The Florida Senate

LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—The Legislature finds disparities between teachers assigned to teach in a majority of schools that do not need improvement and schools that do need improvement pursuant to s. 1008.33. The disparities may be found in the assignment of temporarily certified teachers, teachers in need of improvement, and out-of-field teachers and in the performance of the students. It is the intent of the Legislature that district school boards have flexibility through the collective bargaining process to assign teachers more equitably across the schools in the district.

ASSIGNMENT TO SCHOOLS CATEGORIZED AS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.—School districts may not assign a higher percentage than the school district average of temporarily certified teachers, teachers in need of improvement, or out-of-field teachers to schools in one of the three lowest-performing categories under s. 1008.33(3)(b). Each school district shall annually certify to the Commissioner of Education that this requirement has been met. If the commissioner determines that a school district is not in compliance with this subsection, the State Board of Education shall be notified and shall take action pursuant to s. 1008.32 in the next regularly scheduled meeting to require compliance.

SALARY INCENTIVES.—District school boards are authorized to provide salary incentives to meet the requirement of subsection (2). A district school board may not sign a collective bargaining agreement that precludes the school district from providing sufficient incentives to meet this requirement.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.—Notwithstanding provisions of chapter 447 relating to district school board collective bargaining, collective bargaining provisions may not preclude a school district from providing incentives to high-quality teachers and assigning such teachers to low-performing schools.

REPORT.—Schools graded “D” or “F” shall annually report their teacher-retention rate. Included in this report shall be reasons listed for leaving by each teacher who left the school for any reason.