The purpose of this rule amendment is to include provisions for the Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program per Section 1003.4321, Florida Statutes. The amendment allows the Seal of Fine Arts to be included on the diploma for ....

 

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: The purpose of this rule amendment is to include provisions for the Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program per Section 1003.4321, Florida Statutes. The amendment allows the Seal of Fine Arts to be included on the diploma for eligible high school students. References are updated to reflect current statutes and remove references to an obsolete diploma and an obsolete certificate of completion.

SUMMARY: High school diplomas and seals are being updated to reflect current statutes.

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 upon the nature of the changes, this proposed rule is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification. No increase in regulatory costs are anticipated as a result of the rule changes.

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, 1003.4321, 1003.435, 1003.53, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1001.02, 1003.4282, 1003.4285, 1003.432, 1003.4321, 1003.435, 1003.53, F.S.

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

DATE AND TIME: September 25, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: St. Johns River State College, 2990 College Drive, Building J, Room J-149, St. Augustine, FL 32084.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Andrew Weatherill, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, [phone].

 

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 1003.435, F.S., the form of the Standard Diploma, the Special Diploma, State of Florida High School Performance-Based Diploma, and the Certificate of Completion and the Special Certificate of Completion shall contain the wording and be in the form prescribed herein.

(1) No change

(2) Special Diploma (applicable for students who entered grade nine prior to the 2014-2015 school year):

Name of School

City, State

Florida

Seal

This certifies that

(Name of Student)

having satisfactorily completed all requirements of law and standards for high school graduation prescribed for exceptional students by the State Board of Education and the District School Board is hereby awarded this

	DIPLOMA
	by order of the ________ County District School Board
	(Date of Award)
________________		________________
Superintendent		Chairman,
of Schools		School Board
	________________
	Principal

 

(2)(3) No change.

(3)(4) No change.

(5) Special Certificate of Completion (applicable for students who entered grade nine prior to the 2014-2015 school year):

Name of School

City, State

Florida

Seal

This certifies that

(Name of Student)

having completed the minimum number of credits for high school graduation prescribed for exceptional students and other applicable requirements prescribed by the rules of the District School Board, is hereby awarded this

	CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
	by order of the ________ County District School Board
	(Date of Award)
________________		________________
Superintendent		Chairman,
of Schools		School Board
	___________________
	Principal

(6) The special diploma or special certificate of completion forms of high school diploma are applicable for students who entered grade nine prior to the 2014-2015 school year.

(4)(7) Districts must determine student eligibility for designations of each of the following accomplishments and include on standard diplomas issued beginning in July 2013 as applicable:

(a) Completion of the Sscholar designation requirements in accordance with Section 1003.4285, F.S.

(b) No change.

(5)(8) No change.

(6)(9) Florida Seal of Biliteracy. Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, Aa 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) through (d) No change.

(7) Florida Seal of Fine Arts. A school district must affix the Florida Seal of Fine Arts to a student’s standard diploma when a student is awarded the Florida Seal of Fine Arts, pursuant to Section 1003.4321, F.S., and Rule 6A-1.09952, F.A.C.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(b) The insignia may be affixed as a seal or printed digitally on a student’s standard diploma.

(c) A school district may not charge a fee for the Florida Seal of Fine Arts.

(8)(10) Diploma and Certificate Production. Each district school board shall produce or have produced the dDiplomas and certificate 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.

(9)(11) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1003.4282, 1003.432, 1003.4321, 1003.435, 1003.53 FS. Law Implemented 1001.02, 1003.4282, 1003.4285, 1003.432, 1003.4321, 1003.435, 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, 3-22-17,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Andrew Weatherill, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner, Department of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 16, 2024

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: July 15, 2024