Florida Senate - 2015 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 948
Ì4490925Î449092
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/10/2015 .
.
.
.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (Gaetz) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Subsections (2), (7), and (10) of section
6 282.0051, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7 282.0051 Agency for State Technology; powers, duties, and
8 functions.—The Agency for State Technology shall have the
9 following powers, duties, and functions:
10 (2) Establish and publish information technology
11 architecture standards that:
12 (a) to Provide for the most efficient use of the state’s
13 information technology resources and that to ensure
14 compatibility and alignment with the needs of state agencies.
15 The agency shall assist state agencies in complying with the
16 standards.
17 (b) Address for purposes of implementing digital classrooms
18 under s. 1011.62(12) issues that include, but are not limited
19 to, device recommendations, security requirements, connectivity
20 requirements, and browser expectations. Such standards must be
21 published by December 1, 2015.
22 (7)(a) Participate with the Department of Management
23 Services in evaluating, conducting, and negotiating competitive
24 solicitations for state term contracts for information
25 technology commodities, consultant services, or staff
26 augmentation contractual services pursuant to s. 287.0591.
27 (b) Collaborate with the Department of Management Services
28 in information technology resource acquisition planning.
29 (c) Collaborate with the Department of Education and the
30 Department of Management Services to identify:
31 1. State term contract procurement options that are
32 available to school districts which provide information
33 technology commodities, consultant services, or staff
34 augmentation contractual services that support the information
35 technology architecture standards applicable to digital
36 classrooms.
37 2. Shared services available to school districts through
38 the State Data Center to facilitate the implementation of school
39 district digital classrooms plans.
40 (10)(a) Beginning July 1, 2016, and annually thereafter,
41 conduct annual assessments of state agencies to determine
42 compliance with all information technology standards and
43 guidelines developed and published by the agency, and beginning
44 December 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, provide results of
45 the assessments to the Executive Office of the Governor, the
46 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
47 Representatives.
48 (b) Include in the annual assessment of the Department of
49 Education under paragraph (a), the status of statewide
50 implementation of digital classrooms and each school district’s
51 status of compliance with the information technology
52 architecture standards identified under paragraph (2)(b),
53 planning guidance to address identified gaps, and
54 recommendations for improving cost efficiencies pursuant to s.
55 282.0052.
56 Section 2. Section 282.00515, Florida Statutes, is amended
57 to read:
58 282.00515 Duties of Cabinet agencies.—The Department of
59 Legal Affairs, the Department of Financial Services, and the
60 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall adopt the
61 standards established in s. 282.0051(2)(a) s. 282.0051(2), (3),
62 and (8) or adopt alternative standards based on best practices
63 and industry standards, and may contract with the Agency for
64 State Technology to provide or perform any of the services and
65 functions described in s. 282.0051 for the Department of Legal
66 Affairs, the Department of Financial Services, or the Department
67 of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
68
69
70 Section 3. Section 282.0052, Florida Statutes, is created
71 to read:
72 282.0052 Digital classrooms information technology
73 architecture standards.—
74 (1) Beginning July 1, 2015, the Agency for State
75 Technology, or an independent third-party professional
76 organization that the agency contracts with, shall:
77 (a) Consult with the Department of Education to identify
78 information technology architecture standards pursuant to s.
79 282.0051 for the successful implementation of digital
80 classrooms, pursuant to s. 1011.62(12), in public schools within
81 the state beginning in the 2016-2017 school year. Such standards
82 must include, but are not limited to, device recommendations,
83 security requirements, connectivity requirements, and browser
84 expectations.
85 (b) Perform an annual assessment of the state 5-year
86 strategic plan developed pursuant to s. 1001.20 and school
87 district digital classrooms plan adopted pursuant to s.
88 1011.62(12) to determine the digital readiness of school
89 districts and their compliance with the information technology
90 architecture standards identified under paragraph (a). The
91 digital readiness of school districts must be assessed using the
92 digital readiness scorecard established under s. 1001.20(4)(a).
93 (c) Provide prospective planning guidance and technical
94 assistance to the Department of Education, school districts, and
95 public schools regarding identified gaps in technology
96 infrastructure and recommended improvements to meet the
97 information technology architecture standards identified under
98 paragraph (a).
99 (d) Summarize and report, by May 1, 2016, for the 2015-2016
100 school year, and by December 1 for each school year thereafter,
101 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
102 the House of Representatives:
103 1. The status of technology infrastructure of school
104 districts and public schools within the state.
105 2. Recommendations for improving cost efficiencies and
106 maximizing investments in technology by the state and school
107 districts to establish digital classrooms.
108 (2) For the 2015-2016 school year, the Agency for State
109 Technology must provide the status of technology infrastructure
110 information regarding implementation of digital classrooms
111 statewide and by each school district to the Commissioner of
112 Education by April 1, 2016. For each school year thereafter, the
113 status of technology infrastructure information must be provided
114 to the commissioner by November 1 of each year.
115 (3) For the 2015-2016 school year, the Department of
116 Education must provide to each school district the status of the
117 statewide implementation of digital classrooms and the school
118 district’s status regarding compliance with the information
119 technology architecture standards identified under paragraph
120 (1)(a) by June 1, 2016. For each school year thereafter, the
121 Department of Education must notify a school district regarding
122 compliance with the information technology architecture
123 standards by January 1 of each year. In addition, the Department
124 of Education must provide planning guidance to address
125 identified gaps and recommendations for improving cost
126 efficiencies in accordance with subsection (1) to each school
127 district. If the annual assessment indicates that a school
128 district is not in compliance with the information technology
129 architecture standards identified under paragraph (1)(a), the
130 school district must, within 60 days from the date of receipt of
131 such notification from the Department of Education become
132 compliant; obtain an exemption to waive compliance from the
133 Department of Education; or procure services through the agency
134 or the Department of Management Services to achieve compliance.
135 Section 4. Subsections (2), (4), (5), (6), and (9) of
136 section 446.021, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
137 446.021 Definitions of terms used in ss. 446.011-446.092.
138 As used in ss. 446.011-446.092, the term:
139 (2) “Apprentice” means a person at least 16 years of age
140 who is engaged in learning a recognized skilled trade through
141 actual work experience under the supervision of journeyworker
142 journeymen craftsmen, which training should be combined with
143 properly coordinated studies of related technical and
144 supplementary subjects, and who has entered into a written
145 agreement, which may be cited as an apprentice agreement, with a
146 registered apprenticeship sponsor who may be either an employer,
147 an association of employers, or a local joint apprenticeship
148 committee.
149 (4) “Journeyworker” “Journeyman” means a worker who has
150 attained certain skills, abilities, and competencies and who is
151 recognized within an industry as having mastered the skills and
152 competencies required for the occupation, including, but not
153 limited to, attainment of a nationally recognized industry
154 certification. The term includes a mentor, technician,
155 specialist, or other skilled worker who has documented
156 sufficient skills and knowledge of an occupation, through formal
157 apprenticeship, attainment of a nationally recognized industry
158 certification, or through practical, on-the-job experience or
159 formal training a person working in an apprenticeable occupation
160 who has successfully completed a registered apprenticeship
161 program or who has worked the number of years required by
162 established industry practices for the particular trade or
163 occupation.
164 (5) “Preapprenticeship program” means an organized course
165 of instruction, including, but not limited to, industry
166 certifications identified under s. 1008.44, in the public school
167 system or elsewhere, which course is designed to prepare a
168 person 16 years of age or older to become an apprentice and
169 which course is approved by and registered with the department
170 and sponsored by a registered apprenticeship program.
171 (6) “Apprenticeship program” means an organized course of
172 instruction, including, but not limited to, industry
173 certifications identified under s. 1008.44, registered and
174 approved by the department, which course shall contain all terms
175 and conditions for the qualifications, recruitment, selection,
176 employment, and training of apprentices including such matters
177 as the requirements for a written apprenticeship agreement.
178 (9) “Related instruction” means an organized and systematic
179 form of instruction designed to provide the apprentice with
180 knowledge of the theoretical and technical subjects related to a
181 specific trade or occupation. Such instruction may be given in a
182 classroom, through occupational or industrial courses, or by
183 correspondence courses of equivalent value, including electronic
184 media or other forms of self-study instruction approved by the
185 department.
186 Section 5. Section 446.032, Florida Statutes, is amended to
187 read:
188 446.032 General duties of the department for apprenticeship
189 training.—The department shall:
190 (1) Establish uniform minimum standards and policies
191 governing apprentice programs and agreements. The standards and
192 policies shall govern the terms and conditions of the
193 apprentice’s employment and training, including the quality
194 training of the apprentice for, but not limited to, such matters
195 as ratios of apprentices to journeyworkers journeymen, safety,
196 related instruction, and on-the-job training; but these
197 standards and policies may not include rules, standards, or
198 guidelines that require the use of apprentices and job trainees
199 on state, county, or municipal contracts. The department may
200 adopt rules necessary to administer the standards and policies.
201 (2) Establish procedures to be used by the State
202 Apprenticeship Advisory Council.
203 (3) Collaborate with the Department of Economic Opportunity
204 to identify, develop, and register apprenticeship programs that
205 are aligned with statewide demand for a skilled labor force in
206 high-demand occupations and with regional workforce needs.
207 Beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the department shall
208 annually, by December 31, submit an accountability report, which
209 must include information related to program usage, student
210 demographics and performance outcomes, and program requirements
211 for the existing apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs
212 and the development of new programs. The report must include
213 regional information about program and student performance
214 outcomes. The report must be submitted to the Governor, the
215 President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
216 Representatives, and the Higher Education Coordinating Council.
217 (4) Post on its Internet website information regarding
218 apprenticeship programs, which must, at a minimum, include:
219 (a) Program admission requirements;
220 (b) Program standards and training requirements; and
221 (c) A summary of program and student performance outcomes.
222 Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
223 446.045, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
224 446.045 State Apprenticeship Advisory Council.—
225 (2)
226 (b) The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner’s
227 designee shall serve ex officio as chair of the State
228 Apprenticeship Advisory Council, but may not vote. The state
229 director of the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States
230 Department of Labor shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member
231 of the council. The Governor shall appoint to the council four
232 members representing employee organizations and four members
233 representing employer organizations. Each of these eight members
234 shall represent industries that have registered apprenticeship
235 programs. The Governor shall also appoint two public members who
236 are knowledgeable about registered apprenticeship and
237 apprenticeable occupations, who are independent of any joint or
238 nonjoint organization one of whom shall be recommended by joint
239 organizations, and one of whom shall be recommended by nonjoint
240 organizations. Members shall be appointed for 4-year staggered
241 terms. A vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the
242 unexpired term.
243 Section 7. Subsections (5) and (6) are added to section
244 446.052, Florida Statutes, to read:
245 446.052 Preapprenticeship program.—
246 (5) The department shall collaborate with the Department of
247 Economic Opportunity to identify, develop, and register
248 preapprenticeship programs that are aligned with statewide
249 demand for a skilled labor force in high-demand occupations and
250 with regional workforce needs. Beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal
251 year, the department shall annually, by December 31, submit an
252 accountability report, which must include information related to
253 program usage, student demographics and performance outcomes,
254 and program requirements for the existing apprenticeship and
255 preapprenticeship programs and the development of new programs.
256 The report must include regional information about program and
257 student performance outcomes. The report must be submitted to
258 the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
259 House of Representatives, and the Higher Education Coordinating
260 Council.
261 (6) The department shall post on its Internet website
262 information regarding preapprenticeship programs, which must, at
263 a minimum, include:
264 (a) Program admission requirements;
265 (b) Program standards and training requirements; and
266 (c) A summary of program and student performance outcomes.
267 Section 8. Preapprenticeship and apprenticeship operational
268 report.—(1) By December 31, 2015, the Department of Education,
269 in collaboration with the Department of Economic Opportunity and
270 CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall submit an operational report
271 to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
272 House of Representatives, and the Higher Education Coordinating
273 Council providing:
274 (a) A summary of the activities and coordination between
275 the two agencies to identify, develop, register, and administer
276 preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs over the last 5
277 years.
278 (b) The strategies employed by the two agencies to engage
279 school districts, Florida College System institutions, technical
280 centers, businesses, and other stakeholders as partners in the
281 workforce system to expand employment opportunities for
282 individuals, including, but not limited to, those individuals
283 with unique abilities, which must include work-based learning
284 experiences, such as preapprenticeships and apprenticeships.
285 (c) Recommendations to maximize the resources of the two
286 agencies to gain efficiency in program development,
287 administration, and funding and make program governance changes
288 to improve the delivery and management of preapprenticeship and
289 apprenticeship programs based on workforce demands. These
290 recommendations must take into account federal resources and
291 must include any necessary or suggested changes to the programs
292 ensuing from implementation of the Workforce Innovation and
293 Opportunity Act of 2014 and related regulations.
294 (d) Recommendations and strategies for the two agencies to
295 communicate effectively with employers in this state and ensure
296 that employers have access to information and consultative
297 services, at no cost to the employers, regarding sponsorship of
298 demand-driven, registered preapprenticeship and apprenticeship
299 programs and information about the availability of program
300 students for employment.
301 (e) An evaluation of the feasibility of linking or
302 incorporating, and of the resources necessary to link or
303 incorporate, the Department of Education’s website information
304 on preapprenticeship and apprenticeship programs with the
305 Department of Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida,
306 Inc., workforce information system required under chapter 445,
307 Florida Statutes.
308 (2) This section expires on July 1, 2016.
309 Section 9. Subsection (4) is added to section 446.081,
310 Florida Statutes, to read:
311 446.081 Limitation.—
312 (4) Nothing in ss. 446.011-446.092 or the implementing
313 rules in these sections shall operate to invalidate any special
314 provision for veterans, minority persons, or women in the
315 standards, qualifications, or operation of the apprenticeship
316 program or in the apprenticeship agreement which is not
317 otherwise prohibited by law, executive order, or authorized
318 regulation.
319 Section 10. Section 446.091, Florida Statutes, is amended
320 to read:
321 446.091 On-the-job training program.—All provisions of ss.
322 446.011-446.092 relating to apprenticeship and
323 preapprenticeship, including, but not limited to, programs,
324 agreements, standards, administration, procedures, definitions,
325 expenditures, local committees, powers and duties, limitations,
326 grievances, and ratios of apprentices and job trainees to
327 journeyworkers journeymen on state, county, and municipal
328 contracts, shall be appropriately adapted and made applicable to
329 a program of on-the-job training authorized under those
330 provisions for persons other than apprentices.
331 Section 11. Section 446.092, Florida Statutes, is amended
332 to read:
333 446.092 Criteria for apprenticeship occupations.—An
334 apprenticeable occupation is a skilled trade which possesses all
335 of the following characteristics:
336 (1) It is customarily learned in a practical way through a
337 structured, systematic program of on-the-job, supervised
338 training.
339 (2) It is clearly identified and commonly recognized
340 throughout an the industry, and may be associated with a
341 nationally recognized industry certification or recognized with
342 a positive view towards changing technology.
343 (3) It involves manual, mechanical, or technical skills and
344 knowledge which, in accordance with the industry standard for
345 the occupation, requires require a minimum of 2,000 hours of on
346 the-job work and training, which hours are excluded from the
347 time spent at related instruction.
348 (4) It requires related instruction to supplement on-the
349 job training. Such instruction may be given in a classroom,
350 through occupational or industrial courses, or through
351 correspondence courses of equivalent value, including electronic
352 media or other forms of self-study instruction approved by the
353 department.
354 (5) It involves the development of skill sufficiently broad
355 to be applicable in like occupations throughout an industry,
356 rather than of restricted application to the products or
357 services of any one company.
358 (6) It does not fall into any of the following categories:
359 (a) Selling, retailing, or similar occupations in the
360 distributive field.
361 (b) Managerial occupations.
362 (c) Professional and scientific vocations for which
363 entrance requirements customarily require an academic degree.
364 Section 12. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
365 1001.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
366 1001.20 Department under direction of state board.—
367 (4) The Department of Education shall establish the
368 following offices within the Office of the Commissioner of
369 Education which shall coordinate their activities with all other
370 divisions and offices:
371 (a) Office of Technology and Information Services.—
372 1. Responsible for developing a 5-year strategic plan, in
373 consultation with the Agency for State Technology, to
374 incorporate the minimum information technology architecture
375 standards for the successful implementation of digital
376 classrooms to improve student performance outcomes under s.
377 1011.62(12) for establishing Florida digital classrooms by
378 October 1, 2014, and annually updating the plan by January 1
379 each year thereafter. The Florida digital classrooms plan shall
380 be provided to each school district and published on the
381 department’s website. The plan must:
382 a. Describe how technology will be integrated into
383 classroom teaching and learning to assist the state in improving
384 student performance outcomes and enable all students in Florida
385 to be digital learners with access to digital tools and
386 resources.
387 b. Identify minimum information technology architecture
388 standards requirements, which that include specifications for
389 hardware, software, devices, networking, security, and bandwidth
390 capacity and guidelines for the ratio of students per device.
391 The Office of Technology and Information Services shall consult
392 with the Agency for State Technology in identifying minimum
393 information technology architecture standards.
394 c. Establish minimum requirements for professional
395 development opportunities and training to assist district
396 instructional personnel and staff with the integration of
397 technology into classroom teaching.
398 d. Identify the types of digital tools and resources that
399 can assist district instructional personnel and staff in the
400 management, assessment, and monitoring of student learning and
401 performance.
402 2. Responsible for making budget recommendations to the
403 commissioner, providing data collection and management for the
404 system, assisting school districts in securing Internet access
405 and telecommunications services, including those eligible for
406 funding under the Schools and Libraries Program of the federal
407 Universal Service Fund, and coordinating services with other
408 state, local, and private agencies.
409 3. Responsible for coordinating with the Agency for State
410 Technology to facilitate school districts’ access to state term
411 contract procurement options and shared services pursuant to s.
412 282.0051(7)(c).
413 4. Responsible for consulting with the Agency for State
414 Technology to establish uniform definitions of information
415 technology architecture components which must be incorporated
416 into the department’s 5-year strategic plan. The uniform
417 definitions must be incorporated by each charter school that
418 seeks Florida digital classrooms allocation funds and by each
419 district school board in the technology information annually
420 submitted to the department which includes, but is not limited
421 to, digital classroom plans and technology resources inventory.
422 5. Responsible for consulting with the Agency for State
423 Technology to create a digital readiness scorecard to compare
424 the digital readiness of school districts within the state. The
425 scorecard must use the uniform definitions identified under this
426 section and information technology architecture standards
427 identified under s. 282.0052(1)(a). At a minimum, the scorecard
428 must include the student-to-device ratio, the percentage of
429 schools within each district that meet bandwidth standards, the
430 percentage of classrooms within each district that meet wireless
431 standards, the refresh rate of devices, network capacity,
432 information storage capacity, and information security services.
433 Section 13. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
434 1001.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
435 1001.43 Supplemental powers and duties of district school
436 board.—The district school board may exercise the following
437 supplemental powers and duties as authorized by this code or
438 State Board of Education rule.
439 (1) STUDENT MANAGEMENT.—The district school board may adopt
440 programs and policies to ensure the safety and welfare of
441 individuals, the student body, and school personnel, which
442 programs and policies may:
443 (b) Require that the attire uniforms to be worn by the
444 student body conform to a standard student attire policy that
445 prohibits certain types or styles of clothing and requires solid
446 colored clothing and fabrics for pants, skirts, shorts, or
447 similar clothing and short or long sleeved shirts with collars.
448 The policy may authorize a small logo but may not authorize a
449 motto or slogan. The purpose of a standard student attire policy
450 is to provide a safe environment that fosters learning and
451 improves school safety and discipline by:
452 1. Encouraging students to express their individuality
453 through personality and academic achievements, rather than
454 outward appearance.
455 2. Enabling students to focus on academics, rather than
456 fashion, because they are able to project a neat, serious, and
457 studious image.
458 3. Minimizing disciplinary problems because students are
459 not distracted by clothing.
460 4. Reducing the time needed to correct dress code
461 violations through a readily available inventory of compliant
462 attire.
463 5. Minimizing visible differences and eliminating social
464 pressures to wear brand name clothing or “gang colors,” thereby
465 easing financial pressures on parents and enhancing school
466 safety.
467 6. Creating a sense of school pride and belonging.
468
469 A district school board may implement a standard student attire
470 policy as part of an overall program to foster and promote
471 desirable school operating conditions and a safe and supportive
472 educational environment. A standard student attire policy must
473 allow a parent to opt his or her student out of the policy for
474 religious purposes or by reason of a disability. A district
475 school board that implements a districtwide standard student
476 attire policy for all students in at least kindergarten through
477 eighth grade is immune from civil liability resulting from
478 adoption of the policy in accordance with this paragraph, or
479 impose other dress-related requirements, if the district school
480 board finds that those requirements are necessary for the safety
481 or welfare of the student body or school personnel. However,
482 Students may wear sunglasses, hats, or other sun-protective wear
483 while outdoors during school hours, such as when students are at
484 recess.
485 Section 14. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 1001.7065,
486 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
487 1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
488 (3) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION.—The
489 Board of Governors shall designate each state research
490 university that meets at least 11 of the 12 academic and
491 research excellence standards identified in subsection (2) and
492 that enters into and maintains a formal agreement with the
493 National Merit Scholarship Corporation to offer college
494 sponsored merit scholarship awards a preeminent state research
495 university.
496 (4) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE FOR
497 ONLINE LEARNING.—A state research university that, as of July 1,
498 2013, met meets all 12 of the academic and research excellence
499 standards identified in subsection (2), as verified by the Board
500 of Governors, shall establish an institute for online learning.
501 Continuation of the institute for online learning is contingent
502 upon a state research university entering into and maintaining a
503 formal agreement with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
504 to offer college-sponsored merit scholarship awards. The
505 institute shall establish a robust offering of high-quality,
506 fully online baccalaureate degree programs at an affordable cost
507 in accordance with this subsection.
508 (a) By August 1, 2013, the Board of Governors shall convene
509 an advisory board to support the development of high-quality,
510 fully online baccalaureate degree programs at the university.
511 (b) The advisory board shall:
512 1. Offer expert advice, as requested by the university, in
513 the development and implementation of a business plan to expand
514 the offering of high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree
515 programs.
516 2. Advise the Board of Governors on the release of funding
517 to the university upon approval by the Board of Governors of the
518 plan developed by the university.
519 3. Monitor, evaluate, and report on the implementation of
520 the plan to the Board of Governors, the Governor, the President
521 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
522 (c) The advisory board shall be composed of the following
523 five members:
524 1. The chair of the Board of Governors or the chair’s
525 permanent designee.
526 2. A member with expertise in online learning, appointed by
527 the Board of Governors.
528 3. A member with expertise in global marketing, appointed
529 by the Governor.
530 4. A member with expertise in cloud virtualization,
531 appointed by the President of the Senate.
532 5. A member with expertise in disruptive innovation,
533 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
534 (d) The president of the university shall be consulted on
535 the advisory board member appointments.
536 (e) A majority of the advisory board shall constitute a
537 quorum, elect the chair, and appoint an executive director.
538 (f) By September 1, 2013, the university shall submit to
539 the advisory board a comprehensive plan to expand high-quality,
540 fully online baccalaureate degree program offerings. The plan
541 shall include:
542 1. Existing on-campus general education courses and
543 baccalaureate degree programs that will be offered online.
544 2. New courses that will be developed and offered online.
545 3. Support services that will be offered to students
546 enrolled in online baccalaureate degree programs.
547 4. A tuition and fee structure that meets the requirements
548 in paragraph (k) for online courses, baccalaureate degree
549 programs, and student support services.
550 5. A timeline for offering, marketing, and enrolling
551 students in the online baccalaureate degree programs.
552 6. A budget for developing and marketing the online
553 baccalaureate degree programs.
554 7. Detailed strategies for ensuring the success of students
555 and the sustainability of the online baccalaureate degree
556 programs.
557
558 Upon recommendation of the plan by the advisory board and
559 approval by the Board of Governors, the Board of Governors shall
560 award the university $10 million in nonrecurring funds and $5
561 million in recurring funds for fiscal year 2013-2014 and $5
562 million annually thereafter, subject to appropriation in the
563 General Appropriations Act.
564 (g) Beginning in January 2014, the university shall offer
565 high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs that:
566 1. Accept full-time, first-time-in-college students.
567 2. Have the same rigorous admissions criteria as equivalent
568 on-campus degree programs.
569 3. Offer curriculum of equivalent rigor to on-campus degree
570 programs.
571 4. Offer rolling enrollment or multiple opportunities for
572 enrollment throughout the year.
573 5. Do not require any on-campus courses. However, for
574 courses or programs that require clinical training or
575 laboratories that cannot be delivered online, the university
576 shall offer convenient locational options to the student, which
577 may include, but are not limited to, the option to complete such
578 requirements at a summer-in-residence on the university campus.
579 The university may provide a network of sites at convenient
580 locations and contract with commercial testing centers or
581 identify other secure testing services for the purpose of
582 proctoring assessments or testing.
583 6. Apply the university’s existing policy for accepting
584 credits for both freshman applicants and transfer applicants.
585 (h) The university may offer a fully online Master’s in
586 Business Administration degree program and other master’s degree
587 programs.
588 (i) The university may develop and offer degree programs
589 and courses that are competency based as appropriate for the
590 quality and success of the program.
591 (j) The university shall periodically expand its offering
592 of online baccalaureate degree programs to meet student and
593 market demands.
594 (k) The university shall establish a tuition structure for
595 its online institute in accordance with this paragraph,
596 notwithstanding any other provision of law.
597 1. For students classified as residents for tuition
598 purposes, tuition for an online baccalaureate degree program
599 shall be set at no more than 75 percent of the tuition rate as
600 specified in the General Appropriations Act pursuant to s.
601 1009.24(4) and 75 percent of the tuition differential pursuant
602 to s. 1009.24(16). No distance learning fee, fee for campus
603 facilities, or fee for on-campus services may be assessed,
604 except that online students shall pay the university’s
605 technology fee, financial aid fee, and Capital Improvement Trust
606 Fund fee. The revenues generated from the Capital Improvement
607 Trust Fund fee shall be dedicated to the university’s institute
608 for online learning.
609 2. For students classified as nonresidents for tuition
610 purposes, tuition may be set at market rates in accordance with
611 the business plan.
612 3. Tuition for an online degree program shall include all
613 costs associated with instruction, materials, and enrollment,
614 excluding costs associated with the provision of textbooks and
615 instructional materials pursuant to s. 1004.085 and physical
616 laboratory supplies.
617 4. Subject to the limitations in subparagraph 1., tuition
618 may be differentiated by degree program as appropriate to the
619 instructional and other costs of the program in accordance with
620 the business plan. Pricing must incorporate innovative
621 approaches that incentivize persistence and completion,
622 including, but not limited to, a fee for assessment, a bundled
623 or all-inclusive rate, and sliding scale features.
624 5. The university must accept advance payment contracts and
625 student financial aid.
626 6. Fifty percent of the net revenues generated from the
627 online institute of the university shall be used to enhance and
628 enrich the online institute offerings, and 50 percent of the net
629 revenues generated from the online institute shall be used to
630 enhance and enrich the university’s campus state-of-the-art
631 research programs and facilities.
632 7. The institute may charge additional local user fees
633 pursuant to s. 1009.24(14) upon the approval of the Board of
634 Governors.
635 8. The institute shall submit a proposal to the president
636 of the university authorizing additional user fees for the
637 provision of voluntary student participation in activities and
638 additional student services.
639 Section 15. Paragraph (u) is added to subsection (2) of
640 section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, to read:
641 1003.42 Required instruction.—
642 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
643 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
644 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
645 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
646 highest standards for professionalism and historic accuracy,
647 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
648 approved methods of instruction, the following:
649 (u) The events surrounding the terrorist attacks occurring
650 on September 11, 2001, and the impact of those events on the
651 nation. This paragraph may be cited as the “Representative Clay
652 Ford, Jr., Memorial Act.”
653
654 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
655 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
656 Section 16. Section 1004.084, Florida Statutes, is created
657 to read:
658 1004.084 College affordability.—The Board of Governors and
659 State Board of Education shall continue to identify strategies
660 and initiatives to further ensure college affordability for all
661 Floridians.
662 (1) Specific strategies and initiatives to reduce the cost
663 of higher education must include, at a minimum, consideration of
664 the following:
665 (a) The impact of tuition and fee increases at state
666 colleges and universities, including graduate, professional,
667 medical, and law schools.
668 (b) The total cost of fees to a student and family at a
669 state university or a state college, including orientation fees.
670 (c) The cost of textbooks and instructional materials for
671 all students. The Board of Governors and State Board of
672 Education shall use the information provided pursuant to s.
673 1004.085(5) and (6) and consult with students, faculty,
674 bookstores, and publishers, to determine the best methods to
675 reduce costs and must, at a minimum, consider the following:
676 1. Any existing Florida College System or State University
677 System initiatives to reduce the cost of textbooks and
678 instructional materials.
679 2. Purchasing e-textbooks in bulk.
680 3. Expanding the use of open-access textbooks and
681 instructional materials.
682 4. The rental options for textbook and instructional
683 materials.
684 5. Increasing the availability and use of affordable
685 digital textbooks and learning objects for faculty and students.
686 6. Supporting efficient used book sales, buy-back sales,
687 and student-to-student sales.
688 7. Developing online portals at each institution to assist
689 students in buying, renting, selling, and sharing textbooks and
690 instructional materials.
691 8. The feasibility of expanding and enhancing digital
692 access platforms that are used by campus stores to help students
693 acquire the correct and least expensive required course
694 materials.
695 9. The cost to school districts of instructional materials
696 for dual enrollment students.
697 (2) By December 31, 2015, and annually thereafter, the
698 Board of Governors and State Board of Education shall submit a
699 report on their respective college affordability efforts, which
700 must include recommendations, to the Governor, the President of
701 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
702 Section 17. Section 1004.085, Florida Statutes, is amended
703 to read:
704 1004.085 Textbook and instructional materials
705 affordability.—
706 (1) As used in this section, the term “instructional
707 materials” means educational materials, in printed or digital
708 format, which are required or recommended for use within a
709 course.
710 (2)(1) An No employee of a Florida College System
711 institution or a state university may not demand or receive any
712 payment, loan, subscription, advance, deposit of money, service,
713 or anything of value, present or promised, in exchange for
714 requiring students to purchase a specific textbook or
715 instructional material for coursework or instruction.
716 (3)(2) An employee may receive:
717 (a) Sample copies, instructor copies, or instructional
718 materials. These materials may not be sold for any type of
719 compensation if they are specifically marked as free samples not
720 for resale.
721 (b) Royalties or other compensation from sales of textbooks
722 or instructional materials that include the instructor’s own
723 writing or work.
724 (c) Honoraria for academic peer review of course materials.
725 (d) Fees associated with activities such as reviewing,
726 critiquing, or preparing support materials for textbooks or
727 instructional materials pursuant to guidelines adopted by the
728 State Board of Education or the Board of Governors.
729 (e) Training in the use of course materials and learning
730 technologies.
731 (4)(3) Each Florida College System institution institutions
732 and state university universities shall prominently post in the
733 course registration system and on its website on their websites,
734 as early as is feasible, but at least 14 not less than 30 days
735 before prior to the first day of student registration class for
736 each term, a hyperlink to lists list of each textbook required
737 and recommended textbooks and instructional materials for at
738 least 90 percent of the courses and course sections each course
739 offered at the institution during the upcoming term.
740 (a) These lists The posted list must include:
741 1. The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for each
742 required and recommended textbook and instructional materials.
743 2. For a textbook or instructional materials for which an
744 ISBN is not available, textbook or other identifying
745 information, which must include, at a minimum, all of the
746 following: the title, all authors listed, publishers, edition
747 number, copyright date, published date, and other relevant
748 information necessary to identify the specific textbook or
749 instructional materials textbooks required and recommended for
750 each course.
751 3. The new and used retail price and the rental price, if
752 applicable, for a required or recommended textbook or
753 instructional materials for purchase at the institution’s
754 designated bookstore or other specified vendor, including the
755 website or other contact information for the bookstore.
756 (b) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
757 shall include in the policies, procedures, and guidelines
758 adopted under subsection (5) (4) certain limited exceptions to
759 this notification requirement for courses classes added after
760 the notification deadline.
761 (c) An institution that is unable to comply with this
762 subsection by the 2015 fall semester must provide the
763 information required by this subsection to students, in a format
764 determined by the institution, at least 60 days before the first
765 day of classes. The institution must also submit a quarterly
766 report to the State Board of Education or to the Board of
767 Governors, as applicable, documenting the institution’s efforts
768 to comply with this subsection by the 2016 fall semester.
769 (5)(4) The State Board of Education and the Board of
770 Governors each shall adopt textbook and instructional materials
771 affordability policies, procedures, and guidelines for
772 implementation by Florida College System institutions and state
773 universities, respectively, which that further efforts to
774 minimize the cost of textbooks and instructional materials for
775 students attending such institutions, while maintaining the
776 quality of education and academic freedom. The policies,
777 procedures, and guidelines must, at a minimum, require shall
778 provide for the following:
779 (a) That textbook and instructional materials adoptions are
780 made with sufficient lead time to bookstores so as to confirm
781 availability of the requested materials and, if where possible,
782 ensure maximum availability of used textbooks and instructional
783 materials books.
784 (b) That, in the textbook and instructional material
785 adoption process, the intent to use all items ordered,
786 particularly each individual item sold as part of a bundled
787 package, is confirmed by the course instructor or the academic
788 department offering the course before the adoption is finalized.
789 (c) That a course instructor or the academic department
790 offering the course determine determines, before a textbook or
791 instructional materials are is adopted, the extent to which a
792 new edition differs significantly and substantively from earlier
793 versions and the value to the student of changing to a new
794 edition or the extent to which an open-access textbook or
795 instructional materials may exist and be used.
796 (d) That the establishment of policies shall address the
797 availability of required and recommended textbooks and
798 instructional materials to students otherwise unable to afford
799 the cost, including consideration of the extent to which an
800 open-access textbook or instructional materials may be used.
801 (e) That course instructors and academic departments are
802 encouraged to participate in the development, adaptation, and
803 review of open-access textbooks and instructional materials and,
804 in particular, open-access textbooks and instructional materials
805 for high-demand general education courses.
806 (f) That postsecondary institutions consult with school
807 districts with which they have a dual enrollment articulation
808 agreement to identify practices that impact the cost to school
809 districts of dual enrollment textbooks and instructional
810 materials, including, but not limited to, the length of time
811 that textbooks and instructional materials remain in use and the
812 costs associated with digital materials.
813 (g) That cost-benefit analyses be conducted regularly in
814 comparing options to ensure that students receive the highest
815 quality product at the lowest available price.
816 (6) Each Florida College System institution and each state
817 university shall report annually to the Chancellor of the
818 Florida College System or the Chancellor of the State University
819 System, as applicable, the cost of undergraduate textbooks and
820 instructional materials, by course and course section; the
821 textbook and instructional materials selection process for high
822 enrollment courses as determined by the chancellors; specific
823 initiatives of the institution which reduce the cost of
824 textbooks and instructional materials; the number of courses and
825 course sections that were not able to meet the textbook and
826 instructional materials posting deadline; and additional
827 information as determined by the chancellors. Annually, by
828 December 31, the chancellors shall compile the institution
829 reports and submit a comprehensive report to the Governor, the
830 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
831 Representatives.
832 (7) Each Florida College System institution and state
833 university shall annually send the State Board of Education or
834 the Board of Governors, as applicable, electronic copies of its
835 current textbook and instructional materials affordability
836 policies and procedures. The State Board of Education and the
837 Board of Governors shall provide a link to this information on
838 their respective websites.
839 Section 18. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
840 1004.92, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
841 1004.92 Purpose and responsibilities for career education.—
842 (2)
843 (b) Department of Education accountability for career
844 education includes, but is not limited to:
845 1. The provision of timely, accurate technical assistance
846 to school districts and Florida College System institutions.
847 2. The provision of timely, accurate information to the
848 State Board of Education, the Legislature, and the public.
849 3. The development of policies, rules, and procedures that
850 facilitate institutional attainment of the accountability
851 standards and coordinate the efforts of all divisions within the
852 department.
853 4. The development of program standards and industry-driven
854 benchmarks for career, adult, and community education programs,
855 which must be updated every 3 years. The standards must include
856 career, academic, and workplace skills; viability of distance
857 learning for instruction; and work/learn cycles that are
858 responsive to business and industry; and reflect the quality
859 components of a career and technical education program. The
860 State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer this
861 section.
862 5. Overseeing school district and Florida College System
863 institution compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
864 6. Ensuring that the educational outcomes for the technical
865 component of career programs are uniform and designed to provide
866 a graduate who is capable of entering the workforce on an
867 equally competitive basis regardless of the institution of
868 choice.
869 Section 19. Present subsections (5) and (6) of section
870 1006.735, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (6)
871 and (7), respectively, and a new subsection (5) is added to that
872 section, to read:
873 1006.735 Complete Florida Plus Program.—The Complete
874 Florida Plus Program is created at the University of West
875 Florida.
876 (5) RAPID RESPONSE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM.—The
877 Rapid Response Education and Training Program is established
878 within the Complete Florida Plus Program. Under the Rapid
879 Response Education and Training Program, the Complete Florida
880 Plus Program shall work directly with Enterprise Florida, Inc.,
881 in project-specific industry recruitment and retention efforts
882 to offer credible education and training commitments to
883 businesses.
884 (a) The Rapid Response Education and Training Program must:
885 1. Issue challenge grants through requests for proposals
886 that are open to all education and training providers, public or
887 private. These grants match state funding with education and
888 training provider funds to implement particular education and
889 training programs.
890 2. Generate periodic reports from an independent forensic
891 accounting or auditing entity to ensure transparency of the
892 program. These periodic reports must be submitted to the
893 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
894 Representatives.
895 3. Keep administrative costs to a minimum through the use
896 of existing organizational structures.
897 4. Work directly with businesses to recruit individuals for
898 education and training.
899 5. Be able to terminate an education and training program
900 by giving 30 days’ notice.
901 6. Survey employers after completion of an education and
902 training program to ascertain the effectiveness of the program.
903 (b) The Division of Career and Adult Education within the
904 Department of Education shall conduct an analysis and assessment
905 of the effectiveness of the education and training programs
906 under this section in meeting labor market and occupational
907 trends and gaps.
908 Section 20. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
909 1009.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
910 1009.22 Workforce education postsecondary student fees.—
911 (3)
912 (d) Each district school board and each Florida College
913 System institution board of trustees may adopt tuition and out
914 of-state fees that vary no more than 5 percent below or no more
915 than 5 percent above the combined total of the standard tuition
916 and out-of-state fees established in paragraph (c).
917 Section 21. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and subsection
918 (4) of section 1009.23, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
919 subsection (20) is added to that section, to read:
920 1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.—
921 (3)
922 (b) Effective July 1, 2014, For baccalaureate degree
923 programs, the following tuition and fee rates shall apply:
924 1. The tuition may not exceed shall be $91.79 per credit
925 hour for students who are residents for tuition purposes.
926 2. The sum of the tuition and the he out-of-state fee per
927 credit hour for students who are nonresidents for tuition
928 purposes shall be no more than 85 percent of the sum of the
929 tuition and the out-of-state fee at the state university nearest
930 the Florida College System institution.
931 (4) Each Florida College System institution board of
932 trustees shall establish tuition and out-of-state fees, which
933 may vary no more than 10 percent below and no more than 15
934 percent above the combined total of the standard tuition and
935 fees established in subsection (3).
936 (20) Each Florida College System institution shall notice
937 to the public and to all enrolled students any board of trustees
938 meeting that votes on proposed increases in tuition or fees. The
939 noticed meeting must allow for public comment on the proposed
940 increase and must:
941 (a) Be posted 28 days before the board of trustees meeting
942 takes place.
943 (b) Include the date and time of the meeting.
944 (c) Be clear and specifically outline the details of the
945 original tuition or fee, the rationale for the proposed
946 increase, and what the proposed increase will fund.
947 (d) Be posted on the institution’s website homepage and
948 issued in a press release.
949 Section 22. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4) of
950 section 1009.24, Florida Statutes, are amended, present
951 subsection (19) of that section is redesignated as subsection
952 (20), and a new subsection (19) is added to that section, to
953 read:
954 1009.24 State university student fees.—
955 (4)(a) Effective July 1, 2014, The resident undergraduate
956 tuition for lower-level and upper-level coursework may not
957 exceed shall be $105.07 per credit hour.
958 (b) The Board of Governors, or the board’s designee, may
959 establish tuition for graduate and professional programs, and
960 out-of-state fees for all programs. Except as otherwise provided
961 in this section, the sum of tuition and out-of-state fees
962 assessed to nonresident students must be sufficient to offset
963 the full instructional cost of serving such students. However,
964 adjustments to out-of-state fees or tuition for graduate
965 programs and professional programs may not exceed 15 percent in
966 any year. Adjustments to the resident tuition for graduate
967 programs and professional programs may not exceed the tuition
968 amount set on July 1, 2015.
969 (19) Each university shall publicly notice to the public
970 and to all enrolled students any board of trustees meeting that
971 votes on proposed increases in tuition or fees. The noticed
972 meeting must allow for public comment on the proposed increase
973 and must:
974 (a) Be posted 28 days before the board of trustees meeting
975 takes place.
976 (b) Include the date and time of the meeting.
977 (c) Be clear and specifically outline the details of the
978 original tuition or fee, the rationale for the proposed
979 increase, and what the proposed increase will fund.
980 (d) Be posted on the institution’s website homepage and
981 issued in a press release.
982 Section 23. Section 1009.893, Florida Statutes, is amended
983 to read:
984 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Florida National Merit
985 Scholar Incentive Program.—
986 (1) As used in this section, the term:
987 (a) “Department” means the Department of Education.
988 (b) “Scholarship Incentive program” means the Benacquisto
989 Scholarship Florida National Merit Scholar Incentive Program.
990 (2) The Benacquisto Scholarship Florida National Merit
991 Scholar Incentive Program is created to reward any Florida high
992 school graduate who receives recognition as a National Merit
993 Scholar or National Achievement Scholar and who initially
994 enrolls in the 2014-2015 academic year or, later, in a
995 baccalaureate degree program at an eligible Florida public or
996 independent postsecondary educational institution.
997 (3) The department shall administer the scholarship
998 incentive program according to rules and procedures established
999 by the State Board of Education. The department shall advertise
1000 the availability of the scholarship incentive program and notify
1001 students, teachers, parents, certified school counselors, and
1002 principals or other relevant school administrators of the
1003 criteria.
1004 (4) In order to be eligible for an award under the
1005 scholarship incentive program, a student must:
1006 (a) Be a state resident as determined in s. 1009.40 and
1007 rules of the State Board of Education;
1008 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
1009 equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282,
1010 or s. 1003.435 unless:
1011 1. The student completes a home education program according
1012 to s. 1002.41; or
1013 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a non
1014 Florida school while living with a parent who is on military or
1015 public service assignment out of this state;
1016 (c) Be accepted by and enroll in a Florida public or
1017 independent postsecondary educational institution that is
1018 regionally accredited; and
1019 (d) Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program
1020 at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or
1021 independent postsecondary educational institution during the
1022 fall academic term following high school graduation.
1023 (5)(a) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar
1024 or National Achievement Scholar and who attends a Florida public
1025 postsecondary educational institution shall receive a
1026 scholarship an incentive award equal to the institutional cost
1027 of attendance minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright
1028 Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship or National
1029 Achievement Scholarship.
1030 (b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar or
1031 National Achievement Scholar and who attends a Florida
1032 independent postsecondary educational institution shall receive
1033 a scholarship an incentive award equal to the highest cost of
1034 attendance at a Florida public university, as reported by the
1035 Board of Governors of the State University System, minus the sum
1036 of the student’s Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and National
1037 Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship.
1038 (6)(a) To be eligible for a renewal award, a student must
1039 earn all credits for which he or she was enrolled and maintain a
1040 3.0 or higher grade point average.
1041 (b) A student may receive the scholarship incentive award
1042 for a maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours
1043 required to complete a baccalaureate degree program, or until
1044 completion of a baccalaureate degree program, whichever comes
1045 first.
1046 (7) The department shall annually issue awards from the
1047 scholarship incentive program. Before the registration period
1048 each semester, the department shall transmit payment for each
1049 award to the president or director of the postsecondary
1050 educational institution, or his or her representative, except
1051 that the department may withhold payment if the receiving
1052 institution fails to report or to make refunds to the department
1053 as required in this section.
1054 (a) Each institution shall certify to the department the
1055 eligibility status of each student to receive a disbursement
1056 within 30 days before the end of its regular registration
1057 period, inclusive of a drop and add period. An institution is
1058 not required to reevaluate the student eligibility after the end
1059 of the drop and add period.
1060 (b) An institution that receives funds from the scholarship
1061 incentive program must certify to the department the amount of
1062 funds disbursed to each student and remit to the department any
1063 undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end of regular
1064 registration.
1065 (c) If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the
1066 maximum allowable award to each eligible student, awards must be
1067 prorated using the same percentage reduction.
1068 (8) Funds from any award within the scholarship incentive
1069 program may not be used to pay for remedial coursework or
1070 developmental education.
1071 (9) A student may use an award for a summer term if funds
1072 are available and appropriated by the Legislature.
1073 (10) The department shall allocate funds to the appropriate
1074 institutions and collect and maintain data regarding the
1075 scholarship incentive program within the student financial
1076 assistance database as specified in s. 1009.94.
1077 (11) Section 1009.40(4) does not apply to awards issued
1078 under this section.
1079 (12) A student who receives an award under the scholarship
1080 program shall be known as a Benacquisto Scholar.
1081 (13)(12) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
1082 necessary to administer this section.
1083 Section 24. Paragraphs (f) and (o) of subsection (1),
1084 paragraph (a) of subsection (4), subsection (5), paragraph (b)
1085 of subsection (7), paragraph (a) of subsection (9), subsection
1086 (11), paragraphs (b) through (e) of subsection (12), and present
1087 subsection (13) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are
1088 amended, present subsections (13), (14), and (15) of that
1089 section are redesignated as subsections (14), (15), and (16),
1090 respectively, and a new subsection (13) is added to that
1091 section, to read:
1092 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
1093 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
1094 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
1095 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
1096 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
1097 follows:
1098 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
1099 OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
1100 determining the annual allocation to each district for
1101 operation:
1102 (f) Supplemental academic instruction; categorical fund.—
1103 1. There is created a categorical fund to provide
1104 supplemental academic instruction to students in kindergarten
1105 through grade 12. This paragraph may be cited as the
1106 “Supplemental Academic Instruction Categorical Fund.”
1107 2. Categorical funds for supplemental academic instruction
1108 shall be allocated annually to each school district in the
1109 amount provided in the General Appropriations Act. These funds
1110 shall be in addition to the funds appropriated on the basis of
1111 FTE student membership in the Florida Education Finance Program
1112 and shall be included in the total potential funds of each
1113 district. These funds shall be used to provide supplemental
1114 academic instruction to students enrolled in the K-12 program.
1115 For the 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 fiscal
1116 years year, each school district that has one or more of the 300
1117 lowest-performing elementary schools based on the state reading
1118 assessment shall use these funds, together with the funds
1119 provided in the district’s research-based reading instruction
1120 allocation and other available funds, to provide an additional
1121 hour of instruction beyond the normal school day for each day of
1122 the entire school year, and to provide the equivalent hours of
1123 instruction in a summer program, for intensive reading
1124 instruction for the students in each of these schools. If a
1125 participating school is no longer classified as one of the 300
1126 lowest-performing elementary schools in the subsequent year, the
1127 school must continue to provide the additional hour of intensive
1128 reading instruction to all students who have Level 1 or Level 2
1129 reading assessment scores. This additional hour of instruction
1130 must be provided by teachers or reading specialists who are
1131 effective in teaching reading or by a K-5 mentoring reading
1132 program that is supervised by a teacher who is effective at
1133 teaching reading. Students enrolled in these schools who have
1134 level 5 assessment scores may participate in the additional hour
1135 of instruction on an optional basis. Exceptional student
1136 education centers may shall not be included in the 300 schools.
1137 After this requirement has been met, supplemental instruction
1138 strategies may include, but are not limited to: modified
1139 curriculum, reading instruction, after-school instruction,
1140 tutoring, mentoring, class size reduction, extended school year,
1141 intensive skills development in summer school, and other methods
1142 for improving student achievement. Supplemental instruction may
1143 be provided to a student in any manner and at any time during or
1144 beyond the regular 180-day term identified by the school as
1145 being the most effective and efficient way to best help that
1146 student progress from grade to grade and to graduate.
1147 3. Effective with the 1999-2000 fiscal year, funding on the
1148 basis of FTE membership beyond the 180-day regular term shall be
1149 provided in the FEFP only for students enrolled in juvenile
1150 justice education programs or in education programs for
1151 juveniles placed in secure facilities or programs under s.
1152 985.19. Funding for instruction beyond the regular 180-day
1153 school year for all other K-12 students shall be provided
1154 through the supplemental academic instruction categorical fund
1155 and other state, federal, and local fund sources with ample
1156 flexibility for schools to provide supplemental instruction to
1157 assist students in progressing from grade to grade and
1158 graduating.
1159 4. The Florida State University School, as a lab school, is
1160 authorized to expend from its FEFP or Lottery Enhancement Trust
1161 Fund allocation the cost to the student of remediation in
1162 reading, writing, or mathematics for any graduate who requires
1163 remediation at a postsecondary educational institution.
1164 5. Beginning in the 1999-2000 school year, dropout
1165 prevention programs as defined in ss. 1003.52, 1003.53(1)(a),
1166 (b), and (c), and 1003.54 shall be included in group 1 programs
1167 under subparagraph (d)3.
1168 (o) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
1169 membership based on successful completion of a career-themed
1170 course pursuant to ss. 1003.491, 1003.492, and 1003.493, or
1171 courses with embedded CAPE industry certifications or CAPE
1172 Digital Tool certificates, and issuance of industry
1173 certification identified on the CAPE Industry Certification
1174 Funding List pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of
1175 Education or CAPE Digital Tool certificates pursuant to s.
1176 1003.4203.—
1177 1.a. A value of 0.025 full-time equivalent student
1178 membership shall be calculated for CAPE Digital Tool
1179 certificates earned by students in elementary and middle school
1180 grades.
1181 b. A value of 0.1 or 0.2 full-time equivalent student
1182 membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a
1183 course as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b) or courses with embedded
1184 CAPE industry certifications and who is issued an industry
1185 certification identified annually on the CAPE Industry
1186 Certification Funding List approved under rules adopted by the
1187 State Board of Education. A value of 0.2 full-time equivalent
1188 membership shall be calculated for each student who is issued a
1189 CAPE industry certification that has a statewide articulation
1190 agreement for college credit approved by the State Board of
1191 Education. For CAPE industry certifications that do not
1192 articulate for college credit, the Department of Education shall
1193 assign a full-time equivalent value of 0.1 for each
1194 certification. Middle grades students who earn additional FTE
1195 membership for a CAPE Digital Tool certificate pursuant to sub
1196 subparagraph a. may not use the previously funded examination to
1197 satisfy the requirements for earning an industry certification
1198 under this sub-subparagraph. Additional FTE membership for an
1199 elementary or middle grades student may shall not exceed 0.1 for
1200 certificates or certifications earned within the same fiscal
1201 year. The State Board of Education shall include the assigned
1202 values on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under
1203 rules adopted by the state board. Such value shall be added to
1204 the total full-time equivalent student membership for grades 6
1205 through 12 in the subsequent year for courses that were not
1206 provided through dual enrollment. CAPE industry certifications
1207 earned through dual enrollment must be reported and funded
1208 pursuant to s. 1011.80. However, if a student earns a
1209 certification through a dual enrollment course and the
1210 certification is not a fundable certification on the
1211 postsecondary certification funding list, or the dual enrollment
1212 certification is earned as a result of an agreement between a
1213 school district and a nonpublic postsecondary institution, the
1214 bonus value shall be funded in the same manner as for other
1215 nondual enrollment course industry certifications. In such
1216 cases, the school district may provide for an agreement between
1217 the high school and the technical center, or the school district
1218 and the postsecondary institution may enter into an agreement
1219 for equitable distribution of the bonus funds.
1220 c. A value of 0.3 full-time equivalent student membership
1221 shall be calculated for student completion of the courses and
1222 the embedded certifications identified on the CAPE Industry
1223 Certification Funding List and approved by the commissioner
1224 pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(5)(a) and 1008.44.
1225 d. A value of 0.5 full-time equivalent student membership
1226 shall be calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry
1227 Certifications that articulate for 15 to 29 college credit
1228 hours, and 1.0 full-time equivalent student membership shall be
1229 calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications that
1230 articulate for 30 or more college credit hours pursuant to CAPE
1231 Acceleration Industry Certifications approved by the
1232 commissioner pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(5)(b) and 1008.44.
1233 2. Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of the
1234 funds provided for CAPE industry certification, in accordance
1235 with this paragraph, to the program that generated the funds.
1236 This allocation may not be used to supplant funds provided for
1237 basic operation of the program.
1238 3. For CAPE industry certifications earned in the 2013-2014
1239 school year and in subsequent years, the school district shall
1240 distribute to each classroom teacher who provided direct
1241 instruction toward the attainment of a CAPE industry
1242 certification that qualified for additional full-time equivalent
1243 membership under subparagraph 1.:
1244 a. A bonus in the amount of $25 for each student taught by
1245 a teacher who provided instruction in a course that led to the
1246 attainment of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry
1247 Certification Funding List with a weight of 0.1.
1248 b. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
1249 a teacher who provided instruction in a course that led to the
1250 attainment of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry
1251 Certification Funding List with a weight of 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and
1252 1.0.
1253 c. A bonus of $75 for each student taught by a teacher who
1254 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
1255 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
1256 Funding List with a weight of 0.3.
1257 d. A bonus of $100 for each student taught by a teacher who
1258 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
1259 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
1260 Funding List with a weight of 0.5 or 1.0.
1261
1262 Bonuses awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be provided to
1263 teachers who are employed by the district in the year in which
1264 the additional FTE membership calculation is included in the
1265 calculation. Bonuses shall be calculated based upon the
1266 associated weight of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE
1267 Industry Certification Funding List for the year in which the
1268 certification is earned by the student. In a single school year,
1269 a Any bonus awarded to a teacher under sub-subparagraph 3.a. or
1270 sub-subparagraph 3.b. this paragraph may not exceed $2,000 or
1271 under sub-subparagraph 3.c. or sub-subparagraph 3.d. may not
1272 exceed $4,000. The maximum bonus that may be awarded to a
1273 teacher under this paragraph is $4,000 in a single school year.
1274 This bonus in any given school year and is in addition to any
1275 regular wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled
1276 to receive.
1277 (4) COMPUTATION OF DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.—The
1278 Legislature shall prescribe the aggregate required local effort
1279 for all school districts collectively as an item in the General
1280 Appropriations Act for each fiscal year. The amount that each
1281 district shall provide annually toward the cost of the Florida
1282 Education Finance Program for kindergarten through grade 12
1283 programs shall be calculated as follows:
1284 (a) Estimated taxable value calculations.—
1285 1.a. Not later than 2 working days prior to July 19, the
1286 Department of Revenue shall certify to the Commissioner of
1287 Education its most recent estimate of the taxable value for
1288 school purposes in each school district and the total for all
1289 school districts in the state for the current calendar year
1290 based on the latest available data obtained from the local
1291 property appraisers. The value certified shall be the taxable
1292 value for school purposes for that year, and no further
1293 adjustments shall be made, except those made pursuant to
1294 paragraphs (c) and (d), or an assessment roll change required by
1295 final judicial decisions as specified in paragraph (15)(b)
1296 (14)(b). Not later than July 19, the Commissioner of Education
1297 shall compute a millage rate, rounded to the next highest one
1298 one-thousandth of a mill, which, when applied to 96 percent of
1299 the estimated state total taxable value for school purposes,
1300 would generate the prescribed aggregate required local effort
1301 for that year for all districts. The Commissioner of Education
1302 shall certify to each district school board the millage rate,
1303 computed as prescribed in this subparagraph, as the minimum
1304 millage rate necessary to provide the district required local
1305 effort for that year.
1306 b. The General Appropriations Act shall direct the
1307 computation of the statewide adjusted aggregate amount for
1308 required local effort for all school districts collectively from
1309 ad valorem taxes to ensure that no school district’s revenue
1310 from required local effort millage will produce more than 90
1311 percent of the district’s total Florida Education Finance
1312 Program calculation as calculated and adopted by the
1313 Legislature, and the adjustment of the required local effort
1314 millage rate of each district that produces more than 90 percent
1315 of its total Florida Education Finance Program entitlement to a
1316 level that will produce only 90 percent of its total Florida
1317 Education Finance Program entitlement in the July calculation.
1318 2. On the same date as the certification in sub
1319 subparagraph 1.a., the Department of Revenue shall certify to
1320 the Commissioner of Education for each district:
1321 a. Each year for which the property appraiser has certified
1322 the taxable value pursuant to s. 193.122(2) or (3), if
1323 applicable, since the prior certification under sub-subparagraph
1324 1.a.
1325 b. For each year identified in sub-subparagraph a., the
1326 taxable value certified by the appraiser pursuant to s.
1327 193.122(2) or (3), if applicable, since the prior certification
1328 under sub-subparagraph 1.a. This is the certification that
1329 reflects all final administrative actions of the value
1330 adjustment board.
1331 (5) DISCRETIONARY MILLAGE COMPRESSION SUPPLEMENT.—The
1332 Legislature shall prescribe in the General Appropriations Act,
1333 pursuant to s. 1011.71(1), the rate of nonvoted current
1334 operating discretionary millage that shall be used to calculate
1335 a discretionary millage compression supplement. If the
1336 prescribed millage generates an amount of funds per unweighted
1337 FTE for the district that is less than 105 percent of the state
1338 average, the district shall receive an amount per FTE that, when
1339 added to the funds per FTE generated by the designated levy,
1340 shall equal 105 percent of the state average.
1341 (7) DETERMINATION OF SPARSITY SUPPLEMENT.—
1342 (b) The district sparsity index shall be computed by
1343 dividing the total number of full-time equivalent students in
1344 all programs in the district by the number of senior high school
1345 centers in the district, not in excess of three, which centers
1346 are approved as permanent centers by a survey made by the
1347 Department of Education. For districts with a full-time
1348 equivalent student membership of at least 20,000, but no more
1349 than 24,000, the index shall be computed by dividing the total
1350 number of full-time equivalent students in all programs by the
1351 number of permanent senior high school centers in the district,
1352 not to exceed four.
1353 (9) RESEARCH-BASED READING INSTRUCTION ALLOCATION.—
1354 (a) The research-based reading instruction allocation is
1355 created to provide comprehensive reading instruction to students
1356 in kindergarten through grade 12. For the 2014-2015, 2015-2016,
1357 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 fiscal years year, in each school
1358 district that has one or more of the 300 lowest-performing
1359 elementary schools based on the state reading assessment,
1360 priority shall be given to providing an additional hour per day
1361 of intensive reading instruction beyond the normal school day
1362 for each day of the entire school year, and to providing the
1363 equivalent hours of instruction in a summer program, for the
1364 students in each school. If a participating school is no longer
1365 classified as one of the 300 lowest-performing elementary
1366 schools in the subsequent year, the school must continue to
1367 provide the additional hour of intensive reading instruction to
1368 all students who have Level 1 or Level 2 reading assessment
1369 scores. Students enrolled in these schools who have level 5
1370 assessment scores may participate in the additional hour of
1371 instruction on an optional basis. Exceptional student education
1372 centers may shall not be included in the 300 schools. The
1373 intensive reading instruction delivered in this additional hour
1374 and for other students shall include: research-based reading
1375 instruction that has been proven to accelerate progress of
1376 students exhibiting a reading deficiency; differentiated
1377 instruction based on student assessment data to meet students’
1378 specific reading needs; explicit and systematic reading
1379 development in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,
1380 and comprehension, with more extensive opportunities for guided
1381 practice, error correction, and feedback; and the integration of
1382 social studies, science, and mathematics-text reading, text
1383 discussion, and writing in response to reading. For the 2012
1384 2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal years, a school district may not hire
1385 more reading coaches than were hired during the 2011-2012 fiscal
1386 year unless all students in kindergarten through grade 5 who
1387 demonstrate a reading deficiency, as determined by district and
1388 state assessments, including students scoring Level 1 or Level 2
1389 on the statewide, standardized reading assessment or, upon
1390 implementation, the English Language Arts assessment, are
1391 provided an additional hour per day of intensive reading
1392 instruction beyond the normal school day for each day of the
1393 entire school year.
1394 (11) VIRTUAL EDUCATION CONTRIBUTION.—The Legislature may
1395 annually provide in the Florida Education Finance Program a
1396 virtual education contribution. The amount of the virtual
1397 education contribution shall be the difference between the
1398 amount per FTE established in the General Appropriations Act for
1399 virtual education and the amount per FTE for each district and
1400 the Florida Virtual School, which may be calculated by taking
1401 the sum of the base FEFP allocation, the declining enrollment
1402 supplement, the discretionary local effort, the state-funded
1403 discretionary contribution, the discretionary millage
1404 compression supplement, the research-based reading instruction
1405 allocation, the exceptional student education guaranteed
1406 allocation, and the instructional materials allocation, and then
1407 dividing by the total unweighted FTE. This difference shall be
1408 multiplied by the virtual education unweighted FTE for programs
1409 and options identified in s. 1002.455(3) and the Florida Virtual
1410 School and its franchises to equal the virtual education
1411 contribution and shall be included as a separate allocation in
1412 the funding formula.
1413 (12) FLORIDA DIGITAL CLASSROOMS ALLOCATION.—
1414 (b) Each district school board shall adopt a district
1415 digital classrooms plan that meets the unique needs of students,
1416 schools, and personnel and submit the plan for approval to the
1417 Department of Education. In addition, each district school board
1418 must, at a minimum, seek input from the district’s
1419 instructional, curriculum, and information technology staff to
1420 develop the district digital classrooms plan. The district’s
1421 plan must be within the general parameters established in the
1422 Florida digital classrooms plan pursuant to s. 1001.20. In
1423 addition, if the district participates in federal technology
1424 initiatives and grant programs, the district digital classrooms
1425 plan must include a plan for meeting requirements of such
1426 initiatives and grant programs. Funds allocated under this
1427 subsection must be used to support implementation of district
1428 digital classrooms plans. By August October 1, 2014, and by
1429 March 1 of each year thereafter, on a date determined by the
1430 department, each district school board shall submit to the
1431 department, in a format prescribed by the department, a digital
1432 classrooms plan. At a minimum, such plan must include, and be
1433 annually updated to reflect, the following:
1434 1. Measurable student performance outcomes. Outcomes
1435 related to student performance, including outcomes for students
1436 with disabilities, must be tied to the efforts and strategies to
1437 improve outcomes related to student performance by integrating
1438 technology in classroom teaching and learning. Results of the
1439 outcomes shall be reported at least annually for the current
1440 school year and subsequent 3 years and be accompanied by an
1441 independent evaluation and validation of the reported results.
1442 2. Digital learning and technology infrastructure purchases
1443 and operational activities. Such purchases and activities must
1444 be tied to the measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1.,
1445 including, but not limited to, connectivity, broadband access,
1446 wireless capacity, Internet speed, and data security, all of
1447 which must meet or exceed minimum requirements and protocols
1448 established by the department. For each year that the district
1449 uses funds for infrastructure, a third-party, independent
1450 evaluation of the district’s technology inventory and
1451 infrastructure needs must accompany the district’s plan.
1452 3. Professional development purchases and operational
1453 activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
1454 measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
1455 limited to, using technology in the classroom and improving
1456 digital literacy and competency.
1457 4. Digital tool purchases and operational activities. Such
1458 purchases and activities must be tied to the measurable outcomes
1459 under subparagraph 1., including, but not limited to,
1460 competency-based credentials that measure and demonstrate
1461 digital competency and certifications; third-party assessments
1462 that demonstrate acquired knowledge and use of digital
1463 applications; and devices that meet or exceed minimum
1464 requirements and protocols established by the department.
1465 5. Online assessment-related purchases and operational
1466 activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
1467 measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
1468 limited to, expanding the capacity to administer assessments and
1469 compatibility with minimum assessment protocols and requirements
1470 established by the department. If the administration of online
1471 assessments after January 1, 2015, does not comply with the
1472 minimum assessment protocols and requirements established by the
1473 department, the department shall contract with an independent
1474 auditing entity that has expertise in the area of the
1475 noncompliance to evaluate the extent of the noncompliance and
1476 provide recommendations to remediate the noncompliance in future
1477 administrations of online assessments.
1478 (c) The Legislature shall annually provide in the General
1479 Appropriations Act the FEFP allocation for implementation of the
1480 Florida digital classrooms plan to be calculated in an amount up
1481 to 1 percent of the base student allocation multiplied by the
1482 total K-12 full-time equivalent student enrollment included in
1483 the FEFP calculations for the legislative appropriation or as
1484 provided in the General Appropriations Act. Each school district
1485 shall be provided a minimum of $250,000, with the remaining
1486 balance of the allocation to be distributed based on each
1487 district’s proportion of the total K-12 full-time equivalent
1488 student enrollment. Distribution of funds for the Florida
1489 digital classrooms allocation shall begin following submittal of
1490 each district’s digital classrooms plan, which must include
1491 formal verification of the superintendent’s approval of the
1492 digital classrooms plan of each charter school in the district,
1493 and approval of the plan by the department. A charter school
1494 shall submit the school’s digital classrooms plan, in a
1495 streamlined format prescribed by the department, to the
1496 applicable school district. Prior to the distribution of the
1497 Florida digital classrooms allocation funds, each district
1498 school superintendent shall certify to the Commissioner of
1499 Education that the district school board has approved a
1500 comprehensive district digital classrooms plan that supports the
1501 fidelity of implementation of the Florida digital classrooms
1502 allocation. District allocations shall be recalculated during
1503 the fiscal year consistent with the periodic recalculation of
1504 the FEFP. School districts shall provide a proportionate share
1505 of the digital classrooms allocation to each charter school in
1506 the district, as required for categorical programs in s.
1507 1002.33(17)(b). A school district may use a competitive process
1508 to distribute funds for the Florida digital classrooms
1509 allocation to the schools within the school district. Beginning
1510 in the 2016-2017 school year, to be eligible to receive Florida
1511 digital classrooms allocation funds, a school district must
1512 undergo an annual assessment pursuant to s. 282.0052 and an
1513 annual independent verification of its use of Florida digital
1514 classrooms allocation funds pursuant to paragraph (e).
1515 (d) To facilitate the implementation of the district
1516 digital classrooms plans and charter school digital classrooms
1517 plans, the commissioner shall support statewide, coordinated
1518 partnerships and efforts of this state’s education practitioners
1519 in the field, including, but not limited to, superintendents,
1520 principals, and teachers, to identify and share best practices,
1521 corrective actions, and other identified needs. By August 1,
1522 2016, the commissioner shall implement an online, web-based
1523 portal for school districts and charter schools to submit their
1524 digital classrooms plan.
1525 (e) Beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year and each year
1526 thereafter, each district school board and charter school shall
1527 report to the department its use of funds provided through the
1528 Florida digital classrooms allocation and student performance
1529 outcomes in accordance with the district’s digital classrooms
1530 plan. The department may contract with an independent third
1531 party entity to conduct an annual independent verification of
1532 the district’s use of Florida digital classrooms allocation
1533 funds in accordance with the district’s digital classrooms plan.
1534 In the event an independent third-party verification is not
1535 conducted, the Auditor General shall, during scheduled
1536 operational audits of the school districts, verify compliance of
1537 the use of Florida digital classrooms allocation funds in
1538 accordance with the district’s digital classrooms plan. No later
1539 than October 1 of each year, beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal
1540 year, the commissioner shall provide to the Governor, the
1541 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
1542 Representatives a summary of each district’s student performance
1543 goals and outcomes, use of funds, in support of such student
1544 performance goals and outcomes, and progress toward meeting
1545 statutory requirements and timelines.
1546 (13) FEDERALLY CONNECTED STUDENT SUPPLEMENT.—The federally
1547 connected student supplement is created to provide supplemental
1548 funding for school districts to support the education of
1549 students connected with federally owned military installations,
1550 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) property,
1551 and Indian lands. To be eligible for this supplement, the
1552 district must be eligible for federal Impact Aid Program funds
1553 under s. 8003, Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary
1554 Education Act of 1965. The supplement shall be the sum of the
1555 student allocation and an exempt property allocation.
1556 (a) The student allocation shall be calculated based on the
1557 number of students reported for federal Impact Aid Program
1558 funds, including students with disabilities, who meet one of the
1559 following criteria:
1560 1. Resides with a parent who is on active duty in the
1561 uniformed services or is an accredited foreign government
1562 official and military officer. Students with disabilities shall
1563 also be reported separately for this condition.
1564 2. Resides on eligible federally owned Indian lands.
1565 Students with disabilities shall also be reported separately for
1566 this condition.
1567 3. Resides with a civilian parent who lives or works on
1568 eligible federal property connected with a military installation
1569 or NASA. The number of these students shall be multiplied by a
1570 factor of 0.5.
1571 (b) The total number of federally connected students
1572 calculated under paragraph (a) shall be multiplied by a
1573 percentage of the base student allocation as provided in the
1574 General Appropriations Act. The total of the number of students
1575 with disabilities as reported separately under subparagraphs
1576 (a)1. and (a)2. shall be multiplied by an additional percentage
1577 of the base student allocation as provided in the General
1578 Appropriations Act. The base amount and the amount for students
1579 with disabilities shall be summed to provide the student
1580 allocation.
1581 (c) The exempt-property allocation shall be equal to the
1582 tax-exempt value of federal Impact Aid lands reserved as
1583 military installations, real property owned by NASA, or eligible
1584 federally owned Indian lands located in the district, as of
1585 January 1 of the previous year, multiplied by the millage
1586 authorized and levied under s. 1011.71(2).
1587 (14)(13) QUALITY ASSURANCE GUARANTEE.—The Legislature may
1588 annually in the General Appropriations Act determine a
1589 percentage increase in funds per K-12 unweighted FTE as a
1590 minimum guarantee to each school district. The guarantee shall
1591 be calculated from prior year base funding per unweighted FTE
1592 student which shall include the adjusted FTE dollars as provided
1593 in subsection (15)(14), quality guarantee funds, and actual
1594 nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. From the base
1595 funding per unweighted FTE, the increase shall be calculated for
1596 the current year. The current year funds from which the
1597 guarantee shall be determined shall include the adjusted FTE
1598 dollars as provided in subsection (15)(14) and potential
1599 nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. A comparison of
1600 current year funds per unweighted FTE to prior year funds per
1601 unweighted FTE shall be computed. For those school districts
1602 which have less than the legislatively assigned percentage
1603 increase, funds shall be provided to guarantee the assigned
1604 percentage increase in funds per unweighted FTE student. Should
1605 appropriated funds be less than the sum of this calculated
1606 amount for all districts, the commissioner shall prorate each
1607 district’s allocation. This provision shall be implemented to
1608 the extent specifically funded.
1609 Section 25. Subsection (1) and paragraph (d) of subsection
1610 (2) of section 1011.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1611 1011.71 District school tax.—
1612 (1) If the district school tax is not provided in the
1613 General Appropriations Act or the substantive bill implementing
1614 the General Appropriations Act, each district school board
1615 desiring to participate in the state allocation of funds for
1616 current operation as prescribed by s. 1011.62(15) s. 1011.62(14)
1617 shall levy on the taxable value for school purposes of the
1618 district, exclusive of millage voted under the provisions of s.
1619 9(b) or s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution, a millage
1620 rate not to exceed the amount certified by the commissioner as
1621 the minimum millage rate necessary to provide the district
1622 required local effort for the current year, pursuant to s.
1623 1011.62(4)(a)1. In addition to the required local effort millage
1624 levy, each district school board may levy a nonvoted current
1625 operating discretionary millage. The Legislature shall prescribe
1626 annually in the appropriations act the maximum amount of millage
1627 a district may levy.
1628 (2) In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in
1629 subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 1.5
1630 mills against the taxable value for school purposes for district
1631 schools, including charter schools at the discretion of the
1632 school board, to fund:
1633 (d) The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of new and
1634 replacement equipment; computer hardware, including electronic
1635 hardware and other hardware devices necessary for gaining access
1636 to or enhancing the use of electronic content and resources or
1637 to facilitate the access to and the use of a school district’s
1638 digital classrooms plan pursuant to s. 1011.62, excluding
1639 software other than the operating system necessary to operate
1640 the hardware or device; and enterprise resource software
1641 applications that are classified as capital assets in accordance
1642 with definitions of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board,
1643 have a useful life of at least 5 years, and are used to support
1644 districtwide administration or state-mandated reporting
1645 requirements. Enterprise resource software may be acquired by
1646 annual license fees, maintenance fees, or lease agreements.
1647 Section 26. Section 1011.802, Florida Statutes, is created
1648 to read:
1649 1011.802 Florida Apprenticeship Grant (FLAG) Program.—
1650 (1) The Florida Apprenticeship Grant Program is created to
1651 provide grants, as provided in the General Appropriations Act,
1652 to career centers, charter technical career centers, and Florida
1653 College System institutions on a competitive basis to establish
1654 new apprenticeship programs and expand existing apprenticeship
1655 programs. The Division of Career and Adult Education within the
1656 Department of Education shall administer the grant program.
1657 (2) Applications from career centers, charter technical
1658 career centers, and Florida College System institutions must
1659 contain projected enrollment and projected costs for the new or
1660 expanded apprenticeship program.
1661 (3) The department shall give priority to apprenticeship
1662 programs in the areas of information technology, health, and
1663 machining and manufacturing. Grant funds may be used for
1664 instructional equipment, supplies, personnel, student services,
1665 and other expenses associated with the creation or expansion of
1666 an apprenticeship program. Grant funds may not be used for
1667 recurring instructional costs or for a center’s or an
1668 institution’s indirect costs. Grant recipients must submit
1669 quarterly reports in a format prescribed by the department.
1670 Section 27. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (3) of
1671 section 1012.34, Florida Statutes, to read:
1672 1012.34 Personnel evaluation procedures and criteria.—
1673 (3) EVALUATION PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA.—Instructional
1674 personnel and school administrator performance evaluations must
1675 be based upon the performance of students assigned to their
1676 classrooms or schools, as provided in this section. Pursuant to
1677 this section, a school district’s performance evaluation is not
1678 limited to basing unsatisfactory performance of instructional
1679 personnel and school administrators solely upon student
1680 performance, but may include other criteria approved to evaluate
1681 instructional personnel and school administrators’ performance,
1682 or any combination of student performance and other approved
1683 criteria. Evaluation procedures and criteria must comply with,
1684 but are not limited to, the following:
1685 (e) A classroom teacher’s performance evaluation must be
1686 based upon the performance of students with fewer than 25
1687 absences within the school year, or, for schools with block
1688 scheduling, fewer than 10 absences within the school year,
1689 assigned to their classrooms, as provided in this section.
1690 Section 28. Subsection (4) is added to section 1012.3401,
1691 Florida Statutes, to read:
1692 1012.3401 Requirements for measuring student performance in
1693 instructional personnel and school administrator performance
1694 evaluations; performance evaluation of personnel for purposes of
1695 performance salary schedule.—Notwithstanding any provision to
1696 the contrary in ss. 1012.22 and 1012.34 regarding the
1697 performance salary schedule and personnel evaluation procedures
1698 and criteria:
1699 (4) A classroom teacher’s performance evaluation must be
1700 based upon the performance of students with fewer than 25
1701 absences within the school year, or, for schools with block
1702 scheduling, fewer than 10 absences within the school year,
1703 assigned to their classrooms.
1704 Section 29. Subsection (3) of section 1012.39, Florida
1705 Statutes, is amended to read:
1706 1012.39 Employment of substitute teachers, teachers of
1707 adult education, nondegreed teachers of career education, and
1708 career specialists; students performing clinical field
1709 experience.—
1710 (3) A student who is enrolled in a state-approved teacher
1711 preparation program in a postsecondary educational institution
1712 that is approved by rules of the State Board of Education and
1713 who is jointly assigned by the postsecondary educational
1714 institution and a district school board to perform a clinical
1715 field experience under the direction of a regularly employed and
1716 certified educator shall, while serving such supervised clinical
1717 field experience, be accorded the same protection of law as that
1718 accorded to the certified educator except for the right to
1719 bargain collectively as an employee of the district school
1720 board. The district school board providing the clinical field
1721 experience shall notify the student electronically or in writing
1722 of the availability of educator liability insurance under s.
1723 1012.75. A postsecondary educational institution or district
1724 school board may not require a student enrolled in a state
1725 approved teacher preparation program to purchase liability
1726 insurance as a condition of participation in any clinical field
1727 experience or related activity on the premises of an elementary
1728 or secondary school.
1729 Section 30. Subsections (4), (5), and (6) of section
1730 1012.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1731 1012.71 The Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance
1732 Program.—
1733 (4) Each classroom teacher must provide the school district
1734 with receipts for the expenditure of the funds. If the classroom
1735 teacher is provided funds in advance of expenditure, the Each
1736 classroom teacher must sign a statement acknowledging receipt of
1737 the funds, provide keep receipts as requested by the school
1738 district for no less than 4 years to show that funds expended
1739 meet the requirements of this section, and return any unused
1740 funds to the district school board by at the end of the regular
1741 school year. Any unused funds that are returned to the district
1742 school board shall be deposited into the school advisory council
1743 account of the school at which the classroom teacher returning
1744 the funds was employed when that teacher received the funds or
1745 deposited into the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance
1746 Program account of the school district in which a charter school
1747 is sponsored, as applicable.
1748 (5) The statement must be signed and dated by each
1749 classroom teacher before receipt of the Florida Teachers
1750 Classroom Supply Assistance Program funds and shall include the
1751 wording: “I, ...(name of teacher)..., am employed by the
1752 ....County District School Board or by the ....Charter School as
1753 a full-time classroom teacher. I acknowledge that Florida
1754 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program funds are
1755 appropriated by the Legislature for the sole purpose of
1756 purchasing classroom materials and supplies to be used in the
1757 instruction of students assigned to me. In accepting custody of
1758 these funds, I agree to keep the receipts for all expenditures
1759 for no less than 4 years. I understand that if I do not keep the
1760 receipts, it will be my personal responsibility to pay any
1761 federal taxes due on these funds. I also agree to return any
1762 unexpended funds to the district school board at the end of the
1763 regular school year for deposit into the school advisory council
1764 account of the school where I was employed at the time I
1765 received the funds or for deposit into the Florida Teachers
1766 Classroom Supply Assistance Program account of the school
1767 district in which the charter school is sponsored, as
1768 applicable.”
1769 (5)(6) The Department of Education and district school
1770 boards may, and are encouraged to, enter into public-private
1771 partnerships in order to increase the total amount of Florida
1772 Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Programs funds available to
1773 classroom teachers.
1774 Section 31. Section 1012.731, Florida Statutes, is created
1775 to read:
1776 1012.731 The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship
1777 Program.—
1778 (1) The Legislature recognizes that, second only to
1779 parents, teachers play the most critical role within schools in
1780 preparing students to achieve a high level of academic
1781 performance. The Legislature further recognizes that research
1782 has linked student outcomes to a teacher’s own academic
1783 achievement. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to
1784 designate teachers who have achieved high academic standards
1785 during their own education as Florida’s best and brightest
1786 teacher scholars.
1787 (2) There is created the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher
1788 Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of
1789 Education. Beginning in the 2015-2016 school year, the
1790 scholarship program shall provide categorical funding for
1791 scholarships to be awarded to teachers who have demonstrated a
1792 high level of academic achievement.
1793 (3)(a) To be eligible for a scholarship, a teacher:
1794 1. Must have scored at or above the 80th percentile on
1795 either the SAT or the ACT based upon the percentile ranks in
1796 effect when the teacher took the assessment and have been
1797 evaluated as highly effective pursuant to s. 1012.34; or
1798 2. If the teacher is a first-year teacher who has not been
1799 evaluated pursuant to s. 1012.34, must have scored at or above
1800 the 80th percentile on either the SAT or the ACT based upon the
1801 percentile ranks in effect when the teacher took the assessment.
1802 (b) In order to demonstrate eligibility for an award, an
1803 eligible teacher must submit to the school district, no later
1804 than October 1, an official record of his or her SAT or ACT
1805 score demonstrating that the teacher scored at or above the 80th
1806 percentile based upon the percentile ranks in effect when the
1807 teacher took the assessment. Once a teacher is deemed eligible
1808 by the school district, the teacher shall remain eligible as
1809 long as he or she is employed by the school district and
1810 maintains or, if the teacher is a first-year teacher, earns the
1811 evaluation designation of highly effective pursuant to s.
1812 1012.34.
1813 (4) Annually, by December 1, each school district shall
1814 submit to the department the number of eligible teachers who
1815 qualify for the scholarship.
1816 (5) Annually, by February 1, the department shall disburse
1817 scholarship funds, in an amount prescribed annually by the
1818 Legislature in the General Appropriations Act, to each school
1819 district for each eligible teacher to receive a scholarship. If
1820 the number of eligible teachers exceeds the total appropriation
1821 authorized in the General Appropriation Act, the department
1822 shall prorate the per teacher scholarship amount.
1823 (6) Annually, by April 1, each school district shall
1824 provide payment of the scholarship to each eligible teacher.
1825 (7) For purposes of this section, the term “school
1826 district” includes the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
1827 and charter school governing boards.
1828 Section 32. Section 1012.75, Florida Statutes, is amended
1829 to read:
1830 1012.75 Liability of teacher or principal; excessive
1831 force.—
1832 (1) Except in the case of excessive force or cruel and
1833 unusual punishment, a teacher or other member of the
1834 instructional staff, a principal or the principal’s designated
1835 representative, or a bus driver shall not be civilly or
1836 criminally liable for any action carried out in conformity with
1837 State Board of Education and district school board rules
1838 regarding the control, discipline, suspension, and expulsion of
1839 students, including, but not limited to, any exercise of
1840 authority under s. 1003.32 or s. 1006.09.
1841 (2) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that
1842 outline administrative standards for the use of reasonable force
1843 by school personnel to maintain a safe and orderly learning
1844 environment. Such standards shall be distributed to each school
1845 in the state and shall provide guidance to school personnel in
1846 receiving the limitations on liability specified in this
1847 section.
1848 (3) Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, the
1849 Department of Education shall administer an educator liability
1850 insurance program, as provided in the General Appropriation Act,
1851 to protect full-time instructional personnel from liability for
1852 monetary damages and the costs of defending actions resulting
1853 from claims made against the instructional personnel arising out
1854 of occurrences in the course of activities within the
1855 instructional personnel’s professional capacity. For purposes of
1856 this subsection, the terms “full-time,” “part-time,” and
1857 “administrative personnel” shall be defined by the individual
1858 district school board. For purposes of this subsection, the term
1859 “instructional personnel” has the same meaning as provided in s.
1860 1012.01(2).
1861 (a) Liability coverage of at least $2 million shall be
1862 provided to all full-time instructional personnel. Liability
1863 coverage may be provided to the following individuals who choose
1864 to participate in the program, at cost: part-time instructional
1865 personnel, administrative personnel, and students enrolled in a
1866 state-approved teacher preparation program pursuant to s.
1867 1012.39(3).
1868 (b) Annually, by August 1, each district school board shall
1869 notify personnel specified in paragraph (a) of the liability
1870 coverage provided pursuant to this subsection. The department
1871 shall develop the form of the notice which each district school
1872 board must use. The notice must be on an 8 1/2-inch by 5 1/2
1873 inch postcard and include the amount of coverage, a general
1874 description of the nature of the coverage, and the contact
1875 information for coverage and claims questions. The notification
1876 must be provided separately from any other correspondence. Each
1877 district school board shall certify to the department, by August
1878 5 of each year, that the notification required by this paragraph
1879 has been provided.
1880 (c) The department shall consult with the Department of
1881 Financial Services to select the most economically prudent and
1882 cost-effective means of implementing the program through self
1883 insurance, a risk management program, or competitive
1884 procurement.
1885 Section 33. (1) The State University System Performance
1886 Based Incentive shall be based on indicators of institutional
1887 attainment of performance metrics adopted by the Board of
1888 Governors. The performance-based funding metrics must include,
1889 but are not limited to, metrics that measure graduation and
1890 retention rates; degree production; affordability;
1891 postgraduation employment, salaries, or further education;
1892 student loan default rates; access; and any other metrics
1893 approved by the board.
1894 (2) The Board of Governors shall evaluate the institutions’
1895 performance on the metrics based on benchmarks adopted by the
1896 board which measure the achievement of institutional excellence
1897 or improvement. Each fiscal year, the amount of funds available
1898 for allocation to the institutions based on the performance
1899 funding model shall consist of the state’s investment in
1900 performance funding, plus an institutional investment consisting
1901 of funds to be redistributed from the base funding of the State
1902 University System, as determined in the General Appropriations
1903 Act. The institutional investment shall be restored for all
1904 institutions that meet the board’s minimum performance threshold
1905 under the performance funding model. An institution that is one
1906 of the bottom three institutions or fails to meet the board’s
1907 minimum performance funding threshold is not eligible for the
1908 state’s investment, shall have a portion of its institutional
1909 investment withheld, and shall submit an improvement plan to the
1910 board that specifies the activities and strategies for improving
1911 the institution’s performance.
1912 (3) By October 1 of each year, the Board of Governors shall
1913 submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
1914 Speaker of the House of Representatives a report on the previous
1915 year’s performance funding allocation which reflects the
1916 rankings and award distributions.
1917 (4) The Board of Governors shall adopt a regulation to
1918 implement this section.
1919 Section 34. (1) The Florida College System Performance
1920 Based Incentive shall be based on indicators of institutional
1921 attainment of performance metrics adopted by the State Board of
1922 Education. The performance-based funding metrics must be limited
1923 to metrics that measure retention; program completion and
1924 graduation rates; student loan default rates; job placement; and
1925 postgraduation employment, salaries, or further education.
1926 (2) The State Board of Education shall evaluate the
1927 institutions’ performance on the metrics based on benchmarks
1928 adopted by the board which measure the achievement of
1929 institutional excellence or improvement. Each fiscal year, the
1930 amount of funds available for allocation to the institutions
1931 based on the performance funding model shall consist of the
1932 state’s investment in performance funding, plus an institutional
1933 investment consisting of funds to be redistributed from the base
1934 funding of the Florida College System Program Fund, as
1935 determined in the General Appropriations Act. The board shall
1936 establish a minimum performance threshold that institutions must
1937 meet in order to be eligible for the state’s investment in
1938 performance funds. The institutional investment shall be
1939 restored for all institutions eligible for the state’s
1940 investment under the performance funding model. Any institution
1941 that fails to meet the board’s minimum performance funding
1942 threshold is not eligible for the state’s investment, shall have
1943 a portion of its institutional investment withheld, and shall
1944 submit an improvement plan to the board that specifies the
1945 activities and strategies for improving the institution’s
1946 performance.
1947 (3) The State Board of Education must review the
1948 improvement plan, and if approved, must monitor the
1949 institution’s progress on implementing the specified activities
1950 and strategies. The institutions shall submit monitoring reports
1951 to the board no later than December 31 and May 31 of each year.
1952 (4) The Commissioner of Education shall withhold
1953 disbursement of the institutional investment until such time as
1954 the monitoring report for the institution is approved by the
1955 State Board of Education. Any institution that fails to make
1956 satisfactory progress will not have its full institutional
1957 investment restored. If all institutional investment funds are
1958 not restored, any remaining funds shall be redistributed in
1959 accordance with the board’s performance funding model.
1960 (5) By October 1 of each year, the State Board of Education
1961 shall submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
1962 the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report on the
1963 previous year’s performance funding allocation which reflects
1964 the rankings and award distributions.
1965 (6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
1966 implement this section.
1967 Section 35. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.
1968
1969 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
1970 And the title is amended as follows:
1971 Delete everything before the enacting clause
1972 and insert:
1973 A bill to be entitled
1974 An act relating to education; amending s. 282.0051,
1975 F.S.; requiring the Agency for State Technology to
1976 establish and publish information technology
1977 architecture standards for purposes of implementing
1978 digital classrooms by a specified date; requiring the
1979 agency to collaborate with the Department of Education
1980 and the Department of Management Services to identify
1981 certain state contract procurement options for
1982 services that support such standards and to identify
1983 certain shared services available through the State
1984 Data Center to facilitate the implementation of school
1985 district digital classrooms plans; requiring the
1986 agency’s annual assessment of the Department of
1987 Education to review specified issues with respect to
1988 school district digital classrooms plans and to
1989 provide planning assistance to address and reduce
1990 issues identified by the assessment; amending s.
1991 282.00515, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference to
1992 changes made by the act; creating s. 282.0052, F.S.;
1993 establishing requirements for the agency or a
1994 contracted organization with respect to the
1995 establishment and assessment of digital classrooms
1996 information technology architecture standards;
1997 requiring the agency or contracted organization to
1998 annually submit a report to the Governor and the
1999 Legislature; prescribing report requirements;
2000 requiring the agency to annually update the
2001 Commissioner of Education on the status of technology
2002 infrastructure; requiring the Department of Education
2003 to annually update school districts regarding
2004 compliance with information technology architecture
2005 standards and provide planning guidance; requiring a
2006 school district to take certain action in the event of
2007 noncompliance with information technology architecture
2008 standards; amending s. 446.021, F.S.; revising terms;
2009 amending s. 446.032, F.S.; conforming a provision to
2010 changes made by the act; requiring the Department of
2011 Education, in collaboration with the Department of
2012 Economic Opportunity, to identify, develop, and
2013 register specified apprenticeship programs; requiring
2014 the department to annually submit an accountability
2015 report with specified requirements to the Governor,
2016 the Legislature, and the Higher Education Coordinating
2017 Council; requiring the department to post on its
2018 Internet website specified information regarding
2019 apprenticeship programs; amending s. 446.045, F.S.;
2020 clarifying State Apprenticeship Advisory Council
2021 membership; amending s. 446.052, F.S.; requiring the
2022 Department of Education, in collaboration with the
2023 Department of Economic Opportunity, to identify,
2024 develop, and register specified preapprenticeship
2025 programs; requiring the department to annually submit
2026 an accountability report with specified requirements
2027 to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Higher
2028 Education Coordinating Council; requiring the
2029 department to post on its Internet website specified
2030 information regarding preapprenticeship programs;
2031 requiring the Department of Education, in
2032 collaboration with the Department of Economic
2033 Opportunity and CareerSource Florida, Inc., to submit
2034 an operational report to the Governor, the
2035 Legislature, and the Higher Education Coordinating
2036 Council with specified information; providing for
2037 expiration; amending s. 446.081, F.S.; clarifying the
2038 limitations of certain provisions; amending s.
2039 446.091, F.S.; conforming a provision to a change made
2040 by the act; amending s. 446.092, F.S.; revising
2041 characteristics of an apprenticeable occupation;
2042 amending s. 1001.20, F.S.; requiring the Office of
2043 Technology and Information Services of the Department
2044 of Education to consult with the Agency for State
2045 Technology in developing the 5-year strategic plan for
2046 Florida digital classrooms; removing an obsolete date;
2047 revising requirements for the 5-year strategic plan;
2048 expanding the list of responsibilities of the Office
2049 of Technology and Information Services; amending s.
2050 1001.43, F.S.; authorizing district school boards to
2051 adopt a standard student attire policy; establishing
2052 criteria for and the purpose of the policy; providing
2053 immunity from civil liability for district school
2054 boards that implement a standard student attire policy
2055 under certain conditions; amending s. 1001.7065, F.S.;
2056 requiring a state research university to enter into
2057 and maintain a formal agreement with a specified
2058 organization to offer college-sponsored merit
2059 scholarship awards as a condition of designation as a
2060 preeminent state research university; specifying that
2061 continuation of a state research university’s
2062 institute for online learning is contingent on the
2063 university entering into and maintaining such an
2064 agreement; conforming provisions to changes made by
2065 the act; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring that
2066 instructional staff of public schools provide
2067 instruction to students about the terrorist attacks
2068 occurring on September 11, 2001, and the impact of
2069 those events; providing a short title; creating s.
2070 1004.084, F.S.; requiring the Board of Governors and
2071 the State Board of Education to identify strategies
2072 and initiatives to reduce the cost of higher
2073 education; requiring the Board of Governors and the
2074 state board to annually submit a report to the
2075 Governor and the Legislature; amending s. 1004.085,
2076 F.S.; defining the term “instructional materials”;
2077 revising policies and procedures relating to
2078 textbooks; requiring a public postsecondary
2079 institution to post information relating to required
2080 and recommended textbooks and instructional materials
2081 and prices in its course registration system and on
2082 its website; requiring the state board and the Board
2083 of Governors to adopt textbook and instructional
2084 materials affordability policies, procedures, and
2085 guidelines; providing requirements for the use of
2086 adopted undergraduate textbooks and instructional
2087 materials; requiring annual reporting of textbook and
2088 instructional materials cost information and
2089 affordability policies and procedures to the
2090 Chancellor of the Florida College System or the
2091 Chancellor of the State University System; requiring
2092 electronic copies of the affordability policies and
2093 procedures be sent annually to the state board or the
2094 Board of Governors; amending s. 1004.92, F.S.;
2095 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules
2096 relating to accountability for career education;
2097 amending s. 1006.735, F.S.; establishing the Rapid
2098 Response Education and Training Program within the
2099 Complete Florida Plus Program; requiring the Complete
2100 Florida Plus Program to work with Enterprise Florida,
2101 Inc., to offer credible education and training
2102 commitments to businesses; specifying the duties of
2103 the Rapid Response Education and Training Program;
2104 requiring reports to the Legislature; requiring the
2105 Division of Career and Adult Education within the
2106 Department of Education to conduct an analysis and
2107 assessment of the effectiveness of the education and
2108 training programs; amending s. 1009.22, F.S.; revising
2109 the amount tuition may vary for the combined total of
2110 the standard tuition and out-of-state fees; amending
2111 s. 1009.23, F.S.; prohibiting resident tuition at a
2112 Florida College System institution from exceeding a
2113 specified amount per credit hour; revising the amount
2114 tuition may vary for the combined total of the
2115 standard tuition and out-of-state fees; requiring a
2116 Florida College System institution to publicly notice
2117 meetings at which votes on proposed tuition or fee
2118 increases are scheduled; amending s. 1009.24, F.S.;
2119 prohibiting resident undergraduate tuition at a state
2120 university from exceeding a specified amount per
2121 credit hour; removing authority for a designee of the
2122 Board of Governors to establish graduate and
2123 professional tuition and out-of-state fees;
2124 prohibiting graduate and professional program tuition
2125 from exceeding a specified amount; requiring a state
2126 university to publicly notice meetings at which votes
2127 on proposed tuition or fee increases are scheduled;
2128 amending s. 1009.893, F.S., changing the name of the
2129 “Florida National Merit Scholar Incentive Program” to
2130 the “Benacquisto Scholarship Program”; providing that
2131 a student who receives the scholarship award under the
2132 program be referred to as a Benacquisto Scholar;
2133 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
2134 amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; requiring supplemental
2135 academic instruction categorical funds and research
2136 based reading instruction allocation funds to be used
2137 by a school district with at least one of certain
2138 lowest-performing elementary schools for additional
2139 intensive reading instruction at such school during
2140 the summer program in addition to the school year;
2141 providing that the additional instruction requirements
2142 continue in the subsequent year for certain students;
2143 revising the funding of full-time equivalent values
2144 for students who earn CAPE industry certifications
2145 through dual enrollment; increasing the bonus awarded
2146 to teachers who provided instruction in courses that
2147 led to certain CAPE industry certifications;
2148 specifying a maximum bonus amount per teacher per
2149 school year; revising the calculation of the
2150 discretionary millage compression supplement amount;
2151 revising the computation of district sparsity index
2152 for districts with a specified full-time equivalent
2153 student membership; deleting obsolete language;
2154 revising the calculation of the virtual education
2155 contribution; revising the date by which district
2156 school boards must annually submit a digital
2157 classrooms plan to the Department of Education;
2158 requiring the department to contract with an
2159 independent auditing entity in the event of
2160 noncompliance with minimum protocols and requirements
2161 in the administration of online assessments; requiring
2162 a charter school to submit the school’s digital
2163 classrooms plan to the applicable school district;
2164 specifying required format for the plan; specifying
2165 conditions for a school district to maintain
2166 eligibility for Florida digital classrooms allocation
2167 funds; requiring the Commissioner of Education to
2168 implement an online portal for electronic submission
2169 of digital classrooms plans by a specified date;
2170 requiring a charter school to annually report to the
2171 department regarding the use of specified funds;
2172 revising requirements for the commissioner’s annual
2173 report to the Governor and the Legislature regarding
2174 the digital classrooms plan; creating a federally
2175 connected student supplement for school districts;
2176 specifying eligibility requirements and calculations
2177 for the supplement; providing for the withholding of a
2178 district’s safe schools funding for failure to comply
2179 with certain reporting requirements with respect to
2180 school safety and student discipline; amending s.
2181 1011.71, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
2182 authorizing enterprise resource software to be
2183 acquired by certain fees and agreements; creating s.
2184 1011.802, F.S.; creating the Florida Apprenticeship
2185 Grant Program within the Department of Education to
2186 provide grants to specific centers and institutions
2187 for the creation of new apprenticeship programs or the
2188 expansion of existing apprenticeship programs;
2189 providing funding for the program; providing
2190 requirements related to applications, program
2191 priority, use of grant funds, and quarterly reports;
2192 amending ss. 1012.34 and 1012.3401, F.S.; requiring
2193 that classroom teacher performance evaluations be
2194 based upon the performance of students with fewer than
2195 a specified number of absences; amending s. 1012.39,
2196 F.S.; providing requirements regarding liability
2197 insurance for students performing clinical field
2198 experience; amending s. 1012.71, F.S.; requiring a
2199 classroom teacher to provide the school district with
2200 receipts for the expenditure of certain funds;
2201 creating s. 1012.731, F.S.; providing legislative
2202 intent; establishing the Florida Best and Brightest
2203 Teacher Scholarship Program; providing eligibility
2204 criteria; requiring a school district to annually
2205 submit the number of eligible teachers to the
2206 department; providing for funding and the disbursement
2207 of funds; defining the term “school district” for
2208 purposes of the act; amending s. 1012.75, F.S.;
2209 requiring the department to administer an educator
2210 liability insurance program; defining terms;
2211 specifying program administration and eligibility
2212 requirements; requiring the Board of Governors and the
2213 State Board of Education to base state performance
2214 funds for the State University System and the Florida
2215 College System, respectively, on specified metrics
2216 adopted by each board; specifying allocation of the
2217 funds; requiring certain funds to be withheld from an
2218 institution based on specified performance; requiring
2219 the boards to submit reports by a specified time to
2220 the Governor and the Legislature; requiring the boards
2221 to adopt rules; providing an effective date.