Special Meeting/Workshop

1. Convene: 4:10 p.m.
2. Public Comments: None
3. High School Major Areas of Interest
   Minutes: As per Section 1003.428 Florida Statutes beginning with students entering their first year of high school in 2007-2008, each student will be required to identify a major area of interest that includes four of the eight credits that are in addition to the 16 core curriculum credits required to graduate.
   
   Students may revise major areas of interest each year as part of annual course registration processes. The District School Board shall annually approve major areas of interest for the next school year and submit the list of majors to the Commissioner of Education for approval.
   
   Brenda Magee, reviewed the following information: Why are students now required to select a major area of interest for high school; Section 1003.428 Florida Statutes; students entering high school 2007-2008; graduation requirements; what constitutes a major area of interest; four sequential courses in a chosen area of interest to include; what students are impacted; students attending: traditional high schools, charter schools, alternative and special schools; what are the benefits for students; "major area of interest" vs. "college major"; how is the major area of interest determined; when does a student first select a major area of interest; on-going process to allow districts to add or delete approved areas of interest; School Board annually approves the list of major areas of interest each year; process for proposing majors for 2008-2009 will be reopened on August 1st, 2007; Collaboration: School Counseling, Alternative Education, ESE, Career Education, Multicultural, K-12 Curriculum, K-12 Literacy and Charter; first steps in order for students to wisely select their major area of interest; students will receive information about the major areas of interest; students will learn about the 16 National Clusters; students will select a major area of interest as part of the high school registration process; available Current Resources: Career Cruiser, Explorer, Electronic Personalized Educational Planner, Future Resources; what will the required course include; what if a high school does not offer a student's specific area of interest; does a student have to be enrolled in a major area of interest to graduate; does a student have to complete a major area of interest to graduate; and will the diploma of a student who has completed a major area of interest be any different from that of a student who has not.
   
   Board Members discussed: middle school guidance counselor ratios.
   
   
4. Adjourn: 4:40 p.m.