HB 1887, Engrossed 1 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 and
4	School Partnership for Student Achievement Act; providing
5	legislative purpose; requiring support for implementation by
6	school district and school personnel; requiring the Department
7	of Education to develop guidelines for a parent guide to assist
8	parents; specifying contents of the parent guide; requiring the
9	department, in cooperation with school districts, to develop and
10	disseminate a checklist; requiring the department to establish a
11	hotline; requiring school districts to adopt rules to strengthen
12	family involvement and empowerment; requiring the school
13	districts to submit copies of rules to the Department of
14	Education; requiring school districts to develop and disseminate
15	parent guides; requiring review and enforcement by the State
16	Board of Education; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring
17	district school boards to adopt rules and develop and
18	disseminate a parent guide and checklist; amending s. 1001.51,
19	F.S.; requiring the support and cooperation of district school
20	superintendents in implementing requirements for parental and
21	family involvement in a student's education; amending s.
22	1001.54, F.S.; requiring the support and cooperation of school
23	principals; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; requiring that parents
24	receive specified information concerning their child's
25	education; amending s. 1003.33, F.S.; requiring reports cards to
26	contain additional information concerning a student's
27	performance or nonperformance; amending s. 1008.25, F.S.;
28	providing additional notification to parents of students with
29	substantial reading deficiencies; amending s. 1012.72, F.S.,
30	relating to incentives and bonuses under the Dale Hickam
31	Excellent Teaching Program; specifying additional requirements
32	for teachers who receive certain bonuses; amending s. 1012.98,
33	F.S.; requiring certain professional development inservice
34	activities to include the subject of parental involvement;
35	amending s. 1003.45, F.S.; authorizing each district school
36	superintendent to provide for the display of the motto "IN GOD
37	WE TRUST" in a prominent location in public schools under
38	certain circumstances; providing an effective date.
39
40	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
41
42	Section 1. This act shall be known by the popular name the
43	"Family and School Partnership for Student Achievement Act."
44	Section 2. Section 1002.23, Florida Statutes, is created
45	to read:
46	1002.23 Family and School Partnership for Student
47	Achievement Act.--
48	(1) The purpose of the Family and School Partnership for
49	Student Achievement Act is to:
50	(a) Provide parents with specific information about their
51	child's educational progress.
52	(b) Provide parents with comprehensive information about
53	their choices and opportunities for involvement in their child's
54	education.
55	(c) Provide a framework for building and strengthening
56	partnerships among parents, teachers, principals, district
57	school superintendents, and other personnel.
58
59	Each district school board, district school superintendent, and
60	teacher shall fully support and cooperate in implementing a
61	well-planned, inclusive, and comprehensive program to assist
62	parents and families in effectively participating in their
63	child's education.
64	(2) To facilitate meaningful parental and family
65	involvement, the Department of Education shall develop
66	guidelines for a parent guide to successful student achievement
67	which describes what parents need to know about their child's
68	educational progress and how they can help their child succeed
69	in school. The guidelines shall include, but need not be limited
70	to:
71	(a) Parental information regarding:
72	1. Requirements for their child to be promoted to the next
73	grade, as provided in s. 1008.25.
74	2. Progress of their child toward achieving state and
75	school district expectations for academic proficiency.
76	3. Assessment results, including report cards and progress
77	reports.
78	4. Qualifications of teachers at their child's school.
79	(b) Services that may be available for parents and their
80	children,such as family literacy services; mentoring, tutorial,
81	and other academic reinforcement programs; college planning,
82	academic advisement, and student counseling services; and after-
83	school programs.
84	(c) Opportunities for parental participation, such as
85	parenting classes, adult education, school advisory councils,
86	and school volunteer programs.
87	(d) Opportunities for parents to learn about rigorous
88	academic programs that may be available for their child, such as
89	honors programs; dual enrollment, Advanced Placement,
90	International Baccalaureate, and Florida Virtual School courses;
91	and accelerated access to postsecondary education.
92	(e) Educational choices, as provided for in s. 1002.20(6),
93	and corporate income tax credit scholarships, as provided for in
94	s. 220.187.
95	(f) Classroom and test accommodations available for
96	students with disabilities.
97	(g) District school board rules, policies, and procedures
98	for student promotion and retention, academic standards, student
99	assessment, courses of study, instructional materials, and
100	contact information for school and school district offices.
101	(h) Any information that the Department of Education
102	determines will assist parents.
103	(3) The Department of Education, in cooperation with the
104	school districts, shall develop and disseminate a checklist for
105	school districts to provide to parents to assist with parental
106	involvement in their child's educational progress. The checklist
107	shall address parental actions that:
108	(a) Strengthen the child's academic progress, especially
109	in the area of reading.
110	(b) Strengthen the child's citizenship, especially social
111	skills and respect for others.
112	(c) Strengthen the child's realization of high
113	expectations and ability to set lifelong learning goals.
114	(d) Place a strong emphasis on the communication between
115	the school and the home.
116	(4) The Department of Education shall establish a hotline
117	to provide assistance to parents and families in answering
118	questions and resolving issues related to the child's education.
119	(5) Each district school board shall adopt rules that
120	strengthen family involvement and family empowerment. The rules
121	shall be developed in collaboration with parents, school
122	administrators, teachers, and community partners, and shall
123	address:
124	(a) Parental responsibilities and parental choices of the
125	various educational programs offered within the school
126	districts.
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 parents of 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 throughout the school
221	year and must be informed of ways they can help their child
222	succeed in school.K-12 students and their parents are afforded
223	numerous statutory rights including, but not limited to, the
224	following:
225	(1) SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.--In accordance with s. 1, Art. IX
226	of the State Constitution, all K-12 public school students are
227	entitled to a uniform, safe, secure, efficient, and high quality
228	system of education, one that allows students the opportunity to
229	obtain a high quality education. Parents are responsible to
230	ready their children for school; however, the State of Florida
231	cannot be the guarantor of each individual student's success.
232	(2) ATTENDANCE.--
233	(a) Compulsory school attendance.--The compulsory school
234	attendance laws apply to all children between the ages of 6 and
235	16 years, as provided in s. 1003.21(1) and (2)(a), and, in
236	accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.21(1) and (2)(a):
237	1. A student who attains the age of 16 years during the
238	school year has the right to file a formal declaration of intent
239	to terminate school enrollment if the declaration is signed by
240	the parent. The parent has the right to be notified by the
241	school district of the district's receipt of the student's
242	declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment.
243	2. Students who become or have become married or who are
244	pregnant and parenting have the right to attend school and
245	receive the same or equivalent educational instruction as other
246	students.
247	(b) Regular school attendance.--Parents of students who
248	have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school
249	year but who have not attained the age of 16 years must comply
250	with the compulsory school attendance laws. Parents have the
251	option to comply with the school attendance laws by attendance
252	of the student in a public school; a parochial, religious, or
253	denominational school; a private school; a home education
254	program; or a private tutoring program, in accordance with the
255	provisions of s. 1003.01(14).
256	(c) Absence for religious purposes.--A parent of a public
257	school student may request and be granted permission for absence
258	of the student from school for religious instruction or
259	religious holidays, in accordance with the provisions of s.
260	1003.21(2)(b).
261	(d) Dropout prevention and academic intervention
262	programs.--The parent of a public school student has the right
263	to receive written notice by certified mail prior to placement
264	of the student in a dropout prevention and academic intervention
265	program and shall be notified in writing and entitled to an
266	administrative review of any action by school personnel relating
267	to the student's placement, in accordance with the provisions of
268	s. 1003.53(5).
269	(3) HEALTH ISSUES.--
270	(a) School-entry health examinations.--The parent of any
271	child attending a public or private school shall be exempt from
272	the requirement of a health examination upon written request
273	stating objections on religious grounds in accordance with the
274	provisions of s. 1003.22(1) and (2).
275	(b) Immunizations.--The parent of any child attending a
276	public or private school shall be exempt from the school
277	immunization requirements upon meeting any of the exemptions in
278	accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.22(5).
279	(c) Biological experiments.--Parents may request that
280	their child be excused from performing surgery or dissection in
281	biological science classes in accordance with the provisions of
282	s. 1003.47.
283	(d) Reproductive health and disease education.--A public
284	school student whose parent makes written request to the school
285	principal shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive
286	health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS, in accordance with
287	the provisions of s. 1003.42(3).
288	(e) Contraceptive services to public school students.--In
289	accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.062(7), students may
290	not be referred to or offered contraceptive services at school
291	facilities without the parent's consent.
292	(f) Career and technical education courses involving
293	hazardous substances.--High school students must be given plano
294	safety glasses or devices in career and technical education
295	courses involving the use of hazardous substances likely to
296	cause eye injury, in accordance with the provisions of s.
297	1006.65.
298	(g) Substance abuse reports.--The parent of a public
299	school student must be timely notified of any verified report of
300	a substance abuse violation by the student, in accordance with
301	the provisions of s. 1006.09(8).
302	(h) Inhaler use.--Asthmatic students whose parent and
303	physician provide their approval to the school principal may
304	carry a metered dose inhaler on their person while in school.
305	The school principal shall be provided a copy of the parent's
306	and physician's approval.
307	(4) DISCIPLINE.--
308	(a) Suspension of public school student.--In accordance
309	with the provisions of s. 1006.09(1)-(4):
310	1. A student may be suspended only as provided by rule of
311	the district school board. A good faith effort must be made to
312	immediately inform the parent by telephone of the student's
313	suspension and the reason. Each suspension and the reason must
314	be reported in writing within 24 hours to the parent by United
315	States mail. A good faith effort must be made to use parental
316	assistance before suspension unless the situation requires
317	immediate suspension.
318	2. A student with a disability may only be recommended for
319	suspension or expulsion in accordance with State Board of
320	Education rules.
321	(b) Expulsion.--Public school students and their parents
322	have the right to written notice of a recommendation of
323	expulsion, including the charges against the student and a
324	statement of the right of the student to due process, in
325	accordance with the provisions of s. 1001.51(8).
326	(c) Corporal punishment.--In accordance with the
327	provisions of s. 1003.32, corporal punishment of a public school
328	student may only be administered by a teacher or school
329	principal within guidelines of the school principal and
330	according to district school board policy. Another adult must be
331	present and must be informed in the student's presence of the
332	reason for the punishment. Upon request, the teacher or school
333	principal must provide the parent with a written explanation of
334	the reason for the punishment and the name of the other adult
335	who was present.
336	(5) SAFETY.--In accordance with the provisions of s.
337	1006.13(5), students who have been victims of certain felony
338	offenses by other students, as well as the siblings of the
339	student victims, have the right to be kept separated from the
340	student offender both at school and during school
341	transportation.
342	(6) EDUCATIONAL CHOICE.--
343	(a) Public school choices.--Parents of public school
344	students may seek whatever public school choice options that are
345	applicable to their students and are available to students in
346	their school districts. These options may include controlled
347	open enrollment, lab schools, charter schools, charter technical
348	career centers, magnet schools, alternative schools, special
349	programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment, International
350	Baccalaureate, early admissions, credit by examination or
351	demonstration of competency, the New World School of the Arts,
352	the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Florida
353	Virtual School. These options may also include the public school
354	choice options of the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the
355	McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program.
356	(b) Private school choices.--Parents of public school
357	students may seek private school choice options under certain
358	programs.
359	1. Under the Opportunity Scholarship Program, the parent
360	of a student in a failing public school may request and receive
361	an opportunity scholarship for the student to attend a private
362	school in accordance with the provisions of s. 1002.38.
363	2. Under the McKay Scholarships for Students with
364	Disabilities Program, the parent of a public school student with
365	a disability who is dissatisfied with the student's progress may
366	request and receive a McKay Scholarship for the student to
367	attend a private school in accordance with the provisions of s.
368	1002.39.
369	3. Under the corporate income tax credit scholarship
370	program, the parent of a student who qualifies for free or
371	reduced-price school lunch may seek a scholarship from an
372	eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization in
373	accordance with the provisions of s. 220.187.
374	(c) Home education.--The parent of a student may choose to
375	place the student in a home education program in accordance with
376	the provisions of s. 1002.41.
377	(d) Private tutoring.--The parent of a student may choose
378	to place the student in a private tutoring program in accordance
379	with the provisions of s. 1002.43(1).
380	(7) NONDISCRIMINATION.--All education programs,
381	activities, and opportunities offered by public educational
382	institutions must be made available without discrimination on
383	the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender,
384	disability, or marital status, in accordance with the provisions
385	of s. 1000.05.
386	(8) STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.--Parents of public school
387	students with disabilities and parents of public school students
388	in residential care facilities are entitled to notice and due
389	process in accordance with the provisions of ss. 1003.57 and
390	1003.58. Public school students with disabilities must be
391	provided the opportunity to meet the graduation requirements for
392	a standard high school diploma in accordance with the provisions
393	of s. 1003.43(4). Certain public school students with
394	disabilities may be awarded a special diploma upon high school
395	graduation.
396	(9) BLIND STUDENTS.--Blind students have the right to an
397	individualized written education program and appropriate
398	instructional materials to attain literacy, in accordance with
399	provisions of s. 1003.55.
400	(10) LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT STUDENTS.--In accordance
401	with the provisions of s. 1003.56, limited English proficient
402	students have the right to receive ESOL (English for Speakers of
403	Other Languages) instruction designed to develop the student's
404	mastery of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English
405	as rapidly as possible, and the students' parents have the right
406	of parental involvement in the ESOL program.
407	(11) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.--A public school student must
408	be excused from reciting the pledge of allegiance upon written
409	request by the student's parent, in accordance with the
410	provisions of s. 1003.44.
411	(12) STUDENT RECORDS.--
412	(a) Parent rights.--Parents have rights regarding the
413	student records of their children, including right of access,
414	right of waiver of access, right to challenge and hearing, and
415	right of privacy, in accordance with the provisions of s.
416	1002.22.
417	(b) Student rights.--In accordance with the provisions of
418	s. 1008.386, a student is not required to provide his or her
419	social security number as a condition for enrollment or
420	graduation.
421	(13) STUDENT REPORT CARDS.--Students and their parents
422	have the right to receive student report cards on a regular
423	basis that clearly depict and grade the student's academic
424	performance in each class or course, the student's conduct, and
425	the student's attendance, in accordance with the provisions of
426	s. 1003.33.
427	(14) STUDENT PROGRESS REPORTS.--Parents of public school
428	students shall be apprised at regular intervals of the academic
429	progress and other needed information regarding their child, in
430	accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.02(1)(h)2.
431	(15) SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RATING
432	REPORTS.--Parents of public school students are entitled to an
433	easy-to-read report card about the grade designation, school
434	accountability including the school financial report, and school
435	improvement rating of their child's school in accordance with
436	the provisions of ss. 1008.22, 1003.02(3), and 1010.215(5).
437	(16) ATHLETICS; PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.--
438	(a) Eligibility.--Eligibility requirements for all
439	students participating in high school athletic competition must
440	allow a student to be eligible in the school in which he or she
441	first enrolls each school year, or makes himself or herself a
442	candidate for an athletic team by engaging in practice before
443	enrolling, in accordance with the provisions of s.
444	1006.20(2)(a).
445	(b) Medical evaluation.--Students must satisfactorily pass
446	a medical evaluation each year before participating in
447	athletics, unless the parent objects in writing based on
448	religious tenets or practices, in accordance with the provisions
449	of s. 1006.20(2)(d).
450	(17) EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.--In accordance with the
451	provisions of s. 1006.15:
452	(a) Eligibility.--Students who meet specified academic and
453	conduct requirements are eligible to participate in
454	extracurricular activities.
455	(b) Home education students.--Home education students who
456	meet specified academic and conduct requirements are eligible to
457	participate in extracurricular activities at the public school
458	to which the student would be assigned or could choose to attend
459	according to district school board policies, or may develop an
460	agreement to participate at a private school.
461	(c) Charter school students.--Charter school students who
462	meet specified academic and conduct requirements are eligible to
463	participate in extracurricular activities at the public school
464	to which the student would be assigned or could choose to attend
465	according to district school board policies, unless such
466	activity is provided by the student's charter school.
467	(d) Discrimination prohibited.--Organizations that
468	regulate or govern extracurricular activities of public schools
469	shall not discriminate against any eligible student based on an
470	educational choice of public, private, or home education.
471	(18) INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.--
472	(a) Core courses.--Each public school student is entitled
473	to sufficient instructional materials in the core courses of
474	mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, reading,
475	and literature, in accordance with the provisions of ss.
476	1003.02(1)(d) and 1006.40(2).
477	(b) Curricular objectives.--The parent of each public
478	school student has the right to receive effective communication
479	from the school principal as to the manner in which
480	instructional materials are used to implement the school's
481	curricular objectives, in accordance with the provisions of s.
482	1006.28(3)(a).
483	(c) Sale of instructional materials.--Upon request of the
484	parent of a public school student, the school principal must
485	sell to the parent any instructional materials used in the
486	school, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.28(3)(c).
487	(d) Dual enrollment students.--Instructional materials
488	purchased by a district school board or community college board
489	of trustees on behalf of public school dual enrollment students
490	shall be made available to the dual enrollment students free of
491	charge, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1007.271(14) and
492	(15).
493	(19) JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS.--Students who are in
494	juvenile justice programs have the right to receive educational
495	programs and services in accordance with the provisions of s.
496	1003.52.
497	(20) PARENTAL INPUT AND MEETINGS.--
498	(a) Meetings with school district personnel.--Parents of
499	public school students may be accompanied by another adult of
500	their choice at any meeting with school district personnel.
501	(b) School district best financial management practice
502	reviews.--Public school students and their parents may provide
503	input regarding their concerns about the operations and
504	management of the school district both during and after the
505	conduct of a school district best financial management practices
506	review, in accordance with the provisions of s. 1008.35.
507	(c) District school board educational facilities
508	programs.--Parents of public school students and other members
509	of the public have the right to receive proper public notice and
510	opportunity for public comment regarding the district school
511	board's educational facilities work program, in accordance with
512	the provisions of s. 1013.35.
513	(21) TRANSPORTATION.--
514	(a) Transportation to school.--Public school students
515	shall be provided transportation to school, in accordance with
516	the provisions of s. 1006.21(3)(a).
517	(b) Hazardous walking conditions.--K-6 public school
518	students shall be provided transportation if they are subjected
519	to hazardous walking conditions, in accordance with the
520	provisions of ss. 1006.21(3)(b) and 1006.23.
521	(c) Parental consent.--Each parent of a public school
522	student must be notified in writing and give written consent
523	before the student may be transported in a privately owned motor
524	vehicle to a school function, in accordance with the provisions
525	of s. 1006.22(2)(b).
526	Section 7. Subsection (1) of section 1003.33, Florida
527	Statutes, is amended to read:
528	1003.33 Report cards; end-of-the-year status.--
529	(1) Each district school board shall establish and publish
530	policies requiring the content and regular issuance of student
531	report cards for all elementary school, middle school, and high
532	school students. These report cards must clearly depict and
533	grade:
534	(a) The student's academic performance in each class or
535	course, which in grades 1 through 12 must be based upon
536	examinations as well as written papers, class participation, and
537	other academic performance criteria, and must include the
538	student's performance or nonperformance at his or her grade
539	level.
540	(b) The student's conduct and behavior.
541	(c) The student's attendance, including absences and
542	tardiness.
543
544	District school boards shall not allow schools to exempt
545	students from academic performance requirements based on
546	practices or policies designed to encourage student attendance.
547	A student's attendance record may not be used in whole or in
548	part to provide an exemption from any academic performance
549	requirement.
550	Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
551	1008.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
552	1008.25 Public school student progression; remedial
553	instruction; reporting requirements.--
554	(5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.--
555	(c) Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the parent
556	of any student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading,
557	as described in paragraph(a), must be notified in writing of the
558	following:
559	1. That his or her child has been identified as having a
560	substantial deficiency in reading.
561	2. A description of the current services that are provided
562	to the child.
563	3. A description of the proposed supplemental
564	instructional services and supports that will be provided to the
565	child that are designed to remediate the identified area of
566	reading deficiency.
567	4. That if the child's reading deficiency is not
568	remediated by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained
569	unless he or she is exempt from mandatory retention for good
570	cause.
571	5. Strategies for parents to use in helping their child
572	succeed in reading proficiency.
573	Section 9. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
574	1012.72, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
575	1012.72 Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program.--
576	(2) The Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program is created
577	to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and
578	bonuses for teaching excellence. The Department of Education
579	shall distribute to each school district or to the NBPTS an
580	amount as prescribed annually by the Legislature for the Dale
581	Hickam Excellent Teaching Program. For purposes of this section,
582	the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind shall be
583	considered a school district. Unless otherwise provided in the
584	General Appropriations Act, each distribution shall be the sum
585	of the amounts earned for the following incentives and bonuses:
586	(d) An annual bonus equal to 10 percent of the prior
587	fiscal year's statewide average salary for classroom teachers to
588	be distributed to the school district to be paid to each
589	individual who meets the requirements of paragraph (c) and
590	agrees, in writing, to provide the equivalent of 12 workdays of
591	mentoring and related services to public school teachers within
592	the state who do not hold NBPTS certification. Related services
593	must include instruction in helping teachers work more
594	effectively with the families of their students.The district
595	school board shall distribute the annual bonus in a single
596	payment following the completion of all required mentoring and
597	related services for the year. It is not the intent of the
598	Legislature to remove excellent teachers from their assigned
599	classrooms; therefore, credit may not be granted by a school
600	district or public school for mentoring or related services
601	provided during student contact time during the 196 days of
602	required service for the school year.
603
604	A teacher for whom the state pays the certification fee and who
605	does not complete the certification program or does not teach in
606	a public school of this state for at least 1 year after
607	completing the certification program must repay the amount of
608	the certification fee to the state. However, a teacher who
609	completes the certification program but fails to be awarded
610	NBPTS certification is not required to repay the amount of the
611	certification fee if the teacher meets the 1-year teaching
612	requirement. Repayment is not required of a teacher who does not
613	complete the certification program or fails to fulfill the
614	teaching requirement because of the teacher's death or
615	disability or because of other extenuating circumstances as
616	determined by the State Board of Education.
617	Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
618	1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
619	1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.--
620	(4) The Department of Education, school districts,
621	schools, community colleges, and state universities share the
622	responsibilities described in this section. These
623	responsibilities include the following:
624	(b) Each school district shall develop a professional
625	development system. The system shall be developed in
626	consultation with teachers and representatives of community
627	college and university faculty, community agencies, and other
628	interested citizen groups to establish policy and procedures to
629	guide the operation of the district professional development
630	program. The professional development system must:
631	1. Be approved by the department. All substantial
632	revisions to the system shall be submitted to the department for
633	review for continued approval.
634	2. Require the use of student achievement data; school
635	discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
636	parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
637	managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
638	indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
639	by improved professional performance.
640	3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
641	support that are appropriate to accomplish district-level and
642	school-level improvement goals and standards. The inservice
643	activities for instructional personnel shall primarily focus on
644	subject content and teaching methods, including technology, as
645	related to the Sunshine State Standards, assessment and data
646	analysis, classroom management, parental involvement,and school
647	safety.
648	4. Include a master plan for inservice activities,
649	pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education, for all
650	district employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall
651	be updated annually by September 1 using criteria for continued
652	approval as specified by rules of the State Board of Education.
653	Written verification that the inservice plan meets all
654	requirements of this section must be submitted annually to the
655	commissioner by October 1.
656	5. Require each school principal to establish and maintain
657	an individual professional development plan for each
658	instructional employee assigned to the school. The individual
659	professional development plan must:
660	a. Be related to specific performance data for the
661	students to whom the teacher is assigned.
662	b. Define the inservice objectives and specific measurable
663	improvements expected in student performance as a result of the
664	inservice activity.
665	c. Include an evaluation component that determines the
666	effectiveness of the professional development plan.
667	6. Include inservice activities for school administrative
668	personnel that address updated skills necessary for effective
669	school management and instructional leadership.
670	7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
671	state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
672	evaluation of local professional development programs.
673	8. Provide for delivery of professional development by
674	distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
675	reach more educators at lower costs.
676	9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality
677	and effectiveness of professional development programs in order
678	to eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
679	effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
680	activities on the performance of participating educators and
681	their students' achievement and behavior.
682	Section 11. Section 1003.45, Florida Statutes, is amended
683	to read:
684	1003.45 Permitting study of the Bible and religion;
685	permitting brief meditation period; requiring display of
686	motto.--
687	(1) The district school board may install in the public
688	schools in the district a secular program of education
689	including, but not limited to, an objective study of the Bible
690	and of religion.
691	(2) The district school board may provide that a brief
692	period, not to exceed 2 minutes, for the purpose of silent
693	prayer or meditation be set aside at the start of each school
694	day or each school week in the public schools in the district.
695	(3) Each district school superintendent may provide, upon
696	the request by a resident of the school district, for the
697	display in a prominent location in each school under his or her
698	supervision of the motto of the United States of America, “IN
699	GOD WE TRUST,” on an appropriately framed background with
700	minimum dimensions of 11 inches by 14 inches.
701	Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.
702