| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to prekindergarten through grade 12 |
| 3 | education funding; amending s. 212.055, F.S.; deleting the |
| 4 | requirement that a district school board imposing the |
| 5 | school capital outlay surtax implement a freeze on |
| 6 | noncapital local school property taxes; amending s. |
| 7 | 216.292, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to the |
| 8 | transfer of certain funds for class size reduction; |
| 9 | amending s. 1001.395, F.S.; extending the duration of a |
| 10 | provision specifying methods to calculate the salary of a |
| 11 | district school board member; amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; |
| 12 | revising provisions relating to the appropriation of funds |
| 13 | for regional consortium service organizations; amending s. |
| 14 | 1002.32, F.S.; revising and correcting a calculation |
| 15 | relating to funding for lab school operating purposes; |
| 16 | amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; requiring a charter school to |
| 17 | be in compliance with maximum class size requirements |
| 18 | based on the school-level average; revising provisions |
| 19 | that exempt charter school facilities from certain fees; |
| 20 | providing that certain capital outlay funds shared with a |
| 21 | charter school-in-the-workplace have met expenditure |
| 22 | requirements; revising provisions relating to the |
| 23 | withholding and use of an administrative fee for provision |
| 24 | of services by the sponsor of a charter school; amending |
| 25 | s. 1002.37, F.S.; revising and correcting a calculation |
| 26 | relating to funding for Florida Virtual School operating |
| 27 | purposes; amending s. 1002.39, F.S.; revising provisions |
| 28 | relating to private school documentation for quarterly |
| 29 | scholarship payments under the John M. McKay Scholarships |
| 30 | for Students with Disabilities Program; amending s. |
| 31 | 1002.45, F.S.; providing for school district virtual |
| 32 | instruction programs to include programs offered by |
| 33 | community colleges; requiring that community college |
| 34 | instructors meet certain certification requirements; |
| 35 | providing an additional condition by which a student may |
| 36 | become eligible to enroll in a school district virtual |
| 37 | instruction program; prohibiting a community college from |
| 38 | reporting students served in a school district virtual |
| 39 | instruction program for funding under the Community |
| 40 | College Program Fund; removing obsolete provisions |
| 41 | requiring a report; amending s. 1002.71, F.S.; reducing |
| 42 | the amount of funds that an early learning coalition may |
| 43 | retain for administrative purposes from funds paid to |
| 44 | private prekindergarten providers and public schools; |
| 45 | amending s. 1003.03, F.S.; requiring the Department of |
| 46 | Education to annually calculate class size measures; |
| 47 | requiring district school boards to hold public hearings |
| 48 | and provide information to parents on district strategies |
| 49 | to meet class size requirements; deleting obsolete |
| 50 | provisions; revising implementation options; revising |
| 51 | requirements for the Department of Education with respect |
| 52 | to the calculation of class size and the reduction and |
| 53 | reallocation of certain funds; requiring districts that |
| 54 | have not complied with class size requirements to submit a |
| 55 | plan that describes actions for compliance; providing for |
| 56 | alternative class size measures, implementation, |
| 57 | calculations, and accountability to take effect upon |
| 58 | approval of an amendment to the State Constitution by the |
| 59 | electors of the state; providing for retroactive effect; |
| 60 | amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring instructional |
| 61 | materials relating to the history of African Americans to |
| 62 | include certain information; amending s. 1003.492, F.S.; |
| 63 | clarifying the duties of the Department of Education in |
| 64 | approving the list of industry certifications for career |
| 65 | education programs; amending s. 1003.52, F.S.; providing |
| 66 | that certain requirements relating to educational services |
| 67 | in Department of Juvenile Justice programs shall be |
| 68 | implemented to the extent funds are available; amending s. |
| 69 | 1004.925, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the |
| 70 | certification of automotive service technology education |
| 71 | programs; providing a restriction on funding; amending s. |
| 72 | 1006.28, F.S.; redefining the term "adequate instructional |
| 73 | materials" to include electronic content; creating s. |
| 74 | 1006.281, F.S.; encouraging school districts to provide |
| 75 | access to an electronic learning management system for |
| 76 | teachers, students, and parents; specifying the |
| 77 | functionality of such a system; requiring the Department |
| 78 | of Education to assist school districts in deploying an |
| 79 | electronic learning management system; amending s. |
| 80 | 1006.29, F.S.; providing that instructional materials |
| 81 | include electronic content; requiring that a publisher or |
| 82 | manufacturer providing instructional materials as a single |
| 83 | bundle make the materials available separately and priced |
| 84 | individually; requiring that instructional materials |
| 85 | adopted after a specified date for students in grades 9 |
| 86 | through 12 be provided in an electronic format; amending |
| 87 | s. 1006.33, F.S.; requiring that an advertisement for bids |
| 88 | for instructional materials require the bidder to furnish |
| 89 | electronic specimen copies of the materials; providing |
| 90 | requirements for requesting certain samples; amending s. |
| 91 | 1006.40, F.S.; including electronic content as an approved |
| 92 | item of instruction; authorizing the use of funds for |
| 93 | electronic or computer hardware under certain |
| 94 | circumstances; amending s. 1007.27, F.S.; providing that |
| 95 | secondary school students are authorized users of the |
| 96 | state-funded electronic library resources licensed for |
| 97 | postsecondary institutions; requiring the State Board of |
| 98 | Education and the Board of Governors to adopt rules; |
| 99 | amending s. 1010.79, F.S.; providing for the use of funds |
| 100 | in the Sophomore Level Test Trust Fund; amending s. |
| 101 | 1011.03, F.S.; requiring that a district school board post |
| 102 | its proposed millage levies online; revising the |
| 103 | requirements for publishing the proposed levies in a |
| 104 | newspaper; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; providing for the |
| 105 | allocation and use of funds appropriated for the |
| 106 | International Baccalaureate program and for students who |
| 107 | complete an industry-certified career and professional |
| 108 | academy program; revising calculations for school district |
| 109 | required local effort; revising provisions relating to the |
| 110 | transfer of categorical funds for certain purposes; |
| 111 | authorizing a district school board to transfer certain |
| 112 | categorical funds for instructional materials; authorizing |
| 113 | the purchase of certain hardware; revising the calculation |
| 114 | for determination of a district's sparsity supplement; |
| 115 | providing that a calculation subsequent to an |
| 116 | appropriation does not result in negative state funds for |
| 117 | any district; providing for computation of prior year |
| 118 | district required local effort; amending s. 1011.64, F.S.; |
| 119 | conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1011.66, F.S.; |
| 120 | revising provisions relating to the distribution of FEFP |
| 121 | funds; amending s. 1011.67, F.S.; deleting certain |
| 122 | requirements for distribution of funds for instructional |
| 123 | materials to school districts; amending s. 1011.68, F.S.; |
| 124 | revising a calculation for allocation of funds to school |
| 125 | districts for student transportation; amending s. 1011.71, |
| 126 | F.S.; authorizing the use of capital improvement millage |
| 127 | for certain computer hardware and hardware devices; |
| 128 | requiring that the levy of certain school district millage |
| 129 | must be approved by voters at specified elections; |
| 130 | providing restrictions; amending s. 1011.73, F.S.; |
| 131 | correcting a cross-reference; amending s. 1012.33, F.S.; |
| 132 | exempting specified reemployed instructional personnel |
| 133 | from certain requirements for determining pay; amending s. |
| 134 | 1012.467, F.S.; requiring school districts to accept |
| 135 | reciprocity of certain screening for Florida High School |
| 136 | Athletic Association officials; amending s. 1012.55, F.S.; |
| 137 | requiring certification for personnel providing direct |
| 138 | instruction to students through a virtual environment or |
| 139 | through a blended virtual and physical environment; |
| 140 | amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; authorizing capital outlay |
| 141 | funding for a charter school-in-the-workplace; requiring |
| 142 | the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government |
| 143 | Accountability to conduct a study of the Special Facility |
| 144 | Construction Account program and make recommendations to |
| 145 | the Legislature and Governor; authorizing the Commissioner |
| 146 | of Education to administer a one-time student |
| 147 | transportation survey for the Jefferson County School |
| 148 | District; providing for the use of funds to assist in the |
| 149 | management of school district operations; providing an |
| 150 | appropriation; providing effective dates. |
| 151 |
|
| 152 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 153 |
|
| 154 | Section 1. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (6) of |
| 155 | section 212.055, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 156 | 212.055 Discretionary sales surtaxes; legislative intent; |
| 157 | authorization and use of proceeds.-It is the legislative intent |
| 158 | that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales |
| 159 | surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a |
| 160 | subsection of this section, irrespective of the duration of the |
| 161 | levy. Each enactment shall specify the types of counties |
| 162 | authorized to levy; the rate or rates which may be imposed; the |
| 163 | maximum length of time the surtax may be imposed, if any; the |
| 164 | procedure which must be followed to secure voter approval, if |
| 165 | required; the purpose for which the proceeds may be expended; |
| 166 | and such other requirements as the Legislature may provide. |
| 167 | Taxable transactions and administrative procedures shall be as |
| 168 | provided in s. 212.054. |
| 169 | (6) SCHOOL CAPITAL OUTLAY SURTAX.- |
| 170 | (d) Any school board imposing the surtax shall implement a |
| 171 | freeze on noncapital local school property taxes, at the millage |
| 172 | rate imposed in the year prior to the implementation of the |
| 173 | surtax, for a period of at least 3 years from the date of |
| 174 | imposition of the surtax. This provision shall not apply to |
| 175 | existing debt service or taxes authorized in the General |
| 176 | Appropriations Act. |
| 177 | (d)(e) Surtax revenues collected by the Department of |
| 178 | Revenue pursuant to this subsection shall be distributed to the |
| 179 | school board imposing the surtax in accordance with law. |
| 180 | Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section |
| 181 | 216.292, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 182 | 216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.- |
| 183 | (2) The following transfers are authorized to be made by |
| 184 | the head of each department or the Chief Justice of the Supreme |
| 185 | Court whenever it is deemed necessary by reason of changed |
| 186 | conditions: |
| 187 | (d) The transfer of funds by the Executive Office of the |
| 188 | Governor from appropriations for public school operations to a |
| 189 | fixed capital outlay appropriation for class size reduction |
| 190 | based on recommendations of the Florida Education Finance |
| 191 | Program Appropriation Allocation Conference or the Legislative |
| 192 | Budget Commission pursuant to s. 1003.03(4)(a). Actions by the |
| 193 | Governor under this subsection are subject to the notice and |
| 194 | review provisions of s. 216.177. |
| 195 | Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 1001.395, Florida |
| 196 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 197 | 1001.395 District school board members; compensation.- |
| 198 | (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section and s. |
| 199 | 145.19, for the 2010-2011 2009-2010 fiscal year, the salary of |
| 200 | each district school board member shall be the amount calculated |
| 201 | pursuant to subsection (1) or the district's beginning salary |
| 202 | for teachers who hold baccalaureate degrees, whichever is less. |
| 203 | Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section |
| 204 | 1001.451, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 205 | 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.-In |
| 206 | order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of |
| 207 | students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the |
| 208 | development of new programs and services: |
| 209 | (2) |
| 210 | (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the appropriation for |
| 211 | the 2010-2011 2009-2010 fiscal year may be less than $50,000 per |
| 212 | school district and eligible member. If the amount appropriated |
| 213 | is insufficient to provide $50,000, the funds available must be |
| 214 | prorated among all eligible districts and members. This |
| 215 | paragraph expires July 1, 2011 July 1, 2010. |
| 216 | Section 5. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of subsection (9) of |
| 217 | section 1002.32, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 218 | 1002.32 Developmental research (laboratory) schools.- |
| 219 | (9) FUNDING.-Funding for a lab school, including a charter |
| 220 | lab school, shall be provided as follows: |
| 221 | (d) Each lab school shall receive funds for operating |
| 222 | purposes in an amount determined as follows: multiply the |
| 223 | maximum allowable nonvoted discretionary millage for operations |
| 224 | pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) and (3) by the value of 96 95 percent |
| 225 | of the current year's taxable value for school |
| 226 | district in which each lab school is located; |
| 227 | by the total full-time equivalent membership |
| 228 | and multiply the result by the full-time equivalent membership |
| 229 | of the lab school. The amount thus obtained shall be |
| 230 | discretionary operating funds and shall be appropriated from |
| 231 | state funds in the General Appropriations Act to the Lab School |
| 232 | Trust Fund. |
| 233 | (e) Each lab school shall receive funds for capital |
| 234 | improvement purposes in an amount determined as follows: |
| 235 | multiply the maximum allowable nonvoted discretionary millage |
| 236 | for capital improvements pursuant to s. 1011.71(2) by the value |
| 237 | of 96 95 percent of the current year's taxable value for school |
| 238 | purposes for the district in which each lab school is located; |
| 239 | divide the result by the total full-time equivalent membership |
| 240 | of the district; and multiply the result by the full-time |
| 241 | equivalent membership of the lab school. The amount thus |
| 242 | obtained shall be discretionary capital improvement funds and |
| 243 | shall be appropriated from state funds in the General |
| 244 | Appropriations Act to the Lab School Educational Facility Trust |
| 245 | Fund. |
| 246 | Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (16), paragraph (d) |
| 247 | of subsection (18), subsection (19), and paragraph (a) of |
| 248 | subsection (20) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are |
| 249 | amended to read: |
| 250 | 1002.33 Charter schools.- |
| 251 | (16) EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.- |
| 252 | (b) Additionally, a charter school shall be in compliance |
| 253 | with the following statutes: |
| 254 | 1. Section 286.011, relating to public meetings and |
| 255 | records, public inspection, and criminal and civil penalties. |
| 256 | 2. Chapter 119, relating to public records. |
| 257 | 3. Section 1003.03, relating to the maximum class size, |
| 258 | except that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s. |
| 259 | 1003.03 shall be the average at the school level. |
| 260 | (18) FACILITIES.- |
| 261 | (d) Charter school facilities are exempt from assessments |
| 262 | of fees for building permits, except as provided in s. 553.80;, |
| 263 | fees for building and occupational licenses;, impact fees or |
| 264 | exactions;, service availability fees;, and assessments for |
| 265 | special benefits. |
| 266 | (19) CAPITAL OUTLAY FUNDING.-Charter schools are eligible |
| 267 | for capital outlay funds pursuant to s. 1013.62. Capital outlay |
| 268 | funds authorized in s. 1011.71(2) that have been shared with a |
| 269 | charter school-in-the-workplace prior to July 1, 2010, are |
| 270 | deemed to have met the authorized expenditure requirements for |
| 271 | such funds. |
| 272 | (20) SERVICES.- |
| 273 | (a)1. A sponsor shall provide certain administrative and |
| 274 | educational services to charter schools. These services shall |
| 275 | include contract management services; full-time equivalent and |
| 276 | data reporting services; exceptional student education |
| 277 | administration services; services related to eligibility and |
| 278 | reporting duties required to ensure that school lunch services |
| 279 | under the federal lunch program, consistent with the needs of |
| 280 | the charter school, are provided by the school district at the |
| 281 | request of the charter school, that any funds due to the charter |
| 282 | school under the federal lunch program be paid to the charter |
| 283 | school as soon as the charter school begins serving food under |
| 284 | the federal lunch program, and that the charter school is paid |
| 285 | at the same time and in the same manner under the federal lunch |
| 286 | program as other public schools serviced by the sponsor or the |
| 287 | school district; test administration services, including payment |
| 288 | of the costs of state-required or district-required student |
| 289 | assessments; processing of teacher certificate data services; |
| 290 | and information services, including equal access to student |
| 291 | information systems that are used by public schools in the |
| 292 | district in which the charter school is located. Student |
| 293 | performance data for each student in a charter school, |
| 294 | including, but not limited to, FCAT scores, standardized test |
| 295 | scores, previous public school student report cards, and student |
| 296 | performance measures, shall be provided by the sponsor to a |
| 297 | charter school in the same manner provided to other public |
| 298 | schools in the district. |
| 299 | 2. A total administrative fee for the provision of such |
| 300 | services shall be calculated based upon up to 5 percent of the |
| 301 | available funds defined in paragraph (17)(b) for all students. |
| 302 | However, a sponsor may only withhold up to a 5-percent |
| 303 | administrative fee for enrollment for up to and including 250 |
| 304 | 500 students. For charter schools with a population of 251 501 |
| 305 | or more students, the difference between the total |
| 306 | administrative fee calculation and the amount of the |
| 307 | administrative fee withheld may only be used for capital outlay |
| 308 | purposes specified in s. 1013.62(2). |
| 309 | 3. In addition, a sponsor may withhold only up to a 5- |
| 310 | percent administrative fee for enrollment for up to and |
| 311 | including 500 students within a system of charter schools which |
| 312 | meets all of the following: |
| 313 | a. Includes both conversion charter schools and |
| 314 | nonconversion charter schools; |
| 315 | b. Has all schools located in the same county; |
| 316 | c. Has a total enrollment exceeding the total enrollment |
| 317 | of at least one school district in the state; |
| 318 | d. Has the same governing board; and |
| 319 | e. Does not contract with a for-profit service provider |
| 320 | for management of school operations. |
| 321 | 4. The difference between the total administrative fee |
| 322 | calculation and the amount of the administrative fee withheld |
| 323 | pursuant to subparagraph 3. may be used for instructional and |
| 324 | administrative purposes as well as for capital outlay purposes |
| 325 | specified in s. 1013.62(2). |
| 326 | 5. Each charter school shall receive 100 percent of the |
| 327 | funds awarded to that school pursuant to s. 1012.225. Sponsors |
| 328 | shall not charge charter schools any additional fees or |
| 329 | surcharges for administrative and educational services in |
| 330 | addition to the maximum 5-percent administrative fee withheld |
| 331 | pursuant to this paragraph. |
| 332 | Section 7. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of section |
| 333 | 1002.37, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 334 | 1002.37 The Florida Virtual School.- |
| 335 | (3) Funding for the Florida Virtual School shall be |
| 336 | provided as follows: |
| 337 | (f) The Florida Virtual School shall receive funds for |
| 338 | operating purposes in an amount determined as follows: multiply |
| 339 | the maximum allowable nonvoted discretionary millage for |
| 340 | operations pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) and (3) by the value of 96 |
| 341 | 95 percent of the current year's taxable value for school |
| 342 | purposes for the state; divide the result by the total full-time |
| 343 | equivalent membership of the state; and multiply the result by |
| 344 | the full-time equivalent membership of the school. The amount |
| 345 | thus obtained shall be discretionary operating funds and shall |
| 346 | be appropriated from state funds in the General Appropriations |
| 347 | Act. |
| 348 | Section 8. Paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section |
| 349 | 1002.39, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 350 | 1002.39 The John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with |
| 351 | Disabilities Program.-There is established a program that is |
| 352 | separate and distinct from the Opportunity Scholarship Program |
| 353 | and is named the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with |
| 354 | Disabilities Program. |
| 355 | (8) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.-To be |
| 356 | eligible to participate in the John M. McKay Scholarships for |
| 357 | Students with Disabilities Program, a private school may be |
| 358 | sectarian or nonsectarian and must: |
| 359 | (b) Provide to the department all documentation required |
| 360 | for a student's participation, including the private school's |
| 361 | and student's fee schedules, at least 30 days before any the |
| 362 | first quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student |
| 363 | pursuant to paragraph (10)(e). A student is not eligible to |
| 364 | receive a quarterly scholarship payment if the private school |
| 365 | fails to meet this deadline. |
| 366 |
|
| 367 | The inability of a private school to meet the requirements of |
| 368 | this subsection shall constitute a basis for the ineligibility |
| 369 | of the private school to participate in the scholarship program |
| 370 | as determined by the department. |
| 371 | Section 9. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), |
| 372 | paragraph (a) of subsection (2), and subsections (7) and (12) of |
| 373 | section 1002.45, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph |
| 374 | (d) is added to subsection (5) of that section, to read: |
| 375 | 1002.45 School district virtual instruction programs.- |
| 376 | (1) PROGRAM.- |
| 377 | (a) For purposes of this section, the term: |
| 378 | 1. "Approved provider" means a provider that is approved |
| 379 | by the Department of Education under subsection (2), the Florida |
| 380 | Virtual School, or a franchise of the Florida Virtual School, or |
| 381 | a community college. |
| 382 | 2. "Virtual instruction program" means a program of |
| 383 | instruction provided in an interactive learning environment |
| 384 | created through technology in which students are separated from |
| 385 | their teachers by time or space, or both, and in which a |
| 386 | Florida-certified teacher under chapter 1012 is responsible for |
| 387 | at least: |
| 388 | a. Fifty percent of the direct instruction to students in |
| 389 | kindergarten through grade 5; or |
| 390 | b. Eighty percent of the direct instruction to students in |
| 391 | grades 6 through 12. |
| 392 | (b) Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, each school |
| 393 | district shall provide eligible students within its boundaries |
| 394 | the option of participating in a virtual instruction program. |
| 395 | The purpose of the program is to make instruction available to |
| 396 | students using online and distance learning technology in the |
| 397 | nontraditional classroom. The program shall be: |
| 398 | 1. Full-time for students enrolled in kindergarten through |
| 399 | grade 12. |
| 400 | 2. Full-time or part-time for students in grades 9 through |
| 401 | 12 who are enrolled in dropout prevention and academic |
| 402 | intervention programs under s. 1003.53, or Department of |
| 403 | Juvenile Justice education programs under s. 1003.52, core- |
| 404 | curricula courses to meet class size requirements under s. |
| 405 | 1003.03, or community colleges under this section in grades 9 |
| 406 | through 12. |
| 407 | (2) PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS.- |
| 408 | (a) The department shall annually provide school districts |
| 409 | with a list of providers approved to offer virtual instruction |
| 410 | programs. To be approved by the department, a provider must |
| 411 | document that it: |
| 412 | 1. Is nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, |
| 413 | employment practices, and operations; |
| 414 | 2. Complies with the antidiscrimination provisions of s. |
| 415 | 1000.05; |
| 416 | 3. Locates an administrative office or offices in this |
| 417 | state, requires its administrative staff to be state residents, |
| 418 | requires all instructional staff to be Florida-certified |
| 419 | teachers under chapter 1012, and conducts background screenings |
| 420 | for all employees or contracted personnel, as required by s. |
| 421 | 1012.32, using state and national criminal history records; |
| 422 | 4. Possesses prior, successful experience offering online |
| 423 | courses to elementary, middle, or high school students; and |
| 424 | 5. Is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges |
| 425 | and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, the |
| 426 | North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School |
| 427 | Improvement, the Middle States Association of Colleges and |
| 428 | Schools Commission on Elementary Schools and Commission on |
| 429 | Secondary Schools, the New England Association of Schools and |
| 430 | Colleges, the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, the |
| 431 | Western Association of Schools and Colleges, or the Commission |
| 432 | on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation; and |
| 433 | 6. If the provider is a community college, employs |
| 434 | instructors who meet the certification requirements for |
| 435 | instructional staff under chapter 1012. |
| 436 | (5) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.-A student may enroll in a virtual |
| 437 | instruction program provided by the school district in which he |
| 438 | or she resides if the student meets at least one of the |
| 439 | following conditions: |
| 440 | (d) The student has a sibling who is currently enrolled in |
| 441 | a school district virtual instruction program and that sibling |
| 442 | was enrolled in such program at the end of the prior school |
| 443 | year. |
| 444 | (7) FUNDING.- |
| 445 | (a) For purposes of a school district virtual instruction |
| 446 | program, "full-time equivalent student" has the same meaning as |
| 447 | provided in s. 1011.61(1)(c)1.b.(III) or (IV). |
| 448 | (b) The school district in which the student resides shall |
| 449 | report full-time equivalent students for the school district |
| 450 | virtual instruction program to the department in a manner |
| 451 | prescribed by the department, and funding shall be provided |
| 452 | through the Florida Education Finance Program. Funds received by |
| 453 | the school district of residence for a student in a virtual |
| 454 | instruction program provided by another school district under |
| 455 | this section shall be transferred to the school district |
| 456 | providing the virtual instruction program. |
| 457 | (c) A community college provider may not report students |
| 458 | who are served in a school district virtual instruction program |
| 459 | for funding under the Community College Program Fund. |
| 460 | (12) STUDY.-The department shall review the advisability |
| 461 | of legislatively authorizing school districts to contract with |
| 462 | approved private providers for the provision of part-time |
| 463 | virtual instruction programs for students in grades 9 through 12 |
| 464 | who are not enrolled in programs under ss. 1003.52 and 1003.53. |
| 465 | The department shall report its findings and recommendations to |
| 466 | the presiding officers of the Legislature and the Governor by |
| 467 | January 15, 2010. |
| 468 | Section 10. Subsection (7) of section 1002.71, Florida |
| 469 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 470 | 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.- |
| 471 | (7) The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall require that |
| 472 | administrative expenditures be kept to the minimum necessary for |
| 473 | efficient and effective administration of the Voluntary |
| 474 | Prekindergarten Education Program. Administrative policies and |
| 475 | procedures shall be revised, to the maximum extent practicable, |
| 476 | to incorporate the use of automation and electronic submission |
| 477 | of forms, including those required for child eligibility and |
| 478 | enrollment, provider and class registration, and monthly |
| 479 | certification of attendance for payment. A school district may |
| 480 | use its automated daily attendance reporting system for the |
| 481 | purpose of transmitting attendance records to the early learning |
| 482 | coalition in a mutually agreed-upon format. In addition, actions |
| 483 | shall be taken to reduce paperwork, eliminate the duplication of |
| 484 | reports, and eliminate other duplicative activities. Beginning |
| 485 | with the 2010-2011 2008-2009 fiscal year, each early learning |
| 486 | coalition may retain and expend no more than 4.5 4.85 percent of |
| 487 | the funds paid by the coalition to private prekindergarten |
| 488 | providers and public schools under paragraph (5)(b). Funds |
| 489 | retained by an early learning coalition under this subsection |
| 490 | may be used only for administering the Voluntary Prekindergarten |
| 491 | Education Program and may not be used for the school readiness |
| 492 | program or other programs. |
| 493 | Section 11. Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section |
| 494 | 1003.03, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 495 | 1003.03 Maximum class size.- |
| 496 | (2) IMPLEMENTATION.- |
| 497 | (a) The Department of Education shall annually calculate |
| 498 | class size measures described in subsection (1) based upon the |
| 499 | October student membership survey. |
| 500 | (b) Prior to the adoption of the district school budget |
| 501 | for 2010-2011, each district school board shall hold public |
| 502 | hearings and provide information to parents on the district's |
| 503 | website, and through any other means by which the district |
| 504 | provides information to parents and the public, on the |
| 505 | district's strategies to meet the requirements in subsection |
| 506 | (1). |
| 507 | (a) Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, each school |
| 508 | district that is not in compliance with the maximums in |
| 509 | subsection (1) shall reduce the average number of students per |
| 510 | classroom in each of the following grade groupings: |
| 511 | prekindergarten through grade 3, grade 4 through grade 8, and |
| 512 | grade 9 through grade 12, by at least two students each year. |
| 513 | (b) Determination of the number of students per classroom |
| 514 | in paragraph (a) shall be calculated as follows: |
| 515 | 1. For fiscal years 2003-2004 through 2005-2006, the |
| 516 | calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings |
| 517 | shall be the average at the district level. |
| 518 | 2. For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2009-2010, the |
| 519 | calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings |
| 520 | shall be the average at the school level. |
| 521 | 3. For fiscal year 2010-2011 and thereafter, the |
| 522 | calculation for compliance shall be at the individual classroom |
| 523 | level. |
| 524 | 4. For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2009-2010 and |
| 525 | thereafter, each teacher assigned to any classroom shall be |
| 526 | included in the calculation for compliance. |
| 527 | (c) The Department of Education shall annually calculate |
| 528 | each of the three average class size measures defined in |
| 529 | paragraphs (a) and (b) based upon the October student membership |
| 530 | survey. For purposes of determining the baseline from which each |
| 531 | district's average class size must be reduced for the 2003-2004 |
| 532 | school year, the department shall use data from the February |
| 533 | 2003 student membership survey updated to include classroom |
| 534 | identification numbers as required by the department. |
| 535 | (d) Prior to the adoption of the district school budget |
| 536 | for 2004-2005, each district school board shall hold public |
| 537 | hearings to review school attendance zones in order to ensure |
| 538 | maximum use of facilities while minimizing the additional use of |
| 539 | transportation in order to comply with the two-student-per-year |
| 540 | reduction required in paragraph (a). School districts that meet |
| 541 | the constitutional class size maximums described in subsection |
| 542 | (1) are exempt from this requirement. |
| 543 | (3) IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS.-District school boards must |
| 544 | consider, but are not limited to, implementing the following |
| 545 | items in order to meet the constitutional class size maximums |
| 546 | described in subsection (1) and the two-student-per-year |
| 547 | reduction required in subsection (2): |
| 548 | (a) Adopt policies to encourage qualified students to take |
| 549 | dual enrollment courses. |
| 550 | (b) Adopt policies to encourage students to take courses |
| 551 | from the Florida Virtual School and school district virtual |
| 552 | instruction programs. |
| 553 | (c)1. Repeal district school board policies that require |
| 554 | students to have more than 24 credits to graduate from high |
| 555 | school. |
| 556 | 2. Adopt policies to allow students to graduate from high |
| 557 | school as soon as they pass the grade 10 FCAT and complete the |
| 558 | courses required for high school graduation. |
| 559 | (d) Use methods to maximize use of instructional staff, |
| 560 | such as changing required teaching loads and scheduling of |
| 561 | planning periods, deploying district employees that have |
| 562 | professional certification to the classroom, using adjunct |
| 563 | educators, or any other method not prohibited by law. |
| 564 | (e) Use innovative methods to reduce the cost of school |
| 565 | construction by using prototype school designs, using SMART |
| 566 | Schools designs, participating in the School Infrastructure |
| 567 | Thrift Program, or any other method not prohibited by law. |
| 568 | (f) Use joint-use facilities through partnerships with |
| 569 | community colleges, state universities, and private colleges and |
| 570 | universities. Joint-use facilities available for use as K-12 |
| 571 | classrooms that do not meet the K-12 State Regulations for |
| 572 | Educational Facilities in the Florida Building Code may be used |
| 573 | at the discretion of the district school board provided that |
| 574 | such facilities meet all other health, life, safety, and fire |
| 575 | codes. |
| 576 | (g) Adopt alternative methods of class scheduling, such as |
| 577 | block scheduling. |
| 578 | (h) Redraw school attendance zones to maximize use of |
| 579 | facilities while minimizing the additional use of |
| 580 | transportation. |
| 581 | (i) Operate schools beyond the normal operating hours to |
| 582 | provide classes in the evening or operate more than one session |
| 583 | of school during the day. |
| 584 | (j) Use year-round schools and other nontraditional |
| 585 | calendars that do not adversely impact annual assessment of |
| 586 | student achievement. |
| 587 | (k) Review and consider amending any collective bargaining |
| 588 | contracts that hinder the implementation of class size |
| 589 | reduction. |
| 590 | (l) Use any other approach not prohibited by law. |
| 591 | (4) ACCOUNTABILITY.- |
| 592 | (a) 1. Beginning in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, if the |
| 593 | department determines for any year that a school district has |
| 594 | not reduced average class size as required in subsection (2) at |
| 595 | the time of the third FEFP calculation, the department shall |
| 596 | calculate an amount from the class size reduction operating |
| 597 | categorical which is proportionate to the amount of class size |
| 598 | reduction not accomplished. Upon verification of the |
| 599 | department's calculation by the Florida Education Finance |
| 600 | Program Appropriation Allocation Conference and not later than |
| 601 | March 1 of each year, the Executive Office of the Governor shall |
| 602 | transfer undistributed funds equivalent to the calculated amount |
| 603 | from the district's class size reduction operating categorical |
| 604 | to an approved fixed capital outlay appropriation for class size |
| 605 | reduction in the affected district pursuant to s. 216.292(2)(d). |
| 606 | The amount of funds transferred shall be the lesser of the |
| 607 | amount verified by the Florida Education Finance Program |
| 608 | Appropriation Allocation Conference or the undistributed balance |
| 609 | of the district's class size reduction operating categorical. |
| 610 | 2. In lieu of the transfer required by subparagraph 1., |
| 611 | the Commissioner of Education may recommend a budget amendment, |
| 612 | subject to approval by the Legislative Budget Commission, to |
| 613 | transfer an alternative amount of funds from the district's |
| 614 | class size reduction operating categorical to its approved fixed |
| 615 | capital outlay account for class size reduction if the |
| 616 | commissioner finds that the State Board of Education has |
| 617 | reviewed evidence indicating that a district has been unable to |
| 618 | meet class size reduction requirements despite appropriate |
| 619 | effort to do so. The commissioner's budget amendment must be |
| 620 | submitted to the Legislative Budget Commission by February 15 of |
| 621 | each year. |
| 622 | 3. For the 2007-2008 fiscal year and thereafter, if in any |
| 623 | fiscal year funds from a district's class size operating |
| 624 | categorical are required to be transferred to its fixed capital |
| 625 | outlay fund and the district's class size operating categorical |
| 626 | allocation in the General Appropriations Act for that fiscal |
| 627 | year has been reduced by a subsequent appropriation, the |
| 628 | Commissioner of Education may recommend a 50-percent reduction |
| 629 | in the amount of the transfer. |
| 630 | (a)(b) Beginning in the 2010-2011 fiscal year and each |
| 631 | year thereafter, If the department determines that the number of |
| 632 | students assigned to any individual class exceeds the class size |
| 633 | maximum, as required in subsection (1)(2), based upon the |
| 634 | October student membership survey at the time of the third FEFP |
| 635 | calculation, the department shall: |
| 636 | 1. Identify, for each grade group, the number of classes |
| 637 | in which the enrollment exceeds the maximum, the number of |
| 638 | students which exceeds the maximum for each class, and the total |
| 639 | number of students which exceeds the maximum for all classes. |
| 640 | 2. Determine the number of FTE full-time equivalent |
| 641 | students which exceeds the maximum class size for each grade |
| 642 | group. |
| 643 | 3. Multiply the total number of FTE students which exceeds |
| 644 | the maximum class size for each grade group by the district's |
| 645 | FTE dollar amount of the class size categorical class-size- |
| 646 | reduction allocation for that year and calculate the total for |
| 647 | all three grade groups. |
| 648 | 4. Multiply the total number of FTE students which exceeds |
| 649 | the maximum for all classes by an amount equal to 50 percent of |
| 650 | the base student allocation adjusted by the district cost |
| 651 | differential for the 2010-2011 fiscal year and by an amount |
| 652 | equal to the base student allocation adjusted by the district |
| 653 | cost differential beginning in the 2011-2012 fiscal year and |
| 654 | thereafter. |
| 655 | 5.4. Reduce the district's class size class-size-reduction |
| 656 | operating categorical allocation by an amount equal to the sum |
| 657 | of the calculations calculation in subparagraphs subparagraph 3. |
| 658 | and 4. |
| 659 | (b) The amount of funds reduced shall be the lesser of the |
| 660 | amount calculated in paragraph (a) or the undistributed balance |
| 661 | of the district's class size categorical allocation. The Florida |
| 662 | Education Finance Program Appropriation Allocation Conference |
| 663 | shall verify the department's calculation in paragraph (a). The |
| 664 | commissioner may withhold distribution of the class size |
| 665 | categorical allocation to the extent necessary to comply with |
| 666 | paragraph (a). |
| 667 | (c) Upon verification of the department's calculation by |
| 668 | the Florida Education Finance Program Appropriation Allocation |
| 669 | Conference and no later than March 1 of each year, the Executive |
| 670 | Office of the Governor shall place these funds in reserve, and |
| 671 | the undistributed funds shall revert to the General Revenue Fund |
| 672 | unallocated at the end of the fiscal year. The amount of funds |
| 673 | reduced shall be the lesser of the amount verified by the |
| 674 | Florida Education Finance Program Appropriation Allocation |
| 675 | Conference or the undistributed balance of the district's class- |
| 676 | size-reduction operating categorical allocation. |
| 677 | (c)(d) In lieu of the reduction calculation in paragraph |
| 678 | (a)(b), if the Commissioner of Education has evidence that a |
| 679 | district was unable to meet the class size requirements despite |
| 680 | appropriate efforts to do so or because of an extreme emergency, |
| 681 | the commissioner may recommend by February 15 a budget |
| 682 | amendment, subject to approval of the Legislative Budget |
| 683 | Commission, the reduction of to reduce an alternate alternative |
| 684 | amount of funds from the district's class size class-size- |
| 685 | reduction operating categorical allocation. The commissioner's |
| 686 | budget amendment must be submitted to the Legislative Budget |
| 687 | Commission by February 15 of each year. |
| 688 | (d) Upon approval of the reduction calculation in |
| 689 | paragraphs (a)-(c), the commissioner must prepare a reallocation |
| 690 | of the funds made available for the districts that have fully |
| 691 | met the class size requirements. The funds shall be reallocated |
| 692 | by calculating an amount of up to 5 percent of the base student |
| 693 | allocation multiplied by the total district FTE students. The |
| 694 | reallocation total may not exceed 25 percent of the total funds |
| 695 | reduced. |
| 696 | (e) Each district that has not complied with the |
| 697 | requirements in subsection (1) shall submit to the commissioner |
| 698 | by February 15 a plan certified by the district school board |
| 699 | that describes the specific actions the district will take in |
| 700 | order to fully comply with the requirements in subsection (1) by |
| 701 | October of the following school year. If a district submits the |
| 702 | certified plan by the required deadline, the funds remaining |
| 703 | after the reallocation calculation in paragraph (d) shall be |
| 704 | added back to the district's class size categorical allocation |
| 705 | based on each qualifying district's proportion of the total |
| 706 | reduction for all qualifying districts for which a reduction was |
| 707 | calculated in paragraphs (a)-(c). However, no district shall |
| 708 | have an amount added back that is greater than the amount that |
| 709 | was reduced. |
| 710 | (f) The department shall adjust school district class size |
| 711 | reduction categorical allocation distributions based on the |
| 712 | calculations in paragraphs (a)-(e). |
| 713 | (e) In addition to the calculation required in paragraph |
| 714 | (a), at the time of the third FEFP calculation for the 2009-2010 |
| 715 | fiscal year, the department shall also prepare a simulated |
| 716 | calculation based on the requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c). |
| 717 | This simulated calculation shall be provided to the school |
| 718 | districts and the Legislature. |
| 719 | Section 12. Effective upon approval by the electors of |
| 720 | Senate Joint Resolution 2 in the 2010 General Election and |
| 721 | retroactive to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, |
| 722 | subsections (1) through (4) of section 1003.03, Florida |
| 723 | Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 724 | 1003.03 Maximum class size.- |
| 725 | (1) CONSTITUTIONAL CLASS SIZE MAXIMUMS.-Pursuant to s. 1, |
| 726 | Art. IX of the State Constitution, beginning in the 2010-2011 |
| 727 | school year: |
| 728 | (a) The average number of students at the school level |
| 729 | assigned to each teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses |
| 730 | in public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 |
| 731 | may not exceed 18 students, and the maximum number of students |
| 732 | assigned to a teacher in an individual classroom may not exceed |
| 733 | 21 students. |
| 734 | (b) The average number of students at the school level |
| 735 | assigned to each teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses |
| 736 | in public school classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not |
| 737 | exceed 22 students, and the maximum number of students assigned |
| 738 | to a teacher in an individual classroom may not exceed 27 |
| 739 | students. |
| 740 | (c) The average number of students at the school level |
| 741 | assigned to each teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses |
| 742 | in public school classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not |
| 743 | exceed 25 students, and the maximum number of students assigned |
| 744 | to a teacher in an individual classroom may not exceed 30 |
| 745 | students. |
| 746 | (a) The maximum number of students assigned to each |
| 747 | teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school |
| 748 | classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not exceed 18 |
| 749 | students. |
| 750 | (b) The maximum number of students assigned to each |
| 751 | teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school |
| 752 | classrooms for grades 4 through 8 may not exceed 22 students. |
| 753 | (c) The maximum number of students assigned to each |
| 754 | teacher who is teaching core-curricula courses in public school |
| 755 | classrooms for grades 9 through 12 may not exceed 25 students. |
| 756 | (2) IMPLEMENTATION.- |
| 757 | (a) The Department of Education shall annually calculate |
| 758 | class size measures as described in subsection (1) based upon |
| 759 | the October student membership survey. |
| 760 | (b) The calculation for compliance for each of the three |
| 761 | grade groups shall be the number of students assigned to each |
| 762 | teacher in an individual classroom and the average number of |
| 763 | students at the school level assigned to each teacher. Each |
| 764 | teacher assigned to any classroom shall be included in the |
| 765 | calculation for compliance. |
| 766 | (a) Beginning with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, each school |
| 767 | district that is not in compliance with the maximums in |
| 768 | subsection (1) shall reduce the average number of students per |
| 769 | classroom in each of the following grade groupings: |
| 770 | prekindergarten through grade 3, grade 4 through grade 8, and |
| 771 | grade 9 through grade 12, by at least two students each year. |
| 772 | (b) Determination of the number of students per classroom |
| 773 | in paragraph (a) shall be calculated as follows: |
| 774 | 1. For fiscal years 2003-2004 through 2005-2006, the |
| 775 | calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings |
| 776 | shall be the average at the district level. |
| 777 | 2. For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2009-2010, the |
| 778 | calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings |
| 779 | shall be the average at the school level. |
| 780 | 3. For fiscal year 2010-2011 and thereafter, the |
| 781 | calculation for compliance shall be at the individual classroom |
| 782 | level. |
| 783 | 4. For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2009-2010 and |
| 784 | thereafter, each teacher assigned to any classroom shall be |
| 785 | included in the calculation for compliance. |
| 786 | (c) The Department of Education shall annually calculate |
| 787 | each of the three average class size measures defined in |
| 788 | paragraphs (a) and (b) based upon the October student membership |
| 789 | survey. For purposes of determining the baseline from which each |
| 790 | district's average class size must be reduced for the 2003-2004 |
| 791 | school year, the department shall use data from the February |
| 792 | 2003 student membership survey updated to include classroom |
| 793 | identification numbers as required by the department. |
| 794 | (d) Prior to the adoption of the district school budget |
| 795 | for 2004-2005, each district school board shall hold public |
| 796 | hearings to review school attendance zones in order to ensure |
| 797 | maximum use of facilities while minimizing the additional use of |
| 798 | transportation in order to comply with the two-student-per-year |
| 799 | reduction required in paragraph (a). School districts that meet |
| 800 | the constitutional class size maximums described in subsection |
| 801 | (1) are exempt from this requirement. |
| 802 | (3) IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS.-District school boards must |
| 803 | consider, but are not limited to, implementing the following |
| 804 | items in order to meet the constitutional class size maximums |
| 805 | described in subsection (1) and the two-student-per-year |
| 806 | reduction required in subsection (2): |
| 807 | (a) Adopt policies to encourage qualified students to take |
| 808 | dual enrollment courses. |
| 809 | (b) Adopt policies to encourage students to take courses |
| 810 | from the Florida Virtual School and school district virtual |
| 811 | instruction programs. |
| 812 | (c)1. Repeal district school board policies that require |
| 813 | students to have more than 24 credits to graduate from high |
| 814 | school. |
| 815 | 2. Adopt policies to allow students to graduate from high |
| 816 | school as soon as they pass the grade 10 FCAT and complete the |
| 817 | courses required for high school graduation. |
| 818 | (d) Use methods to maximize use of instructional staff, |
| 819 | such as changing required teaching loads and scheduling of |
| 820 | planning periods, deploying district employees that have |
| 821 | professional certification to the classroom, using adjunct |
| 822 | educators, or any other method not prohibited by law. |
| 823 | (e) Use innovative methods to reduce the cost of school |
| 824 | construction by using prototype school designs, using SMART |
| 825 | Schools designs, participating in the School Infrastructure |
| 826 | Thrift Program, or any other method not prohibited by law. |
| 827 | (f) Use joint-use facilities through partnerships with |
| 828 | community colleges, state universities, and private colleges and |
| 829 | universities. Joint-use facilities available for use as K-12 |
| 830 | classrooms that do not meet the K-12 State Regulations for |
| 831 | Educational Facilities in the Florida Building Code may be used |
| 832 | at the discretion of the district school board provided that |
| 833 | such facilities meet all other health, life, safety, and fire |
| 834 | codes. |
| 835 | (g) Adopt alternative methods of class scheduling, such as |
| 836 | block scheduling. |
| 837 | (h) Redraw school attendance zones to maximize use of |
| 838 | facilities while minimizing the additional use of |
| 839 | transportation. |
| 840 | (i) Operate schools beyond the normal operating hours to |
| 841 | provide classes in the evening or operate more than one session |
| 842 | of school during the day. |
| 843 | (j) Use year-round schools and other nontraditional |
| 844 | calendars that do not adversely impact annual assessment of |
| 845 | student achievement. |
| 846 | (k) Review and consider amending any collective bargaining |
| 847 | contracts that hinder the implementation of class size |
| 848 | reduction. |
| 849 | (l) Use any other approach not prohibited by law. |
| 850 | (4) ACCOUNTABILITY.- |
| 851 | (a) If the department determines that the number of |
| 852 | students assigned to any individual classroom exceeds the |
| 853 | classroom maximum, or if the department determines that the |
| 854 | school average is greater than the school-level maximum, as |
| 855 | required in subsection (1) based upon the October student |
| 856 | membership survey, the department shall for each of the three |
| 857 | grade groups: |
| 858 | 1. Identify the number of FTE students in an individual |
| 859 | classroom which is greater than the classroom maximum and the |
| 860 | number of FTE students which is greater than the school-level |
| 861 | average maximum, not including the number of FTE students which |
| 862 | is greater than the classroom maximum. |
| 863 | 2. Multiply the total number of FTE students as calculated |
| 864 | in subparagraph 1. which exceeds the maximum for each grade |
| 865 | group by the district's FTE dollar amount of the class size |
| 866 | categorical allocation for that year and calculate the total |
| 867 | dollar amount for all three grade groups. |
| 868 | 3. Multiply the total number of FTE students as calculated |
| 869 | in subparagraph 1. which exceeds the maximum by an amount equal |
| 870 | to 50 percent of the base student allocation adjusted by the |
| 871 | district cost differential for the 2010-2011 fiscal year and |
| 872 | beginning in the 2011-2012 fiscal year by an amount equal to the |
| 873 | base student allocation adjusted by the district cost |
| 874 | differential. |
| 875 | 4. Reduce the district's class size categorical allocation |
| 876 | by an amount equal to the sum of the calculations in |
| 877 | subparagraphs 2. and 3. |
| 878 | (b) The amount of funds reduced shall be the lesser of the |
| 879 | amount calculated in paragraph (a) or the undistributed balance |
| 880 | of the district's class size categorical allocation. The Florida |
| 881 | Education Finance Program Appropriation Allocation Conference |
| 882 | shall verify the department's calculation in paragraph (a). The |
| 883 | commissioner may withhold distribution of the class size |
| 884 | categorical allocation to the extent necessary to comply with |
| 885 | paragraph (a). |
| 886 | (a)1. Beginning in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, if the |
| 887 | department determines for any year that a school district has |
| 888 | not reduced average class size as required in subsection (2) at |
| 889 | the time of the third FEFP calculation, the department shall |
| 890 | calculate an amount from the class size reduction operating |
| 891 | categorical which is proportionate to the amount of class size |
| 892 | reduction not accomplished. Upon verification of the |
| 893 | department's calculation by the Florida Education Finance |
| 894 | Program Appropriation Allocation Conference and not later than |
| 895 | March 1 of each year, the Executive Office of the Governor shall |
| 896 | transfer undistributed funds equivalent to the calculated amount |
| 897 | from the district's class size reduction operating categorical |
| 898 | to an approved fixed capital outlay appropriation for class size |
| 899 | reduction in the affected district pursuant to s. 216.292(2)(d). |
| 900 | The amount of funds transferred shall be the lesser of the |
| 901 | amount verified by the Florida Education Finance Program |
| 902 | Appropriation Allocation Conference or the undistributed balance |
| 903 | of the district's class size reduction operating categorical. |
| 904 | 2. In lieu of the transfer required by subparagraph 1., |
| 905 | the Commissioner of Education may recommend a budget amendment, |
| 906 | subject to approval by the Legislative Budget Commission, to |
| 907 | transfer an alternative amount of funds from the district's |
| 908 | class size reduction operating categorical to its approved fixed |
| 909 | capital outlay account for class size reduction if the |
| 910 | commissioner finds that the State Board of Education has |
| 911 | reviewed evidence indicating that a district has been unable to |
| 912 | meet class size reduction requirements despite appropriate |
| 913 | effort to do so. The commissioner's budget amendment must be |
| 914 | submitted to the Legislative Budget Commission by February 15 of |
| 915 | each year. |
| 916 | 3. For the 2007-2008 fiscal year and thereafter, if in any |
| 917 | fiscal year funds from a district's class size operating |
| 918 | categorical are required to be transferred to its fixed capital |
| 919 | outlay fund and the district's class size operating categorical |
| 920 | allocation in the General Appropriations Act for that fiscal |
| 921 | year has been reduced by a subsequent appropriation, the |
| 922 | Commissioner of Education may recommend a 50-percent reduction |
| 923 | in the amount of the transfer. |
| 924 | (b) Beginning in the 2010-2011 fiscal year and each year |
| 925 | thereafter, if the department determines that the number of |
| 926 | students assigned to any individual class exceeds the class size |
| 927 | maximum, as required in subsection (2), at the time of the third |
| 928 | FEFP calculation, the department shall: |
| 929 | 1. Identify, for each grade group, the number of classes |
| 930 | in which the enrollment exceeds the maximum, the number of |
| 931 | students which exceeds the maximum for each class, and the total |
| 932 | number of students which exceeds the maximum for all classes. |
| 933 | 2. Determine the number of full-time equivalent students |
| 934 | which exceeds the maximum class size for each grade group. |
| 935 | 3. Multiply the total number of FTE students which exceeds |
| 936 | the maximum class size for each grade group by the district's |
| 937 | FTE dollar amount of the class-size-reduction allocation for |
| 938 | that year and calculate the total for all three grade groups. |
| 939 | 4. Reduce the district's class-size-reduction operating |
| 940 | categorical allocation by an amount equal to the sum of the |
| 941 | calculation in subparagraph 3. |
| 942 | (c) Upon verification of the department's calculation by |
| 943 | the Florida Education Finance Program Appropriation Allocation |
| 944 | Conference and no later than March 1 of each year, the Executive |
| 945 | Office of the Governor shall place these funds in reserve, and |
| 946 | the undistributed funds shall revert to the General Revenue Fund |
| 947 | unallocated at the end of the fiscal year. The amount of funds |
| 948 | reduced shall be the lesser of the amount verified by the |
| 949 | Florida Education Finance Program Appropriation Allocation |
| 950 | Conference or the undistributed balance of the district's class- |
| 951 | size-reduction operating categorical allocation. |
| 952 | (c)(d) In lieu of the reduction calculation in paragraph |
| 953 | (a)(b), if the Commissioner of Education has evidence that a |
| 954 | district was unable to meet the class size requirements despite |
| 955 | appropriate efforts to do so or because of an extreme emergency, |
| 956 | the commissioner may recommend by February 15 a budget |
| 957 | amendment, subject to approval of the Legislative Budget |
| 958 | Commission, the reduction of to reduce an alternate alternative |
| 959 | amount of funds from the district's class size class-size- |
| 960 | reduction operating categorical allocation. The commissioner's |
| 961 | budget amendment must be submitted to the Legislative Budget |
| 962 | Commission by February 15 of each year. |
| 963 | (d) Upon approval of the reduction calculation in |
| 964 | paragraphs (a)-(c), the commissioner must prepare a reallocation |
| 965 | of the funds made available for the districts that have fully |
| 966 | met the class size requirements. The funds shall be reallocated |
| 967 | by calculating an amount of up to 5 percent of the base student |
| 968 | allocation multiplied by the total district FTE students. The |
| 969 | reallocation total may not exceed 25 percent of the total funds |
| 970 | reduced. |
| 971 | (e) Each district that has not complied with the |
| 972 | requirements in subsection (1) shall submit to the commissioner |
| 973 | by February 15 a plan certified by the district school board |
| 974 | that describes the specific actions the district will take in |
| 975 | order to fully comply with the requirements in subsection (1) by |
| 976 | October of the following school year. If a district submits the |
| 977 | certified plan by the required deadline, the funds remaining |
| 978 | after the reallocation calculation in paragraph (d) shall be |
| 979 | added back to the district's class size categorical allocation |
| 980 | based on each qualifying district's proportion of the total |
| 981 | reduction for all qualifying districts for which a reduction was |
| 982 | calculated in paragraphs (a)-(c). However, no district shall |
| 983 | have an amount added back that is greater than the amount that |
| 984 | was reduced. |
| 985 | (f) The department shall adjust school district class size |
| 986 | reduction categorical allocation distributions based on the |
| 987 | calculations in paragraphs (a)-(e). |
| 988 | (e) In addition to the calculation required in paragraph |
| 989 | (a), at the time of the third FEFP calculation for the 2009-2010 |
| 990 | fiscal year, the department shall also prepare a simulated |
| 991 | calculation based on the requirements in paragraphs (b) and (c). |
| 992 | This simulated calculation shall be provided to the school |
| 993 | districts and the Legislature. |
| 994 | Section 13. Paragraph (h) of subsection (2) of section |
| 995 | 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 996 | 1003.42 Required instruction.- |
| 997 | (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public |
| 998 | schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education |
| 999 | and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and |
| 1000 | faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the |
| 1001 | highest standards for professionalism and historic accuracy, |
| 1002 | following the prescribed courses of study, and employing |
| 1003 | approved methods of instruction, the following: |
| 1004 | (h) The history of African Americans, including the |
| 1005 | history of African peoples before the political conflicts that |
| 1006 | led to the development of slavery, the passage to America, the |
| 1007 | enslavement experience, abolition, and the contributions of |
| 1008 | African Americans to society. Instructional materials shall |
| 1009 | include the contributions of African Americans to American |
| 1010 | society. |
| 1011 |
|
| 1012 | The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards |
| 1013 | and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. |
| 1014 | Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 1003.492, Florida |
| 1015 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1016 | 1003.492 Industry-certified career education programs.- |
| 1017 | (2) The State Board of Education shall use the expertise |
| 1018 | of Workforce Florida, Inc., and Enterprise Florida, Inc., to |
| 1019 | develop and adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 |
| 1020 | for implementing an industry certification process. Industry |
| 1021 | certification shall be defined by the Agency for Workforce |
| 1022 | Innovation, based upon the highest available national standards |
| 1023 | for specific industry certification, to ensure student skill |
| 1024 | proficiency and to address emerging labor market and industry |
| 1025 | trends. A regional workforce board or a career and professional |
| 1026 | academy may apply to Workforce Florida, Inc., to request |
| 1027 | additions to the approved list of industry certifications based |
| 1028 | on high-demand job requirements in the regional economy. The |
| 1029 | list of industry certifications approved by Workforce Florida, |
| 1030 | Inc., and the Department of Education shall be published and |
| 1031 | updated annually by a date certain, to be included in the |
| 1032 | adopted rule. |
| 1033 | Section 15. Subsection (15) of section 1003.52, Florida |
| 1034 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1035 | 1003.52 Educational services in Department of Juvenile |
| 1036 | Justice programs.- |
| 1037 | (15)(a) The Department of Education in consultation with |
| 1038 | the Department of Juvenile Justice, district school boards, and |
| 1039 | providers shall establish objective and measurable quality |
| 1040 | assurance standards for the educational component of residential |
| 1041 | and nonresidential juvenile justice facilities. These standards |
| 1042 | shall rate the district school board's performance both as a |
| 1043 | provider and contractor. The quality assurance rating for the |
| 1044 | educational component shall be disaggregated from the overall |
| 1045 | quality assurance score and reported separately. |
| 1046 | (b) The Department of Education shall develop a |
| 1047 | comprehensive quality assurance review process and schedule for |
| 1048 | the evaluation of the educational component in juvenile justice |
| 1049 | programs. The Department of Juvenile Justice quality assurance |
| 1050 | site visit and the education quality assurance site visit shall |
| 1051 | be conducted during the same visit. |
| 1052 | (c) The Department of Education, in consultation with |
| 1053 | district school boards and providers, shall establish minimum |
| 1054 | thresholds for the standards and key indicators for educational |
| 1055 | programs in juvenile justice facilities. If a district school |
| 1056 | board fails to meet the established minimum standards, it will |
| 1057 | be given 6 months to achieve compliance with the standards. If |
| 1058 | after 6 months, the district school board's performance is still |
| 1059 | below minimum standards, the Department of Education shall |
| 1060 | exercise sanctions as prescribed by rules adopted by the State |
| 1061 | Board of Education. If a provider, under contract with the |
| 1062 | district school board, fails to meet minimum standards, such |
| 1063 | failure shall cause the district school board to cancel the |
| 1064 | provider's contract unless the provider achieves compliance |
| 1065 | within 6 months or unless there are documented extenuating |
| 1066 | circumstances. |
| 1067 | (d) The requirements in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) shall |
| 1068 | be implemented to the extent that funds are available. |
| 1069 | Section 16. Section 1004.925, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1070 | to read: |
| 1071 | 1004.925 Automotive service technology education programs; |
| 1072 | certification.- |
| 1073 | (1) All automotive service technology education programs |
| 1074 | shall be industry certified in accordance with rules adopted by |
| 1075 | the State Board of Education by 2007. |
| 1076 | (2) New automotive service technology education programs |
| 1077 | and automotive service technology education programs that are in |
| 1078 | the process of becoming industry certified shall have 3 years to |
| 1079 | become certified. |
| 1080 | (3) Effective with the 2013-2014 fiscal year, students |
| 1081 | enrolled in an automotive service technology education program |
| 1082 | that is not industry certified pursuant to this section shall |
| 1083 | not be eligible to be reported for state funding. |
| 1084 | Section 17. Subsection (1) of section 1006.28, Florida |
| 1085 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1086 | 1006.28 Duties of district school board, district school |
| 1087 | superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12 |
| 1088 | instructional materials.- |
| 1089 | (1) DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD.-The district school board has |
| 1090 | the duty to provide adequate instructional materials for all |
| 1091 | students in accordance with the requirements of this part. The |
| 1092 | term "adequate instructional materials" means a sufficient |
| 1093 | number of textbooks or sets of materials that are available in |
| 1094 | bound, unbound, kit, or package form and may consist of hard- |
| 1095 | backed or soft-backed textbooks, electronic content, |
| 1096 | consumables, learning laboratories, manipulatives, electronic |
| 1097 | media, and computer courseware or software that serve as the |
| 1098 | basis for instruction for each student in the core courses of |
| 1099 | mathematics, language arts, social studies, science, reading, |
| 1100 | and literature, except for instruction for which the school |
| 1101 | advisory council approves the use of a program that does not |
| 1102 | include a textbook as a major tool of instruction. The district |
| 1103 | school board has the following specific duties: |
| 1104 | (a) Courses of study; adoption.-Adopt courses of study for |
| 1105 | use in the schools of the district. |
| 1106 | (b) Textbooks.-Provide for proper requisitioning, |
| 1107 | distribution, accounting, storage, care, and use of all |
| 1108 | instructional materials furnished by the state and furnish such |
| 1109 | other instructional materials as may be needed. The district |
| 1110 | school board shall assure that instructional materials used in |
| 1111 | the district are consistent with the district goals and |
| 1112 | objectives and the curriculum frameworks adopted by rule of the |
| 1113 | State Board of Education, as well as with the state and district |
| 1114 | performance standards provided for in s. 1001.03(1). |
| 1115 | (c) Other instructional materials.-Provide such other |
| 1116 | teaching accessories and aids as are needed for the school |
| 1117 | district's educational program. |
| 1118 | (d) School library media services; establishment and |
| 1119 | maintenance.-Establish and maintain a program of school library |
| 1120 | media services for all public schools in the district, including |
| 1121 | school library media centers, or school library media centers |
| 1122 | open to the public, and, in addition such traveling or |
| 1123 | circulating libraries as may be needed for the proper operation |
| 1124 | of the district school system. |
| 1125 | Section 18. Section 1006.281, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 1126 | to read: |
| 1127 | 1006.281 Learning management systems.- |
| 1128 | (1) To ensure that all school districts have equitable |
| 1129 | access to digitally rich instructional materials, districts are |
| 1130 | encouraged to provide access to an electronic learning |
| 1131 | management system that allows teachers, students, and parents to |
| 1132 | access, organize, and use electronically available instructional |
| 1133 | materials and teaching and learning tools and resources, and |
| 1134 | that enables teachers to manage, assess, and track student |
| 1135 | learning. |
| 1136 | (2) To the extent fiscally and technologically feasible, a |
| 1137 | school district's electronic learning management system should |
| 1138 | allow for a single, authenticated sign-on and include the |
| 1139 | following functionality: |
| 1140 | (a) Vertically searches for, gathers, and organizes |
| 1141 | specific standards-based instructional materials. |
| 1142 | (b) Enables teachers to prepare lessons, individualize |
| 1143 | student instruction, and use best practices in providing |
| 1144 | instruction. |
| 1145 | (c) Provides communication, including access to up-to-date |
| 1146 | student performance data, in order to help teachers and parents |
| 1147 | better serve the needs of students. |
| 1148 | (d) Provides access for administrators to ensure quality |
| 1149 | of instruction within every classroom. |
| 1150 | (e) Provides access to multiple content providers. |
| 1151 | (3) The Department of Education shall provide assistance |
| 1152 | as requested by school districts in their deployment of a |
| 1153 | district electronic learning management system. |
| 1154 | Section 19. Subsection (4) of section 1006.29, Florida |
| 1155 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1156 | 1006.29 State instructional materials committees.- |
| 1157 | (4) For purposes of state adoption, "instructional |
| 1158 | materials" means items having intellectual content that by |
| 1159 | design serve as a major tool for assisting in the instruction of |
| 1160 | a subject or course. These items may be available in bound, |
| 1161 | unbound, kit, or package form and may consist of hardbacked or |
| 1162 | softbacked textbooks, electronic content, consumables, learning |
| 1163 | laboratories, manipulatives, electronic media, and computer |
| 1164 | courseware or software. A publisher or manufacturer providing |
| 1165 | instructional materials as a single bundle shall also make the |
| 1166 | instructional materials available as separate and unbundled |
| 1167 | items, each priced individually. Any instructional materials |
| 1168 | adopted after 2012-2013 for students in grades 9 through 12 |
| 1169 | shall also be provided in an electronic format. The term does |
| 1170 | not include electronic or computer hardware even if such |
| 1171 | hardware is bundled with software or other electronic media, nor |
| 1172 | does it include equipment or supplies. |
| 1173 | Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section |
| 1174 | 1006.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1175 | 1006.33 Bids or proposals; advertisement and its |
| 1176 | contents.- |
| 1177 | (1) |
| 1178 | (b) The advertisement shall state that, beginning in 2010- |
| 1179 | 2011, each bidder shall furnish electronic specimen copies of |
| 1180 | all instructional materials submitted, at a time designated by |
| 1181 | the department, which specimen copies shall be identical with |
| 1182 | the copies approved and accepted by the members of the state |
| 1183 | instructional materials committee, as prescribed in this |
| 1184 | section, and with the copies furnished to the department and |
| 1185 | district school superintendents, as provided in this part. Any |
| 1186 | district school superintendent who requires samples in addition |
| 1187 | to the electronic format must request those samples through the |
| 1188 | department. |
| 1189 | Section 21. Subsection (4) of section 1006.40, Florida |
| 1190 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1191 | 1006.40 Use of instructional materials allocation; |
| 1192 | instructional materials, library books, and reference books; |
| 1193 | repair of books.- |
| 1194 | (4) The funds described in subsection (3) which district |
| 1195 | school boards may use to purchase materials not on the state- |
| 1196 | adopted list shall be used for the purchase of instructional |
| 1197 | materials or other items having intellectual content which |
| 1198 | assist in the instruction of a subject or course. These items |
| 1199 | may be available in bound, unbound, kit, or package form and may |
| 1200 | consist of hardbacked or softbacked textbooks, electronic |
| 1201 | content, replacements for items which were part of previously |
| 1202 | purchased instructional materials, consumables, learning |
| 1203 | laboratories, manipulatives, electronic media, computer |
| 1204 | courseware or software, and other commonly accepted |
| 1205 | instructional tools as prescribed by district school board rule. |
| 1206 | The funds available to district school boards for the purchase |
| 1207 | of materials not on the state-adopted list may not be used to |
| 1208 | purchase electronic or computer hardware even if such hardware |
| 1209 | is bundled with software or other electronic media unless the |
| 1210 | district school board has complied with the requirements in s. |
| 1211 | 1011.62(6)(b)5., nor may such funds be used to purchase |
| 1212 | equipment or supplies. However, when authorized to do so in the |
| 1213 | General Appropriations Act, a school or district school board |
| 1214 | may use a portion of the funds available to it for the purchase |
| 1215 | of materials not on the state-adopted list to purchase science |
| 1216 | laboratory materials and supplies. |
| 1217 | Section 22. Subsection (1) of section 1007.27, Florida |
| 1218 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1219 | 1007.27 Articulated acceleration mechanisms.- |
| 1220 | (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that a variety of |
| 1221 | articulated acceleration mechanisms be available for secondary |
| 1222 | and postsecondary students attending public educational |
| 1223 | institutions. It is intended that articulated acceleration serve |
| 1224 | to shorten the time necessary for a student to complete the |
| 1225 | requirements associated with the conference of a high school |
| 1226 | diploma and a postsecondary degree, broaden the scope of |
| 1227 | curricular options available to students, or increase the depth |
| 1228 | of study available for a particular subject. Articulated |
| 1229 | acceleration mechanisms shall include, but not be limited to, |
| 1230 | dual enrollment as provided for in s. 1007.271, early admission, |
| 1231 | advanced placement, credit by examination, the International |
| 1232 | Baccalaureate Program, and the Advanced International |
| 1233 | Certificate of Education Program. Credit earned through the |
| 1234 | Florida Virtual School shall provide additional opportunities |
| 1235 | for early graduation and acceleration. Students of Florida |
| 1236 | public secondary schools enrolled pursuant to this subsection |
| 1237 | shall be deemed authorized users of the state-funded electronic |
| 1238 | library resources that are licensed for Florida colleges and |
| 1239 | state universities by the Florida Center for Library Automation |
| 1240 | and the College Center for Library Automation. Verification of |
| 1241 | eligibility shall be in accordance with rules established by the |
| 1242 | State Board of Education and regulations established by the |
| 1243 | Board of Governors and processes implemented by Florida colleges |
| 1244 | and state universities. |
| 1245 | Section 23. Section 1010.79, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1246 | to read: |
| 1247 | 1010.79 Sophomore Level Test Trust Fund.-Chapter 99-26, |
| 1248 | Laws of Florida, re-created the Sophomore Level Test Trust Fund |
| 1249 | to record revenue and disbursements of examination fees received |
| 1250 | by the Department of Education as authorized in s. 1008.29. |
| 1251 | Effective July 1, 2010, funds remaining in the Sophomore Level |
| 1252 | Test Trust Fund may be used for any purpose authorized by the |
| 1253 | Legislature. |
| 1254 | Section 24. Section 1011.03, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1255 | to read: |
| 1256 | 1011.03 Public hearings; budget to be submitted to |
| 1257 | Department of Education.- |
| 1258 | (1) Each district school board must cause a summary of its |
| 1259 | tentative budget, including the proposed millage levies as |
| 1260 | provided for by law, and graphs illustrating a historical |
| 1261 | summary of financial and demographic data, to be posted online |
| 1262 | and advertised at least one time as a full-page advertisement in |
| 1263 | a the newspaper of general with the largest circulation |
| 1264 | published in the district or to be posted at the courthouse door |
| 1265 | if there be no such newspaper. |
| 1266 | (2)(a) The advertisement must include a graph illustrating |
| 1267 | the historical summary of financial and demographic data for |
| 1268 | each of the following data values which shall be plotted along |
| 1269 | the vertical axis of each graph: |
| 1270 | 1. Total revenue provided to the school district from all |
| 1271 | sources for the corresponding fiscal year, including all |
| 1272 | federal, state, and local revenue. |
| 1273 | 2. Total revenue provided to the school district for the |
| 1274 | corresponding fiscal year for current operations. |
| 1275 | 3. Total revenue provided to the school district for the |
| 1276 | corresponding fiscal year for fixed capital outlay projects. |
| 1277 | 4. Total revenue provided to the school district for the |
| 1278 | corresponding fiscal year for debt service. |
| 1279 | 5. Total number of unweighted full-time equivalent |
| 1280 | students, inclusive of all programs listed in s. 1011.62. |
| 1281 | 6. Total revenue provided to the school district for |
| 1282 | current operations divided by the number of unweighted full-time |
| 1283 | equivalent students for the corresponding fiscal year. |
| 1284 | 7. Total number of employees of the school district for |
| 1285 | the corresponding fiscal year. |
| 1286 | 8. Total number of employees of the school district |
| 1287 | classified as instructional personnel under s. 1012.01 for the |
| 1288 | corresponding fiscal year. |
| 1289 | (b) Each graph must include a separate histogram |
| 1290 | corresponding to the financial and demographic data for each of |
| 1291 | the following fiscal years, which shall be plotted along the |
| 1292 | horizontal axis of each graph: |
| 1293 | 1. Current fiscal year. |
| 1294 | 2. Fiscal year that is 5 years before the current fiscal |
| 1295 | year. |
| 1296 | 3. Fiscal year that is 10 years before the current fiscal |
| 1297 | year. |
| 1298 | (c) The numeric value of the financial and demographic |
| 1299 | data corresponding to each histogram must be included in each |
| 1300 | graph. |
| 1301 | (2)(3) The advertisement of a district that has been |
| 1302 | required by the Legislature to increase classroom expenditures |
| 1303 | pursuant to s. 1011.64 must include the following statement: |
| 1304 |
|
| 1305 | "This proposed budget reflects an increase in classroom |
| 1306 | expenditures as a percent of total current operating |
| 1307 | expenditures of XX percent over the (previous fiscal year) |
| 1308 | fiscal year. This increase in classroom expenditures is required |
| 1309 | by the Legislature because the district has performed below the |
| 1310 | required performance standard on XX of XX student performance |
| 1311 | standards for the (previous school year) school year. In order |
| 1312 | to achieve the legislatively required level of classroom |
| 1313 | expenditures as a percentage of total operating expenditures, |
| 1314 | the proposed budget includes an increase in overall classroom |
| 1315 | expenditures of $XX,XXX,XXX above the amount spent for this same |
| 1316 | purpose during the (previous fiscal year) fiscal year. In order |
| 1317 | to achieve improved student academic performance, this proposed |
| 1318 | increase is being budgeted for the following activities: |
| 1319 | ...(list activities and amount budgeted)...." |
| 1320 | (3)(4) The advertisement shall appear adjacent to the |
| 1321 | advertisement required pursuant to s. 200.065. The State Board |
| 1322 | of Education may adopt rules necessary to provide specific |
| 1323 | requirements for the format of the advertisement. |
| 1324 | (4)(5) The board shall hold public hearings to adopt |
| 1325 | tentative and final budgets pursuant to s. 200.065. The hearings |
| 1326 | shall be primarily for the purpose of hearing requests and |
| 1327 | complaints from the public regarding the budgets and the |
| 1328 | proposed tax levies and for explaining the budget and proposed |
| 1329 | or adopted amendments thereto, if any. The district school board |
| 1330 | shall then require the superintendent to transmit forthwith two |
| 1331 | copies of the adopted budget to the Department of Education for |
| 1332 | approval as prescribed by law and rules of the State Board of |
| 1333 | Education. |
| 1334 | Section 25. Paragraphs (m) and (p) of subsection (1), |
| 1335 | paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4), paragraph (b) of |
| 1336 | subsection (6), paragraph (d) of subsection (7), and paragraph |
| 1337 | (a) of subsection (12) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are |
| 1338 | amended, and subsection (13) is added to that section, to read: |
| 1339 | 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.-If the annual |
| 1340 | allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each |
| 1341 | district for operation of schools is not determined in the |
| 1342 | annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing |
| 1343 | the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as |
| 1344 | follows: |
| 1345 | (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR |
| 1346 | OPERATION.-The following procedure shall be followed in |
| 1347 | determining the annual allocation to each district for |
| 1348 | operation: |
| 1349 | (m) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
| 1350 | membership based on International Baccalaureate examination |
| 1351 | scores of students.-A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student |
| 1352 | membership shall be calculated for each student enrolled in an |
| 1353 | International Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or |
| 1354 | higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 full-time |
| 1355 | equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each |
| 1356 | student who receives an International Baccalaureate diploma. |
| 1357 | Such value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent |
| 1358 | student membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in |
| 1359 | the subsequent fiscal year. Each school district shall allocate |
| 1360 | 80 percent of the funds received from International |
| 1361 | Baccalaureate bonus FTE funding to the school program whose |
| 1362 | students generate the funds and to school programs that prepare |
| 1363 | prospective students to enroll in International Baccalaureate |
| 1364 | courses. Funds shall be expended solely for the payment of |
| 1365 | allowable costs associated with the International Baccalaureate |
| 1366 | program. Allowable costs include International Baccalaureate |
| 1367 | annual school fees; International Baccalaureate examination |
| 1368 | fees; salary, benefits, and bonuses for teachers and program |
| 1369 | coordinators for the International Baccalaureate program and |
| 1370 | teachers and coordinators who prepare prospective students for |
| 1371 | the International Baccalaureate program; supplemental books; |
| 1372 | instructional supplies; instructional equipment or instructional |
| 1373 | materials for International Baccalaureate courses; other |
| 1374 | activities that identify prospective International Baccalaureate |
| 1375 | students or prepare prospective students to enroll in |
| 1376 | International Baccalaureate courses; and training or |
| 1377 | professional development for International Baccalaureate |
| 1378 | teachers. School districts shall allocate the remaining 20 |
| 1379 | percent of the funds received from International Baccalaureate |
| 1380 | bonus FTE funding for programs that assist academically |
| 1381 | disadvantaged students to prepare for more rigorous courses. The |
| 1382 | school district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who |
| 1383 | provided International Baccalaureate instruction: |
| 1384 | 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by |
| 1385 | the International Baccalaureate teacher in each International |
| 1386 | Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or higher on the |
| 1387 | International Baccalaureate examination. |
| 1388 | 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each International |
| 1389 | Baccalaureate teacher in a school designated with a grade of "D" |
| 1390 | or "F" who has at least one student scoring 4 or higher on the |
| 1391 | International Baccalaureate examination, regardless of the |
| 1392 | number of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a |
| 1393 | 4 or higher on the International Baccalaureate examination. |
| 1394 |
|
| 1395 | Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall |
| 1396 | not exceed $2,000 in any given school year and shall be in |
| 1397 | addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher received |
| 1398 | or is scheduled to receive. |
| 1399 | (p) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
| 1400 | membership based on certification of successful completion of |
| 1401 | industry-certified career and professional academy programs |
| 1402 | pursuant to ss. 1003.491, 1003.492, and 1003.493 and identified |
| 1403 | in the Industry Certified Funding List pursuant to rules adopted |
| 1404 | by the State Board of Education.-A value of 0.3 full-time |
| 1405 | equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each |
| 1406 | student who completes an industry-certified career and |
| 1407 | professional academy program under ss. 1003.491, 1003.492, and |
| 1408 | 1003.493 and who is issued the highest level of industry |
| 1409 | certification identified annually in the Industry Certification |
| 1410 | Funding List approved under rules adopted by the State Board of |
| 1411 | Education and a high school diploma. Such value shall be added |
| 1412 | to the total full-time equivalent student membership in |
| 1413 | secondary career education programs for grades 9 through 12 in |
| 1414 | the subsequent year for courses that were not funded through |
| 1415 | dual enrollment. The additional full-time equivalent membership |
| 1416 | authorized under this paragraph may not exceed 0.3 per student. |
| 1417 | Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of the funds |
| 1418 | provided for industry certification, in accordance with this |
| 1419 | paragraph, to the program that generated the funds. Unless a |
| 1420 | different amount is specified in the General Appropriations Act, |
| 1421 | the appropriation for this calculation is limited to $15 million |
| 1422 | annually. If the appropriation is insufficient to fully fund the |
| 1423 | total calculation, the appropriation shall be prorated. |
| 1424 | (4) COMPUTATION OF DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.-The |
| 1425 | Legislature shall prescribe the aggregate required local effort |
| 1426 | for all school districts collectively as an item in the General |
| 1427 | Appropriations Act for each fiscal year. The amount that each |
| 1428 | district shall provide annually toward the cost of the Florida |
| 1429 | Education Finance Program for kindergarten through grade 12 |
| 1430 | programs shall be calculated as follows: |
| 1431 | (a) Estimated taxable value calculations.- |
| 1432 | 1.a. Not later than 2 working days prior to July 19, the |
| 1433 | Department of Revenue shall certify to the Commissioner of |
| 1434 | Education its most recent estimate of the taxable value for |
| 1435 | school purposes in each school district and the total for all |
| 1436 | school districts in the state for the current calendar year |
| 1437 | based on the latest available data obtained from the local |
| 1438 | property appraisers. The value certified shall be the taxable |
| 1439 | value for school purposes for that year, and no further |
| 1440 | adjustments shall be made, except those made pursuant to |
| 1441 | paragraphs (c) and (d), or an assessment roll change required by |
| 1442 | final judicial decisions as specified in paragraph (12)(b). Not |
| 1443 | later than July 19, the Commissioner of Education shall compute |
| 1444 | a millage rate, rounded to the next highest one one-thousandth |
| 1445 | of a mill, which, when applied to 96 95 percent of the estimated |
| 1446 | state total taxable value for school purposes, would generate |
| 1447 | the prescribed aggregate required local effort for that year for |
| 1448 | all districts. The Commissioner of Education shall certify to |
| 1449 | each district school board the millage rate, computed as |
| 1450 | prescribed in this subparagraph, as the minimum millage rate |
| 1451 | necessary to provide the district required local effort for that |
| 1452 | year. |
| 1453 | b. The General Appropriations Act shall direct the |
| 1454 | computation of the statewide adjusted aggregate amount for |
| 1455 | required local effort for all school districts collectively from |
| 1456 | ad valorem taxes to ensure that no school district's revenue |
| 1457 | from required local effort millage will produce more than 90 |
| 1458 | percent of the district's total Florida Education Finance |
| 1459 | Program calculation as calculated and adopted by the |
| 1460 | Legislature, and the adjustment of the required local effort |
| 1461 | millage rate of each district that produces more than 90 percent |
| 1462 | of its total Florida Education Finance Program entitlement to a |
| 1463 | level that will produce only 90 percent of its total Florida |
| 1464 | Education Finance Program entitlement in the July calculation. |
| 1465 | 2. On the same date as the certification in sub- |
| 1466 | subparagraph 1.a., the Department of Revenue shall certify to |
| 1467 | the Commissioner of Education for each district: |
| 1468 | a. Each year for which the property appraiser has |
| 1469 | certified the taxable value pursuant to s. 193.122(2) or (3), if |
| 1470 | applicable, since the prior certification under sub-subparagraph |
| 1471 | 1.a. |
| 1472 | b. For each year identified in sub-subparagraph a., the |
| 1473 | taxable value certified by the appraiser pursuant to s. |
| 1474 | 193.122(2) or (3), if applicable, since the prior certification |
| 1475 | under sub-subparagraph 1.a. This is the certification that |
| 1476 | reflects all final administrative actions of the value |
| 1477 | adjustment board. |
| 1478 | (b) Equalization of required local effort.- |
| 1479 | 1. The Department of Revenue shall include with its |
| 1480 | certifications provided pursuant to paragraph (a) its most |
| 1481 | recent determination of the assessment level of the prior year's |
| 1482 | assessment roll for each county and for the state as a whole. |
| 1483 | 2. The Commissioner of Education shall adjust the required |
| 1484 | local effort millage of each district for the current year, |
| 1485 | computed pursuant to paragraph (a), as follows: |
| 1486 | a. The equalization factor for the prior year's assessment |
| 1487 | roll of each district shall be multiplied by 96 95 percent of |
| 1488 | the taxable value for school purposes shown on that roll and by |
| 1489 | the prior year's required local-effort millage, exclusive of any |
| 1490 | equalization adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph. The |
| 1491 | dollar amount so computed shall be the additional required local |
| 1492 | effort for equalization for the current year. |
| 1493 | b. Such equalization factor shall be computed as the |
| 1494 | quotient of the prior year's assessment level of the state as a |
| 1495 | whole divided by the prior year's assessment level of the |
| 1496 | county, from which quotient shall be subtracted 1. |
| 1497 | c. The dollar amount of additional required local effort |
| 1498 | for equalization for each district shall be converted to a |
| 1499 | millage rate, based on 96 95 percent of the current year's |
| 1500 | taxable value for that district, and added to the required local |
| 1501 | effort millage determined pursuant to paragraph (a). |
| 1502 | 3. Notwithstanding the limitations imposed pursuant to s. |
| 1503 | 1011.71(1), the total required local-effort millage, including |
| 1504 | additional required local effort for equalization, shall be an |
| 1505 | amount not to exceed 10 minus the maximum millage allowed as |
| 1506 | nonvoted discretionary millage, exclusive of millage authorized |
| 1507 | pursuant to s. 1011.71(2). Nothing herein shall be construed to |
| 1508 | allow a millage in excess of that authorized in s. 9, Art. VII |
| 1509 | of the State Constitution. |
| 1510 | 4. For the purposes of this chapter, the term "assessment |
| 1511 | level" means the value-weighted mean assessment ratio for the |
| 1512 | county or state as a whole, as determined pursuant to s. |
| 1513 | 195.096, or as subsequently adjusted. However, for those parcels |
| 1514 | studied pursuant to s. 195.096(3)(a)1. which are receiving the |
| 1515 | assessment limitation set forth in s. 193.155, and for which the |
| 1516 | assessed value is less than the just value, the department shall |
| 1517 | use the assessed value in the numerator and the denominator of |
| 1518 | such assessment ratio. In the event a court has adjudicated that |
| 1519 | the department failed to establish an accurate estimate of an |
| 1520 | assessment level of a county and recomputation resulting in an |
| 1521 | accurate estimate based upon the evidence before the court was |
| 1522 | not possible, that county shall be presumed to have an |
| 1523 | assessment level equal to that of the state as a whole. |
| 1524 | 5. If, in the prior year, taxes were levied against an |
| 1525 | interim assessment roll pursuant to s. 193.1145, the assessment |
| 1526 | level and prior year's nonexempt assessed valuation used for the |
| 1527 | purposes of this paragraph shall be those of the interim |
| 1528 | assessment roll. |
| 1529 | (6) CATEGORICAL FUNDS.- |
| 1530 | (b) If a district school board finds and declares in a |
| 1531 | resolution adopted at a regular meeting of the school board that |
| 1532 | the funds received for any of the following categorical |
| 1533 | appropriations are urgently needed to maintain school board |
| 1534 | specified academic classroom instruction, the school board may |
| 1535 | consider and approve an amendment to the school district |
| 1536 | operating budget transferring the identified amount of the |
| 1537 | categorical funds to the appropriate account for expenditure: |
| 1538 | 1. Funds for student transportation. |
| 1539 | 2. Funds for safe schools. |
| 1540 | 3. Funds for supplemental academic instruction. |
| 1541 | 4. Funds for research-based reading instruction. |
| 1542 | 5. Funds for instructional materials if all instructional |
| 1543 | material purchases necessary to provide updated materials |
| 1544 | aligned to Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and |
| 1545 | benchmarks and that meet statutory requirements of content and |
| 1546 | learning have been completed for that fiscal year, but no sooner |
| 1547 | than March 1, 2011 2010. Funds available after March 1 may be |
| 1548 | used to purchase hardware for student instruction. |
| 1549 | (7) DETERMINATION OF SPARSITY SUPPLEMENT.- |
| 1550 | (d) Each district's allocation of sparsity supplement |
| 1551 | funds shall be adjusted in the following manner: |
| 1552 | 1. A maximum discretionary levy per FTE value for each |
| 1553 | district shall be calculated by dividing the value of each |
| 1554 | district's maximum discretionary levy by its FTE student count. |
| 1555 | 2. A state average discretionary levy value per FTE shall |
| 1556 | be calculated by dividing the total maximum discretionary levy |
| 1557 | value for all districts by the state total FTE student count. |
| 1558 | 3. A total potential funds per FTE for each district shall |
| 1559 | be calculated by dividing the total potential funds, not |
| 1560 | including Florida School Recognition Program funds, Merit Award |
| 1561 | Program funds, and the minimum guarantee funds, for each |
| 1562 | district by its FTE student count. |
| 1563 | 4. A state average total potential funds per FTE shall be |
| 1564 | calculated by dividing the total potential funds, not including |
| 1565 | Florida School Recognition Program funds, Merit Award Program |
| 1566 | funds, and the minimum guarantee funds, for all districts by the |
| 1567 | state total FTE student count. |
| 1568 | 5. For districts that have a levy value per FTE as |
| 1569 | calculated in subparagraph 1. higher than the state average |
| 1570 | calculated in subparagraph 2., a sparsity wealth adjustment |
| 1571 | shall be calculated as the product of the difference between the |
| 1572 | state average levy value per FTE calculated in subparagraph 2. |
| 1573 | and the district's levy value per FTE calculated in subparagraph |
| 1574 | 1. and the district's FTE student count and -1. However, no |
| 1575 | district shall have a sparsity wealth adjustment that, when |
| 1576 | applied to the total potential funds calculated in subparagraph |
| 1577 | 3., would cause the district's total potential funds per FTE to |
| 1578 | be less than the state average calculated in subparagraph 4. |
| 1579 | 6. Each district's sparsity supplement allocation shall be |
| 1580 | calculated by adding the amount calculated as specified in |
| 1581 | paragraphs (a) and (b) and the wealth adjustment amount |
| 1582 | calculated in this paragraph. |
| 1583 | (12) TOTAL ALLOCATION OF STATE FUNDS TO EACH DISTRICT FOR |
| 1584 | CURRENT OPERATION.-The total annual state allocation to each |
| 1585 | district for current operation for the FEFP shall be distributed |
| 1586 | periodically in the manner prescribed in the General |
| 1587 | Appropriations Act. |
| 1588 | (a) If the funds appropriated for current operation of the |
| 1589 | FEFP are not sufficient to pay the state requirement in full, |
| 1590 | the department shall prorate the available state funds to each |
| 1591 | district in the following manner: |
| 1592 | 1. Determine the percentage of proration by dividing the |
| 1593 | sum of the total amount for current operation, as provided in |
| 1594 | this paragraph for all districts collectively, and the total |
| 1595 | district required local effort into the sum of the state funds |
| 1596 | available for current operation and the total district required |
| 1597 | local effort. |
| 1598 | 2. Multiply the percentage so determined by the sum of the |
| 1599 | total amount for current operation as provided in this paragraph |
| 1600 | and the required local effort for each individual district. |
| 1601 | 3. From the product of such multiplication, subtract the |
| 1602 | required local effort of each district; and the remainder shall |
| 1603 | be the amount of state funds allocated to the district for |
| 1604 | current operation. However, no calculation subsequent to the |
| 1605 | appropriation shall result in negative state funds for any |
| 1606 | district. |
| 1607 | (13) COMPUTATION OF PRIOR YEAR DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL |
| 1608 | EFFORT.-Calculations required in this section shall be based on |
| 1609 | 95 percent of the taxable value for school purposes for fiscal |
| 1610 | years prior to the 2010-2011 fiscal year. |
| 1611 | Section 26. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section |
| 1612 | 1011.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1613 | 1011.64 School district minimum classroom expenditure |
| 1614 | requirements.- |
| 1615 | (4) In order for the Department of Education to monitor |
| 1616 | the implementation of this section, each school district which |
| 1617 | is required to increase emphasis on classroom activities from |
| 1618 | operating funds pursuant to subsection (1) shall submit to the |
| 1619 | department the following two reports in a format determined by |
| 1620 | the department: |
| 1621 | (a) An initial report, which shall include the proposed |
| 1622 | budget actions identified for increased classroom expenditures, |
| 1623 | a description of how such actions are designed to improve |
| 1624 | student achievement, and a copy of the published statement |
| 1625 | required by s. 1011.03(2)(3). This report shall be submitted |
| 1626 | within 30 days after final budget approval as provided in s. |
| 1627 | 200.065. |
| 1628 | Section 27. Section 1011.66, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 1629 | to read: |
| 1630 | 1011.66 Distribution of FEFP funds.-The distribution of |
| 1631 | FEFP funds shall be made in payments on or about the 10th and |
| 1632 | 26th of each month. Upon the request of any school district |
| 1633 | whose net state FEFP funding is less than 60 percent of its |
| 1634 | gross state and local FEFP funding, the Department of Education |
| 1635 | shall distribute to that school district in the first quarter of |
| 1636 | the fiscal year an amount from the funds appropriated for the |
| 1637 | FEFP in the General Appropriations Act up to a maximum of 15 |
| 1638 | percent of that school district's gross state and local FEFP |
| 1639 | funding or that school district's net state FEFP funding, |
| 1640 | whichever is less. |
| 1641 | Section 28. Subsection (1) of section 1011.67, Florida |
| 1642 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1643 | 1011.67 Funds for instructional materials.- |
| 1644 | (1) The department is authorized to allocate and |
| 1645 | distribute to each district an amount as prescribed annually by |
| 1646 | the Legislature for instructional materials for student |
| 1647 | membership in basic and special programs in grades K-12, which |
| 1648 | will provide for growth and maintenance needs. For purposes of |
| 1649 | this subsection, unweighted full-time equivalent students |
| 1650 | enrolled in the lab schools in state universities are to be |
| 1651 | included as school district students and reported as such to the |
| 1652 | department. These funds shall be distributed to school districts |
| 1653 | as follows: 50 percent on or about July 10; 35 percent on or |
| 1654 | about October 10; 10 percent on or about January 10; and 5 |
| 1655 | percent on or about June 10. The annual allocation shall be |
| 1656 | determined as follows: |
| 1657 | (a) The growth allocation for each school district shall |
| 1658 | be calculated as follows: |
| 1659 | 1. Subtract from that district's projected full-time |
| 1660 | equivalent membership of students in basic and special programs |
| 1661 | in grades K-12 used in determining the initial allocation of the |
| 1662 | Florida Education Finance Program, the prior year's full-time |
| 1663 | equivalent membership of students in basic and special programs |
| 1664 | in grades K-12 for that district. |
| 1665 | 2. Multiply any such increase in full-time equivalent |
| 1666 | student membership by the allocation for a set of instructional |
| 1667 | materials, as determined by the department, or as provided for |
| 1668 | in the General Appropriations Act. |
| 1669 | 3. The amount thus determined shall be that district's |
| 1670 | initial allocation for growth for the school year. However, the |
| 1671 | department shall recompute and adjust the initial allocation |
| 1672 | based on actual full-time equivalent student membership data for |
| 1673 | that year. |
| 1674 | (b) The maintenance of the instructional materials |
| 1675 | allocation for each school district shall be calculated by |
| 1676 | multiplying each district's prior year full-time equivalent |
| 1677 | membership of students in basic and special programs in grades |
| 1678 | K-12 by the allocation for maintenance of a set of instructional |
| 1679 | materials as provided for in the General Appropriations Act. The |
| 1680 | amount thus determined shall be that district's initial |
| 1681 | allocation for maintenance for the school year; however, the |
| 1682 | department shall recompute and adjust the initial allocation |
| 1683 | based on such actual full-time equivalent student membership |
| 1684 | data for that year. |
| 1685 | (c) In the event the funds appropriated are not sufficient |
| 1686 | for the purpose of implementing this subsection in full, the |
| 1687 | department shall prorate the funds available for instructional |
| 1688 | materials after first funding in full each district's growth |
| 1689 | allocation. |
| 1690 | Section 29. Subsection (2) of section 1011.68, Florida |
| 1691 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1692 | 1011.68 Funds for student transportation.-The annual |
| 1693 | allocation to each district for transportation to public school |
| 1694 | programs, including charter schools as provided in s. |
| 1695 | 1002.33(17)(b), of students in membership in kindergarten |
| 1696 | through grade 12 and in migrant and exceptional student programs |
| 1697 | below kindergarten shall be determined as follows: |
| 1698 | (2) The allocation for each district shall be calculated |
| 1699 | annually in accordance with the following formula: |
| 1700 | T = B + EX. The elements of this formula are defined as |
| 1701 | follows: T is the total dollar allocation for transportation. B |
| 1702 | is the base transportation dollar allocation prorated by an |
| 1703 | adjusted student membership count. The adjusted membership count |
| 1704 | shall be derived from a multiplicative index function in which |
| 1705 | the base student membership is adjusted by multiplying it by |
| 1706 | index numbers that individually account for the impact of the |
| 1707 | price level index, average bus occupancy, and the extent of |
| 1708 | rural population in the district. EX is the base transportation |
| 1709 | dollar allocation for disabled students prorated by an adjusted |
| 1710 | disabled student membership count. The base transportation |
| 1711 | dollar allocation for disabled students is the total state base |
| 1712 | disabled student membership count weighted for increased costs |
| 1713 | associated with transporting disabled students and multiplying |
| 1714 | it by an the prior year's average per student cost for |
| 1715 | transportation as determined by the Legislature. The adjusted |
| 1716 | disabled student membership count shall be derived from a |
| 1717 | multiplicative index function in which the weighted base |
| 1718 | disabled student membership is adjusted by multiplying it by |
| 1719 | index numbers that individually account for the impact of the |
| 1720 | price level index, average bus occupancy, and the extent of |
| 1721 | rural population in the district. Each adjustment factor shall |
| 1722 | be designed to affect the base allocation by no more or less |
| 1723 | than 10 percent. |
| 1724 | Section 30. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) and paragraph |
| 1725 | (b) of subsection (3) of section 1011.71, Florida Statutes, are |
| 1726 | amended to read: |
| 1727 | 1011.71 District school tax.- |
| 1728 | (2) In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in |
| 1729 | subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 1.5 |
| 1730 | mills against the taxable value for school purposes for district |
| 1731 | schools, including charter schools at the discretion of the |
| 1732 | school board, to fund: |
| 1733 | (d) Effective July 1, 2008, The purchase, lease-purchase, |
| 1734 | or lease of new and replacement equipment; computer hardware, |
| 1735 | including electronic hardware and other hardware devices |
| 1736 | necessary for gaining access to or enhancing the use of |
| 1737 | electronic content and resources or to facilitate the access to |
| 1738 | and the use of a school district's electronic learning |
| 1739 | management system pursuant to s. 1006.281, excluding software |
| 1740 | other than the operating system necessary to operate the |
| 1741 | hardware or device;, and enterprise resource software |
| 1742 | applications that are classified as capital assets in accordance |
| 1743 | with definitions of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, |
| 1744 | have a useful life of at least 5 years, and are used to support |
| 1745 | districtwide administration or state-mandated reporting |
| 1746 | requirements. |
| 1747 | (3) |
| 1748 | (b) In addition to the millage authorized in this section, |
| 1749 | each district school board may, by a super majority vote, levy |
| 1750 | an additional 0.25 mills for critical capital outlay needs or |
| 1751 | for critical operating needs. If levied for capital outlay, |
| 1752 | expenditures shall be subject to the requirements of this |
| 1753 | section. If levied for operations, expenditures shall be |
| 1754 | consistent with the requirements for operating funds received |
| 1755 | pursuant to s. 1011.62. If the district levies this additional |
| 1756 | 0.25 mills for operations, the compression adjustment pursuant |
| 1757 | to s. 1011.62(5) shall be calculated and added to the district's |
| 1758 | FEFP allocation. Millage levied pursuant to this paragraph is |
| 1759 | subject to the provisions of s. 200.065. In order to be |
| 1760 | continued after the 2010-2011 fiscal year, millage levied |
| 1761 | pursuant to this paragraph must be approved by the voters of the |
| 1762 | district at the 2010 next general election or at a subsequent |
| 1763 | election held at any time, except that not more than one such |
| 1764 | election shall be held during any 12-month period. Any millage |
| 1765 | so authorized shall be levied for a period not in excess of 2 |
| 1766 | years or until changed by another millage election, whichever is |
| 1767 | earlier. If any such election is invalidated by a court of |
| 1768 | competent jurisdiction, such invalidated election shall be |
| 1769 | considered not to have been held. |
| 1770 | Section 31. Subsection (2) of section 1011.73, Florida |
| 1771 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1772 | 1011.73 District millage elections.- |
| 1773 | (2) MILLAGE AUTHORIZED NOT TO EXCEED 4 YEARS.-The district |
| 1774 | school board, pursuant to resolution adopted at a regular |
| 1775 | meeting, shall direct the county commissioners to call an |
| 1776 | election at which the electors within the school district may |
| 1777 | approve an ad valorem tax millage as authorized under s. |
| 1778 | 1011.71(9)(8). Such election may be held at any time, except |
| 1779 | that not more than one such election shall be held during any |
| 1780 | 12-month period. Any millage so authorized shall be levied for a |
| 1781 | period not in excess of 4 years or until changed by another |
| 1782 | millage election, whichever is earlier. If any such election is |
| 1783 | invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, such |
| 1784 | invalidated election shall be considered not to have been held. |
| 1785 | Section 32. Paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of section |
| 1786 | 1012.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1787 | 1012.33 Contracts with instructional staff, supervisors, |
| 1788 | and school principals.- |
| 1789 | (3) |
| 1790 | (g) Beginning July 1, 2001, for each employee who enters |
| 1791 | into a written contract, pursuant to this section, in a school |
| 1792 | district in which the employee was not employed as of June 30, |
| 1793 | 2001, or was employed as of June 30, 2001, but has since broken |
| 1794 | employment with that district for 1 school year or more, for |
| 1795 | purposes of pay, a district school board must recognize and |
| 1796 | accept each year of full-time public school teaching service |
| 1797 | earned in the State of Florida for which the employee received a |
| 1798 | satisfactory performance evaluation; however, an employee may |
| 1799 | voluntarily waive this provision. Instructional personnel |
| 1800 | employed pursuant to s. 121.091(9)(b) and (c) are exempt from |
| 1801 | the provisions of this paragraph. |
| 1802 | Section 33. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section |
| 1803 | 1012.467, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1804 | 1012.467 Noninstructional contractors who are permitted |
| 1805 | access to school grounds when students are present; background |
| 1806 | screening requirements.- |
| 1807 | (7)(a) The Department of Law Enforcement shall implement a |
| 1808 | system that allows for the results of a criminal history check |
| 1809 | provided to a school district to be shared with other school |
| 1810 | districts through a secure Internet website or other secure |
| 1811 | electronic means. The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt |
| 1812 | rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this |
| 1813 | paragraph. School districts must accept reciprocity of level 2 |
| 1814 | screenings for Florida High School Athletic Association |
| 1815 | officials. |
| 1816 | Section 34. Subsection (1) of section 1012.55, Florida |
| 1817 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1818 | 1012.55 Positions for which certificates required.- |
| 1819 | (1) The State Board of Education shall classify school |
| 1820 | services, designate the certification subject areas, establish |
| 1821 | competencies, including the use of technology to enhance student |
| 1822 | learning, and certification requirements for all school-based |
| 1823 | personnel, and adopt rules in accordance with which the |
| 1824 | professional, temporary, and part-time certificates shall be |
| 1825 | issued by the Department of Education to applicants who meet the |
| 1826 | standards prescribed by such rules for their class of service. |
| 1827 | Each person employed or occupying a position as school |
| 1828 | supervisor, school principal, teacher, library media specialist, |
| 1829 | school counselor, athletic coach, or other position in which the |
| 1830 | employee serves in an instructional capacity, in any public |
| 1831 | school of any district of this state shall hold the certificate |
| 1832 | required by law and by rules of the State Board of Education in |
| 1833 | fulfilling the requirements of the law for the type of service |
| 1834 | rendered. Such positions include personnel providing direct |
| 1835 | instruction to students through a virtual environment or through |
| 1836 | a blended virtual and physical environment. The Department of |
| 1837 | Education shall identify appropriate educator certification for |
| 1838 | the instruction of specified courses in an annual publication of |
| 1839 | a directory of course code numbers for all programs and courses |
| 1840 | that are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program. |
| 1841 | However, the state board shall adopt rules authorizing district |
| 1842 | school boards to employ selected noncertificated personnel to |
| 1843 | provide instructional services in the individuals' fields of |
| 1844 | specialty or to assist instructional staff members as education |
| 1845 | paraprofessionals. |
| 1846 | Section 35. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section |
| 1847 | 1013.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 1848 | 1013.62 Charter schools capital outlay funding.- |
| 1849 | (1) In each year in which funds are appropriated for |
| 1850 | charter school capital outlay purposes, the Commissioner of |
| 1851 | Education shall allocate the funds among eligible charter |
| 1852 | schools. |
| 1853 | (a) To be eligible for a funding allocation, a charter |
| 1854 | school must: |
| 1855 | 1.a. Have been in operation for 3 or more years; |
| 1856 | b. Be governed by a governing board established in the |
| 1857 | state for 3 or more years which operates both charter schools |
| 1858 | and conversion charter schools within the state; |
| 1859 | c. Be an expanded feeder chain of a charter school within |
| 1860 | the same school district that is currently receiving charter |
| 1861 | school capital outlay funds; or |
| 1862 | d. Have been accredited by the Commission on Schools of |
| 1863 | the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or |
| 1864 | e. Serve students in facilities that are provided by a |
| 1865 | business partner for a charter school-in-the-workplace pursuant |
| 1866 | to s. 1002.33(15)(b). |
| 1867 | 2. Have financial stability for future operation as a |
| 1868 | charter school. |
| 1869 | 3. Have satisfactory student achievement based on state |
| 1870 | accountability standards applicable to the charter school. |
| 1871 | 4. Have received final approval from its sponsor pursuant |
| 1872 | to s. 1002.33 for operation during that fiscal year. |
| 1873 | 5. Serve students in facilities that are not provided by |
| 1874 | the charter school's sponsor. |
| 1875 | Section 36. Special Facility Construction Account study.- |
| 1876 | The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government |
| 1877 | Accountability (OPPAGA) shall conduct a study of the Special |
| 1878 | Facility Construction Account program to examine the |
| 1879 | effectiveness of s. 1013.64(2), Florida Statutes, and shall |
| 1880 | provide recommendations. The study shall examine the criteria to |
| 1881 | determine program eligibility; the criteria to determine project |
| 1882 | eligibility; the procedures used to evaluate potential projects; |
| 1883 | the procedures for determining the priority list; and whether, |
| 1884 | historically, the funded projects were needed by the districts |
| 1885 | based on student enrollment data, age, and usefulness of |
| 1886 | district facilities at the time of the request, on the |
| 1887 | district's educational plant survey, or on other relevant |
| 1888 | information. OPPAGA should also make recommendations for |
| 1889 | improving the process of providing appropriations for projects |
| 1890 | under the Special Facility Construction Account. OPPAGA shall |
| 1891 | submit the results of the study to the President of the Senate, |
| 1892 | the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Executive |
| 1893 | Office of the Governor no later than January 31, 2011. |
| 1894 | Section 37. The Commissioner of Education is authorized to |
| 1895 | administer a one-time student transportation survey for the |
| 1896 | Jefferson County School District to serve as a substitute for |
| 1897 | the statewide, scheduled October and February surveys which were |
| 1898 | omitted by the district. The survey process shall be conducted |
| 1899 | according to standard survey procedures, and the result shall be |
| 1900 | incorporated into the 2009-2010 student transportation final |
| 1901 | calculation. Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 1011.68(5), |
| 1902 | Florida Statutes, from the funds generated from the |
| 1903 | transportation survey, the school district shall use $50,000 to |
| 1904 | contract for consulting services to assist in the management of |
| 1905 | school district operations for 2010-2011. The consultant or |
| 1906 | consulting group shall be approved by the Commissioner of |
| 1907 | Education. |
| 1908 | Section 38. There is appropriated $21,244,177 in |
| 1909 | nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund for the 2010- |
| 1910 | 2011 fiscal year to award bonuses to effective teachers through |
| 1911 | the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program pursuant to s. |
| 1912 | 1012.72, Florida Statutes. |
| 1913 | Section 39. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
| 1914 | act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2010. |