High school acceleration programs provide students significant benefits such as helping high school students prepare for college-level work while earning college credit towards a postsecondary credential. Students who participate in an acceleration program are more likely to have higher GPAs in college, attempt and complete more credit hours. Additionally, students in acceleration programs are more likely to graduate high school, continue on to college and earn a college degree on time. Because high school students enrolled in an acceleration program are exempt from paying registration, tuition, lab, and exam fees related to the cost of college attendance is reduced before a student leaves high school.
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program helps academically prepared students undertake college-level coursework. AP courses offer students the opportunity to earn college credit, placement or both while still in high school—saving them time and money in college. There are 38 AP courses in disciplines such as the arts, English, history, and social science, and math and computer sciences. Students who successfully pass their AP course exams can earn college credits before finishing high school. Students can use a searchable database to view institutions' AP credit policies. In Florida, students are recommended for college credits if they receive a specific score specific score on the corresponding accelerated course exam.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Progamme is open to high school students at authorized schools and consists of six subject groups and IB core elements. The subject group consists of language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts. IB core elements are: Theory of Knowledge, an extended essay—an independent, self-directed piece of research, and a project related to creativity, activity, and service. Students earn an Advanced International Certificate of Education diploma if they earn enough points on each IB assessment. The program is promoted and supported by the Florida League of International Baccalaureate World Schools. The organization supports the state's IB-authorized schools by promoting program expansion, offering teacher and administrative training, and advocating to local and state government officials.
The Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Program is an international high school curriculum and examination system requiring proficiency from different subject groups. The AICE diploma consists of a broad curriculum, balancing math, science, languages, arts, and humanities, and interdisciplinary subjects (optional). To earn a diploma, students are required to attain seven credits in math and science, languages, and arts and humanities. There is the option to study interdisciplinary subjects. A Level curriculum typically consists of a two-year course of study while the AS Level is generally one year. A and AS Level exam series are administered twice a year, in June and November. Depending on the student’s score, diplomas may be awarded with distinction, with merit, or at pass level. Those who do not meet requirements for a group award will receive certificates for their subjects.
Florida's Dual Enrollmentallows high school students in grades 6-12, including home education and private school students and students with disabilities, to enroll in college courses and earn credit toward their high school diploma, career certificate, an industry certification, an associate or bachelor’s degree at a Florida public technical center, college or university or an eligible private postsecondary institution.
Early Admission Early Admission is a form of dual enrollment through which high school students enroll in college or career courses on a full-time basis while earning high school and college or career credits upon course completion. Career Early Admission is another type of dual enrollment that allows eligible secondary students to enroll full-time at a technical career center or a Florida College System institution in postsecondary programs leading to an industry certification, as listed in the Career and Professional Education (CAPE) Postsecondary Industry Certification Funding List. Participation in the Career Early Admission program is limited to students who have completed a minimum of four (4) semesters of full-time secondary enrollment.
Eligibility requirements for students enrolling in dual enrollment courses include:
The Florida Department of Education’s Dual Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions document provides additional details about the program.
Florida law exempts dual enrollment or early admission students from paying tuition and fees at workforce education programs, Florida College System institutions or state universities. Section 1007.271, Florida Statutes, requires school districts to pay the standard tuition rate per credit hour for dual enrollment students who take courses on the college or university campus. When a dual enrollment course is provided on the high school site by the postsecondary institution faculty, the school district must reimburse the college or university the costs associated with the proportion of salary and benefits of that faculty member and other actual costs of the postsecondary institution to provide the instruction. When a dual enrollment course is provided on a high school site by high school faculty, the school district is not responsible for payment to a postsecondary institution. Also, subject to the General Appropriations Act, public postsecondary institutions receive an amount of funding equivalent to the standard rate of tuition per credit hour for each dual enrollment course taken by a student in the summer term. A private school articulation agreement must include a provision tuition and fees, including registration, and laboratory fees, will not be passed along to the student.
Sections 1007.01 and 1007.27, Florida Statutes, requires the Department of Education to annually identify minimum passing scores, maximum credit awarded and recommended course equivalencies for the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced International Certificate of Education Program (AICE), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Excelsior College, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), and Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT). Florida's public colleges and universities must award credit, at a minimum, in accordance with the exam equivalencies determined by the Department of Education. If a student achieves the score listed on an AP, IB, AICE, CLEP, Excelsior College, DSST, or DLPT exam, state colleges and universities must award the minimum recommended credit for the course or course numbers listed. The Florida Legislature encourages District School Boards to declare a College and Career Decision Day to recognize students pursuing advanced pathways in postsecondary education and career training.
Secondary Education. The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-39, Laws of Florida, which requires the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors to identify Florida College System institutions and state universities to develop secondary education level courses that align with requirements for postsecondary programs such as career courses, general education courses, and degree prerequisites. Assessments for these courses will measure required competencies identified by the Department of Education. Students must achieve a minimum score before postsecondary credit is awarded.
The State Board of Education and Board of Governors must also provide training and professional development to secondary education teachers to prepare students for AP and postsecondary coursework. Training and professional development will include areas such as content knowledge and instructional skills for AP or other advanced courses; preparing for college entrance exams; developing ways to incorporate Florida College System institutions in preparing all students for postsecondary success and preparing students for postsecondary level coursework.
The department, in consultation with the Board of Governors, will provide a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2024, on the alignment between acceleration mechanisms available to secondary students and student success at the postsecondary level. At minimum, the report must explain how:
This law also requires that the department approve any course for inclusion in the dual enrollment program that is age and developmentally appropriate and included in the statewide numbering system.
| Career Statewide Articulation Agreements, Report 23-10, November 2023 |
Other Reports
Florida Counseling for Future Education Handbook, Florida Department of Education
Comparison of Florida's Articulated Acceleration Programs, Florida Department of Education
Annual Review, International Baccalaureate Organization
Assessing College-Credit-in-High-School Programs as On-Ramps to Postsecondary Career Pathways for Underrepresented Students, Community College Research Center
How Can Community Colleges Afford to Offer Dual Enrollment College Courses to High School Students at a Discount?, Community College Research Center
The Impact of Dual Enrollment on College Application Choice and Admission Success, Community College Research Center
Websites of Interest
College Board, AP Data and Reports
College Board, CLEP
College Board, Research
Florida Department of Education, Articulation
International Baccalaureate Organization
University of Cambridge, Advanced International Certificate of Education
Performance Information