The Florida Senate

231.2905  Florida School Recognition Program.--

(1)  The Legislature finds that there is a need for a performance incentive program for outstanding faculty and staff in highly productive schools. The Legislature further finds that performance-based incentives are commonplace in the private sector and should be infused into the public sector as a reward for productivity.

(2)  The Florida School Recognition Program is created to provide greater autonomy and financial awards to schools that sustain high performance or that demonstrate exemplary improvement due to innovation and effort. The Commissioner of Education shall establish statewide objective criteria for schools to be invited to apply for the Florida School Recognition Program. The selection of schools must be based on at least 2 school years of data, when available. All public schools, including charter schools, are eligible to participate in the program. Initial criteria for identification of schools must rely on the school's data and statewide data and must include, but are not limited to:

(a)  Improvement in the school's student achievement data.

(b)  Statewide student achievement data.

(c)  Student learning gains when such data becomes available.

(d)  Readiness for postsecondary education data.

(e)  Dropout rates.

(f)  Attendance rates.

(g)  Graduation rates.

(h)  Cohort graduation rates.

(3)  All selected schools shall receive financial awards depending on the availability of funds appropriated and the number and size of schools selected to receive an award. Funds must be distributed to the school's fiscal agent and placed in the school's account and must be used as determined by the school's staff and school advisory council for nonrecurring bonuses to the faculty and staff or for nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or materials or temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving student performance. Notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary, incentive awards are not subject to collective bargaining.

(4)  The School Recognition Program shall utilize the school performance grade category designations in s. 229.57.

History.--s. 3, ch. 97-212; s. 15, ch. 99-398; s. 29, ch. 2000-301.