• 2007-08 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials
• 2006-07 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials
• 2005-06 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials
• 2004-05 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials
• 2003-04 High School Graduation Programs Pursuant to Senate Bill 30A

2007-2008 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials

Attachment: Florida’s Guide to Public High School Graduation - It’s a Major Opportunity (2007-2008) (pdf) - Incoming 9th Grade Students in 2007-08

Technical Assistance Paper: New Legislation Relating To Physical Education (pdf)

2006-2007 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials

Memorandum: FCAT Writing+ Achievement Standards (pdf)

Technical Assistance Paper 2006-194: Required Mathematics and Science Remediation for Secondary Students (pdf)

Memorandum: Resources for A++ Implementation; Major Areas of Interest (pdf)

Memorandum: Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test® (FCAT) Concordant Scores for Meeting High School Graduation Requirements (pdf)

FCAT Graduation Requirements Brochure: Importance of Grade 10 FCAT (pdf)

Memorandum: Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test - Writing+ High School Graduation Requirement (pdf) - The memorandum informs districts of an additional graduation requirement for Florida students entering the first year of high school in the 2006-07 school year.

Memorandum 2006-116: New High School Graduation Requirements, "It's a Major Opportunity!" (pdf) - The memorandum and attachments address the new high school graduation requirements and the procedure for submitting major areas of interest to the Commissioner for approval.  

Attachment 1: Technical Assistance High School Graduation Requirements Beginning 2007-2008 It's a Major Opportunity! (pdf)
Attachment 2:  It's a Major Opportunity! (Diploma Overview) (pdf)
Attachment 3:  It's a Major Opportunity! District Submission of High School Major Areas of Interest (pdf)

Memorandum:  Transfer of Credit Guidelines (pdf) –The State Board of Education Rule establishes the transfer credit policy for all public high schools and fulfills the Board’s responsibilities to prescribe “procedures relating to the acceptance fo transfer work and credit for students”as required by S. 1003.25(3), Florida Statutes.

Attachment:  Transfer of Credit Guidelines (pdf) - The TAP provides guidance on the procedures relating to the acceptance of transfer work and credit for students entering Florida’s public high schools. (June 2006)

Memornadum:  Florida Virtual School (FLVS) as School Choice Option (pdf) –clarifies questions regarding access to FLVS cources and transfer of FLVS credits.

Memorandum 2006-76:  Weighting of Dual Enrollment Courses (pdf) –Legislative changes of House Bill 7087 (A++), which  provides information regarding weighting of dual enrollment courses

DPS Memorandum 2006-159: Florida’s Guide to Public High School Graduation 2006-2007- Florida’s Guide to Public High School Graduation contains information for students who are entering grade 9 during the 2006-2007 school year. The 2006 Legislature passed House Bill 7087, which amended Section 1003.429, Florida Statutes. This amendment necessitated the revision to Florida’s Guide to Public High School Graduation 2005-2006 in order to update the legislative requirements for accelerated high school graduation options.

Brochure:  Florida's Guide to Public High School Graduation for 2006-2007 School Year

2005-06 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials

Memo from the Commissioner: Comprehensive Reading Plans and Intensive Reading Courses (pdf) - clarifies the requirement that middle and secondary school students scoring below grade level (Level 1 or 2 on FCAT) receive extended time in intensive reading instruction, but that there is no 90-minute requirement for these students.

2004 Florida Public High School Graduates Feedback Report - The 2004 Florida Public High School Graduates Report provide a comprehensive snapshot of pre-graduation and post-graduation indicators of 2004 graduates’college readiness. The source for this information has been provided by the K-20 Education Data Warehouse and may be used for school improvement analyses and strategic planning.

DPS Memo 05-56: Alternative Assessment Options for Meeting Grade 10 FCAT Graduation Requirements (pdf) - The memo advises that twelfth grade students scheduled to graduate in the 2004-2005 school year who have attained the ACT or SAT scores concordant with the FCAT passing scores provided within the memo shall satisfy the assessment requirement for a standard high school diploma as provided by Florida law [sections 1003.43(5)(a) (General requirements for high school graduation.--) and 003.429(6)(a) (Accelerated high school graduation options.--), Florida Statutes].

Commissioner's Memo: New High School Planner on FACTS.org Student Advising Website (pdf) - Announces the new online e-Personal Education Planner (ePEP) for high school students at FACTS.org, to assist students in mapping out coursework for each year of high school with career and college goals in mind.

Attachment: Highlights activities and materials to promote the new online e-Personal Education Planner (ePEP) (pdf)

DPS Memo 05-129: Florida's Guide To Public High School Graduation (pdf) - Announces the Florida’s Guide to Public High School Graduation for 2005-2006, which provides parents and students with valuable information on high school graduation, acceleration programs, advanced coursework, comparison of high school graduation program options, requirements for state university and community college admission, and requirements for Bright Futures.
Brochures: English (pdf) Spanish (pdf)

DPS Memo 05-08: Forgiveness Policies and Grade Reporting on Student Transcripts (pdf) - This memo provides information related to forgiveness policies and grade reporting on student transcripts.

DPS Memo 05-126: High School Assessment Relating To Three-Year Graduation Programs (pdf) - This memo clarified issues related to high school assessment and three-year graduation programs. Students choosing one of the three-year graduation programs will have five opportunities to earn passing scores on the Grade 10 FCAT beginning with the March administration during their second year in high school.

DPS Memo 05-125: Alternative Assessment Options For Meeting The Grade 10 FCAT Graduation Requirements (pdf) - Memo advising District Superintendents that twelfth grade students scheduled to graduate in the 2005-2006 school year are afforded the opportunity to use the ACT or SAT concordant scores applicable for the 2004-2005 graduates to satisfy the assessment requirement for a standard high school diploma.

DPS Memo 05-89: Diploma Decisions for Students with Disabilities: What Parents Need to Know (pdf) - This memo announced the revised edition of Diploma Decisions for Students with Disabilities: What Parents Need to Know is now available. The revisions in this publication include information about the 3-year programs for standard diplomas and changes related to career education programs, in regards to students with disabilities.

2004-05 Memos and Technical Assistance Materials

DPS Memo 05-072: Technical Assistance Materials Related To The Implementation Of High School Graduation Programs As Amended In CS/SB 364 (pdf)

TAP DOC (pdf): (January 2005) - Provides technical assistance materials related to the 2004 amended 1003.429, F.S. revising the requirements for accelerated high school graduation programs for students who enter the ninth grade in the 2004-2005 school year and thereafter.

Technical Assistance Paper: Technical Assistance Paper Related to Academic Advisement for Middle and High School Students (pdf) (September 2004) - The Technical Assistance Paper clarifies the role of middle and high school counselors in academic and career advisement.

Technical Assistance Paper: Commissioner's Memo, 2004 Legislative Changes Regarding Alternative Assessment Options for Meeting Grade 10 FCAT Graduation Requirement (pdf) - A memo from the Commissioner announces recent legislative changes of Committee Substitute for Senate Bill (CS/SB) 364, which includes the provision of additional opportunities and alternatives for students to meet certain high school graduation requirements. Attachment provides information regarding these changes.

Attachment: Technical Assistance Paper: 2004 Legislative Changes Regarding Alternative Assessment Options for Meeting Grade 10 FCAT Graduation Requirement (pdf) (TAP Date: July 2004)

DPS Memo 04-121, May 26, 2004: 2004 Legislative Changes Regarding High School Graduation Programs (pdf) - The memo provides general information related to the three high school graduation programs provided by amendments passed by the 2004 Legislature .

DPS Memo 04-119, May 14, 2004: Governor Bush Signs Increased Standards for Accelerated High School Graduation (pdf) - The memo announces Governor Bush signing into law the Public K-12 Educational Instruction Bill. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide more information about changes to the accelerated graduation programs.

Commissioner's Memo, May 13, 2004: Legislative Changes Regarding Alternative Assessment Options for Meeting the Grade 10 FCAT Graduation Requirements (pdf)

Brochure: Florida's Guide to Public High School Graduation for 2004-2005 School Year (356 K file size)
English (pdf) Spanish (pdf)

2003-04 High School Graduation Programs Pursuant to Senate Bill 30A

The 2003 Legislature amended several laws related to high school graduation requirements. The purpose of these amendments is to provide students with accelerated high school graduation options, align the number of university admission credits with these accelerated options, and modify the general requirements for high school graduation. Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, high school students will have three options for high school graduation.

DPS Memo 04-015, August 21, 2003: High School Graduation Options - Senate Bill 30A (pdf) - This memo notifies school districts of the Technical Assistance Paper developed by the Department staff, representing the K-20 system, on new legislation related to high school graduation requirements.

Technical Assistance Paper: High School Graduation Programs 2003-2004 (pdf) (August 2003) - This Technical Assistance Paper includes a question and answer section - The 2003 Legislature passed Senate Bill 30A to amend several laws related to high school graduation. These amendments provide students with accelerated high school graduation programs and align the number of university admission credits with these new options.

Presentation: PowerPoint Presentation Florida's New High School Graduation Options (pdf) can be used for staff development for middle and high school counselors.

These charts provide assistance to districts in revising and developing policies and procedures related to promotion and retention.

DPS Memo 04-004, July 7, 2003: Technical Assistance Materials Related to Implementation of Accelerated Graduation Options Defined in Senate Bill 30A (pdf)

Technical Assistance Paper: High School Graduation Options 2003-04 (pdf)
Summary of the legislation, including a question and answer section

Fact Sheet: Graduation Options - Fact Sheet For Districts (pdf)

Program Summary: Summary of Acceleration Programs
for High School Students (pdf)

Sample Letter to Parents: Sample Parent Notification Letter (pdf)

Chart: Chart Outlining the Three Graduation Options (pdf)

Relevant Statutes: Accelerated Graduation Options
Relevant sections of Senate Bill 30A (pdf)
Including Section1003.43, Florida Statutes (pdf)