Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1016
By Senator Baxley
12-00797A-21 20211016__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to digital learning; amending s.
3 1002.321, F.S.; revising legislative findings to
4 include digital devices and home-based Internet
5 connectivity in infrastructure as necessary for a
6 high-quality digital learning environment; requiring
7 each school district to adopt a digital learning plan;
8 specifying the requirements for such plan; requiring
9 school districts to submit plans to the Department of
10 Education by a certain date in a format prescribed by
11 the department; requiring the department to develop
12 one or more state term contracts for a specified
13 purpose; amending ss. 1003.01 and 1003.499, F.S.;
14 conforming cross-references; providing an effective
15 date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Present subsections (3) through (6) of section
20 1002.321, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
21 through (7), respectively, a new subsection (3) and subsection
22 (8) are added to that section, and paragraph (i) of subsection
23 (2) of that section is amended, to read:
24 1002.321 Digital learning.—
25 (2) ELEMENTS OF HIGH-QUALITY DIGITAL LEARNING.—The
26 Legislature finds that each student should have access to a
27 high-quality digital learning environment that provides:
28 (i) Infrastructure, including digital devices and home
29 based Internet connectivity, that supports digital learning.
30 (3) DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN.—Each school district shall adopt
31 a digital learning plan.
32 (a) The plan must include the following:
33 1. Identification of the number of low-income students
34 without access to a digital device that meets the specifications
35 of the district school board.
36 2. Identification of the number of low-income students
37 without high-speed broadband Internet connectivity at home.
38 3. Provision of laptops or tablets and Wi-Fi access points
39 or other Internet connectivity support to students identified in
40 subparagraphs 1. and 2.
41 4. A list of training for teachers and parents of students
42 who need digital literacy support.
43 (b) By October 1, 2021, and by March 1 of each year
44 thereafter, on a date determined by the department, each
45 district school board shall submit its plan to the department in
46 a format prescribed by the department.
47 (8) STATE CONTRACT.—The department shall develop one or
48 more state term contracts to be used by school districts in
49 acquiring digital devices.
50 Section 2. Subsection (14) of section 1003.01, Florida
51 Statutes, is amended to read:
52 1003.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
53 (14) “Core-curricula courses” means:
54 (a) Courses in language arts/reading, mathematics, social
55 studies, and science in prekindergarten through grade 3,
56 excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (15);
57 (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are
58 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses
59 required for middle school promotion, excluding extracurricular
60 courses pursuant to subsection (15);
61 (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are
62 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that
63 are specifically identified by name in statute as required for
64 high school graduation and that are not measured by state
65 assessment, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to
66 subsection (15);
67 (d) Exceptional student education courses; and
68 (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses.
69
70 The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of
71 designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size
72 requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of the State
73 Constitution. This term does not include courses offered under
74 ss. 1002.321(5)(e) ss. 1002.321(4)(e), 1002.33(7)(a)2.b.,
75 1002.37, 1002.45, and 1003.499.
76 Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 1003.499, Florida
77 Statutes, is amended to read:
78 1003.499 Florida Approved Courses and Tests (FACT)
79 Initiative.—
80 (2) FLORIDA APPROVED COURSES.—The Department of Education
81 shall annually publish online a list of providers approved to
82 offer Florida approved courses which shall be listed in the
83 online catalog pursuant to s. 1002.321(7) s. 1002.321(6).
84 (a) As used in this section, the term “Florida approved
85 courses” means online courses provided by individuals which
86 include, but are not limited to, massive open online courses or
87 remedial education associated with the courses that are measured
88 pursuant to s. 1008.22. Massive open online courses may be
89 authorized in the following subject areas: Algebra I, biology,
90 geometry, and civics. Courses may be applied toward requirements
91 for promotion or graduation in whole, in subparts, or in a
92 combination of whole and subparts. A student may not be required
93 to repeat subparts that are satisfactorily completed.
94 (b) A Florida approved course must be annually identified,
95 approved, published, and shared for consideration by interested
96 students and school districts. The Commissioner of Education
97 shall approve each Florida approved course for application in K
98 12 public schools in accordance with rules of the State Board of
99 Education.
100 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.