LEGISLATIVE CHANGES RELATING TO     MIDDLE GRADES

PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS (HOUSE BILL 7087-A++)

The 2006 Legislature passed House Bill 7087 (A++) which, in part, revised Florida Statutes related to middle grades promotion requirements.

LEGISLATIVE CHANGES -

 6th, 7th and 8th Grade for 2008-2009

Course Requirements

Section 1003.4156, Florida Statutes (General requirements for middle grades promotion), is created to provide general requirements for promotion from middle school to high school. It provides that beginning with students entering grade 6 in the 2006-2007 school year, in order to be promoted to the ninth grade, students are required to complete:

Three (3) middle school or higher courses in English. These courses shall emphasize literature, composition, and technical text.

Three (3) middle school or higher courses in mathematics. Each middle school must offer at least one high school-level mathematics course for which students may earn high school credit.

Three (3) middle school or higher courses in social studies, one semester of which must include the study of state and federal government and civics education.

Three (3) middle school or higher courses in science.

One (1) semester-long course in career and education planning to be completed in seventh or eighth grade.

Standardized Grading Scale

Section 1003.437, Florida Statutes, has been amended to create a uniform grading system for public schools in grades 6-12. The statewide grading scale applies to all public school students in grades 6-12 and requires schools to use the same grading system and interpretation of letter grades that is currently in effect for high school students. The grading scale is:

A = 90-100%

B+ = 87-89%

B = 80-86%

C+ = 77-79%

C = 70-76%

D+ = 67-69%

D = 60-66%

F = 0-59%

I = Incomplete

What are the new requirements for students not reading at grade level?

Section 1003.4156, Florida Statutes, requires that for each year in which a student scores at Level 1 on FCAT Reading, he/she must be enrolled in and complete an intensive reading course the following year.

For students who score at Level 1 or 2 on FCAT Reading, placement in either an intensive reading course or a content area course in which reading strategies are delivered shall be determined by diagnosis of reading needs.

Promotion/Retention for all students:

Students must also demonstrate competency in reading and mathematics at a Level II or higher on the FCAT given in March.