This information was produced by the staff of the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development (B-BC) at the University of Iowa (belinblank.org). The resources and information listed here are for informational purposes; there is no direct or implied endorsement by the B-BC. Services provided by the B-BC include programs for academically talented K-12 and college students, professional development for teachers, the Assessment and Counseling Clinic, the Acceleration Institute (accelerationinstitute.org), and graduate programs and research in gifted education.

print Printing

Our pages are formatted to be printer-friendly. Simply click and print.

 Twitter YouTube Facebook WordPress

State Policies in Florida  

Florida does have a state acceleration policy. 

Grade-based Acceleration

Early entrance to kindergartenState policy does not permit. According to 1003.21 "(1)(a) 2 Children who will have attained the age of 5 years on or before September 1 of the school year are eligible for admission to public kindergartens during that school year under rules adopted by the district school board.”
Early entrance to 1st gradeState policy does not permit. 1003.21 states that "Any child who has attained the age of 6 years on or before September 1 of the school year and who has been enrolled in a public school or who has attained the age of 6 years on or before September 1 and has satisfactorily completed the requirements for kindergarten in a private school from which the district school board accepts transfer of academic credit, or who otherwise meets the criteria for admission or transfer in a manner similar to that applicable to other grades, shall progress according to the district’s student progression plan."
Whole-grade accelerationGifted students may be whole-grade accelerated through their educational plan (EP), which is required for all students receiving gifted services in Florida. More information is available in the Accel Program site
Early high school graduationState policy specifically permits. Students participating in the ACCEL program may be permitted to graduate early if they fulfill all requirements. 
Early entrance to collegeIf you know where to find this information, please e-mail us.

Content-based Acceleration

Dual or concurrent enrollment in community college, college, or universityState policy specifically permits dual enrollment for students as young as 6th grade. The University of Miami Summer Scholars Program allows sophomores and juniors in high school to earn college credit over the summer. Florida also offers a variety of options for earning college credit while still in high school, including Florida Atlantic University High School and St Petersburg Collegiate High School
Middle school students permitted dual or concurrent enrollment in high school

State policy specifically permits dual enrollment in middle and high school, and allows students to receive high school credit for courses taken while in middle school.
Advanced Placement®Information about Florida's AP programming can be found here.
Talent SearchFlorida students can participate in the Stetson University HATS Program, which offers the Belin Exceptional Student Talent Search (BESTS) program in conjunction with the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center.
Credit by examination/proficiency-based promotion

State policy specifically permits. Each LEA determines methods of demonstrating proficiency, but the state suggests standardized tests, portfolio & performance assessments, and end-of-course assessments as possible options. Advancement options after proficiency are also determined by LEA, but may include individualized instruction, correspondence course, independent study, dual/concurrent enrollment, cross-grade grouping, cluster grouping, individualized education plans, and internships. State policy specifically allows students to receive graduation credit for demonstrating proficiency.
Other forms of content-based acceleration

Typically left to LEAs to determine. If you know of state-level code, please e-mail us.

Additional Information

Florida Department of Education Gifted Website
Florida Department of Education

The information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including the State of the States in Gifted Education 2020-2021 (a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children), Websites, professional literature, and personal communication. The Acceleration Institute has not verified the accuracy of this information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Furthermore, the appearance of selected programs and/or resources does not imply an endorsement or affiliation. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.