Florida Senate - 2025 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for HB 1255
Ì351932$Î351932
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Floor: 1/AD/2R . Floor: CA
04/30/2025 05:14 PM . 05/02/2025 07:12 PM
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Senator Calatayud moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (2) of
6 section 11.45, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
7 11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.—
8 (2) DUTIES.—The Auditor General shall:
9 (d) Annually conduct financial audits of the accounts and
10 records of all district school boards in counties with
11 populations of less fewer than 150,000, according to the most
12 recent federal decennial statewide census; and the Florida
13 School for the Deaf and the Blind; and the Florida School for
14 Competitive Academics.
15 (f) At least every 3 years, conduct operational audits of
16 the accounts and records of state agencies, state universities,
17 state colleges, district school boards, the Florida Clerks of
18 Court Operations Corporation, water management districts, and
19 the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Florida
20 School for Competitive Academics.
21
22 The Auditor General shall perform his or her duties
23 independently but under the general policies established by the
24 Legislative Auditing Committee. This subsection does not limit
25 the Auditor General’s discretionary authority to conduct other
26 audits or engagements of governmental entities as authorized in
27 subsection (3).
28 Section 2. Subsection (5) is added to section 11.51,
29 Florida Statutes, to read:
30 11.51 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
31 Accountability.—
32 (5) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
33 Accountability may develop contracts or agreements with
34 institutions in the State University System to use the expertise
35 of state university faculty and research staff to provide
36 assistance in analysis and evaluative research.
37 Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 110.211, Florida
38 Statutes, is amended to read:
39 110.211 Recruitment.—
40 (3) Recruiting shall seek efficiency in advertising and may
41 be assisted by a contracted vendor responsible for maintenance
42 of the personnel data. Recruiting may include the use of an
43 apprenticeship program as defined in s. 446.021(6). Open
44 competition is not required for a position that will be filled
45 by a person who has successfully completed an apprenticeship
46 program with the hiring agency.
47 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
48 125.901, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
49 125.901 Children’s services; independent special district;
50 council; powers, duties, and functions; public records
51 exemption.—
52 (1) Each county may by ordinance create an independent
53 special district, as defined in ss. 189.012 and 200.001(8)(e),
54 to provide funding for children’s services throughout the county
55 in accordance with this section. The boundaries of such district
56 shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the county. The
57 county governing body shall obtain approval at a general
58 election, as defined in s. 97.021, by a majority vote of those
59 electors voting on the question, to annually levy ad valorem
60 taxes which shall not exceed the maximum millage rate authorized
61 by this section. Any district created pursuant to the provisions
62 of this subsection shall be required to levy and fix millage
63 subject to the provisions of s. 200.065. Once such millage is
64 approved by the electorate, the district shall not be required
65 to seek approval of the electorate in future years to levy the
66 previously approved millage. However, a referendum to increase
67 the millage rate previously approved by the electors must be
68 held at a general election, and the referendum may be held only
69 once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date of
70 the increased millage.
71 (b) However, any county as defined in s. 125.011(1) may
72 instead have a governing body composed consisting of 33 members,
73 including the superintendent of schools, or his or her designee;
74 two representatives of public postsecondary education
75 institutions located in the county; the county manager or the
76 equivalent county officer, or his or her designee; the district
77 administrator from the appropriate district of the Department of
78 Children and Families, or the administrator’s designee who is a
79 member of the Senior Management Service or the Selected Exempt
80 Service; the director of the county health department or the
81 director’s designee; the state attorney for the county or the
82 state attorney’s designee; the chief judge assigned to juvenile
83 cases, or another juvenile judge who is the chief judge’s
84 designee and who shall sit as a voting member of the board,
85 except that the judge may not vote or participate in setting ad
86 valorem taxes under this section; an individual who is selected
87 by the board of the local United Way or its equivalent; a member
88 of a locally recognized faith-based coalition, selected by that
89 coalition; a member of the local chamber of commerce, selected
90 by that chamber or, if more than one chamber exists within the
91 county, a person selected by a coalition of the local chambers;
92 a member of the early learning coalition, selected by that
93 coalition; a representative of a labor organization or union
94 active in the county; a member of a local alliance or coalition
95 engaged in cross-system planning for health and social service
96 delivery in the county, selected by that alliance or coalition;
97 a member of the local Parent-Teachers Association/Parent
98 Teacher-Student Association, selected by that association; a
99 youth representative selected by the local school system’s
100 student government; a local school board member appointed by the
101 chair of the school board; the mayor of the county or the
102 mayor’s designee; one member of the county governing body,
103 appointed by the chair of that body; a member of the state
104 Legislature who represents residents of the county, selected by
105 the chair of the local legislative delegation; an elected
106 official representing the residents of a municipality in the
107 county, selected by the county municipal league; and five 4
108 members-at-large, appointed to the council by the majority of
109 sitting council members. The remaining seven members shall be
110 appointed by the Governor in accordance with procedures set
111 forth in paragraph (a), except that the Governor may remove a
112 member for cause or upon the written petition of the council.
113 Appointments by the Governor must, to the extent reasonably
114 possible, represent the geographic and demographic makeup
115 diversity of the population of the county. Members who are
116 appointed to the council by reason of their position are not
117 subject to the length of terms and limits on consecutive terms
118 as provided in this section. The remaining appointed members of
119 the governing body shall be appointed to serve 3-year 2-year
120 terms, except that those members appointed by the Governor shall
121 be appointed to serve 4-year terms, and the youth representative
122 and the legislative delegate shall be appointed to serve 1-year
123 terms. A member may be reappointed; however, a member may not
124 serve for more than three consecutive terms. A member is
125 eligible to be appointed again after a 2-year hiatus from the
126 council.
127 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
128 216.251, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
129 216.251 Salary appropriations; limitations.—
130 (2)(a) The salary for each position not specifically
131 indicated in the appropriations acts shall be as provided in one
132 of the following subparagraphs:
133 1. Within the classification and pay plans provided for in
134 chapter 110.
135 2. Within the classification and pay plans established by
136 the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and
137 the Blind of the Department of Education and approved by the
138 State Board of Education for academic and academic
139 administrative personnel.
140 3. Within the classification and pay plan approved and
141 administered by the Board of Governors or the designee of the
142 board for those positions in the State University System.
143 4. Within the classification and pay plan approved by the
144 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
145 Representatives, as the case may be, for employees of the
146 Legislature.
147 5. Within the approved classification and pay plan for the
148 judicial branch.
149 6. Within the classification and pay plans established by
150 the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for Competitive
151 Academics of the Department of Education and approved by the
152 State Board of Education for academic and academic
153 administrative personnel.
154 Section 6. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 288.036,
155 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
156 288.036 Ocean economy development.—
157 (3) The Office of Ocean Economy shall:
158 (a) Develop and undertake activities and strategies with a
159 focus on research and development, technological innovation,
160 emerging industries, strategic business recruitment, public and
161 private funding opportunities, and workforce training and
162 education to promote and stimulate the ocean economy.
163 (b)1. Collaborate Foster relationships and coordinate with
164 state universities, private universities, career centers, and
165 Florida College System institutions, including the College of
166 the Florida Keys, to periodically survey surveying the
167 development of academic research relating to the ocean economy
168 across all disciplines and facilitating the transfer of
169 innovative technology into marketable goods and services. The
170 office shall encourage collaboration between state universities
171 and Florida College System institutions that have overlapping
172 areas of academic research.
173 2. Maintain Include and update on the office’s website
174 information related to:
175 a. An inventory of current research and current
176 collaborations, including contact information; and
177 b. Any available resources for research and technology
178 development, including financial opportunities.
179 (c) Collaborate with relevant industries to identify
180 economic challenges that may be solved through innovation in the
181 ocean economy, including commercializing or otherwise
182 facilitating public access to academic research and resources,
183 removing governmental barriers, strengthening the workforce, and
184 maximizing access to financial or other opportunities for growth
185 and development.
186 (d) Develop and facilitate a pipeline for innovative ideas
187 and strategies to be created, developed, researched,
188 commercialized, and financed. This includes promotion and
189 coordination of industry collaboration, academic research,
190 accelerator programs, training and technical assistance, and
191 startup or second-stage funding opportunities.
192 (e) Maintain and update on the office’s website:
193 1. Reports and data on the number, growth, and average
194 wages of jobs included in the ocean economy; the impacts on the
195 number, growth, and development of businesses in the ocean
196 economy; and the collaboration, transition, or adoption of
197 innovation and research into new, viable ideas employed in the
198 ocean economy.
199 2. A current inventory of programs related to the ocean
200 economy, an evaluation of additional opportunities to earn
201 credentials, and the institutions or training providers where
202 such credentials may be earned.
203 (f) Educate other state and local entities on the interests
204 of the ocean economy and how such entities may positively
205 address environmental issues while simultaneously considering
206 the economic impact of their policies.
207 (g) Communicate the state’s role as an integral component
208 of the ocean economy by promoting the state on national and
209 international platforms and other appropriate forums as the
210 premier destination for convening on pertinent subject matters.
211 (h) Collaborate with public and private educational and
212 industry organizations to make recommendations:
213 1. For strengthening employment opportunities in:
214 a. Commercial fishing;
215 b. Fisheries and aquaculture, marine and freshwater;
216 c. Processing and preserving fish, crustaceans, and
217 mollusks;
218 d. Shipbuilding and repair; and
219 e. Shipping, water transport such as sea and coastal and
220 inland water transportation of both freight and passengers,
221 ports, and related services and support activities.
222 2. Regarding the expansion of existing maritime programs
223 and the addition of new programs and strategies for a public
224 awareness campaign.
225 3. To increase the availability of dual enrollment,
226 preapprenticeship and apprenticeship, and work-study programs at
227 both public and private institutions.
228 4. For aligning the regulatory framework for fishing and
229 boat operations with the demand for personnel through
230 consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
231 (4) By August 1, 2025, and each August 1 thereafter, the
232 office shall provide to the Board of Governors, the Governor,
233 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
234 Representatives and post on its website a detailed report on
235 demonstrating the economic benefits of the office and the
236 development of emerging ocean economy industries. By August 1,
237 2026, the report must include the recommendations in paragraph
238 (3)(h).
239 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
240 435.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
241 435.12 Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.—
242 (3)(a) Employees of each district unit under s. 1001.30,
243 special district units under s. 1011.24, the Florida School for
244 the Deaf and the Blind under s. 1002.36, the Florida Virtual
245 School under s. 1002.37, virtual instruction programs under s.
246 1002.45, charter schools under s. 1002.33, hope operators under
247 s. 1002.333, private schools participating in an educational
248 scholarship program established pursuant to chapter 1002, and
249 alternative schools under s. 1008.341 must be rescreened in
250 compliance with the following schedule:
251 1. Employees for whom the last screening was conducted on
252 or before June 30, 2021, must be rescreened by December 1 June
253 30, 2025.
254 2. Employees for whom the last screening was conducted
255 between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, must be rescreened by
256 December 1 June 30, 2026.
257 3. Employees for whom the last screening was conducted
258 between July 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023, must be rescreened
259 by December 1 June 30, 2027.
260 Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 446.032, Florida
261 Statutes, is amended to read:
262 446.032 General duties of the department for apprenticeship
263 training.—The department shall:
264 (2) By November 30 September 1 of each year, publish an
265 annual report on apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.
266 The report must be published on the department’s website and, at
267 a minimum, include all of the following:
268 (a) A list of registered apprenticeship and
269 preapprenticeship programs, sorted by local educational agency,
270 as defined in s. 1004.02(18), and apprenticeship sponsor, under
271 s. 446.071.
272 (b) A detailed summary of each local educational agency’s
273 expenditure of funds for apprenticeship and preapprenticeship
274 programs, including:
275 1. The total amount of funds received for apprenticeship
276 and preapprenticeship programs.
277 2. The total amount of funds allocated by training
278 provider, program, and occupation.
279 3. The total amount of funds expended for administrative
280 costs by training provider, program, and occupation.
281 4. The total amount of funds expended for instructional
282 costs by training provider, program, and occupation.
283 (c) The number of apprentices and preapprentices per trade
284 and occupation.
285 (d) The percentage of apprentices and preapprentices who
286 complete their respective programs in the appropriate timeframe.
287 (e) Information and resources related to applications for
288 new apprenticeship programs and technical assistance and
289 requirements for potential applicants.
290 (f) Documentation of activities conducted by the department
291 to promote apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs through
292 public engagement, community-based partnerships, and other
293 initiatives and the outcomes of such activities and their impact
294 on establishing or expanding apprenticeship and
295 preapprenticeship programs.
296 (g) Retention and completion rates of participants
297 disaggregated by training provider, program, and occupation.
298 (h) Wage progression of participants as demonstrated by
299 starting, exit, and postapprenticeship wages at 1 and 5 years
300 after participants exit the program.
301 Section 9. Subsection (2) of section 447.203, Florida
302 Statutes, is amended to read:
303 447.203 Definitions.—As used in this part:
304 (2) “Public employer” or “employer” means the state or any
305 county, municipality, or special district or any subdivision or
306 agency thereof which the commission determines has sufficient
307 legal distinctiveness properly to carry out the functions of a
308 public employer. With respect to all public employees determined
309 by the commission as properly belonging to a statewide
310 bargaining unit composed of State Career Service System
311 employees or Selected Professional Service employees, the
312 Governor is deemed to be the public employer; and the Board of
313 Governors of the State University System, or the board’s
314 designee, is deemed to be the public employer with respect to
315 all public employees of each constituent state university. The
316 board of trustees of a community college is deemed to be the
317 public employer with respect to all employees of the community
318 college. The district school board is deemed to be the public
319 employer with respect to all employees of the school district.
320 The Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the
321 Blind is deemed to be the public employer with respect to the
322 academic and academic administrative personnel of the Florida
323 School for the Deaf and the Blind. The Board of Trustees of the
324 Florida School for Competitive Academics is deemed to be the
325 public employer with respect to the academic and academic
326 administrative personnel of the Florida School for Competitive
327 Academics. The Governor is deemed to be the public employer with
328 respect to all employees in the Correctional Education Program
329 of the Department of Corrections established pursuant to s.
330 944.801.
331 Section 10. Subsection (7) of section 1000.04, Florida
332 Statutes, is amended to read:
333 1000.04 Components for the delivery of public education
334 within the Florida Early Learning-20 education system.—Florida’s
335 Early Learning-20 education system provides for the delivery of
336 early learning and public education through publicly supported
337 and controlled K-12 schools, Florida College System
338 institutions, state universities and other postsecondary
339 educational institutions, other educational institutions, and
340 other educational services as provided or authorized by the
341 Constitution and laws of the state.
342 (7) THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR COMPETITIVE ACADEMICS.—The
343 Florida School for Competitive Academics is a component of the
344 delivery of public education within Florida’s Early Learning-20
345 education system.
346 Section 11. Paragraph (j) of subsection (5) of section
347 1000.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
348 1000.21 Systemwide definitions.—As used in the Florida
349 Early Learning-20 Education Code:
350 (5) “Florida College System institution” except as
351 otherwise specifically provided, includes all of the following
352 public postsecondary educational institutions in the Florida
353 College System and any branch campuses, centers, or other
354 affiliates of the institution:
355 (j) Hillsborough Community College, which serves
356 Hillsborough County.
357 Section 12. Effective upon this act becoming a law, section
358 1000.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
359 1000.40 Future repeal of the Interstate Compact on
360 Educational Opportunity for Military Children.—Sections 1000.36,
361 1000.361, 1000.38, and 1000.39 and this section shall stand
362 repealed on July 1, 2028 2025, unless reviewed and saved from
363 repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
364 Section 13. Subsection (5) of section 1001.03, Florida
365 Statutes, is amended to read:
366 1001.03 Specific powers of State Board of Education.—
367 (5) IDENTIFICATION OF HIGH-DEMAND CRITICAL TEACHER NEEDS
368 SHORTAGE AREAS.—The State Board of Education shall identify
369 high-demand critical teacher needs shortage areas pursuant to s.
370 1012.07.
371 Section 14. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
372 1001.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
373 1001.20 Department under direction of state board.—
374 (4) The Department of Education shall establish the
375 following offices within the Office of the Commissioner of
376 Education which shall coordinate their activities with all other
377 divisions and offices:
378 (e) Office of Inspector General.—Organized using existing
379 resources and funds and responsible for promoting
380 accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and detecting
381 fraud and abuse within school districts, the Florida School for
382 the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida School for Competitive
383 Academics, and Florida College System institutions in Florida.
384 If the Commissioner of Education determines that a district
385 school board, the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for
386 the Deaf and the Blind, the Board of Trustees for the Florida
387 School for Competitive Academics, or a Florida College System
388 institution board of trustees is unwilling or unable to address
389 substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste,
390 fraud, or financial mismanagement within the school district,
391 the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida
392 School for Competitive Academics, or the Florida College System
393 institution, the office must conduct, coordinate, or request
394 investigations into such substantiated allegations. The office
395 shall investigate allegations or reports of possible fraud or
396 abuse against a district school board made by any member of the
397 Cabinet; the presiding officer of either house of the
398 Legislature; a chair of a substantive or appropriations
399 committee with jurisdiction; or a member of the board for which
400 an investigation is sought. The office may investigate
401 allegations or reports of suspected violations of a student’s,
402 parent’s, or teacher’s rights. The office shall have access to
403 all information and personnel necessary to perform its duties
404 and shall have all of its current powers, duties, and
405 responsibilities authorized in s. 20.055.
406 Section 15. Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section
407 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
408 added to that section, to read:
409 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In
410 order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of
411 students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the
412 development of new programs and services:
413 (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full
414 time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)
415 schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida
416 School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative
417 agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
418 Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any
419 of, at a minimum, three of the following services determined
420 necessary and appropriate by the board of directors:
421 (a) Exceptional student education;
422 (b) Safe schools support teacher education centers;
423 environmental education;
424 (c) State and federal grant procurement and coordination;
425 (d) Data services processing; health
426 (e) Insurance services;
427 (f) Risk management insurance;
428 (g) Professional learning;
429 (h) College, career, and workforce development;
430 (i) Business and operational services staff development;
431 (j) Purchasing; or
432 (k) Planning and accountability.
433 (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization that
434 consists of four or more school districts is eligible to
435 receive, through the Department of Education, subject to the
436 funds provided in the General Appropriations Act, an allocation
437 incentive grant of $150,000 $50,000 per school district and
438 eligible member to be used for the delivery of services within
439 the participating school districts. The determination of
440 services and use of such funds must shall be established by the
441 board of directors of the regional consortium service
442 organization. The funds must shall be distributed to each
443 regional consortium service organization no later than 30 days
444 following the release of the funds to the department. Each
445 regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual
446 report to the department regarding the use of funds for
447 consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a
448 consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried
449 forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the
450 approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional
451 consortium service organization shall provide quarterly
452 financial reports to member districts.
453 (b) Member districts shall designate a district that will
454 serve as a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes.
455 Such fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable
456 compensation for accounting and other services performed. The
457 regional consortium service organization shall retain all funds
458 received from grants or contracted services to cover indirect or
459 administrative costs associated with the provision of such
460 services. The regional consortium service organization board of
461 directors shall determine the products and services to be
462 provided by the consortium; however, in all contractual matters,
463 the school board of the fiscal agent district shall act on
464 proposed actions of the regional consortium service
465 organization.
466 (c) The regional consortium service organization board of
467 directors shall recommend establishment of positions and
468 individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.
469 Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the
470 fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of
471 the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service
472 organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule
473 and job descriptions specific to its personnel.
474 (d) The regional consortium service organization may
475 purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its
476 operations and is responsible for their maintenance and
477 associated overhead costs.
478 (e) If a regional consortium service organization is
479 dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be
480 distributed among the member districts as determined by the
481 board of directors Application for incentive grants shall be
482 made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year
483 for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service
484 organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year.
485 (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service
486 organization may use various means to generate revenue in
487 support of its activities, including, but not limited to,
488 contracting for services to nonmember districts. The board of
489 directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
490 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated other
491 rights or interests thereunder or therein. Ownership of all such
492 patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights
493 or interests thereunder or therein shall vest in the state, with
494 the board of directors having full right of use and full right
495 to retain associated the revenues derived therefrom. Any funds
496 realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,
497 trademarks, or licenses are shall be considered internal funds
498 as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established
499 for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,
500 terminal pay, and other liabilities Such funds shall be used to
501 support the organization’s marketing and research and
502 development activities in order to improve and increase services
503 to its member districts.
504 (6) A regional consortium service organization is
505 authorized to administer the Regional Consortia Service
506 Organization Supplemental Services Program under s. 1001.4511.
507 Section 16. Section 1001.4511, Florida Statutes, is created
508 to read:
509 1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization
510 Supplemental Services Program.—
511 (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service
512 Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the
513 ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.
514 1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members
515 through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to
516 supplement member needs related to transportation; district
517 finance personnel services; property insurance, including
518 property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity
519 support; school safety; college, career, and workforce
520 development; academic support; and behavior support within
521 exceptional student education services.
522 (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall
523 annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
524 of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,
525 including members awarded and services provided.
526 (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
527 funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June
528 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be
529 carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of
530 the original appropriation.
531 Section 17. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
532 1001.452, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
533 1001.452 District and school advisory councils.—
534 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—
535 (a) The district school board shall establish an advisory
536 council for each school in the district and shall develop
537 procedures for the election and appointment of advisory council
538 members. Each school advisory council shall include in its name
539 the words “school advisory council.” The school advisory council
540 shall be the sole body responsible for final decisionmaking at
541 the school relating to implementation of ss. 1001.42(18) and
542 1008.345. A majority of the members of each school advisory
543 council must be persons who are not employed by the school
544 district. Each advisory council shall be composed of the
545 principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers,
546 education support employees, students, parents, and other
547 business and community citizens who are representative of the
548 ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school.
549 Career center and high school advisory councils shall include
550 students, and middle and junior high school advisory councils
551 may include students. School advisory councils of career centers
552 and adult education centers are not required to include parents
553 as members. Council members representing teachers, education
554 support employees, students, and parents shall be elected by
555 their respective peer groups at the school in a fair and
556 equitable manner as follows:
557 1. Teachers shall be elected by teachers.
558 2. Education support employees shall be elected by
559 education support employees.
560 3. Students shall be elected by students.
561 4. Parents shall be elected by parents.
562
563 The district school board shall establish procedures to be used
564 by schools in selecting business and community members which
565 that include means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and of
566 taking input on possible members from local business, chambers
567 of commerce, community and civic organizations and groups, and
568 the public at large. The district school board shall review the
569 membership composition of each advisory council. If the district
570 school board determines that the membership elected by the
571 school is not representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic
572 community served by the school, the district school board must
573 shall appoint additional members to achieve proper
574 representation. The commissioner shall determine if schools have
575 maximized their efforts to include on their advisory councils
576 minority persons and persons of lower socioeconomic status.
577 Although schools are strongly encouraged to establish school
578 advisory councils, the district school board of any school
579 district that has a student population of 10,000 or less fewer
580 may establish a district advisory council which includes at
581 least one duly elected teacher from each school in the district.
582 For the purposes of school advisory councils and district
583 advisory councils, the term “teacher” includes classroom
584 teachers, certified student services personnel, and media
585 specialists. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “education
586 support employee” means any person employed by a school who is
587 not defined as instructional or administrative personnel
588 pursuant to s. 1012.01 and whose duties require 20 or more hours
589 in each normal working week.
590 Section 18. Section 1001.68, Florida Statutes, is created
591 to read:
592 1001.68 State college regional consortium service
593 organizations.—In order to create effectiveness and efficiency
594 of small institutions in the Florida College System which serve
595 rural communities:
596 (1) Colleges with 5,000 or fewer full-time equivalent
597 students may enter into cooperative agreements to form a
598 regional consortium service organization. Each regional
599 consortium service organization shall, at a minimum, provide
600 three of the following services: grant procurement;
601 institutional research and reporting; risk management;
602 professional development for faculty and staff; leadership
603 support; information technology and cybersecurity training;
604 faculty and staff recruitment; workforce development programs;
605 cooperative purchasing; administrative services; or enrollment
606 management services.
607 (2) Each regional consortium service organization must be
608 governed by a board of directors composed of the presidents of
609 the respective member colleges.
610 Section 19. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) of section
611 1001.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
612 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
613 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
614 (d) The Board of Governors shall annually require a state
615 university prior to registration to provide each enrolled
616 student electronic access to the economic security report of
617 employment and earning outcomes prepared by the Department of
618 Commerce pursuant to s. 445.07. In addition, the Board of
619 Governors shall require a state university to provide each
620 student electronic access to the following information each year
621 prior to registration using the data described in s. 1008.39:
622 1. The top 25 percent of degrees reported by the university
623 in terms of highest full-time job placement and highest average
624 annualized earnings in the year after earning the degree.
625 2. The bottom 10 percent of degrees reported by the
626 university in terms of lowest full-time job placement and lowest
627 average annualized earnings in the year after earning the
628 degree.
629 Section 20. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
630 1001.7065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
631 1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
632 (2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The
633 following academic and research excellence standards are
634 established for the preeminent state research universities
635 program and shall be reported annually in the Board of Governors
636 Accountability Plan:
637 (a) An average weighted grade point average of 4.0 or
638 higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1200 or higher
639 on a 1600-point scale or an average ACT score of 25 or higher on
640 a 36 score scale, using the latest published national
641 concordance table developed jointly by the College Board and
642 ACT, Inc., or an average Classic Learning Test score of 83 or
643 higher on a 120 score scale, for fall semester incoming
644 freshmen, as reported annually.
645 Section 21. Paragraph (o) of subsection (3) and paragraph
646 (c) of subsection (4) of section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, are
647 amended to read:
648 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
649 school students must receive accurate and timely information
650 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
651 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
652 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
653 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
654 (3) HEALTH ISSUES.—
655 (o) Emergency opioid antagonist Naloxone use and supply.—
656 1. A public school may purchase a supply of an emergency
657 the opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and
658 Drug Administration (FDA) naloxone from a wholesale distributor
659 as defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an arrangement with a
660 wholesale distributor or manufacturer as defined in s. 499.003
661 for an FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonist naloxone at
662 fair-market, free, or reduced prices for use in the event that a
663 student has an opioid overdose. The FDA-approved emergency
664 opioid antagonist naloxone must be maintained in a secure
665 location on the public school’s premises.
666 2. A public school district employee who administers an
667 approved emergency opioid antagonist to a student in compliance
668 with ss. 381.887 and 768.13 is immune from civil liability under
669 s. 768.13.
670 (4) DISCIPLINE.—
671 (c) Corporal punishment.—
672 1. In accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.32,
673 corporal punishment of a public school student may only be
674 administered by a teacher or school principal within guidelines
675 of the school principal and according to district school board
676 policy. Another adult must be present and must be informed in
677 the student’s presence of the reason for the punishment. Upon
678 request, the teacher or school principal must provide the parent
679 with a written explanation of the reason for the punishment and
680 the name of the other adult who was present.
681 2. A district school board having a policy authorizing the
682 use of corporal punishment as a form of discipline shall include
683 in such policy a requirement that a parent provide consent for
684 the school to administer corporal punishment. The district
685 school board policy may require such consent for the school
686 year, or before each administration. The district school board
687 shall review its policy on corporal punishment once every 3
688 years during a district school board meeting held pursuant to s.
689 1001.372. The district school board shall take public testimony
690 at the board meeting. If such board meeting is not held in
691 accordance with this subparagraph, the portion of the district
692 school board’s policy authorizing corporal punishment expires.
693 Section 22. Paragraph (b) of subsection (16) of section
694 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
695 1002.33 Charter schools.—
696 (16) EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.—
697 (b) Additionally, a charter school shall be in compliance
698 with the following statutes:
699 1. Section 286.011, relating to public meetings and
700 records, public inspection, and criminal and civil penalties.
701 2. Chapter 119, relating to public records.
702 3. Section 1003.03, relating to the maximum class size,
703 except that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s.
704 1003.03 shall be the average at the school level.
705 4. Section 1012.22(1)(c), relating to compensation and
706 salary schedules.
707 5. Section 1012.33(5), relating to workforce reductions.
708 6. Section 1012.335, relating to contracts with
709 instructional personnel hired on or after July 1, 2011.
710 7. Section 1012.34, relating to the substantive
711 requirements for performance evaluations for instructional
712 personnel and school administrators.
713 8. Section 1006.12, relating to safe-school officers.
714 9. Section 1006.07(7), relating to threat management teams.
715 10. Section 1006.07(9), relating to School Environmental
716 Safety Incident Reporting.
717 11. Section 1006.07(10), relating to reporting of
718 involuntary examinations.
719 12. Section 1006.1493, relating to the Florida Safe Schools
720 Assessment Tool.
721 13. Section 1006.07(6)(d), relating to adopting an active
722 assailant response plan.
723 14. Section 943.082(4)(b), relating to the mobile
724 suspicious activity reporting tool.
725 15. Section 1012.584, relating to youth mental health
726 awareness and assistance training.
727 16. Section 1001.42(4)(f)2., relating to middle school and
728 high school start times. A charter school-in-the-workplace is
729 exempt from this requirement.
730 17. Section 1002.20(4)(c), relating to school corporal
731 punishment.
732 Section 23. Section 1002.351, Florida Statutes, is
733 repealed.
734 Section 24. Subsection (6) of section 1002.394, Florida
735 Statutes, is amended to read:
736 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
737 (6) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
738 a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
739 (a) Enrolled full time in a public school, including, but
740 not limited to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
741 the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for
742 Competitive Academics, the Florida Virtual School, the Florida
743 Scholars Academy, a developmental research school authorized
744 under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized under this
745 chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, a 3- or 4-year-old
746 child who receives services funded through the Florida Education
747 Finance Program is considered to be a student enrolled in a
748 public school;
749 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
750 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
751 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
752 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
753 this chapter. However, an eligible public school student
754 receiving a scholarship under s. 1002.411 may receive a
755 scholarship for transportation pursuant to subparagraph
756 (4)(a)2.;
757 (d) Not having regular and direct contact with his or her
758 private school teachers pursuant to s. 1002.421(1)(i), unless he
759 or she is eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) and enrolled in
760 the participating private school’s transition-to-work program
761 pursuant to subsection (16) or a home education program pursuant
762 to s. 1002.41;
763 (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
764 s. 1002.43 unless he or she is determined eligible pursuant to
765 paragraph (3)(b); or
766 (f) Participating in virtual instruction pursuant to s.
767 1002.455 that receives state funding pursuant to the student’s
768 participation.
769 Section 25. Subsection (4) of section 1002.395, Florida
770 Statutes, is amended to read:
771 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.—
772 (4) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
773 a scholarship while he or she is:
774 (a) Enrolled full time in a public school, including, but
775 not limited to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
776 the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for
777 Competitive Academics, the Florida Virtual School, the Florida
778 Scholars Academy, a developmental research school authorized
779 under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized under this
780 chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, a 3- or 4-year-old
781 child who receives services funded through the Florida Education
782 Finance Program is considered a student enrolled full time in a
783 public school;
784 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
785 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
786 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
787 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
788 this chapter. However, an eligible public school student
789 receiving a scholarship under s. 1002.411 may receive a
790 scholarship for transportation pursuant to subparagraph
791 (6)(d)4.;
792 (d) Not having regular and direct contact with his or her
793 private school teachers pursuant to s. 1002.421(1)(i) unless he
794 or she is enrolled in a personalized education program;
795 (e) Participating in a home education program as defined in
796 s. 1002.01(1);
797 (f) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
798 s. 1002.43 unless he or she is enrolled in a personalized
799 education program; or
800 (g) Participating in virtual instruction pursuant to s.
801 1002.455 that receives state funding pursuant to the student’s
802 participation.
803 Section 26. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (19) of
804 section 1002.42, Florida Statutes, to read:
805 1002.42 Private schools.—
806 (19) FACILITIES.—
807 (c) A private school located in a county with four
808 incorporated municipalities may construct new facilities, which
809 may be temporary or permanent, on property purchased from or
810 owned or leased by a library, community service organization,
811 museum, performing arts venue, theater, cinema, or church under
812 s. 170.201, which is or was actively used as such within 5 years
813 of any executed agreement with a private school; any land owned
814 by a Florida College System institution or state university; and
815 any land recently used to house a school or child care facility
816 licensed under s. 402.305 under its preexisting zoning and land
817 use designations without rezoning or obtaining a special
818 exception or a land use change and without complying with any
819 mitigation requirements or conditions. The new facility must be
820 located on property used solely for purposes described in this
821 paragraph and must meet applicable state and local health,
822 safety, and welfare laws, codes, and rules, including firesafety
823 and building safety.
824 Section 27. Paragraphs (e), (m), and (p) of subsection (1)
825 of section 1002.421, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
826 1002.421 State school choice scholarship program
827 accountability and oversight.—
828 (1) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—A private
829 school participating in an educational scholarship program
830 established pursuant to this chapter must be a private school as
831 defined in s. 1002.01 in this state, be registered, and be in
832 compliance with all requirements of this section in addition to
833 private school requirements outlined in s. 1002.42, specific
834 requirements identified within respective scholarship program
835 laws, and other provisions of Florida law that apply to private
836 schools, and must:
837 (e) Annually complete and submit to the department a
838 notarized scholarship compliance statement certifying that all
839 school employees and contracted personnel with direct student
840 contact have undergone background screening pursuant to s.
841 435.12 and have met the screening standards as provided in s.
842 1012.315 s. 435.04.
843 (m) Require each employee and contracted personnel with
844 direct student contact, upon employment or engagement to provide
845 services, to undergo a state and national background screening
846 under s. 1012.315, pursuant to s. 943.0542, by electronically
847 filing with the Department of Law Enforcement a complete set of
848 fingerprints taken by an authorized law enforcement agency or an
849 employee of the private school, a school district, or a private
850 company who is trained to take fingerprints and deny employment
851 to or terminate an employee if he or she fails to meet the
852 screening standards under s. 1012.315 s. 435.04. Results of the
853 screening shall be provided to the participating private school.
854 For purposes of this paragraph:
855 1. An “employee or contracted personnel with direct student
856 contact” means any employee or contracted personnel who has
857 unsupervised access to a scholarship student for whom the
858 private school is responsible.
859 2. The costs of fingerprinting and the background check
860 shall not be borne by the state.
861 3. Continued employment of an employee or contracted
862 personnel after notification that he or she has failed the
863 background screening under this paragraph shall cause a private
864 school to be ineligible for participation in a scholarship
865 program.
866 4. An employee or contracted personnel holding a valid
867 Florida teaching certificate who has been fingerprinted pursuant
868 to s. 1012.32 is not required to comply with the provisions of
869 this paragraph.
870 5. All fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law
871 Enforcement as required by this section must shall be retained
872 in the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse as
873 provided in s. 435.12 by the Department of Law Enforcement in a
874 manner provided by rule and entered in the statewide automated
875 biometric identification system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b).
876 Such fingerprints shall thereafter be available for all purposes
877 and uses authorized for arrest fingerprints entered in the
878 statewide automated biometric identification system pursuant to
879 s. 943.051.
880 6. Employees, contracted personnel, owners, and operators
881 must be rescreened as required by s. 435.12.
882 7. Persons who apply for employment are governed by the
883 laws and rules in effect at the time of application for
884 employment, provided that the person is continually employed by
885 the same school.
886 6. The Department of Law Enforcement shall search all
887 arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the
888 fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric
889 identification system under subparagraph 5. Any arrest record
890 that is identified with the retained fingerprints of a person
891 subject to the background screening under this section shall be
892 reported to the employing school with which the person is
893 affiliated. Each private school participating in a scholarship
894 program is required to participate in this search process by
895 informing the Department of Law Enforcement of any change in the
896 employment or contractual status of its personnel whose
897 fingerprints are retained under subparagraph 5. The Department
898 of Law Enforcement shall adopt a rule setting the amount of the
899 annual fee to be imposed upon each private school for performing
900 these searches and establishing the procedures for the retention
901 of private school employee and contracted personnel fingerprints
902 and the dissemination of search results. The fee may be borne by
903 the private school or the person fingerprinted.
904 7. Employees and contracted personnel whose fingerprints
905 are not retained by the Department of Law Enforcement under
906 subparagraphs 5. and 6. are required to be refingerprinted and
907 must meet state and national background screening requirements
908 upon reemployment or reengagement to provide services in order
909 to comply with the requirements of this section.
910 8. Every 5 years following employment or engagement to
911 provide services with a private school, employees or contracted
912 personnel required to be screened under this section must meet
913 screening standards under s. 435.04, at which time the private
914 school shall request the Department of Law Enforcement to
915 forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
916 for national processing. If the fingerprints of employees or
917 contracted personnel are not retained by the Department of Law
918 Enforcement under subparagraph 5., employees and contracted
919 personnel must electronically file a complete set of
920 fingerprints with the Department of Law Enforcement. Upon
921 submission of fingerprints for this purpose, the private school
922 shall request that the Department of Law Enforcement forward the
923 fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national
924 processing, and the fingerprints shall be retained by the
925 Department of Law Enforcement under subparagraph 5.
926 (p) Require each owner or operator of the private school,
927 prior to employment or engagement to provide services, to
928 undergo level 2 background screening as provided in s. 1012.315
929 under chapter 435. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
930 “owner or operator” means an owner, an operator, a
931 superintendent, or a principal of, or a person with equivalent
932 decisionmaking authority over, a private school participating in
933 a scholarship program established pursuant to this chapter. The
934 fingerprints for the background screening must be electronically
935 submitted to the Department of Law Enforcement and may be taken
936 by an authorized law enforcement agency or a private company who
937 is trained to take fingerprints. However, the complete set of
938 fingerprints of an owner or operator may not be taken by the
939 owner or operator. The owner or operator shall provide a copy of
940 the results of the state and national criminal history check to
941 the Department of Education. The cost of the background
942 screening may be borne by the owner or operator.
943 1. Every 5 years following employment or engagement to
944 provide services, each owner or operator must meet level 2
945 screening standards as described in s. 435.04, at which time the
946 owner or operator shall request the Department of Law
947 Enforcement to forward the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of
948 Investigation for level 2 screening. If the fingerprints of an
949 owner or operator are not retained by the Department of Law
950 Enforcement under subparagraph 2., the owner or operator must
951 electronically file a complete set of fingerprints with the
952 Department of Law Enforcement. Upon submission of fingerprints
953 for this purpose, the owner or operator shall request that the
954 Department of Law Enforcement forward the fingerprints to the
955 Federal Bureau of Investigation for level 2 screening, and the
956 fingerprints shall be retained by the Department of Law
957 Enforcement under subparagraph 2.
958 2. Fingerprints submitted to the Department of Law
959 Enforcement as required by this paragraph must be retained by
960 the Department of Law Enforcement in a manner approved by rule
961 and entered in the statewide automated biometric identification
962 system authorized by s. 943.05(2)(b). The fingerprints must
963 thereafter be available for all purposes and uses authorized for
964 arrest fingerprints entered in the statewide automated biometric
965 identification system pursuant to s. 943.051.
966 3. The Department of Law Enforcement shall search all
967 arrest fingerprints received under s. 943.051 against the
968 fingerprints retained in the statewide automated biometric
969 identification system under subparagraph 2. Any arrest record
970 that is identified with an owner’s or operator’s fingerprints
971 must be reported to the owner or operator, who must report to
972 the Department of Education. Any costs associated with the
973 search shall be borne by the owner or operator.
974 4. An owner or operator who fails the level 2 background
975 screening is not eligible to participate in a scholarship
976 program under this chapter.
977 1.5. In addition to the offenses listed in s. 435.04, a
978 person required to undergo background screening pursuant to this
979 part or authorizing statutes may not have an arrest awaiting
980 final disposition for, must not have been found guilty of, or
981 entered a plea of nolo contendere to, regardless of
982 adjudication, and must not have been adjudicated delinquent for,
983 and the record must not have been sealed or expunged for, any of
984 the following offenses or any similar offense of another
985 jurisdiction:
986 a. Any authorizing statutes, if the offense was a felony.
987 b. This chapter, if the offense was a felony.
988 c. Section 409.920, relating to Medicaid provider fraud.
989 d. Section 409.9201, relating to Medicaid fraud.
990 e. Section 741.28, relating to domestic violence.
991 f. Section 817.034, relating to fraudulent acts through
992 mail, wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or
993 photooptical systems.
994 g. Section 817.234, relating to false and fraudulent
995 insurance claims.
996 h. Section 817.505, relating to patient brokering.
997 i. Section 817.568, relating to criminal use of personal
998 identification information.
999 j. Section 817.60, relating to obtaining a credit card
1000 through fraudulent means.
1001 k. Section 817.61, relating to fraudulent use of credit
1002 cards, if the offense was a felony.
1003 l. Section 831.01, relating to forgery.
1004 m. Section 831.02, relating to uttering forged instruments.
1005 n. Section 831.07, relating to forging bank bills, checks,
1006 drafts, or promissory notes.
1007 o. Section 831.09, relating to uttering forged bank bills,
1008 checks, drafts, or promissory notes.
1009 p. Section 831.30, relating to fraud in obtaining medicinal
1010 drugs.
1011 q. Section 831.31, relating to the sale, manufacture,
1012 delivery, or possession with the intent to sell, manufacture, or
1013 deliver any counterfeit controlled substance, if the offense was
1014 a felony.
1015 2.6. At least 30 calendar days before a transfer of
1016 ownership of a private school, the owner or operator shall
1017 notify the parent of each scholarship student.
1018 3.7. The owner or operator of a private school that has
1019 been deemed ineligible to participate in a scholarship program
1020 pursuant to this chapter may not transfer ownership or
1021 management authority of the school to a relative in order to
1022 participate in a scholarship program as the same school or a new
1023 school. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “relative”
1024 means father, mother, son, daughter, grandfather, grandmother,
1025 brother, sister, uncle, aunt, cousin, nephew, niece, husband,
1026 wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,
1027 brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson,
1028 stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half
1029 sister.
1030
1031 The department shall suspend the payment of funds to a private
1032 school that knowingly fails to comply with this subsection, and
1033 shall prohibit the school from enrolling new scholarship
1034 students, for 1 fiscal year and until the school complies. If a
1035 private school fails to meet the requirements of this subsection
1036 or has consecutive years of material exceptions listed in the
1037 report required under paragraph (q), the commissioner may
1038 determine that the private school is ineligible to participate
1039 in a scholarship program.
1040 Section 28. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
1041 1002.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1042 1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
1043 accountability.—
1044 (4)
1045 (e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall
1046 provide for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten
1047 provider and public school based on the provider’s designation.
1048 The maximum differential payment may not exceed a total of 15
1049 percent of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent
1050 student under s. 1002.71 attending in the consecutive program
1051 year for that program. A private prekindergarten provider or
1052 public school may not receive a differential payment if it
1053 receives a designation of “proficient” or lower. Before the
1054 adoption of the methodology, the department shall confer with
1055 the Council for Early Grade Success under s. 1008.2125 before
1056 receiving approval from the State Board of Education for the
1057 final recommendations on the designation system and differential
1058 payments.
1059 Section 29. Subsection (4) of section 1002.71, Florida
1060 Statutes, is amended to read:
1061 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
1062 (4) Notwithstanding s. 1002.53(3) and subsection (2):
1063 (a) A child who, for any of the prekindergarten programs
1064 listed in s. 1002.53(3), has not completed any of the
1065 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) more than 70
1066 percent of the hours authorized to be reported for funding under
1067 subsection (2), or has not expended more than 70 percent of the
1068 funds authorized for the child under s. 1002.66, may withdraw
1069 from the program for good cause and reenroll in one of the
1070 programs. The total funding for a child who reenrolls in one of
1071 the programs for good cause may not exceed one full-time
1072 equivalent student. Funding for a child who withdraws and
1073 reenrolls in one of the programs for good cause must shall be
1074 issued in accordance with the department’s uniform attendance
1075 policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (6)(d).
1076 (b) A child who has not substantially completed any of the
1077 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) may withdraw
1078 from the program due to an extreme hardship that is beyond the
1079 child’s or parent’s control, reenroll in one of the summer
1080 programs, and be reported for funding purposes as a full-time
1081 equivalent student in the summer program for which the child is
1082 reenrolled.
1083
1084 A child may reenroll only once in a prekindergarten program
1085 under this section. A child who reenrolls in a prekindergarten
1086 program under this subsection may not subsequently withdraw from
1087 the program and reenroll, unless the child is granted a good
1088 cause exemption under this subsection. The department shall
1089 establish criteria specifying whether a good cause exists for a
1090 child to withdraw from a program under paragraph (a), whether a
1091 child has substantially completed a program under paragraph (b),
1092 and whether an extreme hardship exists which is beyond the
1093 child’s or parent’s control under paragraph (b).
1094 Section 30. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
1095 1002.945, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1096 1002.945 Gold Seal Quality Care Program.—
1097 (4) In order to obtain and maintain a designation as a Gold
1098 Seal Quality Care provider, a child care facility, large family
1099 child care home, or family day care home must meet the following
1100 additional criteria:
1101 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of
1102 Education determines through a formal process that a provider
1103 has been in business for at least 5 years and has no other class
1104 I violations recorded, the department may recommend to the state
1105 board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care
1106 status. The state board’s determination regarding such
1107 provider’s status is final.
1108 Section 31. Subsection (2) of section 1003.05, Florida
1109 Statutes, is amended to read:
1110 1003.05 Assistance to transitioning students from military
1111 families.—
1112 (2) The Department of Education shall facilitate the
1113 development and implementation of memoranda of agreement between
1114 school districts and military installations which address
1115 strategies for assisting students who are the children of active
1116 duty military personnel in the transition to Florida schools.
1117 (a) The strategies developed by the department must include
1118 the development and implementation of a training module relating
1119 to facilitating and expediting the transfer of a K-12 student’s
1120 education records from an out-of-state school.
1121 (b) The department shall provide the training module
1122 required under paragraph (a) to each district school board to
1123 provide to each public and charter K-12 school within its
1124 district. The district school board shall make the training
1125 available to employees who work directly with military students
1126 and families.
1127 Section 32. Subsection (3) of section 1003.41, Florida
1128 Statutes, is amended to read:
1129 1003.41 State academic standards.—
1130 (3) The Commissioner of Education shall, as deemed
1131 necessary, develop and submit proposed revisions to the
1132 standards for review and comment by Florida educators, school
1133 administrators, representatives of the Florida College System
1134 institutions and state universities who have expertise in the
1135 content knowledge and skills necessary to prepare a student for
1136 postsecondary education and careers, a representative from the
1137 Department of Commerce, business and industry leaders for in
1138 demand careers, and the public. The commissioner, after
1139 considering reviews and comments, shall submit the proposed
1140 revisions to the State Board of Education for adoption. New and
1141 revised standards documents submitted for approval to the state
1142 board must consist only of academic standards and benchmarks.
1143 The commissioner shall revise all currently approved standards
1144 documents based on the requirements of this subsection and
1145 submit all revised standards documents to the state board for
1146 approval no later than July 1, 2026.
1147 Section 33. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section
1148 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1149 1003.42 Required instruction.—
1150 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
1151 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
1152 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
1153 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
1154 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
1155 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
1156 approved methods of instruction, the following:
1157 (j) The elementary principles of agriculture. This
1158 component must include, but need not be limited to, the history
1159 of agriculture both nationally and specifically to this state,
1160 the economic and societal impact of agriculture, and the various
1161 agricultural industry sectors. The department, in collaboration
1162 with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the
1163 University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural
1164 Sciences, shall prepare and offer standards and a curriculum for
1165 the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input
1166 from state or nationally recognized agricultural educational
1167 organizations. The department may contract with state or
1168 nationally recognized agricultural educational organizations to
1169 develop training for instructional personnel and grade
1170 appropriate classroom resources to support the developed
1171 curriculum.
1172
1173 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
1174 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
1175 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
1176 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
1177 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
1178 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
1179 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
1180 Section 34. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
1181 1003.4201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1182 1003.4201 Comprehensive system of reading instruction.—Each
1183 school district must implement a system of comprehensive reading
1184 instruction for students enrolled in prekindergarten through
1185 grade 12 and certain students who exhibit a substantial
1186 deficiency in early literacy.
1187 (2)(a) Components of the reading instruction plan may
1188 include the following:
1189 1. Additional time per day of evidence-based intensive
1190 reading instruction for kindergarten through grade 12 students,
1191 which may be delivered during or outside of the regular school
1192 day.
1193 2. Highly qualified reading coaches, who must be endorsed
1194 in reading, to specifically support classroom teachers in making
1195 instructional decisions based on progress monitoring data
1196 collected pursuant to s. 1008.25(9) and improve classroom
1197 teacher delivery of effective reading instruction, reading
1198 intervention, and reading in the content areas based on student
1199 need.
1200 3. Professional learning to help instructional personnel
1201 and certified prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida
1202 Education Finance Program earn a certification, a credential, an
1203 endorsement, or an advanced degree in scientifically researched
1204 and evidence-based reading instruction.
1205 4. Summer reading camps, using only classroom teachers or
1206 other district personnel who possess a micro-credential as
1207 specified in s. 1003.485 or are certified or endorsed in reading
1208 consistent with s. 1008.25(8)(b)3., for all students in
1209 kindergarten through grade 5 exhibiting a reading deficiency as
1210 determined by district and state assessments.
1211 5. Intensive reading interventions, which must be delivered
1212 by instructional personnel who possess a micro-credential as
1213 defined in s. 1003.485(1) or are certified or endorsed in
1214 reading as provided in s. 1012.586 and must incorporate
1215 evidence-based strategies identified by the Just Read, Florida!
1216 office pursuant to s. 1001.215(7). Instructional personnel who
1217 possess a micro-credential as defined in s. 1003.485(1) and are
1218 delivering intensive reading interventions must be supervised by
1219 an individual certified or endorsed in reading. For the purposes
1220 of this subparagraph, the term “supervised” means that
1221 instructional personnel with a micro-credential are able,
1222 through telecommunication or in person, to communicate and
1223 consult with, and receive direction from, certified or endorsed
1224 personnel. Incentives for instructional personnel and certified
1225 prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida Education Finance
1226 Program who possess a reading certification or endorsement as
1227 specified in s. 1012.586 or micro-credential as specified in s.
1228 1003.485 and provide educational support to improve student
1229 literacy.
1230 6. Tutoring in reading.
1231 7. A description of how the district prioritizes the
1232 assignment of highly effective teachers, as identified in s.
1233 1012.34(2)(e), from kindergarten to grade 2.
1234 Section 35. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
1235 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1236 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
1237 (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
1238 REQUIREMENTS.—
1239 (h) One-half credit in personal financial literacy.
1240 Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2023-2024 school
1241 year, each student must earn one-half credit in personal
1242 financial literacy and money management. This instruction must
1243 include discussion of or instruction in all of the following:
1244 1. Types of bank accounts offered, opening and managing a
1245 bank account, and assessing the quality of a depository
1246 institution’s services.
1247 2. Balancing a checkbook.
1248 3. Basic principles of money management, such as spending,
1249 credit, credit scores, and managing debt, including retail and
1250 credit card debt.
1251 4. Completing a loan application.
1252 5. Receiving an inheritance and related implications.
1253 6. Basic principles of personal insurance policies.
1254 7. Computing federal income taxes.
1255 8. Local tax assessments.
1256 9. Computing interest rates by various mechanisms.
1257 10. Simple contracts.
1258 11. Contesting an incorrect billing statement.
1259 12. Types of savings and investments.
1260 13. State and federal laws concerning finance.
1261 14. Costs of postsecondary education, including cost of
1262 attendance, completion of the Free Application for Federal
1263 Student Aid, scholarships and grants, and student loans.
1264 Section 36. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
1265 1004.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1266 1004.04 Public accountability and state approval for
1267 teacher preparation programs.—
1268 (4) CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Continued approval of a
1269 teacher preparation program shall be based upon evidence that
1270 the program continues to implement the requirements for initial
1271 approval and upon significant, objective, and quantifiable
1272 measures of the program and the performance of the program
1273 completers.
1274 (a) The criteria for continued approval must include each
1275 of the following:
1276 1. Candidate readiness based on passage rates on educator
1277 certification examinations under s. 1012.56, as applicable.
1278 2. Evidence of performance in each of the following areas:
1279 a. Performance of students in prekindergarten through grade
1280 12 who are assigned to in-field program completers on statewide
1281 assessments using the results of the student learning growth
1282 formula adopted under s. 1012.34.
1283 b. Results of program completers’ annual evaluations in
1284 accordance with the timeline as set forth in s. 1012.34.
1285 c. Workforce contributions, including placement of program
1286 completers in instructional positions in Florida public and
1287 private schools, with additional weight given to production of
1288 program completers in statewide high-demand critical teacher
1289 needs shortage areas as identified in s. 1012.07.
1290 3. Results of the program completers’ survey measuring
1291 their satisfaction with preparation for the realities of the
1292 classroom.
1293 4. Results of the employers’ survey measuring satisfaction
1294 with the program and the program’s responsiveness to local
1295 school districts.
1296 Section 37. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
1297 1004.0971, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1298 1004.0971 Emergency opioid antagonists in Florida College
1299 System institution and state university housing.—
1300 (1) As used in this section, the term:
1301 (b) “Emergency opioid antagonist” means a naloxone
1302 hydrochloride or any similarly acting drug that blocks the
1303 effects of opioids administered from outside the body and that
1304 is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration
1305 for the treatment of an opioid overdose.
1306 Section 38. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph
1307 (b) of subsection (4) of section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, are
1308 amended to read:
1309 1004.933 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education
1310 (GATE) Program.—
1311 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
1312 (b) “Institution” means any a school district career center
1313 established under s. 1001.44, a charter technical career center
1314 established under s. 1002.34, or a Florida College System
1315 institution identified in s. 1000.21. Any such institution may
1316 enter into an agreement with an online provider for the adult
1317 education or career instruction portion of the program if such
1318 provider offers instructional content and services that align
1319 with the state career and adult education curriculum frameworks.
1320 (4) PAYMENT WAIVER; ELIGIBILITY.—
1321 (b) To be eligible for participation in the GATE Program, a
1322 student must:
1323 1. Not have earned a standard high school diploma pursuant
1324 to s. 1003.4282 or a high school equivalency diploma pursuant to
1325 s. 1003.435 before enrolling in the GATE Program;
1326 2. Have been withdrawn from high school or met the
1327 requirements in s. 1003.4282(5)(c) or (8)(a);
1328 3. Be a resident of this state as defined in s. 1009.21(1);
1329 4. Be at least 16 to 21 years of age at the time of initial
1330 enrollment, provided that a student who is 16 or 17 years of age
1331 has withdrawn from school enrollment pursuant to the
1332 requirements and safeguards in s. 1003.21(1)(c);
1333 5. Select the adult secondary education program and career
1334 education program of his or her choice at the time of admission
1335 to the GATE Program, provided that the career education program
1336 is included on the Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4).
1337 The student is not required to enroll in adult secondary and
1338 career education program coursework simultaneously. The student
1339 may not change the requested pathway after enrollment, except
1340 that, if necessary for the student, the student may enroll in an
1341 adult basic education program prior to enrolling in the adult
1342 secondary education program;
1343 6. Maintain a 2.0 GPA for career and technical education
1344 coursework; and
1345 7. Notwithstanding s. 1003.435(4), complete the programs
1346 under subparagraph 5. within 3 years after his or her initial
1347 enrollment unless the institution determines that an extension
1348 is warranted due to extenuating circumstances.
1349 Section 39. Paragraphs (c) and (f) of subsection (1) of
1350 section 1005.06, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1351 1005.06 Institutions not under the jurisdiction or purview
1352 of the commission.—
1353 (1) Except as otherwise provided in law, the following
1354 institutions are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the
1355 commission and are not required to obtain licensure:
1356 (c) Any institution that is under the jurisdiction of the
1357 Department of Education, eligible to participate in the William
1358 L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program
1359 and that is a nonprofit independent college or university
1360 located and chartered in this state and accredited by the
1361 Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
1362 and Schools to grant baccalaureate degrees, or an institution
1363 authorized under s. 1009.521.
1364 (f)1. A nonpublic religious postsecondary educational
1365 institution religious college may operate without licensure
1366 governmental oversight if the institution college annually
1367 verifies by sworn affidavit to the commission each of the
1368 following affirmations that:
1369 a.1. The name of the institution includes a religious
1370 modifier or the name of a religious patriarch, saint, person, or
1371 symbol of the church.
1372 b. An explanation of the religious modifier, religious
1373 name, or religious symbol used in the institution’s name.
1374 c.2. The institution offers only educational programs that
1375 prepare students for religious vocations as ministers,
1376 professionals, or laypersons in the categories of ministry,
1377 counseling, theology, education, administration, music, fine
1378 arts, media communications, or social work.
1379 d.3. The titles of degrees issued by the institution cannot
1380 be confused with secular degree titles. For this purpose, each
1381 degree title must include a religious modifier that immediately
1382 precedes, or is included within, any of the following degrees:
1383 Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Arts,
1384 Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science, Doctor
1385 of Philosophy, and Doctor of Education. The religious modifier
1386 must be placed on the title line of the degree, on the
1387 transcript, and whenever the title of the degree appears in
1388 official school documents or publications.
1389 e. The titles and majors of every degree program offered by
1390 the institution as they appear on degrees and transcripts issued
1391 by the institution.
1392 f.4. The duration of all degree programs offered by the
1393 institution is consistent with the standards of the commission.
1394 g.5. The institution’s consumer practices are consistent
1395 with those required by s. 1005.04.
1396 2. If requested by the commission, the institution must
1397 submit documentation demonstrating compliance with the
1398 requirements of this paragraph and with s. 1005.04. The
1399 institution shall submit such documentation within 30 days after
1400 the request.
1401 3. The commission shall review for approval or denial, in a
1402 public meeting, affidavits submitted pursuant to this paragraph.
1403 The commission shall approve an affidavit unless the affidavit
1404 is facially invalid, the affidavit is contradicted by the
1405 institution’s public advertisements or by other evidence, or the
1406 institution has failed to comply with the requirements of
1407 subparagraph 2. The commission may provide such a religious
1408 institution a letter stating that the institution has met the
1409 requirements of state law and is not subject to licensure by the
1410 commission governmental oversight.
1411 a. If a nonpublic religious postsecondary educational
1412 institution that has been issued a written notice of exemption
1413 from licensure by the commission subsequently fails to comply
1414 with the requirements of this paragraph, the commission must
1415 revoke its approval of the institution’s affidavit in a public
1416 meeting.
1417 b. If an affidavit is denied by the commission, the
1418 commission may take any of the actions specified in s. 1005.38
1419 unless the institution applies for a license pursuant to s.
1420 1005.31(1)(a), ceases operating in this state, or submits
1421 documentation indicating compliance with this paragraph.
1422 c. The commission may adopt rules to administer this
1423 paragraph.
1424 Section 40. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
1425 1006.09, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1426 1006.09 Duties of school principal relating to student
1427 discipline and school safety.—
1428 (1)(a)1. Subject to law and to the rules of the State Board
1429 of Education and the district school board, the principal in
1430 charge of the school or the principal’s designee shall develop
1431 policies for delegating to any teacher or other member of the
1432 instructional staff or to any bus driver transporting students
1433 of the school responsibility for the control and direction of
1434 students. Each school principal shall fully support the
1435 authority of his or her teachers and school bus drivers to
1436 remove disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive,
1437 uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom and
1438 the school bus and, when appropriate and available, place such
1439 students in an alternative educational setting. The principal or
1440 the principal’s designee must give full consideration to the
1441 recommendation for discipline made by a teacher, other member of
1442 the instructional staff, or a bus driver when making a decision
1443 regarding student referral for discipline.
1444 2. If the disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive,
1445 uncontrollable, or disruptive behavior continues, the school
1446 principal must refer the case to the school’s child study team
1447 to schedule a meeting with the parent to identify potential
1448 remedies.
1449 3. If an initial meeting with the student’s parent does not
1450 resolve the behavioral issues, the child study team must
1451 implement the following:
1452 a. Frequent attempts by the school, including the student’s
1453 teacher and a school administrator, at communicating with the
1454 student’s family. The attempts may be made in writing or by
1455 telephone, but must be documented.
1456 b. A student evaluation for alternative education programs.
1457 c. Behavior contracts.
1458
1459 The child study team may, but is not required to, implement
1460 other interventions, including referral to other agencies for
1461 family services or a recommendation for filing a petition for a
1462 child in need of services pursuant to s. 984.15.
1463 Section 41. Subsection (3) of section 1006.13, Florida
1464 Statutes, is amended to read:
1465 1006.13 Policy of zero tolerance for crime and
1466 victimization.—
1467 (3)(a) Zero-tolerance policies must require students found
1468 to have committed one of the following offenses to be expelled,
1469 with or without continuing educational services, from the
1470 student’s regular school for a period of not less than 1 full
1471 year, and to be referred to the criminal justice or juvenile
1472 justice system.
1473 1.(a) Bringing a firearm or weapon, as defined in chapter
1474 790, to school, to any school function, or onto any school
1475 sponsored transportation or possessing a firearm at school.
1476 2.(b) Making a threat or false report, as defined by ss.
1477 790.162 and 790.163, respectively, involving school or school
1478 personnel’s property, school transportation, or a school
1479 sponsored activity.
1480 (b) District school boards may assign the student to a
1481 disciplinary program for the purpose of continuing educational
1482 services during the period of expulsion. District school
1483 superintendents may consider the 1-year expulsion requirement on
1484 a case-by-case basis and request the district school board to
1485 modify the requirement by assigning the student to a
1486 disciplinary program or second chance school if the request for
1487 modification is in writing and it is determined to be in the
1488 best interest of the student and the school system. If a student
1489 committing any of the offenses in this subsection is a student
1490 who has a disability, the district school board shall comply
1491 with applicable State Board of Education rules.
1492 (c) Before the expiration of an expulsion period, the
1493 district school superintendent shall determine, based upon the
1494 determination of the threat management team, whether the
1495 expulsion period should be extended and, if the expulsion period
1496 is extended, what educational services will be provided. A
1497 recommendation to extend the expulsion period must be provided
1498 to the student and his or her parents in accordance with s.
1499 1006.08(1).
1500 Section 42. Subsections (5) and (7) of section 1006.73,
1501 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1502 1006.73 Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network.—
1503 (5) REPORTING.—
1504 (a) By December 31 each year, the host entity shall submit
1505 a report to the Chancellors of the State University System and
1506 the Florida College System regarding the implementation and
1507 operation of all components described in this section,
1508 including, but not limited to, all of the following:
1509 (a)1. Usage information collected under paragraph (2)(c).
1510 (b)2. Information and associated costs relating to the
1511 services and functions of the program.
1512 (c)3. The implementation and operation of the automated
1513 library services.
1514 (d)4. The number and value of grants awarded under
1515 paragraph (4)(d) and the distribution of those funds.
1516 5. The number and types of courses placed in the Student
1517 Open Access Resources Repository.
1518 6. Information on the utilization of the Student Open
1519 Access Resources Repository and utilization of open educational
1520 resources in course sections, by Florida College System
1521 institution and state university.
1522 (b) The Chancellors will provide an annual report on the
1523 performance of the host entity in delivering the services and
1524 any recommendations for changes needed to this section to the
1525 Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
1526 of Representatives, the Board of Governors, and the State Board
1527 of Education. The Board of Governors and the Department of
1528 Education shall include any necessary funding increases in their
1529 annual legislative budget requests.
1530 (7) RECOMMENDATION ON OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO BE
1531 INCLUDED WITHIN THE FLORIDA POSTSECONDARY ACADEMIC LIBRARY
1532 NETWORK.—By June 1, 2022, the Commissioner of Education and the
1533 Chancellor of the Board of Governors shall provide a joint
1534 recommendation for a process by which school district career
1535 centers operated under s. 1001.44 and charter technical career
1536 centers under s. 1002.34 would access appropriate postsecondary
1537 distance learning, student support services and library assets
1538 described in this section. The recommendation must include an
1539 analysis of the resources necessary to expand access and assets
1540 to centers and their students.
1541 Section 43. Effective upon becoming a law, paragraph (b) of
1542 subsection (1) of section 1007.27, Florida Statutes, is amended,
1543 and paragraph (d) is added to subsection (2) of that section, to
1544 read:
1545 1007.27 Articulated acceleration mechanisms.—
1546 (1)
1547 (b) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
1548 shall identify Florida College System institutions, and state
1549 universities, and national consortia to develop courses that
1550 align with s. 1007.25 for students in secondary education and
1551 provide the training required under s. 1007.35(6).
1552 (2)
1553 (d) The department may join or establish a national
1554 consortium as an alternative method to develop and implement
1555 advanced placement courses that align with s. 1007.25.
1556 Section 44. Subsection (5), paragraph (j) of subsection
1557 (6), and subsection (8) of section 1007.35, Florida Statutes,
1558 are amended to read:
1559 1007.35 Florida Partnership for Minority and
1560 Underrepresented Student Achievement.—
1561 (5) Each public high school, including, but not limited to,
1562 schools and alternative sites and centers of the Department of
1563 Juvenile Justice, shall provide for the administration of the
1564 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
1565 (PSAT/NMSQT), Classic Learning Test (CLT10), or the PreACT to
1566 all enrolled 10th grade students. However, a written notice must
1567 shall be provided to each parent which must include the
1568 opportunity to exempt his or her child from taking the
1569 PSAT/NMSQT, CLT10, or the PreACT.
1570 (a) Test results will provide each high school with a
1571 database of student assessment data which certified school
1572 counselors will use to identify students who are prepared or who
1573 need additional work to be prepared to enroll and be successful
1574 in advanced high school courses.
1575 (b) Funding for the PSAT/NMSQT, CLT10, or the PreACT for
1576 all 10th grade students is shall be contingent upon annual
1577 funding in the General Appropriations Act.
1578 (c) Public school districts shall must choose either the
1579 PSAT/NMSQT, CLT10, or the PreACT for districtwide
1580 administration.
1581 (6) The partnership shall:
1582 (j) Provide information to students, parents, teachers,
1583 counselors, administrators, districts, Florida College System
1584 institutions, and state universities regarding the PSAT/NMSQT,
1585 CLT10, or the PreACT administration, including, but not limited
1586 to:
1587 1. Test administration dates and times.
1588 2. That participation in the PSAT/NMSQT, CLT10, or the
1589 PreACT is open to all 10th grade students.
1590 3. The value of such tests in providing diagnostic feedback
1591 on student skills.
1592 4. The value of student scores in predicting the
1593 probability of success on advanced course examinations.
1594 (8)(a) By September 30 of each year, the partnership shall
1595 submit to the department a report that contains an evaluation of
1596 the effectiveness of the delivered services and activities.
1597 Activities and services must be evaluated on their effectiveness
1598 at raising student achievement and increasing the number of AP
1599 or other advanced course examinations in low-performing middle
1600 and high schools. Other indicators that must be addressed in the
1601 evaluation report include the number of middle and high school
1602 teachers trained; the effectiveness of the training; measures of
1603 postsecondary readiness of the students affected by the program;
1604 levels of participation in the 10th grade PSAT/NMSQT, CLT10, or
1605 the PreACT testing; and measures of student, parent, and teacher
1606 awareness of and satisfaction with the services of the
1607 partnership.
1608 (b) The department shall contribute to the evaluation
1609 process by providing access, consistent with s. 119.071(5)(a),
1610 to student and teacher information necessary to match against
1611 databases containing teacher professional learning data and
1612 databases containing assessment data for the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT,
1613 ACT, PreACT, CLT, CLT10, AP, and other appropriate measures. The
1614 department shall also provide student-level data on student
1615 progress from middle school through high school and into college
1616 and the workforce, if available, in order to support
1617 longitudinal studies. The partnership shall analyze and report
1618 student performance data in a manner that protects the rights of
1619 students and parents as required in 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g and s.
1620 1002.22.
1621 Section 45. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 1008.36,
1622 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1623 1008.36 Florida School Recognition Program.—
1624 (1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a
1625 performance incentive program for outstanding instructional
1626 personnel faculty and staff in highly productive schools. The
1627 Legislature further finds that performance-based incentives are
1628 commonplace in the private sector and should be infused into the
1629 public sector as a reward for productivity.
1630 (5) School recognition awards must be used for the
1631 following:
1632 (a) Nonrecurring bonuses to the instructional personnel as
1633 defined in s. 1012.01(2) faculty and staff;
1634 (b) Nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or
1635 materials to assist in maintaining and improving student
1636 performance; or
1637 (c) Temporary personnel for the school to assist in
1638 maintaining and improving student performance.
1639
1640 Notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary, incentive
1641 awards are not subject to collective bargaining.
1642 Section 46. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
1643 1008.365, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1644 1008.365 Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic
1645 Excellence Act.—
1646 (8) As part of the RAISE Program, the department shall
1647 establish a tutoring program and develop training in effective
1648 reading tutoring practices and content, based on evidence-based
1649 practices grounded in the science of reading and aligned to the
1650 English Language Arts standards under s. 1003.41, which prepares
1651 eligible high school students to tutor students in kindergarten
1652 through grade 3 in schools identified under this section,
1653 instilling in those students a love of reading and improving
1654 their literacy skills.
1655 (c) Tutoring may be part of a service-learning course
1656 adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497. Students may earn up to three
1657 elective credits for high school graduation based on the
1658 verified number of hours the student spends tutoring under the
1659 program. The hours of volunteer service must be documented in
1660 writing, and the document must be signed by the student, the
1661 student’s parent or guardian, and an administrator or designee
1662 of the school in which the tutoring occurred. The Unpaid hours
1663 that a high school student devotes to tutoring may be counted
1664 toward meeting community service requirements for high school
1665 graduation and community service requirements for participation
1666 in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program as provided in
1667 s. 1003.497(3)(b). The department shall designate a high school
1668 student who provides at least 75 verified hours of tutoring
1669 under the program as a New Worlds Scholar and award the student
1670 with a pin indicating such designation.
1671 Section 47. Subsection (2) of section 1008.37, Florida
1672 Statutes, is amended to read:
1673 1008.37 Postsecondary feedback of information to high
1674 schools.—
1675 (2) The Commissioner of Education shall report, by high
1676 school, to the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors,
1677 and the Legislature, no later than May 31 April 30 of each year,
1678 on the number of prior year Florida high school graduates who
1679 enrolled for the first time in public postsecondary education in
1680 this state during the summer, fall, or spring term of the
1681 previous academic year, indicating the number of students whose
1682 scores on the common placement test indicated the need for
1683 developmental education under s. 1008.30 or for applied
1684 academics for adult education under s. 1004.91.
1685 Section 48. Present paragraph (g) of subsection (20) of
1686 section 1009.26, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
1687 (h), a new paragraph (g) is added to that subsection, and
1688 paragraphs (a) and (c) of that subsection are amended, to read:
1689 1009.26 Fee waivers.—
1690 (20)(a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a state
1691 university shall waive the out-of-state fee for a student who:
1692 1. Has a grandparent who has established a domicile in this
1693 state pursuant to s. 222.17 for at least 5 years preceding an
1694 application for the fee waiver is a legal resident as defined in
1695 s. 1009.21(1). For purposes of this subsection, the term
1696 “grandparent” means a person who has a legal relationship to a
1697 student’s parent as the natural or adoptive parent or legal
1698 guardian of the student’s parent.
1699 2. Earns a high school diploma comparable to a Florida
1700 standard high school diploma, or its equivalent, or completes a
1701 home education program.
1702 3.a. Achieves an SAT combined score no lower than the 89th
1703 national percentile on the SAT;
1704 b. Achieves an ACT score concordant to the required SAT
1705 score in sub-subparagraph a., using the latest published
1706 national concordance table developed jointly by the College
1707 Board and ACT, Inc.; or
1708 c. If a state university accepts the Classic Learning Test
1709 (CLT) for admission purposes, achieves a CLT score concordant to
1710 the required SAT score specified in sub-subparagraph a., using
1711 the latest published scoring comparison developed by Classic
1712 Learning Initiatives.
1713 4. Beginning with students who initially enroll in the 2022
1714 fall academic term and thereafter, enrolls as a full-time
1715 undergraduate student at a state university in the fall academic
1716 term immediately following high school graduation.
1717 (c) Before waiving the out-of-state fee, the state
1718 university shall require the student or the student’s parent, if
1719 the student is a dependent child, to provide a written
1720 declaration pursuant to s. 92.525(2) attesting to the student’s
1721 familial relationship to a grandparent who meets the residency
1722 requirement of subparagraph (a)1. is a legal resident and any
1723 other corroborating documentation required by regulation of the
1724 Board of Governors. A state university is not required to
1725 independently verify the statements contained in each
1726 declaration if the signatory declares it to be true under the
1727 penalties of perjury as required by s. 92.525(2). However, the
1728 state university may refer any signed declaration suspected of
1729 containing fraudulent representations to law enforcement.
1730 (g) A state university student granted an out-of-state fee
1731 waiver under this subsection shall be considered a resident
1732 student for purposes of calculating the systemwide total
1733 enrollment of nonresident students as limited by regulation of
1734 the Board of Governors.
1735 Section 49. Subsection (2) of section 1009.536, Florida
1736 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
1737 section, to read:
1738 1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and Florida
1739 Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards.—The Florida Gold Seal Vocational
1740 Scholars award and the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award are
1741 created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to
1742 recognize and reward academic achievement and career preparation
1743 by high school students who wish to continue their education.
1744 (2) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
1745 Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility
1746 requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program,
1747 and the student:
1748 (a) Earns a minimum of 3 5 postsecondary credit hours
1749 through CAPE industry certifications approved pursuant to s.
1750 1008.44 which articulate for college credit; and
1751 (b) Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average
1752 of 2.5, as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, on all subjects
1753 required for a standard high school diploma, excluding elective
1754 courses; and
1755 (c) Completes at least 30 hours of volunteer service or,
1756 beginning with a high school student graduating in the 2022-2023
1757 academic year and thereafter, 100 hours of paid work, approved
1758 by the district school board, the administrators of a nonpublic
1759 school, or the Department of Education for home education
1760 program students, or 100 hours of a combination of both.
1761 Eligible paid work completed on or after June 27, 2022, shall be
1762 included in a student’s total required paid work hours. The
1763 student may identify a social or civic issue or a professional
1764 area that interests him or her and develop a plan for his or her
1765 personal involvement in addressing the issue or learning about
1766 the area. The student must, through papers or other
1767 presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.
1768 Such volunteer service or paid work may include, but is not
1769 limited to, a business or governmental internship, work for a
1770 nonprofit community service organization, or activities on
1771 behalf of a candidate for public office. The hours of volunteer
1772 service or paid work must be documented in writing, and the
1773 document must be signed by the student, the student’s parent or
1774 guardian, and a representative of the organization for which the
1775 student performed the volunteer service or paid work.
1776 (6) Before or within 3 months after completion of the GATE
1777 Program as provided in s. 1004.933, a student may apply for the
1778 Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award.
1779 Section 50. Section 1009.635, Florida Statutes, is created
1780 to read:
1781 1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators.—
1782 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional
1783 Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of
1784 Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified
1785 instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall
1786 provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans
1787 for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and
1788 employment in rural areas of opportunity.
1789 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate
1790 in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:
1791 (a) Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,
1792 2025, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to
1793 s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued
1794 identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.
1795 (b) Secures full-time employment as a teacher or
1796 administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or
1797 as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are
1798 defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public
1799 school district located within the same rural area of
1800 opportunity as he or she resides.
1801 (c) Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,
1802 postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited
1803 institution earned before establishing residency.
1804 (d) Has an active student loan balance incurred for the
1805 completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.
1806 (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to
1807 $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,
1808 disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.
1809 Payments shall be made directly to the lender servicing the
1810 participant’s student loan.
1811 (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,
1812 the department shall verify that the participant:
1813 (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school
1814 district in an instructional or administrative position;
1815 (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective
1816 pursuant to s. 1012.34; and
1817 (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her
1818 certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the
1819 disqualification list pursuant to s. 1012.796.
1820 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by
1821 the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department
1822 of Education, which shall:
1823 (a) Develop application procedures requiring documentation,
1824 including proof of residency, verification of employment,
1825 official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding
1826 student loans; and
1827 (b) Monitor compliance with program requirements.
1828 (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
1829 rules no later than January 31, 2026, to administer this
1830 section.
1831 Section 51. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
1832 1009.8962, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1833 1009.8962 Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE)
1834 Fund.—
1835 (3) As used in this section, the term:
1836 (b) “Institution” means a school district career center
1837 under s. 1001.44; a charter technical career center under s.
1838 1002.34; a Florida College System institution; a state
1839 university; an independent nonprofit college or university
1840 located and chartered in this state and accredited by an agency
1841 or association that is recognized by the database created and
1842 maintained by the United States Department of Education to grant
1843 baccalaureate degrees; or an independent school, college, or
1844 university with an accredited program as defined in s. 464.003
1845 which is located in this state and licensed by the Commission
1846 for Independent Education pursuant to s. 1005.31, or an
1847 institution authorized under s. 1009.521, which has a nursing
1848 education program that meets or exceeds the following:
1849 1. For a certified nursing assistant program, a completion
1850 rate of at least 70 percent for the prior year.
1851 2. For a licensed practical nurse, associate of science in
1852 nursing, and bachelor of science in nursing program, a first
1853 time passage rate on the National Council of State Boards of
1854 Nursing Licensing Examination of at least 75 percent for the
1855 prior year based on a minimum of 10 testing participants.
1856 Section 52. Present subsection (4) of section 1009.897,
1857 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
1858 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
1859 1009.897 Prepping Institutions, Programs, Employers, and
1860 Learners through Incentives for Nursing Education (PIPELINE)
1861 Fund.—
1862 (4) Each institution that receives funds through the
1863 PIPELINE Fund shall allocate the funds to its health care
1864 industry-related programs.
1865 Section 53. Section 1011.58, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
1866 Section 54. Section 1011.59, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
1867 Section 55. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
1868 1011.71, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1869 1011.71 District school tax.—
1870 (5) A school district may expend, subject to s. 200.065, up
1871 to $200 per unweighted full-time equivalent student from the
1872 revenue generated by the millage levy authorized by subsection
1873 (2) to fund, in addition to expenditures authorized in
1874 paragraphs (2)(a)-(j), expenses for the following:
1875 (b) Payment of the cost of premiums, as defined in s.
1876 627.403, for property and casualty insurance necessary to insure
1877 school district educational and ancillary plants. As used in
1878 this paragraph, casualty insurance has the same meaning as in s.
1879 624.605(1)(b), (d), (f), (g), (h), and (m) s. 624.605(1)(d),
1880 (f), (g), (h), and (m). Operating revenues that are made
1881 available through the payment of property and casualty insurance
1882 premiums from revenues generated under this subsection may be
1883 expended only for nonrecurring operational expenditures of the
1884 school district.
1885 Section 56. Subsections (3) and (6) of section 1011.804,
1886 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1887 1011.804 GATE Startup Grant Program.—
1888 (3) The department may solicit proposals from institutions
1889 without programs that meet the requirements of s. 1004.933(2).
1890 Such institutions must be located in or serve a rural area of
1891 opportunity as designated by the Governor. Additionally,
1892 institutions that meet program requirements and are located in
1893 or serve a rural area of opportunity may apply for grant funds
1894 specifically for marketing and outreach efforts to expand
1895 student participation in the GATE Program.
1896 (6) Grant funds may be used for planning activities and
1897 other expenses associated with the creation of the GATE Program,
1898 such as expenses related to program instruction, instructional
1899 equipment, supplies, instructional personnel, and student
1900 services, and outreach and marketing efforts to recruit and
1901 enroll eligible students. Institutions with existing programs
1902 that meet the requirements of s. 1004.933(2) and that are
1903 located in or serve a rural area of opportunity may apply for
1904 grant funds exclusively for marketing and outreach purposes to
1905 expand student participation in the GATE Program. Grant funds
1906 may not be used for indirect costs. Grant recipients must submit
1907 an annual report in a format prescribed by the department. The
1908 department shall consolidate such annual reports and include the
1909 reports in the report required by s. 1004.933(5).
1910 Section 57. Section 1012.07, Florida Statutes, is amended
1911 to read:
1912 1012.07 Identification of high-demand critical teacher
1913 needs shortage areas.—The term “high-demand critical teacher
1914 needs shortage area” means high-need content areas and high
1915 priority location areas identified by the State Board of
1916 Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
1917 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary to annually
1918 identify high-demand critical teacher needs shortage areas. The
1919 state board must consider current and emerging educational
1920 requirements and workforce demands in determining high-demand
1921 critical teacher needs shortage areas. School grade levels may
1922 also be designated critical teacher shortage areas. Individual
1923 district school boards may identify and submit other high-demand
1924 critical teacher needs shortage areas. Such submissions must be
1925 aligned to current and emerging educational requirements and
1926 workforce demands in order to be approved by the State Board of
1927 Education. High-priority location areas must be in high-density,
1928 low-economic urban schools; low-density, low-economic rural
1929 schools; and schools that earned a grade of “F” or three
1930 consecutive grades of “D” pursuant to s. 1008.34. The State
1931 Board of Education shall develop strategies to address high
1932 demand critical teacher needs shortage areas.
1933 Section 58. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
1934 1012.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1935 1012.22 Public school personnel; powers and duties of the
1936 district school board.—The district school board shall:
1937 (1) Designate positions to be filled, prescribe
1938 qualifications for those positions, and provide for the
1939 appointment, compensation, promotion, suspension, and dismissal
1940 of employees as follows, subject to the requirements of this
1941 chapter:
1942 (c) Compensation and salary schedules.—
1943 1. Definitions.—As used in this paragraph:
1944 a. “Adjustment” means an addition to the base salary
1945 schedule that is not a bonus and becomes part of the employee’s
1946 permanent base salary and shall be considered compensation under
1947 s. 121.021(22).
1948 b. “Grandfathered salary schedule” means the salary
1949 schedule or schedules adopted by a district school board before
1950 July 1, 2014, pursuant to subparagraph 4.
1951 c. “Instructional personnel” means instructional personnel
1952 as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a)-(d), excluding substitute
1953 teachers.
1954 d. “Performance salary schedule” means the salary schedule
1955 or schedules adopted by a district school board pursuant to
1956 subparagraph 5.
1957 e. “Salary schedule” means the schedule or schedules used
1958 to provide the base salary for district school board personnel.
1959 f. “School administrator” means a school administrator as
1960 defined in s. 1012.01(3)(c).
1961 g. “Supplement” means an annual addition to the base salary
1962 for the term of the negotiated supplement as long as the
1963 employee continues his or her employment for the purpose of the
1964 supplement. A supplement does not become part of the employee’s
1965 continuing base salary but shall be considered compensation
1966 under s. 121.021(22).
1967 2. Cost-of-living adjustment.—A district school board may
1968 provide a cost-of-living salary adjustment if the adjustment:
1969 a. Does not discriminate among comparable classes of
1970 employees based upon the salary schedule under which they are
1971 compensated.
1972 b. Does not exceed 50 percent of the annual adjustment
1973 provided to instructional personnel rated as effective.
1974 3. Advanced degrees.—A district school board may use
1975 advanced degrees in setting a salary schedule for instructional
1976 personnel or school administrators if the advanced degree is
1977 held in the individual’s area of certification.
1978 4. Grandfathered salary schedule.—
1979 a. The district school board shall adopt a salary schedule
1980 or salary schedules to be used as the basis for paying all
1981 school employees hired before July 1, 2014. Instructional
1982 personnel on annual contract as of July 1, 2014, shall be placed
1983 on the performance salary schedule adopted under subparagraph 5.
1984 Instructional personnel on continuing contract or professional
1985 service contract may opt into the performance salary schedule if
1986 the employee relinquishes such contract and agrees to be
1987 employed on an annual contract under s. 1012.335. Such an
1988 employee shall be placed on the performance salary schedule and
1989 may not return to continuing contract or professional service
1990 contract status. Any employee who opts into the performance
1991 salary schedule may not return to the grandfathered salary
1992 schedule.
1993 b. In determining the grandfathered salary schedule for
1994 instructional personnel, a district school board must base a
1995 portion of each employee’s compensation upon performance
1996 demonstrated under s. 1012.34 and shall provide differentiated
1997 pay for both instructional personnel and school administrators
1998 based upon district-determined factors, including, but not
1999 limited to, additional responsibilities, school demographics,
2000 high-demand teacher needs critical shortage areas, and level of
2001 job performance difficulties.
2002 5. Performance salary schedule.—By July 1, 2014, the
2003 district school board shall adopt a performance salary schedule
2004 that provides annual salary adjustments for instructional
2005 personnel and school administrators based upon performance
2006 determined under s. 1012.34. Employees hired on or after July 1,
2007 2014, or employees who choose to move from the grandfathered
2008 salary schedule to the performance salary schedule shall be
2009 compensated pursuant to the performance salary schedule once
2010 they have received the appropriate performance evaluation for
2011 this purpose.
2012 a. Base salary.—The base salary shall be established as
2013 follows:
2014 (I) The base salary for instructional personnel or school
2015 administrators who opt into the performance salary schedule
2016 shall be the salary paid in the prior year, including
2017 adjustments only.
2018 (II) Instructional personnel or school administrators new
2019 to the district, returning to the district after a break in
2020 service without an authorized leave of absence, or appointed for
2021 the first time to a position in the district in the capacity of
2022 instructional personnel or school administrator shall be placed
2023 on the performance salary schedule.
2024 b. Salary adjustments.—Salary adjustments for highly
2025 effective or effective performance shall be established as
2026 follows:
2027 (I) The annual salary adjustment under the performance
2028 salary schedule for an employee rated as highly effective must
2029 be at least 25 percent greater than the highest annual salary
2030 adjustment available to an employee of the same classification
2031 through any other salary schedule adopted by the district.
2032 (II) The annual salary adjustment under the performance
2033 salary schedule for an employee rated as effective must be equal
2034 to at least 50 percent and no more than 75 percent of the annual
2035 adjustment provided for a highly effective employee of the same
2036 classification.
2037 (III) A salary schedule shall not provide an annual salary
2038 adjustment for an employee who receives a rating other than
2039 highly effective or effective for the year.
2040 c. Salary supplements.—In addition to the salary
2041 adjustments, each district school board shall provide for salary
2042 supplements for activities that must include, but are not
2043 limited to:
2044 (I) Assignment to a Title I eligible school.
2045 (II) Assignment to a school that earned a grade of “F” or
2046 three consecutive grades of “D” pursuant to s. 1008.34 such that
2047 the supplement remains in force for at least 1 year following
2048 improved performance in that school.
2049 (III) Certification and teaching in high-demand critical
2050 teacher needs shortage areas. Statewide high-demand critical
2051 teacher needs shortage areas shall be identified by the State
2052 Board of Education under s. 1012.07. However, the district
2053 school board may identify other areas of high-demand needs
2054 critical shortage within the school district for purposes of
2055 this sub-sub-subparagraph and may remove areas identified by the
2056 state board which do not apply within the school district.
2057 (IV) Assignment of additional academic responsibilities.
2058
2059 If budget constraints in any given year limit a district school
2060 board’s ability to fully fund all adopted salary schedules, the
2061 performance salary schedule shall not be reduced on the basis of
2062 total cost or the value of individual awards in a manner that is
2063 proportionally greater than reductions to any other salary
2064 schedules adopted by the district. Any compensation for
2065 longevity of service awarded to instructional personnel who are
2066 on any other salary schedule must be included in calculating the
2067 salary adjustments required by sub-subparagraph b.
2068 Section 59. Section 1012.315, Florida Statutes, is amended
2069 to read:
2070 1012.315 Screening standards.—
2071 (1) A person is ineligible for educator certification or
2072 employment in any position that requires direct contact with
2073 students in a district school system, a charter school, or a
2074 private school that participates in a state scholarship program
2075 under chapter 1002 if the person which includes being an owner
2076 or operator of a private school that participates in a
2077 scholarship program under chapter 1002:
2078 (a)(1) Is on the disqualification list maintained by the
2079 department under s. 1001.10(4)(b);
2080 (b)(2) Is registered as a sex offender as described in 42
2081 U.S.C. s. 9858f(c)(1)(C);
2082 (c)(3) Is ineligible based on a security background
2083 investigation under s. 435.04(2). Beginning January 1, 2025, or
2084 a later date as determined by the Agency for Health Care
2085 Administration, The Agency for Health Care Administration shall
2086 determine the eligibility of employees in any position that
2087 requires direct contact with students in a district school
2088 system, a charter school, or a private school that participates
2089 in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002;
2090 (d)(4) Would be ineligible for an exemption under s.
2091 435.07(4)(c); or
2092 (e)(5) Has been convicted or found guilty of, has had
2093 adjudication withheld for, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere
2094 to:
2095 1.(a) Any criminal act committed in another state or under
2096 federal law which, if committed in this state, constitutes a
2097 disqualifying offense under s. 435.04(2).
2098 2.(b) Any delinquent act committed in this state or any
2099 delinquent or criminal act committed in another state or under
2100 federal law which, if committed in this state, qualifies an
2101 individual for inclusion on the Registered Juvenile Sex Offender
2102 List under s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.d.
2103 (2) Notwithstanding ss. 435.01 and 435.07, a person who
2104 undergoes screening pursuant to this chapter or s. 1002.421 may
2105 not seek an exemption.
2106 (3) Persons who apply for certification or employment are
2107 governed by the law and rules in effect at the time of
2108 application for issuance of the initial certificate or
2109 employment, provided that continuity of certificates or
2110 employment is maintained.
2111 Section 60. Section 1012.77, Florida Statutes, is amended
2112 to read:
2113 1012.77 Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education
2114 Program.—
2115 (1) The Legislature recognizes that Florida continues to
2116 face teacher shortages and that fewer young people consider
2117 teaching as a career. It is the intent of the Legislature to
2118 promote the positive and rewarding aspects of being a teacher,
2119 to encourage more individuals to become teachers, and to provide
2120 annual sabbatical support for outstanding Florida teachers to
2121 serve as goodwill ambassadors for education. The Legislature
2122 further wishes to honor the memory of Christa McAuliffe, who
2123 epitomized the challenge and inspiration that teaching can be.
2124 (2) The Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education Program
2125 is established to provide salary, travel, and other related
2126 expenses annually for an outstanding Florida teacher to promote
2127 the positive aspects of teaching as a career. The goals of the
2128 program are to:
2129 (a) Enhance the stature of teachers and the teaching
2130 profession.
2131 (b) Promote the importance of quality education and
2132 teaching for our future.
2133 (c) Inspire and attract talented people to become teachers.
2134 (d) Provide information regarding Florida’s scholarship and
2135 loan programs related to teaching.
2136 (e) Promote the teaching profession within community and
2137 business groups.
2138 (f) Provide information to retired military personnel and
2139 other individuals who might consider teaching as a second
2140 career.
2141 (g) Work with and represent the Department of Education, as
2142 needed.
2143 (h) Work with and encourage the efforts of school and
2144 district teachers of the year.
2145 (i) Support the activities of the Florida Future Educator
2146 of America Program.
2147 (j) Represent Florida teachers at business, trade,
2148 education, and other conferences and meetings.
2149 (k) Promote the teaching profession in other ways related
2150 to the teaching responsibilities, background experiences, and
2151 aspirations of the Ambassador for Education.
2152 (3) The Teacher of the Year shall serve as the Ambassador
2153 for Education. If the Teacher of the Year is unable to serve as
2154 the Ambassador for Education, the first runner-up shall serve in
2155 his or her place. The Department of Education shall establish
2156 application and selection procedures for determining an annual
2157 teacher of the year. Applications and selection criteria shall
2158 be developed and distributed annually by the Department of
2159 Education to all eligible entities identified in subsection (4)
2160 school districts. The Commissioner of Education shall establish
2161 a selection committee which assures representation from teacher
2162 organizations, administrators, and parents to select the Teacher
2163 of the Year and Ambassador for Education from among the district
2164 teachers of the year.
2165 (4) Eligible entities to submit to the Department of
2166 Education a nominee for the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador
2167 for Education are:
2168 (a) Florida school districts, including lab schools as
2169 defined in s. 1002.32.
2170 (b) Charter school consortia with at least 30 member
2171 schools and an approved professional learning system on file
2172 with the department.
2173 (5)(a)(4)(a) The Commissioner of Education shall pay an
2174 annual salary, fringe benefits, travel costs, and other costs
2175 associated with administering the program.
2176 (b) The Ambassador for Education shall serve for 1 year,
2177 from July 1 to June 30, and shall be assured of returning to his
2178 or her teaching position upon completion of the program. The
2179 ambassador will not have a break in creditable or continuous
2180 service or employment for the period of time in which he or she
2181 participates in the program.
2182 Section 61. Subsection (3) of section 1013.30, Florida
2183 Statutes, is amended to read:
2184 1013.30 University campus master plans and campus
2185 development agreements.—
2186 (3) Each university board of trustees shall prepare and
2187 adopt a campus master plan for the university and maintain a
2188 copy of the plan on the university’s website. The master plan
2189 must identify general land uses and address the need for and
2190 plans for provision of roads, parking, public transportation,
2191 solid waste, drainage, sewer, potable water, and recreation and
2192 open space during the coming 10 to 20 years. The plans must
2193 contain elements relating to future land use, intergovernmental
2194 coordination, capital improvements, recreation and open space,
2195 general infrastructure, housing, and conservation. Each element
2196 must address compatibility with the surrounding community. The
2197 master plan must identify specific land uses, general location
2198 of structures, densities and intensities of use, and contain
2199 standards for onsite development, site design, environmental
2200 management, and the preservation of historic and archaeological
2201 resources. The transportation element must address reasonable
2202 transportation demand management techniques to minimize offsite
2203 impacts where possible. Data and analyses on which the elements
2204 are based must include, at a minimum: the characteristics of
2205 vacant lands; projected impacts of development on onsite and
2206 offsite infrastructure, public services, and natural resources;
2207 student enrollment projections; student housing needs; and the
2208 need for academic and support facilities. Master plans must be
2209 updated at least every 10 5 years.
2210 Section 62. Subsection (3) of section 1013.62, Florida
2211 Statutes, is amended to read:
2212 1013.62 Charter schools capital outlay funding.—
2213 (3) If the school board levies the discretionary millage
2214 authorized in s. 1011.71(2), the department must shall use the
2215 following calculation methodology to determine the amount of
2216 revenue that a school district must distribute to each eligible
2217 charter school:
2218 (a) Reduce the total discretionary millage revenue by the
2219 school district’s annual debt service obligation incurred as of
2220 March 1, 2017, which has not been subsequently retired, and:
2221 1. Beginning in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, for any district
2222 with an active project or an outstanding participation
2223 requirement balance, any amount of participation requirement
2224 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8. that is being satisfied by
2225 revenues raised by the discretionary millage; or
2226 2. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
2227 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2025
2228 2026 fiscal year, the value of 1 mill from the revenue generated
2229 pursuant to s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b.
2230 (b) Divide the school district’s adjusted discretionary
2231 millage revenue by the district’s total capital outlay full-time
2232 equivalent membership and the total number of full-time
2233 equivalent students of each eligible charter school to determine
2234 a capital outlay allocation per full-time equivalent student.
2235 (c) Multiply the capital outlay allocation per full-time
2236 equivalent student by the total number of full-time equivalent
2237 students of each eligible charter school to determine the
2238 capital outlay allocation for each charter school.
2239 (d) If applicable, reduce the capital outlay allocation
2240 identified in paragraph (c) by the total amount of state funds
2241 allocated to each eligible charter school in subsection (2) to
2242 determine the maximum calculated capital outlay allocation. The
2243 amount of funds a school district must distribute to charter
2244 schools shall be as follows:
2245 1. For fiscal year 2023-2024, the amount is 20 percent of
2246 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2247 2. For fiscal year 2024-2025, the amount is 40 percent of
2248 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2249 3. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the amount is 60 percent of
2250 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2251 4. For fiscal year 2026-2027, the amount is 80 percent of
2252 the amount calculated under this paragraph.
2253 5. For fiscal year 2027-2028, and each fiscal year
2254 thereafter, the amount is 100 percent of the amount calculated
2255 under this paragraph.
2256 (e) School districts shall distribute capital outlay funds
2257 to eligible charter schools no later than February 1 of each
2258 year, as required by this subsection, based on the amount of
2259 funds received by the district school board. School districts
2260 shall distribute any remaining capital outlay funds, as required
2261 by this subsection, upon the receipt of such funds until the
2262 total amount calculated pursuant to this subsection is
2263 distributed.
2264
2265 By October 1 of each year, each school district shall certify to
2266 the department the amount of debt service that and participation
2267 requirement that complies with the requirement of paragraph (a)
2268 and can be reduced from the total discretionary millage revenue.
2269 Each school district shall also certify the amount of the
2270 participation requirement that complies with paragraph (a), or
2271 certify the value of 1 mill from revenue generated pursuant to
2272 s. 1013.64(2)(a)8.b. which can be reduced from the total
2273 discretionary millage revenue, as applicable. The Auditor
2274 General shall verify compliance with the requirements of
2275 paragraph (a) and s. 1011.71(2)(e) during scheduled operational
2276 audits of school districts.
2277 Section 63. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
2278 1013.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2279 1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs;
2280 construction cost maximums for school district capital
2281 projects.—Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay
2282 and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital
2283 outlay projects shall be determined as follows:
2284 (2)(a) The department shall establish, as a part of the
2285 Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund, a
2286 separate account, in an amount determined by the Legislature, to
2287 be known as the “Special Facility Construction Account.” The
2288 Special Facility Construction Account shall be used to provide
2289 necessary construction funds to school districts which have
2290 urgent construction needs but which lack sufficient resources at
2291 present, and cannot reasonably anticipate sufficient resources
2292 within the period of the next 3 years, for these purposes from
2293 currently authorized sources of capital outlay revenue. A school
2294 district requesting funding from the Special Facility
2295 Construction Account shall submit one specific construction
2296 project, not to exceed one complete educational plant, to the
2297 Special Facility Construction Committee. A district may not
2298 receive funding for more than one approved project in any 3-year
2299 period or while any portion of the district’s participation
2300 requirement is outstanding. The first year of the 3-year period
2301 shall be the first year a district receives an appropriation.
2302 The department shall encourage a construction program that
2303 reduces the average size of schools in the district. The request
2304 must meet the following criteria to be considered by the
2305 committee:
2306 1. The project must be deemed a critical need and must be
2307 recommended for funding by the Special Facility Construction
2308 Committee. Before developing construction plans for the proposed
2309 facility, the district school board must request a
2310 preapplication review by the Special Facility Construction
2311 Committee or a project review subcommittee convened by the chair
2312 of the committee to include two representatives of the
2313 department and two staff members from school districts not
2314 eligible to participate in the program. A school district may
2315 request a preapplication review at any time; however, if the
2316 district school board seeks inclusion in the department’s next
2317 annual capital outlay legislative budget request, the
2318 preapplication review request must be made before February 1.
2319 Within 90 days after receiving the preapplication review
2320 request, the committee or subcommittee must meet in the school
2321 district to review the project proposal and existing facilities.
2322 To determine whether the proposed project is a critical need,
2323 the committee or subcommittee shall consider, at a minimum, the
2324 capacity of all existing facilities within the district as
2325 determined by the Florida Inventory of School Houses; the
2326 district’s pattern of student growth; the district’s existing
2327 and projected capital outlay full-time equivalent student
2328 enrollment as determined by the demographic, revenue, and
2329 education estimating conferences established in s. 216.136; the
2330 district’s existing satisfactory student stations; the use of
2331 all existing district property and facilities; grade level
2332 configurations; and any other information that may affect the
2333 need for the proposed project.
2334 2. The construction project must be recommended in the most
2335 recent survey or survey amendment cooperatively prepared by the
2336 district and the department, and approved by the department
2337 under the rules of the State Board of Education. If a district
2338 employs a consultant in the preparation of a survey or survey
2339 amendment, the consultant may not be employed by or receive
2340 compensation from a third party that designs or constructs a
2341 project recommended by the survey.
2342 3. The construction project must appear on the district’s
2343 approved project priority list under the rules of the State
2344 Board of Education.
2345 4. The district must have selected and had approved a site
2346 for the construction project in compliance with s. 1013.36 and
2347 the rules of the State Board of Education.
2348 5. The district shall have developed a district school
2349 board adopted list of facilities that do not exceed the norm for
2350 net square feet occupancy requirements under the State
2351 Requirements for Educational Facilities, using all possible
2352 programmatic combinations for multiple use of space to obtain
2353 maximum daily use of all spaces within the facility under
2354 consideration.
2355 6. Upon construction, the total cost per student station,
2356 including change orders, must not exceed the cost per student
2357 station as provided in subsection (6) unless approved by the
2358 Special Facility Construction Committee. At the discretion of
2359 the committee, costs that exceed the cost per student station
2360 for special facilities may include legal and administrative
2361 fees, the cost of site improvements or related offsite
2362 improvements, the cost of complying with public shelter and
2363 hurricane hardening requirements, cost overruns created by a
2364 disaster as defined in s. 252.34(2), costs of security
2365 enhancements approved by the school safety specialist, and
2366 unforeseeable circumstances beyond the district’s control.
2367 7. There shall be an agreement signed by the district
2368 school board stating that it will advertise for bids within 30
2369 days of receipt of its encumbrance authorization from the
2370 department.
2371 8.a.(I) For construction projects for which Special
2372 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought before the
2373 2019-2020 fiscal year, the district shall, at the time of the
2374 request and for a continuing period necessary to meet the
2375 district’s participation requirement, levy the maximum millage
2376 against its nonexempt assessed property value as allowed in s.
2377 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
2378 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
2379 (II) Beginning with construction projects for which Special
2380 Facilities Construction Account funding is sought in the 2019
2381 2020 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
2382 before submitting the request and for a continuing period
2383 necessary to meet its participation requirement, levy the
2384 maximum millage against the district’s nonexempt assessed
2385 property value as authorized under s. 1011.71(2) or shall raise
2386 an equivalent amount of revenue from the school capital outlay
2387 surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
2388 (III) Beginning with the 2025-2026 fiscal year, any
2389 district with an a new or active project or an outstanding
2390 participation requirement balance, funded under the provisions
2391 of this subsection, shall be required to budget no more than the
2392 value of 1 mill per year to the project until the district’s
2393 participation requirement relating to the local discretionary
2394 capital improvement millage or the equivalent amount of revenue
2395 from the school capital outlay surtax is satisfied.
2396 b. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
2397 Construction Account funding is sought beginning in the 2025
2398 2026 fiscal year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years
2399 before submitting the request and for the initial year of the
2400 appropriation and the 2 years following the initial
2401 appropriation, levy the maximum millage against the district’s
2402 nonexempt assessed property value as authorized under s.
2403 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from
2404 the school capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6).
2405 The district is not required to budget the funds toward the
2406 project, but must use the funds as authorized pursuant to s.
2407 1011.71 or s. 212.055(6), as applicable.
2408 9. If a contract has not been signed 90 days after the
2409 advertising of bids, the funding for the specific project must
2410 shall revert to the Special Facility New Construction Account to
2411 be reallocated to other projects on the list. However, an
2412 additional 90 days may be granted by the commissioner.
2413 10. The department shall certify the inability of the
2414 district to fund the survey-recommended project over a
2415 continuous 3-year period using projected capital outlay revenue
2416 derived from s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, as
2417 amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this section, and s. 1011.71(2).
2418 11.a. For projects funded before the 2025-2026 fiscal year,
2419 the district shall have on file with the department an adopted
2420 resolution acknowledging its commitment to satisfy its
2421 participation requirement, which is equivalent to all
2422 unencumbered and future revenue acquired from s. 9(d), Art. XII
2423 of the State Constitution, as amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this
2424 section, and s. 1011.71(2), in the year of the initial
2425 appropriation and for the 2 years immediately following the
2426 initial appropriation.
2427 b. For projects funded during the 2025-2026 fiscal year and
2428 thereafter, the district shall have on file with the department
2429 an adopted resolution acknowledging its commitment to comply
2430 with the requirements of this paragraph.
2431 12. Phase I plans must be approved by the district school
2432 board as being in compliance with the building and life safety
2433 codes before June 1 of the year the application is made.
2434 Section 64. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
2435 1009.531, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2436 1009.531 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program;
2437 student eligibility requirements for initial awards.—
2438 (1) In order to be eligible for an initial award from any
2439 of the scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
2440 Program, a student must:
2441 (b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma pursuant to
2442 s. 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282 or a high school
2443 equivalency diploma pursuant to s. 1003.435 unless:
2444 1. The student completes a home education program according
2445 to s. 1002.41;
2446 2. The student earns a high school diploma from a non
2447 Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on,
2448 or, within 12 months before the student’s high school
2449 graduation, has retired from, military or public service
2450 assignment away from Florida; or
2451 3. The student earns a high school diploma from a Florida
2452 private school operating pursuant to s. 1002.42.
2453 Section 65. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
2454 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
2455 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
2456 2025.
2457
2458 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
2459 And the title is amended as follows:
2460 Delete everything before the enacting clause
2461 and insert:
2462 A bill to be entitled
2463 An act relating to education; amending s. 11.45, F.S.;
2464 deleting the Florida School for Competitive Academics
2465 from the list of entities subject to certain audit
2466 requirements; amending s. 11.51, F.S.; authorizing the
2467 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
2468 Accountability to develop contracts or agreements with
2469 institutions in the State University System for a
2470 specified purpose; amending s. 110.211, F.S.;
2471 authorizing recruiting within the career service
2472 system to include the use of certain apprenticeship
2473 programs; providing that open competition is not
2474 required under certain circumstances relating to the
2475 career service system; amending s. 125.901, F.S.;
2476 revising the composition and terms of membership of
2477 certain councils; amending s. 216.251, F.S.; deleting
2478 the Florida School for Competitive Academics from
2479 specified classification and pay plans; amending s.
2480 288.036, F.S.; revising the duties of the Office of
2481 Ocean Economy; amending s. 435.12, F.S.; revising the
2482 dates for a screening schedule; amending s. 446.032,
2483 F.S.; revising the date by which the Department of
2484 Education is required to publish an annual report on
2485 apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs;
2486 amending s. 447.203, F.S.; deleting the Florida School
2487 for Competitive Academics from the definition of a
2488 public employer; amending s. 1000.04, F.S.; deleting
2489 the Florida School for Competitive Academics from the
2490 components of Florida’s Early Learning-20 education
2491 system; amending s. 1000.21, F.S.; renaming
2492 Hillsborough Community College as “Hillsborough
2493 College”; amending s. 1000.40, F.S.; revising the
2494 scheduled repeal date of the Interstate Compact on
2495 Educational Opportunity for Military Children;
2496 amending s. 1001.03, F.S.; renaming critical teacher
2497 shortage areas as “high-demand teacher needs areas”;
2498 amending s. 1001.20, F.S.; deleting oversight of the
2499 Florida School for Competitive Academics from the
2500 duties of the Office of Inspector General within the
2501 department; requiring the state board to adopt rules;
2502 amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising the services
2503 required to be provided by regional consortium service
2504 organizations when such services are found to be
2505 necessary and appropriate by such organizations’
2506 boards of directors; revising the allocation that
2507 certain regional consortium service organizations are
2508 eligible to receive from the General Appropriations
2509 Act; requiring each regional consortium service
2510 organization to submit an annual report to the
2511 Department of Education; requiring that unexpended
2512 amounts in certain funds be carried forward; requiring
2513 each regional consortium service organization to
2514 provide quarterly financial reports to member
2515 districts; requiring member districts to designate a
2516 district to serve as a fiscal agent for certain
2517 purposes; providing for compensation of the fiscal
2518 agent district; requiring regional consortium service
2519 organizations to retain all funds received from grants
2520 or contracted services to cover indirect or
2521 administrative costs associated with the provision of
2522 such services; requiring the regional consortium
2523 service organization board of directors to determine
2524 products and services provided by the organization;
2525 requiring a regional consortium service organization
2526 board of directors to recommend the establishment of
2527 positions and appointments to a fiscal agent district;
2528 requiring that personnel be employed under specified
2529 personnel policies; authorizing the regional
2530 consortium service organization board of directors to
2531 recommend a salary schedule for personnel; authorizing
2532 regional consortium service organizations to purchase
2533 or lease property and facilities essential to their
2534 operations; providing for the distribution of revenue
2535 if a regional consortium service organization is
2536 dissolved; deleting a provision requiring applications
2537 for incentive grants; authorizing regional consortium
2538 service organization boards of directors to contract
2539 to provide services to nonmember districts; requiring
2540 that a fund balance be established for specified
2541 purposes; deleting a requirement for the use of
2542 certain funds; authorizing a regional consortium
2543 service organization to administer a specified
2544 program; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the
2545 Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental
2546 Services Program; providing the purpose of the
2547 program; authorizing funds to be used for specified
2548 purposes; requiring each regional consortium service
2549 organization to report the distribution of funds
2550 annually to the Legislature; providing for the
2551 carryforward of funds; amending s. 1001.452, F.S.;
2552 deleting a provision requiring the Commissioner of
2553 Education to determine whether school districts have
2554 maximized efforts to include minority persons and
2555 persons of lower socioeconomic status on their school
2556 advisory councils; creating s. 1001.68, F.S.;
2557 authorizing Florida College System institutions with a
2558 certain number of full-time equivalent students to
2559 enter into cooperative agreements to form a state
2560 college regional consortium service organization;
2561 requiring such organizations to provide at least a
2562 specified number of certain services; requiring that
2563 regional consortium service organizations be governed
2564 by a board of directors consisting of specified
2565 members; amending s. 1001.706, F.S.; deleting a
2566 requirement that state universities provide student
2567 access to certain information; amending s. 1001.7065,
2568 F.S.; revising academic standards for the preeminent
2569 state research university program to include a
2570 specified average Classic Learning Test score;
2571 amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; authorizing public schools
2572 to purchase or enter into arrangements for certain
2573 emergency opioid antagonists, rather than only for
2574 naloxone; requiring that district school board
2575 policies authorizing corporal punishment include a
2576 requirement that parental consent be provided before
2577 the administration of corporal punishment; amending s.
2578 1002.33, F.S.; requiring a charter school to comply
2579 with provisions relating to corporal punishment;
2580 repealing s. 1002.351, F.S., relating to the Florida
2581 School for Competitive Academics; amending s.
2582 1002.394, F.S.; deleting the Florida School for
2583 Competitive Academics from Family Empowerment
2584 Scholarship prohibitions; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.;
2585 deleting the Florida School for Competitive Academics
2586 from Florida Tax Credit Scholarship prohibitions;
2587 amending s. 1002.42, F.S.; authorizing certain private
2588 schools to construct new facilities on property that
2589 meets specified criteria; amending s. 1002.421, F.S.;
2590 revising the background screening requirements for
2591 certain private school personnel; amending s. 1002.68,
2592 F.S.; deleting a provision requiring the department to
2593 confer with the Council for Early Grade Success before
2594 receiving a certain approval; amending s. 1002.71,
2595 F.S.; revising the conditions under which a student
2596 may withdraw from a prekindergarten program and
2597 reenroll in another program; amending s. 1002.945,
2598 F.S.; revising the criteria required for a child care
2599 facility, large family child care home, or family day
2600 care home to obtain and maintain a designation as a
2601 Gold Seal Quality Care provider; amending s. 1003.05,
2602 F.S.; requiring that strategies addressed in specified
2603 memoranda of agreement between school districts and
2604 military installations include the development and
2605 implementation of a specified training module;
2606 requiring the Department of Education to provide the
2607 training module to each district school board;
2608 requiring each district school board to provide such
2609 module to each public and charter K-12 school in its
2610 district; requiring district school boards to make
2611 certain training available to certain employees;
2612 amending s. 1003.41, F.S.; requiring that certain
2613 standards documents contain only academic standards
2614 and benchmarks; requiring the Commissioner of
2615 Education to revise currently approved standards
2616 documents and submit them to the state board by a
2617 specified date; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; revising
2618 required instruction on the principles of agriculture;
2619 requiring the department to collaborate with specified
2620 entities to develop associated standards and a
2621 curriculum; authorizing the department to contract
2622 with certain agricultural education organizations;
2623 amending s. 1003.4201, F.S.; authorizing the inclusion
2624 of intensive reading interventions in a school
2625 district comprehensive reading instruction plan;
2626 requiring that intensive reading interventions be
2627 delivered by instructional personnel who possess a
2628 micro-credential or are certified or endorsed in
2629 reading; requiring that such interventions incorporate
2630 certain strategies; requiring that instructional
2631 personnel with a micro-credential be supervised by an
2632 individual certified or endorsed in reading; defining
2633 the term “supervised”; authorizing the inclusion in
2634 the reading instruction plans of a description of how
2635 school districts prioritize the assignment of highly
2636 effective teachers; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.;
2637 adding components to required instruction on financial
2638 literacy; amending s. 1004.04, F.S.; conforming
2639 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
2640 1004.0971, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
2641 “emergency opioid antagonist”; amending s. 1004.933,
2642 F.S.; authorizing an institution to enter into an
2643 agreement with an online provider for the adult
2644 education or career instruction portion of the
2645 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE)
2646 Program; deleting the age limit for enrollment in the
2647 program; clarifying that students are not required to
2648 enroll in adult secondary and career education
2649 coursework simultaneously; amending s. 1005.06, F.S.;
2650 authorizing certain institutions to operate without
2651 licensure; specifying affirmations required as a part
2652 of an affidavit; requiring submission of requested
2653 documentation in a specified timeframe; requiring the
2654 Commission for Independent Education to review such
2655 affidavit in a public meeting; specifying commission
2656 actions for noncompliance; authorizing the commission
2657 to adopt rules; amending s. 1006.09, F.S.; expanding
2658 the duties of school principals relating to student
2659 discipline and school safety; amending s. 1006.13,
2660 F.S.; requiring district school superintendents to
2661 provide a determination to extend the expulsion period
2662 for students; providing requirements for such
2663 determination; requiring such determination be
2664 provided to students and parents; amending s. 1006.73,
2665 F.S.; revising reporting requirements relating to the
2666 Florida Postsecondary Academic Library Network;
2667 amending s. 1007.27, F.S.; requiring the state board
2668 to identify national consortia to develop certain
2669 courses; authorizing the department to join or
2670 establish a national consortium as an additional
2671 alternative method to develop and implement advanced
2672 placement courses; amending s. 1007.35, F.S.; revising
2673 which examinations public high schools are required to
2674 administer; revising the examinations about which a
2675 partnership must provide information to specified
2676 individuals and entities; revising the examinations
2677 for which the department must provide the learning
2678 data from to a certain partnership; amending s.
2679 1008.36, F.S.; revising the recipients of school
2680 recognition bonus funds; amending s. 1008.365, F.S.;
2681 revising the types of tutoring hours that may be
2682 counted toward meeting the community service
2683 requirements for the Bright Futures Scholarship
2684 Program; amending s. 1008.37, F.S.; revising the date
2685 by which the Commissioner of Education must deliver a
2686 report to specified entities; revising the
2687 requirements of the report; amending s. 1009.26, F.S.;
2688 revising the residency requirement for a grandparent
2689 for a student’s out-of-state fee waiver; revising the
2690 residency criteria for a grandparent in a specified
2691 attestation; providing applicability; amending s.
2692 1009.536, F.S.; clarifying the required minimum
2693 cumulative weighted grade point average for the
2694 Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award; authorizing
2695 students to apply for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE
2696 Scholars award within a specified timeframe before or
2697 after completing the GATE Program; creating s.
2698 1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural Incentive for
2699 Professional Educators Program within the Department
2700 of Education; requiring the program to provide
2701 financial assistance for the repayment of student
2702 loans to eligible participants who establish permanent
2703 residency and employment in rural communities;
2704 providing that eligible participants may receive up to
2705 a certain amount in total student loan repayment
2706 assistance over a certain timeframe; requiring the
2707 department to verify certain information of
2708 participants in the program before it disburses
2709 awards; providing that the program is administered
2710 through the Office of Student Financial Assistance
2711 within the department; requiring the department to
2712 develop procedures and monitor compliance; requiring
2713 the State Board of Education to adopt rules by a
2714 certain date; amending s. 1009.8962, F.S.; revising
2715 the definition of the term “institution”; amending s.
2716 1009.897, F.S.; requiring institutions receiving funds
2717 through the Prepping Institutions, Programs,
2718 Employers, and Learners through Incentives for Nursing
2719 Education Fund to allocate funding to health care
2720 related programs; repealing s. 1011.58, F.S., relating
2721 to legislative budget requests of the Florida School
2722 for Competitive Academics; repealing s. 1011.59, F.S.,
2723 relating to funds for the Florida School for
2724 Competitive Academics; amending s. 1011.71, F.S.;
2725 revising the types of casualty insurance premiums that
2726 may be paid by a district school tax; amending s.
2727 1011.804, F.S.; authorizing certain institutions to
2728 apply for and use grant funds under the GATE Startup
2729 Grant Program for specified purposes; amending ss.
2730 1012.07 and 1012.22, F.S.; conforming provisions to
2731 changes made by the act; amending s. 1012.315, F.S.;
2732 revising the background screening requirements for
2733 certain private school personnel; providing that
2734 certain background screening requirements remain in
2735 place for a specified period of time for certain
2736 personnel; amending s. 1012.77, F.S.; conforming a
2737 provision to a change made by the act; specifying
2738 entities eligible to submit nominees for the Teacher
2739 of the Year and Ambassador for Education awards;
2740 amending s. 1013.30, F.S.; revising the timeframe for
2741 updates to state university campus master plans;
2742 amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; revising the calculation
2743 methodology to determine the amount of revenue that a
2744 school district must distribute to each eligible
2745 charter school; amending s. 1013.64, F.S.; revising
2746 conditions under which a school district may receive
2747 funding on an approved construction project; providing
2748 appropriations for specified purposes; amending s.
2749 1009.531, F.S.; revising eligibility requirements for
2750 students who earn a high school diploma from a non
2751 Florida school under certain circumstances; providing
2752 effective dates.