Graduating from high school in Florida just got more challenging, thanks to legislation Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law last week.
The far-reaching education measure, Senate Bill 4, adds more required math and science courses and revises testing requirements. It received nearly unanimous support in the state legislature.
The new law will eliminate the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, for high school math and science and replace it with end-of-course exams. The law also will expand the list of courses students must take to graduate. The requirements are to be phased in beginning this coming fall for entering freshmen.