Florida Senate - 2016                                    SB 1714
       
       
        
       By Senator Brandes
       
       22-00843-16                                           20161714__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the competency-based innovation
    3         pilot program; establishing a competency-based
    4         innovation pilot program within the Department of
    5         Education; defining the term “competency-based
    6         education”; authorizing certain schools to apply to
    7         the department for approval of a competency-based
    8         innovation pilot program; specifying information to be
    9         included in the application; authorizing certain
   10         waivers; requiring the department to compile certain
   11         information and provide access to statewide,
   12         standardized assessments; requiring the department to
   13         submit an annual report to the Governor and the
   14         Legislature by a specified date; specifying the
   15         contents of the annual report; providing for
   16         expiration of the pilot program; providing an
   17         effective date.
   18          
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Competency-based innovation pilot program.
   22  Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, a competency-based
   23  innovation pilot program is established within the Department of
   24  Education.
   25         (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “competency
   26  based education” means a system in which a student may advance
   27  to higher levels of learning after demonstrating a mastery of
   28  concepts and skills instead of after a specified timeframe.
   29         (2) Public schools in Lake and Pinellas Counties and the
   30  P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School may submit an
   31  application to the department for approval of a competency-based
   32  innovation pilot program. The application shall be submitted on
   33  a form provided and by a date specified by the department and
   34  must include, but need not be limited to, the following:
   35         (a) A vision for the pilot program, including a timeline
   36  for the program and the timeframe for districtwide
   37  implementation of competency-based education.
   38         (b) Annual goals and performance outcomes that
   39  participating schools must meet, including, but not limited to:
   40         1. Student performance, as defined in s. 1008.34, Florida
   41  Statutes.
   42         2. Promotion and retention rates.
   43         3. Graduation rates.
   44         4. Indicators of college and career readiness.
   45         (c) A communication plan for stakeholders, including
   46  businesses and community members.
   47         (d) A scope of, and a timeline for, professional
   48  development.
   49         (e) A plan for student progression based on mastery of
   50  concepts and skills, including proposed methods to determine the
   51  degree to which a student has attained mastery of concepts and
   52  skills.
   53         (f) A plan for using technology and digital and blended
   54  learning to enhance student achievement and to facilitate
   55  competency-based education.
   56         (g) A plan for how resources will be allocated for the
   57  pilot program at both the district and school levels.
   58         (h) The recruitment and selection of participating schools.
   59         (i) Rules to be waived, as authorized in subsection (3), as
   60  necessary to implement the program.
   61         (3) In addition to the waivers provided in s. 1001.10(3),
   62  Florida Statutes, the State Board of Education may authorize the
   63  Commissioner of Education to grant waivers relating to the
   64  awarding of credit and pupil progression.
   65         (4) The department shall:
   66         (a) Compile student and staff schedules before and after
   67  implementation of the pilot program.
   68         (b) Provide access to statewide, standardized assessments
   69  pursuant to s. 1008.22(3), Florida Statutes.
   70         (c) By June 1 of each year, provide a report summarizing
   71  the activities and accomplishments of the pilot programs and any
   72  recommendations for statutory revisions for statewide
   73  implementation to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
   74  the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
   75         (5) This section expires June 30, 2021.
   76         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.