  by State Board of Education rule.
   52         b. A portfolio of quantifiable evidence that documents a
   53  student’s mastery of academic standards through rigorous metrics
   54  established by State Board of Education rule. A portfolio may
   55  include, but is not limited to, documentation of work
   56  experience, internships, community service, and postsecondary
   57  credit.
   58         2. For a student with a disability for whom the IEP team
   59  has determined that mastery of academic and employment
   60  competencies is the most appropriate way for a student to
   61  demonstrate his or her skills:
   62         a. Documented completion of the minimum high school
   63  graduation requirements, including the number of course credits
   64  prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education.
   65         b. Documented achievement of all annual goals and short
   66  term objectives for academic and employment competencies,
   67  industry certifications, and occupational completion points
   68  specified in the student’s transition plan. The documentation
   69  must be verified by the IEP team.
   70         c. Documented successful employment for the number of hours
   71  per week specified in the student’s transition plan, for the
   72  equivalent of 1 semester, and payment of a minimum wage in
   73  compliance with the requirements of the federal Fair Labor
   74  Standards Act.
   75         d. Documented mastery of the academic and employment
   76  competencies, industry certifications, and occupational
   77  completion points specified in the student’s transition plan.
   78  The documentation must be verified by the IEP team, the
   79  employer, and the teacher. The transition plan must be developed
   80  and signed by the student, parent, teacher, and employer before
   81  placement in employment and must identify the following:
   82         (I) The expected academic and employment competencies,
   83  industry certifications, and occupational completion points;
   84         (II) The criteria for determining and certifying mastery of
   85  the competencies;
   86         (III) The work schedule and the minimum number of hours to
   87  be worked per week; and
   88         (IV) A description of the supervision to be provided by the
   89  school district.
   90         3. Any change to the high school graduation option
   91  specified in the student’s IEP must be approved by the parent
   92  and is subject to verification for appropriateness by an
   93  independent reviewer selected by the parent as provided in s.
   94  1003.572.
   95         (c) A student with a disability who meets the standard high
   96  school diploma requirements in this section may defer the
   97  receipt of a standard high school diploma if the student:
   98         1. Has an individual education plan that prescribes special
   99  education, transition planning, transition services, or related
  100  services through age 21; and
  101         2. Is enrolled in accelerated college credit instruction
  102  pursuant to s. 1007.27, industry certification courses that lead
  103  to college credit, an early college program, courses necessary
  104  to satisfy the Scholar designation requirements, or a structured
  105  work-study, internship, or preapprenticeship program.
  106         (d) A student with a disability who receives a certificate
  107  of completion and has an individual education plan that
  108  prescribes special education, transition planning, transition
  109  services, or related services through 21 years of age may
  110  continue to receive the specified instruction and services.
  111         (e) Any waiver of the statewide, standardized assessment
  112  requirements by the individual education plan team, pursuant to
  113  s. 1008.22(3)(d), must be approved by the parent and is subject
  114  to verification for appropriateness by an independent reviewer
  115  selected by the parent as provided for in s. 1003.572.
  116  
  117  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules under ss.
  118  120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this subsection, including
  119  rules that establish the minimum requirements for students
  120  described in this subsection to earn a standard high school
  121  diploma. The State Board of Education shall adopt emergency
  122  rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54.
  123  
  124  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  125  And the title is amended as follows:
  126         Delete lines 3 - 9
  127  and insert:
  128         1003.4282, F.S.; adding required notifications to
  129         students who receive the award of a certificate of
  130         completion; conforming provisions to changes made by
  131         the act; deleting obsolete provisions; creating s.
  132         1003.482, F.S.; creating the