Graduation Requirements – Florida Department of Education
Florida students entering grade nine may choose from one of five options to earn a standard diploma. They are:
- A 24-credit program*
- An 18-credit, Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) option
Florida’s public high school graduation requirements are specified in:
- Section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes (F.S.), Requirements for a standard high school diploma
- Section 1002.3105, F.S., Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) options
*In addition to the options available for students to earn a standard diploma listed above, Rule 6A-1.09963, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), High School Graduation Requirements for Students with Disabilities, outlines two additional options that students with disabilities may complete. These include:
- Specific requirements for students with disabilities for whom the individual educational plan (IEP) has determined that participation in the Florida Alternate Assessment is the most appropriate measure of the student’s skills and instruction in the access points is the most appropriate means of providing the student access to the general curriculum.
- Specific requirements for a standard diploma for students with disabilities for whom the IEP team has determined that mastery of both academic and employment competencies is the most appropriate way for the student to demonstrate his or her skills.
For additional information on exceptional student education programs, visit the Bureau of Exceptional Student Education web page.