Polk County Public Schools, Students
One team consisting of six high school students and one coach is selected to represent each school district. Students enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2008-2009 school year are eligible. Fifty-three of Florida's 67 districts sent teams in 2008. The goal for the 2009 event is to have fifty-seven district teams participate.
This event is a highly academic statewide high school tournament inaugurated in 1986. The districts are placed in three divisions based on the fall FTE summary provided by the Florida Department of Education. Each team consists of six members (a maximum of four players during each of the three rounds and two alternates) and a coach. A maximum of six teams may compete in one competition round. This is not a quick response, trivial pursuit contest. Instead, it is a slower-paced tournament in which players are asked questions from the areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the fine arts, world languages (French and Spanish), the humanities and technology. Educators from high schools throughout the state write the questions.
The state academic tournament will be held in the Convention Center of the Contemporary Resort Hotel, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The dates for the 2009 competition are April 20-22. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. There is no charge for admission.
The goal of the tournament is to provide a prestigious academic arena in which Florida's academically talented high school students are recognized. A sponsor is being sought to award scholarships to the 2009 winners.
The Florida Sales Team of Herff Jones, Inc. for the past 22 years has sponsored commemorative pins for each participant and championship rings for each 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-place team member and coach in each division and will continue this sponsorship for the 2009 event. In addition, the Florida High School Athletic Association awards trophies to the state champion districts in the three divisions and medallions to the members of these district teams.
TEAM FLORIDA is selected to represent the state at the National Tournament of Academic Excellence scheduled for June 13-16, 2009. TEAM FLORIDA earned the national championship title in 1995 and 1999, finished a strong second in 2001, 2003 and 2006, placed fourth in 2005, and took third-place honors in 2007. In 2008, Team Florida finished second, one point behind the national championship team from Illinois. Sponsorship is being sought for 2009.
The 2009 state tournament support groups to date include:
Team grants are awarded to each participating district through a Florida DOE grant and other collected funds, lowering the cost for seven (7) registrations (inclusive of a three-day Park HopperÒ pass and eight meals beginning with the morning orientation reception on Monday, April 20 and concluding with the Awards Ceremony and reception on April 22) to $1425. Additional registrations are $375 each. The deadline for payment is Thursday, February 12, 2009. A late fee of $40.00 per registration will be charged after this date.
No registrations will be sold after March 31.
Rooms are $249 each per night, and districts are responsible for reserving rooms at the hotel by phoning Disney reservations at 407-824-3869 by Friday, February 20, 2009. Proof of tax exempt status is required at check-in to avoid applicable taxes.
The Awards Ceremony reception is the only meal that may be purchased separately from the registration. The cost is $35, and extra tickets must be purchased by March 20.