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2023 Florida Statutes (including 2023C)
Chapter 1001
EARLY LEARNING-20 GOVERNANCE
EARLY LEARNING-20 GOVERNANCE
CHAPTER 1001
EARLY LEARNING-20 GOVERNANCE
PART I
STATE-LEVEL GOVERNANCE(ss. 1001.01-1001.292)
PART II
SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE(ss. 1001.30-1001.54)
PART III
FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS(ss. 1001.60-1001.67)
PART IV
STATE UNIVERSITIES(ss. 1001.70-1001.93)
PART I
STATE-LEVEL GOVERNANCEA. State Board of Education
B. Commissioner of Education
C. Department of Education
A. State Board of Education
1001.01 State Board of Education; generally.
1001.02 General powers of State Board of Education.
1001.03 Specific powers of State Board of Education.
1001.01 State Board of Education; generally.—
(1) The State Board of Education is established as a body corporate. The state board shall be a citizen board consisting of seven members who are residents of the state appointed by the Governor to staggered 4-year terms, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Members of the state board shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement of travel and per diem expenses in accordance with s. 112.061. Members may be reappointed by the Governor for additional terms not to exceed 8 years of consecutive service.
(2) The State Board of Education shall select a chair and a vice chair from its appointed members. The chair shall serve a 2-year term and may be reselected for one additional consecutive term.
(3) Four members of the State Board of Education shall constitute a quorum. No business may be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present.
History.—s. 19, ch. 2002-387.
1001.02 General powers of State Board of Education.—
(1) The State Board of Education is the chief implementing and coordinating body of public education in Florida except for the State University System, and it shall focus on high-level policy decisions. It has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of law conferring duties upon it for the improvement of the state system of Early Learning-20 public education except for the State University System. Except as otherwise provided herein, it may, as it finds appropriate, delegate its general powers to the Commissioner of Education or the directors of the divisions of the department.
(2) The State Board of Education has the following duties:
(a) To adopt comprehensive educational objectives for public education except for the State University System.
(b) To adopt comprehensive long-range plans and short-range programs for the development of the state system of public education except for the State University System.
(c) To exercise general supervision over the divisions of the Department of Education as necessary to ensure coordination of educational plans and programs and resolve controversies and to minimize problems of articulation and student transfers, to ensure that students moving from one level of education to the next have acquired competencies necessary for satisfactory performance at that level, and to ensure maximum utilization of facilities.
(d) To adopt, in consultation with the Board of Governors, and from time to time modify, minimum and uniform standards of college-level communication and computation skills generally associated with successful performance and progression through the baccalaureate level and to identify college-preparatory high school coursework and postsecondary-level coursework that prepares students with the academic skills necessary to succeed in postsecondary education.
(e) To adopt and submit to the Governor and Legislature, as provided in s. 216.023, a coordinated Early Learning-20 education budget that estimates the expenditure requirements for the Board of Governors, as provided in s. 1001.706, the State Board of Education, including the Department of Education and the Commissioner of Education, and all of the boards, institutions, agencies, and services under the general supervision of the Board of Governors, as provided in s. 1001.706, or the State Board of Education for the ensuing fiscal year. The State Board of Education may not amend the budget request submitted by the Board of Governors. Any program recommended by the Board of Governors or the State Board of Education which will require increases in state funding for more than 1 year must be presented in a multiyear budget plan.
(f) To hold meetings, transact business, keep records, adopt a seal, and, except as otherwise provided by law, perform such other duties as may be necessary for the enforcement of laws and rules relating to the state system of public education.
(g) To approve plans for cooperating with the Federal Government.
(h) To approve plans for cooperating with other public agencies in the development of rules and in the enforcement of laws for which the state board and such agencies are jointly responsible.
(i) To review plans for cooperating with appropriate nonpublic agencies for the improvement of conditions relating to the welfare of schools.
(j) To create such subordinate advisory bodies as are required by law or as it finds necessary for the improvement of education.
(k) To constitute any education bodies or other structures as required by federal law.
(l) To assist in the economic development of the state by developing a state-level planning process to identify future training needs for industry, especially high-technology industry.
(m) To assist in the planning and economic development of the state by establishing a clearinghouse for information on educational programs of value to economic development.
(n) To adopt cohesive rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, within statutory authority.
(o) To authorize the allocation of resources in accordance with law and rule.
(p) To contract with independent institutions accredited by an agency whose standards are comparable to the minimum standards required to operate a postsecondary educational institution at that level in the state. The purpose of the contract is to provide those educational programs and facilities which will meet needs unfulfilled by the state system of public postsecondary education.
(q) To recommend that a district school board take action consistent with the state board’s decision relating to an appeal of a charter school application.
(r) To enforce systemwide education goals and policies except as otherwise provided by law.
(s) To establish a detailed procedure for the implementation and operation of a systemwide technology plan that is based on a common set of data definitions.
(t) To establish accountability standards for existing legislative performance goals, standards, and measures, and order the development of mechanisms to implement new legislative goals, standards, and measures.
(u) To adopt criteria and implementation plans for future growth issues, such as new Florida College System institutions and Florida College System institution campus mergers, and to provide for cooperative agreements between and within public and private education sectors.
(v) To develop, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, and periodically review for adjustment, a coordinated 5-year plan for postsecondary enrollment, identifying enrollment and graduation expectations by baccalaureate degree program, and annually submit the plan to the Legislature as part of its legislative budget request.
(w) Beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year and annually thereafter, to require each Florida College System institution prior to registration to provide each enrolled student electronic access to the economic security report of employment and earning outcomes prepared by the Department of Economic Opportunity pursuant to s. 445.07.
(3)(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt a strategic plan that specifies goals and objectives for the state’s public schools and Florida College System institutions. The plan shall be formulated in conjunction with plans of the Board of Governors in order to provide for the roles of the universities and Florida College System institutions to be coordinated to best meet state needs and reflect cost-effective use of state resources. The strategic plan must clarify the mission statements of each Florida College System institution and the system as a whole and identify degree programs, including baccalaureate degree programs, to be offered at each Florida College System institution in accordance with the objectives provided in this subsection and the coordinated 5-year plan pursuant to paragraph (2)(v). The strategic plan must cover a period of 5 years, with modification of the program lists after 2 years. Development of each 5-year plan must be coordinated with and initiated after completion of the master plan. The strategic plans must specifically include programs and procedures for responding to the educational needs of teachers and students in the public schools of this state and consider reports and recommendations of the Florida Talent Development Council pursuant to s. 1004.015 and the Articulation Coordinating Committee pursuant to s. 1007.01. The state board shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives upon modification of the plan and as part of its legislative budget request.
(b) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors shall jointly develop long-range plans and annual reports for financial aid in this state. The long-range plans shall establish goals and objectives for a comprehensive program of financial aid for Florida students and shall be updated every 5 years. The annual report shall include programs administered by the department as well as awards made from financial aid fee revenues, any other funds appropriated by the Legislature for financial assistance, and the value of tuition and fees waived for students enrolled in a dual enrollment course at a public postsecondary educational institution. The annual report shall include an assessment of progress made in achieving goals and objectives established in the long-range plans and recommendations for repealing or modifying existing financial aid programs or establishing new programs. A long-range plan shall be submitted by January 1, 2004, and every 5 years thereafter. An annual report shall be submitted on January 1, 2004, and in each successive year that a long-range plan is not submitted, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(4) The State Board of Education shall:
(a) Provide for each Florida College System institution to offer educational training and service programs designed to meet the needs of both students and the communities served.
(b) Specify, by rule, procedures to be used by the Florida College System institution boards of trustees in the annual evaluations of presidents and review the evaluations of presidents by the boards of trustees, including the extent to which presidents serve both institutional and system goals.
(c) Establish, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, an effective information system that will provide composite data concerning the Florida College System institutions and state universities and ensure that special analyses and studies concerning the institutions are conducted, as necessary, for provision of accurate and cost-effective information concerning the institutions.
(d) Establish criteria for making recommendations for modifying district boundary lines for Florida College System institutions, including criteria for service delivery areas of Florida College System institutions authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.
(e) Establish criteria for making recommendations concerning all proposals for the establishment of additional centers or campuses for Florida College System institutions.
(f) Examine the annual administrative review of each Florida College System institution.
(g) Adopt and submit to the Legislature a 3-year list of priorities for fixed-capital-outlay projects. The State Board of Education may not amend the 3-year list of priorities of the Board of Governors.
(5) The State Board of Education is responsible for reviewing and administering the state program of support for the Florida College System institutions and, subject to existing law, shall establish the tuition and out-of-state fees for developmental education and for credit instruction that may be counted toward an associate in arts degree, an associate in applied science degree, or an associate in science degree.
(6) The State Board of Education shall prescribe minimum standards, definitions, and guidelines for Florida College System institutions that will ensure the quality of education, coordination among the Florida College System institutions and state universities, and efficient progress toward accomplishing the Florida College System institution mission. At a minimum, these rules must address:
(a) Personnel.
(b) Contracting.
(c) Program offerings and classification, including college-level communication and computation skills associated with successful performance in college and with tests and other assessment procedures that measure student achievement of those skills. The performance measures must provide that students moving from one level of education to the next acquire the necessary competencies for that level.
(d) Provisions for curriculum development, graduation requirements, college calendars, and program service areas. These provisions must include rules that:
1. Provide for the award of an associate in arts degree to a student who successfully completes 60 semester credit hours at the Florida College System institution.
2. Require all of the credits accepted for the associate in arts degree to be in the statewide course numbering system as credits toward a baccalaureate degree offered by a state university or a Florida College System institution.
3. Require no more than 36 semester credit hours in general education courses in the subject areas of communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
The rules should encourage Florida College System institutions to enter into agreements with state universities that allow Florida College System institution students to complete upper-division-level courses at a Florida College System institution. An agreement may provide for concurrent enrollment at the Florida College System institution and the state university and may authorize the Florida College System institution to offer an upper-division-level course or distance learning.
(e) Student admissions, conduct and discipline, nonclassroom activities, and fees.
(f) Budgeting.
(g) Business and financial matters.
(h) Student services.
(i) Reports, surveys, and information systems, including forms and dates of submission.
History.—s. 20, ch. 2002-387; s. 68, ch. 2007-217; s. 8, ch. 2011-5; s. 1, ch. 2012-195; s. 5, ch. 2013-51; s. 9, ch. 2019-119; s. 21, ch. 2021-10.
1001.03 Specific powers of State Board of Education.—
(1) PUBLIC K-12 CURRICULAR STANDARDS.—The State Board of Education shall adopt and periodically review and revise the state academic standards in accordance with s. 1003.41.
(2) DIRECT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.—The State Board of Education shall govern issues relating to use of property, facilities, and personal services between the Department of Education and its direct-support organization and shall certify that the organization operates at all times in a manner consistent with the goals and best interest of the department, pursuant to s. 1001.24.
(3) PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATES.—The State Board of Education shall classify school services, designate the certification subject areas, establish competencies, including the use of technology to enhance student learning, and certification requirements for all school-based personnel, and prescribe rules in accordance with which the professional, temporary, and part-time certificates shall be issued by the Department of Education to applicants who meet the standards prescribed by such rules for their class of service, as described in chapter 1012. The state board shall adopt rules that give part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career programs, pursuant to s. 1012.39(1)(c), the opportunity to earn a reading credential equivalent to a content-area-specific reading endorsement.
(4) PROFESSIONAL TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS.—The State Board of Education shall ensure that not-for-profit, professional teacher associations that offer membership to all teachers, noninstructional personnel, and administrators, and that offer teacher training and staff development at no fee to the district, shall be given equal access to voluntary teacher meetings, be provided access to teacher mailboxes for distribution of professional literature, and be authorized to collect voluntary membership fees through payroll deduction.
(5) IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL TEACHER SHORTAGE AREAS.—The State Board of Education shall identify critical teacher shortage areas pursuant to s. 1012.07.
(6) CAPITAL OUTLAY BOND AND MOTOR VEHICLE TAX ANTICIPATION CERTIFICATE RESOLUTIONS.—The State Board of Education shall issue bonds and approve resolutions regarding the expenditure of funds for capital projects and purposes pursuant to the State Constitution and other applicable law.
(7) ARTICULATION ACCOUNTABILITY.—The State Board of Education shall develop articulation accountability measures that assess the status of systemwide articulation processes, in conjunction with the Board of Governors regarding the State University System, and shall establish an articulation accountability process in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1008, in conjunction with the Board of Governors regarding the State University System.
(8) SYSTEMWIDE ENFORCEMENT.—The State Board of Education shall enforce compliance with law and state board rule by all school districts, early learning coalitions, and public postsecondary educational institutions, except for the State University System, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1008.32.
(9) MANAGEMENT INFORMATION DATABASES.—The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Board of Governors regarding the State University System, shall continue to collect and maintain, at a minimum, the management information databases for state universities, and all other components of the public Early Learning-20 education system as such databases existed on June 30, 2002.
(10) COMMON PLACEMENT TESTING FOR PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.—The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common placement test to assess the basic communication and computation skills of students who intend to enter a degree program at any Florida College System institution or state university.
(11) MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR NONPUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.—The State Board of Education shall adopt minimum standards relating to nonpublic postsecondary education and institutions, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1005.
(12) COMMON POSTSECONDARY DEFINITIONS.—The State Board of Education shall adopt, by rule, common definitions for associate in science degrees and for certificates.
(13) CYCLIC REVIEW OF POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC PROGRAMS.—The State Board of Education shall provide for the cyclic review of all academic programs in Florida College System institutions at least every 7 years. Program reviews shall document how individual academic programs are achieving stated student learning and program objectives within the context of the institution’s mission. The results of the program reviews shall inform strategic planning, program development, and budgeting decisions at the institutional level.
(14) UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.—The State Board of Education shall maintain a uniform classification system for school district administrative and management personnel that will facilitate the uniform coding of administrative and management personnel to total district employees.
(15) DISTRICT POSTSECONDARY ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE AND ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS.—The State Board of Education shall provide for the review and approval of proposals by district career centers to offer associate in applied science and associate in science degree programs pursuant to s. 1007.331.
(16) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTION BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAMS.—The State Board of Education shall provide for the review and approval of proposals by Florida College System institutions to offer baccalaureate degree programs pursuant to s. 1007.33. A Florida College System institution, as defined in s. 1000.21, that is approved to offer baccalaureate degrees pursuant to s. 1007.33 remains under the authority of the State Board of Education and the Florida College System institution’s board of trustees. The State Board of Education may not approve Florida College System institution baccalaureate degree program proposals from March 31, 2014, through May 31, 2015.
(17) PLAN SPECIFYING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.—By July 1, 2013, the State Board of Education shall identify performance metrics for the Florida College System and develop a plan that specifies goals and objectives for each Florida College System institution. The plan must include:
(a) Performance metrics and standards common for all institutions and metrics and standards unique to institutions depending on institutional core missions, including, but not limited to, remediation success, retention, graduation, employment, transfer rates, licensure passage, excess hours, student loan burden and default rates, job placement, faculty awards, and highly respected rankings for institution and program achievements.
(b) Student enrollment and performance data delineated by method of instruction, including, but not limited to, traditional, online, and distance learning instruction.
(18) UNIFIED STATE PLAN FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM).—The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Board of Governors and the Department of Economic Opportunity, shall adopt a unified state plan to improve K-20 STEM education and prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand employment in STEM and STEM-related fields.
(19) PUBLIC EDUCATION CAPITAL OUTLAY.—The State Board of Education shall develop and submit the prioritized list required by s. 1013.64(4). Projects considered for prioritization shall be chosen from a preliminary selection group which shall include the list of projects maintained pursuant to paragraph (d) and the top two priorities of each Florida College System institution.
(a) The state board shall develop a points-based prioritization method to rank projects for consideration from the preliminary selection group that awards points for the degree to which a project meets specific criteria compared to other projects in the preliminary selection group. The state board shall consider criteria that evaluates the degree to which:
1. The project was funded previously by the Legislature and the amount of funds needed for completion constitute a relatively low percentage of total project costs;
2. The project represents a building maintenance project or the repair of utility infrastructure which is necessary to preserve a safe environment for students and staff, or a project that is necessary to maintain the operation of a Florida College System institution site, and for which the institution can demonstrate that it has no other funding source available to complete the project;
3. The project addresses the greatest current year need for space as indicated by increased instructional capacity that enhances educational opportunities for the greatest number of students;
4. The project reflects a ranked priority of the submitting Florida College System institution;
5. The project represents the most practical and cost-effective replacement or renovation of an existing building; or
6. For a new construction, remodeling, or renovation project that has not received a prior appropriation, the project has received, or has commitments to receive, funding from sources other than a project-specific state appropriation to assist with completion of the project; the project is needed to preserve the safety of persons using the facility; or the project is consistent with a strategic legislative or state board initiative.
(b) The project scoring the highest for each criterion shall be awarded the maximum points in the range of points within the points scale developed by the state board. The state board shall weight the value of criteria such that the maximum points awarded for each criterion represents a percent of the total maximum points. However, the state board may not weight any criterion higher than the criterion established in subparagraph (a)3.
(c) A new construction, remodeling, or renovation project that has not received an appropriation in a previous year shall not be considered for inclusion on the prioritized list required by s. 1013.64(4), unless:
1. A plan is provided to reserve funds in an escrow account, specific to the project, into which shall be deposited each year an amount of funds equal to 0.5 percent of the total value of the building for future maintenance;
2. There exists sufficient capacity within the cash and bonding estimate of funds by the Revenue Estimating Conference to accommodate the project within the 3-year Public Education Capital Outlay funding cycle; and
3. The project has been recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31.
(d) The state board shall continually maintain a list of all public education capital outlay projects for which state funds were previously appropriated which have not been completed. The list shall include an estimate of the amount of state funding needed for the completion of each project.
(e) The state board shall review its space need calculation methodology developed pursuant to s. 1013.31 to incorporate improvements, efficiencies, or changes. Recommendations shall be submitted to the chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate appropriations committees by October 31, 2019, and every 3 years thereafter.
(20) INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT.—
(a) For the purposes of this subsection, the term:
1. “Intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” means the exposure of students, faculty, and staff to, and the encouragement of their exploration of, a variety of ideological and political perspectives.
2. “Shield” means to limit students’, faculty members’, or staff members’ access to, or observation of, ideas and opinions that they may find uncomfortable, unwelcome, disagreeable, or offensive.
(b) The State Board of Education shall require each Florida College System institution to conduct an annual assessment of the intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity at that institution. The State Board of Education shall select or create an objective, nonpartisan, and statistically valid survey to be used by each institution which considers the extent to which competing ideas and perspectives are presented and members of the college community, including students, faculty, and staff, feel free to express their beliefs and viewpoints on campus and in the classroom. The State Board of Education shall annually compile and publish the assessments by December 31 of each year, beginning on December 31, 2024. The State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement this paragraph.
(c) The State Board of Education may not shield students, faculty, or staff at Florida College System institutions from free speech protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Art. I of the State Constitution, or s. 1004.097.
History.—s. 21, ch. 2002-387; s. 6, ch. 2006-74; s. 69, ch. 2007-217; s. 6, ch. 2007-246; s. 4, ch. 2008-235; s. 9, ch. 2011-5; s. 2, ch. 2012-195; s. 3, ch. 2014-56; s. 3, ch. 2019-103; s. 2, ch. 2020-117; s. 22, ch. 2021-10; s. 1, ch. 2021-159; s. 69, ch. 2022-4; s. 2, ch. 2023-13; s. 15, ch. 2023-81; s. 1, ch. 2023-83.
B. Commissioner of Education
1001.10 Commissioner of Education; general powers and duties.
1001.11 Commissioner of Education; other duties.
11001.10 Commissioner of Education; general powers and duties.—
(1) The Commissioner of Education is the chief educational officer of the state and the sole custodian of the educational data warehouse, and is responsible for giving full assistance to the State Board of Education in enforcing compliance with the mission and goals of the Early Learning-20 education system, except for the State University System.
(2) The commissioner’s office shall operate all statewide functions necessary to support the State Board of Education, including strategic planning and budget development, general administration, assessment, and accountability.
(3) To facilitate innovative practices and to allow local selection of educational methods, the State Board of Education may authorize the commissioner to waive, upon the request of a district school board, State Board of Education rules that relate to district school instruction and school operations, except those rules pertaining to civil rights, and student health, safety, and welfare. The Commissioner of Education is not authorized to grant waivers for any provisions in rule pertaining to the allocation and appropriation of state and local funds for public education; the election, compensation, and organization of school board members and superintendents; graduation and state accountability standards; financial reporting requirements; reporting of out-of-field teaching assignments under s. 1012.42; public meetings; public records; or due process hearings governed by chapter 120. No later than January 1 of each year, the commissioner shall report to the Legislature and the State Board of Education all approved waiver requests in the preceding year.
(4) The Department of Education shall:
(a) Provide technical assistance to school districts, charter schools, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and private schools that accept scholarship students who participate in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002 in the development of policies, procedures, and training related to employment practices and standards of ethical conduct for instructional personnel and school administrators, as defined in s. 1012.01.
(b) Maintain a disqualification list that includes all of the following:
1. The identity of each person who has been permanently denied an educator certificate or whose educator certificate has been permanently revoked and has been placed on the list as directed by the Education Practices Commission pursuant to s. 1012.795(1) or s. 1012.796(7).
2. The identity of each person who has been permanently disqualified by the commissioner from owning or operating a private school that participates in state scholarship programs under s. 1002.421.
3. The identity of each person who has been terminated, or has resigned in lieu of termination, from employment as a result of sexual misconduct with a student.
4. The identity of each person who is ineligible for educator certification or employment pursuant to s. 1012.315.
(c) The department may remove a person from the disqualification list if the person demonstrates that:
1. A completed law enforcement investigation resulted in an exoneration or no conviction or finding of guilt and a completed investigation and proceeding, as applicable, by the responsible education agency resulted in a finding that the person did not commit disqualifying conduct;
2. The person was not the subject of the report of disqualifying conduct and was included on the disqualification list in error or as a result of mistaken identity; or
3. The employer that submitted the person for inclusion on the disqualification list requests that the person be removed and submits documentation to support the request.
(d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.
(5) The Department of Education shall provide authorized staff of school districts, charter schools, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and private schools that accept scholarship students who participate in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002 with access to electronic verification of information from the following employment screening tools:
(a) The Professional Practices’ Database of Disciplinary Actions Against Educators.
(b) The department’s Teacher Certification Database.
(c) The department’s disqualification list under paragraph (4)(b).
This subsection does not require the department to provide these staff with unlimited access to the databases. However, the department shall provide the staff with access to the data necessary for performing employment history checks of the persons included in the databases.
(6) Additionally, the commissioner has the following general powers and duties:
(a) To organize and name the structural units of the Department of Education and appoint staff necessary to carry out duties and functions of the department in a manner that meets legislative intent and promotes both efficiency and accountability.
(b) To advise and counsel with the State Board of Education on all matters pertaining to education; to recommend to the State Board of Education actions and policies as, in the commissioner’s opinion, should be acted upon or adopted; and to execute or provide for the execution of all acts and policies as are approved.
(c) To keep such records as are necessary to set forth clearly all acts and proceedings of the State Board of Education.
(d) To have a seal for his or her office with which, in connection with his or her own signature, the commissioner shall authenticate true copies of decisions, acts, or documents.
(e) To recommend to the State Board of Education policies and steps designed to protect and preserve the principal of the State School Fund; to provide an assured and stable income from the fund; to execute such policies and actions as are approved; and to administer the State School Fund.
(f) To take action on the release of mineral rights based upon the recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.
(g) To submit to the State Board of Education, on or before October 1 of each year, recommendations for a coordinated Early Learning-20 education budget that estimates the expenditures for the Board of Governors, the State Board of Education, including the Department of Education and the Commissioner of Education, and all of the boards, institutions, agencies, and services under the general supervision of the Board of Governors or the State Board of Education for the ensuing fiscal year. Any program recommended to the State Board of Education that will require increases in state funding for more than 1 year must be presented in a multiyear budget plan.
(h) To develop and implement policies for cooperating with other public agencies in carrying out those phases of the program in which such cooperation is required by law or is deemed by the commissioner to be desirable and to cooperate with public and nonpublic agencies in planning and bringing about improvements in the educational program.
(i) To prepare forms and procedures as are necessary to be used by district school boards and all other educational agencies to assure uniformity, accuracy, and efficiency in the keeping of records, the execution of contracts, the preparation of budgets, or the submission of reports; and to furnish at state expense, when deemed advisable by the commissioner, those forms that can more economically and efficiently be provided.
(j) To implement a program of school improvement and education accountability designed to provide all students the opportunity to make adequate learning gains in each year of school as provided by statute and State Board of Education rule based upon the achievement of the state education goals, recognizing the following:
1. The district school board is responsible for school and student performance.
2. The individual school is the unit for education accountability.
3. The Florida College System institution board of trustees is responsible for Florida College System institution performance and student performance.
(k) To prepare, publish, and disseminate user-friendly materials relating to the state’s education system, including the state’s K-12 scholarship programs, the school readiness program, and the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
(l) To prepare and publish annually reports giving statistics and other useful information pertaining to the state’s K-12 scholarship programs, the school readiness program, and the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
(m) To have printed or electronic copies of school laws, forms, instruments, instructions, and rules of the State Board of Education and provide for their distribution.
(n) To develop criteria for use by department instructional materials reviewers in evaluating materials submitted for adoption consideration. The criteria shall, as appropriate, be based on instructional expectations reflected in course descriptions and student performance standards. The criteria for each subject or course shall be made available to publishers and manufacturers of instructional materials pursuant to the requirements of chapter 1006.
(o) To prescribe procedures for evaluating instructional materials submitted by publishers and manufacturers in each adoption.
(p) To enter into agreement with Space Florida to develop innovative aerospace-related education programs that promote mathematics and science education for grades K-20.
(7) The commissioner, or the commissioner’s designee, may conduct a review or investigation of practices, procedures, or actions at any Florida College System institution which appear to be inconsistent with sound financial, management, or academic practice.
(8) In the event of an emergency situation, the commissioner may coordinate through the most appropriate means of communication with early learning coalitions, local school districts, Florida College System institutions, and satellite offices of the Division of Blind Services and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to assess the need for resources and assistance to enable each school, institution, or satellite office the ability to reopen as soon as possible after considering the health, safety, and welfare of students and clients.
(9) The commissioner shall review the report of the School Hardening and Harm Mitigation Workgroup regarding hardening and harm mitigation strategies and recommendations submitted by the Office of Safe Schools, pursuant to s. 1001.212(11). By September 1, 2020, the commissioner shall submit a summary of such recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(10) Due to the range of school choice options and the variety of ways students learn, the commissioner shall develop an online portal that enables parents to choose the best educational options for their student. The portal, at a minimum, must:
(a) Recommend educational options based on questions about the student, including the needs and interests of the student.
(b) Advise parents on the recommended educational options for their student.
(c) Enable schools to develop a school profile and connect directly with families who express interest in the school.
(d) Allow parents to complete the school enrollment process.
History.—s. 23, ch. 2002-387; s. 67, ch. 2006-60; s. 7, ch. 2006-74; s. 70, ch. 2007-217; s. 3, ch. 2007-234; s. 7, ch. 2008-108; s. 12, ch. 2010-24; s. 10, ch. 2011-5; s. 3, ch. 2011-55; s. 3, ch. 2012-195; s. 7, ch. 2013-237; s. 12, ch. 2014-39; s. 8, ch. 2018-6; s. 5, ch. 2019-22; s. 23, ch. 2021-10; s. 1, ch. 2021-138; s. 70, ch. 2022-4; s. 12, ch. 2023-16; s. 11, ch. 2023-220.
1001.11 Commissioner of Education; other duties.—
(1) The Commissioner of Education must independently perform the following duties:
(a) Cooperate with and coordinate responses to requests from the members of the Legislature.
(b) Serve as the primary source of information to the Legislature, including the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, concerning the State Board of Education, the Early Learning-20 education system, and early learning programs.
(c) In cooperation with the Board of Governors, develop and implement a process for receiving and processing requests, in conjunction with the Legislature, for the allocation of PECO funds for qualified postsecondary education projects.
(d) Integrally work with the boards of trustees of the Florida College System institutions.
(e) Monitor the activities of the State Board of Education and provide information related to current and pending policies to the members of the boards of trustees of the Florida College System institutions and state universities.
(f) Ensure the timely provision of information requested by the Legislature from the State Board of Education, the commissioner’s office, and the Department of Education.
(2) The Commissioner of Education shall annually report the state’s educational performance on state and national measures and shall recommend to the State Board of Education performance goals addressing the educational needs of the state.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with the Legislature, and the Board of Governors regarding the State University System, must recommend funding priorities for the distribution of capital outlay funds for public postsecondary educational institutions, based on priorities that include, but are not limited to, the following criteria:
(a) Growth at the institutions.
(b) Need for specific skills statewide.
(c) Need for maintaining and repairing existing facilities.
(4) The commissioner shall develop and implement an integrated Early Learning-20 information system for educational management in accordance with the requirements of chapter 1008.
(5) The commissioner shall design and implement a statewide program of educational assessment that provides information for the improvement of the operation and management of the public schools, including schools operating for the purpose of providing educational services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, in accordance with the requirements of chapter 1008.
(6) The commissioner is responsible for implementing and maintaining a system of intensive school improvement and stringent education accountability, in accordance with the requirements of chapter 1008.
(7) The commissioner shall make prominently available on the department’s website the following: links to the Internet-based clearinghouse for professional development regarding physical education; the school wellness and physical education policies and other resources required under s. 1003.453; and other Internet sites that provide professional development for elementary teachers of physical education as defined in s. 1003.01(15). These links must provide elementary teachers with information concerning current physical education and nutrition philosophy and best practices that result in student participation in physical activities that promote lifelong physical and mental well-being.
(8) The commissioner shall oversee the development and implementation of the 5-year strategic plan for establishing Florida digital classrooms to assist school districts in their efforts to integrate technology in classroom teaching and learning to improve student performance.
(9) The commissioner shall oversee and enforce compliance with the requirements relating to school safety and security by school districts; district school superintendents; and public schools, including charter schools. The commissioner must facilitate compliance to the maximum extent provided under law, identify incidents of noncompliance, and impose or recommend to the State Board of Education, the Governor, or the Legislature enforcement and sanctioning actions pursuant to s. 1008.32 and other authority granted under law.
History.—s. 24, ch. 2002-387; s. 1, ch. 2007-28; s. 71, ch. 2007-217; s. 173, ch. 2008-4; s. 11, ch. 2011-5; s. 40, ch. 2013-35; s. 28, ch. 2013-252; s. 4, ch. 2014-56; s. 6, ch. 2019-22; s. 24, ch. 2021-10; s. 3, ch. 2022-174; s. 137, ch. 2023-8.
C. Department of Education
1001.20 Department under direction of state board.
1001.21 Office of Private Schools and Home Education Programs.
1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.
1001.215 Just Read, Florida! Office.
1001.22 Commission for Independent Education.
1001.23 Specific powers and duties of the Department of Education.
1001.24 Direct-support organization; use of property; board of directors; audit.
1001.26 Public broadcasting program system.
1001.271 Florida Information Resource Network.
1001.28 Distance learning duties.
1001.281 Operating Trust Fund.
1001.282 Administrative Trust Fund.
1001.283 Welfare Transition Trust Fund.
1001.29 Discounted computers and Internet access for students.
1001.292 Schools of Hope Revolving Loan Program.
1001.20 Department under direction of state board.—
(1) The Department of Education shall be organized consistently with the requirements of s. 20.15, and shall act as an administrative and supervisory agency under the implementation direction of the State Board of Education.
(2) The department is to be located in the offices of the Commissioner of Education and shall assist in providing professional leadership and guidance and in carrying out the policies, procedures, and duties authorized by law or by the State Board of Education or found necessary by it to attain the purposes and objectives of this code.
(3) The Department of Education shall maintain an Office of the Commissioner of Education that includes the general areas of operation that are common to all delivery sectors, such as administration, communication, legal services, financial aid, and government and public relations, in order to increase efficiency, improve service delivery to students, and fully support the operational needs of the State Board of Education.
(4) The Department of Education shall establish the following offices within the Office of the Commissioner of Education which shall coordinate their activities with all other divisions and offices:
(a) Office of Technology and Information Services.—
1. Responsible for developing a 5-year strategic plan for establishing Florida digital classrooms by October 1, 2014, and annually updating the plan by January 1 each year thereafter. The Florida digital classrooms plan shall be provided to each school district and published on the department’s website. The plan must:
a. Describe how technology will be integrated into classroom teaching and learning to assist the state in improving student performance outcomes and enable all students in Florida to be digital learners with access to digital tools and resources.
b. Identify minimum technology requirements that include specifications for hardware, software, devices, networking, security, and bandwidth capacity and guidelines for the ratio of students per device.
c. Establish minimum requirements for professional development opportunities and training to assist district instructional personnel and staff with the integration of technology into classroom teaching.
d. Identify the types of digital tools and resources that can assist district instructional personnel and staff in the management, assessment, and monitoring of student learning and performance.
2. Responsible for making budget recommendations to the commissioner, providing data collection and management for the system, assisting school districts in securing Internet access and telecommunications services, including those eligible for funding under the Schools and Libraries Program of the federal Universal Service Fund, and coordinating services with other state, local, and private agencies.
(b) Office of Workforce and Economic Development.—Responsible for evaluating the role of each sector of education in Florida’s workforce and economic development, assessing the specific work skills and variety of careers provided, and reporting to the State Board of Education the effectiveness of each sector.
(c) Office of Educational Facilities.—Responsible for validating all educational plant surveys and verifying Florida Inventory of School Houses (FISH) data. The office shall provide technical assistance to public school districts when requested.
(d) Office of Student Financial Assistance.—Responsible for providing access to and administering state and federal grants, scholarships, and loans to those students seeking financial assistance for postsecondary study pursuant to program criteria and eligibility requirements.
(e) Office of Inspector General.—Organized using existing resources and funds and responsible for promoting accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and detecting fraud and abuse within school districts, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida School for Competitive Academics, and Florida College System institutions in Florida. If the Commissioner of Education determines that a district school board, the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for Competitive Academics, or a Florida College System institution board of trustees is unwilling or unable to address substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste, fraud, or financial mismanagement within the school district, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida School for Competitive Academics, or the Florida College System institution, the office must conduct, coordinate, or request investigations into such substantiated allegations. The office shall investigate allegations or reports of possible fraud or abuse against a district school board made by any member of the Cabinet; the presiding officer of either house of the Legislature; a chair of a substantive or appropriations committee with jurisdiction; or a member of the board for which an investigation is sought. The office may investigate allegations or reports of suspected violations of a student’s, parent’s, or teacher’s rights. The office shall have access to all information and personnel necessary to perform its duties and shall have all of its current powers, duties, and responsibilities authorized in s. 20.055.
History.—s. 26, ch. 2002-387; s. 2, ch. 2004-331; s. 72, ch. 2007-217; s. 2, ch. 2009-59; s. 12, ch. 2010-70; s. 12, ch. 2011-5; s. 1, ch. 2011-175; s. 5, ch. 2014-56; s. 4, ch. 2018-5; s. 2, ch. 2023-38; s. 8, ch. 2023-245.
1001.21 Office of Private Schools and Home Education Programs.—The state recognizes the contributions of private schools and home education programs in providing alternatives to public school education. These nongovernmental educational systems serve the public, but are not considered to be a part of the public system of education.
(1) The Office of Private Schools and Home Education Programs is established within the Department of Education. The Department of Education and the Commissioner of Education have no authority over the institutions or students served by the office. The office shall:
(a) Serve the interests of students and the parents of students in private schools and home education programs.
(b) Serve the interests of private institutions.
(c) Provide general information to the public about private and home education delivery systems.
(2) The Commissioner of Education shall appoint an executive director for the office who shall:
(a) Serve as a source of communication between private schools, home education programs, the Commissioner of Education, and the State Board of Education.
(b) Evaluate pending policy to ensure that the policy does not subject private schools and home education programs to additional regulation or mandates.
(c) Establish a clearinghouse of information for the public.
(d) Foster a collaborative spirit and working relationship among private schools, home education programs, and the public sector.
(e) Identify and convey the best practices of private schools and home education programs for the benefit of the public and private education delivery sectors.
(f) Represent issues and concerns relating to home education programs and private schools on all applicable ad hoc advisory bodies.
History.—s. 27, ch. 2002-387.
1001.212 Office of Safe Schools.—There is created in the Department of Education the Office of Safe Schools. The office is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education. The office shall serve as a central repository for best practices, training standards, and compliance oversight in all matters regarding school safety and security, including prevention efforts, intervention efforts, and emergency preparedness planning. The office shall:
(1) Establish and update as necessary a school security risk assessment tool for use by school districts pursuant to s. 1006.07(6). The office shall make the security risk assessment tool available for use by charter schools. The office shall provide annual training to appropriate school district and charter school personnel on the proper assessment of physical site security and completion of the school security risk assessment tool.
(2) Provide ongoing professional development opportunities to school district and charter school personnel.
(3) Provide a coordinated and interdisciplinary approach to providing technical assistance and guidance to school districts on safety and security and recommendations to address findings identified pursuant to s. 1006.07(6).
(4) Develop and implement a School Safety Specialist Training Program for school safety specialists appointed pursuant to s. 1006.07(6). The office shall develop the training program which shall be based on national and state best practices on school safety and security and must include active shooter training. The office shall develop training modules in traditional or online formats. A school safety specialist certificate of completion shall be awarded to a school safety specialist who satisfactorily completes the training required by rules of the office.
(5) Review and provide recommendations on the security risk assessments. The department may contract with security personnel, consulting engineers, architects, or other safety and security experts the department deems necessary for safety and security consultant services.
(6) Coordinate with the Department of Law Enforcement to provide a unified search tool, known as the Florida School Safety Portal, to improve access to timely, complete, and accurate information from, at a minimum, the following data sources:
(a) Social media Internet posts;
(b) The Department of Children and Families;
(c) The Department of Law Enforcement;
(d) The Department of Juvenile Justice;
(e) The mobile suspicious activity reporting tool known as FortifyFL;
(f) School environmental safety incident reports collected under subsection (8); and
(g) Local law enforcement.
Data that is exempt or confidential and exempt from public records requirements retains its exempt or confidential and exempt status when incorporated into the centralized integrated data repository. To maintain the confidentiality requirements attached to the information provided to the centralized integrated data repository by the various state and local agencies, data governance and security shall ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal data privacy requirements through the use of user authorization and role-based security, data anonymization and aggregation and auditing capabilities. To maintain the confidentiality requirements attached to the information provided to the centralized integrated data repository by the various state and local agencies, each source agency providing data to the repository shall be the sole custodian of the data for the purpose of any request for inspection or copies thereof under chapter 119. The department shall only allow access to data from the source agencies in accordance with rules adopted by the respective source agencies and the requirements of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Justice Information Services security policy, where applicable.
(7) Provide data to support the evaluation of mental health services pursuant to s. 1004.44. Such data must include, for each school, the number of involuntary examinations as defined in s. 394.455 which are initiated at the school, on school transportation, or at a school-sponsored activity and the number of children for whom an examination is initiated.
(8) Provide technical assistance to school districts and charter school governing boards for school environmental safety incident reporting as required under s. 1006.07(9). The office shall collect data through school environmental safety incident reports on incidents involving any person which occur on school premises, on school transportation, and at off-campus, school-sponsored events. The office shall review and evaluate school district reports to ensure compliance with reporting requirements. Upon notification by the department that a superintendent has failed to comply with the requirements of s. 1006.07(9), the district school board shall withhold further payment of his or her salary as authorized under s. 1001.42(13)(b) and impose other appropriate sanctions that the commissioner or state board by law may impose.
(9) Award grants to schools to improve the safety and security of school buildings based upon recommendations of the security risk assessment developed pursuant to subsection (1).
(10) Disseminate, in consultation with the Department of Law Enforcement, to participating schools awareness and education materials on the proper use of the School Safety Awareness Program developed pursuant to s. 943.082, including the consequences of knowingly submitting false information.
(11)(a) Convene a School Hardening and Harm Mitigation Workgroup composed of individuals with subject matter expertise on school campus hardening best practices. The workgroup shall meet as necessary to review school hardening and harm mitigation policies, including, but not limited to, the target hardening practices implemented in other states; the school safety guidelines developed by organizations such as the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools; the tiered approach to target campus hardening strategies identified in the initial report submitted by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission pursuant to s. 943.687(9); and the Florida Building Code for educational facilities construction to determine whether the building code may need to be modified to strengthen school safety and security. Based on this review of school safety best practices, by August 1, 2020, the workgroup shall submit a report to the executive director of the office which includes, at a minimum, a prioritized list for the implementation of school campus hardening and harm mitigation strategies and the estimated costs of and timeframes for implementation of the strategies by school districts and charter schools. The estimated costs must include regional and statewide projections of the implementation costs.
(b) Submit to the commissioner:
1. The workgroup’s report pursuant to paragraph (a); and
2. Recommendations regarding procedures for the office to use to monitor and enforce compliance by the school districts and charter schools in the implementation of the workgroup’s recommended campus hardening and harm mitigation strategies.
This subsection is repealed June 30, 2023.
1(12) Develop a statewide behavioral threat management operational process, a Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument, and a threat management portal.
(a)1. By December 1, 2023, the office shall develop a statewide behavioral threat management operational process to guide school districts, schools, charter school governing boards, and charter schools through the threat management process. The process must be designed to identify, assess, manage, and monitor potential and real threats to schools. This process must include, but is not limited to:
a. The establishment and duties of threat management teams.
b. Defining behavioral risks and threats.
c. The use of the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument developed pursuant to paragraph (b) to evaluate the behavior of students who may pose a threat to the school, school staff, or other students and to coordinate intervention and services for such students.
d. Upon the availability of the threat management portal developed pursuant to paragraph (c), the use, authorized user criteria, and access specifications of the portal.
e. Procedures for the implementation of interventions, school support, and community services.
f. Guidelines for appropriate law enforcement intervention.
g. Procedures for risk management.
h. Procedures for disciplinary actions.
i. Mechanisms for continued monitoring of potential and real threats.
j. Procedures for referrals to mental health services identified by the school district or charter school governing board pursuant to s. 1012.584(4).
k. Procedures and requirements necessary for the creation of a threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation, and any other information required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument under paragraph (b).
2. Upon availability, each school district, school, charter school governing board, and charter school must use the statewide behavioral threat management operational process.
3. The office shall provide training to all school districts, schools, charter school governing boards, and charter schools on the statewide behavioral threat management operational process.
4. The office shall coordinate the ongoing development, implementation, and operation of the statewide behavioral threat management operational process.
(b)1. By August 1, 2023, the office shall develop a Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument for school districts, schools, charter school governing boards, and charter schools to use to evaluate the behavior of students who may pose a threat to the school, school staff, or students and to coordinate intervention and services for such students. The Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument must include, but is not limited to:
a. An assessment of the threat, which includes an assessment of the student, family, and school and social dynamics.
b. An evaluation to determine whether a threat exists and if so, the type of threat.
c. The response to a threat, which includes the school response, the role of law enforcement agencies in the response, and the response by mental health providers.
d. Ongoing monitoring to assess implementation of threat management and safety strategies.
e. Ongoing monitoring to evaluate interventions and support provided to the students.
f. A standardized threat assessment report, which must include, but need not be limited to, all documentation associated with the evaluation, intervention, management, and any ongoing monitoring of the threat.
2. A report, all corresponding documentation, and any other information required by the instrument in the threat management portal under paragraph (c) is an education record and may not be retained, maintained, or transferred, except in accordance with State Board of Education rule.
3. Upon availability, each school district, school, charter school governing board, and charter school must use the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument.
4. The office shall provide training for members of threat management teams established under s. 1006.07(7) and for all school districts and charter school governing boards regarding the use of the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument.
(c)1. By August 1, 2025, the office shall develop, host, maintain, and administer a threat management portal that will digitize the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument for use by each school district, school, charter school governing board, and charter school. The portal will also facilitate the electronic threat assessment reporting and documentation as required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument to evaluate the behavior of students who may pose a threat to the school, school staff, or students and to coordinate intervention and services for such students. The portal may not provide the office with access to the portal unless authorized in accordance with State Board of Education rule. The portal must include, but need not be limited to, the following functionalities:
a. Workflow processes that align with the statewide behavioral threat management operational process.
b. Direct data entry and file uploading as required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument.
c. The ability to create a threat assessment report as required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument.
d. The ability of authorized personnel to add to or update a threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation, or any other information required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument.
e. The ability to create and remove connections between education records in the portal and authorized personnel.
f. The ability to grant access to and securely transfer any education records in the portal to other schools or charter schools in the district.
g. The ability to grant access to and securely transfer any education records in the portal to schools and charter schools not in the originating district.
h. The ability to retain, maintain, and transfer education records in the portal in accordance with State Board of Education rule.
i. The ability to restrict access to, entry of, modification of, and transfer of education records in the portal to a school district, school, charter school governing board, or charter school and authorized personnel as specified by the statewide behavioral threat management operational process.
j. The ability to designate school district or charter school governing board system administrators who may grant access to authorized school district and charter school governing board personnel and school and charter school system administrators.
k. The ability to designate school or charter school system administrators who may grant access to authorized school or charter school personnel.
l. The ability to notify the office’s system administrators and school district or charter school governing board system administrators of attempts to access any education records by unauthorized personnel.
2. Upon availability, each school district, school, charter school governing board, and charter school shall use the portal.
3. A threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation, and any other information required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument which is maintained in the portal is an education record and may not be retained, maintained, or transferred, except in accordance with State Board of Education rule.
4. The office and the office system administrators may not have access to a threat assessment report, all corresponding documentation, and any other information required by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument which is maintained in the portal.
5. A school district or charter school governing board may not have access to the education records in the portal, except in accordance with State Board of Education rule.
6. The parent of a student may access his or her student’s education records in the portal in accordance with State Board of Education rule, but may not have access to the portal.
7. The office shall develop and implement a quarterly portal access review audit process.
8. Upon availability, each school district, school, charter school governing board, and charter school shall comply with the quarterly portal access review audit process developed by the office.
9. By August 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the office shall provide role-based training to all authorized school district, school, charter school governing board, and charter school personnel.
10. Any individual who accesses, uses, or releases any education record contained in the portal for a purpose not specifically authorized by law commits a noncriminal infraction, punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000.
(d) The office shall by August 1 of each year:
1. Evaluate each school district’s and charter school governing board’s use of the statewide behavioral threat management operational process, the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument, and the threat management portal for compliance with this subsection.
2. Notify the district school superintendent or charter school governing board, as applicable, if the use of the statewide behavioral threat management operational process, the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument, and the threat management portal is not in compliance with this subsection.
3. Report any issues of ongoing noncompliance with this subsection to the commissioner and the district school superintendent or the charter school governing board, as applicable.
(13) Develop, in coordination with the Division of Emergency Management; other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; fire and rescue agencies; and first responder agencies, a model family reunification plan for use by child care facilities, public K-12 schools, and public postsecondary educational institutions that are closed or unexpectedly evacuated due to a natural or manmade disaster. This model plan shall consider the integration of student information and notification systems to facilitate reunification after a natural or manmade disaster. This model plan shall be reviewed annually and updated, as applicable.
(14) Monitor compliance with requirements relating to school safety by school districts and public schools, including charter schools. The office shall report incidents of noncompliance to the commissioner pursuant to s. 1001.11(9) and the state board pursuant to s. 1008.32 and other requirements of law, as appropriate.
(15) Annually publish a list detailing the total number of safe-school officers in this state, the total number of safe-school officers disciplined or relieved of their duties because of misconduct in the previous year, the total number of disciplinary incidents involving safe-school officers, and the number of incidents in which a safe-school officer discharged his or her firearm outside of a training situation or in the exercise of his or her duties as a safe-school officer.
(16) Maintain a current directory of public school-based diversion programs and cooperate with each judicial circuit and the Department of Juvenile Justice to facilitate their efforts to monitor and enforce each governing body’s compliance with s. 985.12.
History.—s. 21, ch. 2018-3; s. 7, ch. 2019-22; s. 3, ch. 2021-176; s. 4, ch. 2022-174; s. 19, ch. 2023-18.
1Note.—Section 20, ch. 2023-18, provides that “[e]ffective upon becoming a law, the State Board of Education may, and all conditions are deemed met, to adopt emergency rules pursuant to s. 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, for the purpose of implementing the amendments made to s. 1001.212(12), Florida Statutes, by this act. Notwithstanding any other law, emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section are effective for 6 months after adoption and may be renewed during the pendency of procedures to adopt permanent rules addressing the subject of the emergency rules. This section expires July 1, 2024.”
1001.215 Just Read, Florida! Office.—There is created in the Department of Education the Just Read, Florida! Office. The office is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education and shall:
(1) Provide training to reading coaches and school administrators on the evidence-based strategies identified pursuant to subsection (7) for purposes of implementation, modeling, and classroom observations to support professional growth and inform performance evaluations of instructional personnel.
(2) Create multiple designations of effective reading instruction, with accompanying credentials, to enable all teachers to integrate reading instruction into their content areas.
(3) Work with the Lastinger Center for Learning at the University of Florida to develop training for K-12 teachers, reading coaches, and school administrators on effective content-area-specific reading strategies; the coordinated integration of content-rich curriculum from other core subject areas into reading instruction, with an emphasis on civic literacy; and evidence-based reading strategies identified pursuant to subsection (7) to improve student reading performance. For secondary teachers, emphasis shall be on technical text. These strategies must be developed for all content areas in the K-12 curriculum.
(4) Develop and provide access to an online repository of digital science of reading and science of reading instructional resources, sequenced, content-rich curriculum programming, instructional practices, and other resources that help elementary schools use state-adopted instructional materials to increase students’ background knowledge and literacy skills, including student attainment of the state standards for social studies, science, and the arts. The office shall, as part of the adoption cycle for English Language Arts instructional materials, assist in evaluating elementary grades instructional materials submitted for adoption consideration in order to identify those materials that are closely aligned to the content and evidence-based strategies identified pursuant to subsection (7) and incorporate professional development to implement such strategies.
(5) Provide parents with information and evidence-based strategies for assisting their children in reading, including reading in content areas.
(6) Provide technical assistance to school districts in the development and implementation of district plans required under s. 1003.4201 and annually review and approve such plans.
(7) Work with the Florida Center for Reading Research to identify scientifically researched and evidence-based reading instructional and intervention programs grounded in the science of reading which incorporate explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension and incorporate decodable or phonetic text instructional strategies. Reading intervention includes evidence-based strategies frequently used to remediate reading deficiencies and includes, but is not limited to, individual instruction, multisensory approaches, tutoring, mentoring, or the use of technology that targets specific reading skills and abilities. The primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading is phonics instruction for decoding and encoding. The identified reading instructional and intervention programs for foundational skills may not include strategies that employ the three-cueing system model of reading or visual memory as a basis for teaching word reading. Such programs may include visual information and strategies that improve background and experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language and vocabulary to support comprehension, but may not be used to teach word reading.
(8) Periodically review the state academic standards for English Language Arts to determine their appropriateness at each grade level.
(9) Periodically review teacher certification requirements and examinations, including alternative certification requirements and examinations, to ascertain whether the examinations measure the skills needed for evidence-based reading instruction and instructional strategies for teaching reading, including reading in content areas.
(10) Work with teacher preparation programs approved pursuant to ss. 1004.04 and 1004.85 to integrate effective, evidence-based reading instructional and intervention strategies, including explicit, systematic, and sequential reading strategies, multisensory intervention strategies, and reading in content area instructional strategies into teacher preparation programs.
(11) Administer grants and perform other functions as necessary to help students read at their highest potential.
History.—s. 8, ch. 2006-74; s. 174, ch. 2008-4; s. 16, ch. 2017-116; s. 99, ch. 2018-110; s. 1, ch. 2021-9; s. 26, ch. 2021-10; s. 7, ch. 2021-44; s. 3, ch. 2023-13; s. 1, ch. 2023-108; s. 9, ch. 2023-245.
1001.22 Commission for Independent Education.—The Commission for Independent Education shall authorize granting of certificates, diplomas, and degrees for independent postsecondary educational institutions pursuant to chapter 1005.
History.—s. 28, ch. 2002-387.
1001.23 Specific powers and duties of the Department of Education.—In addition to all other duties assigned to it by law or by rule of the State Board of Education, the department shall:
(1) Implement a training program to develop among state and district educators a cadre of facilitators of school improvement in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1008.
(2) Identify the needs of the state system of public education as they relate to the development and production of materials used in instruction, in accordance with the requirements of chapter 1006.
(3) After complying with the provisions of s. 257.37, the Department of Education may:
(a) Photograph, microphotograph, or reproduce on film or prints, documents, records, data, and information of a permanent character and destroy any of the documents after they have been photographed and after audit of the department has been completed for the period embracing the dates of the instruments. Photographs or microphotographs in the form of film or prints made in compliance with the provisions of this subsection shall have the same force and effect as the originals would have, and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility in evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions of such photographs or microphotographs shall be admitted in evidence equally with the original photographs or microphotographs.
(b) Destroy general correspondence that is over 3 years old; records of bills, accounts, vouchers, and requisitions that are over 5 years old and copies of which have been filed with the Chief Financial Officer; and other records, papers, and documents over 3 years old that do not serve as part of an agreement or understanding and do not have value as permanent records.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 286, have the authority to hold patents, copyrights, trademarks, and service marks. The department may take any action necessary to enforce its rights with respect to such patents, copyrights, trademarks, and service marks or enter into a transaction to sell, lease, license, or transfer such rights for monetary gain or other consideration at the discretion of the department. The department shall notify the Department of State in writing when property rights by patent, copyright, trademark, or service mark are secured by the department. Except for educational materials and products, any proceeds received by the department from the exercise of such rights shall be deposited in the department’s Operating Trust Fund.
History.—s. 29, ch. 2002-387; s. 1943, ch. 2003-261; s. 12, ch. 2004-484; s. 27, ch. 2021-10; s. 1, ch. 2021-157.
1001.24 Direct-support organization; use of property; board of directors; audit.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the term:
(a) “Department of Education direct-support organization” means an organization:
1. That is a corporation not for profit that is incorporated under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the Department of State.
2. That is organized and operated exclusively to receive, hold, invest, and administer property and to make expenditures to or for the benefit of public prekindergarten through 12th grade education in this state.
3. That the State Board of Education, after review, has certified to be operating in a manner consistent with the goals and best interest of the Department of Education.
(b) “Personal services” includes full-time or part-time personnel, as well as payroll processing.
(2) USE OF PROPERTY.—The State Board of Education:
(a) May permit the use of property, facilities, and personal services of the department by the direct-support organization, subject to the provisions of this section.
(b) Shall prescribe by rule conditions with which the direct-support organization must comply in order to use property, facilities, or personal services of the department. Such rules shall provide for budget and audit review and for oversight by the department.
(c) Shall not permit the use of property, facilities, or personal services of the direct-support organization if such organization does not provide equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or religion.
(3) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.—The board of directors of the department direct-support organization shall be appointed by the commissioner and shall include representation from business, industry, and other components of Florida’s economy.
(4) ANNUAL AUDIT.—Each direct-support organization shall provide for an annual financial audit in accordance with s. 215.981. The identity of donors who desire to remain anonymous shall be protected, and that anonymity shall be maintained in the auditor’s report. All records of the organization other than the auditor’s report, management letter, and any supplemental data requested by the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall be confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1).
History.—s. 30, ch. 2002-387.
1001.26 Public broadcasting program system.—
(1) There is created a public broadcasting program system for the state. The department shall provide funds, as specifically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, to educational television and radio stations qualified by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or public colleges and universities that are part of the public broadcasting program system. The program system must include:
(a) Support for existing Corporation for Public Broadcasting qualified program system educational television stations.
(b) Maintenance of quality broadcast capability for educational stations that are part of the program system.
(c) Interconnection of all educational stations that are part of the program system for simultaneous broadcast and of such stations with all universities and other institutions as necessary for sharing of resources and delivery of programming.
(d) Establishment and maintenance of a capability for statewide program distribution with facilities and staff, provided such facilities and staff complement and strengthen existing educational television stations.
(e) Provision of both statewide programming funds and station programming support for educational television to meet statewide priorities. Priorities for station programming need not be the same as priorities for programming to be used statewide. Station programming may include, but shall not be limited to, citizens’ participation programs, music and fine arts programs, coverage of public hearings and governmental meetings, equal air time for political candidates, and other public interest programming.
(2) The Department of Education may employ personnel, acquire equipment and facilities, and perform all duties necessary for carrying out the purposes and objectives of this section.
(3)(a) The facilities, plant, or personnel of an educational television station that is supported in whole or in part by state funds may not be used directly or indirectly for the promotion, advertisement, or advancement of a political candidate for a municipal, county, legislative, congressional, or state office. However, fair, open, and free discussion between political candidates for municipal, county, legislative, congressional, or state office may be permitted in order to help materially reduce the excessive cost of campaigns and to ensure that the state’s citizens are fully informed about issues and candidates in campaigns. This paragraph applies to the advocacy for, or opposition to, a specific existing or proposed program of governmental action, which includes, but is not limited to, constitutional amendments, tax referenda, and bond issues. This paragraph shall be implemented in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.
(b) A violation of a prohibition contained in this subsection is a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
History.—s. 32, ch. 2002-387; s. 24, ch. 2004-41; s. 34, ch. 2009-80; s. 3, ch. 2012-133; s. 2, ch. 2013-35; s. 14, ch. 2014-39; ss. 5, 6, ch. 2018-10; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2019-116; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2020-114; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2021-37; ss. 7, 8, ch. 2022-157; s. 10, ch. 2023-245.
1001.271 Florida Information Resource Network.—The Commissioner of Education shall facilitate and coordinate the use of the Florida Information Resource Network by school districts, educational institutions in the Florida College System, universities, and other eligible users.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2009-59; s. 14, ch. 2011-5; s. 5, ch. 2011-55.
1001.28 Distance learning duties.—The duties of the Department of Education concerning distance learning include, but are not limited to, the duty to:
(1) Facilitate the implementation of a statewide coordinated system and resource system for cost-efficient advanced telecommunications services and distance education which will increase overall student access to education.
(2) Coordinate the use of existing resources, including, but not limited to, the state’s satellite transponders, the Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN), and distance learning initiatives.
(3) Assist in the coordination of the utilization of the production and uplink capabilities available through Florida’s public television stations, eligible facilities, independent colleges and universities, private firms, and others as needed.
(4) Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida’s cable television providers in the implementation of the statewide advanced telecommunications services and distance learning network.
(5) Seek the assistance and cooperation of Florida’s telecommunications carriers to provide affordable student access to advanced telecommunications services and to distance learning.
(6) Coordinate partnerships for development, acquisition, use, and distribution of distance learning.
(7) Secure and administer funding for programs and activities for distance learning from federal, state, local, and private sources and from fees derived from services and materials.
(8) Hire appropriate staff which may include a position that shall be exempt from part II of chapter 110 and is included in the Senior Management Service in accordance with s. 110.205.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate, supersede, alter, or amend the powers and duties of any state agency, district school board, Florida College System institution board of trustees, university board of trustees, the Board of Governors, or the State Board of Education.
History.—s. 34, ch. 2002-387; s. 73, ch. 2007-217; s. 4, ch. 2009-59; s. 15, ch. 2011-5; s. 6, ch. 2011-55; s. 4, ch. 2013-45.
1001.281 Operating Trust Fund.—
(1) The Operating Trust Fund, FLAIR number 48-2-510, is created within the Department of Education.
(2) The fund is established for use as a depository for funds to be used for program operations funded by program revenues. Moneys to be credited to the trust fund include, but are not limited to, revenues received from the payment of fees associated with high school equivalency examinations.
(3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purpose of the trust fund.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2007-20; s. 2, ch. 2011-23; s. 5, ch. 2013-45.
1001.282 Administrative Trust Fund.—
(1) The Administrative Trust Fund, FLAIR number 48-2-021, is created within the Department of Education.
(2) The fund is established for use as a depository for funds to be used for management activities that are department-wide in nature and funded by indirect cost earnings or assessments against trust funds. Moneys to be credited to the trust fund include indirect cost reimbursements from grantors, administrative assessments against trust funds, interest earnings, and other appropriate administrative fees.
(3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the trust fund at the end of the year and shall be available for carrying out the purpose of the trust fund.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2007-21; s. 2, ch. 2011-24.
1001.283 Welfare Transition Trust Fund.—
(1) The Welfare Transition Trust Fund is created within the Department of Education.
(2) The trust fund is established for use as a depository for receiving federal funds under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program. Trust fund moneys shall be used exclusively for the purpose of providing services to individuals eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families pursuant to the requirements and limitations of part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act, as amended, or any other applicable federal requirement or limitation. Funds credited to the trust fund consist of those funds collected from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2011-157; s. 2, ch. 2014-42.
1001.29 Discounted computers and Internet access for students.—
(1) There is created a program to offer computers and Internet access at a discounted price to students enrolled in grades 5 through 12 in a public school, including a charter school, or a home education program in the state.
(2) The Department of Education shall negotiate with computer manufacturers and with nonprofit corporations that obtain reconditioned computer hardware concerning:
(a) The prices of discounted computers and whether computer accessories such as printers or scanners will be offered to the students at reduced prices.
(b) Specialized software and hardware packages, including, but not limited to:
1. A word processor.
2. Software and hardware necessary to enable broadband Internet access.
3. An operating system.
(c) The type of warranty that is to be provided to the students and whether an extended warranty will be available to the students and under what terms.
(3) The Department of Education shall negotiate with broadband Internet access providers concerning the prices of discounted broadband Internet access packages. In areas in which broadband Internet access is not currently available, the department shall negotiate with non-broadband Internet access providers.
(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules concerning:
(a) How to integrate into this program the provision of computer or technical training to students in their respective school districts.
(b) How parents and students may be notified of the discounted computer and Internet access choices available.
(c) The distribution of eligibility certificates to the students, the locations at which discounted computers and Internet access services are available for purchase, and how students may obtain and pay for the equipment and services covered by this program.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2006-137.
1001.292 Schools of Hope Revolving Loan Program.—
(1) The Schools of Hope Revolving Loan Program is established within the Department of Education to provide assistance to hope operators, as defined in s. 1002.333, to meet school building construction needs and pay for expenses related to the startup of a new charter school. The program shall consist of funds appropriated by the Legislature, money received from the repayment of loans made from the program, and interest earned.
(2) Funds provided pursuant to this section may not exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the project, which shall be calculated based on 80 percent of the cost per student station established by s. 1013.64(6)(b) multiplied by the capacity of the facility.
(3) The department may contract with a third-party administrator to administer the program. If the department contracts with a third-party administrator, funds shall be granted to the third-party administrator to create a revolving loan fund for the purpose of financing projects that meet the requirements of subsection (4). The third-party administrator shall report to the department annually. The department shall continue to administer the program until a third-party administrator is selected.
(4) Hope operators that have been designated by the State Board of Education and have executed a performance-based agreement pursuant to s. 1002.333 shall be provided a loan of up to the amount provided in subsection (2) for projects that are located in the attendance area of a persistently low-performing school or within a 5-mile radius of such school and primarily serve students from the persistently low-performing school. A hope operator is not eligible for funding if it operates in facilities provided by the school district for a nominal fee, or at no charge, or if it is directly or indirectly operated by the school district.
(5) The department shall post on its website the projects that have received loans, the geographic distribution of the projects, the status of the projects, the costs of the program, and student outcomes for students enrolled in the school of hope receiving funds.
(6) All repayments of principal and interest shall be returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to other applicants.
(7) Interest on loans provided under this program may be used to defray the costs of administration and shall be the lower of:
(a) The rate paid on moneys held in the fund; or
(b) A rate equal to 50 percent of the rate authorized under the provisions of s. 215.84.
(8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351, funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of the original appropriation.
History.—s. 44, ch. 2017-116.
PART II
SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE1001.30 District unit.
1001.31 Scope of district system.
1001.32 Management, control, operation, administration, and supervision.
1001.33 Schools under control of district school board and district school superintendent.
1001.30 District unit.—Each county shall constitute a school district and shall be known as the school district of County, Florida. Each district shall constitute a unit for the control, organization, and administration of schools. The responsibility for the actual operation and administration of all schools needed within the districts in conformity with rules and minimum standards prescribed by the state, and also the responsibility for the provision of any desirable and practicable opportunities authorized by law beyond those required by the state, are delegated by law to the school officials of the respective districts.
History.—s. 36, ch. 2002-387.
1001.31 Scope of district system.—A district school system shall include all public schools, classes, and courses of instruction and all services and activities directly related to education in that district which are under the direction of the district school officials. A district school system may also include alternative site schools for disruptive or violent students. Such schools for disruptive or violent students may be funded by each district or provided through cooperative programs administered by a consortium of school districts, private providers, state and local law enforcement agencies, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Pursuant to cooperative agreement, a district school system shall provide instructional personnel at juvenile justice facilities with access to the district school system database for the purpose of accessing student academic, immunization, and registration records for students assigned to the programs. Such access shall be in the same manner as provided to other schools in the district.
History.—s. 37, ch. 2002-387; s. 30, ch. 2014-184.
1001.32 Management, control, operation, administration, and supervision.—The district school system must be managed, controlled, operated, administered, and supervised as follows:
(1) DISTRICT SYSTEM.—The district school system shall be considered as a part of the state system of public education. All actions of district school officials shall be consistent and in harmony with state laws and with rules and minimum standards of the state board. District school officials, however, shall have the authority to provide additional educational opportunities, as desired, which are authorized, but not required, by law or by the district school board.
(2) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—In accordance with the provisions of s. 4(b), Art. IX of the State Constitution, district school boards shall operate, control, and supervise all free public schools in their respective districts and may exercise any power except as expressly prohibited by the State Constitution or general law.
(3) DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.—Responsibility for the administration and management of the schools and for the supervision of instruction in the district shall be vested in the district school superintendent as the secretary and executive officer of the district school board, as provided by law.
(4) SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR HEAD OF SCHOOL.—Responsibility for the administration of any school or schools at a given school center, for the supervision of instruction therein, and for providing leadership in the development or revision and implementation of a school improvement plan required by s. 1001.42(18) shall be delegated to the school principal or head of the school or schools in accordance with rules established by the district school board.
History.—s. 38, ch. 2002-387; s. 25, ch. 2004-41; s. 8, ch. 2008-108.
1001.33 Schools under control of district school board and district school superintendent.—Except as otherwise provided by law, all public schools conducted within the district shall be under the direction and control of the district school board with the district school superintendent as executive officer.
History.—s. 39, ch. 2002-387; s. 28, ch. 2003-391; s. 9, ch. 2006-74.
A. District School Boards
B. District School Superintendents
C. School Principals
A. District School Boards
1001.34 Membership of district school board.
1001.35 Term of office.
1001.36 District school board member residence areas.
1001.361 Election of board by districtwide vote.
1001.362 Alternate procedure for the election of district school board members to provide for single-member representation.
1001.363 District school board members to represent entire district.
1001.364 Alternate procedure for election of district school board chair.
1001.365 Votes by district school board chair and district school board members.
1001.37 District school board members shall qualify.
1001.371 Organization of district school board.
1001.372 District school board meetings.
1001.38 Vacancies; how filled.
1001.39 District school board members; travel expenses.
1001.395 District school board members; compensation.
1001.40 District school board to constitute a corporation.
1001.41 General powers of district school board.
1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.
1001.4205 Individuals authorized to visit schools.
1001.421 Gifts.
1001.43 Supplemental powers and duties of district school board.
1001.432 Inspirational message.
1001.44 Career centers.
1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.
1001.452 District and school advisory councils.
1001.453 Direct-support organization; use of property; board of directors; audit.
1001.34 Membership of district school board.—
(1) Each district school board shall be composed of not less than five members. Each member of the district school board shall be a qualified elector of the district in which she or he serves, shall be a resident of the district school board member residence area from which she or he is elected, and shall maintain said residency throughout her or his term of office.
(2) A district school board may modify the number of members on its board by adopting a resolution that establishes the total number of members on the board, which may not be less than five, and the number of members who shall be elected by residence areas or elected at large. The resolution must specify an orderly method and procedure for modifying the membership of the board, including staggering terms of additional members as necessary. If the resolution is adopted, the district school board shall submit to the electors for approval at a referendum held at the next primary or general election the question of whether the number of board members should be modified in accordance with the resolution adopted by the district school board. If the referendum is approved, election of additional school board members may occur at any primary, general, or otherwise-called special election.
History.—s. 41, ch. 2002-387; s. 15, ch. 2014-39.
1001.35 Term of office.—District school board members shall be elected at the general election in November for terms of 4 years, except that a person may not appear on the ballot for reelection to the office of school board member if, by the end of his or her current term of office, the person will have served, or but for resignation would have served, in that office for 8 consecutive years. Service of a term of office which commenced before November 8, 2022, will not be counted toward the limitation imposed by this section.
History.—s. 42, ch. 2002-387; s. 1, ch. 2022-21; s. 1, ch. 2023-37.
1001.36 District school board member residence areas.—
(1) For the purpose of electing district school board members, each district shall be divided into at least five district school board member residence areas, which shall be numbered one to five, inclusive, and which shall, as nearly as practicable, be equal in population.
(a) For those school districts, which have seven district school board members, the district may be divided into five district school board member residence areas, with two district school board members elected at large, or the district may be divided into seven district school board member residence areas. In the latter case, the residence areas shall be numbered one to seven inclusive and shall be equal in population as nearly as practicable.
(b) For those school districts which have seven district school board members, the number of district school board member residence areas shall be determined by resolution passed by a majority vote of the district school board.
(2) A district school board may make any change that it deems necessary in the boundaries of any district school board member residence area at any meeting of the district school board, provided that such changes are not made in the 270 days before a general election and that no change that would affect the residence qualifications of any incumbent member disqualifies such incumbent member during the term for which he or she is elected. Residence areas may not be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a candidate for district school board member or an incumbent district school board member based on the candidate’s or incumbent’s residential address. Any resolution adopted by a district school board on or after July 1, 2023, which is in conflict with this subsection is void.
(3) Such changes in boundaries shall be shown by resolutions spread upon the minutes of the district school board, shall be recorded in the office of the clerk of the circuit court, and shall be published at least once in a newspaper published in the district within 30 days after the adoption of the resolution, or, if there be no newspaper published in the district, shall be posted at the county courthouse door for 4 weeks thereafter. A certified copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the Department of State.
History.—s. 43, ch. 2002-387; s. 3, ch. 2023-101.
1001.361 Election of board by districtwide vote.—Notwithstanding any provision of local law or any county charter, the election of members of the district school board must be by vote of the qualified electors of the entire district in a nonpartisan election as provided in chapter 105. Each elected candidate for district school board member must, by the date she or he assumes office, be a resident of the district school board member residence area from which she or he was elected. Each candidate who qualifies to have her or his name placed on the ballot must be listed according to the district school board member residence area in which she or he is a candidate. Each qualified elector of the district is entitled to vote for one candidate from each district school board member residence area. The candidate from each district school board member residence area who receives the highest number of votes in the general election shall be elected to the district school board.
History.—s. 44, ch. 2002-387; s. 4, ch. 2023-101.
1001.362 Alternate procedure for the election of district school board members to provide for single-member representation.—
(1) This section shall be known and may be referred to as “The School District Local Option Single-Member Representation Law of 1984.”
(2) District school board members shall be elected to office in accordance with the provisions of ss. 1001.36 and 1001.361, or as otherwise provided by law, unless a proposition calling for single-member representation within the residence areas of the district is submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on such proposition in the manner provided in subsection (3).
(a) If the district school board is composed of five members, such proposition shall provide that the five members shall reside one in each of five residence areas, the areas together covering the entire district and as nearly equal in population as practicable, pursuant to s. 1001.36, each of whom shall be elected only by the qualified electors who reside in the same residence area as the member.
(b) If the district school board is composed of seven members, at the option of the school board, such proposition shall provide that:
1. Five of the seven members shall reside one in each of five residence areas, the areas together covering the entire district and as nearly equal in population as practicable, pursuant to s. 1001.36, each of whom shall be elected only by the qualified electors who reside in the same residence area as the member, and two of the seven members shall be elected at large; or
2. All seven members shall reside one in each of seven residence areas, the areas together covering the entire district and as nearly equal in population as practicable, pursuant to s. 1001.36, each of whom shall be elected only by the qualified electors who reside in the same residence area as the member.
(c) All members shall be elected for 4-year terms, but such terms shall be staggered so that, alternately, one more or one less than half of the members elected from residence areas and, if applicable, one of the members elected at large from the entire district are elected every 2 years. Any member may be elected to an initial term of less than 4 years if necessary to achieve or maintain such system of staggered terms.
(3) A proposition calling for single-member representation within the residence areas of the district shall be submitted to the electors of the district at any primary, general, or otherwise-called special election, in either manner following:
(a) The district school board may adopt a formal resolution directing an election to be held to place the proposition on the ballot.
(b) The electors of the school district may petition to have the proposition placed on the ballot by presenting to the school board petitions signed by not less than 10 percent of the duly qualified electors residing within the school district. The number of signatures required shall be determined by the supervisor of elections according to the number of registered electors in the district as of the date the petitioning electors register as a political committee as provided in subsection (4).
(4) The electors petitioning to have the proposition placed on the ballot shall register as a political committee pursuant to s. 106.03, and a specific person shall be designated therein as chair of the committee to act for the committee.
(5)(a) Each petition form circulated for single-member representation within the residence areas of a district where the school board is composed of five members shall include the wording: “As a registered elector of the school district of County, Florida, I am petitioning for a referendum election to determine whether the five school board members of said district shall be elected from single-member residence areas by electors residing in each of those areas only.”
(b) Each petition form circulated for single-member representation within the residence areas of a district where the district school board is composed of seven members, none of whom are to be elected at large, shall include the wording: “As a registered elector of the school district of County, Florida, I am petitioning for a referendum election to determine whether the seven members of said district shall be elected from single-member residence areas by electors residing in each of those areas only.”
(c) Each petition form circulated for single-member representation within the residence areas of a district where the school board is composed of seven members, two of whom are to be elected at large, shall include the wording: “As a registered elector of the school district of County, Florida, I am petitioning for a referendum election to determine whether five of the seven district school board members of said district shall be elected from single-member residence areas by electors residing in each of those areas only, with the two remaining members being elected at large.”
The petition shall also include space for the signature and address of the elector. Each signature obtained shall be dated when made and is valid for a period of 4 years following that date.
(6) Upon the filing of the petitions with the district school board by the chair of the committee, the district school board shall submit the petitions to the supervisor of elections for verification of the signatures. Within a period of not more than 30 days, the supervisor of elections shall determine whether the petitions contain the required number of valid signatures. The supervisor of elections shall be paid by the committee seeking verification the sum of 10 cents for each name checked.
(7) If it is determined that the petitions have the required signatures, the supervisor of elections shall certify the petitions to the district school board, which shall adopt a resolution requesting that an election date be set to conform to the earliest primary, general, or otherwise-called special election that occurs not less than 30 days after certification of the petitions. If it is determined that the petitions do not contain the required signatures, the supervisor of elections shall so notify the district school board, which shall file the petitions without taking further action, and the matter shall be at an end. No additional names may be added to the petitions, and the petitions may not be used in any other proceeding.
(8) No special election may be called for the sole purpose of presenting the proposition to the vote of the electors.
(9) Any district adopting any of the propositions set forth in this section may thereafter return to the procedures otherwise provided by law by following the same procedure outlined in subsection (3).
(10) No district school board member elected prior to or at the election that approves any revision as permitted herein shall be affected in his or her term of office. The resolution adopted by the district school board under paragraph (3)(a) or subsection (7) which presents the proposed revision to the electorate for approval shall specify an orderly method and procedure for implementing the revision contemplated in the resolution.
History.—s. 45, ch. 2002-387.
1001.363 District school board members to represent entire district.—Each district school board of each district shall represent the entire district. Each member of the district school board shall serve as the representative of the entire district, rather than as the representative of a district school board member residence area.
History.—s. 46, ch. 2002-387.
1001.364 Alternate procedure for election of district school board chair.—
(1) The district school board chair shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of s. 1001.371 unless a proposition calling for the district school board chair to be elected as an additional school board member by districtwide vote is submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on such proposition in the manner provided in subsection (2).
(2) A proposition calling for the district school board chair to be elected by districtwide vote shall be submitted to the electors of the school district at any primary, general, or otherwise-called special election in either of the following manners:
(a) The district school board may adopt a formal resolution directing that the proposition be placed on the ballot; or
(b) The electors of the school district may petition to have the proposition placed on the ballot by presenting to the district school board petitions signed by not less than 10 percent of the duly qualified electors residing within the school district. The number of signatures required shall be determined by the supervisor of elections according to the number of registered electors in the school district as of the date the petitioning electors register as a political committee as provided in subsection (3).
(3) The electors petitioning to have the proposition placed on the ballot shall register as a political committee pursuant to s. 106.03, and a specific person shall be designated therein as chair of the committee to act for the committee.
(4) Each petition form circulated shall include the following wording:
As a registered elector of the school district of County, Florida, I am petitioning for a referendum election to determine whether the district school board chair shall be elected by districtwide vote.
The petition shall also include space for the signature and address of the elector. Each signature obtained shall be dated when made and is valid for a period of 4 years after that date.
(5) Upon the filing of the petitions with the district school board by the chair of the committee, the district school board shall submit the petitions to the supervisor of elections for verification of the signatures. Within a period of not more than 30 days, the supervisor of elections shall determine whether the petitions contain the required number of valid signatures. The supervisor of elections shall be paid by the committee seeking verification the sum of 10 cents for each signature checked.
(6) If it is determined that the petitions have the required signatures, the supervisor of elections shall certify the petitions to the district school board, which shall adopt a formal resolution requesting that an election date be set to conform to the earliest primary, general, or otherwise-called special election that occurs not less than 30 days after certification of the petitions. If it is determined that the petitions do not contain the required signatures, the supervisor of elections shall so notify the district school board, which shall file the petitions without taking further action, and the matter shall be at an end. No additional signatures may be added to the petitions, and the petitions may not be used in any other proceeding.
(7) No special election may be called for the sole purpose of presenting the proposition to the vote of the electors.
(8) Any school district adopting the proposition set forth in this section may thereafter return to the procedure otherwise provided by law by following the same procedure outlined in subsection (2).
(9) If a proposition submitted to the electors under subsection (2) calling for the district school board chair to be elected by districtwide vote is approved by vote of the qualified electors, the office of district school board chair shall be filled at the next general election.
(10) The vice chair of the district school board shall be elected by the members of the district school board as provided in s. 1001.371.
(11) This section applies only to those counties organized by charter that have a population of between 800,000 and 900,000 according to the last federal decennial census.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2006-256.
1001.365 Votes by district school board chair and district school board members.—Unless otherwise provided by law, in the event of a tie vote of the district school board chair and district school board members acting in any capacity, the side on which the district school board chair voted shall be deemed to prevail. For purposes of any vote of the district school board chair and district school board members acting in any capacity, action taken pursuant to that side of a tie vote on which the district school board chair voted satisfies the requirement that action be taken by a “majority” vote or a “simple majority” vote. This section applies only to those counties organized by charter that have a population of between 800,000 and 900,000 according to the last federal decennial census.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2006-256.
1001.37 District school board members shall qualify.—Before entering upon the duties of office after being elected, or, if appointed, within 10 days after receiving notice of appointment, each member of the district school board shall take the prescribed oath of office.
History.—s. 47, ch. 2002-387.
1001.371 Organization of district school board.—In November of each year, the district school board shall organize by electing a chair. In an election year, that date shall coincide with the requirements of s. 100.041(3)(a). It may elect a vice chair, and the district school superintendent shall act ex officio as the secretary. If a vacancy should occur in the position of chair, the district school board shall proceed to elect a chair at the next ensuing regular or special meeting. At the organization meeting, the district school superintendent shall act as chair until the organization is completed. The chair and secretary shall then make and sign a copy of the proceedings of organization, including the schedule for regular meetings and the names and addresses of all district school officers, and annex their affidavits that the same is a true and correct copy of the original, and the secretary shall file the document within 2 weeks with the Department of Education. This section does not apply to any school district with a district school board chair who is elected by districtwide vote.
History.—s. 48, ch. 2002-387; s. 4, ch. 2006-256; s. 1, ch. 2012-87.
1001.372 District school board meetings.—
(1) REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS.—The district school board shall hold not less than one regular meeting each month for the transaction of business according to a schedule arranged by the district school board and shall convene in special sessions when called by the district school superintendent or by the district school superintendent on request of the chair of the district school board, or on request of a majority of the members of the district school board; provided that actions taken at special meetings shall have the same force and effect as if taken at a regular meeting; and provided further that in the event the district school superintendent should fail to call a special meeting when requested to do so, as prescribed herein, such a meeting may be called by the chair of the district school board or by a majority of the members of the district school board by giving 2 days’ written notice of the time and purpose of the meeting to all members and to the district school superintendent, in which event the minutes of the meeting shall set forth the facts regarding the procedure in calling the meeting and the reason therefor and shall be signed either by the chair or by a majority of the members of the district school board.
(2) PLACE OF MEETINGS.—
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), all regular and special meetings of the district school board shall be held in the office of the district school superintendent or in a room convenient to that office and regularly designated as the district school board meeting room.
(b) Upon the giving of due public notice, regular or special meetings of the district school board may be held at any appropriate public place in the county.
(c) For purpose of this section, due public notice shall consist of publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or in each county where there is no newspaper of general circulation in the county an announcement over at least one radio station whose signal is generally received in the county, a reasonable number of times daily during the 48 hours immediately preceding the date of such meeting, or by posting a notice at the courthouse door if no newspaper is published in the county, at least 2 days prior to the meeting.
(3) REMOVAL OF PERSONS INTERFERING WITH MEETINGS.—The presiding officer of any district school board may order the removal, from a public meeting held by the district school board, of any person interfering with the expeditious or orderly process of such meeting, provided such officer has first issued a warning that continued interference with the orderly processes of the meeting will result in removal. Any law enforcement authority or a sergeant-at-arms designated by the officer shall remove any person ordered removed pursuant to this subsection.
(4) MAJORITY A QUORUM.—A majority shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the district school board. No business may be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present, except that a minority of the district school board may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present.
History.—s. 49, ch. 2002-387; s. 26, ch. 2004-41.
1001.38 Vacancies; how filled.—The office of any district school board member shall be vacant when the member removes his or her residence from the district school board member residence area from which he or she was elected. All vacancies on the district school board shall be filled by appointment by the Governor.
History.—s. 50, ch. 2002-387.
1001.39 District school board members; travel expenses.—
(1) In addition to the salary provided in s. 1001.395, each member of a district school board shall be allowed, from the district school fund, reimbursement of travel expenses as authorized in s. 112.061, provided that any travel outside the district that exceeds $500 requires prior approval by the district school board to confirm that such travel is for official business of the school district and complies with rules of the State Board of Education. Any request for travel outside the state must include an itemized list detailing all anticipated travel expenses, including, but not limited to, the anticipated costs of all means of travel, lodging, and subsistence. Immediately preceding a request, the public must have an opportunity to speak on the specific travel agenda item.
(2) Each district school board may reimburse a district school board member for travel expenses for travel from the member’s residence incurred in the performance of a public purpose authorized by law to be performed by the district school board, including, but not limited to, attendance at regular and special board meetings. Mileage allowance in the amount provided by law for reimbursement of travel expenses, when authorized, shall be computed from the member’s place of residence to the place of the meeting or function and return.
History.—s. 51, ch. 2002-387; s. 5, ch. 2018-5.
1001.395 District school board members; compensation.—
(1) Each member of the district school board shall receive a base salary, the amounts indicated in this section, based on the population of the county the district school board member serves. In addition, compensation shall be made for population increments over the minimum for each population group, which shall be determined by multiplying the population in excess of the minimum for the group times the group rate. The product of such calculation shall be added to the base salary to determine the adjusted base salary. The adjusted base salaries of district school board members shall be increased annually as provided for in s. 145.19.
| Pop. Group | County Pop. Range | Base Salary | Group Rate | |
| Minimum | Maximum | |||
| I | -0- | 9,999 | $5,000 | $0.08330 |
| II | 10,000 | 49,999 | 5,833 | 0.020830 |
| III | 50,000 | 99,999 | 6,666 | 0.016680 |
| IV | 100,000 | 199,999 | 7,500 | 0.008330 |
| V | 200,000 | 399,999 | 8,333 | 0.004165 |
| VI | 400,000 | 999,999 | 9,166 | 0.001390 |
| VII | 1,000,000 | 10,000 | 0.000000 | |
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or s. 145.19, district school board members may reduce their salary rate on a voluntary basis.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and s. 145.19, the salary of each district school board member shall be the amount calculated pursuant to subsection (1) or the district’s beginning salary for teachers who hold baccalaureate degrees, whichever is less.
History.—s. 52, ch. 2002-387; s. 4, ch. 2007-234; s. 175, ch. 2008-4; s. 1, ch. 2009-3; s. 95, ch. 2009-21; s. 5, ch. 2009-59; s. 3, ch. 2010-154; s. 6, ch. 2018-5.
1001.40 District school board to constitute a corporation.—The governing body of each school district shall be a district school board. Each district school board is constituted a body corporate by the name of “The School Board of County, Florida.” In all suits against district school boards, service of process shall be had on the chair of the district school board or, if he or she cannot be found, on the district school superintendent as executive officer of the district school board or, in the absence of the chair and the district school superintendent, on another member of the district school board.
History.—s. 53, ch. 2002-387.
1001.41 General powers of district school board.—The district school board, after considering recommendations submitted by the district school superintendent, shall exercise the following general powers:
(1) Determine policies and programs consistent with state law and rule deemed necessary by it for the efficient operation and general improvement of the district school system.
(2) Adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of law conferring duties upon it to supplement those prescribed by the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education.
(3) Prescribe and adopt standards and policies to provide each student the opportunity to receive a complete education program, including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, physical education, foreign languages, and the arts, as defined by the state academic standards. The standards and policies must emphasize integration and reinforcement of reading, writing, and mathematics skills across all subjects, including career awareness, career exploration, and career and technical education.
(4) Contract, sue, and be sued. The district school board shall constitute the contracting agent for the district school system.
(5) Perform duties and exercise those responsibilities that are assigned to it by law or by rules of the State Board of Education or the Commissioner of Education and, in addition thereto, those that it may find to be necessary for the improvement of the district school system in carrying out the purposes and objectives of the education code.
(6) Assign students to schools.
(7) Enter into agreements for accepting credit card, charge card, and debit card payments as compensation for goods, services, tuition, and fees, as authorized by law.
History.—s. 54, ch. 2002-387; s. 10, ch. 2006-74; s. 4, ch. 2023-13.
11001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below:
(1) REQUIRE MINUTES AND RECORDS TO BE KEPT.—Require the district school superintendent, as secretary, to keep such minutes and records as are necessary to set forth clearly all actions and proceedings of the school board.
(a) Minutes, recording.—The minutes of each meeting shall be reviewed, corrected if necessary, and approved at the next regular meeting, provided that this action may be taken at an intervening special meeting if the district school board desires. The minutes shall be kept as a public record in a permanent location.
(b) Minutes, contents.—The minutes shall show the vote of each member present on all matters on which the district school board takes action. It shall be the duty of each member to see to it that both the matter and his or her vote thereon are properly recorded in the minutes. Unless otherwise shown by the minutes, it shall be presumed that the vote of each member present supported any action taken by the district school board in either the exercise of, violation of, or neglect of the powers and duties imposed upon the district school board by law or rule, whether such action is recorded in the minutes or is otherwise established. It shall also be presumed that the policies, appointments, programs, and expenditures not recorded in the minutes but made and actually in effect in the district school system were made and put into effect at the direction of the district school board, unless it can be shown that they were done without the actual or constructive knowledge of the members of the district school board.
(2) CONTROL PROPERTY.—Subject to rules of the State Board of Education, control property and convey the title to real and personal property.
(3) ADOPT SCHOOL PROGRAM.—Adopt a school program for the entire school district.
(4) ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATION OF SCHOOLS.—Adopt and provide for the execution of plans for the establishment, organization, and operation of the schools of the district, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Schools and enrollment plans.—Establish schools and adopt enrollment plans that may include school attendance areas and open enrollment provisions.
(b) Elimination of school centers and consolidation of schools.—Provide for the elimination of school centers and the consolidation of schools.
(c) Adequate educational facilities for all children without tuition.—Provide adequate educational facilities for all children without payment of tuition.
(d) Cooperate with school boards of adjoining districts in maintaining schools.—Approve plans for cooperating with school boards of adjoining districts in this state or in adjoining states for establishing school attendance areas composed of territory lying within the districts and for the joint maintenance of district-line schools or other schools which are to serve those attendance areas. The conditions of such cooperation shall be as follows:
1. Establishment.—The establishment of a school to serve attendance areas lying in more than one district and the plans for maintaining the school and providing educational services to students shall be effected by annual resolutions spread upon the minutes of each district school board concerned, which resolutions shall set out the territorial limits of the areas from which children are to attend the school and the plan to be followed in maintaining and operating the school.
2. Control.—Control of the school or schools involved shall be vested in the district school board of the district in which the school or schools are located unless otherwise agreed by the district school boards.
3. Settlement of disagreements.—In the event an agreement cannot be reached relating to such attendance areas or to the school or schools therein, the matter may be referred jointly by the cooperating district school boards or by either district school board to the Department of Education for decision under rules of the State Board of Education, and its decision shall be binding on both school boards.
(e) Classification and standardization of schools.—Provide for the classification and standardization of schools.
(f) Opening and closing of schools; fixing uniform date; middle school and high school start times.—Adopt policies for the opening and closing of schools, fix uniform dates, and middle school and high school start times.
1. The opening date for schools in the district may not be earlier than August 10 of each year.
2. By July 1, 2026, the instructional day for middle schools may not begin earlier than 8 a.m. and the instructional day for high schools may not begin earlier than 8:30 a.m. Each district school board must inform its community, including parents, students, teachers, school administrators, athletic coaches, and other stakeholders, about the health, safety, and academic impacts of sleep deprivation on middle school and high school students and the benefits of a later school start time and discuss local strategies to successfully implement the later school start times.
(g) Observance of school holidays and vacation periods.—Designate the observance of school holidays and vacation periods.
(h) Career classes and schools.—Provide for the establishment and maintenance of career schools, departments, or classes, giving instruction in career education as defined by rules of the State Board of Education, and use any moneys raised by public taxation in the same manner as moneys for other school purposes are used for the maintenance and support of public schools or classes.
(i) District school boards may establish public evening schools.—Have the authority to establish public evening schools.
(j) Cooperate with other agencies in joint projects.—Cooperate with other agencies in joint projects.
(k) Planning time for teachers.—May adopt rules for planning time for teachers in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1012.
(l) Exceptional students.—Provide for an appropriate program of special instruction, facilities, and services for exceptional students as prescribed by the State Board of Education as acceptable in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.57.
(m) Alternative education programs for students in residential care facilities.—Provide, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.58, educational programs according to rules of the State Board of Education to students who reside in residential care facilities operated by the Department of Children and Families.
(n) Educational services in detention facilities.—In accordance with the provisions of chapter 1006, offer services to students in detention facilities.
(5) PERSONNEL.—
(a) Designate positions to be filled, prescribe qualifications for those positions, and provide for the appointment, compensation, promotion, suspension, and dismissal of employees, subject to the requirements of chapter 1012. A district school board is encouraged to provide clerical personnel or volunteers who are not classroom teachers to assist teachers in noninstructional activities, including performing paperwork and recordkeeping duties. However, a teacher shall remain responsible for all instructional activities and for classroom management and grading student performance.
(b) Notwithstanding s. 1012.55 or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary and consistent with adopted district school board policy relating to alternative certification for school principals, have the authority to appoint persons to the position of school principal who do not hold educator certification.
(6) STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT.—Adopt policies establishing standards of ethical conduct for educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, and school officers. The policies must require all educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, and school officers, as defined in s. 1012.01, to complete training on the standards; establish the duty of educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, and school officers to report, and procedures for reporting, alleged misconduct by other educational support employees, instructional or administrative personnel, and school officers which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, including misconduct that involves engaging in or soliciting sexual, romantic, or lewd conduct with a student; require the district school superintendent to report to law enforcement misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, or school administrators that would result in disqualification from educator certification or employment as provided in s. 1012.315; and include an explanation of the liability protections provided under ss. 39.203 and 768.095. A district school board, or any of its employees or personnel, may not enter into a confidentiality agreement regarding terminated or dismissed educational support employees, instructional or administrative personnel, or school officers who resign in lieu of termination, based in whole or in part on misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, and may not provide educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, or school officers with employment references or discuss the employees’, personnel’s, or officers’ performance with prospective employers in another educational setting, without disclosing the employees’, personnel’s, or officers’ misconduct. Any part of an agreement or contract that has the purpose or effect of concealing misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, administrative personnel, or school officers which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student is void, is contrary to public policy, and may not be enforced.
(7) PROHIBITION FROM EMPLOYMENT.—Prohibit educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel, as defined in s. 1012.01, from employment in any position that requires direct contact with students if the employees or personnel are ineligible for such employment under s. 1012.315 or have been terminated or have resigned in lieu of termination for sexual misconduct with a student. If the prohibited conduct occurs while employed, the district school board must report the employees or personnel and the disqualifying circumstances to the department for inclusion on the disqualification list maintained by the department pursuant to s. 1001.10(4)(b). An elected or appointed school board official forfeits his or her salary for 1 year if:
(a) The school board official knowingly signs and transmits to any state official a report of alleged misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, or administrative personnel which the school board official knows to be false or incorrect; or
(b) The school board official knowingly fails to adopt policies that require:
1. Educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel to report alleged misconduct by other educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel;
2. The district school superintendent to report misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, or school administrators that would result in disqualification from educator certification or employment as provided in s. 1012.315 to the law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the conduct; or
3. The investigation of all reports of alleged misconduct by educational support employees, instructional personnel, and administrative personnel, if the misconduct affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, regardless of whether the person resigned or was terminated before the conclusion of the investigation. The policies must require the district school superintendent to notify the department of the result of the investigation and whether the misconduct warranted termination, regardless of whether the person resigned or was terminated before the conclusion of the investigation.
(8) STUDENT WELFARE.—
(a) In accordance with the provisions of chapters 1003 and 1006, provide for the proper accounting for all students of school age, for the attendance and control of students at school, and for proper attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the welfare of students.
(b) In accordance with the provisions of ss. 1003.31 and 1003.32, fully support the authority of each teacher and school bus driver to remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom and the school bus and the authority of the school board to place such students in an alternative educational setting, when appropriate and available.
(c)1. In accordance with the rights of parents enumerated in ss. 1002.20 and 1014.04, adopt procedures for notifying a student’s parent if there is a change in the student’s services or monitoring related to the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school’s ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student. The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children by requiring school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her well-being with his or her parent or to facilitate discussion of the issue with the parent. The procedures may not prohibit parents from accessing any of their student’s education and health records created, maintained, or used by the school district, as required by s. 1002.22(2).
2. A school district may not adopt procedures or student support forms that prohibit school district personnel from notifying a parent about his or her student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being, or a change in related services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the effect of encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such information. School district personnel may not discourage or prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. This subparagraph does not prohibit a school district from adopting procedures that permit school personnel to withhold such information from a parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as those terms are defined in s. 39.01.
3. Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in prekindergarten through grade 8, except when required by ss. 1003.42(2)(n)3. and 1003.46. If such instruction is provided in grades 9 through 12, the instruction must be age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards. This subparagraph applies to charter schools.
4. Student support services training developed or provided by a school district to school district personnel must adhere to student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks established by the Department of Education.
5. At the beginning of the school year, each school district shall notify parents of each health care service offered at their student’s school and the option to withhold consent or decline any specific service in accordance with s. 1014.06. Parental consent to a health care service does not waive the parent’s right to access his or her student’s educational or health records or to be notified about a change in his or her student’s services or monitoring as provided by this paragraph.
6. Before administering a student well-being questionnaire or health screening form to a student in kindergarten through grade 3, the school district must provide the questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and obtain the permission of the parent.
7. Each school district shall adopt procedures for a parent to notify the principal, or his or her designee, regarding concerns under this paragraph at his or her student’s school and the process for resolving those concerns within 7 calendar days after notification by the parent.
a. At a minimum, the procedures must require that within 30 days after notification by the parent that the concern remains unresolved, the school district must either resolve the concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving the concern.
b. If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a parent may:
(I) Request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar in good standing and who has at least 5 years’ experience in administrative law. The special magistrate shall determine facts relating to the dispute over the school district procedure or practice, consider information provided by the school district, and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State Board of Education within 30 days after receipt of the request by the parent. The State Board of Education must approve or reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30 days after the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The costs of the special magistrate shall be borne by the school district. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, including forms, necessary to implement this subparagraph.
(II) Bring an action against the school district to obtain a declaratory judgment that the school district procedure or practice violates this paragraph and seek injunctive relief. A court may award damages and shall award reasonable attorney fees and court costs to a parent who receives declaratory or injunctive relief.
c. Each school district shall adopt and post on its website policies to notify parents of the procedures required under this subparagraph.
d. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be construed to abridge or alter rights of action or remedies in equity already existing under the common law or general law.
(9) COURSES OF STUDY AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.—Provide adequate instructional materials for all students in accordance with the requirements of chapter 1006.
(10) TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS.—After considering recommendations of the district school superintendent, make provision for the transportation of students to the public schools or school activities they are required or expected to attend; authorize transportation routes arranged efficiently and economically; provide the necessary transportation facilities, and, when authorized under rules of the State Board of Education and if more economical to do so, provide limited subsistence in lieu thereof; and adopt the necessary rules and regulations to ensure safety, economy, and efficiency in the operation of all buses, as prescribed in chapter 1006.
(11) SCHOOL PLANT.—Approve plans for locating, planning, constructing, sanitating, insuring, maintaining, protecting, and condemning school property as prescribed in chapter 1013 and as follows:
(a) School building program.—Approve and adopt a districtwide school building program.
(b) Sites, buildings, and equipment.—
1. Select and purchase school sites, playgrounds, and recreational areas located at centers at which schools are to be constructed, of adequate size to meet the needs of projected students to be accommodated.
2. Approve the proposed purchase of any site, playground, or recreational area for which district funds are to be used.
3. Expand existing sites.
4. Rent buildings when necessary.
5. Enter into leases or lease-purchase arrangements, in accordance with the requirements and conditions provided in s. 1013.15(2), with private individuals or corporations for the rental of necessary grounds and educational facilities for school purposes or of educational facilities to be erected for school purposes. Current or other funds authorized by law may be used to make payments under a lease-purchase agreement. Notwithstanding any other statutes, if the rental is to be paid from funds received from ad valorem taxation and the agreement is for a period greater than 12 months, an approving referendum must be held. The provisions of such contracts, including building plans, shall be subject to approval by the Department of Education, and no such contract shall be entered into without such approval. As used in this section, “educational facilities” means the buildings and equipment that are built, installed, or established to serve educational purposes and that may lawfully be used. The State Board of Education may adopt such rules as are necessary to implement these provisions.
6. Provide for the proper supervision of construction.
7. Make or contract for additions, alterations, and repairs on buildings and other school properties.
8. Ensure that all plans and specifications for buildings provide adequately for the safety and well-being of students, as well as for economy of construction.
(c) Maintenance and upkeep of school plant.—Provide adequately for the proper maintenance and upkeep of school plants, so that students may attend school without sanitary or physical hazards, and provide for the necessary heat, lights, water, power, and other supplies and utilities necessary for the operation of the schools.
(d) Insurance of school property.—Carry insurance on every school building in all school plants including contents, boilers, and machinery, except buildings of three classrooms or less that are of frame construction and located in a tenth class public protection zone as defined by the Florida Inspection and Rating Bureau, and on all school buses and other property under the control of the district school board or title to which is vested in the district school board, except as exceptions may be authorized under rules of the State Board of Education.
(e) Condemnation of buildings.—Condemn and prohibit the use for public school purposes of any building that can be shown for sanitary or other reasons to be no longer suitable for such use and, when any building is condemned by any state or other government agency as authorized in chapter 1013, see that it is no longer used for school purposes.
(12) FINANCE.—Take steps to assure students adequate educational facilities through the financial procedure authorized in chapters 1010 and 1011 and as prescribed below:
(a) Provide for all schools to operate 180 days.—Provide for the operation of all public schools, both elementary and secondary, as free schools for a term of 180 days or the equivalent on an hourly basis as specified by rules of the State Board of Education; determine district school funds necessary in addition to state funds to operate all schools for such minimum term; and arrange for the levying of district school taxes necessary to provide the amount needed from district sources.
(b) Annual budget.—
1. Cause to be prepared, adopt, and have submitted to the Department of Education as required by law and rules of the State Board of Education, the annual school budget, such budget to be so prepared and executed as to promote the improvement of the district school system.
2. An individual school board member may request and shall receive any proposed, tentative, and official budget documents, including all supporting and background information.
(c) Tax levies.—Adopt and spread on its minutes a resolution fixing the district school tax levy, provided for under s. 9, Art. VII of the State Constitution, necessary to carry on the school program adopted for the district for the next ensuing fiscal year as required by law, and fixing the district bond interest and sinking fund tax levy necessary for districts against which bonds are outstanding; and adopt and spread on its minutes a resolution suggesting the tax levy provided for in s. 9, Art. VII of the State Constitution, found necessary to carry on the school program adopted for the district for the next ensuing fiscal year.
(d) School funds.—Require that an accurate account is kept of all funds that should be transmitted to the district school board for school purposes at various periods during the year from all sources and, if any funds are not transmitted promptly, take the necessary steps to have such funds made available.
(e) Borrow money.—Borrow money, as prescribed in ss. 1011.12-1011.16, when necessary in anticipation of funds reasonably to be expected during the year as shown by the budget.
(f) Financial records and accounts.—Provide for keeping of accurate records of all financial transactions.
(g) Approval and payment of accounts.—Implement a system of accounting and budgetary control to ensure that payments do not exceed amounts budgeted, as required by law; make available all records for proper audit by state officials or independent certified public accountants; and have prepared required periodic statements to be filed with the Department of Education as provided by rules of the State Board of Education.
(h) Bonds of employees.—Fix and prescribe the bonds, and pay the premium on all such bonds, of all school employees who are responsible for school funds in order to provide reasonable safeguards for all such funds or property.
(i) Contracts for materials, supplies, and services.—Contract for materials, supplies, and services needed for the district school system. No contract for supplying these needs shall be made with any member of the district school board, with the district school superintendent, or with any business organization in which any district school board member or the district school superintendent has any financial interest whatsoever.
(j) Purchasing regulations to be secured from Department of Management Services.—Secure purchasing regulations and amendments and changes thereto from the Department of Management Services and prior to any purchase have reported to it by its staff, and give consideration to the lowest price available to it under such regulations, provided a regulation applicable to the item or items being purchased has been adopted by the department. The department should meet with educational administrators to expand the inventory of standard items for common usage in all schools and postsecondary educational institutions.
(k) Protection against loss.—Provide for adequate protection against any loss or damage to school property or loss resulting from any liability for which the district school board or its officers, agents, or employees may be responsible under law. In fulfilling this responsibility, the district school board may purchase insurance, to be self-insured, to enter into risk management programs managed by district school boards, school-related associations, or insurance companies, or to have any combination thereof in any area to the extent the district school board is either authorized or required by law to contract for insurance. Any risk management program entered into pursuant to this subsection shall provide for strict accountability of all funds to the member district school boards and an annual audit by an independent certified public accountant of all receipts and disbursements.
(l) Internal auditor.—May or, in the case of a school district receiving annual federal, state, and local funds in excess of $500 million, shall employ an internal auditor. The scope of the internal auditor shall not be restricted and shall include every functional and program area of the school system.
1. The internal auditor shall perform ongoing financial verification of the financial records of the school district, a comprehensive risk assessment of all areas of the school system every 5 years, and other audits and reviews as the district school board directs for determining:
a. The adequacy of internal controls designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse as defined in s. 11.45(1).
b. Compliance with applicable laws, rules, contracts, grant agreements, district school board-approved policies, and best practices.
c. The efficiency of operations.
d. The reliability of financial records and reports.
e. The safeguarding of assets.
f. Financial solvency.
g. Projected revenues and expenditures.
h. The rate of change in the general fund balance.
2. The internal auditor shall prepare audit reports of his or her findings and report directly to the district school board or its designee.
3. Any person responsible for furnishing or producing any book, record, paper, document, data, or sufficient information necessary to conduct a proper audit or examination which the internal auditor is by law authorized to perform is subject to the provisions of s. 11.47(3) and (4).
(m) Financial and performance audits.—In addition to the audits required by ss. 11.45 and 218.39, may contract with an independent certified public accountant to conduct a financial or performance audit of its accounts and records retained by it and paid from its public funds.
(13) RECORDS AND REPORTS.—Provide for the keeping of all necessary records and the making of all needed or required reports, as follows:
(a) Forms, blanks, and reports.—Require all employees to keep accurately all records and to make promptly in the proper form all reports required by law or by rules of the State Board of Education.
(b) Reports to the department.—Require that the district school superintendent prepare all reports to the Department of Education that may be required by law or rules of the State Board of Education; see that all such reports are promptly transmitted to the department; withhold the further payment of salary to the superintendent or employee when notified by the department that he or she has failed to file any report within the time or in the manner prescribed; and continue to withhold the salary until the district school board is notified by the department that such report has been received and accepted, provided that when any report has not been received by the date due and after due notice has been given to the district school board of that fact, the department, if it deems necessary, may require the report to be prepared by a member of its staff, and the district school board shall pay all expenses connected therewith. Any member of the district school board who is responsible for the violation of this provision is subject to suspension and removal.
(c) Reports to parents.—Require that, at regular intervals, reports are made by school principals or teachers to parents, apprising them of the progress being made by the students in their studies and giving other needful information.
(14) COOPERATION WITH OTHER DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS.—May establish and participate in educational consortia that are designed to provide joint programs and services to cooperating school districts, consistent with the provisions of s. 4(b), Art. IX of the State Constitution. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules providing for the establishment, funding, administration, and operation of such consortia.
(15) ENFORCEMENT OF LAW AND RULES.—Require that all laws and rules of the State Board of Education or of the district school board are properly enforced.
(16) SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.—Assume such responsibilities and exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to it by law or as may be required by rules of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or, as in the opinion of the district school board, are necessary to ensure school lunch services, consistent with needs of students; effective and efficient operation of the program; and the proper articulation of the school lunch program with other phases of education in the district.
(17) PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM.—
(a) Adopt procedures whereby the general public can be adequately informed of the educational programs, needs, and objectives of public education within the district, including educational opportunities available through the Florida Virtual School.
(b) Adopt rules to strengthen family involvement and empowerment pursuant to s. 1002.23. The rules shall be developed in collaboration with administrative personnel, parents, teachers, and community partners.
(c) Develop and disseminate a parent guide to successful student achievement which addresses what parents need to know about their child’s educational progress and how they can help their child to succeed in school.
(d) Develop and disseminate a checklist for parents to assist parents in becoming involved in their child’s educational progress.
(e) Encourage teachers and administrators to keep parents informed of student progress, student programs, student attendance requirements pursuant to ss. 1003.26, 1003.27, 414.1251, and 984.151, and availability of resources for academic assistance.
(18) IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.—Maintain a system of school improvement and education accountability as provided by statute and State Board of Education rule. This system of school improvement and education accountability shall be consistent with, and implemented through, the district’s continuing system of planning and budgeting required by this section and ss. 1008.385, 1010.01, and 1011.01. This system of school improvement and education accountability shall comply with the provisions of ss. 1008.33, 1008.34, 1008.345, and 1008.385 and include the following:
(a) School improvement plans.—The district school board shall annually approve and require implementation of a new, amended, or continuation school improvement plan for each school in the district which has a school grade of “D” or “F”; has a significant gap in achievement on statewide, standardized assessments administered pursuant to s. 1008.22 by one or more student subgroups, as defined in the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), 20 U.S.C. s. 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II); has not significantly increased the percentage of students passing statewide, standardized assessments; has not significantly increased the percentage of students demonstrating Learning Gains, as defined in s. 1008.34 and as calculated under s. 1008.34(3)(b), who passed statewide, standardized assessments; has been identified as requiring instructional supports under the Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic Excellence program established in s. 1008.365; or has significantly lower graduation rates for a subgroup when compared to the state’s graduation rate. The improvement plan of a school that meets the requirements of this paragraph shall include strategies for improving these results. The state board shall adopt rules establishing thresholds and for determining compliance with this paragraph.
(b) Early warning system.—
1. A school that serves any students in kindergarten through grade 8 shall implement an early warning system to identify students in such grades who need additional support to improve academic performance and stay engaged in school. The early warning system must include the following early warning indicators:
a. Attendance below 90 percent, regardless of whether absence is excused or a result of out-of-school suspension.
b. One or more suspensions, whether in school or out of school.
c. Course failure in English Language Arts or mathematics during any grading period.
d. A Level 1 score on the statewide, standardized assessments in English Language Arts or mathematics.
e. For students in kindergarten through grade 3, a substantial reading deficiency under s. 1008.25(5)(a) or, for students in kindergarten through grade 4, a substantial mathematics deficiency under s. 1008.25(6)(a).
A school district may identify additional early warning indicators for use in a school’s early warning system. The system must include data on the number of students identified by the system as exhibiting two or more early warning indicators, the number of students by grade level who exhibit each early warning indicator, and a description of all intervention strategies employed by the school to improve the academic performance of students identified by the early warning system.
2. A school-based team responsible for implementing the requirements of this paragraph shall monitor the data from the early warning system. The team may include a school psychologist. When a student exhibits two or more early warning indicators, the team, in consultation with the student’s parent, shall determine appropriate intervention strategies for the student unless the student is already being served by an intervention program at the direction of a school-based, multidisciplinary team. Data and information relating to a student’s early warning indicators must be used to inform any intervention strategies provided to the student.
(c) Public disclosure.—The district school board shall provide information regarding the performance of students and educational programs as required pursuant to ss. 1008.22 and 1008.385 and implement a system of school reports as required by statute and State Board of Education rule which shall include schools operating for the purpose of providing educational services to students in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, and for those schools, report on the elements specified in s. 1003.52(17). Annual public disclosure reports shall be in an easy-to-read report card format and shall include the school’s grade, high school graduation rate calculated without high school equivalency examinations, disaggregated by student ethnicity, and performance data as specified in state board rule.
(d) School improvement funds.—The district school board shall provide funds to schools for developing and implementing school improvement plans. Such funds shall include those funds appropriated for the purpose of school improvement pursuant to s. 24.121(5)(c).
(19) LOCAL-LEVEL DECISIONMAKING.—
(a) Adopt policies that clearly encourage and enhance maximum decisionmaking appropriate to the school site. Such policies must include guidelines for schools in the adoption and purchase of district and school site instructional materials and technology, the implementation of student health and fitness standards, staff training, school advisory council member training, student support services, budgeting, and the allocation of staff resources.
(b) Adopt waiver process policies to enable all schools to exercise maximum flexibility and notify advisory councils of processes to waive school district and state policies.
(c) Develop policies for periodically monitoring the membership composition of school advisory councils to ensure compliance with requirements established in s. 1001.452.
(d) Adopt policies that assist in giving greater autonomy, including authority over the allocation of the school’s budget, to schools designated with a grade of “A,” making excellent progress, and schools rated as having improved at least two grades.
(20) OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS.—Adopt policies allowing students attending schools that have earned a grade of “F” or three consecutive grades of “D” pursuant to s. 1008.34 to attend a higher-performing school in the district or any other district in the state, in conformance with s. 1002.38 and State Board of Education rule.
(21) EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY.—To free schools with a school grade of “D” or “F” from contract restrictions that limit the school’s ability to implement programs and strategies needed to improve student performance, a district school board may adopt salary incentives or other strategies that address the selection, placement, compensation, and expectations of instructional personnel and provide principals with the autonomy described in s. 1012.28(8). For purposes of this subsection, an educational emergency exists in a school district if one or more schools in the district have a school grade of “D” or “F.” Notwithstanding chapter 447, relating to collective bargaining, a district school board may:
(a) Provide salary incentives that differentiate based on a teacher’s certification, subject area taught, or grade level taught. Such incentives are not subject to collective bargaining requirements.
(b) Notwithstanding s. 1012.2315, relating to assignment of teachers, adopt strategies to assign high-quality teachers more equitably across schools in the district to low-performing schools as a management right. Such strategies are not subject to collective bargaining requirements.
(22) SCHOOL-WITHIN-A-SCHOOL.—In order to reduce the anonymity of students in large schools, adopt policies to encourage any large school to subdivide into schools-within-a-school that shall operate within existing resources in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1003.
(23) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.—Provide students with access to courses available through a virtual instruction program option, including the Florida Virtual School and other approved providers, and award credit for successful completion of such courses.
(24) EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS.—
(a) If a school district enters into a contract or employment agreement, or renewal or renegotiation of an existing contract or employment agreement, with an officer, agent, employee, or contractor which contains a provision for severance pay, the contract or employment agreement must include the provisions of s. 215.425.
(b) A district school board may not award an annual contract on the basis of any contingency or condition not expressly authorized in law by the Legislature or alter or limit its authority to award or not award an annual contract as provided in s. 1012.335. This paragraph applies only to a collective bargaining agreement entered into or renewed by a district school board on or after June 15, 2017.
(25) INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS.—Each district school board shall enter into an interlocal agreement as provided in s. 163.01 for the purpose of establishing the School District Consortium and maximizing the purchasing power for goods and services. A consortium may be statewide or regional, as appropriate to achieve the lowest cost. This subsection does not prohibit a district school board from utilizing a state contract.
(26) TECHNICAL CENTER GOVERNING BOARD.—May appoint a governing board for a school district technical center or a system of technical centers for the purpose of aligning the educational programs of the technical center with the needs of local businesses and responding quickly to the needs of local businesses for employees holding industry certifications. A technical center governing board shall be comprised of seven members, three of whom must be members of the district school board or their designees and four of whom must be local business leaders. The district school board shall delegate to the technical center governing board decisions regarding entrance requirements for students, curriculum, program development, budget and funding allocations, and the development with local businesses of partnership agreements and appropriate industry certifications in order to meet local and regional economic needs. A technical center governing board may approve only courses and programs that contain industry certifications. A course may be continued if at least 25 percent of the students enrolled in the course attain an industry certification. If fewer than 25 percent of the students enrolled in a course attain an industry certification, the course must be discontinued the following year.
(27) VISITATION OF SCHOOLS.—Visit the schools, observe the management and instruction, give suggestions for improvement, and advise citizens with the view of promoting interest in education and improving the schools.
(28) UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH.—Provide to each student who is an unaccompanied homeless youth certified under s. 743.067 a card that includes information on the rights and benefits for such youth, as well as the contact information for the school district’s liaison for homeless children and youths. The card must be similar in size to the student identification card issued to students in the district and include all of the following information:
(a) On the front of the card, the following information from the standardized form developed by the Department of Children and Families under s. 743.067(3):
1. The circumstances that qualify the youth.
2. The date the youth was certified.
3. The name, title, and signature of the certifying individual.
(b) On the back of the card, the following statement:
Section 743.067, Florida Statutes, provides that this certified youth may consent to medical care; dental care; behavioral health care services, including psychological counseling and treatment, psychiatric treatment, and substance abuse prevention and treatment services; and surgical diagnosis and treatment, including preventative care and care by a facility licensed under chapter 394, chapter 395, or chapter 397 and any forensic medical examination for the purpose of investigating any felony offense under chapter 784, chapter 787, chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, for himself or herself or his or her child, if the certified youth is unmarried, is the parent of the child, and has actual custody of the child.
(29) ADOPT RULES.—Adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section.
History.—s. 55, ch. 2002-387; s. 3, ch. 2003-118; s. 29, ch. 2003-391; s. 27, ch. 2004-41; s. 3, ch. 2004-255; s. 8, ch. 2004-333; s. 71, ch. 2004-357; s. 11, ch. 2006-74; s. 9, ch. 2008-108; s. 2, ch. 2009-3; s. 6, ch. 2009-59; s. 2, ch. 2009-144; s. 198, ch. 2010-102; s. 2, ch. 2011-128; s. 2, ch. 2011-175; s. 4, ch. 2012-133; s. 1, ch. 2012-194; s. 3, ch. 2013-27; s. 6, ch. 2013-45; s. 39, ch. 2013-226; s. 362, ch. 2014-19; s. 15, ch. 2014-20; s. 2, ch. 2014-23; s. 1, ch. 2014-184; s. 1, ch. 2015-6; s. 2, ch. 2016-237; ss. 38, 40, ch. 2017-116; s. 7, ch. 2018-5; s. 100, ch. 2018-110; s. 6, ch. 2018-150; s. 17, ch. 2019-15; s. 2, ch. 2021-9; s. 2, ch. 2021-138; s. 71, ch. 2022-4; s. 1, ch. 2022-22; s. 5, ch. 2022-65; s. 1, ch. 2023-78; s. 3, ch. 2023-105; s. 2, ch. 2023-108; s. 11, ch. 2023-220; s. 11, ch. 2023-245.
1001.4205 Individuals authorized to visit schools.—An individual member of a district school board may, on any day and at any time at his or her pleasure, visit any district school in his or her school district. An individual charter school governing board member may, on any day and at any time at his or her pleasure, visit any charter school governed by the charter school’s governing board. A member of the Legislature may visit any public school in the legislative district of the member. An individual visiting a school pursuant to this section must sign in and sign out at the school’s main office and wear his or her identification badge at all times while present on school premises. The board, the school, or any other person or entity, including, but not limited to, the principal of the school, the school superintendent, or any other board member, may not require an individual visiting the school pursuant to this section to provide notice before visiting the school. The school may offer, but may not require, an escort to accompany an individual visiting the school pursuant to this section during the visit. Another board member or a district employee, including, but not limited to, the superintendent, the school principal, or his or her designee, may not limit the duration or scope of the visit or direct an individual visiting the school pursuant to this section to leave the premises. A board, district, or school administrative policy or practice may not prohibit or limit the authority granted to an individual under this section.
History.—s. 39, ch. 2017-116; s. 1, ch. 2022-144.
1001.421 Gifts.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, district school board members and their relatives, as defined in s. 112.312(21), may not directly or indirectly solicit any gift, or directly or indirectly accept any gift in excess of $50, from any person, vendor, potential vendor, or other entity doing business with the school district. The term “gift” has the same meaning as in s. 112.312(12).
History.—s. 3, ch. 2011-175.
1001.43 Supplemental powers and duties of district school board.—The district school board may exercise the following supplemental powers and duties as authorized by this code or State Board of Education rule.
(1) STUDENT MANAGEMENT.—The district school board may adopt programs and policies to ensure the safety and welfare of individuals, the student body, and school personnel, which programs and policies may:
(a) Prohibit the possession of weapons and drugs on campus, student hazing, and other activities that could threaten the operation of the school or the safety and welfare of the student body or school personnel.
(b) Require uniforms to be worn by the student body, or impose other dress-related requirements, if the district school board finds that those requirements are necessary for the safety or welfare of the student body or school personnel. However, students may wear sunglasses, hats, or other sun-protective wear while outdoors during school hours, such as when students are at recess. A district school board that implements a districtwide standard student attire policy pursuant to s. 1011.78 is eligible to receive incentive payments.
(c) Provide procedures for student dismissal precautions and for granting permission for students to leave school grounds during school hours, including releasing a student from school upon request by a parent or for public appearances of school groups.
(d) Provide procedures for managing protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, walk-outs, or other acts of civil disobedience.
(e) Provide procedures for detaining students and for readmission of students after expulsion.
(f) Regulate student automobile use and parking.
(2) FISCAL MANAGEMENT.—The district school board may adopt policies providing for fiscal management of the school district with respect to school purchasing, facilities, nonstate revenue sources, budgeting, fundraising, and other activities relating to the fiscal management of district resources, including, but not limited to, the policies governing:
(a) Sales calls and demonstrations by agents, solicitors, salespersons, and vendors on campus; local preference criteria for vendors; specifications for quantity purchasing; prioritization of awards for bids; declining bid awards; and purchase requisitions, approvals, and routing.
(b) Sales by booster clubs; marathon fundraisers; and student sales of candy, paper products, or other goods authorized by the district school board.
(c) Inventory and disposal of district property; use of safe-deposit boxes; and selection of real estate appraisers.
(d) Payment of contractors and other service providers.
(e) Accounting systems; petty cash accounts procedures and reporting; school activities funds procedures and reporting; management and reporting of grants from private sources; and management of funds, including auxiliary enterprise funds.
(f) District budgeting system, including setting budget deadlines and schedules, budget planning, and implementation and determination of budget priorities.
(g) Use of federal funds to purchase food when federal program guidelines permit such use.
(h) Assessment of a kindergarten through grade 12 student fee for voluntary, noncredit summer school enrollment in basic program courses. The amount of any student fee shall be based on the ability of the student to pay such fee as determined by district school board policy.
(3) INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS.—The district school board may adopt policies providing for innovative teaching techniques, teaching programs and methods, instructional aids and objectives, extracurricular and interscholastic activities, and supplemental programs including, but not limited to, policies providing for:
(a) Use of technology, including appropriate use of the Internet as a tool for learning.
(b) Instructional priorities and objectives, pilot projects and evaluations, curriculum adoption and design, and lesson planning.
(c) Extracurricular and interscholastic activities, including field trips, publishing a student newspaper and other publications, and special programs relating to the arts, music, or other topics of current interest.
(d) Participation in physical education programs, including appropriate physical education attire and protective gear; programs for exceptional students; summer school; and the Title I program, including comparability procedures.
(4) FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.—The district school board may adopt policies providing for management of the physical campus and its environs, including, but not limited to, energy conservation measures; building and ground maintenance; fencing, landscaping, and other property improvements; site acquisition; new construction and renovation; dedication and rededication or naming and renaming of district buildings and other district facilities; and development of facilities management planning and priorities.
(5) SCHOOL COMMUNITY RELATIONS.—The district school board may adopt policies governing public gifts and donations to schools; input from the community concerning instruction resources; advertising in schools; participation in community affairs, including coordination with local governments and planning authorities; protocols for interagency agreements; business community partnerships; community use of school facilities; public solicitations in schools, including the distribution and posting of promotional materials and literature; visitors to the school campus; school advisory councils; and parent volunteers and chaperones.
(6) LEGAL ISSUES.—The district school board may adopt policies and procedures necessary to implement federal mandates and programs, court orders, and other legal requirements of the state.
(7) FIRST AID AND EMERGENCIES.—The district school board may adopt programs and policies to ensure appropriate response in emergency situations; the provision of first aid to individuals, the student body, and school personnel; and the effective management of student illness, which programs and policies may include, but are not limited to:
(a) The provision of first aid and emergency medical care and the provision of school health care facilities and services.
(b) The provision of school safety patrol.
(c) Procedures for reporting hazards, including threats of nature, bomb threats, threatening messages, and similar occurrences, and the provision of warning systems including alarm systems and other technical devices.
(d) Procedures for evacuating the classrooms, playground, or any other district facility.
(e) Procedures for reporting accidents, including traffic accidents and traffic violations involving district-owned vehicles.
(f) Student insurance programs.
(8) STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND AFFAIRS.—The district school board may adopt policies and procedures governing attendance monitoring and checks; truancy; fees, fines, and charges imposed on students; evaluation of student records and transcripts; transfer of student records; grading and academic evaluation of students; tests and examinations, including early examinations; guidance and counseling; student participation in competitions, student performances and exhibitions, contests for students, and social events; and graduation requirements and graduation exercises. A district school board may not prohibit a student from lawfully wearing the dress uniform of any of the Armed Forces of the United States or of the state at his or her graduation ceremony.
(9) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.—The district school board may adopt policies and procedures governing purchase of property insurance, including comprehensive general liability insurance; transportation of students for extracurricular activities and special events, including transportation of students in privately owned vehicles; transportation of district personnel, including personal use of district owned vehicles; computer security and computer room access and computer database resources; mail and delivery services, including use of couriers; copyright compliance; and computerized data systems, including computer use, transmission of data, access to the Internet, and other technology-based services.
(10) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS.—The district school board may adopt policies and procedures necessary for the daily business operation of the district school board, including, but not limited to, the provision of legal services for the district school board; conducting a district legislative program; district school board member participation at conferences, conventions, and workshops, including member compensation and reimbursement for expenses; district school board policy development, adoption, and repeal; district school board meeting procedures, including participation via telecommunications networks, use of technology at meetings, and presentations by nondistrict personnel; citizen communications with the district school board and with individual district school board members; collaboration with local government and other entities as required by law; and organization of the district school board, including special committees and advisory committees. Members of special committees and advisory committees may attend meetings in person or through the use of telecommunications networks such as telephonic and video conferencing.
(11) PERSONNEL.—The district school board may adopt policies and procedures necessary for the management of all personnel of the school system.
(12) AFFORDABLE HOUSING.—A district school board may use portions of school sites purchased within the guidelines of the State Requirements for Educational Facilities, land deemed not usable for educational purposes because of location or other factors, or land declared as surplus by the board to provide sites for affordable housing for teachers and other district personnel and, in areas of critical state concern, for other essential services personnel as defined by local affordable housing eligibility requirements, independently or in conjunction with other agencies as described in subsection (5).
(13) COOPERATION WITH FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS.—The district school board shall work with the Florida College System institutions in the district to ensure that the Florida College System institution students have access to remedial education.
(14) RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC AND CAREER ACHIEVEMENT.—
(a) The Legislature recognizes the importance of promoting student academic and career achievement, motivating students to attain academic and career achievement, and providing positive acknowledgment for that achievement. It is the intent of the Legislature that school districts bestow the same level of recognition to the state’s academic and career scholars as to its athletic scholars.
(b) The district school board is encouraged to adopt policies and procedures to celebrate the academic and career achievement of students by:
1. Declaring an “Academic Scholarship Signing Day” to recognize the outstanding academic achievement of high school seniors who sign a letter of intent to accept an academic scholarship offered to the student by a postsecondary educational institution.
2. Declaring a “College and Career Decision Day” to recognize high school seniors for their postsecondary education plans, to encourage early preparation for college, and to encourage students to pursue advanced career pathways through the attainment of industry certifications for which there are statewide college credit articulation agreements.
(c) Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, each district school board shall require each high school within its jurisdiction to host an annual career fair during the school year and establish a process to provide students in grades 11 and 12 the opportunity to meet or interview with potential employers during the career fair. The career fair must be held on the campus of the high school, except that a group of high schools in the district or a group of districts may hold a joint career fair at an alternative location to satisfy the requirement in this paragraph. A joint career fair must be held at a location located within reasonable driving distance for students at all participating schools. The career fair must be held during the school day and may use Florida’s online career planning and work-based learning system as part of the career fair activities.
District school board policies and procedures may include conducting assemblies or other appropriate public events in which students sign actual or ceremonial documents accepting scholarships or enrollment. The district school board may encourage holding such events in an assembly or gathering of the entire student body as a means of making academic and career success and recognition visible to all students.
History.—s. 56, ch. 2002-387; s. 26, ch. 2006-69; s. 13, ch. 2006-301; s. 33, ch. 2009-96; s. 1, ch. 2010-203; s. 16, ch. 2011-5; s. 19, ch. 2011-15; s. 3, ch. 2016-2; s. 1, ch. 2019-48; s. 10, ch. 2019-119; s. 1, ch. 2021-35; s. 16, ch. 2023-81; s. 12, ch. 2023-245.
1001.432 Inspirational message.—
(1) A district school board may adopt a policy allowing an inspirational message to be delivered by students at a student assembly. The policy must provide that:
(a) Students who are responsible for organizing any student-led portion of a student assembly shall:
1. Have sole discretion in determining whether an inspirational message is to be delivered.
2. Choose the student volunteers who will deliver an inspirational message. The student volunteers shall be solely responsible for the preparation and content of the inspirational message.
(b) School district personnel may not:
1. Participate in, or otherwise influence, the determination of whether an inspirational message is to be delivered or select the student volunteers who will deliver the inspirational message.
2. Monitor or otherwise review the content of a student volunteer’s inspirational message.
(2) The purpose of this section is to provide students with the opportunity for formal or ceremonious observance of an occasion or event.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2012-9.
1001.44 Career centers.—
(1) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD MAY ESTABLISH OR ACQUIRE CAREER CENTERS.—Any district school board, after first obtaining the approval of the Department of Education, may, as a part of the district school system, organize, establish and operate a career center, or acquire and operate a career center previously established.
(2) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS OF CONTIGUOUS DISTRICTS MAY ESTABLISH OR ACQUIRE CAREER CENTERS.—The district school boards of any two or more contiguous districts may, upon first obtaining the approval of the department, enter into an agreement to organize, establish and operate, or acquire and operate, a career center under this section.
(3) CAREER CENTER PART OF DISTRICT SCHOOL SYSTEM DIRECTED BY A DIRECTOR.—
(a) A career center established or acquired under provisions of law and minimum standards prescribed by the commissioner shall comprise a part of the district school system and shall mean an educational institution offering terminal courses of a technical nature, and courses for out-of-school youth and adults; shall be subject to all applicable provisions of this code; shall be under the control of the district school board of the school district in which it is located; and shall be directed by a director responsible through the district school superintendent to the district school board of the school district in which the center is located.
(b) Each career center shall maintain an academic transcript for each student enrolled in the center. Such transcript shall delineate each course completed by the student. Courses shall be delineated by the course prefix and title assigned pursuant to s. 1007.24. The center shall make a copy of a student’s transcript available to any student who requests it.
History.—s. 57, ch. 2002-387; s. 72, ch. 2004-357.
1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the development of new programs and services:
(1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full-time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory) schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative agreements to form a regional consortium service organization. Each regional consortium service organization shall provide, at a minimum, three of the following services: exceptional student education; teacher education centers; environmental education; federal grant procurement and coordination; data processing; health insurance; risk management insurance; staff development; purchasing; or planning and accountability.
(2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization that consists of four or more school districts is eligible to receive, through the Department of Education, subject to the funds provided in the General Appropriations Act, an incentive grant of $50,000 per school district and eligible member to be used for the delivery of services within the participating school districts. The determination of services and use of such funds shall be established by the board of directors of the regional consortium service organization. The funds shall be distributed to each regional consortium service organization no later than 30 days following the release of the funds to the department.
(b) Application for incentive grants shall be made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year.
(3) In order to economically provide programs and services to participating school districts and members, a regional consortium service organization may establish purchasing and bidding programs, including construction and construction management arrangements, in lieu of individual school district bid arrangements pursuant to policies exercised by its member districts. Participation in regional consortium service organization bids shall be accomplished by action of an individual district school board through a letter of intent to participate and shall be reflected in official district school board minutes.
(4) A regional consortium service organization board of directors may elect to establish a direct-support organization pursuant to s. 1001.453 which is independent of its fiscal agent district.
(5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service organization may use various means to generate revenue in support of its activities. The board of directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents, copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and other rights or interests thereunder or therein. Ownership of all such patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and rights or interests thereunder or therein shall vest in the state, with the board of directors having full right of use and full right to retain the revenues derived therefrom. Any funds realized from patents, copyrights, trademarks, or licenses shall be considered internal funds as provided in s. 1011.07. Such funds shall be used to support the organization’s marketing and research and development activities in order to improve and increase services to its member districts.
History.—s. 58, ch. 2002-387; s. 3, ch. 2005-56; s. 2, ch. 2006-27; s. 17, ch. 2006-301; s. 3, ch. 2008-142; s. 7, ch. 2009-59; s. 4, ch. 2010-154; s. 7, ch. 2011-55; s. 11, ch. 2012-6.
1001.452 District and school advisory councils.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(a) The district school board shall establish an advisory council for each school in the district and shall develop procedures for the election and appointment of advisory council members. Each school advisory council shall include in its name the words “school advisory council.” The school advisory council shall be the sole body responsible for final decisionmaking at the school relating to implementation of ss. 1001.42(18) and 1008.345. A majority of the members of each school advisory council must be persons who are not employed by the school district. Each advisory council shall be composed of the principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers, education support employees, students, parents, and other business and community citizens who are representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school. Career center and high school advisory councils shall include students, and middle and junior high school advisory councils may include students. School advisory councils of career centers and adult education centers are not required to include parents as members. Council members representing teachers, education support employees, students, and parents shall be elected by their respective peer groups at the school in a fair and equitable manner as follows:
1. Teachers shall be elected by teachers.
2. Education support employees shall be elected by education support employees.
3. Students shall be elected by students.
4. Parents shall be elected by parents.
The district school board shall establish procedures to be used by schools in selecting business and community members that include means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and of taking input on possible members from local business, chambers of commerce, community and civic organizations and groups, and the public at large. The district school board shall review the membership composition of each advisory council. If the district school board determines that the membership elected by the school is not representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school, the district school board shall appoint additional members to achieve proper representation. The commissioner shall determine if schools have maximized their efforts to include on their advisory councils minority persons and persons of lower socioeconomic status. Although schools are strongly encouraged to establish school advisory councils, the district school board of any school district that has a student population of 10,000 or fewer may establish a district advisory council which includes at least one duly elected teacher from each school in the district. For the purposes of school advisory councils and district advisory councils, the term “teacher” includes classroom teachers, certified student services personnel, and media specialists. For purposes of this paragraph, “education support employee” means any person employed by a school who is not defined as instructional or administrative personnel pursuant to s. 1012.01 and whose duties require 20 or more hours in each normal working week.
(b) The district school board may establish a district advisory council representative of the district and composed of teachers, students, parents, and other citizens or a district advisory council that may be comprised of representatives of each school advisory council. Recognized schoolwide support groups that meet all criteria established by law or rule may function as school advisory councils.
(c) For those schools operating for the purpose of providing educational services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, district school boards may establish a district advisory council with appropriate representatives for the purpose of developing and monitoring a district school improvement plan that encompasses all such schools in the district, pursuant to s. 1001.42(18)(a).
(d) Each school advisory council shall adopt bylaws establishing procedures for:
1. Requiring a quorum to be present before a vote may be taken by the school advisory council. A majority of the membership of the council constitutes a quorum.
2. Requiring at least 3 days’ advance notice in writing to all members of the advisory council of any matter that is scheduled to come before the council for a vote.
3. Scheduling meetings when parents, students, teachers, businesspersons, and members of the community can attend.
4. Replacing any member who has two unexcused consecutive absences from a school advisory council meeting that is noticed according to the procedures in the bylaws.
5. Recording minutes of meetings.
The district school board may review all proposed bylaws of a school advisory council and shall maintain a record of minutes of council meetings.
(2) DUTIES.—Each advisory council shall perform functions prescribed by regulations of the district school board; however, no advisory council shall have any of the powers and duties now reserved by law to the district school board. Each school advisory council shall assist in the preparation and evaluation of the school improvement plan required pursuant to s. 1001.42(18). With technical assistance from the Department of Education, each school advisory council shall assist in the preparation of the school’s annual budget and plan as required by s. 1008.385(1). A portion of funds provided in the annual General Appropriations Act for use by school advisory councils must be used for implementing the school improvement plan.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2002-49; s. 59, ch. 2002-387; s. 73, ch. 2004-357; s. 10, ch. 2008-108; s. 5, ch. 2008-235.
1001.453 Direct-support organization; use of property; board of directors; audit.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, the term:
(a) “District school board direct-support organization” means an organization that:
1. Is approved by the district school board;
2. Is a Florida corporation not for profit, incorporated under the provisions of chapter 617 and approved by the Department of State; and
3. Is organized and operated exclusively to receive, hold, invest, and administer property and to make expenditures to or for the benefit of public kindergarten through 12th grade education and adult career and community education programs in this state.
(b) “Personal services” includes full-time or part-time personnel, as well as payroll processing.
(2) USE OF PROPERTY.—A district school board:
(a) Is authorized to:
1. Permit the use of property, facilities, and personal services of the district by a direct-support organization, subject to this section; or
2. Contract with a direct-support organization for personal services or operations. However, a retiree of the Florida Retirement System must first satisfy the requirements for termination from employment provided in s. 121.021(39) before providing such services or operations for a Florida Retirement System employer, and is subject to the reemployment limitations provided in s. 121.091(9).
(b) Shall prescribe by rule conditions with which a district school board direct-support organization must comply in order to use property, facilities, or personal services of the district. Adoption of such rules shall be coordinated with the Department of Education. The rules shall provide for budget and audit review and oversight by the district school board and the department.
(c) May not permit the use of property, facilities, or personal services by a direct-support organization if such organization does not provide equal employment opportunities to all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin.
(3) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.—The board of directors of the district school board direct-support organization shall be approved by the district school board.
(4) ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDIT.—Each direct-support organization with more than $250,000 in expenditures or expenses shall provide for an annual financial audit of its accounts and records, to be conducted by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with rules adopted by the Auditor General pursuant to s. 11.45(8) and the Commissioner of Education. A district school board may contract with a vendor for an annual financial audit of a direct-support organization. The annual financial audit report shall be submitted within 9 months after the fiscal year’s end to the district school board and the Auditor General. The Commissioner of Education, the Auditor General, and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability have the authority to require and receive from the organization or the district auditor any records relative to the operation of the organization. The identity of donors and all information identifying donors and prospective donors are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), and that anonymity shall be maintained in the auditor’s report. All other records and information shall be considered public records for the purposes of chapter 119.
History.—s. 60, ch. 2002-387; s. 74, ch. 2004-357; s. 7, ch. 2023-105; s. 2, ch. 2023-310.
B. District School Superintendents
1001.46 District school superintendent; election and term of office.
1001.461 District school superintendent; procedures for making office appointive.
1001.462 Oath of district school superintendent.
1001.463 Vacancy in office of district school superintendent.
1001.464 District school superintendent to devote full time to office.
1001.47 District school superintendent; salary.
1001.48 Secretary and executive officer of the district school board.
1001.49 General powers of district school superintendent.
1001.50 Superintendents employed under Art. IX of the State Constitution.
1001.51 Duties and responsibilities of district school superintendent.
1001.52 Reproduction and destruction of district school records.
1001.53 District school superintendent responsible for enforcement of attendance.
1001.46 District school superintendent; election and term of office.—The district school superintendent shall be elected for a term of 4 years or until the election or appointment and qualification of his or her successor.
History.—s. 62, ch. 2002-387.
1001.461 District school superintendent; procedures for making office appointive.—
(1) Pursuant to the provisions of s. 5, Art. IX of the State Constitution, the district school superintendent shall be appointed by the district school board in a school district wherein the proposition is affirmed by a majority of the qualified electors voting in the same election making the office of district school superintendent appointive.
(2) To submit the proposition to the electors, the district school board by formal resolution shall request an election that shall be at a general election or a statewide primary or special election. The board of county commissioners, upon such timely request from the district school board, shall cause to be placed on the ballot at such election the proposition to make the office of district school superintendent appointive.
(3) Any district adopting the appointive method for its district school superintendent may after 4 years return to its former status and reject the provisions of this section by following the same procedure outlined in subsection (2) for adopting the provisions thereof.
History.—s. 63, ch. 2002-387.
1001.462 Oath of district school superintendent.—Before entering upon the duties of his or her office, the district school superintendent shall take the oath of office prescribed by the State Constitution.
History.—s. 64, ch. 2002-387.
1001.463 Vacancy in office of district school superintendent.—The office of district school superintendent in any district shall be vacant when the district school superintendent removes his or her residence from the district.
History.—s. 65, ch. 2002-387.
1001.464 District school superintendent to devote full time to office.—The position of district school superintendent shall be considered a full-time position.
History.—s. 66, ch. 2002-387.
1001.47 District school superintendent; salary.—
(1) Each elected district school superintendent shall receive as salary the amount indicated pursuant to this section. However, a district school board, by majority vote, may approve a salary in excess of the amount specified in this section.
(2) Each elected district school superintendent shall receive a base salary, the amounts indicated in this subsection, based on the population of the county the elected superintendent serves. In addition, compensation shall be made for population increments over the minimum for each population group, which shall be determined by multiplying the population in excess of the minimum for the group times the group rate. The product of such calculation shall be added to the base salary to determine the adjusted base salary. Laws that increase the base salary provided in this subsection shall contain provisions on no other subject.
| Pop. Group | County Pop. Range | Base Salary | Group Rate | |
| Minimum | Maximum | |||
| I | -0- | 49,999 | $21,250 | $0.07875 |
| II | 50,000 | 99,999 | 24,400 | 0.06300 |
| III | 100,000 | 199,999 | 27,550 | 0.02625 |
| IV | 200,000 | 399,999 | 30,175 | 0.01575 |
| V | 400,000 | 999,999 | 33,325 | 0.00525 |
| VI | 1,000,000 | 36,475 | 0.00400 | |
(3) The adjusted base salaries of elected district school superintendents shall be increased annually as provided for in s. 145.19. Any salary previously paid to elected superintendents, including the salary calculated for fiscal years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, which was consistent with chapter 145 and s. 230.303, Florida Statutes (2001), is hereby ratified and validated.
(4)(a) There shall be an additional $2,000 per year special qualification salary paid by district school boards for each elected district school superintendent who has met the certification requirements established by the Department of Education. Any elected district school superintendent who is certified during a calendar year shall receive in that year a pro rata share of the special qualification salary based on the remaining period of the year.
(b) In order to qualify for the special qualification salary provided by paragraph (a), the elected district school superintendent must complete the requirements established by the Department of Education within 6 years after first taking office.
(c) After an elected district school superintendent meets the requirements of paragraph (a), in order to remain certified the district school superintendent shall thereafter be required to complete each year a course of continuing education as prescribed by the Department of Education.
(5)(a) The Department of Education shall provide a leadership development and performance compensation program for elected district school superintendents, comparable to chief executive officer development programs for corporate executive officers, to include:
1. A content-knowledge-and-skills phase consisting of: creative leadership models and theory, demonstration of effective practice, simulation exercises and personal skills practice, and assessment with feedback, taught in a professional training setting under the direction of experienced, successful trainers.
2. A competency-acquisition phase consisting of on-the-job application of knowledge and skills for a period of not less than 6 months following the successful completion of the content-knowledge-and-skills phase. The competency-acquisition phase shall be supported by adequate professional technical assistance provided by experienced trainers approved by the department. Competency acquisition shall be demonstrated through assessment and feedback.
(b) Upon the successful completion of both phases and demonstrated successful performance, as determined by the department, an elected district school superintendent shall be issued a Chief Executive Officer Leadership Development Certificate, and the department shall pay an annual performance salary incentive of not less than $3,000 nor more than $7,500 based upon his or her performance evaluation.
(c) An elected district school superintendent’s eligibility to continue receiving the annual performance salary incentive is contingent upon his or her continued performance assessment and followup training prescribed by the department.
(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and s. 145.19, elected district school superintendents may reduce their salary rate on a voluntary basis.
History.—s. 67, ch. 2002-387; s. 28, ch. 2004-41; s. 1, ch. 2006-301; s. 8, ch. 2009-59; s. 16, ch. 2014-39.
1001.48 Secretary and executive officer of the district school board.—The district school superintendent shall be the secretary and executive officer of the district school board, provided that when the district school superintendent is required to be absent on account of performing services in the volunteer forces of the United States or in the National Guard of the state or in the regular Army or Navy of the United States, when said district school superintendent shall be called into active training or service of the United States under an Act of Congress or pursuant to a proclamation by the President of the United States, the district school superintendent shall then be entitled to a leave of absence not to exceed the remaining portion of the term for which he or she was elected.
History.—s. 68, ch. 2002-387.
1001.49 General powers of district school superintendent.—The district school superintendent shall have the authority, and when necessary for the more efficient and adequate operation of the district school system, the district school superintendent shall exercise the following powers:
(1) GENERAL OVERSIGHT.—Exercise general oversight over the district school system in order to determine problems and needs, and recommend improvements.
(2) ADVISE, COUNSEL, AND RECOMMEND TO DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—Advise and counsel with the district school board on all educational matters and recommend to the district school board for action such matters as should be acted upon.
(3) RECOMMEND POLICIES.—Recommend to the district school board for adoption such policies pertaining to the district school system as the district school superintendent may consider necessary for its more efficient operation.
(4) RECOMMEND AND EXECUTE RULES.—Prepare and organize by subjects and submit to the district school board for adoption such rules to supplement those adopted by the State Board of Education as, in the district school superintendent’s opinion, will contribute to the efficient operation of any aspect of education in the district. When rules have been adopted, the district school superintendent shall see that they are executed.
(5) RECOMMEND AND EXECUTE MINIMUM STANDARDS.—From time to time prepare, organize by subject, and submit to the district school board for adoption such minimum standards relating to the operation of any phase of the district school system as are needed to supplement those adopted by the State Board of Education and as will contribute to the efficient operation of any aspect of education in the district and ensure that minimum standards adopted by the district school board and the state board are observed.
(6) PERFORM DUTIES AND EXERCISE RESPONSIBILITIES.—Perform such duties and exercise such responsibilities as are assigned to the district school superintendent by law and by rules of the State Board of Education.
History.—s. 69, ch. 2002-387.
1001.50 Superintendents employed under Art. IX of the State Constitution.—
(1) In every district authorized to employ a district school superintendent under Art. IX of the State Constitution, the district school superintendent shall be the executive officer of the district school board and shall not be subject to the provisions of law, either general or special, relating to tenure of employment or contracts of other school personnel. The district school superintendent’s duties relating to the district school system shall be as provided by law and rules of the State Board of Education.
(2) Each district school board shall enter into an employment contract with the district school superintendent and shall adopt rules relating to his or her appointment; however, if the employment contract contains a provision for severance pay, it must include the provisions required by s. 215.425.
(3) The district school board of each such district shall pay to the district school superintendent a reasonable annual salary. In determining the amount of compensation to be paid, the board shall take into account such factors as:
(a) The population of the district.
(b) The rate and character of population growth.
(c) The size and composition of the student body to be served.
(d) The geographic extent of the district.
(e) The number and character of the schools to be supervised.
(f) The educational qualifications and professional experience of the candidate for the position of district school superintendent.
(4) A district school superintendent employed under the terms of this section may participate in the courses of continuing professional education provided in the special qualification certification program pursuant to s. 1001.47(4) and the leadership development and performance compensation program pursuant to s. 1001.47(5), as established by the department. Upon successful completion of the certification requirements for one or both of these programs, the district school board may use such certification or certifications as a factor in determining the amount of compensation to be paid.
(5) Notwithstanding any other law, resolution, or rule to the contrary, a district school superintendent employed under this section may not receive more than $225,000 in remuneration annually from state funds. As used in this subsection, the term “remuneration” means salary, bonuses, and cash-equivalent compensation paid to a district school superintendent by his or her employer for work performed, excluding health insurance benefits and retirement benefits. Only compensation, as defined in s. 121.021(22), provided to a district school superintendent may be used in calculating benefits under chapter 121.
History.—s. 70, ch. 2002-387; s. 29, ch. 2004-41; s. 2, ch. 2006-301; s. 3, ch. 2009-3; s. 9, ch. 2009-59; s. 5, ch. 2012-133; s. 17, ch. 2014-39.
11001.51 Duties and responsibilities of district school superintendent.—The district school superintendent shall exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below and elsewhere in the law, provided that, in so doing, he or she shall advise and counsel with the district school board. The district school superintendent shall perform all tasks necessary to make sound recommendations, nominations, proposals, and reports required by law to be acted upon by the district school board. All such recommendations, nominations, proposals, and reports by the district school superintendent shall be either recorded in the minutes or shall be made in writing, noted in the minutes, and filed in the public records of the district school board. It shall be presumed that, in the absence of the record required in this section, the recommendations, nominations, and proposals required of the district school superintendent were not contrary to the action taken by the district school board in such matters.
(1) ASSIST IN ORGANIZATION OF DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—Preside at the organization meeting of the district school board and transmit to the Department of Education, within 2 weeks following such meeting, a certified copy of the proceedings of organization, including the schedule of regular meetings, and the names and addresses of district school officials.
(2) REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—Attend all regular meetings of the district school board, call special meetings when emergencies arise, and advise, but not vote, on questions under consideration.
(3) RECORDS FOR THE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—Keep minutes of all official actions and proceedings of the district school board and keep such other records, including records of property held or disposed of by the district school board, as may be necessary to provide complete information regarding the district school system.
(4) SCHOOL PROPERTY.—Act for the district school board as custodian of school property.
(5) SCHOOL PROGRAM; PREPARE PLANS.—Supervise the assembling of data and sponsor studies and surveys essential to the development of a planned school program for the entire district and prepare and recommend such a program to the district school board as the basis for operating the district school system.
(6) ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATION OF SCHOOLS, CLASSES, AND SERVICES.—Recommend the establishment, organization, and operation of such schools, classes, and services as are needed to provide adequate educational opportunities for all children in the district.
(7) PERSONNEL.—Be responsible, as required herein, for directing the work of the personnel, subject to the requirements of chapter 1012.
(8) COURSES OF STUDY AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS.—Recommend such plans for improving, providing, distributing, accounting for, and caring for textbooks and other instructional aids as will result in general improvement of the district school system, as prescribed in chapter 1006.
(9) TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS.—Provide for student transportation as prescribed in s. 1006.21.
(10) SCHOOL PLANT.—Recommend plans, and execute such plans as are approved, regarding all phases of the school plant program, as prescribed in chapter 1013.
(11) FINANCE.—Recommend measures to the district school board to assure adequate educational facilities throughout the district, in accordance with the financial procedure authorized in chapters 1010 and 1011 and as prescribed below:
(a) Plan for operating all schools for minimum term.—Determine and recommend district funds necessary in addition to state funds to provide for at least a 180-day school term or the equivalent on an hourly basis as specified by rules adopted by the State Board of Education and recommend plans for ensuring the operation of all schools for the term authorized by the district school board.
(b) Annual budget.—Prepare the annual school budget to be submitted to the district school board for adoption according to law and submit this budget, when adopted by the district school board, to the Department of Education on or before the date required by rules of the State Board of Education.
(c) Tax levies.—Recommend to the district school board, on the basis of the needs shown by the budget, the amount of district school tax levy necessary to provide the district school funds needed for the maintenance of the public schools; recommend to the district school board the tax levy required on the basis of the needs shown in the budget for the district bond interest and sinking fund of each district; and recommend to the district school board to be included on the ballot at each district millage election the school district tax levies necessary to carry on the school program.
(d) School funds.—Keep an accurate account of all funds that should be transmitted to the district school board for school purposes at various periods during the year and ensure, insofar as possible, that these funds are transmitted promptly and report promptly to the district school board any delinquencies or delays that occur in making available any funds that should be made available for school purposes.
(e) Borrowing money.—Recommend when necessary the borrowing of money as prescribed by law.
(f) Financial records and accounting.—Keep or have kept accurate records of all financial transactions.
(g) Payrolls and accounts.—Maintain accurate and current statements of accounts due to be paid by the district school board; certify these statements as correct; liquidate district school board obligations in accordance with the official budget and rules of the district school board; and prepare periodic reports as required by rules of the State Board of Education, showing receipts, balances, and disbursements to date, and file copies of such periodic reports with the Department of Education.
(h) Bonds for employees.—Recommend the bonds of all school employees who should be bonded in order to provide reasonable safeguards for all school funds or property.
(i) Contracts.—After study of the feasibility of contractual services with industry, recommend to the district school board the desirable terms, conditions, and specifications for contracts for supplies, materials, or services to be rendered and see that materials, supplies, or services are provided according to contract.
(j) Investment policies.—After careful examination, recommend policies to the district school board that will provide for the investment or deposit of school funds not needed for immediate expenditures which shall earn the maximum possible yield under the circumstances on such investments or deposits. The district school superintendent shall cause to be invested at all times all school moneys not immediately needed for expenditures pursuant to the policies of the district school board.
(k) Protection against loss.—Recommend programs and procedures to the district school board necessary to protect the school system adequately against loss or damage to school property or against loss resulting from any liability for which the district school board or its officers, agents, or employees may be responsible under law.
(l) Millage elections.—Recommend plans and procedures for holding and supervising all school district millage elections.
(m) Budgets and expenditures.—Prepare, after consulting with the principals of the various schools, tentative annual budgets for the expenditure of district funds for the benefit of public school students of the district.
(n) Bonds.—Recommend the amounts of bonds to be issued in the district and assist in the preparation of the necessary papers for an election to determine whether the proposed bond issue will be approved by the electors and, if such bond issue be approved by the electors, recommend plans for the sale of bonds and for the proper expenditure of the funds derived therefrom.
(12) RECORDS AND REPORTS.—Recommend such records as should be kept in addition to those prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education; prepare forms for keeping such records as are approved by the district school board; ensure that such records are properly kept; and make all reports that are needed or required, as follows:
(a) Forms, blanks, and reports.—Require that all employees accurately keep all records and promptly make in proper form all reports required by the education code or by rules of the State Board of Education; recommend the keeping of such additional records and the making of such additional reports as may be deemed necessary to provide data essential for the operation of the school system; and prepare such forms and blanks as may be required and ensure that these records and reports are properly prepared. Such records and reports shall include any determination to withhold from a parent information regarding the provision of any services to support the mental, physical, or emotional well-being of the parent’s minor child. Any such determination must be based solely on child-specific information personally known to the school personnel and documented and approved by the school principal or his or her designee. Such determination must be annually reviewed and redetermined.
(b) Reports to the department.—Prepare, for the approval of the district school board, all reports required by law or rules of the State Board of Education to be made to the department and transmit promptly all such reports, when approved, to the department, as required by law. If any reports are not transmitted at the time and in the manner prescribed by law or by State Board of Education rules, the salary of the district school superintendent must be withheld until the report has been properly submitted. Unless otherwise provided by rules of the State Board of Education, the annual report on attendance and personnel is due on or before July 1, and the annual school budget and the report on finance are due on the date prescribed by the commissioner.
Any district school superintendent who knowingly signs and transmits to any state official a report that the superintendent knows to be false or incorrect; who knowingly fails to complete the investigation of any allegation of misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, that would be a violation of s. 800.101, or that would be a disqualifying offense under s. 1012.315, or any allegation of sexual misconduct with a student; who knowingly fails to report the alleged misconduct to the department as required in s. 1012.796; or who knowingly fails to report misconduct to the law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over the conduct pursuant to district school board policy under s. 1001.42(6), forfeits his or her salary for 1 year following the date of such act or failure to act.
(13) COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—
(a) Cooperation with governmental agencies in enforcement of laws and rules.—Recommend plans for cooperating with, and, on the basis of approved plans, cooperate with federal, state, county, and municipal agencies in the enforcement of laws and rules pertaining to all matters relating to education and child welfare.
(b) Identifying and reporting names of migratory children, other information.—Recommend plans for identifying and reporting to the Department of Education the name of each child in the school district who qualifies according to the definition of a migratory child, based on Pub. L. No. 95-561, and for reporting such other information as may be prescribed by the department.
(14) ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS AND RULES.—Require that all laws and rules of the State Board of Education, as well as supplementary rules of the district school board, are properly observed and report to the district school board any violation that the district school superintendent does not succeed in having corrected.
(15) COOPERATE WITH DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.—Cooperate with the district school board in every manner practicable to the end that the district school system may continuously be improved.
(16) VISITATION OF SCHOOLS.—Visit the schools; observe the management and instruction; give suggestions for improvement; and advise supervisors, principals, teachers, and other citizens with the view of promoting interest in education and improving the school conditions of the district.
(17) CONFERENCES, INSTITUTES, AND STUDY COURSES.—Call and conduct institutes and conferences with employees of the district school board, school patrons, and other interested citizens; organize and direct study and extension courses for employees, advising them as to their professional studies; and assist patrons and people generally in acquiring knowledge of the aims, services, and needs of the schools.
(18) PROFESSIONAL AND GENERAL IMPROVEMENT.—Attend such conferences for district school superintendents as may be called or scheduled by the Department of Education and avail himself or herself of means of professional and general improvement so that he or she may function most efficiently.
(19) RECOMMEND REVOKING CERTIFICATES.—Recommend in writing to the Department of Education the revoking of any certificate for good cause, including a full statement of the reason for the district school superintendent’s recommendation.
(20) MAKE RECORDS AVAILABLE TO SUCCESSOR.—Leave with the district school board and make available to his or her successor, upon retiring from office, a complete inventory of school equipment and other property, together with all official records and such other records as may be needed in supervising instruction and in administering the district school system.
(21) RECOMMEND PROCEDURES FOR INFORMING GENERAL PUBLIC.—Recommend to the district school board procedures whereby the general public can be adequately informed of the educational programs, needs, and objectives of public education within the district.
(22) SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.—Recommend procedures for implementing and maintaining a system of school improvement and education accountability as provided by statute and State Board of Education rule.
(23) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.—Fully support and cooperate in the implementation of s. 1002.23.
(24) ORDERLY CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOL BUSES.—Fully support the authority of each teacher and school bus driver to remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom and the school bus and the authority of the school principal to place such students in an alternative educational setting, when appropriate and available.
(25) OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—Perform such other duties as are assigned to the district school superintendent by law or by rules of the State Board of Education.
History.—s. 71, ch. 2002-387; s. 4, ch. 2003-118; s. 30, ch. 2003-391; s. 30, ch. 2004-41; s. 12, ch. 2006-74; s. 11, ch. 2008-108; s. 7, ch. 2018-150; s. 3, ch. 2021-138; s. 7, ch. 2022-154; s. 11, ch. 2023-220.
1001.52 Reproduction and destruction of district school records.—
(1) The purpose of this section is to reduce the present space required by the district school systems for the storage of their records and to permit the district school superintendent to administer the affairs of the district school system more efficiently.
(2) After complying with the provisions of s. 257.37, the district school superintendent may photograph, microphotograph, or reproduce documents, records, data, and information of a permanent character which in his or her discretion he or she may select, and the district school superintendent may destroy any of the said documents after they have been reproduced and after audit of the district school superintendent’s office has been completed for the period embracing the dates of said instruments. Information made in compliance with the provisions of this section shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof would have, and shall be treated as originals for the purpose of their admissibility into evidence. Duly certified or authenticated reproductions shall be admitted into evidence equally with the originals.
(3) After complying with the provisions of s. 257.37, the district school superintendent may, in his or her discretion, destroy general correspondence that is over 3 years old and other records, papers, and documents over 3 years old that do not serve as part of an agreement or understanding and do not have value as permanent records.
History.—s. 72, ch. 2002-387.
1001.53 District school superintendent responsible for enforcement of attendance.—The district school superintendent shall be responsible for the enforcement of the attendance provisions of chapters 1003 and 1006. In a district in which no attendance assistant is employed, the district school superintendent shall have those duties and responsibilities and exercise those powers assigned by law to attendance assistants.
History.—s. 73, ch. 2002-387.
C. School Principals
1001.54 Duties of school principals.
1001.54 Duties of school principals.—
(1)(a) A district school board shall employ, through written contract, public school principals.
(b) The school principal has authority over school district personnel in accordance with s. 1012.28.
(c) The school principal shall fully support the authority of each teacher and school bus driver to remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom and the school bus and, when appropriate and available, place such students in an alternative educational setting.
(2) Each school principal shall provide instructional leadership in the development, revision, and implementation of a school improvement plan pursuant to s. 1001.42(18).
(3) Each school principal must make the necessary provisions to ensure that all school reports are accurate and timely, and must provide the necessary training opportunities for staff to accurately report attendance, FTE program participation, student performance, teacher appraisal, and school safety and discipline data.
(4) Each school principal is responsible for the management and care of instructional materials, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1006.
(5) Each school principal shall fully support and cooperate in the implementation of s. 1002.23.
History.—s. 75, ch. 2002-387; s. 5, ch. 2003-118; s. 31, ch. 2003-391; s. 13, ch. 2006-74; s. 12, ch. 2008-108.
PART III
FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS1001.60 Florida College System.
1001.61 Florida College System institution boards of trustees; membership.
1001.63 Florida College System institution board of trustees; board of trustees to constitute a corporation.
1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of trustees; powers and duties.
1001.65 Florida College System institution presidents; powers and duties.
1001.66 Florida College System Performance-Based Incentive.
1001.67 Distinguished Florida College System Institution Program.
1001.60 Florida College System.—
(1) PURPOSES.—In order to maximize open access for students, respond to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education, and provide associate and baccalaureate degrees that will best meet the state’s employment needs, the Legislature establishes a system of governance for the Florida College System.
(2) FLORIDA COLLEGE SYSTEM.—There shall be a single Florida College System comprised of the Florida College System institutions identified in s. 1000.21(5). A Florida College System institution may not offer graduate degree programs.
(a) The programs and services offered by Florida College System institutions in providing associate and baccalaureate degrees shall be delivered in a cost-effective manner that demonstrates substantial savings to the student and to the state over the cost of providing the degree at a state university.
(b)1. With the approval of its district board of trustees, a Florida College System institution may change the institution’s name set forth in s. 1000.21(5) and use the designation “college” or “state college” if it has been authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees pursuant to s. 1007.33 and has been accredited as a baccalaureate-degree-granting institution by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the database created and maintained by the United States Department of Education.
2. With the approval of its district board of trustees, a Florida College System institution that does not meet the criteria in subparagraph 1. may request approval from the State Board of Education to change the institution’s name set forth in s. 1000.21(5) and use the designation “college.” The State Board of Education may approve the request if the Florida College System institution enters into an agreement with the State Board of Education to do the following:
a. Maintain as its primary mission responsibility for responding to community needs for postsecondary academic education and career degree education as prescribed in s. 1004.65(5).
b. Maintain an open-door admissions policy for associate-level degree programs and workforce education programs.
c. Continue to provide outreach to underserved populations.
d. Continue to provide remedial education.
e. Comply with all provisions of the statewide articulation agreement that relate to 2-year and 4-year public degree-granting institutions as adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to s. 1007.23.
(c) A district board of trustees that approves a change to the name of an institution under paragraph (b) must seek statutory codification of such name change in s. 1000.21(5) during the next regular legislative session.
(d) A Florida College System institution may not use the designation “university.”
(3) LOCAL BOARDS OF TRUSTEES.—Each institution within the Florida College System shall be governed by a local board of trustees as provided in s. 1001.64. The membership of each local board of trustees shall be as provided in s. 1001.61.
History.—s. 2, ch. 2008-52; s. 3, ch. 2009-228; s. 17, ch. 2011-5; s. 138, ch. 2023-8; s. 3, ch. 2023-14.
1001.61 Florida College System institution boards of trustees; membership.—
(1) Florida College System institution boards of trustees shall be comprised of five members when a Florida College System institution district is confined to one school board district; seven members when a Florida College System institution district is confined to one school board district and the board of trustees so elects; and not more than nine members when the district contains two or more school board districts, as provided by rules of the State Board of Education. However, Florida State College at Jacksonville shall have an odd number of trustees, and St. Johns River State College shall have seven trustees from the three-county area that the college serves.
(2) Trustees shall be appointed by the Governor to staggered 4-year terms, subject to confirmation by the Senate in regular session.
(3) Members of the board of trustees shall receive no compensation but may receive reimbursement for expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
(4) At its first regular meeting after July 1 of each year, each Florida College System institution board of trustees shall organize by electing a chair, whose duty as such is to preside at all meetings of the board, to call special meetings thereof, and to attest to actions of the board, and a vice chair, whose duty as such is to act as chair during the absence or disability of the elected chair. It is the further duty of the chair of each board of trustees to notify the Governor, in writing, whenever a board member fails to attend three consecutive regular board meetings in any one fiscal year, which absences may be grounds for removal.
(5) A Florida College System institution president shall serve as the executive officer and corporate secretary of the board of trustees and shall be responsible to the board of trustees for setting the agenda for meetings of the board of trustees in consultation with the chair. The president also serves as the chief administrative officer of the Florida College System institution, and all the components of the institution and all aspects of its operation are responsible to the board of trustees through the president.
History.—s. 77, ch. 2002-387; s. 10, ch. 2009-228; s. 18, ch. 2011-5; s. 1, ch. 2015-19.
1001.63 Florida College System institution board of trustees; board of trustees to constitute a corporation.—Each Florida College System institution board of trustees is constituted a body corporate by the name of “The District Board of Trustees of (Name of Florida College System institution) , Florida” with all the powers and duties of a body corporate, including the power to adopt a corporate seal, to contract and be contracted with, to sue or be sued, to plead and be impleaded in all courts of law or equity, and to give and receive donations. In all suits against a board of trustees, service of process shall be made on the chair of the board of trustees or, in the absence of the chair, the corporate secretary or designee of the chair.
History.—s. 79, ch. 2002-387; s. 20, ch. 2011-5.
1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of trustees; powers and duties.—
(1) The boards of trustees shall be responsible for cost-effective policy decisions appropriate to the Florida College System institution’s mission, the implementation and maintenance of high-quality education programs within law and rules of the State Board of Education, the measurement of performance, the reporting of information, and the provision of input regarding state policy, budgeting, and education standards.
(2) Each board of trustees is vested with the responsibility to govern its respective Florida College System institution and with such necessary authority as is needed for the proper operation and improvement thereof in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.
(3) A board of trustees shall have the power to take action without a recommendation from the president and shall have the power to require the president to deliver to the board of trustees all data and information required by the board of trustees in the performance of its duties. A board of trustees shall ask the Commissioner of Education to authorize an investigation of the president’s actions by the department’s inspector general if the board considers such investigation necessary. The inspector general shall provide a report detailing each issue under investigation and shall recommend corrective action. If the inspector general identifies potential legal violations, he or she shall refer the potential legal violations to the Commission on Ethics, the Department of Law Enforcement, the Attorney General, or another appropriate authority.
(4)(a) The board of trustees, after considering recommendations submitted by the Florida College System institution president, may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of law conferring duties upon it. These rules may supplement those prescribed by the State Board of Education if they will contribute to the more orderly and efficient operation of Florida College System institutions.
(b) Each board of trustees is specifically authorized to adopt rules, procedures, and policies, consistent with law and rules of the State Board of Education, related to its mission and responsibilities as set forth in s. 1004.65, its governance, personnel, budget and finance, administration, programs, curriculum and instruction, buildings and grounds, travel and purchasing, technology, students, contracts and grants, or college property.
(5) Each board of trustees shall have responsibility for the use, maintenance, protection, and control of Florida College System institution owned or Florida College System institution controlled buildings and grounds, property and equipment, name, trademarks and other proprietary marks, and the financial and other resources of the Florida College System institution. Such authority may include placing restrictions on activities and on access to facilities, firearms, food, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, distribution of printed materials, commercial solicitation, animals, and sound.
(6) Each board of trustees has responsibility for the establishment and discontinuance of program and course offerings in accordance with law and rule; provision for instructional and noninstructional community services, location of classes, and services provided; and dissemination of information concerning such programs and services. New programs must be approved pursuant to s. 1004.03.
(7) Each board of trustees has responsibility for: ensuring that students have access to general education courses as identified in rule; requiring no more than 60 semester hours of degree program coursework, including 36 semester hours of general education coursework, for an associate in arts degree; notifying students that earned hours in excess of 60 semester hours may not be accepted by state universities; notifying students of unique program prerequisites; and ensuring that degree program coursework beyond general education coursework is consistent with degree program prerequisite requirements adopted pursuant to s. 1007.25(7).
(8) Each board of trustees has authority for policies related to students, enrollment of students, student records, student activities, financial assistance, and other student services.
(a) Each board of trustees shall govern admission of students pursuant to s. 1007.263 and rules of the State Board of Education. A board of trustees may establish additional admissions criteria, which shall be included in the dual enrollment articulation agreement developed according to s. 1007.271(21), to ensure student readiness for postsecondary instruction. Each board of trustees may consider the past actions of any person applying for admission or enrollment and may deny admission or enrollment to an applicant because of misconduct if determined to be in the best interest of the Florida College System institution.
(b) Each board of trustees shall adopt rules establishing student performance standards for the award of degrees and certificates pursuant to s. 1004.68.
(c) Boards of trustees are authorized to establish intrainstitutional and interinstitutional programs to maximize articulation pursuant to s. 1007.22.
(d) Boards of trustees shall identify their general education curricula pursuant to s. 1007.25(8).
(e) Each board of trustees must adopt a written antihazing policy, provide a program for the enforcement of such rules, and adopt appropriate penalties for violations of such rules pursuant to the provisions of s. 1006.63.
(f) Each board of trustees may establish a uniform code of conduct and appropriate penalties for violation of its rules by students and student organizations, including rules governing student academic honesty. Such penalties, unless otherwise provided by law, may include fines, the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with rules or payment of fines, and the imposition of probation, suspension, or dismissal.
(g) Each board of trustees pursuant to s. 1006.53 shall adopt a policy in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education that reasonably accommodates the religious observance, practice, and belief of individual students in regard to admissions, class attendance, and the scheduling of examinations and work assignments.
(9) A board of trustees may contract with the board of trustees of a state university for the Florida College System institution to provide developmental education on the state university campus.
(10) Each board of trustees shall establish fees pursuant to ss. 1009.22, 1009.23, 1009.25, 1009.26, and 1009.27.
(11) Each board of trustees shall submit an institutional budget request, including a request for fixed capital outlay, and an operating budget to the State Board of Education for review in accordance with guidelines established by the State Board of Education.
(12) Each board of trustees shall account for expenditures of all state, local, federal and other funds in the manner described by the Department of Education.
(13) Each board of trustees is responsible for the uses for the proceeds of academic improvement trust funds pursuant to s. 1011.85.
(14) Each board of trustees shall develop a strategic plan specifying institutional goals and objectives for the Florida College System institution for recommendation to the State Board of Education.
(15) Each board of trustees shall develop an accountability plan pursuant to s. 1008.45.
(16) Each board of trustees must expend performance funds provided for workforce education pursuant to the provisions of s. 1011.80.
(17) Each board of trustees is accountable for performance in certificate career education and diploma programs pursuant to s. 1008.43.
(18) Each board of trustees shall establish the personnel program for all employees of the Florida College System institution, including the president, pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1012 and rules and guidelines of the State Board of Education, including: compensation and other conditions of employment; recruitment and selection; nonreappointment; standards for performance and conduct; evaluation; benefits and hours of work; leave policies; recognition; inventions and work products; travel; learning opportunities; exchange programs; academic freedom and responsibility; promotion; assignment; demotion; transfer; ethical obligations and conflict of interest; restrictive covenants; disciplinary actions; complaints; appeals and grievance procedures; and separation and termination from employment.
(19) Each board of trustees shall appoint, suspend, or remove the president of the Florida College System institution. The board of trustees may appoint a search committee. The board of trustees shall conduct annual evaluations of the president in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education and submit such evaluations to the State Board of Education for review. The evaluation must address the achievement of the performance goals established by the accountability process implemented pursuant to s. 1008.45 and the performance of the president in achieving the annual and long-term goals and objectives established in the Florida College System institution’s employment accountability program implemented pursuant to s. 1012.86.
(20) Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into contracts to provide a State Community College System Optional Retirement Program pursuant to s. 1012.875 and to enter into consortia with other boards of trustees for this purpose.
(21) Each board of trustees is authorized to purchase annuities for its Florida College System institution personnel who have 25 or more years of creditable service and who have reached age 55 and have applied for retirement under the Florida Retirement System pursuant to the provisions of s. 1012.87.
(22) A board of trustees may defray all costs of defending civil actions against officers, employees, or agents of the board of trustees pursuant to s. 1012.85.
(23) Each board of trustees has authority for risk management, safety, security, and law enforcement operations. Each board of trustees is authorized to employ personnel, including police officers pursuant to s. 1012.88, to carry out the duties imposed by this subsection.
(24) Each board of trustees shall provide rules governing parking and the direction and flow of traffic within campus boundaries. Except for sworn law enforcement personnel, persons employed to enforce campus parking rules have no authority to arrest or issue citations for moving traffic violations. The board of trustees may adopt a uniform code of appropriate penalties for violations. Such penalties, unless otherwise provided by law, may include the levying of fines, the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with rules or payment of fines, and the imposition of probation, suspension, or dismissal. Moneys collected from parking rule infractions shall be deposited in appropriate funds at each Florida College System institution for student financial aid purposes.
(25) Each board of trustees constitutes the contracting agent of the Florida College System institution. It may when acting as a body make contracts, sue, and be sued in the name of the board of trustees. In any suit, a change in personnel of the board of trustees shall not abate the suit, which shall proceed as if such change had not taken place.
(26) Each board of trustees is authorized to contract for the purchase, sale, lease, license, or acquisition in any manner, including purchase by installment or lease-purchase contract which may provide for the payment of interest on the unpaid portion of the purchase price and for the granting of a security interest in the items purchased, subject to the provisions of subsection (38) and ss. 1009.22 and 1009.23, of goods, materials, equipment, and services required by the Florida College System institution. The board of trustees may choose to consolidate equipment contracts under master equipment financing agreements made pursuant to s. 287.064.
(27) Each board of trustees shall be responsible for managing and protecting real and personal property acquired or held in trust for use by and for the benefit of such Florida College System institution. To that end, any board of trustees is authorized to be self-insured, to enter into risk management programs, or to purchase insurance for whatever coverage it may choose, or to have any combination thereof, in anticipation of any loss, damage, or destruction. A board of trustees may contract for self-insurance services pursuant to s. 1004.725.
(28) Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into agreements for, and accept, credit card, charge card, and debit card payments as compensation for goods, services, tuition, and fees. Each Florida College System institution is further authorized to establish accounts in credit card, charge card, and debit card banks for the deposit of sales invoices.
(29) Each board of trustees may provide incubator facilities to eligible small business concerns pursuant to s. 1004.79.
(30) Each board of trustees may establish a technology transfer center for the purpose of providing institutional support to local business and industry and governmental agencies in the application of new research in technology pursuant to the provisions of s. 1004.78.
(31) Each board of trustees may establish economic development centers for the purpose of serving as liaisons between Florida College System institutions and the business sector pursuant to the provisions of s. 1004.80.
(32) Each board of trustees may establish a child development training center pursuant to s. 1004.81.
(33) Each board of trustees is authorized to develop and produce work products relating to educational endeavors that are subject to trademark, copyright, or patent statutes pursuant to chapter 1004.
(34) Each board of trustees shall administer the facilities program pursuant to chapter 1013, including but not limited to: the construction of public educational and ancillary plants; the acquisition and disposal of property; compliance with building and life safety codes; submission of data and information relating to facilities and construction; use of buildings and grounds; establishment of safety and sanitation programs for the protection of building occupants; and site planning and selection.
(35) Each board of trustees may exercise the right of eminent domain pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1013.
(36) Each board of trustees may enter into lease-purchase arrangements with private individuals or corporations for necessary grounds and buildings for Florida College System institution purposes, other than dormitories, or for buildings other than dormitories to be erected for Florida College System institution purposes. Such arrangements shall be paid from capital outlay and debt service funds as provided by s. 1011.84(2), with terms not to exceed 30 years at a stipulated rate. The provisions of such contracts, including building plans, are subject to approval by the Department of Education, and no such contract may be entered into without such approval.
(37) Each board of trustees may purchase, acquire, receive, hold, own, manage, lease, sell, dispose of, and convey title to real property, in the best interests of the Florida College System institution.
(38) Each board of trustees is authorized to enter into short-term loans and installment, lease-purchase, and other financing contracts for a term of not more than 5 years, including renewals, extensions, and refundings. Payments on short-term loans and installment, lease-purchase, and other financing contracts pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to annual appropriation by the board of trustees. Each board of trustees is authorized to borrow funds and incur long-term debt, including promissory notes, installment sales agreements, lease-purchase agreements, certificates of participation, and other similar long-term financing arrangements, only as specifically provided in ss. 1009.22(7) and (10) and 1009.23(11) and (12). At the option of the board of trustees, bonds issued pursuant to ss. 1009.22(7) and (10) and 1009.23(11) and (12) may be secured by a combination of revenues authorized to be pledged to bonds pursuant to such subsections. Revenue bonds may not be secured by or paid from, directly or indirectly, tuition, financial aid fees, the Florida College System Program Fund, or any other operating revenues of a Florida College System institution. Lease-purchase agreements may be secured by a combination of revenues as specifically authorized pursuant to ss. 1009.22(7) and 1009.23(10).
(39) Each board of trustees shall prescribe conditions for direct-support organizations to be certified and to use Florida College System institution property and services. Conditions relating to certification must provide for audit review and oversight by the board of trustees.
(40) Each board of trustees may adopt policies pursuant to s. 1010.02 that provide procedures for transferring to the direct-support organization of that Florida College System institution for administration by such organization contributions made to the Florida College System institution.
(41) The board of trustees shall exert every effort to collect all delinquent accounts pursuant to s. 1010.03.
(42) Each board of trustees shall implement a plan, in accordance with guidelines of the State Board of Education, for working on a regular basis with the other Florida College System institution boards of trustees, representatives of the university boards of trustees, and representatives of the district school boards to achieve the goals of the seamless education system.
(43) Each board of trustees has responsibility for compliance with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and requirements.
(44) Each board of trustees may adopt rules, procedures, and policies related to institutional governance, administration, and management in order to promote orderly and efficient operation, including, but not limited to, financial management, budget management, physical plant management, and property management.
(45) Each board of trustees may adopt rules and procedures related to data or technology, including, but not limited to, information systems, communications systems, computer hardware and software, and networks.
(46) Each board of trustees may consider the past actions of any person applying for employment and may deny employment to a person because of misconduct if determined to be in the best interest of the Florida College System institution.
(47) Each contract or employment agreement, or renewal or renegotiation of an existing contract or employment agreement, containing a provision for severance pay with an officer, agent, employee, or contractor must include the provisions required in s. 215.425.
(48) Each board of trustees shall use purchasing agreements and state term contracts pursuant to s. 287.056 or enter into consortia and cooperative agreements to maximize the purchasing power for goods and services. A consortium or cooperative agreement may be statewide, regional, or a combination of institutions, as appropriate to achieve the lowest cost, with the goal of achieving a 5-percent savings on existing contract prices through the use of new cooperative arrangements or new consortium contracts.
History.—s. 80, ch. 2002-387; s. 75, ch. 2004-357; s. 4, ch. 2005-146; s. 74, ch. 2007-217; s. 1, ch. 2008-163; s. 2, ch. 2009-60; s. 21, ch. 2011-5; ss. 4, 12, ch. 2011-177; s. 4, ch. 2012-134; s. 2, ch. 2012-191; s. 4, ch. 2012-195; s. 6, ch. 2013-51; s. 20, ch. 2017-116; s. 2, ch. 2019-133; s. 44, ch. 2021-164; s. 44, ch. 2023-81.
1001.65 Florida College System institution presidents; powers and duties.—The president is the chief executive officer of the Florida College System institution, shall be corporate secretary of the Florida College System institution board of trustees, and is responsible for the operation and administration of the Florida College System institution. Each Florida College System institution president shall:
(1) Recommend the adoption of rules, as appropriate, to the Florida College System institution board of trustees to implement provisions of law governing the operation and administration of the Florida College System institution, which shall include the specific powers and duties enumerated in this section. Such rules shall be consistent with law, the mission of the Florida College System institution, and the rules and policies of the State Board of Education.
(2) Prepare a budget request and an operating budget pursuant to s. 1011.30 for approval by the Florida College System institution board of trustees at such time and in such format as the State Board of Education may prescribe.
(3) Establish and implement policies and procedures to recruit, appoint, transfer, promote, compensate, evaluate, reward, demote, discipline, and remove personnel, within law and rules of the State Board of Education and in accordance with rules or policies approved by the Florida College System institution board of trustees.
(4) Govern admissions, subject to law and rules or policies of the Florida College System institution board of trustees and the State Board of Education.
(5) Approve, execute, and administer contracts for and on behalf of the Florida College System institution board of trustees for licenses; the acquisition or provision of commodities, goods, equipment, and services; leases of real and personal property; and planning and construction to be rendered to or by the Florida College System institution, provided such contracts are within law and guidelines of the State Board of Education and in conformance with policies of the Florida College System institution board of trustees, and are for the implementation of approved programs of the Florida College System institution.
(6) Act for the Florida College System institution board of trustees as custodian of all Florida College System institution property and financial resources. The authority vested in the Florida College System institution president under this subsection includes the authority to prioritize the use of Florida College System institution space, property, equipment, and resources and the authority to impose charges for the use of those items.
(7) Establish the internal academic calendar of the Florida College System institution within general guidelines of the State Board of Education.
(8) Administer the Florida College System institution’s program of intercollegiate athletics.
(9) Recommend to the board of trustees the establishment and termination of programs within the approved role and scope of the Florida College System institution.
(10) Award degrees.
(11) Recommend to the board of trustees a schedule of tuition and fees to be charged by the Florida College System institution, within law and rules of the State Board of Education.
(12) Organize the Florida College System institution to efficiently and effectively achieve the goals of the Florida College System institution.
(13) Review periodically the operations of the Florida College System institution in order to determine how effectively and efficiently the Florida College System institution is being administered and whether it is meeting the goals of its strategic plan adopted by the State Board of Education.
(14) Enter into agreements for student exchange programs that involve students at the Florida College System institution and students in other institutions of higher learning.
(15) Approve the internal procedures of student government organizations and provide purchasing, contracting, and budgetary review processes for these organizations.
(16) Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and other requirements that are applicable to the Florida College System institution.
(17) Maintain all data and information pertaining to the operation of the Florida College System institution, and report on the attainment by the Florida College System institution of institutional and statewide performance accountability goals.
(18) Certify to the department a project’s compliance with the requirements for expenditure of PECO funds prior to release of funds pursuant to the provisions of chapter 1013.
(19) Provide to the law enforcement agency and fire department that has jurisdiction over the Florida College System institution a copy of the floor plans and other relevant documents for each educational facility as defined in s. 1013.01(6). After the initial submission of the floor plans and other relevant documents, the Florida College System institution president shall submit, by October 1 of each year, revised floor plans and other relevant documents for each educational facility that was modified during the preceding year.
(20) Develop and implement jointly with school superintendents a comprehensive dual enrollment articulation agreement for the students enrolled in their respective school districts and service areas pursuant to s. 1007.271(21).
(21) Have authority, after notice to the student of the charges and after a hearing thereon, to expel, suspend, or otherwise discipline any student who is found to have violated any law, ordinance, or rule or regulation of the State Board of Education or of the board of trustees of the Florida College System institution pursuant to the provisions of s. 1006.62.
(22) Submit an annual employment accountability plan to the Department of Education pursuant to the provisions of s. 1012.86.
(23) Annually evaluate, or have a designee annually evaluate, each department chairperson, dean, provost, and vice president in achieving the annual and long-term goals and objectives of the Florida College System institution’s employment accountability plan.
(24) Have vested with the president or the president’s designee the authority that is vested with the Florida College System institution.
History.—s. 81, ch. 2002-387; s. 22, ch. 2011-5; s. 3, ch. 2012-191; s. 91, ch. 2016-10.
1001.66 Florida College System Performance-Based Incentive.—
(1) A Florida College System Performance-Based Incentive shall be awarded to Florida College System institutions using performance-based metrics adopted by the State Board of Education. The performance-based metrics must include retention rates; program completion and graduation rates; postgraduation employment, salaries, and continuing education for workforce education and baccalaureate programs, with wage thresholds that reflect the added value of the certificate or degree; and outcome measures appropriate for associate of arts degree recipients. The state board shall adopt benchmarks to evaluate each institution’s performance on the metrics to measure the institution’s achievement of institutional excellence or need for improvement and the minimum requirements for eligibility to receive performance funding.
(2) Each fiscal year, the amount of funds available for allocation to the Florida College System institutions based on the performance-based funding model shall consist of the state’s investment in performance funding plus institutional investments consisting of funds to be redistributed from the base funding of the Florida College System Program Fund as determined in the General Appropriations Act. The State Board of Education shall establish minimum performance funding eligibility thresholds for the state’s investment and the institutional investments. An institution that meets the minimum institutional investment eligibility threshold, but fails to meet the minimum state investment eligibility threshold, shall have its institutional investment restored but is ineligible for a share of the state’s investment in performance funding. The institutional investment shall be restored for all institutions eligible for the state’s investment under the performance-based funding model.
(3)(a) Each Florida College System institution’s share of the performance funding shall be calculated based on its relative performance on the established metrics in conjunction with the institutional size and scope.
(b) A Florida College System institution that fails to meet the State Board of Education’s minimum institutional investment performance funding eligibility threshold shall have a portion of its institutional investment withheld by the state board and must submit an improvement plan to the state board which specifies the activities and strategies for improving the institution’s performance. The state board must review and approve the improvement plan and, if the plan is approved, must monitor the institution’s progress in implementing the activities and strategies specified in the improvement plan. The institution shall submit monitoring reports to the state board by December 31 and May 31 of each year in which an improvement plan is in place. Beginning in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, the ability of an institution to submit an improvement plan to the state board is limited to 1 fiscal year.
(c) The Commissioner of Education shall withhold disbursement of the institutional investment until the monitoring report is approved by the State Board of Education. A Florida College System institution determined by the state board to be making satisfactory progress on implementing the improvement plan shall receive no more than one-half of the withheld institutional investment in January and the balance of the withheld institutional investment in June. An institution that fails to make satisfactory progress may not have its full institutional investment restored. Any institutional investment funds that are not restored shall be redistributed in accordance with the state board’s performance-based metrics.
(4) Distributions of performance funding, as provided in this section, shall be made to each of the Florida College System institutions listed in the Florida Colleges category in the General Appropriations Act.
(5) By October 1 of each year, the State Board of Education shall submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report on the previous fiscal year’s performance funding allocation, which must reflect the rankings and award distributions.
(6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer this section.
History.—ss. 6, 126, ch. 2016-62; s. 9, ch. 2016-237.
1001.67 Distinguished Florida College System Institution Program.—A collaborative partnership is established between the State Board of Education and the Legislature to recognize the excellence of Florida’s highest-performing Florida College System institutions.
(1) EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The following excellence standards are established for the program:
(a) A 150 percent-of-normal-time completion rate of 50 percent or higher, as calculated by the Division of Florida Colleges.
(b) A 150 percent-of-normal-time completion rate for Pell Grant recipients of 40 percent or higher, as calculated by the Division of Florida Colleges.
(c) A retention rate of 70 percent or higher, as calculated by the Division of Florida Colleges.
(d) A continuing education, or transfer, rate of 72 percent or higher for students graduating with an associate of arts degree, as reported by the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP).
(e) A licensure passage rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) of 90 percent or higher for first-time exam takers, as reported by the Board of Nursing.
(f) A job placement or continuing education rate of 88 percent or higher for workforce programs, as reported by FETPIP.
(g) A time-to-degree for students graduating with an associate of arts degree of 2.25 years or less for first-time-in-college students with accelerated college credits, as reported by the Southern Regional Education Board.
(2) DISTINGUISHED COLLEGE DESIGNATION.—The State Board of Education shall designate each Florida College System institution that meets five of the seven standards identified in subsection (1) as a distinguished college.
(3) DISTINGUISHED COLLEGE SUPPORT.—A Florida College System institution designated as a distinguished college by the State Board of Education is eligible for funding as specified in the General Appropriations Act.
History.—ss. 7, 126, ch. 2016-62; s. 3, ch. 2016-237.
PART IV
STATE UNIVERSITIES1001.70 Board of Governors of the State University System.
1001.705 Responsibility for the State University System under s. 7, Art. IX of the State Constitution.
1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.
1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.
1001.71 University boards of trustees; membership.
1001.72 University boards of trustees; boards to constitute a corporation.
1001.73 University board empowered to act as trustee.
1001.741 State university personnel; recruitment of faculty; performance assessment and reporting; employment practices; requiring certain oaths or statements prohibited; grievances.
1001.7415 State university boards of trustees; personnel; loyalty tests and ideological preference prohibited.
1001.92 State University System Performance-Based Incentive.
1001.93 Offices of Public Policy Events within the State University System.
1001.70 Board of Governors of the State University System.—
(1) Pursuant to s. 7(d), Art. IX of the State Constitution, the Board of Governors is established as a body corporate comprised of 17 members as follows: 14 citizen members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate; the Commissioner of Education; the chair of the advisory council of faculty senates or the equivalent; and the president of the Florida student association or the equivalent. The appointed members shall serve staggered 7-year terms. In order to achieve staggered terms, beginning July 1, 2003, of the initial appointments, 4 members shall serve 2-year terms, 5 members shall serve 3-year terms, and 5 members shall serve 7-year terms.
(2) Members of the Board of Governors shall receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
(3) The Board of Governors, in exercising its authority under the State Constitution and statutes, shall exercise its authority in a manner that supports, promotes, and enhances an Early Learning-20 education system that provides affordable access to postsecondary educational opportunities for residents of the state to the extent authorized by the State Constitution and state law.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2003-392; s. 75, ch. 2007-217; s. 28, ch. 2021-10.
1001.705 Responsibility for the State University System under s. 7, Art. IX of the State Constitution.—
(1) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this act, the term:
(a) “Board of Governors” as it relates to the State University System and as used in s. 7, Art. IX of the State Constitution and Title XLVIII and other sections of the Florida Statutes is the Board of Governors of the State University System which belongs to and is part of the executive branch of state government.
(b) “Institutions of higher learning” as used in the State Constitution and the Florida Statutes includes publicly funded state universities.
(c) “Public officer” as used in the Florida Statutes includes members of the Board of Governors.
(d) “State university” or “state universities” as used in the State Constitution and the Florida Statutes are agencies of the state which belong to and are part of the executive branch of state government. This definition of state universities as state agencies is only for the purposes of the delineation of constitutional lines of authority. Statutory exemptions for state universities from statutory provisions relating to state agencies that are in effect on the effective date of this act remain in effect and are not repealed by virtue of this definition of state universities.
(2) CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.—In accordance with s. 7, Art. IX of the State Constitution, the Board of Governors of the State University System has the duty to operate, regulate, control, and be fully responsible for the management of the whole publicly funded State University System and the board, or the board’s designee, has responsibility for:
(a) Defining the distinctive mission of each constituent university.
(b) Defining the articulation of each constituent university in conjunction with the Legislature’s authority over the public schools and Florida College System institutions.
(c) Ensuring the well-planned coordination and operation of the State University System.
(d) Avoiding wasteful duplication of facilities or programs within the State University System.
(e) Accounting for expenditure of funds appropriated by the Legislature for the State University System as provided by law.
(f) Submitting a budget request for legislative appropriations for the institutions under the supervision of the board as provided by law.
(g) Adopting strategic plans for the State University System and each constituent university.
(h) Approving, reviewing, and terminating degree programs of the State University System.
(i) Governing admissions to the state universities.
(j) Serving as the public employer to all public employees of state universities for collective bargaining purposes.
(k) Establishing a personnel system for all state university employees; however, the Department of Management Services shall retain authority over state university employees for programs established in ss. 110.123, 110.1232, 110.1234, 110.1238, and 110.161, and in chapters 121, 122, and 238.
(l) Complying with, and enforcing for institutions under the board’s jurisdiction, all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
(3) CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES OF THE LEGISLATURE.—In accordance with s. 3, Art. II of the State Constitution, which establishes the separation of powers of three branches of government; s. 1, Art. III of the State Constitution, which vests the legislative power of the state in the Legislature; s. 8, Art. III of the State Constitution, which provides the exclusive executive veto power of the Governor and the exclusive veto override power of the Legislature; s. 19, Art. III of the State Constitution, which requires the Legislature to enact state planning and budget processes and requirements for budget requests by general law; s. 1, Art. VII of the State Constitution, which requires that the authority to expend state funds be by general law enacted by the Legislature; and s. 1, Art. IX of the State Constitution, which requires the Legislature to make adequate provision by law for the “establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning,” the Legislature has the following responsibilities:
(a) Making provision by law for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of institutions of higher learning and other public education programs that the needs of the people may require.
(b) Appropriating all state funds through the General Appropriations Act or other law.
(c) Establishing tuition and fees.
(d) Establishing policies relating to merit and need-based student financial aid.
(e) Establishing policies relating to expenditure of, accountability for, and management of funds appropriated by the Legislature or revenues authorized by the Legislature. This includes, but is not limited to, policies relating to: budgeting; deposit of funds; investments; accounting; purchasing, procurement, and contracting; insurance; audits; maintenance and construction of facilities; property; bond financing; leasing; and information reporting.
(f) Maintaining the actuarial and fiscal soundness of centrally administered state systems by requiring state universities to continue to participate in programs such as the Florida Retirement System, the state group health insurance programs, and the state casualty insurance program.
(g) Establishing and regulating the use of state powers and protections, including, but not limited to, eminent domain, certified law enforcement, and sovereign immunity.
(h) Establishing policies relating to the health, safety, and welfare of students, employees, and the public while present on the campuses of institutions of higher learning.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2005-285; s. 10, ch. 2010-78; s. 23, ch. 2011-5.
1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
(1) GENERAL PROVISIONS.—For each constituent university, the Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall be responsible for cost-effective policy decisions appropriate to the university’s mission, the implementation and maintenance of high-quality education programs within law, the measurement of performance, the reporting of information, and the provision of input regarding state policy, budgeting, and education standards.
(2) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—
(a) Pursuant to s. 7, Art. IX of the State Constitution, the Board of Governors has the authority to regulate the State University System and may adopt a regulation development procedure for the Board of Governors and the university boards of trustees to use in implementing their constitutional duties and responsibilities.
(b) The Board of Governors shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 120 when acting pursuant to statutory authority derived from the Legislature, except that the Board of Governors may adopt regulations if expressly authorized or required by law. Such regulations must be adopted pursuant to a development procedure that complies with paragraph (c). If the Board of Governors delegates a power or duty to a university board of trustees as the designee, the authority to adopt rules or regulations is included in the delegation. If the Board of Governors delegates a statutory power or duty to a university board of trustees, the university board of trustees shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 120 but may adopt regulations to the same extent as the Board of Governors under this subsection.
(c) The development procedure for regulations authorized or required by law must provide for notice to the public of, and an opportunity for public comment on, the proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation; a process for a substantially affected person to challenge a statement of general applicability that has not been properly adopted as a regulation; a process for a substantially affected person to challenge an unlawful regulation; and a process for the adoption of and challenges to emergency regulations that are necessary to protect the public interest in the emergency. Judicial review shall be sought in the appellate district in which the headquarters of the Board of Governors is located or in which the main campus of the state university is located, as applicable. The regulation development procedure shall be published prominently on the websites of the Board of Governors and the state universities.
(3) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF STATE UNIVERSITIES.—
(a) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall develop guidelines and procedures related to data and technology, including information systems, communications systems, computer hardware and software, and networks.
(b) The Board of Governors shall develop guidelines relating to divisions of sponsored research, pursuant to the provisions of s. 1004.22, to serve the function of administration and promotion of the programs of research.
(c) The Board of Governors shall prescribe conditions for direct-support organizations and university health services support organizations to be certified and to use university property and services. Conditions relating to certification must provide for audit review and oversight by the Board of Governors.
(d) The Board of Governors shall develop guidelines for supervising faculty practice plans for the academic health science centers.
(e) The Board of Governors shall ensure that students at state universities have access to general education courses as provided in the statewide articulation agreement, pursuant to s. 1007.23.
(f) The Board of Governors shall approve baccalaureate degree programs that require more than 120 semester credit hours of coursework prior to such programs being offered by a state university. At least half of the required coursework for any baccalaureate degree must be offered at the lower-division level, except in program areas approved by the Board of Governors.
(g) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall adopt a written antihazing policy, appropriate penalties for violations of such policy, and a program for enforcing such policy.
(h) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, may establish a uniform code of conduct and appropriate penalties for violations of its regulations by students and student organizations, including regulations governing student academic honesty. Such penalties, unless otherwise provided by law, may include reasonable fines, the withholding of diplomas or transcripts pending compliance with regulations or payment of fines, and the imposition of probation, suspension, or dismissal.
(i) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations requiring universities to use purchasing agreements or state term contracts pursuant to s. 287.056 or enter into consortia and cooperative agreements to maximize the purchasing power for goods and services. A consortium or cooperative agreement may be statewide, regional, or a combination of institutions, as appropriate to achieve the lowest cost, with the goal of achieving a 5-percent savings on existing contract prices through the use of new cooperative arrangements or new consortium contracts.
(j) The Board of Governors shall develop and annually deliver a training program for members of each state university board of trustees that addresses the role of such boards in governing institutional resources and protecting the public interest. At a minimum, each trustee must participate in the training program within 1 year of appointment and reappointment to a university board of trustees. The program must include information on trustee responsibilities relating to all of the following:
1. Meeting the statutory, regulatory, and fiduciary obligations of the board.
2. Establishing internal process controls and accountability mechanisms for the institution’s president and other administrative officers.
3. Oversight of planning, construction, maintenance, expansion, and renovation projects that impact the university’s consolidated infrastructure, physical facilities, and natural environment, including its lands, improvements, and capital equipment.
4. Establishing policies that promote college affordability, including ensuring that the costs of university fees, textbooks, and instructional materials are minimized whenever possible.
5. Creation and implementation of institutionwide rules and regulations.
6. Institutional ethics and conflicts of interest.
7. Best practices for board governance.
8. Understanding current national and state issues in higher education.
9. Any other responsibilities the Board of Governors deems necessary or appropriate.
(4) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO FINANCE.—
(a) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall account for expenditures of all state, local, federal, and other funds. Such accounting systems shall have appropriate audit and internal controls in place that will enable the constituent universities to satisfactorily and timely perform all accounting and reporting functions required by state and federal law and rules.
(b) The Board of Governors shall prepare the legislative budget requests for the State University System, including a request for fixed capital outlay, and submit them to the State Board of Education for inclusion in the Early Learning-20 legislative budget request. The Board of Governors shall provide the state universities with fiscal policy guidelines, formats, and instruction for the development of individual university budget requests.
(c) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall establish tuition and fees pursuant to ss. 1009.24 and 1009.26, unless otherwise provided in law.
(d) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, is authorized to secure comprehensive general liability insurance pursuant to s. 1004.24.
(e) The Board of Governors may transfer unused appropriations from the Education/General Student and Other Fees Trust Fund, pursuant to s. 1011.4106(2), between institutions.
(5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
(a) The Legislature intends that the Board of Governors shall align the missions of each constituent university with the academic success of its students; the existing and emerging economic development needs of the state; the national reputation of its faculty and its academic and research programs; the quantity of externally generated research, patents, and licenses; and the strategic and accountability plans required in paragraphs (b) and (c). The Board of Governors shall periodically review the mission of each constituent university and make updates or revisions as needed. Upon completion of a review of the mission, the board shall review existing academic programs for alignment with the mission. The board shall include in its review a directive to each constituent university regarding its programs for any curriculum that violates s. 1000.05 or that is based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities. The mission alignment and strategic plan must consider peer institutions at the constituent universities. The mission alignment and strategic plan must acknowledge that universities that have a national and international impact have the greatest capacity to promote the state’s economic development through: new discoveries, patents, licenses, and technologies that generate state businesses of global importance; research achievements through external grants and contracts that are comparable to nationally recognized and ranked universities; the creation of a resource rich academic environment that attracts high-technology business and venture capital to the state; and this generation’s finest minds focusing on solving the state’s economic, social, environmental, and legal problems in the areas of life sciences, water, sustainability, energy, and health care. A nationally recognized and ranked university that has a global perspective and impact must be afforded the opportunity to enable and protect the university’s competitiveness on the global stage in fair competition with other institutions of other states in the highest Carnegie Classification.
(b) The Board of Governors shall develop a strategic plan specifying goals and objectives for the State University System and each constituent university, including each university’s contribution to overall system goals and objectives. The strategic plan must:
1. Include performance metrics and standards common for all institutions and metrics and standards unique to institutions depending on institutional core missions, including, but not limited to, student admission requirements, retention, graduation, percentage of graduates who have attained employment, percentage of graduates enrolled in continued education, licensure passage, nondegree credential attainment, average wages of employed graduates, average cost per graduate, excess hours, student loan burden and default rates, faculty awards, total annual research expenditures, patents, licenses and royalties, intellectual property, startup companies, annual giving, endowments, and well-known, highly respected national rankings for institutional and program achievements.
2. Consider reports and recommendations of the Florida Talent Development Council under s. 1004.015 and the Articulation Coordinating Committee under s. 1007.01, and the information provided by the Labor Market Statistics Center within the Department of Economic Opportunity and the Labor Market Estimating Conference.
3. Include student enrollment and performance data delineated by method of instruction, including, but not limited to, traditional, online, and distance learning instruction.
4. Include criteria for designating baccalaureate degree and master’s degree programs at specified universities as high-demand programs of emphasis. Once the criteria are available and applicable to baccalaureate degrees and graduate degrees, the Board of Governors shall adopt the criteria to determine value for and prioritization of degree credentials and degree programs established by the Credentials Review Committee under s. 445.004 for designating high-demand programs of emphasis. The Board of Governors must review designated programs of emphasis, at a minimum, every 3 years to ensure alignment with the prioritization of degree credentials and degree programs identified by the Credentials Review Committee.
5. Include criteria for nondegree credentials.
(c) The Board of Governors shall develop an accountability plan for the State University System and each constituent university. The accountability plan must address institutional and system achievement of goals and objectives specified in the strategic plan adopted pursuant to paragraph (b) and must be submitted as part of its legislative budget request. Each university shall submit, as a component of the university’s annual accountability plan:
1. Information on the effectiveness of its plan for improving 4-year graduation rates; and
2. The level of financial assistance provided to students pursuant to paragraph (h).
(d) The Board of Governors shall annually require a state university prior to registration to provide each enrolled student electronic access to the economic security report of employment and earning outcomes prepared by the Department of Economic Opportunity pursuant to s. 445.07. In addition, the Board of Governors shall require a state university to provide each student electronic access to the following information each year prior to registration using the data described in s. 1008.39:
1. The top 25 percent of degrees reported by the university in terms of highest full-time job placement and highest average annualized earnings in the year after earning the degree.
2. The bottom 10 percent of degrees reported by the university in terms of lowest full-time job placement and lowest average annualized earnings in the year after earning the degree.
(e) The Board of Governors shall maintain an effective information system to provide accurate, timely, and cost-effective information about each university. The board shall continue to collect and maintain, at a minimum, management information as such information existed on June 30, 2002. To ensure consistency, the Board of Governors shall define the data components and methodology used to implement ss. 1001.7065 and 1001.92. Each university shall conduct an annual audit to verify that the data submitted pursuant to ss. 1001.7065 and 1001.92 complies with the data definitions established by the board and submit the audits to the Board of Governors Office of Inspector General as part of the annual certification process required by the Board of Governors.
(f) If the Board of Governors of the State University System determines that a state university board of trustees is unwilling or unable to address substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste, fraud, or financial mismanagement within the state university, the Office of the Inspector General shall investigate the allegations.
(g) The Board of Governors may consider waiving its regulations and may waive or modify the tuition differential use requirements under s. 1009.24(16)(a). If not currently authorized, the Board of Governors may request authority from the Legislature to waive or modify specific statutory requirements, including percentages and dollar amount limitations in s. 1009.24, in order to reduce barriers and support the attainment of goals identified in institutional plans, as necessary for advancing system priorities and unique institutional priorities. Regulatory flexibilities authorized and statutory flexibilities authorized or requested by the Board of Governors pursuant to this paragraph must be included in the accountability plan prepared and submitted pursuant to paragraph (c).
(h) By June 1, 2018, each university board of trustees shall submit a comprehensive proposal to improve undergraduate 4-year graduation rates to the Board of Governors for implementation beginning in the fall 2018 academic semester. The proposal must:
1. Identify academic, financial, policy, and curricular incentives and disincentives for timely graduation.
2. Outline the implementation of a proactive financial aid program to enable full-time students with financial need to take at least 15 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters.
3. Include assurances that there will be no increased cost to students.
(i) The Board of Governors shall match individual student information with information in the files of state and federal agencies that maintain educational and employment records. The board must enter into an agreement with the Department of Economic Opportunity that allows access to the individual reemployment assistance wage records maintained by the department. The agreement must protect individual privacy and provide that student information may be used only for the purposes of auditing or evaluating higher education programs offered by state universities.
(6) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO PERSONNEL.—
(a) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall establish the personnel program for all employees of a state university. The Board of Governors shall confirm the presidential selection and reappointment by a university board of trustees as a means of acknowledging that system cooperation is expected.
(b) The Board of Governors shall adopt a regulation requiring each tenured state university faculty member to undergo a comprehensive post-tenure review every 5 years. The board may include other considerations in the regulation, but the regulation must address:
1. Accomplishments and productivity;
2. Assigned duties in research, teaching, and service;
3. Performance metrics, evaluations, and ratings; and
4. Recognition and compensation considerations, as well as improvement plans and consequences for underperformance.
(c) The Department of Management Services shall retain authority over state university employees for programs established in ss. 110.123, 110.1232, 110.1234, 110.1238, and 110.161 and in chapters 121, 122, and 238. Unless specifically authorized by law, neither the Board of Governors nor a state university may offer group insurance programs for employees as a substitute for or as an alternative to the health insurance programs offered pursuant to chapter 110.
(d) Except as otherwise provided by law, university employees are public employees for purposes of chapter 112 and any payment for travel and per diem expenses shall not exceed the level specified in s. 112.061.
(e) Each contract or employment agreement, or renewal or renegotiation of an existing contract or employment agreement, containing a provision for severance pay with an officer, agent, employee, or contractor must include the provisions required in s. 215.425.
(7) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO PROPERTY.—
(a) The Board of Governors shall develop guidelines for university boards of trustees relating to the acquisition of real and personal property and the sale and disposal thereof and the approval and execution of contracts for the purchase, sale, lease, license, or acquisition of commodities, goods, equipment, contractual services, leases of real and personal property, and construction. The acquisition may include purchase by installment or lease-purchase. Such contracts may provide for payment of interest on the unpaid portion of the purchase price. Title to all real property acquired before January 7, 2003, and to all real property acquired with funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be vested in the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and shall be transferred and conveyed by it.
1. No later than October 1, 2023, the Board of Governors shall develop regulations for university boards of trustees relating to the procedures for contracting for professional services as defined in s. 287.055 and for the construction of new facilities or for the remodeling, renovation, or maintenance of or additions or repairs to existing facilities. The regulations must include, but are not limited to, competitive bids, design-build, and selection of a construction management entity. Contracts executed, extended, or amended on or before September 30, 2023, must comply with the requirements of s. 287.055.
2. Notwithstanding this subsection, any acquisition pursuant to this paragraph is subject to s. 1010.62.
(b) The Board of Governors shall develop guidelines for university boards of trustees relating to the use, maintenance, protection, and control of university-owned or university-controlled buildings and grounds, property and equipment, name, trademarks and other proprietary marks, and the financial and other resources of the university. Such authority may include placing restrictions on activities and on access to facilities, firearms, food, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, distribution of printed materials, commercial solicitation, animals, and sound. The authority provided the board of trustees in this subsection includes the prioritization of the use of space, property, equipment, and resources and the imposition of charges for those items.
(c) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall administer a program for the maintenance and construction of facilities pursuant to chapter 1013.
(d) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall ensure compliance with the provisions of s. 287.09451 for all procurement and ss. 255.101 and 255.102 for construction contracts, and rules adopted pursuant thereto, relating to the utilization of minority business enterprises, except that procurements costing less than the amount provided for in CATEGORY FIVE as provided in s. 287.017 shall not be subject to s. 287.09451.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 253.025 but subject to the provisions of s. 1010.62, the Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, may, with the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, sell, convey, transfer, exchange, trade, or purchase real property and related improvements necessary and desirable to serve the needs and purposes of the university.
1. The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, may secure appraisals and surveys. The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall comply with the rules of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund in securing appraisals. Whenever the Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, finds it necessary for timely property acquisition, it may contract, without the need for competitive selection, with one or more appraisers whose names are contained on the list of approved appraisers maintained by the Division of State Lands in the Department of Environmental Protection.
2. The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, may negotiate and enter into an option contract before an appraisal is obtained. The option contract must state that the final purchase price may not exceed the maximum value allowed by law. The consideration for such an option contract may not exceed 10 percent of the estimate obtained by the Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, or 10 percent of the value of the parcel, whichever is greater, unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Governors or the board’s designee.
3. This paragraph is not intended to abrogate in any manner the authority delegated to the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund or the Division of State Lands to approve a contract for purchase of state lands or to require policies and procedures to obtain clear legal title to parcels purchased for state purposes. Title to property acquired by a university board of trustees prior to January 7, 2003, and to property acquired with funds appropriated by the Legislature shall vest in the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.
(f) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall prepare and adopt a campus master plan pursuant to s. 1013.30.
(g) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, shall prepare, adopt, and execute a campus development agreement pursuant to s. 1013.30.
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.351, the Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, may authorize the rent or lease of parking facilities provided that such facilities are funded through parking fees or parking fines imposed by a university. The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, may authorize a university board of trustees to charge fees for parking at such rented or leased parking facilities.
(8) COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, RULES, REGULATIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS.—The Board of Governors has responsibility for compliance with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and requirements.
(9) COOPERATION WITH OTHER BOARDS.—The Board of Governors shall implement a plan for working on a regular basis with the State Board of Education, the Commission for Independent Education, the Florida Talent Development Council, the Articulation Coordinating Committee, the university boards of trustees, representatives of the Florida College System institution boards of trustees, representatives of the private colleges and universities, and representatives of the district school boards to achieve a seamless education system.
(10) PROHIBITION.—The Board of Governors is prohibited from assessing any fee on state universities, unless specifically authorized by law.
(11) AUTHORIZATION TO REVOKE OR MODIFY.—The Board of Governors may revoke or modify the scope of any power or duty it has delegated.
(12) PUBLIC EDUCATION CAPITAL OUTLAY.—The Board of Governors shall submit the prioritized list as required by s. 1013.64(4). Projects considered for prioritization shall be chosen from a preliminary selection group which shall include the list of projects maintained pursuant to paragraph (d) and the top two priorities of each state university.
(a) The board shall develop a points-based prioritization method to rank projects for consideration from the preliminary selection group that awards points for the degree to which a project meets specific criteria compared to other projects in the preliminary selection group. The board shall consider criteria that evaluates the degree to which:
1. The project was funded previously by the Legislature and the amount of funds needed for completion constitute a relatively low percentage of total project costs;
2. The project represents a building maintenance project or the repair of utility infrastructure which is necessary to preserve a safe environment for students and staff, or a project that is necessary to maintain the operation of a university site, and for which the university can demonstrate that it has no funds available to complete the project from the sources designated in s. 1011.45;
3. The project addresses the greatest current year need for space as indicated by increased instructional or research capacity that enhances educational opportunities for the greatest number of students or the university’s research mission;
4. The project reflects a ranked priority of the submitting university;
5. The project represents the most practical and cost-effective replacement or renovation of an existing building; or
6. For a new construction, remodeling, or renovation project that has not received a prior appropriation, the project has received, or has commitments to receive, funding from sources other than a project-specific state appropriation to assist with completion of the project; the project is needed to preserve the safety of persons using the facility; the project is consistent with a strategic legislative or board initiative; or the institution has allocated funding equal to a percentage of the total project cost. The percentage shall be no less than:
a. Six percent for preeminent universities;
b. Four percent for emerging preeminent universities; and
c. Two percent for state universities that are neither a preeminent or emerging preeminent university.
(b) The project scoring the highest for each criterion shall be awarded the maximum points in the range of points within the points scale developed by the board. The board shall weight the value of criteria such that the maximum points awarded for each criterion represent a percent of the total of maximum points. However, the board may not weight any criterion higher than the criterion established in subparagraph (a)3.
(c) A new construction, remodeling, or renovation project that has not received an appropriation in a previous year shall not be considered for inclusion on the prioritized list required by s. 1013.64(4), unless:
1. A plan is provided to reserve funds in an escrow account, specific to the project, into which shall be deposited each year an amount of funds equal to 1 percent of the total value of the building for future maintenance;
2. There exists sufficient capacity within the cash and bonding estimate of funds by the Revenue Estimating Conference to accommodate the project within the 3-year Public Education Capital Outlay funding cycle; and
3. The project has been recommended pursuant to s. 1013.31.
(d) The board shall continually maintain a list of all public education capital outlay projects for which state funds were previously appropriated which have not been completed. The list shall include an estimate of the amount of state funding needed for the completion of each project.
(e) The board shall review its space need calculation methodology developed pursuant to s. 1013.31 to incorporate improvements, efficiencies, or changes. Recommendations shall be submitted to the chairs of the House of Representatives and Senate appropriations committees by October 31, 2019, and every 3 years thereafter.
(13) INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND VIEWPOINT DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT.—
(a) For the purposes of this subsection, the term:
1. “Intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” means the exposure of students, faculty, and staff to, and the encouragement of their exploration of, a variety of ideological and political perspectives.
2. “Shield” means to limit students’, faculty members’, or staff members’ access to, or observation of, ideas and opinions that they may find uncomfortable, unwelcome, disagreeable, or offensive.
(b) The Board of Governors shall require each state university to conduct an annual assessment of the intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity at that institution. The Board of Governors shall select or create an objective, nonpartisan, and statistically valid survey to be used by each state university which considers the extent to which competing ideas and perspectives are presented and members of the university community, including students, faculty, and staff, feel free to express their beliefs and viewpoints on campus and in the classroom. The Board of Governors shall annually compile and publish the assessments by December 31 of each year, beginning on December 31, 2024.
(c) The Board of Governors may not shield students, faculty, or staff at state universities from free speech protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Art. I of the State Constitution, or s. 1004.97.
History.—s. 76, ch. 2007-217; s. 3, ch. 2009-60; s. 1, ch. 2009-213; s. 11, ch. 2010-78; s. 24, ch. 2011-5; s. 5, ch. 2012-134; s. 5, ch. 2012-195; s. 45, ch. 2013-27; s. 2, ch. 2018-4; s. 4, ch. 2019-103; s. 11, ch. 2019-119; s. 29, ch. 2021-10; s. 2, ch. 2021-159; s. 18, ch. 2021-164; s. 1, ch. 2022-70; s. 17, ch. 2023-81; s. 1, ch. 2023-82; s. 2, ch. 2023-83; s. 1, ch. 2023-95.
1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
(1) STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SHARED GOVERNANCE COLLABORATION.—A collaborative partnership is established between the Board of Governors and the Legislature to elevate the academic and research preeminence of Florida’s highest-performing state research universities in accordance with this section. The partnership stems from the State University System Governance Agreement executed on March 24, 2010, wherein the Board of Governors and leaders of the Legislature agreed to a framework for the collaborative exercise of their joint authority and shared responsibility for the State University System. The governance agreement confirmed the commitment of the Board of Governors and the Legislature to continue collaboration on accountability measures, the use of data, and recommendations derived from such data.
(2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The following academic and research excellence standards are established for the preeminent state research universities program and shall be reported annually in the Board of Governors Accountability Plan:
(a) An average weighted grade point average of 4.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1200 or higher on a 1600-point scale or an average ACT score of 25 or higher on a 36 score scale, using the latest published national concordance table developed jointly by the College Board and ACT, Inc., for fall semester incoming freshmen, as reported annually.
(b) A top-50 ranking on at least two well-known and highly respected national public university rankings, including, but not limited to, the U.S. News and World Report rankings, reflecting national preeminence, using most recent rankings.
(c) A freshman retention rate of 90 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students.
(d) A 4-year graduation rate of 60 percent or higher for full-time, first-time-in-college students.
(e) Six or more faculty members at the state university who are members of a national academy.
(f) Total annual research expenditures, including federal research expenditures, of $200 million or more.
(g) Total annual research expenditures in diversified nonmedical sciences of $150 million or more.
(h) A top-100 university national ranking for research expenditures in five or more science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields of study.
(i) One hundred or more total patents awarded by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the most recent 3-year period.
(j) Four hundred or more doctoral degrees awarded annually, including professional doctoral degrees awarded in medical and health care disciplines.
(k) Two hundred or more postdoctoral appointees annually.
(l) An endowment of $500 million or more.
(m) Total annual STEM-related research expenditures, including federal research expenditures, of $50 million or more.
(3) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION.—
(a) The Board of Governors shall designate each state university that annually meets at least 12 of the 13 academic and research excellence standards identified in subsection (2) as a “preeminent state research university.”
(b) The Board of Governors shall designate each state university that annually meets at least 7 of the 13 academic and research excellence standards identified in subsection (2) as an “emerging preeminent state research university.”
(4) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR ONLINE LEARNING.—A state research university that, as of July 1, 2013, meets all 12 of the academic and research excellence standards identified in subsection (2), as verified by the Board of Governors, shall establish an institute for online learning. The institute shall establish a robust offering of high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs at an affordable cost in accordance with this subsection.
(a) Beginning in January 2014, the university shall offer high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs that:
1. Accept full-time, first-time-in-college students.
2. Have the same rigorous admissions criteria as equivalent on-campus degree programs.
3. Offer curriculum of equivalent rigor to on-campus degree programs.
4. Offer rolling enrollment or multiple opportunities for enrollment throughout the year.
5. Do not require any on-campus courses. However, for courses or programs that require clinical training or laboratories that cannot be delivered online, the university shall offer convenient locational options to the student, which may include, but are not limited to, the option to complete such requirements at a summer-in-residence on the university campus. The university may provide a network of sites at convenient locations and contract with commercial testing centers or identify other secure testing services for the purpose of proctoring assessments or testing.
6. Apply the university’s existing policy for accepting credits for both freshman applicants and transfer applicants.
(b) The university may offer a fully online Master’s in Business Administration degree program and other master’s degree programs.
(c) The university may develop and offer degree programs and courses that are competency based as appropriate for the quality and success of the program.
(d) The university shall periodically expand its offering of online baccalaureate degree programs to meet student and market demands.
(e) The university shall establish a tuition structure for its online institute in accordance with this paragraph, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
1. For students classified as residents for tuition purposes, tuition for an online baccalaureate degree program shall be set at no more than 75 percent of the tuition rate as specified in the General Appropriations Act pursuant to s. 1009.24(4) and 75 percent of the tuition differential pursuant to s. 1009.24(16). No distance learning fee, fee for campus facilities, or fee for on-campus services may be assessed, except that online students shall pay the university’s technology fee, financial aid fee, and Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee. The revenues generated from the Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee shall be dedicated to the university’s institute for online learning.
2. For students classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes, tuition may be set at market rates in accordance with the business plan.
3. Tuition for an online degree program shall include all costs associated with instruction, materials, and enrollment, excluding costs associated with the provision of textbooks and instructional materials pursuant to s. 1004.085 and physical laboratory supplies.
4. Subject to the limitations in subparagraph 1., tuition may be differentiated by degree program as appropriate to the instructional and other costs of the program in accordance with the business plan. Pricing must incorporate innovative approaches that incentivize persistence and completion, including, but not limited to, a fee for assessment, a bundled or all-inclusive rate, and sliding scale features.
5. The university must accept advance payment contracts and student financial aid.
6. Fifty percent of the net revenues generated from the online institute of the university shall be used to enhance and enrich the online institute offerings, and 50 percent of the net revenues generated from the online institute shall be used to enhance and enrich the university’s campus state-of-the-art research programs and facilities.
7. The institute may charge additional local user fees pursuant to s. 1009.24(14) upon the approval of the Board of Governors.
8. The institute shall submit a proposal to the president of the university authorizing additional user fees for the provision of voluntary student participation in activities and additional student services.
(5) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM SUPPORT.—
(a) A state university that is designated as a preeminent state research university shall submit to the Board of Governors a 5-year benchmark plan with target rankings on key performance metrics for national excellence. Upon approval by the Board of Governors, and upon the university’s meeting the benchmark plan goals annually, the Board of Governors shall award the university its proportionate share of any funds provided annually to support the program created under this section.
(b) A state university designated as an emerging preeminent state research university shall submit to the Board of Governors a 5-year benchmark plan with target rankings on key performance metrics for national excellence.
(c) The award of funds under this subsection is contingent upon funding provided by the Legislature to support the preeminent state research universities program created under this section. Funding increases appropriated beyond the amounts funded in the previous fiscal year shall be distributed to each designated preeminent state research university that meets the criteria in paragraph (a). Each designated preeminent state research university shall receive an equal amount of funding.
(6) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY FLEXIBILITY AUTHORITY.—The Board of Governors is encouraged to identify and grant all reasonable, feasible authority and flexibility to ensure that each designated preeminent state research university and each designated emerging preeminent state research university is free from unnecessary restrictions.
(7) STATE UNIVERSITIES OF DISTINCTION THROUGHOUT THE STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.—The Board of Governors shall establish standards and measures whereby state universities that focus on one core competency unique to the State University System that achieves excellence at the national or state level, meets state workforce needs, and fosters an innovation economy that focuses on areas such as health care, security, transportation, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), including supply chain management, can be identified. The Board of Governors may annually submit such programs, excluding those from preeminent state research universities, to the Legislature by January 1 for funding.
History.—s. 46, ch. 2013-27; ss. 8, 36, 126, ch. 2016-62; s. 1, ch. 2016-236; s. 10, ch. 2016-237; s. 3, ch. 2018-4; s. 3, ch. 2020-117; s. 24, ch. 2020-144; s. 2, ch. 2023-82.
1001.71 University boards of trustees; membership.—
(1) Pursuant to s. 7(c), Art. IX of the State Constitution, each local constituent university shall be administered by a university board of trustees comprised of 13 members as follows: 6 citizen members appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation by the Senate; 5 citizen members appointed by the Board of Governors subject to confirmation by the Senate; the chair of the faculty senate or the equivalent; and the president of the student body of the university. The appointed members shall serve staggered 5-year terms. In order to achieve staggered terms, beginning July 1, 2003, of the initial appointments by the Governor, 2 members shall serve 2-year terms, 3 members shall serve 3-year terms, and 1 member shall serve a 5-year term and of the initial appointments by the Board of Governors, 2 members shall serve 2-year terms, 2 members shall serve 3-year terms, and 1 member shall serve a 5-year term. There shall be no state residency requirement for university board members, but the Governor and the Board of Governors shall consider diversity and regional representation. Beginning July 2, 2020, for purposes of this subsection, regional representation shall include the chair of a campus board established pursuant to s. 1004.341.
(2) Members of the boards of trustees shall receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
(3) University boards of trustees are a part of the executive branch of state government.
(4) Each university board of trustees shall select its chair and vice chair from the appointed members. Each chair shall serve for 2 years and may be reselected for one additional consecutive 2-year term, except that, for each additional consecutive term beyond two terms, by a two-thirds vote, the board of trustees may reselect the chair for additional consecutive 2-year terms. The chair shall preside at all meetings of the board of trustees and may call special meetings of the board. The chair shall also attest to actions of the board of trustees. The chair shall notify the Governor or the Board of Governors, as applicable, in writing whenever a board member has three consecutive unexcused absences from regular board meetings in any fiscal year, which may be grounds for removal by the Governor or the Board of Governors, as applicable.
(5) Each university board of trustees shall keep and, within 2 weeks after a board meeting, post prominently on the university’s website detailed meeting minutes for all meetings, including the vote history and attendance of each trustee. The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to implement this subsection.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2002-188; s. 83, ch. 2002-387; s. 2, ch. 2003-392; s. 77, ch. 2007-217; s. 11, ch. 2016-237; s. 4, ch. 2018-4.
1001.72 University boards of trustees; boards to constitute a corporation.—
(1) Each board of trustees shall be a public body corporate by the name of “The (name of university) Board of Trustees,” with all the powers of a body corporate, including the power to adopt a corporate seal, to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded in all courts of law or equity, and to give and receive donations. In all suits against a board of trustees, service of process shall be made on the chair of the board of trustees or, in the absence of the chair, on the corporate secretary or designee.
(2) The corporation is constituted as a public instrumentality, and the exercise by the corporation of the power conferred by this section is considered to be the performance of an essential public function. The corporation is subject to chapter 119 and s. 24, Art. I of the State Constitution, subject to exceptions applicable to the corporation, and to the provisions of chapter 286; however, the corporation shall be entitled to provide notice of internal review committee meetings for competitive proposals or procurement to applicants by mail or facsimile rather than by means of publication. The corporation is not governed by chapter 607, but by the provisions of this part. The corporation shall maintain coverage under the State Risk Management Trust Fund as provided in chapter 284.
(3) Each board of trustees constitutes the contracting agent of the university.
History.—s. 84, ch. 2002-387; s. 78, ch. 2007-217; s. 12, ch. 2010-78.
1001.73 University board empowered to act as trustee.—
(1) Whenever appointed by any competent court of the state, or by any statute, or in any will, deed, or other instrument, or in any manner whatever as trustee of any funds or real or personal property in which any of the institutions or agencies under its management, control, or supervision, or their departments or branches or students, faculty members, officers, or employees, may be interested as beneficiaries, or otherwise, or for any educational purpose, a university board of trustees is hereby authorized to act as trustee with full legal capacity as trustee to administer such trust property, and the title thereto shall vest in said board as trustee. In all such cases, the university board of trustees shall have the power and capacity to do and perform all things as fully as any individual trustee or other competent trustee might do or perform, and with the same rights, privileges, and duties, including the power, capacity, and authority to convey, transfer, mortgage, or pledge such property held in trust and to contract and execute all other documents relating to said trust property which may be required for, or appropriate to, the administration of such trust or to accomplish the purposes of any such trust.
(2) Deeds, mortgages, leases, and other contracts of the university board of trustees relating to real property of any such trust or any interest therein may be executed by the university board of trustees, as trustee, in the same manner as is provided by the laws of the state for the execution of similar documents by other corporations or may be executed by the signatures of a majority of the members of the board of trustees; however, to be effective, any such deed, mortgage, or lease contract for more than 10 years of any trust property, executed hereafter by the university board of trustees, shall be approved by a resolution of the Board of Governors; and such approving resolution may be evidenced by the signature of either the chair or the secretary of the Board of Governors to an endorsement on the instrument approved, reciting the date of such approval, and bearing the seal of the Board of Governors. Such signed and sealed endorsement shall be a part of the instrument and entitled to record without further proof.
(3) Nothing herein shall be construed to authorize a university board of trustees to contract a debt on behalf of, or in any way to obligate, the state; and the satisfaction of any debt or obligation incurred by the university board as trustee under the provisions of this section shall be exclusively from the trust property, mortgaged or encumbered; and nothing herein shall in any manner affect or relate to the provisions of s. 1013.78; and any mortgage, lease, or other agreement entered into pursuant to this section is subject to the provisions of s. 1010.62.
(4) A board of trustees of a state university may not transfer in excess of $1 million in funds that are appropriated to the state university in the General Revenue Fund, the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, and the Education/General Student and Other Fees Trust Fund between the Education and General Activities category and other program categories. A board of trustees may request additional transfer authority from the Board of Governors. Upon approval of the additional transfer authority by the Board of Governors, the Board of Governors may request a budget amendment to transfer appropriations for a state university between categories in excess of $1 million. Such transfers are subject to review and approval by the Legislative Budget Commission.
History.—s. 85, ch. 2002-387; s. 168, ch. 2007-5; s. 79, ch. 2007-217; s. 6, ch. 2012-134; s. 19, ch. 2014-39.
1001.741 State university personnel; recruitment of faculty; performance assessment and reporting; employment practices; requiring certain oaths or statements prohibited; grievances.—
(1) Except as delegated pursuant to paragraph (a), each state university president has the final authority for hiring the provost, the deans, and all full-time faculty for the university, and has an ongoing duty to assess the performance, productivity, and employment practices of the university’s provost and deans. The president of the university is encouraged to engage in faculty recruiting as appropriate, and shall provide a regular report and recommendations on employment practices to the board at least twice annually.
(a) The president may delegate hiring authority to individuals on the university’s executive management team within the president’s office, to the provost, or to individual deans; however, the president or the person delegated such hiring authority is not bound by the recommendations or opinions of faculty or other individuals.
(b) A state university may not require any statement, pledge, or oath other than to uphold general and federal law, the United States Constitution, and the State Constitution as a part of any admissions, hiring, employment, promotion, tenure, disciplinary, or evaluation process.
(2) Notwithstanding s. 447.401 or any other law related to faculty grievance procedures, personnel actions or decisions regarding faculty, including in the areas of evaluations, promotions, tenure, discipline, or termination, may not be appealed beyond the level of a university president or designee. Such actions or decisions must have as their terminal step a final agency disposition, which must be issued in writing to the faculty member, and are not subject to arbitration. The filing of a grievance does not toll the action or decision of the university, including the termination of pay and benefits of a suspended or terminated faculty member.
(3) Each state university board of trustees must have procedures for the review of the president’s selection and reappointment of each member of the university’s executive management team, and his or her respective contract and annual salary, before such contracts and salaries become effective, in accordance with the personnel program established by the Board of Governors.
(4) Each state university president shall annually present to the state university board of trustees the results of performance evaluations and associated annual salaries for all evaluated academic and administrative personnel earning an annual salary of $200,000 or more, regardless of the funding source for such salaries. The results may be presented in a summary or written format.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2023-82.
1001.7415 State university boards of trustees; personnel; loyalty tests and ideological preference prohibited.—
(1)(a) A public institution of higher education may not:
1. Require or solicit a person to complete a political loyalty test as a condition of employment or admission into, or promotion within, such institution.
2. Give preferential consideration to a person for employment by, admission into, or promotion within the institution for an opinion or actions in support of:
a. A partisan, a political, or an ideological set of beliefs; or
b. Another person or group of persons based on the person’s or group’s race or ethnicity or support of an ideology or movement identified under sub-subparagraph (b)1.a.
(b)1. A political loyalty test includes compelling, requiring, or soliciting a person to identify commitment to or to make a statement of personal belief in support of:
a. Any ideology or movement that promotes the differential treatment of a person or a group of persons based on race or ethnicity, including an initiative or a formulation of diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond upholding the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution or a theory or practice that holds that systems or institutions upholding the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution are racist, oppressive, or otherwise unjust; or
b. A specific partisan, political, or ideological set of beliefs.
2. A political loyalty test does not include fidelity to, or an oath or effort taken to uphold, general and federal law, the United States Constitution, or the State Constitution.
(2) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors may adopt rules and regulations, respectively, to implement this section and establish penalties for a willful violation of this section.
(3) If any provision of this section or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section or chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are severable.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2023-83.
1001.92 State University System Performance-Based Incentive.—
(1) A State University System Performance-Based Incentive shall be awarded to state universities using performance-based metrics adopted by the Board of Governors of the State University System. Beginning with the Board of Governors’ determination of each university’s performance improvement and achievement ratings, and the related distribution of annual fiscal year appropriation, the performance-based metrics must include:
(a) The 4-year graduation rate for first-time-in-college students;
(b) Beginning in fiscal year 2022-2023, the 3-year graduation rate for associate in arts transfer students;
(c) Retention rates;
(d) Postgraduation education rates;
(e) Degree production;
(f) Affordability;
(g) Postgraduation employment and salaries, including wage thresholds that reflect the added value of a baccalaureate degree;
(h) Access rate, based on the percentage of undergraduate students enrolled during the fall term who received a Pell Grant during the fall term; and
(i) Beginning in fiscal year 2021-2022, the 6-year graduation rate for students who are awarded a Pell Grant in their first year.
The Board of Governors may approve other metrics in a publicly noticed meeting. The board shall adopt benchmarks to evaluate each state university’s performance on the metrics to measure the state university’s achievement of institutional excellence or need for improvement and minimum requirements for eligibility to receive performance funding. Benchmarks and metrics may not be adjusted after university performance data has been received by the Board of Governors.
(2) Each fiscal year, the amount of funds available for allocation to the state universities based on the performance-based funding model shall consist of the state’s investment in performance funding plus institutional investments consisting of funds deducted from the base funding of each state university in the State University System in an amount provided by the Legislature. The Board of Governors shall establish minimum performance funding eligibility thresholds for the state’s investment and the institutional investments. A state university that meets the minimum institutional investment eligibility threshold, but fails to meet the minimum state investment eligibility threshold, shall have its institutional investment restored but is ineligible for a share of the state’s investment in performance funding. The institutional investment shall be restored for each institution eligible for the state’s investment under the performance-based funding model.
(3)(a) A state university that fails to meet the Board of Governors’ minimum institutional investment performance funding eligibility threshold shall have its institutional investment withheld by the board and must submit an improvement plan to the board that specifies the activities and strategies for improving the state university’s performance. The board must review and approve the improvement plan and, if the plan is approved, must monitor the state university’s progress in implementing the activities and strategies specified in the improvement plan. The state university shall submit monitoring reports to the board by December 31 and May 31 of each year in which an improvement plan is in place. The ability of a state university to submit an improvement plan to the board is limited to 1 fiscal year.
(b) The Chancellor of the State University System shall withhold disbursement of the institutional investment until the monitoring report is approved by the Board of Governors. A state university determined by the board to be making satisfactory progress on implementing the improvement plan shall receive no more than one-half of the withheld institutional investment in January and the balance of the withheld institutional investment in June. A state university that fails to make satisfactory progress may not have its full institutional investment restored. Any institutional investment funds that are not restored shall be redistributed in accordance with the board’s performance-based metrics.
(4) Distributions of performance funding, as provided in this section, shall be made by the Legislature to each of the state universities.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if any institution is found to have a substantiated violation of s. 1000.05(4)(a), the institution shall be ineligible to receive performance funding during the next fiscal year following the year in which the violation is substantiated. Substantiated findings are those as determined by a court of law, a standing committee of the Legislature, or the Board of Governors.
(6) By October 1 of each year, the Board of Governors shall submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report on the previous fiscal year’s performance funding allocation which must reflect the rankings and award distributions.
(7) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to administer this section.
History.—s. 14, ch. 2015-222; ss. 9, 126, ch. 2016-62; s. 12, ch. 2016-237; s. 5, ch. 2018-4; s. 4, ch. 2020-117; ss. 8, 9, ch. 2022-154.
1001.93 Offices of Public Policy Events within the State University System.—
(1) The Legislature finds that the advancement of knowledge is the fundamental purpose of the State University System and that such advancement is facilitated by the fearless sifting and winnowing of a wide diversity of views and that the open discussion and debate of contested public policy issues from diverse perspectives provides essential preparation for mature citizenship and an informed exercise of the right to vote.
(2) For purposes of this section, the term:
(a) “Debate” means an event at which two or more participants speak in favor of opposing approaches to the same public policy dispute, after which each participant is allotted time to address and rebut the position presented by the opposing speakers.
(b) “Group forum” means an event at which two or more speakers address a public policy dispute from divergent or opposing perspectives, after which each participant is allotted time to address questions from the audience and to comment on the other speakers’ positions.
(3) Each state university within the State University System must have an Office of Public Policy Events and must appoint a Director of Public Policy Events who is responsible for the duties and reporting responsibilities of the office. The office must, at a minimum:
(a)1. Organize, publicize, and stage debates or group forums at the state university. These events must address, from multiple, divergent, and opposing perspectives, an extensive range of public policy issues widely discussed and debated in society at large. The university shall sponsor no less than four events each academic year. At least two events must occur during the fall semester and at least two events must occur during the spring semester.
2. Such debates and group forums must include speakers who represent widely held views on opposing sides of the most widely discussed public policy issues of the day and who hold a wide diversity of perspectives from within and outside of the state university community.
3. If the office is unable to readily find an advocate from within the state university community who is well-versed in a perspective, the office shall invite a speaker who is able to represent such perspective. The office shall, when necessary, provide such speakers who are not from within the state university community with per diem and a reimbursement for travel expenses.
(b) Maintain a permanent, publicly accessible, searchable, and up-to-date calendar in print, on the office’s website, and on the state university’s website listing all of the events sponsored by the office and all other debates, group forums, and events open to the entire campus community at the state university that address public policy issues. The calendar must itemize the title of the event; the name and institutional affiliation of the speaker or speakers; and the office, institute, department, program, or organization that sponsored the event, excluding those events sponsored by off-campus groups in rented state university facilities. Such calendars must be kept in the library system of each state university.
(c) Beginning September 1, 2024, and annually each September 1 thereafter, provide to the Board of Governors a report detailing the following:
1. The number of debates and group forums.
2. In chronological order, the calendars itemizing the title of each event; the name and institutional affiliation of the speaker or speakers; and the office, institute, department, program, or organization that sponsored the event.
3. The number of enrolled students attending each event.
4. Expenditure information relating to any per diem or reimbursement for travel expenses.
The report must reflect prior academic year statistics.
(d) Make publicly available, in an online format, a complete video record of every debate and group forum organized by the office. The video recording for an event organized by the office must be posted on the office’s website within 10 business days after the event. Such video must remain publicly accessible on the office’s website for at least 5 years after the date of the event. Such videos must also be permanently preserved within, and made available to the public through, the library of the state university that hosted the event.
(4) Upon approval of the board of trustees of the state university and the Board of Governors, a state university may assign the duties of the office to an existing administrative office within the state university rather than establish a separate office.
(5) Each office shall report directly to either the state university’s office that is responsible for compiling and reporting the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System’s graduation rate survey or Office of General Counsel.
(6) Each debate and group forum organized by the office must be open to all students, faculty, and staff of the state university and, unless restricting attendance to such event is necessary to achieve a compelling governmental interest, to the general public.
History.—s. 4, ch. 2023-83.