FloridaFlorida students can count marching band toward graduation credits
Since July 1, 2026, Florida students may count marching band toward graduation credits, and students with disabilities may use a year of Special Olympics for physical education.
What it does
Students who complete two years of marching band can count it toward physical education and may count it toward performing arts.
A student with a disability may use one school year of Special Olympics participation to meet the physical education requirement, for the period set by the student's IEP team.
Argument forStudents who take part in marching band, and some students with disabilities who take part in Special Olympics, could use that activity toward graduation requirements.
Argument againstA student with a disability may find the Special Olympics option hard to use if they cannot participate for the full school year set by their IEP team.
More detail
Two years of marching band count toward the physical education credit and may count toward the performing arts credit. This applies to students seeking a standard high school diploma. Marching band cannot count toward the personal fitness requirement or adaptive physical education required by an IEP or 504 plan. These provisions took effect July 1, 2026.
A student with a disability may use Special Olympics participation instead of the physical education requirement. This option applies to a student with a disability seeking a standard high school diploma. The student's IEP team determines the one-school-year participation period. This provision took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Chapter No. 2026-70; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1279 (Ch. 2026-59)Latest
- May 11Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Apr 30Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 5Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5In Messages
- Mar 5CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 5Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 5Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 5Substituted for CS/SB 556
- Mar 5Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 5Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Feb 10ReceivedMinor
- Feb 9Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 4In Messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 4CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0Passed House
- Feb 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 4Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 4Read 2nd timeMinor
- Jan 29Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/4/2026)
- Jan 22Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Education & Employment Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22Bill released to House Calendar
- Jan 22Reported out of Education & Employment Committee
- Jan 22Favorable by Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 20Added to Education & Employment Committee agenda
- Jan 16Now in Education & Employment Committee
- Jan 16Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Jan 151st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 14CS FiledMinor
- Jan 14Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 14Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Student Academic Success Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 13Favorable with CS by Student Academic Success SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 9Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda
- 2025
- Nov 24Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
- Nov 24Referred to Education & Employment CommitteeMinor
- Nov 24Referred to Student Academic Success SubcommitteeMinor
- Nov 18FiledIntroduced
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