TALLAHASSEE, FL – A new bill introduced by Florida Senator Randy Fine, Senate Bill 1698 (SB 1698), has ignited fierce criticism for its potential to dismantle educational pathways for thousands of high school students who struggle to meet standard diploma requirements. Set to take effect on July 1, 2025, the legislation eliminates critical opportunities previously available through certificates of completion, disproportionately harming students who don’t qualify as having disabilities while raising concerns about the future prospects of those who do. Educators, parents, and advocates are sounding the alarm, warning that the bill could widen educational inequities and leave countless students without viable options for post-secondary success. You can read the bill here.
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Slashing Pathways for Struggling Students
Under current law, students who earn the required 24 credits (or 18 under certain programs) but fail to pass state assessments or maintain a 2.0 GPA can receive a certificate of completion—a credential that acknowledges their efforts and opens doors to further education and career training. SB 1698 obliterates this safety net, stripping these students of any formal recognition unless they are classified as having a disability. Critics argue this move punishes students who excel in coursework but falter under the pressures of standardized testing or GPA thresholds, effectively erasing years of hard work.
“This bill sends a devastating message: if you can’t conquer the test, you don’t count,” said a Central Florida high school teacher who requested anonymity. “These are kids who’ve put in the time and effort, and now they’re being left with nothing to show for it.”
The consequences extend beyond mere recognition. The bill axes provisions allowing students with certificates of completion to take the College Placement Test and enroll in developmental education or credit courses at Florida College System institutions. It also appears to sever their eligibility for certificate career education programs—vocational training opportunities that have long served as a lifeline for students seeking stable employment without a traditional diploma. For many, this could mean the difference between a sustainable career and a future mired in low-wage jobs or unemployment.
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A Dubious Deal for Students with Disabilities
While the bill carves out a certificate of completion pathway for students with disabilities who don’t meet standard diploma requirements, this provision has drawn sharp rebuke. Opponents contend it establishes a two-tiered system that risks stigmatizing these students, branding them with a lesser credential that may limit their opportunities compared to peers with standard diplomas.
“Instead of investing in resources to help students with disabilities achieve a standard diploma, this bill pushes them onto a separate track,” said a special education advocate based in Miami. “It’s a step backward, reinforcing the idea that they’re not capable of meeting the same standards as everyone else.”
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The legislation also ties certificates of completion for students with disabilities to continued access to special education and transition services through age 21. While this may appear supportive, skeptics question whether it’s a genuine lifeline or a mechanism to pigeonhole these students into less ambitious futures. The bill’s focus on “transition-to-work” programs—requiring private schools to offer academic instruction, work skills training, and work experience—has sparked further concern. Without rigorous oversight, these programs could devolve into superficial vocational tracks that fail to equip students for meaningful, long-term employment.
Senator Fine’s Agenda Under Fire
Randy Fine, a Republican senator known for his polarizing education policies, has positioned SB 1698 as a way to refine certification processes and prioritize students with disabilities. However, detractors see a darker motive: a calculated effort to erode support for public education and marginalize vulnerable student populations. Fine’s track record—marked by bills critics say undermine teachers and public schools—fuels suspicions that this legislation is less about student welfare and more about political posturing.
Randy Fine speaking to a small crowd up Republicans in Volusia County campaigning for Congress.
“Senator Fine’s priorities seem to lie anywhere but with the students who need the most help,” said a spokesperson for the Florida Education Association. “This bill fits a pattern of chipping away at public education while offering little in return for those it claims to serve.”
The timing of SB 1698 amplifies these concerns. Florida’s education system is already reeling from debates over standardized testing, teacher retention, and funding shortages. By dismantling pathways like the certificate of completion, the bill could deepen these crises, leaving students who don’t fit a narrow mold of academic success with fewer options and less hope.
A Bleak Future for Florida’s Youth?
The ripple effects of SB 1698 could be profound. Students who once relied on certificates of completion to access college courses or career training may now face dead ends, exacerbating dropout rates and economic disparity. For students with disabilities, the bill’s emphasis on certificates over diplomas risks entrenching lower expectations, while the loss of broader educational opportunities threatens to isolate them further.
Advocates are mobilizing to halt the bill’s passage, calling on lawmakers to preserve the opportunities it seeks to eliminate. “We’re talking about kids’ futures here,” said a parent from Orlando whose child struggles with test anxiety. “They deserve a chance to succeed, not a system that writes them off.”
For this legislative session, SB 1698 stands as a flashpoint in Florida’s ongoing education battles. If enacted, it could mark a grim turning point for students already fighting to overcome systemic barriers—a legacy that critics say Senator Fine may come to regret.
