“It’s a Major Opportunity!”for

Students Entering Ninth Grade in 2007-2008 and after.

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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 choicelearn more about future professions or lifetime

skillsshare a common area of interest with a mentorexplore individual interests

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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 programfine and performing arts, oran academic content area

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Examples of State-Approved Major Areas of Interest

Academy of LawForestryAmerican StudiesWeb design ServicesCollege StudiesDanceForensicsForeign LanguageHealth & SafetyJournalism

Industrial EducationPhotographyPre-MedicinePhysical SciencesTheatre ArtsWorkforce ReadinessWritten

CommunicationTeacher PreparationDental AideElectricity

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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

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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.

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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

PersonnelOffice Support

PersonnelRecreation AssistantTeacher/Classroom

Assistant

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Students and ParentsWhen choosing a MAI, be sure to consider the students’:Academic achievements Individual interests and talentsCareer goalsPostsecondary goals

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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 (

www.florida.access.bridges.com).

In February-March 2007, use FACTS.org to view major areas of interest that are being offered at the high school (www.facts.org).

Identify a MAI and in April and May, identify course(s) that are included in the chosen MAI, which are appropriate for 9th grade and update academic plan. Online resource: www.FACTS.org (electronic Personal Education Planner

[ePEP])

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District/School Major Areas of Interest Selection Process

Middle schools will be working with 7th or 8th 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

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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.

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How is the high school “major area of interest”

different from a college “major”?

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College Majors VS. Major Areas of Interest

College MajorResults in a degree

or certificateMajor 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

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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.

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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

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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 requirementsEarn 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

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Standard Diploma Graduation Requirements

Students are required to obtain a minimum GPA as follows:Four-year, 24-credit standard program - 2.0

GPAThree-year, 18-credit standard college

preparatory program - 3.5 GPAThree-year, 18-credit career preparatory

program - 3.0 GPA

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Florida Four-year, 24-credit Standard Program

16 + 4 + 4 = 24C

ore Classes

MA

I

Total

Other E

lectives

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MCSD Four-year, 26-credit Standard Program

18 + 4 + 4 = 26

Total

MA

I

Other E

lectives

Core C

lasses

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State Graduation Requirements for Students Entering 9th Grade in 2007-2008 or after:16 + 4 + 4 = 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

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Monroe County Graduation Requirements for Students Entering 9th Grade in 2007-2008 or after 18 + 4 + 4 = 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

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Some CSHS MAIsAthletic Trainer Sports Mang. and Marketing

Fine Arts Adv. PlacementEnglish and Journalism HealthcareMultimedia and Information Environmental ScienceCollege Prep Business/Finance AA DegreePre –EngineeringPre - Medicine Culinary ArtsVisual and Performing Arts

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Some KWHS MAIsArts- Visual Arts Acad. Of Inf. TechnologyForeign Languages Adv. PlacementLanguage Arts Health/NursingMathematics AP -ScienceMusic Art - CeramicsROTC Broadcast Comm.Science Business/FinanceSocial Studies College PrepAcad. of Comm. and ArtsMulti- Media Technology

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Some MHS MAIsArts- Visual Arts Acad. Of Inf. TechnologyBldg. Construction Tech Adv. PlacementLanguage Arts Allied Health/Nursing Asst. Mathematics AP -ScienceMusic Art - CeramicsPhysical Education Broadcast Comm.AA Degree Business/FinanceSocial Studies College PrepWeb DesignMulti- Media Technology

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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.

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State University System (SUS)High School Course Requirements (Be sure to double-check to see if courses are SUS approved)

English 4 CreditsMathematics 3 Credits

(Algebra I and higher)Natural Science 3 CreditsSocial Science 3 CreditsForeign Language 2 Credits

(sequential courses in the same language)SUS Approved Electives 3 CreditsTotal 18 Credits

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Academic Planning:

It is very important for students to work with theirguidance counselors, career specialists and teachers inorder to identify and select courses in “major and/or

minorareas of interest” to ensure that university admission

andFlorida Bright Futures Scholarship program

requirementsare met, based on the student’s desired postsecondaryeducation goals.

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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)

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Florida CHOICES

FACTS.org

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CHOICESFlorida’s Career Information Delivery System

AssessInterestsValuesSkills

Explore CareersCollege MajorsPostsecondary

SchoolsScholarships

Plan and DevelopCareer PortfolioResumesJob Interview Skills

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Florida CHOICES Middle School Career Exploration

1. Create a portfolio in CHOICES Planner2. 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 www.FACTS.org? 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)

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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:

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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

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Resources for Parents and Students High School Major Areas of Interest Listings:

www.fldoe.org/APlusPlus/

High School Graduation Requirements:www.fldoe.org/APlusPlus/

FACTS.org: www.FACTS.org

Bright Futures Scholarship Program: www.MyFloridaEducation.com/brfuture1-888-827-2004

Florida CHOICES: www.florida.access.bridges.com

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