Senate Bill sb1238c1

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    Florida Senate - 2007                           CS for SB 1238

    By the Committee on Education Pre-K - 12; and Senator Gaetz





    581-2380-07

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to education; amending s.

  3         1001.03, F.S.; requiring the State Board of

  4         Education to review and replace the Sunshine

  5         State Standards with World Class Education

  6         Standards; establishing requirements for the

  7         standards; requiring reports; providing

  8         requirements for the adoption, review, and

  9         revision of the standards; requiring the State

10         Board of Education to submit an annual report

11         to the Governor and the Legislature; amending

12         ss. 39.0016 and 445.049, F.S.; conforming

13         provisions; amending s. 1000.21, F.S.; revising

14         the systemwide definition of standards;

15         conforming provisions; amending s. 1001.02,

16         F.S.; revising provisions authorizing the State

17         Board of Education to adopt rules; amending s.

18         1001.215, F.S.; conforming provisions; amending

19         s. 1001.41, F.S.; requiring a school district

20         to emphasize certain items in social studies

21         education; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.;

22         conforming provisions; amending ss. 1002.33 and

23         1002.415, F.S.; conforming provisions; amending

24         s. 1003.41, F.S.; specifying requirements for

25         World Class Education Standards; creating s.

26         1003.451, F.S.; requiring the State Board of

27         Education to adopt standards for world-language

28         instruction and provide flexibility in

29         foreign-language teacher certification;

30         creating s. 1003.59, F.S.; requiring the State

31         Board of Education to adopt a model policy for

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 1         accelerated learning opportunities for certain

 2         students; requiring schools districts to

 3         implement an accelerated learning policy;

 4         requiring the Department of Education to

 5         conduct studies; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.;

 6         conforming provisions; amending s. 1007.35,

 7         F.S.; conforming provisions; amending s.

 8         1008.22, F.S.; requiring the Florida

 9         Comprehensive Assessment Test to assess

10         students in social studies; requiring the

11         content knowledge and skills of the statewide

12         assessment program and Florida Comprehensive

13         Assessment Test to align to the World Class

14         Education Standards; providing for the

15         expedited revision of the Florida Comprehensive

16         Assessment Test; requiring the Commissioner of

17         Education to submit reports; creating s.

18         1008.222, F.S.; providing requirements for

19         end-of-course examinations and timelines for

20         implementation; amending s. 1008.25, F.S.;

21         conforming provisions; requiring remediation in

22         social studies; revising requirements for an

23         annual report; amending s. 1008.331, F.S.;

24         establishing local education service providers

25         and penalties for nonperformance of contracted

26         providers; amending s. 1008.385, F.S.;

27         conforming provisions; amending s. 1012.05,

28         F.S.; conforming provisions; amending ss.

29         1012.28 and 1012.52, F.S.; conforming

30         provisions; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;

31         requiring the State Board of Education to align

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 1         subject area examinations to the World Class

 2         Education Standards; conforming provisions;

 3         amending s. 1012.585, F.S.; applying certain

 4         inservice points toward renewal of an educator

 5         professional certificate specialization area;

 6         amending s. 1012.72, F.S.; conforming

 7         provisions; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.;

 8         requiring a school district's inservice

 9         activities to support state standards;

10         directing districts to align inservice

11         activities to the World Class Education

12         Standards; requiring statewide standardized

13         delivery of certain inservice activities and

14         outcome measurement of such activities;

15         requiring the department to provide statewide

16         standardized professional development and

17         educators to participate therein; requiring the

18         Office of Program Policy Analysis and

19         Government Accountability to submit reports

20         relating to after-school programs; providing an

21         effective date.

22  

23  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

24  

25         Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 1001.03, Florida

26  Statutes, is amended to read:

27         1001.03  Specific powers of State Board of Education.--

28         (1)  PUBLIC K-12 STUDENT PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.--

29         (a)  The State Board of Education shall review and

30  systematically replace approve the student performance

31  standards known as the Sunshine State Standards by adopting

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 1  World Class Education Standards that prepare Florida's

 2  students to effectively engage, communicate, and compete

 3  globally with students around the world. For purposes of this

 4  act, World Class Education Standards are defined as curriculum

 5  standards by subject area and grade level which integrate

 6  critical thinking and problem-solving skills, creativity and

 7  innovation skills, communication and information skills,

 8  collaboration skills, contextual and applied-learning skills,

 9  information and media-literacy skills, global-awareness

10  skills, and civic-engagement skills. The World Class Education

11  Standards shall, at a minimum:

12         1.  Establish the essential content knowledge and

13  skills, by each in key academic subject areas and grade level,

14  that are necessary for student academic achievement; levels.

15         2.  Identify the general content knowledge that a

16  student is expected to know for reading proficiency;

17         3.  Identify the specific content knowledge and skills

18  that a student is expected to know and be able to demonstrate

19  for each subject area listed in s. 1003.41 by grade level;

20         4.  Provide for the sequential development of a

21  student's content knowledge and skills grade by grade for each

22  subject area; and

23         5.  Provide for alignment to curriculum that is

24  appropriate for high school graduates to enter the workforce

25  and compete in high-demand careers in Florida's global economy

26  and to succeed in postsecondary education.

27         (b)  By January 31, 2008, the State Board of Education

28  shall establish an expedited a schedule for to facilitate the

29  adoption periodic review of the World Class Education

30  Standards, and for the periodic review and revision of the

31  standards, to ensure superior adequate rigor, relevance,

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 1  logical student progression, and integration of reading,

 2  writing, and mathematics across all subject areas. Each

 3  recommendation for adoption, revision, or repeal of the

 4  standards must include an estimate of the expenditures

 5  required to implement the recommendation, including, but not

 6  limited to, preservice teacher education, professional

 7  development, acquisition of instructional programs, student

 8  instruction, and valid instructional assessments aligned to

 9  the new standards. Effective January 1, 2009, the state board

10  shall, by January 1 of each year, submit a report to the

11  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

12  House of Representatives detailing the status of the adoption,

13  implementation, and any subsequent revisions of the World

14  Class Education Standards.

15         (c)  The State Board of Education shall include Florida

16  educators in the development and review of the Standards. The

17  state board shall consider the recommendations of educators,

18  citizens, and members of the business community; consult

19  national or international curricular experts in each review by

20  subject area; and consider standards implemented by other

21  states or nations which are regarded as exceptionally rigorous

22  by the curricular experts. The state board shall also must

23  include the participation of curriculum leaders in other

24  content areas, including the arts, to ensure valid content

25  area integration and to address the instructional requirements

26  of different learning styles.

27         (d)  The process for adoption and revision of the World

28  Class Education Standards review and proposed revisions must

29  include leadership and input from the state's classroom

30  teachers and selected, school administrators, postsecondary

31  institutions and community colleges and universities, and from

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 1  representatives from business and industry representatives who

 2  are identified by Enterprise Florida, Inc. local education

 3  foundations. a report including proposed revisions must be

 4  submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and

 5  the Speaker of the House of Representatives annually to

 6  coincide with the established review schedule. The review

 7  schedule and an annual status report must be submitted to the

 8  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

 9  House of Representatives annually not later than January 1.

10         (e)  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the

11  State Board of Education shall submit an annual report on the

12  achievement results of Florida's students based on instruction

13  aligned to the World Class Education Standards. The report

14  shall be submitted to the Governor, the President of the

15  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no

16  later than December 30, and shall include data to monitor

17  achievement gains and to provide academic comparisons of

18  Florida students who are achieving at or above grade level to

19  other students nationally and to students at commensurate

20  grade levels in other countries.

21         Section 2.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) and

22  paragraph (d) of subsection (5) of section 39.0016, Florida

23  Statutes, are amended to read:

24         39.0016  Education of abused, neglected, and abandoned

25  children.--

26         (4)  The department shall enter into agreements with

27  district school boards or other local educational entities

28  regarding education and related services for children known to

29  the department who are of school age and children known to the

30  department who are younger than school age but who would

31  

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 1  otherwise qualify for services from the district school board.

 2  Such agreements shall include, but are not limited to:

 3         (b)  A requirement that the district school board

 4  shall:

 5         1.  Provide the department with a general listing of

 6  the services and information available from the district

 7  school board, including, but not limited to, the World Class

 8  Education current Sunshine State Standards, the Surrogate

 9  Parent Training Manual, and other resources accessible through

10  the Department of Education or local school districts to

11  facilitate educational access for a child known to the

12  department.

13         2.  Identify all educational and other services

14  provided by the school and school district which the school

15  district believes are reasonably necessary to meet the

16  educational needs of a child known to the department.

17         3.  Determine whether transportation is available for a

18  child known to the department when such transportation will

19  avoid a change in school assignment due to a change in

20  residential placement. Recognizing that continued enrollment

21  in the same school throughout the time the child known to the

22  department is in out-of-home care is preferable unless

23  enrollment in the same school would be unsafe or otherwise

24  impractical, the department, the district school board, and

25  the Department of Education shall assess the availability of

26  federal, charitable, or grant funding for such transportation.

27         4.  Provide individualized student intervention or an

28  individual educational plan when a determination has been made

29  through legally appropriate criteria that intervention

30  services are required. The intervention or individual

31  educational plan must include strategies to enable the child

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 1  known to the department to maximize the attainment of

 2  educational goals.

 3         (5)  The department shall incorporate an education

 4  component into all training programs of the department

 5  regarding children known to the department. Such training

 6  shall be coordinated with the Department of Education and the

 7  local school districts. The department shall offer

 8  opportunities for education personnel to participate in such

 9  training. Such coordination shall include, but not be limited

10  to, notice of training sessions, opportunities to purchase

11  training materials, proposals to avoid duplication of services

12  by offering joint training, and incorporation of materials

13  available from the Department of Education and local school

14  districts into the department training when appropriate. The

15  department training components shall include:

16         (d)  Training of caseworkers regarding the services and

17  information available through the Department of Education and

18  local school districts, including, but not limited to, the

19  World Class Education current Sunshine State Standards, the

20  Surrogate Parent Training Manual, and other resources

21  accessible through the Department of Education or local school

22  districts to facilitate educational access for a child known

23  to the department.

24         Section 3.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (7) of section

25  445.049, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

26         445.049  Digital Divide Council.--

27         (7)  PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND GOALS.--The programs

28  authorized by this section shall have the following objectives

29  and goals:

30         (g)  Using information technology to facilitate

31  achievement of the World Class Education Sunshine State

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 1  Standards by all children enrolled in the state's K-12 school

 2  system who are members of at-risk families.

 3         Section 4.  Subsection (7) of section 1000.21, Florida

 4  Statutes, is amended to read:

 5         1000.21  Systemwide definitions.--As used in the

 6  Florida K-20 Education Code:

 7         (7)  "World Class Education Sunshine State Standards"

 8  means the student content are standards, as described in ss.

 9  1001.03(1) and 1003.41, which that identify what public school

10  students are expected to should know and be able to

11  demonstrate do. The term includes the Sunshine State Standards

12  for a subject area until the standards are replaced under s.

13  1001.03(1) by the World Class Education Standards for the

14  subject area. These standards delineate the academic

15  achievement of students for which the state will hold its

16  public schools accountable in grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12,

17  in the subjects of language arts, mathematics, science, social

18  studies, the arts, health and physical education, foreign

19  languages, reading, writing, history, government, geography,

20  economics, and computer literacy.

21         Section 5.  Subsection (1) of section 1001.02, Florida

22  Statutes, is amended to read:

23         1001.02  General powers of State Board of Education.--

24         (1)  The State Board of Education is the chief

25  implementing and coordinating body of public education in

26  Florida, and it shall focus on high-level policy decisions.

27  The state board It has authority to adopt rules under pursuant

28  to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of

29  law conferring duties upon the State Board of Education, the

30  Commissioner of Education, and the Department of Education it

31  for the improvement of the state system of K-20 public

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 1  education. Except as otherwise provided by law herein, the

 2  State Board of Education it may, as it finds appropriate,

 3  delegate its general powers to the Commissioner of Education

 4  or the directors of the divisions of the department.

 5         Section 6.  Subsection (8) of section 1001.215, Florida

 6  Statutes, is amended to read:

 7         1001.215  Just Read, Florida! Office.--There is created

 8  in the Department of Education the Just Read, Florida! Office.

 9  The office shall be fully accountable to the Commissioner of

10  Education and shall:

11         (8)  Periodically review the World Class Education

12  Sunshine State Standards for reading at all grade levels.

13         Section 7.  Subsection (3) of section 1001.41, Florida

14  Statutes, is amended to read:

15         1001.41  General powers of district school board.--The

16  district school board, after considering recommendations

17  submitted by the district school superintendent, shall

18  exercise the following general powers:

19         (3)  Prescribe and adopt standards and policies to

20  provide each student the opportunity to receive a complete

21  education program, including language arts;, mathematics;,

22  science;, social studies, with an emphasis on history,

23  government, and civics; health;, physical education;, foreign

24  languages;, and the arts, as defined by the World Class

25  Education Sunshine State Standards. The standards and policies

26  must emphasize integration and reinforcement of reading,

27  writing, and mathematics skills across all subjects, including

28  career awareness, career exploration, and career and technical

29  education.

30         Section 8.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (16) of section

31  1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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 1         1001.42  Powers and duties of district school

 2  board.--The district school board, acting as a board, shall

 3  exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below:

 4         (16)  IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND

 5  ACCOUNTABILITY.--Maintain a system of school improvement and

 6  education accountability as provided by statute and State

 7  Board of Education rule. This system of school improvement and

 8  education accountability shall be consistent with, and

 9  implemented through, the district's continuing system of

10  planning and budgeting required by this section and ss.

11  1008.385, 1010.01, and 1011.01. This system of school

12  improvement and education accountability shall include, but is

13  not limited to, the following:

14         (a)  School improvement plans.--Annually approve and

15  require implementation of a new, amended, or continuation

16  school improvement plan for each school in the district. A

17  district school board may establish a district school

18  improvement plan that includes all schools in the district

19  operating for the purpose of providing educational services to

20  youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs. The school

21  improvement plan shall be designed to achieve the state

22  education priorities pursuant to s. 1000.03(5) and student

23  proficiency on the World Class Education Sunshine State

24  Standards under pursuant to s. 1003.41. Each plan shall

25  address student achievement goals and strategies based on

26  state and school district proficiency standards. The plan may

27  also address issues relative to other academic-related

28  matters, as determined by district school board policy, and

29  shall include an accurate, data-based analysis of student

30  achievement and other school performance data. Beginning with

31  plans approved for implementation in the 2007-2008 school

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 1  year, each secondary school plan must include a redesign

 2  component based on the principles established in s. 1003.413.

 3  For each school in the district that earns a school grade of

 4  "C" or below, or is required to have a school improvement plan

 5  under federal law, the school improvement plan shall, at a

 6  minimum, also include:

 7         1.  Professional development that supports enhanced and

 8  differentiated instructional strategies to improve teaching

 9  and learning.

10         2.  Continuous use of disaggregated student achievement

11  data to determine effectiveness of instructional strategies.

12         3.  Ongoing informal and formal assessments to monitor

13  individual student progress, including progress toward mastery

14  of the World Class Education Sunshine State Standards, and to

15  redesign instruction if needed.

16         4.  Alternative instructional delivery methods to

17  support remediation, acceleration, and enrichment strategies.

18         Section 9.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) and

19  paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section 1002.33, Florida

20  Statutes, are amended to read:

21         1002.33  Charter schools.--

22         (6)  APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW.--Charter school

23  applications are subject to the following requirements:

24         (a)  A person or entity wishing to open a charter

25  school shall prepare an application that:

26         1.  Demonstrates how the school will use the guiding

27  principles and meet the statutorily defined purpose of a

28  charter school.

29         2.  Provides a detailed curriculum plan that

30  illustrates how students will be provided services to attain

31  the World Class Education Sunshine State Standards.

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 1         3.  Contains goals and objectives for improving student

 2  learning and measuring that improvement. These goals and

 3  objectives must indicate how much academic improvement

 4  students are expected to show each year, how success will be

 5  evaluated, and the specific results to be attained through

 6  instruction.

 7         4.  Describes the reading curriculum and differentiated

 8  strategies that will be used for students reading at grade

 9  level or higher and a separate curriculum and strategies for

10  students who are reading below grade level. A sponsor shall

11  deny a charter if the school does not propose a reading

12  curriculum that is consistent with effective teaching

13  strategies that are grounded in scientifically based reading

14  research.

15         5.  Contains an annual financial plan for each year

16  requested by the charter for operation of the school for up to

17  5 years. This plan must contain anticipated fund balances

18  based on revenue projections, a spending plan based on

19  projected revenues and expenses, and a description of controls

20  that will safeguard finances and projected enrollment trends.

21         (7)  CHARTER.--The major issues involving the operation

22  of a charter school shall be considered in advance and written

23  into the charter. The charter shall be signed by the governing

24  body of the charter school and the sponsor, following a public

25  hearing to ensure community input.

26         (a)  The charter shall address, and criteria for

27  approval of the charter shall be based on:

28         1.  The school's mission, the students to be served,

29  and the ages and grades to be included.

30         2.  The focus of the curriculum, the instructional

31  methods to be used, any distinctive instructional techniques

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 1  to be employed, and identification and acquisition of

 2  appropriate technologies needed to improve educational and

 3  administrative performance which include a means for promoting

 4  safe, ethical, and appropriate uses of technology which comply

 5  with legal and professional standards. The charter shall

 6  ensure that reading is a primary focus of the curriculum and

 7  that resources are provided to identify and provide

 8  specialized instruction for students who are reading below

 9  grade level. The curriculum and instructional strategies for

10  reading must be consistent with the World Class Education

11  Sunshine State Standards and grounded in scientifically based

12  reading research.

13         3.  The current incoming baseline standard of student

14  academic achievement, the outcomes to be achieved, and the

15  method of measurement that will be used. The criteria listed

16  in this subparagraph shall include a detailed description for

17  each of the following:

18         a.  How the baseline student academic achievement

19  levels and prior rates of academic progress will be

20  established.

21         b.  How these baseline rates will be compared to rates

22  of academic progress achieved by these same students while

23  attending the charter school.

24         c.  To the extent possible, how these rates of progress

25  will be evaluated and compared with rates of progress of other

26  closely comparable student populations.

27  

28  The district school board is required to provide academic

29  student performance data to charter schools for each of their

30  students coming from the district school system, as well as

31  

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 1  rates of academic progress of comparable student populations

 2  in the district school system.

 3         4.  The methods used to identify the educational

 4  strengths and needs of students and how well educational goals

 5  and performance standards are met by students attending the

 6  charter school. Included in the methods is a means for the

 7  charter school to ensure accountability to its constituents by

 8  analyzing student performance data and by evaluating the

 9  effectiveness and efficiency of its major educational

10  programs. Students in charter schools shall, at a minimum,

11  participate in the statewide assessment program created under

12  s. 1008.22.

13         5.  In secondary charter schools, a method for

14  determining that a student has satisfied the requirements for

15  graduation in s. 1003.43.

16         6.  A method for resolving conflicts between the

17  governing body of the charter school and the sponsor.

18         7.  The admissions procedures and dismissal procedures,

19  including the school's code of student conduct.

20         8.  The ways by which the school will achieve a

21  racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or

22  within the racial/ethnic range of other public schools in the

23  same school district.

24         9.  The financial and administrative management of the

25  school, including a reasonable demonstration of the

26  professional experience or competence of those individuals or

27  organizations applying to operate the charter school or those

28  hired or retained to perform such professional services and

29  the description of clearly delineated responsibilities and the

30  policies and practices needed to effectively manage the

31  charter school. A description of internal audit procedures and

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 1  establishment of controls to ensure that financial resources

 2  are properly managed must be included. Both public sector and

 3  private sector professional experience shall be equally valid

 4  in such a consideration.

 5         10.  The asset and liability projections required in

 6  the application which are incorporated into the charter and

 7  which shall be compared with information provided in the

 8  annual report of the charter school. The charter shall ensure

 9  that, if a charter school internal audit or annual financial

10  audit reveals a state of financial emergency as defined in s.

11  218.503 or deficit financial position, the auditors are

12  required to notify the charter school governing board, the

13  sponsor, and the Department of Education. The internal auditor

14  shall report such findings in the form of an exit interview to

15  the principal or the principal administrator of the charter

16  school and the chair of the governing board within 7 working

17  days after finding the state of financial emergency or deficit

18  position. A final report shall be provided to the entire

19  governing board, the sponsor, and the Department of Education

20  within 14 working days after the exit interview. When a

21  charter school is in a state of financial emergency, the

22  charter school shall file a detailed financial recovery plan

23  with the sponsor. The department, with the involvement of both

24  sponsors and charter schools, shall establish guidelines for

25  developing such plans.

26         11.  A description of procedures that identify various

27  risks and provide for a comprehensive approach to reduce the

28  impact of losses; plans to ensure the safety and security of

29  students and staff; plans to identify, minimize, and protect

30  others from violent or disruptive student behavior; and the

31  manner in which the school will be insured, including whether

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 1  or not the school will be required to have liability

 2  insurance, and, if so, the terms and conditions thereof and

 3  the amounts of coverage.

 4         12.  The term of the charter which shall provide for

 5  cancellation of the charter if insufficient progress has been

 6  made in attaining the student achievement objectives of the

 7  charter and if it is not likely that such objectives can be

 8  achieved before expiration of the charter. The initial term of

 9  a charter shall be for 4 or 5 years. In order to facilitate

10  access to long-term financial resources for charter school

11  construction, charter schools that are operated by a

12  municipality or other public entity as provided by law are

13  eligible for up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by

14  the district school board. A charter lab school is eligible

15  for a charter for a term of up to 15 years. In addition, to

16  facilitate access to long-term financial resources for charter

17  school construction, charter schools that are operated by a

18  private, not-for-profit, s. 501(c)(3) status corporation are

19  eligible for up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by

20  the district school board. Such long-term charters remain

21  subject to annual review and may be terminated during the term

22  of the charter, but only according to the provisions set forth

23  in subsection (8).

24         13.  The facilities to be used and their location.

25         14.  The qualifications to be required of the teachers

26  and the potential strategies used to recruit, hire, train, and

27  retain qualified staff to achieve best value.

28         15.  The governance structure of the school, including

29  the status of the charter school as a public or private

30  employer as required in paragraph (12)(i).

31  

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 1         16.  A timetable for implementing the charter which

 2  addresses the implementation of each element thereof and the

 3  date by which the charter shall be awarded in order to meet

 4  this timetable.

 5         17.  In the case of an existing public school being

 6  converted to charter status, alternative arrangements for

 7  current students who choose not to attend the charter school

 8  and for current teachers who choose not to teach in the

 9  charter school after conversion in accordance with the

10  existing collective bargaining agreement or district school

11  board rule in the absence of a collective bargaining

12  agreement. However, alternative arrangements shall not be

13  required for current teachers who choose not to teach in a

14  charter lab school, except as authorized by the employment

15  policies of the state university which grants the charter to

16  the lab school.

17         Section 10.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section

18  1002.415, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         1002.415  K-8 Virtual School Program.--Subject to

20  annual legislative appropriation, a kindergarten through grade

21  8 virtual school program is established within the Department

22  of Education for the purpose of making academic instruction

23  available to full-time students in kindergarten through grade

24  8 using on-line and distance learning technology. The

25  department shall use an application process to select schools

26  to deliver program instruction.

27         (2)  APPLICATION.--

28         (b)  In addition to a completed application form, each

29  applicant must provide the department with:

30  

31  

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 1         1.  A detailed plan describing how the school

 2  curriculum and course content will conform to the World Class

 3  Education Sunshine State Standards; and

 4         2.  An annual financial plan for each year of operation

 5  of the school for a minimum of 3 years. The plan must contain

 6  anticipated fund balances based on revenue projections, a

 7  spending plan based on projected revenues and expenses, and a

 8  description of controls that will safeguard finances and

 9  projected enrollment trends.

10         Section 11.  Section 1003.41, Florida Statutes, is

11  amended to read:

12         1003.41  World Class Education Sunshine State

13  Standards.--Public K-12 educational instruction in Florida is

14  based on the World Class Education "Sunshine State Standards

15  as defined in s. 1001.03(1)." The These standards are have

16  been adopted by the State Board of Education and delineate the

17  academic achievement of students, for which the state holds

18  will hold schools accountable, in each K-12 grade level grades

19  K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 in, at a minimum, the subject areas

20  subjects of language arts, reading, and writing;,

21  mathematics;, science;, social studies, including geography

22  and economics, with an emphasis on history, government, and

23  civics; visual and performing the arts;, health and physical

24  education;, and foreign languages; and computer literacy. The

25  World Class Education Standards must be content oriented and

26  knowledge based and must They include problem-solving and

27  higher-order skills as defined in s. 1001.03(1) standards in

28  reading, writing, history, government, geography, economics,

29  and computer literacy.

30         Section 12.  Section 1003.451, Florida Statutes, is

31  created to read:

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 1         1003.451  World-language curricula.--

 2         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the state

 3  shall move toward the goal of establishing world-language

 4  curricula that begins in elementary school and continues

 5  through the middle and high school grades.

 6         (2)  The State Board of Education shall:

 7         (a)  Encourage school districts to expand

 8  foreign-language course offerings to include world languages

 9  commonly spoken in nations actively engaged in international

10  commerce in order to prepare Florida's students to compete in

11  a global economy;

12         (b)  Establish content standards for world languages as

13  part of the World Class Education Standards for foreign

14  languages;

15         (c)  Encourage school districts to offer world-language

16  instruction to students in elementary school; and

17         (d)  Provide flexibility in foreign-language teacher

18  certification so that Florida schools may benefit from

19  instructional opportunities of available Floridians who are

20  fluent in native languages from around the world.

21         Section 13.  Section 1003.59, Florida Statutes, is

22  created to read:

23         1003.59  Accelerated learning opportunities for

24  academically talented students.--

25         (1)  By June 30, 2008, the State Board of Education

26  shall adopt a model policy for the accelerated learning of

27  academically talented students in grades K-12, regardless of

28  whether the students are classified as gifted. The model

29  policy shall address, but not be limited to, whole grade

30  acceleration, continuous progress exceeding chronological-age

31  peers, subject-matter acceleration, virtual-education

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 1  acceleration, and early postsecondary enrollment. The model

 2  policy shall include a plan for:

 3         (a)  Providing teachers and guidance counselors with

 4  professional training that addresses effective implementation

 5  of the policy, strategies for identifying gifted and

 6  academically talented students in the elementary grades, and

 7  methods for placing the students in accelerated programming

 8  that allows them to work at suitably challenging academic

 9  levels; and

10         (b)  Assisting school district interactions with

11  students and parents to help guide them in making the most

12  appropriate choice for each student.

13         (2)  Each district school board shall implement an

14  academically talented student acceleration policy beginning

15  with the 2008-2009 school year. The school board shall widely

16  publicize and disseminate the policy so that teachers,

17  students, and parents are aware of the opportunities. The

18  school board shall also publish the policy on the school

19  district's Internet website.

20         (3)  The Department of Education shall conduct a review

21  and evaluation of gifted programs in each school district to

22  determine the effect of gifted courses on increased student

23  achievement and shall report the results of the evaluation to

24  the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of

25  the House of Representatives by December 30, 2008.

26         (4)  The Department of Education shall report annually

27  no later than December 30 on academically talented student

28  acceleration and gifted programs in each school district and

29  include information concerning district implementation

30  strategies and student achievement gains and provide a

31  comparison of district performance.

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 1         Section 14.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2), paragraph

 2  (b) of subsection (3), paragraph (e) of subsection (5), and

 3  paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section 1004.04, Florida

 4  Statutes, are amended to read:

 5         1004.04  Public accountability and state approval for

 6  teacher preparation programs.--

 7         (2)  UNIFORM CORE CURRICULA.--

 8         (b)  The rules to establish uniform core curricula for

 9  each state-approved teacher preparation program must include,

10  but are not limited to, a State Board of Education identified

11  foundation in scientifically researched, knowledge-based

12  reading literacy and computational skills acquisition;

13  classroom management; school safety; professional ethics;

14  educational law; human development and learning; and

15  understanding of the World Class Education Sunshine State

16  Standards content measured by state achievement tests, reading

17  and interpretation of data, and use of data to improve student

18  achievement.

19         (3)  DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS.--A

20  system developed by the Department of Education in

21  collaboration with postsecondary educational institutions

22  shall assist departments and colleges of education in the

23  restructuring of their programs in accordance with this

24  section to meet the need for producing quality teachers now

25  and in the future.

26         (b)  Departments and colleges of education shall

27  emphasize the state system of school improvement and education

28  accountability concepts and standards, including the World

29  Class Education Sunshine State Standards.

30         (5)  CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.--Notwithstanding

31  subsection (4), failure by a public or nonpublic teacher

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 1  preparation program to meet the criteria for continued program

 2  approval shall result in loss of program approval. The

 3  Department of Education, in collaboration with the departments

 4  and colleges of education, shall develop procedures for

 5  continued program approval that document the continuous

 6  improvement of program processes and graduates' performance.

 7         (e)  Continued approval of teacher preparation programs

 8  is contingent upon compliance with the student admission

 9  requirements of subsection (4) and upon the receipt of at

10  least a satisfactory rating from public schools and private

11  schools that employ graduates of the program. Each teacher

12  preparation program shall guarantee the high quality of its

13  graduates during the first 2 years immediately following

14  graduation from the program or following initial

15  certification, whichever occurs first. Any educator in a

16  Florida school who fails to demonstrate the essential skills

17  specified in subparagraphs 1.-5. shall be provided additional

18  training by the teacher preparation program at no expense to

19  the educator or the employer. Such training must consist of an

20  individualized plan agreed upon by the school district and the

21  postsecondary educational institution that includes specific

22  learning outcomes. The postsecondary educational institution

23  assumes no responsibility for the educator's employment

24  contract with the employer. Employer satisfaction shall be

25  determined by an annually administered survey instrument

26  approved by the Department of Education that, at a minimum,

27  must include employer satisfaction of the graduates' ability

28  to do the following:

29         1.  Write and speak in a logical and understandable

30  style with appropriate grammar.

31  

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 1         2.  Recognize signs of students' difficulty with the

 2  reading and computational process and apply appropriate

 3  measures to improve students' reading and computational

 4  performance.

 5         3.  Use and integrate appropriate technology in

 6  teaching and learning processes.

 7         4.  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the

 8  World Class Education Sunshine State Standards.

 9         5.  Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom

10  conducive to student learning.

11         (6)  PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.--All postsecondary

12  instructors, school district personnel and instructional

13  personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel

14  through preservice field experience courses and internships

15  shall meet special requirements. District school boards are

16  authorized to pay student teachers during their internships.

17         (c)  Preservice field experience programs must provide

18  specific guidance and demonstration of effective classroom

19  management strategies, strategies for incorporating technology

20  into classroom instruction, strategies for incorporating

21  scientifically researched, knowledge-based reading literacy

22  and computational skills acquisition into classroom

23  instruction, and ways to link instructional plans to the World

24  Class Education Sunshine State Standards, as appropriate. The

25  length of structured field experiences may be extended to

26  ensure that candidates achieve the competencies needed to meet

27  certification requirements.

28         Section 15.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section

29  1007.35, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

30         1007.35  Florida Partnership for Minority and

31  Underrepresented Student Achievement.--

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 1         (6)  The partnership shall:

 2         (c)  Provide teacher training and materials that are

 3  aligned with the World Class Education Sunshine State

 4  Standards and are consistent with best theory and practice

 5  regarding multiple learning styles and research on learning,

 6  instructional strategies, instructional design, and classroom

 7  assessment. Curriculum materials must be based on current,

 8  accepted, and essential academic knowledge. Materials for

 9  prerequisite courses should, at a minimum, address the skills

10  assessed on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT).

11         Section 16.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and

12  paragraphs (a), (c), and (g) of subsection (3) of section

13  1008.22, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

14         1008.22  Student assessment program for public

15  schools.--

16         (1)  PURPOSE.--The primary purposes of the student

17  assessment program are to provide information needed to

18  improve the public schools by enhancing the learning gains of

19  all students and to inform parents of the educational progress

20  of their public school children. The program must be designed

21  to:

22         (a)  Assess the annual learning gains of each student

23  toward achieving the World Class Education Sunshine State

24  Standards appropriate for the student's grade level.

25         (3)  STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner

26  shall design and implement a statewide program of educational

27  assessment that provides information for the improvement of

28  the operation and management of the public schools, including

29  schools operating for the purpose of providing educational

30  services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.

31  The commissioner may enter into contracts for the continued

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 1  administration of the assessment, testing, and evaluation

 2  programs authorized and funded by the Legislature. Contracts

 3  may be initiated in 1 fiscal year and continue into the next

 4  and may be paid from the appropriations of either or both

 5  fiscal years. The commissioner is authorized to negotiate for

 6  the sale or lease of tests, scoring protocols, test scoring

 7  services, and related materials developed pursuant to law.

 8  Pursuant to the statewide assessment program, the commissioner

 9  shall:

10         (a)  Submit to the State Board of Education for

11  approval the content knowledge and a list that specifies

12  student skills expected of a student by and competencies to

13  which the goals for education specified in the state plan

14  apply, including, but not limited to, reading, writing,

15  science, and mathematics. The skills and competencies must

16  include problem-solving and higher-order skills as appropriate

17  and shall be known as the World Class Education Sunshine State

18  Standards as defined in s. 1000.21. The commissioner shall

19  select such skills and competencies after receiving

20  recommendations from educators, citizens, and members of the

21  business community. The commissioner shall submit to the State

22  Board of Education revisions to the list of student skills and

23  competencies in order to maintain continuous progress toward

24  improvements in student proficiency.

25         (c)  Develop and implement a student achievement

26  testing program known as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment

27  Test (FCAT) as part of the statewide assessment program to

28  measure reading;, writing;, science; social studies, with an

29  emphasis on history, government, and civics;, and mathematics.

30  Other content areas may be included as directed by the

31  commissioner. The assessment of reading and mathematics shall

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 1  be administered annually in grades 3 through 10. The

 2  assessment of writing, and science, and social studies shall

 3  be administered at least once at the elementary, middle, and

 4  high school levels. The content knowledge and skills assessed

 5  by the FCAT must be aligned to the content knowledge and

 6  skills expected of a student by the World Class Education

 7  Standards. As the Sunshine State Standards are replaced by the

 8  World Class Education Standards under s. 1001.03(1), the

 9  commissioner, to the maximum extent practicable, shall

10  expedite revision of the FCAT for alignment to the standards.

11  The commissioner shall report any barriers to expedited

12  alignment to the State Board of Education, the Governor, the

13  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

14  Representatives. The state board shall consider the use of

15  other validated assessments, including, but not limited to,

16  assessments administered by other states, to expedite

17  alignment of the FCAT to the World Class Education Standards.

18  The commissioner must document the procedures used to ensure

19  that the versions of the FCAT which are taken by students

20  retaking the grade 10 FCAT are equally as challenging and

21  difficult as the tests taken by students in grade 10 which

22  contain performance tasks. The testing program must be

23  designed so that:

24         1.  The tests measure student content knowledge and

25  skills and competencies adopted by the State Board of

26  Education as specified in paragraph (a). The tests must

27  measure and report student proficiency levels of all students

28  assessed in reading;, writing;, mathematics;, and science; and

29  social studies, with an emphasis on history, government, and

30  civics. The commissioner shall provide for the tests to be

31  developed or obtained, as appropriate, through contracts and

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 1  project agreements with private vendors, public vendors,

 2  public agencies, postsecondary educational institutions, or

 3  school districts. The commissioner shall obtain input for with

 4  respect to the design and implementation of the testing

 5  program from state educators, assistive technology experts,

 6  and the public.

 7         2.  The testing program will include a combination of

 8  norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests and include, to

 9  the extent determined by the commissioner, questions that

10  require the student to produce information or perform tasks in

11  such a manner in which the content knowledge and way that the

12  skills used by the student and competencies he or she uses can

13  be measured.

14         3.  Each testing program, whether at the elementary,

15  middle, or high school level, includes a test of writing in

16  which students are required to produce writings that are then

17  scored by appropriate and timely methods.

18         4.  A score is designated for each subject area tested,

19  below which score a student's performance is deemed

20  inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate

21  remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.

22         5.  Except as provided in s. 1003.428(8)(b) or s.

23  1003.43(11)(b), students must earn a passing score on the

24  grade 10 assessment test described in this paragraph or attain

25  concordant scores as described in subsection (9) in reading,

26  writing, and mathematics to qualify for a standard high school

27  diploma. The State Board of Education shall designate a

28  passing score for each part of the grade 10 assessment test.

29  In establishing passing scores, the state board shall consider

30  any possible negative impact of the test on minority students.

31  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules which specify

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 1  the passing scores for the grade 10 FCAT. Any such rules,

 2  which have the effect of raising the required passing scores,

 3  shall only apply to students taking the grade 10 FCAT for the

 4  first time after such rules are adopted by the State Board of

 5  Education.

 6         6.  Participation in the testing program is mandatory

 7  for all students attending public school, including students

 8  served in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, except as

 9  otherwise prescribed by the commissioner. If a student does

10  not participate in the statewide assessment, the district must

11  notify the student's parent and provide the parent with

12  information regarding the implications of such

13  nonparticipation. A parent must provide signed consent for a

14  student to receive classroom instructional accommodations that

15  would not be available or permitted on the statewide

16  assessments and must acknowledge in writing that he or she

17  understands the implications of such instructional

18  accommodations. The State Board of Education shall adopt

19  rules, based upon recommendations of the commissioner, for the

20  provision of test accommodations for students in exceptional

21  education programs and for students who have limited English

22  proficiency. Accommodations that negate the validity of a

23  statewide assessment are not allowable in the administration

24  of the FCAT. However, instructional accommodations are

25  allowable in the classroom if included in a student's

26  individual education plan. Students using instructional

27  accommodations in the classroom that are not allowable as

28  accommodations on the FCAT may have the FCAT requirement

29  waived under pursuant to the requirements of s. 1003.428(8)(b)

30  or s. 1003.43(11)(b).

31  

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 1         7.  A student seeking an adult high school diploma must

 2  meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school

 3  student must meet.

 4         8.  District school boards must provide instruction to

 5  prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the content

 6  knowledge and skills and competencies necessary for successful

 7  grade-to-grade progression and high school graduation. If a

 8  student is provided with instructional accommodations in the

 9  classroom that are not allowable as accommodations in the

10  statewide assessment program, as described in the test

11  manuals, the district must inform the parent in writing and

12  must provide the parent with information regarding the impact

13  on the student's ability to meet expected proficiency levels

14  in reading, writing, and math. The commissioner shall conduct

15  studies as necessary to verify that the required content

16  knowledge and skills and competencies are part of the district

17  instructional programs.

18         9.  District school boards must provide opportunities

19  for students to demonstrate an acceptable level of performance

20  on an alternative standardized assessment approved by the

21  State Board of Education following enrollment in summer

22  academies.

23         10.  The Department of Education must develop, or

24  select, and implement a common battery of assessment tools

25  that will be used in all juvenile justice programs in the

26  state. These tools must accurately measure the content

27  knowledge and skills and competencies established in the World

28  Class Education Sunshine State Standards.

29         11.  For students seeking a special diploma under

30  pursuant to s. 1003.438, the Department of Education must

31  develop or select and implement an alternate assessment tool

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 1  that accurately measures the content knowledge and skills and

 2  competencies established in the World Class Education Sunshine

 3  State Standards for students with disabilities under s.

 4  1003.438.

 5         12.  The commissioner shall establish a testing

 6  schedule that provides for administration of the FCAT as close

 7  to the end of the school year as practicable while ensuring

 8  that test scores are reported before the end of the school

 9  year. The commissioner shall consider computer-based testing

10  and other strategies for reducing the time for reporting test

11  results. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, the FCAT

12  Writing assessment may not be administered before March 1 and

13  the other FCAT assessments may not be administered before

14  April 15.

15  

16  The commissioner may, based on collaboration and input from

17  school districts, design and implement student testing

18  programs, for any grade level and subject area, necessary to

19  effectively monitor educational achievement in the state,

20  including the measurement of educational achievement of the

21  World Class Education Sunshine State Standards for students

22  with disabilities. Development and refinement of assessments

23  shall include universal design principles and accessibility

24  standards that will prevent any unintended obstacles for

25  students with disabilities while ensuring the validity and

26  reliability of the test. These principles should be applicable

27  to all technology platforms and assistive devices available

28  for the assessments. The field testing process and

29  psychometric analyses for the statewide assessment program

30  must include an appropriate percentage of students with

31  

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 1  disabilities and an evaluation or determination of the effect

 2  of test items on such students.

 3         Section 17.  Section 1008.222, Florida Statutes, is

 4  created to read:

 5         1008.222  End-of-course examinations.--

 6         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that effective

 7  assessment measures be developed and implemented for subject

 8  areas that are not included within the statewide assessment

 9  system pursuant to s. 1008.22 or included as acceptable

10  examinations as provided in s. 2 of chapter 2007-3, Laws of

11  Florida.

12         (2)  For purposes of this section, end-of-course

13  examinations are defined as locally developed,

14  state-developed, or nationally developed comprehensive

15  examinations based on the instructional content of a complete

16  semester or year-long course. Comprehensive end-of-course

17  examinations must be aligned to the most currently adopted

18  state standards and must account for at least 15 percent of a

19  student's grade. Comprehensive end-of-course examinations must

20  provide for at least 50 percent of the student assessment to

21  be based on extended written responses, application or

22  performance of content skills, and measures of critical

23  thinking.

24         (3)  The Department of Education shall disseminate to

25  all school districts information regarding the most effective

26  practices in the development and administration of locally,

27  state, and nationally developed comprehensive end-of-course

28  examinations as described in subsection (1). This information

29  must be provided to school districts in an electronic format

30  no later than July 1, 2008, and must be updated a minimum of

31  twice annually.

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 1         (4)  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, school

 2  districts that administer end-of-course examinations for merit

 3  award programs pursuant to chapter 2007-3, Laws of Florida,

 4  must comply with this section.

 5         Section 18.  Subsection (1), paragraph (b) of

 6  subsection (2), paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (4),

 7  paragraph (b) of subsection (6), paragraph (b) of subsection

 8  (7), and paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section 1008.25,

 9  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

10         1008.25  Public school student progression; remedial

11  instruction; reporting requirements.--

12         (1)  INTENT.--It is the intent of the Legislature that

13  each student's progression from one grade to another be

14  determined, in part, upon proficiency in reading, writing,

15  science, social studies, and mathematics; that district school

16  board policies facilitate such proficiency; and that each

17  student and his or her parent be informed of that student's

18  academic progress.

19         (2)  COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM.--Each district school board

20  shall establish a comprehensive program for student

21  progression which must include:

22         (b)  Specific levels of performance in reading,

23  writing, science, social studies, and mathematics for each

24  grade level, including the levels of performance on statewide

25  assessments as defined by the commissioner, below which a

26  student must receive remediation, or be retained within an

27  intensive program that is different from the previous year's

28  program and that takes into account the student's learning

29  style.

30         (4)  ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION.--

31  

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 1         (a)  Each student must participate in the statewide

 2  assessment tests required by s. 1008.22. Each student who does

 3  not meet specific levels of performance as determined by the

 4  district school board in reading, writing, science, social

 5  studies, and mathematics for each grade level, or who scores

 6  below Level 3 in reading or math, must be provided with

 7  additional diagnostic assessments to determine the nature of

 8  the student's difficulty, the areas of academic need, and

 9  strategies for appropriate intervention and instruction as

10  described in paragraph (b).

11         (c)  Upon subsequent evaluation, if the documented

12  deficiency has not been remediated, the student may be

13  retained. Each student who does not meet the minimum

14  performance expectations defined by the Commissioner of

15  Education for the statewide assessment tests in reading,

16  writing, science, social studies, and mathematics must

17  continue to be provided with remedial or supplemental

18  instruction until the expectations are met or the student

19  graduates from high school or is not subject to compulsory

20  school attendance.

21         (6)  ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL PROMOTION.--

22         (b)  The district school board may only exempt students

23  from mandatory retention, as provided in paragraph (5)(b), for

24  good cause. Good cause exemptions shall be limited to the

25  following:

26         1.  Limited English proficient students who have had

27  less than 2 years of instruction in an English for Speakers of

28  Other Languages program.

29         2.  Students with disabilities whose individual

30  education plan indicates that participation in the statewide

31  

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 1  assessment program is not appropriate, consistent with the

 2  requirements of State Board of Education rule.

 3         3.  Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of

 4  performance on an alternative standardized reading assessment

 5  approved by the State Board of Education.

 6         4.  Students who demonstrate, through a student

 7  portfolio, that the student is reading on grade level as

 8  evidenced by demonstration of mastery of the World Class

 9  Education Sunshine State Standards in reading equal to at

10  least a Level 2 performance on the FCAT.

11         5.  Students with disabilities who participate in the

12  FCAT and who have an individual education plan or a Section

13  504 plan that reflects that the student has received intensive

14  remediation in reading for more than 2 years but still

15  demonstrates a deficiency in reading and was previously

16  retained in kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3.

17         6.  Students who have received intensive remediation in

18  reading for 2 or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency

19  in reading and who were previously retained in kindergarten,

20  grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3 for a total of 2 years. Intensive

21  reading instruction for students so promoted must include an

22  altered instructional day that includes specialized diagnostic

23  information and specific reading strategies for each student.

24  The district school board shall assist schools and teachers to

25  implement reading strategies that research has shown to be

26  successful in improving reading among low-performing readers.

27         (7)  SUCCESSFUL PROGRESSION FOR RETAINED READERS.--

28         (b)  Beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, each

29  school district shall:

30         1.  Conduct a review of student progress monitoring

31  plans for all students who did not score above Level 1 on the

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 1  reading portion of the FCAT and did not meet the criteria for

 2  one of the good cause exemptions in paragraph (6)(b). The

 3  review shall address additional supports and services, as

 4  described in this subsection, needed to remediate the

 5  identified areas of reading deficiency. The school district

 6  shall require a student portfolio to be completed for each

 7  such student.

 8         2.  Provide students who are retained under the

 9  provisions of paragraph (5)(b) with intensive instructional

10  services and supports to remediate the identified areas of

11  reading deficiency, including a minimum of 90 minutes of

12  daily, uninterrupted, scientifically research-based reading

13  instruction and other strategies prescribed by the school

14  district, which may include, but are not limited to:

15         a.  Small group instruction.

16         b.  Reduced teacher-student ratios.

17         c.  More frequent progress monitoring.

18         d.  Tutoring or mentoring.

19         e.  Transition classes containing 3rd and 4th grade

20  students.

21         f.  Extended school day, week, or year.

22         g.  Summer reading camps.

23         3.  Provide written notification to the parent of any

24  student who is retained under the provisions of paragraph

25  (5)(b) that his or her child has not met the proficiency level

26  required for promotion and the reasons the child is not

27  eligible for a good cause exemption as provided in paragraph

28  (6)(b). The notification must comply with the provisions of s.

29  1002.20(15) and must include a description of proposed

30  interventions and supports that will be provided to the child

31  to remediate the identified areas of reading deficiency.

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 1         4.  Implement a policy for the midyear promotion of any

 2  student retained under the provisions of paragraph (5)(b) who

 3  can demonstrate that he or she is a successful and independent

 4  reader, reading at or above grade level, and ready to be

 5  promoted to grade 4. Tools that school districts may use in

 6  reevaluating any student retained may include subsequent

 7  assessments, alternative assessments, and portfolio reviews,

 8  in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.

 9  Students promoted during the school year after November 1 must

10  demonstrate proficiency above that required to score at Level

11  2 on the grade 3 FCAT, as determined by the State Board of

12  Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt standards

13  that provide a reasonable expectation that the student's

14  progress is sufficient to master appropriate 4th grade level

15  reading skills.

16         5.  Provide students who are retained under the

17  provisions of paragraph (5)(b) with a high-performing teacher

18  as determined by student performance data and

19  above-satisfactory performance appraisals.

20         6.  In addition to required reading enhancement and

21  acceleration strategies, provide parents of students to be

22  retained with at least one of the following instructional

23  options:

24         a.  Supplemental tutoring in scientifically

25  research-based reading services in addition to the regular

26  reading block, including tutoring before and/or after school.

27         b.  A "Read at Home" plan outlined in a parental

28  contract, including participation in "Families Building Better

29  Readers Workshops" and regular parent-guided home reading.

30         c.  A mentor or tutor with specialized reading

31  training.

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 1         7.  Establish a Reading Enhancement and Acceleration

 2  Development (READ) Initiative. The focus of the READ

 3  Initiative shall be to prevent the retention of grade 3

 4  students and to offer intensive accelerated reading

 5  instruction to grade 3 students who failed to meet standards

 6  for promotion to grade 4 and to each K-3 student who is

 7  assessed as exhibiting a reading deficiency. The READ

 8  Initiative shall:

 9         a.  Be provided to all K-3 students at risk of

10  retention as identified by the statewide assessment system

11  used in Reading First schools. The assessment must measure

12  phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and

13  comprehension.

14         b.  Be provided during regular school hours in addition

15  to the regular reading instruction.

16         c.  Provide a state-identified reading curriculum that

17  has been reviewed by the Florida Center for Reading Research

18  at Florida State University and meets, at a minimum, the

19  following specifications:

20         (I)  Assists students assessed as exhibiting a reading

21  deficiency in developing the ability to read at grade level.

22         (II)  Provides skill development in phonemic awareness,

23  phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

24         (III)  Provides scientifically based and reliable

25  assessment.

26         (IV)  Provides initial and ongoing analysis of each

27  student's reading progress.

28         (V)  Is implemented during regular school hours.

29         (VI)  Provides a curriculum in core academic subjects

30  to assist the student in maintaining or meeting proficiency

31  levels for the appropriate grade in all academic subjects.

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 1         8.  Establish at each school, where applicable, an

 2  Intensive Acceleration Class for retained grade 3 students who

 3  subsequently score at Level 1 on the reading portion of the

 4  FCAT. The focus of the Intensive Acceleration Class shall be

 5  to increase a child's reading level at least two grade levels

 6  in 1 school year. The Intensive Acceleration Class shall:

 7         a.  Be provided to any student in grade 3 who scores at

 8  Level 1 on the reading portion of the FCAT and who was

 9  retained in grade 3 the prior year because of scoring at Level

10  1 on the reading portion of the FCAT.

11         b.  Have a reduced teacher-student ratio.

12         c.  Provide uninterrupted reading instruction for the

13  majority of student contact time each day and incorporate

14  opportunities to master the World Class Education Standards

15  for grade 4 Sunshine State Standards in other core subject

16  areas.

17         d.  Use a reading program that is scientifically

18  research-based and has proven results in accelerating student

19  reading achievement within the same school year.

20         e.  Provide intensive language and vocabulary

21  instruction using a scientifically research-based program,

22  including use of a speech-language therapist.

23         f.  Include weekly progress monitoring measures to

24  ensure progress is being made.

25         g.  Report to the Department of Education, in the

26  manner described by the department, the progress of students

27  in the class at the end of the first semester.

28         9.  Report to the State Board of Education, as

29  requested, on the specific intensive reading interventions and

30  supports implemented at the school district level. The

31  

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 1  Commissioner of Education shall annually prescribe the

 2  required components of requested reports.

 3         10.  Provide a student who has been retained in grade 3

 4  and has received intensive instructional services but is still

 5  not ready for grade promotion, as determined by the school

 6  district, the option of being placed in a transitional

 7  instructional setting. Such setting shall specifically be

 8  designed to produce learning gains sufficient to meet grade 4

 9  performance standards while continuing to remediate the areas

10  of reading deficiency.

11         (8)  ANNUAL REPORT.--

12         (a)  In addition to the requirements in paragraph

13  (5)(b), each district school board must annually report to the

14  parent of each student the progress of the student toward

15  achieving state and district expectations for proficiency in

16  reading, writing, science, social studies, and mathematics.

17  The district school board must report to the parent the

18  student's results on each statewide assessment test. The

19  evaluation of each student's progress must be based upon the

20  student's classroom work, observations, tests, district and

21  state assessments, and other relevant information. Progress

22  reporting must be provided to the parent in writing in a

23  format adopted by the district school board.

24         Section 19.  Section 1008.331, Florida Statutes, is

25  amended to read:

26         1008.331  Supplemental educational services in Title I

27  schools; school district and provider responsibilities.--

28         (1)  INCENTIVES.--A provider or school district may not

29  provide incentives to entice a student or a student's parent

30  to choose a provider. After a provider has been chosen, the

31  student may be awarded incentives for performance or

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 1  attendance, the total value of which may not exceed $50 per

 2  student per year.

 3         (2)  A district school board may establish and adopt an

 4  intradistrict agreement allowing a local school that is deemed

 5  to be in compliance with all accountability requirements of

 6  the No Child Left Behind Act and designated with a grade of A

 7  pursuant to s. 1008.34 to serve as a supplemental education

 8  provider for district Title I schools. A local school that

 9  serves as a supplemental education services provider under the

10  school board intradistrict agreement must operate a school

11  that has a student population similar to that of the Title I

12  school in need of improvement for which services are provided.

13         (3)(2)  RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOL DISTRICT AND

14  PROVIDER.--

15         (a)  School districts must create a streamlined parent

16  enrollment and provider selection process for supplemental

17  educational services and ensure that the process enables

18  eligible students to begin receiving supplemental educational

19  services no later than September October 15 of each school

20  year.

21         (b)  Supplemental educational services enrollment forms

22  must be made freely available to the parents of eligible

23  students and providers both prior to and after the start of

24  the school year.

25         (c)  School districts must provide notification to

26  parents of students eligible to receive supplemental

27  educational services prior to and after the start of the

28  school year. Notification shall include contact information

29  for district and state-approved providers, including those

30  providers eligible under subsection (2), as well as the

31  

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 1  enrollment form, clear instructions, and timeline for the

 2  selection of providers and commencement of services.

 3         (d)  State-approved supplemental educational services

 4  providers must be able to provide services to eligible

 5  students no later than September October 15 of each school

 6  year contingent upon their receipt of their district-approved

 7  student enrollment lists at least 20 days prior to the start

 8  date.

 9         (e)  In the event that the contract with a district or

10  state-approved provider is signed less than 20 days prior to

11  September October 15, the provider shall be afforded no less

12  than 20 days from the date the contract was executed to begin

13  delivering services.

14         (f)  A school district must hold open student

15  enrollment for supplemental educational services unless or

16  until it has obtained a written election to receive or reject

17  services from parents in accordance with paragraph (4)(a)

18  (3)(a).

19         (g)  School districts, using the same policies applied

20  to other organizations that have access to school sites, shall

21  provide access to school facilities to providers that wish to

22  use these sites for supplemental educational services.

23         (4)(3)  COMPLIANCE; PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.--

24         (a)  Compliance is met when the school district has

25  obtained evidence of reception or rejection of services from

26  the parents of at least a majority of the students receiving

27  free or reduced-price lunch in Title I schools that are

28  eligible for parental choice of transportation or supplemental

29  educational services unless a waiver is granted by the State

30  Board of Education. A waiver shall only be granted if there is

31  clear and convincing evidence of the district's efforts to

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 1  secure evidence of the parent's decision. Requirements for

 2  parental election to receive supplemental educational services

 3  shall not exceed the election requirements for the free and

 4  reduced-price lunch program.

 5         (b)  A provider must be able to deliver supplemental

 6  educational services to school districts in which the provider

 7  is approved by the state, including those providers eligible

 8  under subsection (2). If a state-approved provider fails to

 9  offer withdraws from offering services to students in a school

10  district in which it is approved and in which it has signed

11  either a contract to provide services or a letter of intent

12  and the minimums per site set by the provider have not been

13  met, the school district must report the provider to the

14  department. The provider shall be immediately removed from the

15  state-approved list and for the current school year for that

16  school district. Upon the second such withdrawal in any school

17  district, the provider shall be ineligible to provide services

18  in the state the following year. The school district must

19  select another approved provider that is acceptable to the

20  parents, and supplemental education services must resume

21  within 10 calendar days.

22         (5)(4)  REALLOCATION OF FUNDS.--If a school district

23  has not spent the required supplemental educational services

24  set-aside funding, the district may apply to the Department of

25  Education after January 1 for authorization to reallocate the

26  funds. If the Commissioner of Education does not approve the

27  reallocation of funds, the district may appeal to the State

28  Board of Education. The State Board of Education must consider

29  the appeal within 60 days of its receipt, and the decision of

30  the state board shall be final.

31  

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 1         (6)(5)  RULES.--The State Board of Education may adopt

 2  rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the

 3  provisions of this section and may enforce the provisions of

 4  this section pursuant to s. 1008.32.

 5         Section 20.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

 6  1008.385, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 7         1008.385  Educational planning and information

 8  systems.--

 9         (1)  EDUCATIONAL PLANNING.--

10         (b)  Each district school board shall maintain a

11  continuing system of planning and budgeting designed to aid in

12  identifying and meeting the educational needs of students and

13  the public. Provision shall be made for coordination between

14  district school boards and community college boards of

15  trustees concerning the planning for career education and

16  adult educational programs. The major emphasis of the system

17  shall be upon locally determined goals and objectives, the

18  state plan for education, and the World Class Education

19  Sunshine State Standards developed by the Department of

20  Education and adopted by the State Board of Education. The

21  district planning and budgeting system must include

22  consideration of student achievement data obtained pursuant to

23  ss. 1008.22 and 1008.34. The system shall be structured to

24  meet the specific management needs of the district and to

25  align the budget adopted by the district school board with the

26  plan the board has also adopted. Each district school board

27  shall utilize its system of planning and budgeting to

28  emphasize a system of school-based management in which

29  individual school centers become the principal planning units

30  and to integrate planning and budgeting at the school level.

31  

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 1         Section 21.  Paragraph (o) of subsection (2) of section

 2  1012.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         1012.05  Teacher recruitment and retention.--

 4         (2)  The Department of Education shall:

 5         (o)  Develop and implement an online Teacher Toolkit

 6  that contains a menu of resources, based on the World Class

 7  Education Sunshine State Standards, that all teachers can use

 8  to enhance classroom instruction and increase teacher

 9  effectiveness, thus resulting in improved student achievement.

10         Section 22.  Subsection (5) of section 1012.28, Florida

11  Statutes, is amended to read:

12         1012.28  Public school personnel; duties of school

13  principals.--

14         (5)  Each school principal shall perform such duties as

15  may be assigned by the district school superintendent,

16  pursuant to the rules of the district school board. Such rules

17  shall include, but are not limited to, rules relating to

18  administrative responsibility, instructional leadership in

19  implementing the World Class Education Sunshine State

20  Standards and the overall educational program of the school to

21  which the school principal is assigned, submission of

22  personnel recommendations to the district school

23  superintendent, administrative responsibility for records and

24  reports, administration of corporal punishment, and student

25  suspension.

26         Section 23.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.52, Florida

27  Statutes, is amended to read:

28         1012.52  Teacher quality; legislative findings.--

29         (1)  The Legislature intends to implement a

30  comprehensive approach to increase students' academic

31  achievement and improve teaching quality. The Legislature

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 1  recognizes that professional educators play an important role

 2  in shaping the future of this state and the nation by

 3  developing the knowledge and skills of our future workforce

 4  and laying the foundation for good citizenship and full

 5  participation in community and civic life. The Legislature

 6  also recognizes its role in meeting the state's educational

 7  priorities so as to provide opportunity for all students to

 8  achieve at the levels set by the World Class Education

 9  Sunshine State Standards.

10         Section 24.  Subsection (4) and paragraph (a) of

11  subsection (7) of section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are

12  amended to read:

13         1012.56  Educator certification requirements.--

14         (4)  MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.--Acceptable

15  means of demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:

16         (a)  Achievement of passing scores on subject area

17  examinations required by state board rule;

18         (b)  Completion of the subject area specialization

19  requirements specified in state board rule and verification of

20  the attainment of the essential subject matter competencies by

21  the district school superintendent of the employing school

22  district or chief administrative officer of the employing

23  state-supported or private school for a subject area for which

24  a subject area examination has not been developed and required

25  by state board rule;

26         (c)  Completion of the subject area specialization

27  requirements specified in state board rule for a subject

28  coverage requiring a master's or higher degree and achievement

29  of a passing score on the subject area examination specified

30  in state board rule;

31  

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 1         (d)  A valid professional standard teaching certificate

 2  issued by another state; or

 3         (e)  A valid certificate issued by the National Board

 4  for Professional Teaching Standards or a national educator

 5  credentialing board approved by the State Board of Education.

 6  

 7  School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for

 8  those middle school teachers holding only a K-6 teaching

 9  certificate to obtain a subject area coverage for middle

10  grades through postsecondary coursework or district add-on

11  certification. As the Sunshine State Standards are replaced by

12  the World Class Education Standards under s. 1001.03(1), the

13  State Board of Education shall ensure that the subject area

14  examinations are aligned to the World Class Education

15  Standards.

16         (7)  PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION

17  AND EDUCATION COMPETENCY PROGRAM.--

18         (a)  The Department of Education shall develop and each

19  school district must provide a cohesive competency-based

20  professional preparation alternative certification program by

21  which members of a school district's instructional staff may

22  satisfy the mastery of professional preparation and education

23  competence requirements specified in this subsection and rules

24  of the State Board of Education. Participants must hold a

25  state-issued temporary certificate. A school district shall

26  provide a competency-based alternative certification

27  preparation program developed by the Department of Education

28  or developed by the district and approved by the Department of

29  Education. The program shall include the following components:

30         1.  A minimum period of initial preparation prior to

31  assuming duties as the teacher of record.

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 1         2.  An option for collaboration between school

 2  districts and other supporting agencies for implementation.

 3         3.  Experienced peer mentors.

 4         4.  An assessment that provides for:

 5         a.  An initial evaluation of each educator's

 6  competencies to determine an appropriate individualized

 7  professional development plan.

 8         b.  A postevaluation to assure successful completion of

 9  the program.

10         5.  Professional education preparation content

11  knowledge that includes, but is not limited to, the following:

12         a.  Requirements specified in state board rule for

13  professional preparation.

14         b.  The educator-accomplished practices approved by the

15  state board.

16         c.  A variety of data indicators for student progress.

17         d.  Methodologies, including technology-based

18  methodologies, for teaching subject content that supports the

19  World Class Education Sunshine State Standards for students.

20         e.  Techniques for effective classroom management.

21         f.  Techniques and strategies for operationalizing the

22  role of the teacher in assuring a safe learning environment

23  for students.

24         g.  Methodologies for assuring the ability of all

25  students to read, write, and compute.

26         6.  Required achievement of passing scores on the

27  professional education competency examination required by

28  state board rule.

29         Section 25.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section

30  1012.585, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

31  

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 1         1012.585  Process for renewal of professional

 2  certificates.--

 3         (3)  For the renewal of a professional certificate, the

 4  following requirements must be met:

 5         (a)  The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college

 6  credits or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For

 7  each area of specialization to be retained on a certificate,

 8  the applicant must earn at least 3 of the required credit

 9  hours or equivalent inservice points in the specialization

10  area. Education in "clinical educator" training under pursuant

11  to s. 1004.04(6)(b) and credits or points that provide

12  training in the area of scientifically researched,

13  knowledge-based reading literacy and computational skills

14  acquisition, exceptional student education, normal child

15  development, and the disorders of development may be applied

16  toward any specialization area. Credits or points that provide

17  training in the areas of drug abuse, child abuse and neglect,

18  strategies in teaching students having limited proficiency in

19  English, or dropout prevention, or training in areas

20  identified in the educational goals and performance standards

21  adopted under pursuant to ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345 may be

22  applied toward any specialization area. Credits or points

23  earned through approved summer institutes may be applied

24  toward the fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points

25  earned for inservice activities on the content and instruction

26  of the World Class Education Standards may be applied toward

27  any specialization area. Inservice points may also be earned

28  by participation in professional growth components approved by

29  the State Board of Education and specified under pursuant to

30  s. 1012.98 in the district's approved master plan for

31  inservice educational training, including, but not limited to,

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 1  serving as a trainer in an approved teacher training activity,

 2  serving on an instructional materials committee or a state

 3  board or commission that deals with educational issues, or

 4  serving on an advisory council created under pursuant to s.

 5  1001.452.

 6         Section 26.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.72, Florida

 7  Statutes, is amended to read:

 8         1012.72  Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program.--

 9         (1)  The Legislature recognizes that teachers play a

10  critical role in preparing students to achieve the high levels

11  of academic performance expected by the World Class Education

12  Sunshine State Standards. The Legislature further recognizes

13  the importance of identifying and rewarding teaching

14  excellence and of encouraging good teachers to become

15  excellent teachers. The Legislature finds that the National

16  Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has

17  established high and rigorous standards for accomplished

18  teaching and has developed a national voluntary system for

19  assessing and certifying teachers who demonstrate teaching

20  excellence by meeting those standards. It is therefore the

21  Legislature's intent to provide incentives for teachers to

22  seek NBPTS certification and to reward teachers who

23  demonstrate teaching excellence by attaining NBPTS

24  certification and sharing their expertise with other teachers.

25         Section 27.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of

26  subsection (4) of section 1012.98, Florida Statutes, are

27  amended, and subsections (12) and (13) are added to that

28  section, to read:

29         1012.98  School Community Professional Development

30  Act.--

31  

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 1         (1)  The Department of Education, public postsecondary

 2  educational institutions, public school districts, public

 3  schools, state education foundations, consortia, and

 4  professional organizations in this state shall work

 5  collaboratively to establish a coordinated system of

 6  professional development. The purpose of the professional

 7  development system is to increase student achievement, enhance

 8  classroom instructional strategies that promote rigor and

 9  relevance throughout the curriculum, and prepare students for

10  continuing education and the workforce. The system of

11  professional development must align to the World Class

12  Education Standards adopted by the state and support the

13  framework for standards adopted by the National Staff

14  Development Council.

15         (4)  The Department of Education, school districts,

16  schools, community colleges, and state universities share the

17  responsibilities described in this section. These

18  responsibilities include the following:

19         (b)  Each school district shall develop a professional

20  development system as specified in subsection (3). The system

21  shall be developed in consultation with teachers,

22  teacher-educators of community colleges and state

23  universities, business and community representatives, and

24  local education foundations, consortia, and professional

25  organizations. The professional development system must:

26         1.  Be approved by the department. All substantial

27  revisions to the system must shall be submitted to the

28  department for review for continued approval.

29         2.  Be based on analyses of student achievement data

30  and instructional strategies and methods that support

31  rigorous, relevant, and challenging curricula for all

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 1  students. Schools and districts, in developing and refining

 2  the professional development system, shall also review and

 3  monitor school discipline data; school environment surveys;

 4  assessments of parental satisfaction; performance appraisal

 5  data of teachers, managers, and administrative personnel; and

 6  other performance indicators to identify school and student

 7  needs that can be met by improved professional performance.

 8         3.  Provide inservice activities coupled with followup

 9  support appropriate to accomplish state, district,

10  district-level and school school-level improvement goals and

11  standards. The inservice activities for instructional

12  personnel shall focus on analysis of student achievement data,

13  ongoing formal and informal assessments of student

14  achievement, identification and use of enhanced and

15  differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,

16  relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of

17  subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom

18  technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom

19  management, parent involvement, and school safety. As the

20  Sunshine State Standards are replaced by the World Class

21  Education Standards under s. 1001.03(1), a school district

22  must align its inservice activities to the World Class

23  Education Standards.

24         4.  Include a master plan for inservice activities, in

25  accordance with pursuant to rules of the State Board of

26  Education, for all district employees from all fund sources.

27  The master plan shall be updated annually by September 1, must

28  be based on input from teachers and district and school

29  instructional leaders, and must use the latest available

30  student achievement data and research to enhance rigor and

31  relevance in the classroom. Each district inservice plan must

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 1  be aligned to and support the school-based inservice plans and

 2  school improvement plans under pursuant to s. 1001.42(16).

 3  District plans must be approved by the district school board

 4  annually in order to ensure compliance with subsection (1) and

 5  to allow for dissemination of research-based best practices to

 6  other districts. District school boards must submit

 7  verification of their approval to the Commissioner of

 8  Education by no later than October 1 of each year, annually.

 9         5.  Require each school principal to establish and

10  maintain an individual professional development plan for each

11  instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless

12  component to the school improvement plans developed under

13  pursuant to s. 1001.42(16). The individual professional

14  development plan must:

15         a.  Be related to specific performance data for the

16  students to whom the teacher is assigned.

17         b.  Define the inservice objectives and specific

18  measurable improvements expected in student performance as a

19  result of the inservice activity.

20         c.  Include an evaluation component that determines the

21  effectiveness of the professional development plan.

22         6.  Include inservice activities for school

23  administrative personnel that address updated skills necessary

24  for instructional leadership and effective school management

25  under pursuant to s. 1012.986.

26         7.  Provide for systematic consultation with regional

27  and state personnel designated to provide technical assistance

28  and evaluation of local professional development programs.

29         8.  Provide for delivery of professional development by

30  distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems

31  to reach more educators at lower costs.

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 1         9.  Provide for the continuous evaluation of the

 2  quality and effectiveness of professional development programs

 3  in order to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and

 4  to expand effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact

 5  of such activities on the performance of participating

 6  educators and their students' achievement and behavior.

 7         (12)  The State Board of Education shall ensure the

 8  statewide standardized delivery of inservice activities for

 9  Florida educators on the content and instruction of the World

10  Class Education Standards. The effectiveness of the inservice

11  activities shall be evaluated using performance outcomes of

12  both the educator and the educator's students.

13         (13)  The Department of Education shall provide

14  statewide standardized professional development for educators

15  on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, and all Florida

16  educators must participate in the professional development as

17  a condition of employment. The professional development shall

18  include, at a minimum, how the Florida Comprehensive

19  Assessment Test is developed and scored, what information is

20  available to parents and students about the test, the ethical

21  and professional standards of instruction aligned to

22  state-adopted standards and the importance of not teaching to

23  the test, and the process used in grading schools for the

24  state's accountability system.

25         Section 28.  After-school programs.--

26         (1)  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and

27  Government Accountability, by January 1, 2008, shall submit a

28  report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the

29  Speaker of the House of Representatives on after-school

30  programs. The report shall:

31  

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 1         (a)  Review different types of public and private

 2  after-school programs available for families;

 3         (b)  Identify strong accountability measures, including

 4  outcomes, which could be used to measure the success of

 5  after-school programs;

 6         (c)  Review existing research that analyzes the types

 7  of after-school programs which provide important educational

 8  benefits for students and families;

 9         (d)  Provide options for providing incentives to create

10  public-private partnerships to expand after-school programs;

11         (e)  Review how Florida could maximize federal funding

12  of after-school programs, including, but not limited to, an

13  examination of current methods for obtaining funding from the

14  Federal Government, including grants, and other methods to

15  obtain federal funding; and

16         (f)  Options for correcting the state's deficiencies in

17  obtaining federal funding for after-school programs, if the

18  report finds any deficiencies, and the projected cost of

19  implementing the options.

20         (2)  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and

21  Government Accountability, in conducting research for the

22  report, shall consult with the Department of Education, the

23  Department of Children and Family Services, and other

24  interested entities that may offer unique experiences and

25  perspectives on after-school programs.

26         Section 29.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                         Senate Bill 1238

 3                                 

 4  The committee substitute:

 5  Provides for a systematic review and replacement of the
    Sunshine State Standards with new World Class Education
 6  Standards aligned to the knowledge demands students will face
    in a global economy;
 7  
    Provides for specific content within subject areas including a
 8  focus on government and civics education and both performing
    and visual arts within the arts standards;
 9  
    Aligns the FCAT to the new standards and requires professional
10  development on the importance of effective standards-based
    instruction rather than teaching to the test;
11  
    Adds social studies to the subject areas assessed under the
12  FCAT and requires the Commissioner of Education to administer
    FCAT testing as close to the end of the school year as
13  practicable;

14  Requires the development of standards in foreign languages
    deemed most critical to a global economy and encourages school
15  districts to offer these foreign languages beginning in the
    elementary grades;
16  
    Requires school districts to provide for accelerated learning
17  opportunities for academically talented students;

18  Authorizes qualified public schools to serve as a supplemental
    education services provider and prohibits a Supplemental
19  Education Services provider from providing services if it
    fails to deliver services to eligible students by September 15
20  of each year;

21  Defines comprehensive end-of-course examinations for the
    purposes of the merit award program; and
22  
    Directs OPPAGA to conduct a study on after-school programs to
23  identify methods to maximize effectiveness and efficiency and
    to secure additional federal funding.
24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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