SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 556

Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma
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SPONSOR
Education Pre-K - 12; Berman
FILED BY
Lori Berman — District 26, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/HB 453 — CS/SB 556 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma; Providing that students can substitute marching band experience for physical education and performing fine arts credit requirements for a standard high school diploma; providing that students with disabilities may participate in the Special Olympics to meet the physical education requirement for a standard high school diploma, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Students can substitute marching band or Special Olympics for physical education.

Students may now use two years of marching band to satisfy both the physical education and performing arts credit requirements for a standard high school diploma.

Students with disabilities may participate in the Special Olympics for one school year as a course substitution for the physical education requirement, as determined by their IEP team.

The bill renumbers an existing provision regarding IEP changes, leaving the requirement for parent approval and independent review unchanged.

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

AIAllows students to use two years of marching band to satisfy either the physical education or performing arts credit requirement.

“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 26 →
§ 2 Special Olympics Substitution majors. 1003.4282(8)(b)

AIPermits students with disabilities to substitute one year of 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 67 →
§ 3 IEP Team Determination moderates. 1003.4282(8)(b)

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

“must participate in the Special Olympics for one school year, as determined by the student's IEP team” bill text, line 70 →
§ 4 Renumbering of Graduation Options moderates. 1003.4282(8)(b)

AIRenumbers the existing IEP graduation option from 3 to 4 to accommodate the new Special Olympics provision.

“4. Any change to the high school graduation option specified in the student's IEP must be approved by the parent”
TIMELINE
3/5/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 453 (Ch....
3/5/2026
Substituted CS/HB 453 -SJ 589
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 589
3/2/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/05/26
2/18/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/17/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 24 NAYS 0
2/12/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/17/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/10/2026
Now in Rules
2/10/2026
Favorable by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
2/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Children, Families, and Elder Affairs,...
1/14/2026
CS by Education Pre-K - 12 read 1st time
1/14/2026
Now in Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
1/14/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
CS by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
1/8/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 01/13/26, 1:30 pm, 412...
12/9/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Children, Families, and Elder...
11/18/2025
Filed
12 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1003.4282
+50 / −2
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →