HB 7071 – Relating to High School Graduation Requirements

On Thursday, May 2, HB 7071, sponsored by the House Education and Career Readiness Subcommittee, was read a third time on the House floor and passed with a vote of 113 yeas and 0 nays.

This bill promotes career education and readiness opportunities for students in public schools by creating an alternative pathway, namely the career and technical education (CTE) graduation pathway option, for students to earn a standard high school diploma, and specifies related requirements. Specifically, the bill: 

• Requires students to successfully complete at least 18 credits to receive a standard high school diploma under the CTE graduation pathway option;
• Allows computer science credit substitution for mathematics or science credits;
• Revises school grade calculation for high schools by specifying that dual enrollment courses include career clock-hour dual enrollment courses;
• Creates the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program to enable high school and Florida College System institutions to offer applied learning opportunities for students in high-demand career pathways linked to occupations that will provide students with mid-level and high-level wages; 
• Requires district school boards to declare a “College and Career Decision Day” to recognize high school seniors and encourage them to prepare for college and pursue advanced career pathways. 
  
  

Additionally, current law requires financial literacy to be taught as a part of a one-half credit economics course, which falls under the three required social studies credits a student must achieve to earn a standard high school diploma. The bill maintains the number of social studies credits needed to earn a standard high school diploma at three credits and in the 2019-2020 school year; all districts must include financial literacy as at least a one-half credit elective course.

HB 7071 will now go to the Governor.

AIF supports efforts to grow the talent pipeline to maintain the competitive edge Florida businesses have come to expect in the state while giving students tools to learn about relevant, and real life subjects that will prepare them for the workforce in the future.