The purpose of this rule amendment is to reflect changes from the 2013 Florida Legislative Session. Section 1003.4282(8), F.S., was created to include uniform transfer of high school credit requirements beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-1.09941State Uniform Transfer of High School Credits

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to reflect changes from the 2013 Florida Legislative Session. Section 1003.4282(8), F.S., was created to include uniform transfer of high school credit requirements beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

SUMMARY: This rule establishes uniform procedures relating to the acceptance of transfer work and credit for students entering Florida’s public high schools.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The proposed revisions address only transfer of high school credit for students entering Florida public high schools; no fees or costs are imposed, and no regulations are proposed that are anticipated to cause additional expenses.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1003.25, 1003.4282 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.25, 1003.4282 FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: February 18, 2014, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Orlando, Florida (The physical location will be posted on the Department’s website no later than 14 days prior to the meeting at http://www.fldoe.org).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mary Jane Tappen, Deputy Chancellor of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Services, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1502, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400, [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-1.09941 State Uniform Transfer of High School Credits.

The purpose of this rule is to establish uniform procedures relating to the acceptance of transfer work and credit for students entering Florida’s public schools Effective July 1, 2013 2012, the procedures shall be as follows:

(1) Credits and grades earned and offered for acceptance shall be based on official transcripts and shall be accepted at face value subject to validation if required by the receiving school’s accreditation. If validation of the official transcript is deemed necessary, or if the student does not possess an official transcript or is a home education student, credits shall be validated through performance during the first grading period as outlined in subsection (2) (3) of this rule. Assessment requirements for transfer students under Section 1003.4282, F.S., must be satisfied.

(2) If a student transfers into a Florida high school from out of country, out of state, a private school, or a home school, and that student’s transcript shows credit received in Algebra 1, or an equivalent course; Geometry, or an equivalent course; or Biology 1, or an equivalent course, the decision as to whether the student must take Florida’s statewide, standardized end-of-course (EOC) assessment in Algebra 1, Geometry, or Biology 1, respectively, shall be made by the school principal as follows:

(a) A transfer student will not take Florida’s

1. Algebra 1 EOC Assessment if the student passed a statewide, standardized EOC assessment in that course, if administered by the transferring school, or achieved a passing score on the high school statewide assessment in mathematics required by the state from which the student transferred for purposes of satisfying the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C. ss. 6301, et seq., or if the student achieves an equivalent score on another assessment as identified pursuant to Section 1008.22(11), F.S.

2. Geometry EOC Assessment if the student passed a statewide, standardized EOC assessment in that course, if administered by the transferring school, or if the student achieves an equivalent score on another assessment as identified pursuant to Section 1008.22(11), F.S.

3. Biology 1 EOC Assessment if the student passed a statewide, standardized EOC assessment in that course, if administered by the transferring school, or if the student achieves an equivalent score on another assessment as identified pursuant to Section 1008.22(11), F.S.

(b) A transfer student will take Florida’s EOC assessments in Algebra 1, Geometry, and Biology 1 under all other circumstances and must pass the EOC in order to earn credit in the course.

(2)(3) Validation of credits shall be based on performance in classes at the receiving school. A student transferring into a school shall be placed at the appropriate sequential course level and should have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 at the end of the first grading period. Students who do not meet this requirement shall have credits validated using the Alternative Validation Procedure, as outlined in subsection (4) of this rule.

(3)(4) Alternative Validation Procedure. If validation based on performance as described above is not satisfactory, then any one of the following alternatives shall be used for validation purposes as determined by the teacher, principal, and parent:

(a) Portfolio evaluation by the superintendent or designee;

(b) Written recommendation by a Florida certified teacher selected by the parent and approved by the principal;

(c) Demonstrated performance in courses taken through dual enrollment or at other public or private accredited schools;

(d) Demonstrated proficiencies on nationally-normed standardized subject area assessments;

(e) Demonstrated proficiency proficiencies on a statewide, standardized the FCAT and on EOC assessment(s) for course(s) that require a passing score on an EOC assessment in order to award course credit; or

(f) Written review of the criteria utilized for a given subject provided by the former school.

Students must be provided at least ninety (90) days from date of transfer to prepare for assessments outlined in paragraphs (3)(4)(d) and (e) of this rule if required.

Rulemaking Authority 1003.25(3), 1003.4282 1008.22(13) FS. Law Implemented 1003.25(3), 1003.4282 1008.22(9)(b) FS. History–New 8-28-00, Formerly 6-1.099, Amended 9-22-03, 4-30-12,___________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Mary Jane Tappen, Deputy Chancellor of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Services

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Commissioner, Department of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 13, 2014

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: September 16, 2013