Florida Senate - 2016                      CS for CS for SB 1714
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Appropriations; and Education Pre-K - 12;
       and Senator Brandes
       
       576-04195-16                                          20161714c2
    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; providing reporting and funding requirements
   11         for students participating in the pilot program at
   12         participating schools; requiring the department to
   13         compile certain information and provide access to
   14         statewide, standardized assessments; requiring the
   15         department to submit an annual report to the Governor
   16         and the Legislature by a specified date; specifying
   17         the contents of the annual report; providing for
   18         expiration of the pilot program; providing an
   19         effective date.
   20          
   21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   22  
   23         Section 1. Competency-based innovation pilot program.
   24  Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, a competency-based
   25  innovation pilot program is established within the Department of
   26  Education.
   27         (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “competency
   28  based education” means a system in which a student may advance
   29  to higher levels of learning after demonstrating a mastery of
   30  concepts and skills instead of after a specified timeframe.
   31         (2) Public schools in Lake, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and
   32  Seminole Counties; P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School; and
   33  school districts or charter schools designated by the
   34  Commissioner of Education may submit an application to the
   35  department for approval of a competency-based innovation pilot
   36  program. The application shall be submitted on a form provided
   37  and by a date specified by the department and must include, but
   38  need not be limited to, the following:
   39         (a) A vision for the pilot program, including a timeline
   40  for the program and the timeframe for districtwide
   41  implementation of competency-based education.
   42         (b) Annual goals and performance outcomes that
   43  participating schools must meet, including, but not limited to:
   44         1. Student performance, as defined in s. 1008.34, Florida
   45  Statutes.
   46         2. Promotion and retention rates.
   47         3. Graduation rates.
   48         4. Indicators of college and career readiness.
   49         (c) A communication plan for stakeholders, including
   50  businesses and community members.
   51         (d) A scope of, and a timeline for, professional
   52  development.
   53         (e) A plan for student progression based on mastery of
   54  concepts and skills, including proposed methods to determine the
   55  degree to which a student has attained mastery of concepts and
   56  skills.
   57         (f) A plan for using technology and digital and blended
   58  learning to enhance student achievement and to facilitate
   59  competency-based education.
   60         (g) A plan for how resources will be allocated for the
   61  pilot program at both the district and school levels.
   62         (h) The recruitment and selection of participating schools.
   63         (i) Rules to be waived, as authorized in subsection (3), as
   64  necessary to implement the program.
   65         (3) In addition to the waivers provided in s. 1001.10(3),
   66  Florida Statutes, the State Board of Education may authorize the
   67  Commissioner of Education to grant waivers relating to the
   68  awarding of credit and pupil progression.
   69         (4) Students participating in the pilot program at
   70  participating schools shall be reported and generate funding
   71  consistent with the requirements of s. 1011.62, Florida
   72  Statutes.
   73         (5) The department shall:
   74         (a) Compile student and staff schedules before and after
   75  implementation of the pilot program.
   76         (b) Provide access to statewide, standardized assessments
   77  pursuant to s. 1008.22(3), Florida Statutes.
   78         (c) By June 1 of each year, provide a report summarizing
   79  the activities and accomplishments of the pilot programs and any
   80  recommendations for statutory revisions for statewide
   81  implementation to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
   82  the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
   83         (6) This section expires June 30, 2021.
   84         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.