Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education
RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-1.09401: Student Performance Standards
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule amendment is to establish a periodic review and revision cycle for the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. The effect is to ensure that Florida’s curriculum standards remain current and relevant.
SUMMARY: This rule is amended to require that each set of standards be reviewed by an expert group no less than every twelve years. The expert group will make recommendations to the Commissioner and he will then authorize the necessity for any revisions.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1001.02 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.41(2) FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: November 11, 2009, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Palm Beach Community College, Lake Worth Campus, 4200 Congress Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33461
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mary Jane Tappen, Deputy Chancellor for Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1502, Tallahassee, FL 32399

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-1.09401 Student Performance Standards.

(1) Standards to benchmark student achievement serve as guides to best practices for local curriculum designers to help schools implement school improvement strategies to raise student achievement. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, the reading and language arts benchmarked standards for reading and language arts referenced below in paragraph (1)(a), describe what students should know and be able to do at grade level progression. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the mathematics and science benchmarked standards for mathematics and science referenced below in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c), describe what students should know and be able to do at grade level progression from kindergarten to grade 8 and for each of the mathematics content areas of: algebra, calculus, discrete mathematics, financial literacy, geometry, probability, statistics, and trigonometry, and each of the science content areas of: earth and space science, life science, physical science, and nature of science for grades 9-12. Beginning with 2009-2010, the health, physical education, and social studies benchmarked standards describe what students should know and be able to do at ten progression levels (grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-12). The benchmarked standards in paragraphs (1)(e)-(f) of this rule describe what students should know and be able to do at four progression levels (grades Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) in the subjects of the arts and foreign languages. The access points contained in either the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards or the Sunshine State Standards provide access to the general education curriculum for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Public schools shall provide appropriate instruction to assist students in the achievement of these standards or the Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma as appropriate. These standards, benchmarks, and access points are contained in the following publications which and are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this rule.

(a) Sunshine State Standards – Reading and Language Arts, July 2007,

(b) Sunshine State Standards – Mathematics, 2008,

(c) Sunshine State Standards – Science, 2008,

(d) Next Generation Sunshine State Standards – Social Studies, 2009,

(e) Sunshine State Standards – Foreign Languages, 1996,

(f) Sunshine State Standards – The Arts, 1996,

(g) Next Generation Sunshine State Standards – Health, 2009,

(h) Next Generation Sunshine State Standards – Physical Education, 2009, and

(i) Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma, 1999.

Copies of these publications may be obtained from the Division of Public Schools, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines St., Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(2) No less than every twelve (12) years an expert group shall review the standards and make recommendations to the Commissioner for their review and revision. The Commissioner shall determine whether revisions are necessary based on the recommendations.

(3)(2) Each district school board shall incorporate the Sunshine State Standards, Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma, or Next Generation Sunshine State Standards as appropriate for subject areas contained herein into the district Student Progression Plan.

(4)(3) The Sunshine State Standards and Next Generation Sunshine State Standards shall serve as the basis for statewide assessments.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 1001.02 FS. Law Implemented 1001.03, 1003.41 FS. History–New 6-18-96, Amended 9-28-99, 3-1-07, 7-25-07, 11-25-07, 4-14-08, 9-22-08, 2-1-09,________


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Frances Haithcock, Chancellor, Division of Public Schools
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Eric J. Smith, Commissioner of Education
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: September 30, 2009
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: March 13, 2009