Definition of High School Credit 1003.436(1)(a)(b) F.S.
One high school credit is defined in statute as a minimum of 135 hours of bona fide instruction in a designated course of study, which contains student performance standards. Courses taught in a block must contain a minimum of 120 hours of bona fide instruction in a designated course of study. One high school credit is the equivalent of six (6) semester hours of college credit. One-half credit is defined as one-half of these requirements or three (3) semester hours of college credit.
Credit Acceleration Program 103.4295 F.S.
The Credit Acceleration Program (CAP) is created for the purpose of allowing a student to earn high school credit in courses required for high school graduation through passage of an end-of-course assessment administered under s.1008.22, an Advanced Placement Examination, or a College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Notwithstanding s.1003.436, a school district shall award course credit to a student who is not enrolled in the course, or who has not completed the course, if the student attains a passing score on the corresponding end-of-course assessment, Advanced Placement Examination, or CLEP. The school district shall permit a public school or home education student who is not enrolled in the course, or who has not completed the course, to take the assessment or examination during the regular administration of the assessment or examination.
The requirements and eligibility process are as follows:
- The EOC will be administered only at the times established by the state assessment calendar.
- The score necessary to earn credit will be determined by the state and applied in all situations.
- Only credit (no grade) will be earned by meeting the passing score on the EOC.
- If a student takes the EOC and does not earn credit, the student will not be eligible to apply for further CAP testing for the same course until additional preparation has been documented and evaluated.
Credit System and Grade Averaging for Credit 1003.436(2) F.S.
A student enrolled in a full-year course shall receive one-half credit if the student successfully completes either the first half or the second half of a full-year course but fails to successfully complete the other half of the course and the averaging of the grades obtained in each half would not result in a passing grade. A student enrolled in a full- year course shall receive a full credit, if the student successfully completes either the first half or the second half of a full-year course but fails to successfully complete the other half of the course and the averaging of the grades obtained in each half would result in a passing grade, provided that such additional requirements specified in district school board policies, such as homework, participation, and other indicators of performance, shall be successfully completed by the student.
The two .5 credit term grades stand alone. The only exception is if the student fails one semester but passes the other. In this case, the student could receive one full credit due to yearlong or grade averaging if the grades are passing on a numerical basis. It is the teacher’s responsibility to average the grades if this is the case.
The school district maintains a one-half (.5) credit earned system; full courses will reflect two .5 credit awards. A student enrolled in a full-year course will receive one-half (.5) credit if the student successfully completes either the first or second half of the course but fails the other half and the averaging of the grades obtained in each half would not result in a passing grade. A student enrolled in a full-year course shall receive full credit if the student successfully completes either the first or the second half of a full-year course but fails to successfully complete the other half but the averaging of the numerical grades in each half results in a passing grade. A full-year course of study may be completed in one semester in block classes and in certain dual enrollment classes. Students must meet additional School Board requirements successfully, such as class attendance, and other indicators of performance.
Course Merging for Multiple Credits in a Single Instructional Period
Schools wishing to combine two courses for multiple credit in a single instructional period must submit a request to the Director for Secondary Instructional Services who will analyze the course modifications to ensure that the course requirements and appropriate standards for each course integrated are included in the combination and that the combined course is taught by an instructor with appropriate certifications. Upon review by the Curriculum and Instruction Department, the request to combine courses must be approved by the School Board.
Credit for High School Courses taken prior to Grade 9 1003.436(1) F.S.
High school level courses taken prior to grade 9 may be used to satisfy high school graduation requirements and Florida Bright Futures Award requirements. Middle school students who have taken high school courses may receive grade forgiveness if they have earned a grade or the numerical equivalent of a C, D or F. In such cases, the district forgiveness policy must allow the replacement of the grade with a grade or the numerical equivalent of a C or higher, earned subsequently in the same or comparable course. For a grade of A or B, the course and grade cannot be forgiven, will appear on the student’s high school transcript, and will be used in the calculation of high school grade point average and for Bright Futures.
Students seeking high school credit for courses taken in a private middle school may be granted credit if (1) the private school is listed with the Florida DOE as a private school with a school number and (2) the credit and course grade are reflected on an official transcript from the school. Students with disabilities may qualify for a waiver of the EOC requirement.
College Credit by Examination 1007.27(6) F.S.
College credit by examination is the program through which secondary and postsecondary students generate postsecondary credit based on the receipt of a specified minimum score on nationally standardized general or subject area examinations (AP, IB, AICE). Minimum scores required for an award of credit shall be delineated by the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors in the statewide articulation agreement. There is no guarantee that a college will accept credits earned through this program.
Volunteer and Non-Academic Activity Credit
All high school students participate in the Character Counts! character development program and are encouraged to take part in service learning/community service volunteer opportunities. In addition, extracurricular athletic activities are based on the Victory with Honor character development program.
A student may earn .5 credit in social studies (2104330) and .5 credit elective for Voluntary School Community Service (0500370). A minimum of 100 hours of paid or nonpaid, voluntary community or school service is required for each .5 credit. Any hours accumulated beyond the minimum course requirement may be used for Bright Futures. The school principal (or designee) is responsible for approving specific volunteer activities.
Examples of recommended categories of community service/volunteer hours include:
- service to a governmental agency,
- service to a not-for-profit local, national, or international organization,
- service to a school or school organization,
- service to a religious organization, or
- other as approved by the principal (or designee).
All service/volunteer activities should be documented on the letterhead of the organization and presented to the appropriate person designated at each school. If logging hours for Bright Futures, students must also complete the reflection log found here: Bright Futures Log. As was stated above, the principal (or designee) is responsible for approval of submitted community service/volunteer hours.
There are two classes of community service/volunteer activities: community service and service learning. Both qualify for community service/volunteer hours.
Awarding of New Credit
Students should seek counseling from guidance department personnel prior to pursuing new credit outside of their zoned school. Curriculum is reviewed to ensure course alignment prior to course approval. New credit shall be awarded by a St. Johns County high school for pre-approved high school courses taken in an accredited public, private or virtual school by students provided EOC assessment requirements have been met. For a list of accreditation agencies see http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/private-schools/accreditation.stml. Credits and grades shall be granted at face value when submitted on an official transcript. An official transcript sent by mail or electronically signed by a school administrator, must be on school letterhead, and/or embossed with the school seal. An official transcript must clearly identify the school, the student, course number, date(s) course taken, credit earned and grade in each course. Students who transfer with credits from a private school in which the course title does not correspond with a course title found in the Florida Course Code Directory, will be awarded credit using the appropriate Transfer credit found in the Florida Course Code Directory. An unofficial transcript is one that is hand-delivered by a student or parent/legal guardian, is delivered to a school administrator in an open envelope or is on plain paper.
Dual Enrollment Semester-Long Courses Approved for One Full High School Credit 1003.436(1)(b) F.S.
Certain semester-long dual enrollment courses earn one full high school credit (ENC1101, and ENC1102 for example). A list of dual enrollment courses offered in St. Johns County high schools can be found in the St. Johns County High School Course Catalog at http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/cs/catalogs/. Additional information is available at https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/AcademicList.pdf.
Honors and Advanced Courses of Study 1002.3105 F.S., 1003.4281 F.S.
Each high school offers Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) options: whole-grade and mid-year promotion, subject matter acceleration, virtual instruction in higher grade-level subjects, the Credit Acceleration Program, and early graduation. Specific options and details for each student are available from the school counselor at the school. Each school district shall notify the parent of a student who is eligible to graduate early.
Honors or Advanced Course Definition
The following types of courses are deemed honors or advanced level and are subject to the placement criteria cited:
- preliminary International Baccalaureate (Pre-IB) courses,
- International Baccalaureate (IB) courses,
- International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) courses,
- Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses,
- Dual Enrollment (DE) courses,
- Advanced Placement (AP) courses,
- honors level courses designated in the SJCSD High School Course Catalog, or
- honors level and AP courses offered by St Johns Virtual School or Florida Virtual School that are taken as part of a student’s Customized Learning Path (CLP).
Honors or Advanced Course Placement
- Grades – A grade of C or better in the previous honors course or a grade of A in the previous standard course.
- FAST – Level 4 or 5 in appropriate area and not less than a Level 3 in any area
- on Mathematics FAST for placement in honors mathematics classes
- on Reading FAST for placement in honors English, social studies and science or foreign language
- PSAT – A score of 480 or higher on the appropriate assessment
- Math score for mathematics honors class placement
- Reading and/or language for English, social studies, science, and foreign languages honors class placement
- PLAN – A score of 170 (English), 210 (mathematics) or higher on the appropriate assessment
- Math score for mathematics honors class placement
- Reading and/or language for English, social studies, science, and foreign languages honors class placement
- Norm Referenced Test – Stanine of 7, 8, or 9 on an appropriate assessment
- Math score for mathematics honors class placement
- Reading and/or language for English, social studies, science, and foreign languages honors class placement
Acceleration Mechanisms – Articulated Acceleration 1007.27(1) F.S.
Articulated acceleration will serve either to shorten the length of time necessary for a student to complete the requirements associated with a high school diploma and a postsecondary degree, broaden the scope of curricular options available to students, or to increase the depth of study available for a particular subject. This shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
- Dual Enrollment (DE) courses and early admission,
- Advanced Placement (AP) courses,
- credit by examination
- International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and Preliminary IB courses,
- Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE),
- Credit earned through Florida Virtual School shall provide additional opportunities for early graduation and acceleration.
- credit by examination
Accelerated students who have met graduation requirements may defer graduation and continue to take DE/AP/IB/AICE courses until their cohort year group graduates.
Enrollment in Advanced Placement Courses 1007.27(6) F.S.
Advanced Placement (AP) is the enrollment of an eligible secondary student (virtual or brick and mortar) in an Advanced Placement course administered by the College Board. Students are expected to take an AP exam at the end of each AP course. The student will receive the AP weighted credit regardless of the AP test score. Schools will impose the $99 ($147 for AP seminar or AP Research) exam fee plus the additional $40 unused or canceled exam fee when students who are registered for the examination do not participate. Additionally, fees will be imposed for unused/canceled exams (per College Board policy) by schools if a student drops an AP course at the semester.
If a student only completes one semester of an AP course, they will receive weighted credit for that semester. For example, if a student comes to our district having completed semester 1 of an AP course and then does not continue that course the second semester, they will still receive the .5 credit for the course code and the .5 weighting. The transcript should reflect the courses the student actually sat in each semester; for example, Semester 1-AP, Semester 2 Honors. The two together will satisfy one credit.
AICE, AP, and IB courses are designed to earn college credit as well as meet high school graduation requirements. As such, materials and discussions for these courses may reflect topics not typically included in SJCSD courses. Due to the dual credit nature of these courses, content and materials may not be modified.
Awarding of Advanced Placement Credit
Students who score a minimum of 3 on a 5-point scale may receive college credit. Students who score a 4 or 5 on certain examinations also benefit from course equivalency credit. A course equivalency chart may be found at https://www.floridashines.org/.
Criteria for Placement in the Advanced Scholars Program (ASP)
Advanced Scholars Program students must meet the criteria for honors level course placement.
Criteria for Placement in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Honors Courses and Preliminary International Baccalaureate (Pre IB) Honors Courses
IB and Pre-IB students at Nease High School and Pedro Menendez High School must meet the criteria for honors level course placement, apply and be accepted to the program.
Awarding of Postsecondary Credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Courses
Postsecondary credit for an IB or AICE course may be awarded to students who score at the designated levels on exams offered by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program or Cambridge International Examinations (AICE).
Physical Education Requirement*
Florida statute requires students to take one (1) credit of physical education in high school, which must include the integration of health. This course requirement can be satisfied when students successfully complete Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE), a one-year course. In addition to HOPE, there are various Physical Education courses offered as electives, but none are required for graduation. HOPE does not have to be taken during a student’s ninth grade year but is encouraged.
The only alternative options approved by the State of Florida to meet the one credit Physical Education/HOPE requirement are as follows: **
- Students who participate in an interscholastic sport at the junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons have the option to waive the one-credit requirement for HOPE. This also includes competitive cheerleading in high schools that compete in events sanctioned through the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). A full season is defined as attendance and participation in both the practices and competitive events from the first day allowable by the FHSAA to the elimination of the team from the FHSAA tournament competition. Students who choose to waive the physical education requirement by participating in an interscholastic sport, which includes competitive cheerleading, must complete additional credits in elective courses to meet the 24 credits required by the state for graduation.
- Completion of two full years in a Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant component of which is drills, may satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education/HOPE (HB 7031-2014 page 50). Students using this to satisfy the course are still required to complete 24 credits for the standard ***
*It is important to note that students who choose to waive the HOPE course with participation in athletics, or who choose to satisfy the credit with JROTC will not receive comprehensive Health or Physical Education. Therefore, they will receive little or no exposure to a variety of health concepts. The description of the HOPE course and the associated stated standards are located online at CPALMS at www.cpalms.org.
** There are no waivers for medical reasons. The HOPE course is designed to be adapted to meet students’ individual needs. To ensure students receive proper modifications, physical education teachers should be included in IEP or 504 plan discussions. In the event of a temporary medical concern, the teacher will modify instruction to accommodate the student’s level of ability.
*** The successful completion of two years of JROTC can also be used to satisfy the one-credit graduation requirement for fine and performing arts.
Exemptions from the Physical Education Requirement
- Students enrolled in the high school IB program and who successfully complete the requirements are exempt from the physical education graduation requirement.
- Students enrolled in the high school Cambridge AICE program and who successfully complete the requirements are exempt from the physical education graduation requirement
Transfer Students
Students who transfer from another Florida district or from out of state and who previously met the physical education requirement in their district must provide written documentation. The course code number, 1500990, should be entered by the school registrar and reflected on the student’s transcript.
Course Substitutions and Exemptions 1003.4282
For a complete list of secondary course substitutions, see the FLDOE memo at http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7764/urlt/SSP1718FAQ.pdf.
Students Aged 18 or Older Returning to School and Within One Year of Graduation
Students age 18 or older wishing to return to school after withdrawing may petition for placement. The principal or designee shall review the petition and make the final determination based on the following requirements:
- accumulation of at least 17 credits,
- probable graduation within the academic year and
- agreement setting expectations for attendance, behavior, academic achievement.
Note: The Adult Education Program is recommended for overage students. Florida law does not provide a maximum age and allows districts to set policy in the Student Progression Plan.