Diploma Options

Senate Bill 30-A, passed during Special Session "A" of the 2003 Florida Legislature, establishes three graduation options from which a student and his or her parents may choose:

A four-year, 24-credit standard program

A three-year, 18-credit standard college preparatory program

A three-year, 18-credit career preparatory program

A summary of the Senate Bill 30-A is available online through the Florida Senate website.  Additionally you can check the Department of Education website where technical assistance information will be posted as soon as it is available.

No changes were made to the requirements for special diploma.  

You may wish to note that House Bill 1739, passed during the regular session of the 2003 Florida Legislature, allows districts to award standard diplomas to students with disabilities who have met all graduation requirements except for passing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT).  These students must have taken the FCAT once in both grades 10 and 11, and their Individual Education Plans (IEP) must reflect that the FCAT does not accurately measure their abilities, taking into consideration all available accommodations.

Contact the following persons for additional questions regarding:

Graduation Options

    Michael Lisle

    Phone:  (850) 245-0481

    Email:  Michael.Lisle@fldoe.org 

Special Diploma or FCAT Waiver

    Evy Friend

    Phone:  (850) 245-0478

    Email:  Evy.Friend@fldoe.org

(Information received from Shan Goff, Chief , Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Services)

Update as of December 4, 2003