The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Education
BILL: SB 522
INTRODUCER: Senator Bradley
SUBJECT: Full-time Equivalent Student Membership for International General Certificate of
Secondary Education Students
DATE: November 29, 2021
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Palazesi Bouck ED Pre-meeting
2. AED
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 522 provides for bonus funding to schools and districts who have students who are enrolled
in an International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE) course and who pass
the corresponding subject examinations.
The bill does not have an impact on state revenues or expenditures. School districts that offer
pre-AICE courses and examinations may earn additional bonus funding.
This bill takes effect July 1, 2022.
II. Present Situation:
Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE)
Successful completion of an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE)
curriculum
1
is one option for a student to graduate from high school in Florida with a standard
high school diploma.
2
The Cambridge AICE Diploma is a certificate that requires learners to
study a compulsory core subject with specified Cambridge subjects drawn from the three
curriculum areas: mathematics and science (Group 1); languages (Group 2); and arts and
humanities (Group 3). There is also the option to study interdisciplinary subjects (Group 4). In
1
Cambridge International AS and A Level qualifications offer a choice of 55 subjects, which schools can offer in almost any
combination. An AS Level course typically lasts one academic year; an A Level course typically takes two years. Cambridge
Assessment International Assessment, Curriculum, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-
qualifications/cambridge-advanced/cambridge-international-as-and-a-levels/curriculum/ (last visited Nov. 17, 2021).
2
Section 1003.4282(1)(a), F.S.
REVISED: BILL: SB 522 Page 2
order to achieve the Cambridge AICE Diploma, learners must achieve a minimum of seven
credits, with at least one credit from Groups 1, 2, and 3.
3
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE)
Prior to enrolling in Cambridge AICE courses, a student can enroll in Cambridge IGCSE, the
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE).
4
Over 100 pre-AICE
courses are offered in the United States, as well as internationally, in six subject groups:
5
Creative and Professional;
English language and literature;
Humanities and social sciences;
Languages;
Mathematics; and
Sciences.
Students enrolled in certain pre-AICE courses, like Spanish or Cambridge pre-AICE
Mathematics, take several courses prior to taking the course examination, meaning the course
sequence could extend beyond one year before the student sits for the examination. Cambridge
pre-AICE examination sessions occur twice a year in June and in November.
6
The pre-AICE exams are graded on an A*- G grading scale, whereas AICE exams are graded on
an A*-E
7
grading scale. Although the pre-AICE exams and AICE exams have different grading
scales, the exam grades, for the most part, correspond to the same letter grades.
8
For both the
pre-AICE and AICE exams, a score of “E” or higher is consider “passing” as it corresponds with
a United States (U.S.) letter grade of “C” or higher. For the pre-AICE exam, scores of “F,” “G”,
and “U” correspond to a U.S. letter grade of D+, D, and F respectively
9
. For AICE exams,
students can also earn a score of “U” which corresponds to a U.S. letter grade of “F” similar to
the pre-AICE exams.
10
3
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge AICE Diploma qualification,
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-advanced/cambridge-aice-
diploma/qualification/ (last visited Nov. 17, 2021).
4
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge IGCSE, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-
and-qualifications/cambridge-upper-secondary/cambridge-igcse/ (last visited Nov. 17, 2021).
5
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge IGCSE subjects,
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-upper-secondary/cambridge-
igcse/subjects/# (last visited Nov. 18, 2021).
6
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge IGCSE qualification,
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-upper-secondary/cambridge-
igcse/qualification/ (last visited Nov. 17, 2021).
7
Email, Sherry Reach, Cambridge Assessment International Education (Nov. 22, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee
on Education).
8
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Guide to Cambridge courses and exams for US higher education,
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/usa/higher-ed/guide-to-cambridge/ (last visited Nov. 22, 2021).
9
Email, Sherry Reach, Cambridge Assessment International Education (Nov 22, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee on
Education). The passing score of “E’ for pre-AICE exams corresponds with the score needed on AICE exams to count for
postsecondary credit under Florida’s statewide articulation agreement.
10
Email, Sherry Reach, Cambridge Assessment International Education (Nov 22, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee
on Education). BILL: SB 522 Page 3
Pre-AICE exam
11
AICE exam U.S. letter grade
A* A* A+
A A A
B B B+
C C B
D D C+
E E C
F D+
G D
U U F
AICE and pre-AICE in Florida
The AICE program is one of a number of articulated acceleration programs, which are intended
to shorten the time necessary for a student to earn a high school diploma and a postsecondary
degree, broaden the scope of curricular options available, or increase the depth of study available
for a particular subject.
12
The law provides the following benefits to schools and students
engaged in the AICE program:
Successful completion of a course examination qualifies for college credit.
13
The percentage of a school’s students eligible to earn college credit favorably affects the
school’s grade.
14
A grade earned in AICE or pre-AICE is assigned additional weight for determining student
eligibility for a Bright Futures scholarship.
15
A student who earns an AICE Diploma is not required to achieve a score on a college
entrance exam to qualify for a Bright Futures scholarship.
16
Classroom teachers and school districts receive funding incentives based on the performance
of each student in AICE examinations.
17
In spring 2021, 36 pre-AICE course were offered by Florida School districts with a total
enrollment of 52,764 in the 36 different pre-AICE courses.
18
In the 2019-2020 school year, there
were 668 pre-AICE exams administered in Florida, 440 earned a grade of E or higher.
19
11
Email, Sherry Reach, Cambridge Assessment International Education (Nov 22, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee
on Education).
12
Section 1007.27(1), F.S. Accelerated mechanisms include, but are not limited to, dual enrollment and early admission,
advanced placement (AP), credit by examination, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, and the Advanced
International Certificate of Education (AICE) Program.
13
Section 1003.4295, F.S.
14
Section 1008.34(3)(b)2.b., F.S.
15
Section 1009.531(3)(a), F.S.
16
Florida Department of Education, 2021-22 Bright Futures Student Handbook, at 5,
https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/BFHandbookChapter1.pdf (last visited Nov. 22, 2021)
17
Section 1011.62(1)(m), F.S.
18
Florida Department of Education, Course Enrollment State Report, Survey 3, 2020-2021,
https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/data-sys/edu-info-accountability-services/pk-12-public-school-data-pubs-
reports/students.stml. The total enrollment is not an individual student count enrolled in Pre-AICE courses. (Last visited
11/17/2021).
19
Email, Sherry Reach, Cambridge Assessment International Education (Nov 22, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee
on Education).Many schools offer the IGCSE curriculum to develop the skills and content mastery required for future AICE
courses without administering the IGCSE exams. BILL: SB 522 Page 4
Funds for the Operations of Schools – AICE and Pre-AICE Incentive Funding
The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) provides a funding incentive for school districts
with students in AICE courses who successfully complete AICE examinations or earn an AICE
diploma.
20
A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent (FTE) student membership is calculated for each
student enrolled in a full-credit AICE course who receives a score of E or higher, and 0.08 FTE
student membership for each student enrolled in a half-credit AICE course who receives a score
of E or higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 FTE student membership is calculated
for each student who receives an AICE diploma.
21
Additionally, school districts are required to distribute to each classroom teacher who provided
AICE or pre-AICE instruction:
22
A bonus of $50 for each student taught by the AICE teacher in each full-credit AICE course
who receives a score of “E” or higher on the AICE exam. For pre-AICE teachers a $25 bonus
for each student taught by the pre-AICE teacher in each pre-AICE course, who receives a
score of “E” or higher on the pre-AICE examination.
An additional bonus of $500 is allotted to each AICE teacher in a school designated with a
grade of “D” or “F” who has at least one student scoring “E” or higher on the full-credit
AICE examination, regardless of the number of classes taught or number of such students.
An additional $250 to each pre-AICE teacher in school designated with a school grade of
“D” or “F” who has at least one student scoring “E” or higher on the pre-AICE examination
in that class.
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
SB 522 requires that a value of 0.08 full-time equivalent be calculated for each student enrolled
in an International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE) course and who
receives a score of “E” or higher on the corresponding pre-AICE subject examination. The
additional incentive funding for successful completion of pre-AICE examinations may lead to
more schools and districts expanding pre-AICE and AICE opportunities for students and increase
the number of students participating in AICE programs and earning an AICE high school
diploma.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2022.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
20
See 1011.62, F.S. Florida also provides incentive funds for dual enrollment, exploratory career education, the International
Baccalaureate Program, advanced placement courses, and career-themed courses, among others.
21
Section 1011.62(1)(m), F.S.
22
Id. BILL: SB 522 Page 5
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill does not have an impact on state revenues or expenditures. School districts that
offer International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE) courses and
examinations may receive bonus funding for students who successfully complete pre-
AICE subject examinations.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 1011.62 of the Florida Statutes. BILL: SB 522 Page 6
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.