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What are middle school points?
Points are like credits but only for junior high
grades 6th – 8th.
6th grade students start earning points in
academic subjects
Subjects that earn points are:
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Language Arts
Math
Science
Social studies
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Students need to earn:
4 points in 6th
4 points in 7th
4 points in 8th
Total Points needed to earn in order to enter 9th
grade is 12points (no exceptions).
If a student fails to earn these 12 points, he/she
may take some Freshman classes, but will still be
considered an 8th grader and thusly not eligible for
sports
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A grade of a 60 or higher for the year will earn 1
point
Students should 4 points each middle school year
Totaling 12 at the end of 8th grade (3 points in
each academic subject).
3 in Language Arts
3 in Math
3 in Science
3 in Social Studies
Then student will go on to high school to earn
credits towards graduation
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At the end of a school year, if a student fails to
earn more than 2 points, then he/she will be
retained. Student will have to repeat the grade.
If a student earns more than 2 points but less then
the required 4 then that student can make up the
points by attending summer school (if available)
through the ed-options program and Twenty-first
century after school program (The student will
remain in the same grade on paper until the points
are made up and then changed at the nearest
semester).
Currently students who need to make up points
from previous year are making them up through
the ed-options program during an elective period
(this may not be an option next year).
This elective period class is currently called
research.
Here students work in the ed-options program
which is done through the computer. They are
also required to learn and practice research
strategies.
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What do we do to prepare middle school students
for High School and College?
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Through 7th and 8th grade social studies classes
and Language Art classes students will learn about
careers through several resources.
The Florida Department of Education website
There you will find a link to CHOICES which is a career
planning website to help junior high students develop their
career interests and develop a desire to plan their college or
vocational career.
Parents can log in with their student and see what they have
done and monitor their child’s progress on career interest
tools.
Any adult can log into the website and do a career search or
interest inventory and see what careers line up with their
likes and dislikes.
www.flchoices.org
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The Career Cruiser is a career exploration resource
used to promote career development for students.
It provides self-assessment activities to assist
students in thinking about the relationship
between personal interests and career goals.
Charts display sample occupations in 16 career
clusters. Occupational descriptions, average
earnings, and minimum educational level required
for the job are also listed.
Look for this coming to your students in the spring
for all 7th and 8th graders,
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Florida CHOICES (www.flchoices.org) is the state
career information delivery system. It provides career
and educational exploration and information. Florida
CHOICES includes assessments for interests,
aptitudes, skills, and values. Accountability reports
for management of student usage are retrievable from
the Professional Tools section of CHOICES. Educator
and Parent Resource materials are also included.
Florida CHOICES is available at no charge to all
Floridians.
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Log in page for choices website
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Students can explore their interests and possible
careers using Florida CHOICES, which can be also
be accessed from www.facts.org.
Details in hundreds of careers are provided,
including day-to-day task, the outlook for specific
careers in Florida, salary information, and the
level of education required. This information can
be used to help students set initial career goals.
FACTS.org Creating an ePEP with Middle School
Students
 All 8th graders will create and complete the
electronic educational planning tool in the spring
of 2011. Each student will bring their ePEP for
parent review and approval.
OBJECTIVE
 Using FACTS.org students will create an electronic
Personal Education Plan (ePEP) for high school.
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The ePEP is an interactive online planner that
enables students to map out coursework for each
year of high school. Students choose from school
specific course options, based on their goals after
high school graduation, such as admission to a
university or college, attending a career technical
center, or go directly into the workforce.
Students will receive adult assistance from
counselor in the planning process.
The Student, Parent(s) and counselor must sign a
printed copy of the ePEP. Students will bring copy
home to parents for review and approval.
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All Middle school students are required to
complete a Career and Education Planning course
in order to be promoted to 9th grade. The course
can be taken in 8th grade and integrated through
another approved course like social studies.
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The intention of the course is to provide students
with the information they need to start planning
for their future in a meaningful way, and to help
them recognize that high school courses have
relevance for their future education and career
plans.
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During the course, students will use the electronic
Personal Education Planner (ePEP) on FACTS.org
to create a plan for high school. This is normally
done towards the end of the course.
Students at any level can create an account, build
an ePEP, and/or access High School Academic
Evaluations.
ePEP is planning tool and NOT a registration
device. It does not check for sequencing or errors.
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Middle school can be a rough time for students.
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Student going through puberty can experience
emotional roller coasters so living with one can be
full of ups and downs.
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Drama, Drama, Drama
Remember though
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◦ “Human spirits are nurtured by praise, as much as a
seedling is nurtured by the soil, the water and the sun.”
◦ * Mario Fernandez*
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Keep home a safe haven as much as you can.
Try not to let their moods run the house.
Do not count on teenagers to always use good
judgment or see the consequences of their actions.
Teens need and expect a curfew.
Make sure you know where your teenager is after
school, in evenings, and on the weekends.
Know your child’s friends (Be friends with them
on face book )
Give teens all the responsibility they can handle.
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Be a good example of what you want your teenager
to learn
Strive for connection even more than
communication.
Heighten your listening skills because
communication is likely to change.
Expect indirect communication.
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Sue Blaney, President, Change works Publishing &
Consulting
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www.PleaseStoptheRollercoaster.com
www.ParentingTeenagers.net
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