Skip to Navigation | Skip to Main Content | Skip to Site Map

MyFloridaHouse.gov | Mobile Site

Senate Tracker: Sign Up | Login

The Florida Senate

CS/CS/HB 7063 — Digital Learning

by Education Committee; PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee; K-20 Innovation Subcommittee; and Rep. Stargel and others (CS/CS/SB 1402 by Budget Subcommittee on Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations; Education Pre-K – 12 Committee; and Senator Gardiner)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Education Pre-K - 12 Committee (ED)

 

The bill provides additional virtual instruction options for K-12 students by:

 

·         Authorizing the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) to provide full-time and part-time instruction for students in kindergarten through grade 12;

·         Limiting the combined total of all full time equivalent (FTE) students reported by the FLVS and the school district to 1.0 FTE for full-time students in kindergarten through grade 12 and part-time students in kindergarten through grade 5;

·         Authorizing exceptional student education (ESE), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and other weighted program funding for students in a full-time FLVS, district virtual instruction program, and a virtual charter school;

·         Expanding the part-time district virtual instruction program to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 courses;

·         Expanding eligibility for participation in virtual education programs to students in grades 2 through 5 who are enrolled in a full-time virtual program without having to meet the prior public school enrollment requirement;

·         Providing that school district virtual instruction must be reported by the school district providing the instruction rather than the school district in which the student resides;

·         Prohibiting a school district from requiring a student to take the online course required for high school graduation beyond the school day or in addition to the student’s courses for the semester;

·         Providing an exception from the current online course requirement for high school graduation for a student with a disability whose individual education plan indicates that an online course is not appropriate or for a student enrolled in a Florida high school for one academic year or less;

·         Establishing that an individual who knowingly and willingly takes an online course or examination on behalf of another individual for compensation commits a second degree misdemeanor;

·         Revising the qualifications for approval of virtual instruction providers to include an annual audit conducted by an independent certified public accountant pursuant to rules adopted by the Auditor General;

·         Requiring full time virtual instruction programs to meet the school district requirements for public school ESE students who are enrolled in the program; and

·         Providing standards for participation in interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular activities by students in a full-time FLVS program.

 

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2012 

Vote: Senate 36-3; House 100-16