21st Century Diploma initiative passes house
Legislation raising high school standards to ensure that Florida’s students are prepared to enter the increasing global economy was approved by the Florida House last week. Florida’s 21st Century Diploma Initiative, House Bill (HB) 1293, sponsored by Representative Erik Fresen (R-Miami) gradually increases the science and math requirements Florida students must fulfill to earn a standard high school diploma.
“Florida students aren’t only competing with students from Atlanta or Dallas for jobs, they are competing with students in China, India and other nations across the globe – nations that annually produce more mathematicians, scientists and engineers than the United States,” said Representative Fresen. “Florida must have a curriculum that prepares our students to be competitive in the workforce and ready for the challenges of the high-paying careers of the future.”
HB 1293 raises the standard diploma requirements to new 21st Century Diploma graduation requirements.
Starting in the fall of 2010, freshman in the Class of 2014 will be required to take and pass the following courses:
o Math: Take Algebra I and Geometry for two out of four required math courses.
o Science: Take Biology I as one of three required courses.
· Continuing to raise the bar in the fall of 2012, freshman in the Class of 2016 will be required to take and pass the following courses:
o Math: Take Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II for three out of four required math courses.
o Science: Take Biology I, Chemistry and /or Physics for two out of three required courses.
HB 1293 also requires that students receive a grade-level score on the 10th grade FCAT to graduate.
“The progress Florida’s students have made in recent years shows that our system of raising academic standards and accountability is working,” said Representative Fresen. “The 21st Century Diploma Initiative is the next step in ensuring our students are prepared for the rigors of college and their future careers.”
The Senate companion to HB 1293 is Senate Bill 2656, sponsored by Senator Thad Altman (R-Melbourne).
See previous story on this here.
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Posted by admin on Apr 27 2009. Filed under Families, Schools, Tallahassee. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
