To add provisions set forth in the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program per section 1003.432, F.S.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-1.0995Form of High School Diplomas and Certificates of Completion

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To add provisions set forth in the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program per section 1003.432, F.S.

SUMMARY: This amendment establishes requirements for each school district to affix a Florida Seal of Biliteracy insignia to a standard diploma for a student who earns a Gold Seal of Biliteracy or a Silver Seal of Biliteracy per Rule 6A-1.09951, F.A.C., Requirements for the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program.

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: 1) no requirement for SERC was triggered under Section 120.541(1), F.S., and 2) based on past experiences with rules that affect individual students and their families in an educational setting and have no impact on small businesses, the adverse impact or regulatory cost, if any, do not exceed nor would be expected to exceed any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in Section 120.541(2)(a), F.S.

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: 1001.02, 1003.4282, 1003.432, 1003.435, 1003.438, 1003.53, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1001.02, 1003.4282, 1003.4285, 1003.432, 1003.435, 1003.438, 1003.53, FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: February 16, 2017, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Alachua County School Board Office, 620 East University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Helen Lancashire, School Counseling Liaison, Bureau of Standards and Instructional Support, Department of Education, [phone] or email: [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-1.0995 Form of High School Diplomas and Certificates of Completion.

Pursuant to Sections 1003.4282 and 1003.438, F.S., the form of the Standard Diploma, the Special Diploma, State of Florida High School Performance-Based Diploma, the Certificate of Completion and the Special Certificate of Completion shall contain the wording and be in the form prescribed herein.

(1) through (8) No change.

(9) Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, a school district must affix the Florida Seal of Biliteracy to a student’s standard diploma when a student is awarded the Gold Seal of Biliteracy, the Silver Seal of Biliteracy or both, pursuant to Section 1003.432, F.S., and Rule 6A-1.09951, F.A.C.

(a) The Commissioner of Education shall electronically provide a digital format of the Florida Seal of Biliteracy Program seal to each school district and be in the form prescribed as follows:

1. Gold Seal of Biliteracy

2. Silver Seal of Biliteracy

(b) The insignia may be printed digitally on a student’s standard diploma using gold ink for the Gold Seal of Biliteracy and silver ink for the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.

(c) The insignia may be affixed as a seal using a Gold Seal of Biliteracy or Silver Seal of Biliteracy.

(d) A school district may not charge a fee for the Gold Seal of Biliteracy or the Silver Seal of Biliteracy.

(10)(9) Each district school board shall produce or have produced the Diplomas and Certificates of Completion in the quantity and as needed to be awarded to the students in the public schools of that district. Any person producing copies shall, pursuant to Section 15.03(3), F.S., and Rule 1-2.0021, F.A.C., secure approval from the Department of State to print the State Seal on such copies.

(11)(10) The Commissioner is authorized, upon written request from any district school board, to approve modification in the form or format of the diplomas or certificates prescribed herein; however, such modification shall not substantively alter the content or the wording of the diplomas or certificates.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02 1003.4282, 1003.432, 1003.435, 1003.438, 1003.53 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1003.4282, 1003.4285, 1003.432, 1003.435, 1003.438, 1003.53 FS. History–New 11-14-78, Amended 6-9-81, Formerly 6A-1.995, Amended 4-3-90, 1-5-09, 7-19-10, 3-25-14, 12-23-14,_____.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Hershel Lyons, Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools.

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: January 24, 2017

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: October 25, 2016