The purpose of this rule amendment is to establish how the graduation requirements as specified in Section 1003.428, F.S., “General requirements for high school graduation; revised” apply to students who withdrew from the K-12 system and ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:
6A-6.020Granting High School Credits and Diplomas to Adults
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to establish how the graduation requirements as specified in Section 1003.428, F.S., “General requirements for high school graduation; revised” apply to students who withdrew from the K-12 system and subsequently enroll in adult high school to earn an adult standard high school diploma. This rule as amended will establish a standardized policy for determining graduation requirements on an individual basis, including course requirements and state assessments. This rule revision will also ensure students receiving a high school diploma through adult education are held to the same requirements as a secondary student and will have the skills and knowledge required to be successful in the workplace and to enter postsecondary education. The effect is a rule consistent with law.
SUMMARY: Students may enroll in adult high school any time after they have dropped out (weeks or years) of the K-12 system. There is no statewide standardized practice for determining which graduation requirements specified in Section 1003.428, F.S., apply to the individual student. This rule as amended will establish a standardized statewide policy for determining the graduation requirements specified in Section 1003.428, F.S., as they apply to students who withdrew from the K-12 system and subsequently enroll in an adult high school to earn an adult standard high school diploma.
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: Based on past experiences with rules amending graduation requirements and rules of this nature, 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), Florida Statutes.
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: 1003.428(11) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.43, 1003.436, 1004.93, 1008.22(3)(c)9. FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: December 12, 2012, 8:00 a.m.
PLACE: Tampa Airport Marriott, Tampa International Airport, 4200 George J. Bean Parkway, Duval Room, Tampa, FL 33607.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Kathleen Taylor, Division of Career and Adult Education, 325 West Gaines Street, #714, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400; 850 245-9062.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.020 Granting High School Credits and Diplomas to Adults.

(1) The award of high school credits to adults on the basis of prescribed work completed in the adult education program of the district school board or community college board of trustees shall be based on demonstrated mastery of the student performance standards in the course of study, as provided by rules of the district school board or community college board of trustees. Such requirements shall be consistent with the needs of the adult students, the purposes of the schools, and the requirements of Florida Statutes.

(2) Graduation requirements. The graduation requirements for adult students shall be those prescribed in Sections 1003.43(6)(c) and 1003.428, F.S. To determine graduation requirements, including course requirements and state assessments, for students who are not enrolled in the K-12 educational system and enroll in adult high school, the following shall apply:

(a) students entering adult high school and whose ninth grade cohort has not graduated must meet the graduation requirements based on the year that the student entered the ninth grade, and

(b) students entering adult high school after their ninth grade cohort has graduated or who are not part of a ninth grade cohort must meet the current twelfth grade cohort graduation requirements that are in effect for the year they enter adult high school.

(1) Limitation on graduation date. No individual, except one assigned to the adult program for acceleration purposes as provided by subsection 6A-6.0614(2), F.A.C., shall be permitted under these rules to qualify for high school graduation at an earlier date than that on which he or she would normally have been graduated through regular attendance in high school.

(2) Granting credit on the basis of examinations. High school credit examinations for adults shall be administered as prescribed in Rule 6A-6.0211, F.A.C.

(3) Granting credit for educational experiences in the armed forces. High school credit may be awarded for educational experiences in the armed forces of the United States under the following conditions:

(a) Two (2) units of elective subject credit, recorded as military training, may be granted to any individual who has satisfactorily completed a minimum of one (1) full year of service in the armed forces, as evidenced by documentation provided by the armed forces.

(b) Correspondence courses in high school subjects taken under the auspices of the United States Armed Forces Institute, may be accepted for credit, provided bona fide certificates of course completion are presented showing the necessary information for proper evaluation of the credit to be awarded.

(c) Organized courses of instruction completed in special schools operated by the armed forces may be accepted for credit, provided documentary evidence of course completion is submitted, and provided further that the amount of credit awarded in each case shall be in accordance with recommendations of the American Council on Education, as contained in the Council’s publication, “A Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services.”

(d) Local school officials may not award more than eight (8) credits toward high school graduation based on military experiences and course work completed while in the armed forces.

(4) Graduation requirements. Except as indicated in subsection 6A-6.020(4), F.A.C., the graduation requirements for adult students shall be those prescribed in Section 1003.43, Florida Statutes. For purposes of interpretation of the modified graduation requirements indicated in Section 1003.43(6)(c), Florida Statutes, continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in one or more adult high school courses during each term, except for the summer terms.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 1004.93(8) FS. Law Implemented 1003.43, 1003.436, 1004.93 FS. History–Amended 2-20-64, 11-17-73, Repromulgated 12-5-74, Amended 6-6-78, 7-2-79, 12-26-85, Formerly 6A-6.20,

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Rod Duckworth, Chancellor, Division of Career and Adult Education
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Commissioner, Department of Education
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: November 8, 2012
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: December 22, 2011