SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-70

No. CS/HB 453

Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma
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SPONSOR
Student Academic Success Subcommittee; Gossett-Seidman
FILED BY
Peggy Gossett-Seidman — District 91, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma; Provides that completion of 2 years of marching band satisfies both physical education & performing arts requirements for standard high school diploma & that students with disabilities may participate in Special Olympics to meet physical education requirement for standard high school diploma.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Marching band now counts for both PE and performing arts credits.

High school marching band members can now use two years of band to satisfy both the physical education and performing arts diploma requirements, rather than choosing one or the other.

Students with disabilities may substitute Special Olympics participation for the physical education requirement, provided their IEP team determines this is appropriate for one school year.

Any change to a student's high school graduation option specified in their IEP must be approved by the parent and verified by an independent reviewer selected by the parent.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Marching Band Credit majors. 1003.4282(3)(f)

AIAllows students to count two years of marching band toward both physical education and performing arts requirements.

“Completion of 2 years of marching band shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education and the one- credit requirement in performing arts.” bill text, line 27 →
§ 2 Special Olympics Option majors. 1003.4282(8)(b)

AIPermits students with disabilities to substitute Special Olympics participation for the physical education requirement.

“A student with a disability may participate in the Special Olympics as a course substitution for the physical education requirement” bill text, line 68 →
§ 3 IEP Team Determination moderates. 1003.4282(8)(b)

AIRequires the student's IEP team to determine the duration of Special Olympics participation.

“must participate in the Special Olympics for one school year, as determined by the student's IEP team” bill text, line 71 →
§ 4 Parental Approval for Changes moderates. 1003.4282(8)(b)

AIMandates parent approval and independent review for any changes to the high school graduation option in an IEP.

“Any change to the high school graduation option specified in the student's IEP must be approved by the parent” bill text, line 105 →
TIMELINE
5/12/2026
Chapter No. 2026-70 ; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1279...
5/11/2026
Approved by Governor
4/30/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/5/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 -SJ 589
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 589
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 589
3/5/2026
Substituted for CS/SB 556 -SJ 589
3/5/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/5/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 589
2/10/2026
Received
2/9/2026
Referred to Rules
2/4/2026
In Messages
2/4/2026
CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
2/4/2026
Read 3rd time
2/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
Read 2nd time
1/29/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
1/22/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/22/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/22/2026
Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
1/22/2026
Favorable by Education & Employment Committee
1/20/2026
Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
1/16/2026
Now in Education & Employment Committee
1/16/2026
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
1/15/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/14/2026
CS Filed
1/14/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/14/2026
Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/13/2026
Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/9/2026
Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda
11/24/2025
Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to Education & Employment Committee
11/24/2025
Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee
11/18/2025
Filed
31 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1003.4282
+49 / −1
STAFF ANALYSES