Florida Senate - 2013                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 904
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Barcode 349806                          
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/10/2013           .                                
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       The Committee on Rules (Negron) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Between lines 35 and 36
    4  insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
    6  1002.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         1002.45 Virtual instruction programs.—
    8         (2) PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS.—
    9         (a) The department shall annually publish online a list of
   10  providers approved to offer virtual instruction programs. To be
   11  approved by the department, a provider must document that it:
   12         1. Is nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies,
   13  employment practices, and operations;
   14         2. Complies with the antidiscrimination provisions of s.
   15  1000.05;
   16         3. Locates an administrative office or offices in this
   17  state, requires its administrative staff to be state residents,
   18  Requires all instructional staff to be Florida-certified
   19  teachers under chapter 1012 or certified as adjunct educators
   20  under s. 1012.57, and conducts background screenings for all
   21  employees or contracted personnel, as required by s. 1012.32,
   22  using state and national criminal history records;
   23         4. Provides to parents and students specific information
   24  posted and accessible online which includes, but is not limited
   25  to, the following teacher-parent and teacher-student contact
   26  information for each course:
   27         a. How to contact the instructor via telephone, e-mail, or
   28  online messaging tools.
   29         b. How to contact technical support via telephone, e-mail,
   30  or online messaging tools.
   31         c. How to contact the administration office or an
   32  individual offering online courses, including, but not limited
   33  to, massive open online courses, via telephone, e-mail, or
   34  online messaging tools.
   35         d. Any requirement for regular contact with the instructor
   36  for the course and clear expectations for meeting the
   37  requirement.
   38         e. A requirement that the instructor in each course, with
   39  the exception of individuals offering online courses, including,
   40  but not limited to, massive open online courses, must, at a
   41  minimum, conduct one contact via telephone with the parent and
   42  the student each month;
   43         5.4. Possesses prior, successful experience offering online
   44  courses to elementary, middle, or high school students as
   45  demonstrated by quantified student learning gains in each
   46  subject area and grade level provided for consideration as an
   47  instructional program option;
   48         6.5. Is accredited by a regional accrediting association as
   49  defined by State Board of Education rule;
   50         7.6. Ensures instructional and curricular quality through a
   51  detailed curriculum and student performance accountability plan
   52  that addresses every subject and grade level it intends to
   53  provide through contract with the school district, including:
   54         a. Courses and programs that meet the standards of the
   55  International Association for K-12 Online Learning and the
   56  Southern Regional Education Board.
   57         b. Instructional content and services that align with, and
   58  measure student attainment of, student proficiency in the Next
   59  Generation Sunshine State Standards.
   60         c. Mechanisms that determine and ensure that a student has
   61  satisfied requirements for grade level promotion and high school
   62  graduation with a standard diploma, as appropriate;
   63         8.7. Publishes for the general public, in accordance with
   64  disclosure requirements adopted in rule by the State Board of
   65  Education, as part of its application as a provider and in all
   66  contracts negotiated pursuant to this section:
   67         a. Information and data about the curriculum of each full
   68  time and part-time program.
   69         b. School policies and procedures.
   70         c. Certification status and physical location of all
   71  administrative and instructional personnel.
   72         d. Hours and times of availability of instructional
   73  personnel.
   74         e. Student-teacher ratios.
   75         f. Student completion and promotion rates.
   76         g. Student, educator, and school performance accountability
   77  outcomes;
   78         9.8. If the provider is a Florida College System
   79  institution, employs instructors who meet the certification
   80  requirements for instructional staff under chapter 1012; and
   81         10.9. Performs an annual financial audit of its accounts
   82  and records conducted by an independent certified public
   83  accountant which is in accordance with rules adopted by the
   84  Auditor General, is conducted in compliance with generally
   85  accepted auditing standards, and includes a report on financial
   86  statements presented in accordance with generally accepted
   87  accounting principles.
   88  
   89  A person or organization that seeks to offer online courses
   90  pursuant to this paragraph is not subject to sub-subparagraphs
   91  8.a. and b., subparagraphs 6., 9., and 10., and paragraphs
   92  (8)(c) and (d).
   93  
   94  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   95         And the title is amended as follows:
   96         Delete line 2
   97  and insert:
   98         An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.45,
   99         F.S.; allowing individuals or organizations that
  100         provide individual online courses, including massive
  101         open online courses, which are measured by statewide
  102         assessments to apply for approval as state-level
  103         providers; creating s. 1007.012,