HB 1887 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to parental and family involvement in a
3	student's education; creating s. 1002.23, F.S., the Family
4	and School Partnership for Student Achievement Act;
5	providing legislative purpose; requiring support for
6	implementation by school district and school personnel;
7	requiring the Department of Education to develop
8	guidelines for a parent guide to assist parents;
9	specifying contents of the parent guide; requiring the
10	department, in cooperation with school districts, to
11	develop and disseminate a checklist; requiring the
12	department to establish a parent-response center;
13	requiring school districts to adopt rules to strengthen
14	family involvement and empowerment; requiring the school
15	districts to submit copies of rules to the Department of
16	Education; requiring school districts to develop and
17	disseminate parent guides; requiring review and
18	enforcement by the State Board of Education; amending s.
19	1001.42, F.S.; requiring district school boards to adopt
20	rules and develop and disseminate a parent guide and
21	checklist; amending s. 1001.51, F.S.; requiring the
22	support and cooperation of district school superintendents
23	in implementing requirements for parental and family
24	involvement in a student's education; amending s. 1001.54,
25	F.S.; requiring the support and cooperation of school
26	principals; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; requiring that
27	parents receive specified information concerning their
28	child's education; amending s. 1003.33, F.S.; requiring
29	reports cards to contain additional information concerning
30	a student's performance or nonperformance; amending s.
31	1008.25, F.S.; providing additional notification to
32	parents of students with substantial reading deficiencies;
33	amending s. 1012.72, F.S., relating to incentives and
34	bonuses under the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program;
35	specifying additional requirements for teachers who
36	receive certain bonuses; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.;
37	requiring certain professional development inservice
38	activities to include the subject of parental involvement;
39	providing an effective date.
40
41	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
42
43	Section 1. This act shall be known by the popular name the
44	"Family and School Partnership for Student Achievement Act."
45	Section 2. Section 1002.23, Florida Statutes, is created
46	to read:
47	1002.23 Family and School Partnership for Student
48	Achievement Act.--
49	(1) The purpose of the Family and School Partnership for
50	Student Achievement Act is to:
51	(a) Provide parents with specific information about their
52	child's educational progress.
53	(b) Provide parents with comprehensive information about
54	their choices and opportunities for involvement in their child's
55	education.
56	(c) Provide a framework for building and strengthening
57	partnerships among parents, teachers, principals, district
58	school superintendents, and other personnel.
59
60	Each district school board, district school superintendent, and
61	teacher shall fully support and cooperate in implementing a
62	well-planned, inclusive, and comprehensive program to assist
63	parents and families in effectively participating in their
64	child's education.
65	(2) To facilitate meaningful parental and family
66	involvement, the Department of Education shall develop
67	guidelines for a parent guide to successful student achievement
68	which describes what parents need to know about their child's
69	educational progress and how they can help their child succeed
70	in school. The guidelines shall include, but need not be limited
71	to:
72	(a) Parental information regarding:
73	1. Requirements for their child to be promoted to the next
74	grade, as provided in s. 1008.25.
75	2. Progress of their child toward achieving state and
76	school district expectations for academic proficiency.
77	3. Assessment results, including report cards and progress
78	reports.
79	4. Qualifications of their child's teachers.
80	(b) Services available for parents and their children,
81	such as family literacy services; mentoring, tutorial, and other
82	academic reinforcement programs; college planning, academic
83	advisement, and student counseling services; and after-school
84	programs.
85	(c) Opportunities for parental participation, such as
86	parenting classes, adult education, school advisory councils,
87	and school volunteer programs.
88	(d) Opportunities for parents to learn about rigorous
89	academic programs that may be available for their child, such as
90	honors programs; dual enrollment, Advanced Placement,
91	International Baccalaureate, and Florida Virtual School courses;
92	and accelerated access to postsecondary education.
93	(e) Educational choices, as provided for in s. 1002.20(6),
94	and corporate income tax credit scholarships, as provided for in
95	s. 220.187.
96	(f) Classroom and test accommodations available for
97	students with disabilities.
98	(g) District school board rules, policies, and procedures
99	for student promotion and retention, academic standards, student
100	assessment, courses of study, instructional materials, and
101	contact information for school and school district offices.
102	(h) Any information that the Department of Education
103	determines will assist parents.
104	(3) The Department of Education, in cooperation with the
105	school districts, shall develop and disseminate a checklist for
106	school districts to provide to parents to assist with parental
107	involvement in their child's educational progress. The checklist
108	shall address parental actions that:
109	(a) Strengthen the child's academic progress, especially
110	in the area of reading.
111	(b) Strengthen the child's citizenship, especially social
112	skills and respect for others.
113	(c) Strengthen the child's realization of high
114	expectations and ability to set lifelong learning goals.
115	(d) Place a strong emphasis on the communication between
116	the school and the home.
117	(4) The Department of Education shall establish a parent-
118	response center to provide assistance to parents and families in
119	answering questions and resolving issues related to the child's
120	education.
121	(5) Each district school board shall adopt rules that
122	strengthen family involvement and family empowerment. The rules
123	shall be developed in collaboration with parents, school
124	administrators, teachers, and community partners, and shall
125	address:
126	(a) Parental choices and responsibilities.
127	(b) Links with community services.
128	(c) Opportunities for parental involvement in the
129	development, implementation, and evaluation of family
130	involvement programs.
131	(d) Opportunities for parents to participate on school
132	advisory councils and in school volunteer programs and other
133	activities.
134	(6) Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, each school
135	district shall annually submit to the Department of Education by
136	October 1 a copy of the rules developed under subsection (5).
137	(7) Each school district shall develop and disseminate a
138	parent guide to successful student achievement, consistent with
139	the guidelines of the Department of Education, which addresses
140	what parents need to know about their child's educational
141	progress and how parents can help their child succeed in school.
142	The guide must:
143	(a) Be understandable to students and parents.
144	(b) Be distributed to all parents, students, and school
145	personnel at the beginning of each school year.
146	(c) Be discussed at the beginning of each school year in
147	meetings of students, parents, and teachers.
148	(d) Include information concerning services,
149	opportunities, choices, academic standards, and student
150	assessment.
151
152	The parent guide may be included as a part of the code of
153	student conduct that is required in s. 1006.07(2).
154	(8) Each school district shall disseminate a checklist of
155	parental actions that can strengthen parental involvement in
156	their child's educational progress, consistent with the
157	requirements in subsection (3). The checklist shall be provided
158	each school year to all parents of students in kindergarten
159	through grade 12 and shall focus on academics, especially
160	reading, high expectations for students, citizenship, and
161	communication.
162	(9) The State Board of Education shall annually review
163	each school district's compliance with this section and the
164	school district's success in achieving improved services for
165	families. The State Board of Education shall use all appropriate
166	enforcement actions, as provided for in s. 1008.32, until the
167	school district fully complies with the requirements of this
168	section.
169	Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (15) of section
170	1001.42, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph (e) and
171	new paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) are added to said subsection to
172	read:
173	1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.--The
174	district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
175	powers and perform all duties listed below:
176	(15) PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
177	PROGRAM.--
178	(b) Adopt rules to strengthen family involvement and
179	empowerment pursuant to s. 1002.23. The rules shall be developed
180	in collaboration with parents, school administrators, teachers,
181	and community partners.
182	(c) Develop and disseminate a parent guide to successful
183	student achievement, pursuant to s. 1002.23, which addresses
184	what parents need to know about their child's educational
185	progress and how they can help their child succeed in school.
186	(d) Disseminate a checklist for parents to assist parents
187	in becoming involved in their child's educational progress,
188	pursuant to s. 1002.23.
189	Section 4. Subsection (23) of section 1001.51, Florida
190	Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (24) and a new subsection
191	(23) is added to said section to read:
192	1001.51 Duties and responsibilities of district school
193	superintendent.--The district school superintendent shall
194	exercise all powers and perform all duties listed below and
195	elsewhere in the law, provided that, in so doing, he or she
196	shall advise and counsel with the district school board. The
197	district school superintendent shall perform all tasks necessary
198	to make sound recommendations, nominations, proposals, and
199	reports required by law to be acted upon by the district school
200	board. All such recommendations, nominations, proposals, and
201	reports by the district school superintendent shall be either
202	recorded in the minutes or shall be made in writing, noted in
203	the minutes, and filed in the public records of the district
204	school board. It shall be presumed that, in the absence of the
205	record required in this section, the recommendations,
206	nominations, and proposals required of the district school
207	superintendent were not contrary to the action taken by the
208	district school board in such matters.
209	(23) PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.--Fully support and cooperate in
210	the implementation of s. 1002.23.
211	Section 5. Subsection (5) is added to section 1001.54,
212	Florida Statutes, to read:
213	1001.54 Duties of school principals.--
214	(5) Each school principal shall fully support and
215	cooperate in the implementation of s. 1002.23.
216	Section 6. Section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended
217	to read:
218	1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.--Parents of public
219	school students must receive accurate and timely information
220	regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed
221	of ways they can help their child succeed in school.K-12
222	students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
223	rights including, but not limited to, the following:
224	(1) SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.--In accordance with s. 1, Art. IX
225	of the State Constitution, all K-12 public school students are
226	entitled to a uniform, safe, secure, efficient, and high quality
227	system of education, one that allows students the opportunity to
228	obtain a high quality education. Parents are responsible to
229	ready their children for school; however, the State of Florida
230	cannot be the guarantor of each individual student's success.
231	(2) ATTENDANCE.--
232	(a) Compulsory school attendance.--The compulsory school
233	attendance laws apply to all children between the ages of 6 and
234	16 years, as provided in s. 1003.21(1) and (2)(a), and, in
235	accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.21(1) and (2)(a):
236	1. A student who attains the age of 16 years during the
237	school year has the right to file a formal declaration of intent
238	to terminate school enrollment if the declaration is signed by
239	the parent. The parent has the right to be notified by the
240	school district of the district's receipt of the student's
241	declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment.
242	2. Students who become or have become married or who are
243	pregnant and parenting have the right to attend school and
244	receive the same or equivalent educational instruction as other
245	students.
246	(b) Regular school attendance.--Parents of students who
247	have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school
248	year but who have not attained the age of 16 years must comply
249	with the compulsory school attendance laws. Parents have the
250	option to comply with the school attendance laws by attendance
251	of the student in a public school; a parochial, religious, or
252	denominational school; a private school; a home education
253	program; or a private tutoring program, in accordance with the
254	provisions of s. 1003.01(14).
255	(c) Absence for religious purposes.--A parent of a public
256	school student may request and be granted permission for absence
257	of the student from school for religious instruction or
258	religious holidays, in accordance with the provisions of s.
259	1003.21(2)(b).
260	(d) Dropout prevention and academic intervention
261	programs.--The parent of a public school student has the right
262	to receive written notice by certified mail prior to placement
263	of the student in a dropout prevention and academic intervention
264	program and shall be notified in writing and entitled to an
265	administrative review of any action by school personnel relating
266	to the student's placement, in accordance with the provisions of
267	s. 1003.53(5).
268	(3) HEALTH ISSUES.--
269	(a) School-entry health examinations.--The parent of any
270	child attending a public or private school shall be exempt from
271	the requirement of a health examination upon written request
272	stating objections on religious grounds in accordance with the
273	provisions of s. 1003.22(1) and (2).
274	(b) Immunizations.--The parent of any child attending a
275	public or private school shall be exempt from the school
276	immunization requirements upon meeting any of the exemptions in
277	accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.22(5).
278	(c) Biological experiments.--Parents may request that
279	their child be excused from performing surgery or dissection in
280	biological science classes in accordance with the provisions of
281	s. 1003.47.
282	(d) Reproductive health and disease education.--A public
283	school student whose parent makes written request to the school
284	principal shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive
285	health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS, in accordance with
286	the provisions of s. 1003.42(3).
287	(e) Contraceptive services to public school students.--In
288	accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.062(7), students may
289	not be referred to or offered contraceptive services at school
290	facilities without the parent's consent.
291	(f) Career and technical education courses involving
292	hazardous substances.--High school students must be given plano
293	safety glasses or devices in career and technical education
294	courses involving the use of hazardous substances likely to
295	cause eye injury, in accordance with the provisions of s.
296	1006.65.
297	(g) Substance abuse reports.--The parent of a public
298	school student must be timely notified of any verified report of
299	a substance abuse violation by the student, in accordance with
300	the provisions of s. 1006.09(8).
301	(h) Inhaler use.--Asthmatic students whose parent and
302	physician provide their approval to the school principal may
303	carry a metered dose inhaler on their person while in school.
304	The school principal shall be provided a copy of the parent's
305	and physician's approval.
306	(4) DISCIPLINE.--
307	(a) Suspension of public school student.--In accordance
308	with the provisions of s. 1006.09(1)-(4):
309	1. A student may be suspended only as provided by rule of
310	the district school board. A good faith effort must be made to
311	immediately inform the parent by telephone of the student's
312	suspension and the reason. Each suspension and the reason must
313	be reported in writing within 24 hours to the parent by United
314	States mail. A good faith effort must be made to use parental
315	assistance before suspension unless the situation requires
316	immediate suspension.
317	2. A student with a disability may only be recommended for
318	suspension or expulsion in accordance with State Board of
319	Education rules.
320	(b) Expulsion.--Public school students and their parents
321	have the right to written notice of a recommendation of
322	expulsion, including the charges against the student and a
323	statement of the right of the student to due process, in
324	accordance with the provisions of s. 1001.51(8).
325	(c) Corporal punishment.--In accordance with the
326	provisions of s. 1003.32, corporal punishment of a public school
327	student may only be administered by a teacher or school
328	principal within guidelines of the school principal and
329	according to district school board policy. Another adult must be
330	present and must be informed in the student's presence of the
331	reason for the punishment. Upon request, the teacher or school
332	principal must provide the parent with a written explanation of
333	the reason for the punishment and the name of the other adult
334	who was present.
335	(5) SAFETY.--In accordance with the provisions of s.
336	1006.13(5), students who have been victims of certain felony
337	offenses by other students, as well as the siblings of the
338	student victims, have the right to be kept separated from the
339	student offender both at school and during school
340	transportation.
341	(6) EDUCATIONAL CHOICE.--
342	(a) Public school choices.--Parents of public school
343	students may seek whatever public school choice options that are
344	applicable to their students and are available to students in
345	their school districts. These options may include controlled
346	open enrollment, lab schools, charter schools, charter technical
347	career centers, magnet schools, alternative schools, special
348	programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment, International
349	Baccalaureate, early admissions, credit by examination or
350	demonstration of competency, the New World School of the Arts,
351	the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Florida
352	Virtual School. These options may also include the public school
353	choice options of the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the
354	McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program.
355	(b) Private school choices.--Parents of public school
356	students may seek private school choice options under certain
357	programs.
358	1. Under the Opportunity Scholarship Program, the parent
359	of a student in a failing public school may request and receive
360	an opportunity scholarship for the student to attend a private
361	school in accordance with the provisions of s. 1002.38.
362	2. Under the McKay Scholarships for Students with
363	Disabilities Program, the parent of a public school student with
364	a disability who is dissatisfied with the student's progress may
365	request and receive a McKay Scholarship for the student to
366	attend a private school in accordance with the provisions of s.
367	1002.39.
368	3. Under the corporate income tax credit scholarship
369	program, the parent of a student who qualifies for free or
370	reduced-price school lunch may seek a scholarship from an
371	eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization in
372	accordance with the provisions of s. 220.187.
373	(c) Home education.--The parent of a student may choose to
374	place the student in a home education program in accordance with
375	the provisions of s. 1002.41.
376	(d) Private tutoring.--The parent of a student may choose
377	to place the student in a private tutoring program in accordance
378	with the provisions of s. 1002.43(1).
379	(7) NONDISCRIMINATION.--All education programs,
380	activities, and opportunities offered by public educational
381	institutions must be made available without discrimination on
382	the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender,
383	disability, or marital status, in accordance with the provisions
384	of s. 1000.05.
385	(8) STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.--Parents of public school
386	students with disabilities and parents of public school students
387	in residential care facilities are entitled to notice and due
388	process in accordance with the provisions of ss. 1003.57 and
389	1003.58. Public school students with disabilities must be
390	provided the opportunity to meet the graduation requirements for
391	a standard high school diploma in accordance with the provisions
392	of s. 1003.43(4). Certain public school students with
393	disabilities may be awarded a special diploma upon high school
394	graduation.
395	(9) BLIND STUDENTS.--Blind students have the right to an
396	individualized written education program and appropriate
397	instructional materials to attain literacy, in accordance with
398	provisions of s. 1003.55.
399	(10) LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT STUDENTS.--In accordance
400	with the provisions of s. 1003.56, limited English proficient
401	students have the right to receive ESOL (English for Speakers of
402	Other Languages) instruction designed to develop the student's
403	mastery of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English
404	as rapidly as possible, and the students' parents have the right
405	of parental involvement in the ESOL program.
406	(11) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.--A public school student must
407	be excused from reciting the pledge of allegiance upon written
408	request by the student's parent, in accordance with the
409	provisions of s. 1003.44.
410	(12) STUDENT RECORDS.--
411	(a) Parent rights.--Parents have rights regarding the
412	student records of their children, including right of access,
413	right of waiver of access, right to challenge and hearing, and
414	right of privacy, in accordance with the provisions of s.
415	1002.22.
416	(b) Student rights.--In accordance with the provisions of
417	s. 1008.386, a student is not required to provide his or her
418	social security number as a condition for enrollment or
419	graduation.
420	(13) STUDENT REPORT CARDS.--Students and their parents
421	have the right to receive student report cards on a regular
422	basis that clearly depict and grade the student's academic
423	performance in each class or course, the student's conduct, and
424	the student's attendance, in accordance with the provisions of
425	s. 1003.33.
426	(14) STUDENT PROGRESS REPORTS.--Parents of public school
427	students shall be apprised at regular intervals of the academic
428	progress and other needed information regarding their child, in
429	accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.02(1)(h)2.
430	(15) SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RATING
431	REPORTS.--Parents of public school students are entitled to an
432	easy-to-read report card about the grade designation, school
433	accountability including the school financial report, and school
434	improvement rating of their child's school in accordance with
435	the provisions of ss. 1008.22, 1003.02(3), and 1010.215(5).
436	(16) ATHLETICS; PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.--
437	(a) Eligibility.--Eligibility requirements for all
438	students participating in high school athletic competition must
439	allow a student to be eligible in the school in which he or she
440	first enrolls each school year, or makes himself or herself a
441	candidate for an athletic team by engaging in practice before
442	enrolling, in accordance with the provisions of s.
443	1006.20(2)(a).
444	(b) Medical evaluation.--Students must satisfactorily pass
445	a medical evaluation each year before participating in
446	athletics, unless the parent objects in writing based on
447	religious tenets or practices, in accordance with the provisions
448	of s. 1006.20(2)(d).
449	(17) EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.--In accordance with the
450	provisions of s. 1006.15:
451	(a) Eligibility.--Students who meet specified academic and
452	conduct requirements are eligible to participate in
453	extracurricular activities.
454	(b) Home education students.--Home education students who
455	meet specified academic and conduct requirements are eligible to
456	participate in extracurricular activities at the public school
457	to which the student would be assigned or could choose to attend
458	according to district school board policies, or may develop an
459	agreement to participate at a private school.
460	(c) Charter school students.--Charter school students who
461	meet specified academic and conduct requirements are eligible to
462	participate in extracurricular activities at the public school
463	to which the student would be assigned or could choose to attend
464	according to district school board policies, unless such
465	activity is provided by the student's charter school.
466	(d) Discrimination prohibited.--Organizations that
467	regulate or govern extracurricular activities of public schools
468	shall not discriminate against any eligible student based on an
469	educational choice of public, private, or home education.
470	(18) INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.--
471	(a) Core courses.--Each public school student is entitled
472	to sufficient instructional materials in the core courses of
473	mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, reading,
474	and literature, in accordance with the provisions of ss.
475	1003.02(1)(d) and 1006.40(2).
476	(b) Curricular objectives.--The parent of each public
477	school student has the right to receive effective communication
478	from the school principal as to the manner in which
479	instructional materials are used to implement the school's
480	curricular objectives, in accordance with the provisions of s.
481	1006.28(3)(a).
482	(c) Sale of instructional materials.--Upon request of the
483	parent of a public school student, the school principal must
484	sell to the parent any instructional materials used in the
485	school, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.28(3)(c).
486	(d) Dual enrollment students.--Instructional materials
487	purchased by a district school board or community college board
488	of trustees on behalf of public school dual enrollment students
489	shall be made available to the dual enrollment students free of
490	charge, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1007.271(14) and
491	(15).
492	(19) JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS.--Students who are in
493	juvenile justice programs have the right to receive educational
494	programs and services in accordance with the provisions of s.
495	1003.52.
496	(20) PARENTAL INPUT AND MEETINGS.--
497	(a) Meetings with school district personnel.--Parents of
498	public school students may be accompanied by another adult of
499	their choice at any meeting with school district personnel.
500	(b) School district best financial management practice
501	reviews.--Public school students and their parents may provide
502	input regarding their concerns about the operations and
503	management of the school district both during and after the
504	conduct of a school district best financial management practices
505	review, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1008.35.
506	(c) District school board educational facilities
507	programs.--Parents of public school students and other members
508	of the public have the right to receive proper public notice and
509	opportunity for public comment regarding the district school
510	board's educational facilities work program, in accordance with
511	the provisions of s. 1013.35.
512	(21) TRANSPORTATION.--
513	(a) Transportation to school.--Public school students
514	shall be provided transportation to school, in accordance with
515	the provisions of s. 1006.21(3)(a).
516	(b) Hazardous walking conditions.--K-6 public school
517	students shall be provided transportation if they are subjected
518	to hazardous walking conditions, in accordance with the
519	provisions of ss. 1006.21(3)(b) and 1006.23.
520	(c) Parental consent.--Each parent of a public school
521	student must be notified in writing and give written consent
522	before the student may be transported in a privately owned motor
523	vehicle to a school function, in accordance with the provisions
524	of s. 1006.22(2)(b).
525	Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 1003.33, Florida
526	Statutes, is amended to read:
527	1003.33 Report cards; end-of-the-year status.--
528	(1) Each district school board shall establish and publish
529	policies requiring the content and regular issuance of student
530	report cards for all elementary school, middle school, and high
531	school students. These report cards must clearly depict and
532	grade:
533	(a) The student's academic performance in each class or
534	course, which in grades 1 through 12 must be based upon
535	examinations as well as written papers, class participation, and
536	other academic performance criteria, and must include the
537	student's performance or nonperformance at his or her grade
538	level.
539	(b) The student's conduct and behavior.
540	(c) The student's attendance, including absences and
541	tardiness.
542
543	District school boards shall not allow schools to exempt
544	students from academic performance requirements based on
545	practices or policies designed to encourage student attendance.
546	A student's attendance record may not be used in whole or in
547	part to provide an exemption from any academic performance
548	requirement.
549	Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
550	1008.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
551	1008.25 Public school student progression; remedial
552	instruction; reporting requirements.--
553	(5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.--
554	(c) Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the parent
555	of any student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading,
556	as described in paragraph(a), must be notified in writing of the
557	following:
558	1. That his or her child has been identified as having a
559	substantial deficiency in reading.
560	2. A description of the current services that are provided
561	to the child.
562	3. A description of the proposed supplemental
563	instructional services and supports that will be provided to the
564	child that are designed to remediate the identified area of
565	reading deficiency.
566	4. That if the child's reading deficiency is not
567	remediated by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained
568	unless he or she is exempt from mandatory retention for good
569	cause.
570	5. Strategies for parents to use in helping their child
571	succeed in reading proficiency.
572	Section 9. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
573	1012.72, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
574	1012.72 Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program.--
575	(2) The Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program is created
576	to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and
577	bonuses for teaching excellence. The Department of Education
578	shall distribute to each school district or to the NBPTS an
579	amount as prescribed annually by the Legislature for the Dale
580	Hickam Excellent Teaching Program. For purposes of this section,
581	the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind shall be
582	considered a school district. Unless otherwise provided in the
583	General Appropriations Act, each distribution shall be the sum
584	of the amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:
585	(d) An annual bonus equal to 10 percent of the prior
586	fiscal year's statewide average salary for classroom teachers to
587	be distributed to the school district to be paid to each
588	individual who meets the requirements of paragraph (c) and
589	agrees, in writing, to provide the equivalent of 12 workdays of
590	mentoring and related services to public school teachers within
591	the state who do not hold NBPTS certification. Related services
592	must include instruction in helping teachers work more
593	effectively with the families of their students.The district
594	school board shall distribute the annual bonus in a single
595	payment following the completion of all required mentoring and
596	related services for the year. It is not the intent of the
597	Legislature to remove excellent teachers from their assigned
598	classrooms; therefore, credit may not be granted by a school
599	district or public school for mentoring or related services
600	provided during student contact time during the 196 days of
601	required service for the school year.
602
603	A teacher for whom the state pays the certification fee and who
604	does not complete the certification program or does not teach in
605	a public school of this state for at least 1 year after
606	completing the certification program must repay the amount of
607	the certification fee to the state. However, a teacher who
608	completes the certification program but fails to be awarded
609	NBPTS certification is not required to repay the amount of the
610	certification fee if the teacher meets the 1-year teaching
611	requirement. Repayment is not required of a teacher who does not
612	complete the certification program or fails to fulfill the
613	teaching requirement because of the teacher's death or
614	disability or because of other extenuating circumstances as
615	determined by the State Board of Education.
616	Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
617	1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
618	1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.--
619	(4) The Department of Education, school districts,
620	schools, community colleges, and state universities share the
621	responsibilities described in this section. These
622	responsibilities include the following:
623	(b) Each school district shall develop a professional
624	development system. The system shall be developed in
625	consultation with teachers and representatives of community
626	college and university faculty, community agencies, and other
627	interested citizen groups to establish policy and procedures to
628	guide the operation of the district professional development
629	program. The professional development system must:
630	1. Be approved by the department. All substantial
631	revisions to the system shall be submitted to the department for
632	review for continued approval.
633	2. Require the use of student achievement data; school
634	discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
635	parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
636	managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
637	indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
638	by improved professional performance.
639	3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
640	support that are appropriate to accomplish district-level and
641	school-level improvement goals and standards. The inservice
642	activities for instructional personnel shall primarily focus on
643	subject content and teaching methods, including technology, as
644	related to the Sunshine State Standards, assessment and data
645	analysis, classroom management, parental involvement,and school
646	safety.
647	4. Include a master plan for inservice activities,
648	pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education, for all
649	district employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall
650	be updated annually by September 1 using criteria for continued
651	approval as specified by rules of the State Board of Education.
652	Written verification that the inservice plan meets all
653	requirements of this section must be submitted annually to the
654	commissioner by October 1.
655	5. Require each school principal to establish and maintain
656	an individual professional development plan for each
657	instructional employee assigned to the school. The individual
658	professional development plan must:
659	a. Be related to specific performance data for the
660	students to whom the teacher is assigned.
661	b. Define the inservice objectives and specific measurable
662	improvements expected in student performance as a result of the
663	inservice activity.
664	c. Include an evaluation component that determines the
665	effectiveness of the professional development plan.
666	6. Include inservice activities for school administrative
667	personnel that address updated skills necessary for effective
668	school management and instructional leadership.
669	7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
670	state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
671	evaluation of local professional development programs.
672	8. Provide for delivery of professional development by
673	distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
674	reach more educators at lower costs.
675	9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
676	and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
677	to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
678	effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
679	activities on the performance of participating educators and
680	their students' achievement and behavior.
681	Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.