The curriculum, assessment, and instruction system of Pasco County Schools is aligned with the Florida state education goals, performance standards as defined by the Florida Department of Education. Each school will offer courses of study and instruction that reflect the appropriate Florida Standards in K–12 language arts, reading, mathematics, science, social studies, fine and performing arts, physical education, health, and world languages. Instruction will address the skills and competencies that a student must master in order to graduate from high school. Below is a link to helpful curriculum guides for families.

K-5 Curriculum Guides

Kindergarten/First Year Primary Legal Requirements*

Students must be five years of age on or before September 1st of the school year (F.S. 1003.21). Parents/Guardians must have adequate documentation of the following:

• Birth certificate or other proof of birthdate
• Three proofs of residency such as deed or lease agreement and current utility bill (I.e. water, electric, etc.) and supporting documentation (driver’s license, Florida ID card, voter’s registration, or passport)
• HRS Certificate of Immunization
• Health examination completed within the last twelve months
• Affidavit of Residence Form for families that do not have a permanent residence at time of enrollment, when applicable

A student who turns five after September 1 may not receive a Florida Department of Education wavier to enter Kindergarten early.

For more information on placement in higher grade levels or placement information for transfer students click here to review the Student Progression Plan.

Students are required to participate in 150 minutes each week of physical education in grades K-5 (F.S. 1003.455). The physical education requirement shall be waived for a student in grades K-5 who meets one of the following criteria:

• The student is enrolled or required to enroll in a remedial course. This may apply to all students at a lowest 300 school site.

The student’s parent indicates in writing to the school that:

• The student enrolls in another course from among those offered as options by the school district; or
• The student is participating in physical activities outside the school day which are equal to or in excess of the mandated requirement.

Pasco County Schools shall provide at least 100 minutes of supervised, safe, and unstructured free-play recess each week for students in kindergarten through grade 5 so that there are at least 20 consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day.

Elementary School PE Waiver

State and District Identified Levels of Performance

A student’s growth toward the accomplishment of state and district identified minimum levels of performance in English Language Arts, science, mathematics and social studies shall be the primary consideration in promotion/retention decisions. Student progression decisions consider the effectiveness of core instruction and the student’s response to evidence-based instruction/interventions implemented with fidelity.

Fourth Grade Promotion [F.S. 1008.25]:

With the goal of every student reading on grade level by the end of third-grade, Florida law specifies reading requirements for third-grade students and promotion to fourth grade. To be promoted to grade 4, a student must score a Level 2 or higher on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment required under section 1008.22, F.S. , for grade 3. If a student’s reading deficiency is not remedied by the end of grade 3, as demonstrated by scoring Level 2 or higher on the grade 3 statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment required undersection 1008.22, F.S. , the student must be retained. The district school board may only exempt students from mandatory retention, as provided in paragraph (5)(b), if they meet one of the six good cause exemptions.

For more information on promotion and the good cause exemption process, click here to review the Student Progression Plan.

Explanation for Reporting Primary (K-2) Student Progress

All academic areas will be graded as:

 Social growth/behavior, work habits and Motor Development will be graded as:

Student progress is based on individual growth, rather than comparison with others. Grading descriptors outlined in The Elementary Reporting Guide will be followed when determining grades.

Each student’s report card will also communicate the determination of whether or not the student is meeting yearly standards based on assessments. This determination is indicated for reading, writing, mathematics and science for grades 1-2. For kindergarten, the determination is indicated for reading only.

Students in Exceptional Education programs pursuing Florida Standards and Florida Standards Access Points at the independent level will receive a standard report card.

Students following the Florida Standards Access Points at the supported or participatory levels will receive a district- designed alternate report card with an S, N, U, N/A for K-2.

Explanation for Reporting Intermediate (Grades 3-5) Student Progress

Communications/literature, mathematics, science/health, and social studies will be graded as:

Art, music, and physical education will be graded as:

Social growth/behavior and work habits will be graded as:

Student progress is based on individual growth, rather than comparison with others.

Each student’s report card will also communicate the determination of whether the student is meeting yearly standards based on assessments. This determination is indicated for reading, writing, mathematics, and science.

Students in Exceptional Education programs pursuing Florida Standards and Florida Standards Access Points at the independent level will receive a standard report card.

Students following the Florida Standards Access Points at the supported or participatory levels will receive a district- designed alternate report card with an S, N, U, N/A for 3-5.