“It’s a Major Opportunity!” for Students Entering Ninth Grade in and after. 1

It’s a Major Opportunity… (Major Areas of Interest) Why? Students can: take charge of their education pursue in-depth study in an area of their choice learn more about future professions or lifetime skills share a common area of interest with a mentor explore individual interests 2

What is a major area of interest (MAI)? Four (4) credits selected by the student in an area of interest. For example, courses may be in: a career and technical program fine and performing arts, or an academic content area 3

Examples of State-Approved Major Areas of Interest Academy of Law Forestry American Studies Web design Services College Studies Dance Forensics Foreign Language Health & Safety Journalism Industrial Education Photography Pre-Medicine Physical Sciences Theatre Arts Workforce Readiness Written Communication Teacher Preparation Dental Aide Electricity 4

What Major Areas of Interest are Offered in Our School or District? Monroe County School District Coral Shores High School Key West High School Marathon High School Core Disciplines -Examples are Mathematics, Science, Lang. Arts or Social Science, College Prep Career and Technical Education - Examples are Family and Consumer Culinary Operations, Culinary Arts, and Web Design Fine Arts such as Music or Art - Examples are Visual Arts, and Music Education 5

Major Areas of Interest in Exceptional Student Education (ESE) These students will be given the opportunity to participate in major areas of interest that are designated for ALL students. Students working on special diploma standards are not limited to selecting from the ESE major areas of interest list. The decision to enroll a student in an ESE major area of interest is based on the student’s ability level. The student, with guidance from the IEP team when possible, should be actively involved in choosing his/her major area of interest. 6

What MAIs are offered in ESE in our School or district? Monroe County School District Coral Shores High School Key West High School Marathon High School Examples are: Assistant Landscape Technician Child Care Support Personnel Office Support Personnel Recreation Assistant Teacher/Classroom Assistant 7

Students and Parents When choosing a MAI, be sure to consider the students’: Academic achievements Individual interests and talents Career goals Postsecondary goals 8

How Do Students Identify a Major Area of Interest? Discuss their individual interests with parent(s)/guardian(s), guidance counselors, and teachers. Explore their academic and career goals. Use CHOICES to explore occupations and career interests ( In February-March 2007, use FACTS.org to view major areas of interest that are being offered at the high school ( Identify a MAI and in April and May, identify course(s) that are included in the chosen MAI, which are appropriate for 9 th grade and update academic plan. Online resource: (electronic Personal Education Planner [ePEP]) 9

District/School Major Areas of Interest Selection Process Middle schools will be working with 7 th or 8 th graders to identify possible career interest areas and ePEP development High schools will hold orientations at each middle school to assist students with selection of available majors and schedules 10

Note: Students may revise major areas of interest each year as part of the annual course registration process and should update their education plans to reflect such revisions. 11

How is the high school “major area of interest” different from a college “major”? 12

College Majors VS. Major Areas of Interest College Major Results in a degree or certificate Major credits are part of core requirements Completion required to earn a degree Changes generally require extra time in college HS Major Areas of Interest May result in a certification Major area of interest credits are part of electives Completion not required to earn a high school diploma Changes do not require extra time in high school 13

No, the student does not have to complete a major to graduate but does have to be enrolled in a major area of interest each year. 14

Any Exceptions? The program listed below is considered a stand- alone major area of interest. Students enrolled full-time in the following program are not required to enroll in an additional MAI: Accelerated 3-year graduation program 15

What are the graduation options for earning a standard diploma? Florida law requires students to successfully complete: a four-year, minimum of 24-credits standard program, or a three-year, 18-credit standard college preparatory program, or a three-year,18-credit career preparatory program (Three-year programs do not include options for Certificates of Completion or Special Diplomas) 16

Standard Diploma Graduation Requirements Students are required to: Meet minimum course requirements Earn passing scores on the FCAT or scores on a standardized test that are concordant with the passing scores on the FCAT (ACT or SAT) Achieve a specific grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale 17

Standard Diploma Graduation Requirements Students are required to obtain a minimum GPA as follows: Four-year, 24-credit standard program GPA Three-year, 18-credit standard college preparatory program GPA Three-year, 18-credit career preparatory program GPA 18

Florida Four-year, 24-credit Standard Program = 24 Core Classes MAI Total Other Electives 19

MCSD Four-year, 26-credit Standard Program = 26 Total MAI Other Electives Core Classes 20

State Graduation Requirements for Students Entering 9th Grade in or after: = 24  16 core curriculum credits  4 credits in English  4 credits in mathematics (one credit must be in Algebra I or higher)  3 credits in science, two of which must have a laboratory component  3 credits in social studies (1 world history, 1 American history,.5 American government, and.5 economics)  1 credit in fine arts  1 credit in physical education to include the integration of health 21

Monroe County Graduation Requirements for Students Entering 9th Grade in or after = 26  18 core curriculum credits  4 credits in English  4 credits in mathematics (one credit must be in Algebra I or higher)  4 credits in science, two of which must have a laboratory component  4 credits in social studies (1 world history, 1 American history,.5 American government, and.5 economics)  1 credit in fine arts  1 credit in physical education to include the integration of health 22

Some CSHS MAIs Athletic TrainerSports Mang. and Marketing Fine ArtsAdv. Placement English and JournalismHealthcare Multimedia and InformationEnvironmental Science College Prep Business/Finance AA Degree Pre –Engineering Pre - Medicine Culinary Arts Visual and Performing Arts 23

Some KWHS MAIs Arts- Visual ArtsAcad. Of Inf. Technology Foreign LanguagesAdv. Placement Language ArtsHealth/Nursing MathematicsAP -Science MusicArt - Ceramics ROTCBroadcast Comm. ScienceBusiness/Finance Social StudiesCollege Prep Acad. of Comm. and Arts Multi- Media Technology 24

Some MHS MAIs Arts- Visual ArtsAcad. Of Inf. Technology Bldg. Construction TechAdv. Placement Language ArtsAllied Health/Nursing Asst. MathematicsAP -Science MusicArt - Ceramics Physical EducationBroadcast Comm. AA DegreeBusiness/Finance Social Studies College Prep Web Design Multi- Media Technology 25

And 4 Credits in Elective Courses These credits may be combined to allow for: a second major area of interest, a minor area of interest, elective courses, intensive reading or mathematics intervention courses. 26

State University System (SUS) High School Course Requirements (Be sure to double-check to see if courses are SUS approved) English4 Credits Mathematics3 Credits ( Algebra I and higher) Natural Science 3 Credits Social Science3 Credits Foreign Language2 Credits (sequential courses in the same language) SUS Approved Electives3 Credits Total 18 Credits 27

Academic Planning: It is very important for students to work with their guidance counselors, career specialists and teachers in order to identify and select courses in “major and/or minor areas of interest” to ensure that university admission and Florida Bright Futures Scholarship program requirements are met, based on the student’s desired postsecondary education goals. 28

Examples of Smart Course Selection University-bound students might want to look for MAI that includes credits in foreign language since all universities in Florida require a minimum of two foreign language credits for admission Future business owners might want to enroll in a business-related or entrepreneurship-related major area of interest to get them started Future fitness professionals or artists might want to enroll in a major area of interest in the arts or health and fitness to get a real life glimpse at these career areas. (For example College Prep Major) 29

 Florida CHOICES  FACTS.org 30

CHOICES Florida’s Career Information Delivery System Assess Interests Values Skills Explore Careers College Majors Postsecondary Schools Scholarships Plan and Develop Career Portfolio Resumes Job Interview Skills 31

Florida CHOICES Middle School Career Exploration 1. Create a portfolio in CHOICES Planner 2. Complete the Interest Profiler CHOICES will connect interest results to occupations. 3. Explore occupations to determine the ones in which the student is most interested 4. Identify the career clusters that include these occupations 32

What is  Florida’s central web resource for student advising  Helps students plan and track educational progress (high school & college)  Planning (electronic Personal Education Planner [ePEP])  Tracking (High School Academic Evaluations) 33

What is an ePEP?  electronic Personal Education Plan used for all students  Interactive high school planner that lets students map out coursework, based on their goals after high school (college, career/technical training, going directly into the workforce, etc.).  In April, the revised ePEP will allow students to select a major area of interest at their high school and to plan towards the new high school graduation requirements.  ePEPs created prior to April will be automatically converted to the new system. 34

High School Academic Evaluations  See their grades, grade point average and Bright Futures grade point average  Compare their transcripts to requirements for graduation, Bright Futures eligibility and state university admissions Students can track their progress numerous ways using their unique password to: 35

It’s A Major Opportunity… (Major Areas of Interest) For students to: be empowered to take charge of their education and pursue in-depth study in an area they find engaging learn more in areas that they might be considering as future professions or lifetime skills earn additional credit toward college or technical school, or beginning certification in an occupation be mentored, sharing a common area of interest with a teacher pursue special interests to increase their overall academic performance 36

Resources for Parents and Students High School Major Areas of Interest Listings: High School Graduation Requirements: FACTS.org: Bright Futures Scholarship Program: Florida CHOICES: 37