By the time current eighth-graders reach their sophomore year of high school, they’ll be on a different path than any class in recent memory.
They won’t have to pass multiple end-of-course exams (EOCs) to graduate, and they won’t have to take Chemistry, Physics and Algebra II.
Thanks to the Legislature approving a new law, the class of 2017 will be able to pave their own career path in high school and select courses based on their interests and strengths.
“I think this will definitely reduce our dropout rate.” said Alexis Tibbetts, who is the instructional support coordinator for the Walton County School District. “When you have students focused on a path that they are interested in … they go on and complete their degree.”
Under the new law, students will have three diploma designations to choose from: scholar, merit and standard.
The standard diploma path requires students to earn at least a 2.0 GPA, pass the Algebra I EOC, pass the 10th grade reading section of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, take at least one online class and earn 24 credits in required courses.
The merit designation will be awarded to students who earn one or more industry certifications prior to graduation. Students on that path can also choose to substitute an approved technical or career course for a standard math or science class.
School districts still are waiting to hear from the Florida Department of Education on which certifications and replacement classes will be accepted under that plan, according to Bill Emerson, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for Santa Rosa County schools.
Students who chose to pursue the scholar route will follow a model closely related to those in place for current students. Those students will take traditional higher level math and science courses, pass all the EOCs and even earn an industry certification. Those students also must take at least one Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced International Certification of Education or dual enrollment class.
Students pursuing the merit or scholar designations also must meet all the terms set by the standard diploma.
Emerson said the new requirements will enable any high school graduate to go to college, but will not force them to take classes geared for a traditional four-year college path as existing standards do. Instead, they can earn an associate’s degree or further industry certification if it matches more closely with their future plans than a bachelor’s degree.
“I think most students will strive for the scholars (designation),” Emerson said. “But the pressure now is if I can’t, I still graduate.”
Tibbetts said she also sees the flexibility of the new law as a positive, even as it doesn’t change the bottom line for student expectations.
“In high school, you need to take the hardest classes your high school has to offer in your interest,” she said.
School officials said they still are sorting through the finer nuances of the law and waiting to hear from the FDOE on how to approach a lot of the situations before they move forward.
“What we’re trying to do right now is get all the details we can as quickly as we can,” said Steve Horton, the director of high schools in Okaloosa County. “I don’t have any doubt that we’ll be able to provide clear information to parents and students.”
In addition to questions about the courses and certifications, school officials still are waiting to hear what impact, if any, the new law will have on current ninth-graders.
Right now, the class of 2016 is the only one required to pass EOCs in Algebra, Geometry and Biology in order to graduate. Sophomores, juniors and seniors have slightly different requirements as well.
“This has placed (guidance counselors) in a real tough place,” Emerson said of the constant changes to graduation requirements.
The issue has been acknowledged on the state level, but no decisions have been announced. State officials confirmed they are sorting through the law and will provide more information in the coming weeks and months.
Until then, school officials said they will continue to prepare for the new standards and ready themselves to answer questions for incoming freshmen and their families.
“As long as we can stick with this set of standards for a period of time, I think we’ll be fine,” Horton said.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.