Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 7036
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LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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The Committee on Rules (Simon) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
6 120.81, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 120.81 Exceptions and special requirements; general areas.—
8 (1) EDUCATIONAL UNITS.—
9 (a) District school boards are not subject to the
10 requirements for rules in this chapter when making and adopting
11 rules with public input at a public meeting. Notwithstanding s.
12 120.536(1) and the flush left provisions of s. 120.52(8),
13 district school boards may adopt rules to implement their
14 general powers under s. 1001.41.
15 Section 2. Subsection (21) of section 1001.42, Florida
16 Statutes, is amended to read:
17 1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
18 district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
19 powers and perform all duties listed below:
20 (21) EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY.—To free schools that have with
21 a school grade of “D” or “F” or are persistently low-performing
22 schools as described in s. 1002.333 from contract restrictions
23 that limit the school district’s school’s ability to implement
24 programs and strategies needed to improve student performance, a
25 district school board may adopt salary incentives or other
26 strategies that address the selection, placement, compensation,
27 and expectations of instructional personnel and provide
28 principals with the autonomy described in s. 1012.28(8). For
29 purposes of this subsection, an educational emergency exists in
30 a school district if one or more schools in the district have a
31 school grade of “D” or “F.” or are persistently low-performing
32 schools as described in s. 1002.333. Notwithstanding chapter
33 447, relating to collective bargaining, a district school board
34 may:
35 (a) Provide salary incentives that differentiate based on a
36 teacher’s certification, subject area taught, or grade level
37 taught. Such incentives are not subject to collective bargaining
38 requirements.
39 (b) Notwithstanding s. 1012.2315, relating to assignment of
40 teachers, adopt strategies to assign high-quality teachers more
41 equitably across schools in the district to low-performing
42 schools as a management right. Such strategies are not subject
43 to collective bargaining requirements.
44 Section 3. Paragraph (i) of subsection (3) of section
45 1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
46 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
47 school students must receive accurate and timely information
48 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
49 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
50 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
51 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
52 (3) HEALTH ISSUES.—
53 (i) Epinephrine use and supply.—
54 1. A student who has experienced or is at risk for life
55 threatening allergic reactions may carry a United States Food
56 and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved an epinephrine delivery
57 device auto-injector and self-administer epinephrine by such
58 FDA-approved delivery device auto-injector while in school,
59 participating in school-sponsored activities, or in transit to
60 or from school or school-sponsored activities if the school has
61 been provided with parental and physician authorization. The
62 State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Department of
63 Health, shall adopt rules for such use of FDA-approved
64 epinephrine delivery devices which must auto-injectors that
65 shall include provisions to protect the safety of all students
66 from the misuse or abuse of such delivery devices auto
67 injectors. A school district, county health department, public
68 private partner, and their employees and volunteers shall be
69 indemnified by the parent of a student authorized to carry an
70 FDA-approved epinephrine delivery device auto-injector for any
71 and all liability with respect to the student’s use of an FDA
72 approved epinephrine delivery device auto-injector pursuant to
73 this paragraph.
74 2. A public school may purchase a supply of FDA-approved
75 epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors from a wholesale
76 distributor as defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an
77 arrangement with a wholesale distributor or manufacturer as
78 defined in s. 499.003 for the FDA-approved epinephrine delivery
79 devices auto-injectors at fair-market, free, or reduced prices
80 for use in the event a student has an anaphylactic reaction. The
81 FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors must be
82 maintained in a secure location on the public school’s premises.
83 The participating school district shall adopt a protocol
84 developed by a licensed physician for the administration by
85 school personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic
86 reaction and to administer an epinephrine by an FDA-approved
87 delivery device auto-injection. The supply of FDA-approved
88 epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors may be provided to
89 and used by a student authorized to self-administer epinephrine
90 by FDA-approved delivery device auto-injector under subparagraph
91 1. or trained school personnel.
92 3. The school district and its employees, agents, and the
93 physician who provides the standing protocol for school FDA
94 approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors are not
95 liable for any injury arising from the use of such an
96 epinephrine delivery device auto-injector administered by
97 trained school personnel who follow the adopted protocol and
98 whose professional opinion is that the student is having an
99 anaphylactic reaction:
100 a. Unless the trained school personnel’s action is willful
101 and wanton;
102 b. Notwithstanding that the parents or guardians of the
103 student to whom the epinephrine is administered have not been
104 provided notice or have not signed a statement acknowledging
105 that the school district is not liable; and
106 c. Regardless of whether authorization has been given by
107 the student’s parents or guardians or by the student’s
108 physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered
109 nurse.
110 Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) and paragraph
111 (e) of subsection (10) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are
112 amended to read:
113 1002.33 Charter schools.—
114 (7) CHARTER.—The terms and conditions for the operation of
115 a charter school, including a virtual charter school, shall be
116 set forth by the sponsor and the applicant in a written
117 contractual agreement, called a charter. The sponsor and the
118 governing board of the charter school or virtual charter school
119 shall use the standard charter contract or standard virtual
120 charter contract, respectively, pursuant to subsection (21),
121 which shall incorporate the approved application and any addenda
122 approved with the application. Any term or condition of a
123 proposed charter contract or proposed virtual charter contract
124 that differs from the standard charter or virtual charter
125 contract adopted by rule of the State Board of Education shall
126 be presumed a limitation on charter school flexibility. The
127 sponsor may not impose unreasonable rules or regulations that
128 violate the intent of giving charter schools greater flexibility
129 to meet educational goals. The charter shall be signed by the
130 governing board of the charter school and the sponsor, following
131 a public hearing to ensure community input.
132 (c)1. A charter may be renewed provided that a program
133 review demonstrates that the criteria in paragraph (a) have been
134 successfully accomplished and that none of the grounds for
135 nonrenewal established by paragraph (8)(a) have been expressly
136 found. The charter of a charter school that meets these
137 requirements and has received a school grade lower than a “B”
138 pursuant to s. 1008.34 in the most recently graded school year
139 must be renewed for no less than a 5-year term except as
140 provided in paragraph (9)(n). In order to facilitate long-term
141 financing for charter school construction, charter schools
142 operating for a minimum of 3 years and demonstrating exemplary
143 academic programming, which may include academic performance
144 measured by school improvement ratings, and fiscal management
145 are eligible for a 15-year charter renewal. Such long-term
146 charter is subject to annual review and may be terminated during
147 the term of the charter.
148 2. The 15-year charter renewal that may be granted pursuant
149 to subparagraph 1. must be granted to a charter school that has
150 received a school grade of “A” or “B” pursuant to s. 1008.34 in
151 the most recently graded school year and that is not in a state
152 of financial emergency or deficit position as defined by this
153 section. Such long-term charter is subject to annual review and
154 may be terminated during the term of the charter pursuant to
155 subsection (8).
156 (10) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.—
157 (e) A charter school may limit the enrollment process only
158 to target the following student populations:
159 1. Students within specific age groups or grade levels.
160 2. Students considered at risk of dropping out of school or
161 academic failure. Such students shall include exceptional
162 education students.
163 3. Students enrolling in a charter school-in-the-workplace
164 or charter school-in-a-municipality established pursuant to
165 subsection (15).
166 4. Students residing within a reasonable distance of the
167 charter school, as described in paragraph (20)(c). Such students
168 shall be subject to a random lottery and to the racial/ethnic
169 balance provisions described in subparagraph (7)(a)8. or any
170 federal provisions that require a school to achieve a
171 racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or
172 within the racial/ethnic range of other nearby public schools.
173 5. Students who meet reasonable academic, artistic, or
174 other eligibility standards established by the charter school
175 and included in the charter school application and charter or,
176 in the case of existing charter schools, standards that are
177 consistent with the school’s mission and purpose. Such standards
178 shall be in accordance with current state law and practice in
179 public schools and may not discriminate against otherwise
180 qualified individuals. A school that limits enrollment for such
181 purposes must place a student on a progress monitoring plan for
182 at least one semester before dismissing such student from the
183 school. A student may not be dismissed based on academic
184 performance while a school is implementing a school improvement
185 plan pursuant to paragraph (9)(n) or corrective action plan
186 pursuant to s. 1002.345.
187 6. Students articulating from one charter school to another
188 pursuant to an articulation agreement between the charter
189 schools that has been approved by the sponsor.
190 7. Students living in a development, or students whose
191 parent or legal guardian maintains a physical or permanent
192 employment presence within the development, in which a
193 developer, including any affiliated business entity or
194 charitable foundation, contributes to the formation,
195 acquisition, construction, or operation of one or more charter
196 schools or charter school facilities and related property in an
197 amount equal to or having a total appraised value of at least $5
198 million to be used as charter schools to mitigate the
199 educational impact created by the development of new residential
200 dwelling units. Students living in the development are entitled
201 to 50 percent of the student stations in the charter schools.
202 The students who are eligible for enrollment are subject to a
203 random lottery, the racial/ethnic balance provisions, or any
204 federal provisions, as described in subparagraph 4. The
205 remainder of the student stations must be filled in accordance
206 with subparagraph 4.
207 8. Students whose parent or legal guardian is employed
208 within a reasonable distance of the charter school, as described
209 in paragraph (20)(c). The students who are eligible for
210 enrollment are subject to a random lottery.
211 Section 5. Subsection (17) of section 1002.42, Florida
212 Statutes, is amended to read:
213 1002.42 Private schools.—
214 (17) EPINEPHRINE SUPPLY.—
215 (a) A private school may purchase a supply of United States
216 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved epinephrine delivery
217 devices auto-injectors from a wholesale distributor as defined
218 in s. 499.003 or may enter into an arrangement with a wholesale
219 distributor or manufacturer as defined in s. 499.003 for the
220 FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors at
221 fair-market, free, or reduced prices for use in the event a
222 student has an anaphylactic reaction. The FDA-approved
223 epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors must be maintained
224 in a secure location on the private school’s premises. The
225 participating private school shall adopt a protocol developed by
226 a licensed physician for the administration by private school
227 personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic reaction
228 and to administer epinephrine by an FDA-approved epinephrine
229 delivery device auto-injection. The supply of FDA-approved
230 epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors may be provided to
231 and used by a student authorized to self-administer epinephrine
232 by an FDA-approved delivery device auto-injector under s.
233 1002.20(3)(i) or trained school personnel.
234 (b) The private school and its employees, agents, and the
235 physician who provides the standing protocol for school FDA
236 approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors are not
237 liable for any injury arising from the use of an FDA-approved
238 epinephrine delivery device auto-injector administered by
239 trained school personnel who follow the adopted protocol and
240 whose professional opinion is that the student is having an
241 anaphylactic reaction:
242 1. Unless the trained school personnel’s action is willful
243 and wanton;
244 2. Notwithstanding that the parents or guardians of the
245 student to whom the epinephrine is administered have not been
246 provided notice or have not signed a statement acknowledging
247 that the school district is not liable; and
248 3. Regardless of whether authorization has been given by
249 the student’s parents or guardians or by the student’s
250 physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered
251 nurse.
252 Section 6. Subsection (3), paragraph (e) of subsection (4),
253 paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and paragraph (e) of subsection
254 (6) of section 1002.68, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
255 1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
256 accountability.—
257 (3)(a) For the 2020-2021 program year, the department shall
258 calculate a kindergarten readiness rate for each private
259 prekindergarten provider and public school participating in the
260 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program based upon learning
261 gains and the percentage of students assessed as ready for
262 kindergarten. The department shall require that each school
263 district administer the statewide kindergarten screening in use
264 before the 2021-2022 school year to each kindergarten student in
265 the school district within the first 30 school days of the 2021
266 2022 school year. Private schools may administer the statewide
267 kindergarten screening to each kindergarten student in a private
268 school who was enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
269 Education Program. Learning gains shall be determined using a
270 value-added measure based on growth demonstrated by the results
271 of the preassessment and postassessment in use before the 2021
272 2022 program year. However, a provider may not be newly placed
273 on probationary status under this paragraph. A provider
274 currently on probationary status may only be removed from such
275 status if the provider earns the minimum rate, determined
276 pursuant to subsection (5). The methodology for calculating a
277 provider’s readiness rate may not include students who are not
278 administered the statewide kindergarten screening.
279 (b) For the 2021-2022 program year, kindergarten screening
280 results may not be used in the calculation of readiness rates.
281 Any private prekindergarten provider or public school
282 participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
283 which fails to meet the minimum kindergarten readiness rate for
284 the 2021-2022 program year is subject to the probation
285 requirements of subsection (5).
286 (3)(4)
287 (e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall
288 provide for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten
289 provider and public school based on the provider’s designation.
290 The maximum differential payment may not exceed a total of 15
291 percent of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent
292 student under s. 1002.71 attending in the consecutive program
293 year for that program. A private prekindergarten provider or
294 public school may not receive a differential payment if it
295 receives a designation of “proficient” or lower. Before the
296 adoption of the methodology, the department shall confer with
297 the Council for Early Grade Success under s. 1008.2125 before
298 receiving approval from the State Board of Education for the
299 final recommendations on the designation system and differential
300 payments.
301 (4)(a)(5)(a) If a public school’s or private
302 prekindergarten provider’s program assessment composite score
303 for its prekindergarten classrooms fails to meet the minimum
304 program assessment composite score for contracting adopted in
305 rule by the department, the private prekindergarten provider or
306 public school may not participate in the Voluntary
307 Prekindergarten Education Program beginning in the consecutive
308 program year and thereafter until the public school or private
309 prekindergarten provider meets the minimum composite score for
310 contracting. A public school or private prekindergarten provider
311 may request one program assessment per program year in order to
312 requalify for participation in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
313 Education Program, provided that the public school or private
314 prekindergarten provider is not excluded from participation
315 under ss. 1002.55(6), 1002.61(10)(b), 1002.63(9)(b), or
316 paragraph (b) (5)(b) of this section. If a public school or
317 private prekindergarten provider would like an additional
318 program assessment completed within the same program year, the
319 public school or private prekindergarten provider shall be
320 responsible for the cost of the program assessment.
321 (5)(6)
322 (e) A private prekindergarten provider or public school
323 granted a good cause exemption shall continue to implement its
324 improvement plan and continue the corrective actions required
325 under paragraph (4)(b) (5)(b) until the provider or school meets
326 the minimum performance metric.
327 Section 7. Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) and subsection
328 (7) of section 1002.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
329 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
330 (6)
331 (b)1. Each private prekindergarten provider’s and district
332 school board’s attendance policy must require the parent of each
333 student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to
334 verify, each month, the student’s attendance on the prior
335 month’s certified student attendance.
336 2. The parent must submit the verification of the student’s
337 attendance to the private prekindergarten provider or public
338 school on forms prescribed by the department. The forms must
339 include, in addition to the verification of the student’s
340 attendance, a certification, in substantially the following
341 form, that the parent continues to choose the private
342 prekindergarten provider or public school in accordance with s.
343 1002.53 and directs that payments for the program be made to the
344 provider or school:
345
346 VERIFICATION OF STUDENT’S ATTENDANCE
347 AND CERTIFICATION OF PARENTAL CHOICE
348
349 I, ...(Name of Parent)..., swear (or affirm) that my child,
350 ...(Name of Student)..., attended the Voluntary Prekindergarten
351 Education Program on the days listed above and certify that I
352 continue to choose ...(Name of Provider or School)... to deliver
353 the program for my child and direct that program funds be paid
354 to the provider or school for my child.
355 ...(Signature of Parent)...
356 ...(Date)...
357
358 3. The private prekindergarten provider or public school
359 must keep each original signed form for at least 2 years. Each
360 private prekindergarten provider must permit the early learning
361 coalition, and each public school must permit the school
362 district, to inspect the original signed forms during normal
363 business hours. The department shall adopt procedures for early
364 learning coalitions and school districts to review the original
365 signed forms against the certified student attendance. The
366 review procedures must shall provide for the use of selective
367 inspection techniques, including, but not limited to, random
368 sampling. Each early learning coalition and the school districts
369 must comply with the review procedures.
370 (7) The department shall require that administrative
371 expenditures be kept to the minimum necessary for efficient and
372 effective administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten
373 Education Program. Administrative policies and procedures must
374 shall be revised, to the maximum extent practicable, be revised
375 to incorporate the use of automation and electronic submission
376 of forms, including those required for child eligibility and
377 enrollment, provider and class registration, and monthly
378 certification of attendance for payment. A school district may
379 use its automated daily attendance reporting system for the
380 purpose of maintaining and transmitting attendance records to
381 the early learning coalition in a mutually agreed-upon format.
382 Each school district shall certify the correctness of attendance
383 data submitted to the single point of entry system described in
384 paragraph (5)(a) as required by the department. In addition,
385 actions must shall be taken to reduce paperwork, eliminate the
386 duplication of reports, and eliminate other duplicative
387 activities. Each early learning coalition may retain and expend
388 no more than 5.0 percent of the funds paid by the coalition to
389 private prekindergarten providers and public schools under
390 paragraph (5)(b). Funds retained by an early learning coalition
391 under this subsection may be used only for administering the
392 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and may not be used
393 for the school readiness program or other programs.
394 Section 8. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (4) of
395 section 1002.945, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
396 1002.945 Gold Seal Quality Care Program.—
397 (4) In order to obtain and maintain a designation as a Gold
398 Seal Quality Care provider, a child care facility, large family
399 child care home, or family day care home must meet the following
400 additional criteria:
401 (a) The child care provider must not have had any class I
402 violations, as defined by rule of the Department of Children and
403 Families, for which the Department of Children and Families
404 determines that the child care provider is the primary cause of
405 the violation within the 2 years preceding its application for
406 designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider. Commission of
407 a class I violation for which the Department of Children and
408 Families determines that the child care provider is the primary
409 cause of the violation shall be grounds for termination of the
410 designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider until the
411 provider has no class I violations for a period of 2 years.
412 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of
413 Education determines through a formal process that a provider
414 has been in business for at least 5 years and has no other class
415 I violations recorded, the department may recommend to the state
416 board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care
417 status. The state board’s determination regarding such
418 provider’s status is final.
419 Section 9. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section
420 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
421 1003.42 Required instruction.—
422 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
423 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
424 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
425 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
426 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
427 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
428 approved methods of instruction, the following:
429 (j) The elementary principles of agriculture. This
430 component must include, but need not be limited to, the history
431 of agriculture both nationally and specifically to this state,
432 the economic and societal impact of agriculture, and the various
433 agricultural industry sectors. The department, in collaboration
434 with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the
435 University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural
436 Sciences, shall prepare and offer standards and a curriculum for
437 the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input
438 from state or nationally recognized agricultural educational
439 organizations. The department may contract with state or
440 nationally recognized agricultural educational organizations to
441 develop training for instructional personnel and grade
442 appropriate classroom resources to support the developed
443 curriculum.
444
445 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
446 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
447 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
448 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
449 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
450 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
451 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
452 Section 10. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) and subsection
453 (10) of section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, are amended to
454 read:
455 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
456 (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
457 REQUIREMENTS.—
458 (f) One credit in physical education.—Physical education
459 must include the integration of health. Participation in an
460 interscholastic sport at the junior varsity or varsity level for
461 two full seasons shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in
462 physical education. A district school board may not require that
463 the one credit in physical education be taken during the 9th
464 grade year. Completion of 2 years of marching band shall satisfy
465 the one-credit requirement in physical education and or the one
466 credit requirement in performing arts. This credit may not be
467 used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
468 requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
469 education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 1.0 credit with
470 a grade of “C” or better in a dance techniques course, a
471 significant component of which is activities designed to
472 maintain or improve health-related fitness and lifelong fitness,
473 shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education
474 or the one-credit requirement in performing arts. This credit
475 may not be used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or
476 the requirement for adaptive physical education under an IEP or
477 504 plan. Completion of one semester with a grade of “C” or
478 better in a marching band class, in a physical activity class
479 that requires participation in marching band activities as an
480 extracurricular activity, or in a dance class shall satisfy one
481 half credit in physical education or one-half credit in
482 performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
483 personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
484 physical education under an IEP or 504 plan. Completion of 2
485 years in a Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a
486 significant component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one
487 credit requirement in physical education and the one-credit
488 requirement in performing arts. This credit may not be used to
489 satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the requirement for
490 adaptive physical education under an IEP or 504 plan.
491 (10) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDIT.—The Department
492 of Education shall convene a workgroup, no later than December
493 1, 2024, to:
494 (a) Identify best practices in career and technical
495 education pathways from middle school to high school to aid
496 middle school students in career planning and facilitate their
497 transition to high school programs. The career pathway must be
498 linked to postsecondary programs.
499 (b) Establish three mathematics pathways for students
500 enrolled in secondary grades by aligning mathematics courses to
501 programs, postsecondary education, and careers. The workgroup
502 shall collaborate to identify the three mathematics pathways and
503 the mathematics course sequence within each pathway which align
504 to the mathematics skills needed for success in the
505 corresponding academic programs, postsecondary education, and
506 careers.
507 1. The mathematics pathways must incorporate the applied
508 algebra courses established under s. 1003.4936 which align the
509 Florida Standards for Algebra I with the career and technical
510 education standards and benchmarks for each designated career
511 cluster.
512 2. Each mathematics pathway must include at least one
513 course sequence beginning with an applied algebra course aligned
514 to a specific career cluster. The workgroup shall identify
515 additional mathematics courses that follow each applied algebra
516 course and build on the algebraic reasoning, modeling, and
517 quantitative skills introduced through industry-relevant
518 applications. The mathematics pathways may include a plan to
519 create new mathematics courses to complete a pathway.
520 3. Each mathematics pathway must offer flexibility and the
521 ability to move between pathways if necessary.
522 4. Mathematics pathways must create clear links between
523 precollege mathematics and college-level mathematics pathways,
524 and support student progression into postsecondary academic
525 programs, state college career and technical education programs,
526 career center programs, industry certification programs, and
527 high-skill, high-wage occupations.
528 5. The mathematics pathways that incorporate applied
529 algebra courses created under s. 1003.4936(3)(a)1. must be
530 identified no later than September 1, 2027. The mathematics
531 pathways that incorporate applied algebra courses created under
532 s. 1003.4936(3)(a)2. must be identified no later than September
533 1, 2028. The workgroup shall submit the identified mathematics
534 pathways to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
535 Speaker of the House of Representatives.
536 Section 11. Section 1003.4936, Florida Statutes, is created
537 to read:
538 1003.4936 Applied algebra for career and technical
539 education.—
540 (1) The Legislature finds that algebra is an important step
541 in a student’s mathematics pathway. Algebra is a prerequisite
542 for higher level mathematics courses, and success in algebra is
543 strongly connected with later mathematics success. Establishing
544 an applied algebra course that integrates career and technical
545 education standards equips students with mathematical skills
546 directly connected to real industry practices and increases the
547 relevance of algebra instruction. By contextualizing algebraic
548 concepts within authentic occupational problems, such applied
549 algebra courses improve student engagement, strengthen
550 understanding of core math standards, and better prepare
551 students for high-skill, high-wage careers. Such a course will
552 enable students to pass the Algebra I end-of-course assessment
553 and develop practical skills that support success in Florida’s
554 workforce and postsecondary pathways.
555 (2) The Department of Education shall develop an applied
556 algebra course for each of the established career and technical
557 education career clusters. Each applied algebra course must:
558 (a) Integrate the career and technical education program
559 standards and benchmarks for the relevant career cluster with
560 the Florida Standards for Algebra I.
561 (b) Provide students with rigorous, career-relevant
562 mathematical applications that demonstrate the use of algebraic
563 concepts in authentic industry problems, processes, or settings.
564 (c) Prepare students to take the statewide, standardized
565 Algebra I end-of-course assessment required under s. 1008.22.
566 (d) Meet all requirements for a mathematics credit required
567 for high school graduation under s. 1003.4282(3)(b) or for
568 middle grades promotion pursuant to s. 1003.4156(1)(b).
569 (3)(a) The department shall develop the courses on the
570 following timelines:
571 1. Applied algebra courses in the following career clusters
572 must be developed and available for school district adoption in
573 the 2027-2028 school year:
574 a. Agriculture, food, and natural resources.
575 b. Architecture and construction.
576 c. Business management and administration.
577 d. Energy.
578 e. Engineering and technology education.
579 f. Finance.
580 g. Health science.
581 h. Information technology.
582 i. Manufacturing.
583 j. Transportation and distribution logistics.
584 2. Applied algebra courses in the following career clusters
585 must be developed and available for district adoption in the
586 2028-2029 school year:
587 a. Arts, audio-visual technology, and communications.
588 b. Education and training.
589 c. Government and public administration.
590 d. Hospitality and tourism.
591 e. Human services.
592 f. Law, public safety, and security.
593 g. Marketing, sales, and service.
594 (b) In grades 6 through 12, school districts may offer one
595 or more applied algebra courses in lieu of Algebra I, and
596 successful completion of the course will satisfy the Algebra I
597 credit requirement for high school graduation or middle grades
598 promotion.
599 (c) The department shall collaborate with the Board of
600 Governors of the State University System to ensure that each
601 applied algebra course is accepted as a mathematics credit for
602 state university admissions.
603 (d) The department shall provide professional development,
604 instructional resources, and technical assistance to support
605 school district implementation.
606 Section 12. Subsection (5) is added to section 1003.5716,
607 Florida Statutes, to read:
608 1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career
609 opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of
610 age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate
611 public education. As used in this section, the term “IEP” means
612 individual education plan.
613 (5)
614 (a) If a related service identified in a student’s IEP is
615 not provided as scheduled, the school district must notify the
616 parent or guardian in writing or by electronic means within 10
617 school days, explain the reason the service was not provided,
618 and discuss a plan for make-up services.
619 (b) A parent or guardian has the right to access, upon
620 request, all service provider logs or progress notes within 15
621 school days after such service is provided. The school district
622 must inform parents of this right at each IEP meeting.
623 Section 13. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
624 1004.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
625 1004.85 Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.—
626 (3) Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
627 this section may offer competency-based certification programs
628 specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
629 degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
630 educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. An educator
631 preparation institute choosing to offer a competency-based
632 certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
633 must implement a program developed by the institute and approved
634 by the department for this purpose. Approved programs shall be
635 available for use by other approved educator preparation
636 institutes.
637 (b) Each program participant must:
638 1. Meet certification requirements pursuant to s.
639 1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility
640 determining the participant is eligible for a certificate in the
641 certification subject area of the educational plan. An educator
642 preparation institute may allow a program participant to enroll
643 in and complete coursework while the participant is working to
644 obtain the statement of status of eligibility indicating
645 eligibility for a certificate in the certification subject area
646 of the educational plan.
647 2. and Meet the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) before
648 participating in field experiences.
649 3.2. Demonstrate competency and participate in field
650 experiences that are appropriate to his or her educational plan
651 prepared under paragraph (a). Beginning with candidates entering
652 an educator preparation institute in the 2022-2023 school year,
653 a candidate for certification in a coverage area identified
654 pursuant to s. 1012.585(3)(f) must successfully complete all
655 competencies for a reading endorsement, including completion of
656 the endorsement practicum through the candidate’s field
657 experience, in order to graduate from the program.
658 4.3. Before completion of the program, fully demonstrate
659 his or her ability to teach the subject area for which he or she
660 is seeking certification by documenting a positive impact on
661 student learning growth in a prekindergarten through grade 12
662 setting and, except as provided in s. 1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving
663 a passing score on the professional education competency
664 examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area
665 examination for the subject area certification which is required
666 by state board rule.
667 Section 14. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph
668 (b) of subsection (4) of section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, are
669 amended to read:
670 1004.933 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education
671 (GATE) Program.—
672 (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
673 (b) “Institution” means any a school district career center
674 established under s. 1001.44, a charter technical career center
675 established under s. 1002.34, or a Florida College System
676 institution identified in s. 1000.21. Any such institution may
677 enter into an agreement with an online provider for the adult
678 education or career instruction portion of the program if such
679 provider offers instructional content and services that align
680 with the state career and adult education curriculum frameworks.
681 (4) PAYMENT WAIVER; ELIGIBILITY.—
682 (b) To be eligible for participation in the GATE Program, a
683 student must:
684 1. Not have earned a standard high school diploma pursuant
685 to s. 1003.4282 or a high school equivalency diploma pursuant to
686 s. 1003.435 before enrolling in the GATE Program;
687 2. Have been withdrawn from high school;
688 3. Be a resident of this state as defined in s. 1009.21(1);
689 4. Be at least 16 to 21 years of age at the time of initial
690 enrollment, provided that a student who is 16 or 17 years of age
691 has withdrawn from school enrollment pursuant to the
692 requirements and safeguards in s. 1003.21(1)(c);
693 5. Select the adult secondary education program and career
694 education program of his or her choice at the time of admission
695 to the GATE Program, provided that the career education program
696 is included on the Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4).
697 The student is not required to enroll in adult secondary and
698 career education program coursework simultaneously. The student
699 may not change the requested pathway after enrollment, except
700 that, if necessary for the student, the student may enroll in an
701 adult basic education program prior to enrolling in the adult
702 secondary education program;
703 6. Maintain a 2.0 GPA for career and technical education
704 coursework; and
705 7. Notwithstanding s. 1003.435(4), complete the programs
706 under subparagraph 5. within 3 years after his or her initial
707 enrollment unless the institution determines that an extension
708 is warranted due to extenuating circumstances.
709 Section 15. Section 1006.12, Florida Statutes, is amended
710 to read:
711 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the
712 protection and safety of school personnel, property, students,
713 and visitors, each district school board and school district
714 superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies or
715 security agencies to establish or assign one or more safe-school
716 officers at each school facility within the district, including
717 charter schools. A district school board must collaborate with
718 charter school governing boards to facilitate charter school
719 access to all safe-school officer options available under this
720 section. Notwithstanding any local ordinance or development
721 order, the school district or charter school may implement any
722 combination of the options in subsections (1)-(4) to best meet
723 the needs of the school district and charter schools.
724 (1) SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.—A school district may
725 establish school resource officer programs through a cooperative
726 agreement with law enforcement agencies.
727 (a) School resource officers shall undergo criminal
728 background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation
729 and be certified law enforcement officers, as defined in s.
730 943.10(1), who are employed by a law enforcement agency as
731 defined in s. 943.10(4). The powers and duties of a law
732 enforcement officer shall continue throughout the employee’s
733 tenure as a school resource officer.
734 (b) School resource officers shall abide by district school
735 board policies and shall consult with and coordinate activities
736 through the school principal, but shall be responsible to the
737 law enforcement agency in all matters relating to employment,
738 subject to agreements between a district school board and a law
739 enforcement agency. The agreements shall identify the entity
740 responsible for maintaining records relating to training.
741 Activities conducted by the school resource officer which are
742 part of the regular instructional program of the school shall be
743 under the direction of the school principal.
744 (2) SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICER.—A school district may commission
745 one or more school safety officers for the protection and safety
746 of school personnel, property, and students within the school
747 district. The district school superintendent may recommend, and
748 the district school board may appoint, one or more school safety
749 officers.
750 (a) School safety officers shall undergo criminal
751 background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation
752 and be law enforcement officers, as defined in s. 943.10(1),
753 certified under chapter 943 and employed by either a law
754 enforcement agency or by the district school board. If the
755 officer is employed by the district school board, the district
756 school board is the employing agency for purposes of chapter
757 943, and must comply with that chapter.
758 (b) A school safety officer has and shall exercise the
759 power to make arrests for violations of law on district school
760 board property or on property owned or leased by a charter
761 school under a charter contract, as applicable, and to arrest
762 persons, whether on or off such property, who violate any law on
763 such property under the same conditions that deputy sheriffs are
764 authorized to make arrests. A school safety officer has the
765 authority to carry weapons when performing his or her official
766 duties.
767 (c) School safety officers must complete mental health
768 crisis intervention training using a curriculum developed by a
769 national organization with expertise in mental health crisis
770 intervention. The training shall improve officers’ knowledge and
771 skills as first responders to incidents involving students with
772 emotional disturbance or mental illness, including de-escalation
773 skills to ensure student and officer safety.
774 (d) A district school board may enter into mutual aid
775 agreements with one or more law enforcement agencies as provided
776 in chapter 23. A school safety officer’s salary may be paid
777 jointly by the district school board and the law enforcement
778 agency, as mutually agreed to.
779 (3) SCHOOL GUARDIAN.—
780 (a) At the school district’s or the charter school
781 governing board’s discretion, as applicable, pursuant to s.
782 30.15, a school district or charter school governing board may
783 participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach
784 Scott Beigel Guardian Program to meet the requirement of
785 establishing a safe-school officer. The following individuals
786 may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned
787 activities for purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory
788 completion of the requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and
789 certification by a sheriff:
790 1. A school district employee or personnel, as defined
791 under s. 1012.01, or a charter school employee, as provided
792 under s. 1002.33(12)(a), who volunteers to serve as a school
793 guardian in addition to his or her official job duties; or
794 2. An employee of a school district or a charter school who
795 is hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school
796 guardian.
797 (b) Before appointing an individual as a school guardian,
798 the school district or charter school shall contact the
799 Department of Law Enforcement and review all information
800 maintained under s. 30.15(1)(k)3.c. related to the individual.
801 (c) The department shall provide to the Department of Law
802 Enforcement any information relating to a school guardian
803 received pursuant to subsection (5).
804 (4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter
805 school governing board may contract with a security agency as
806 defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard
807 an individual who holds a Class “D” and Class “G” license
808 pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and
809 contractual conditions are met:
810 (a) An individual who serves as a school security guard,
811 for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section,
812 must:
813 1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required training
814 conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.
815 2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a
816 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the
817 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the
818 evaluation to the sheriff’s office and school district, charter
819 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
820 applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to
821 provide the sheriff’s office, school district, charter school
822 governing board, or employing security agency with mental health
823 and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph.
824 3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent
825 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.
826 112.0455 and the sheriff’s office, school district, charter
827 school governing board, or employing security agency, as
828 applicable.
829 4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the
830 sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will
831 be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in
832 that county. The sheriff’s approval authorizes the security
833 agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the
834 county, and the sheriff’s approval is not limited to any
835 particular school.
836 5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon
837 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff
838 pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and
839 provide documentation to the sheriff’s office, school district,
840 charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as
841 applicable.
842 (b) The contract between a security agency and a school
843 district or a charter school governing board regarding
844 requirements applicable to school security guards serving in the
845 capacity of a safe-school officer for purposes of satisfying the
846 requirements of this section shall define the entity or entities
847 responsible for maintaining records relating to training,
848 inspection, and firearm qualification.
849 (c) School security guards serving in the capacity of a
850 safe-school officer pursuant to this subsection are in support
851 of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s. 790.115, and
852 must aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant
853 incidents on school premises.
854 (d) The Office of Safe Schools shall provide the Department
855 of Law Enforcement any information related to a school security
856 guard that the office receives pursuant to subsection (5).
857 (5) NOTIFICATION.—The district school superintendent or
858 charter school administrator, or a respective designee shall
859 notify the county sheriff and the Office of Safe Schools
860 immediately after, but no later than 72 hours after:
861 (a) A safe-school officer is dismissed for misconduct or is
862 otherwise disciplined.
863 (b) A safe-school officer discharges his or her firearm in
864 the exercise of the safe-school officer’s duties, other than for
865 training purposes.
866 (6) CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING.—Each safe-school officer
867 who is also a sworn law enforcement officer shall complete
868 mental health crisis intervention training using a curriculum
869 developed by a national organization with expertise in mental
870 health crisis intervention. The training must improve the
871 officer’s knowledge and skills as a first responder to incidents
872 involving students with emotional disturbance or mental illness,
873 including de-escalation skills to ensure student and officer
874 safety.
875 (7) LIMITATIONS.—An individual must satisfy the background
876 screening, psychological evaluation, and drug test requirements
877 and be approved by the sheriff before participating in any
878 training required by s. 30.15(1)(k), which may be conducted only
879 by a sheriff.
880 (8) EXEMPTION.—Any information that would identify whether
881 a particular individual has been appointed as a safe-school
882 officer pursuant to this section held by a law enforcement
883 agency, school district, or charter school is exempt from s.
884 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
885
886 If a district school board, through its adopted policies,
887 procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any
888 safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school
889 district must assign a school resource officer or school safety
890 officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the
891 charter school’s share of the costs of the school resource
892 officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school
893 allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s.
894 1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district.
895 Section 16. Present subsection (8) of section 1007.2616,
896 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (9), and a new
897 subsection (8) is added to that section, to read:
898 1007.2616 Computer science and technology instruction.—
899 (8)(a) To align educator credentials with instructional
900 practice across grade levels, the State Board of Education shall
901 establish by rule or maintain the following computer science
902 subject area coverages:
903 1. Computer science (grades K–5);
904 2. Computer science (grades 6–12); and
905 3. Computer science (K–12).
906 (b) For the coverages in paragraph (a), the State Board of
907 Education shall adopt competencies and skills and designate
908 corresponding examinations by rule. The comprehensive computer
909 science (K–12) coverage and its examination shall remain
910 available unless amended by rule of the state board.
911 (c)1. The Department of Education shall present recommended
912 competencies and skills for the grades K–5 and grades 6–12
913 coverages to the State Board of Education for approval by
914 September 1, 2026.
915 2. Following approval under subparagraph 1., the department
916 shall coordinate development, piloting, and standard-setting for
917 the examinations. The examinations for both grade-band coverages
918 must be available for administration no later than January 1,
919 2028.
920 Section 17. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4), paragraphs (b)
921 and (d) of subsection (5), and paragraph (a) of subsection (9)
922 of section 1008.25, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph
923 (d) is added to subsection (4) of that section, to read:
924 1008.25 Public school student progression; student support;
925 coordinated screening and progress monitoring; reporting
926 requirements.—
927 (4) ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT.—
928 (c) A student who has a substantial reading deficiency as
929 determined in paragraph (5)(a) or a substantial mathematics
930 deficiency as determined in paragraph (6)(a) must be covered by
931 a federally required student plan, such as an individual
932 education plan or an individualized progress monitoring plan, or
933 both, as necessary. The individualized progress monitoring plan
934 must be developed within 45 days after the results of the
935 coordinated screening and progress monitoring system become
936 available. The plan must, at a minimum, include:
937 1. The student’s specific, identified reading or
938 mathematics skill deficiency.
939 2. Goals and benchmarks for student growth in reading or
940 mathematics.
941 3. A description of the specific measures that will be used
942 to evaluate and monitor the student’s reading or mathematics
943 progress.
944 4. For a substantial reading deficiency, the specific
945 evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the science of
946 reading which the student will receive.
947 5. Strategies, resources, and materials that will be
948 provided to the student’s parent to support the student to make
949 reading or mathematics progress. For a student with a
950 substantial reading deficiency, resources must include
951 information about the student’s eligibility for the New Worlds
952 Reading Initiative under s. 1003.485.
953 6. Any additional services the student’s teacher deems
954 available and appropriate to accelerate the student’s reading or
955 mathematics skill development.
956 (d) If the coordinated screening and progress monitoring
957 system under subsection (9), or any district-approved screening
958 instrument, identifies a student as exhibiting characteristics
959 of dyslexia or dyscalculia, the school district shall:
960 1. Ensure that the student is covered by a plan under
961 paragraph (b) which includes evidence-based interventions that
962 are specific to the identified characteristics of dyslexia or
963 dyscalculia and that are aligned, as appropriate, with the
964 interventions required under subsections (5) and (6).
965 2. Treat the screening result as reasonable suspicion that
966 the student may be a student with a disability for purposes of
967 s. 1003.57 and promptly seek parental consent to conduct an
968 initial evaluation consistent with State Board of Education rule
969 and applicable federal law.
970 3. Ensure that screening activities and intervention
971 procedures, including interventions required under this
972 subsection and subsections (5) and (6), occur concurrently with
973 the evaluation process and are not used to delay or deny an
974 appropriate evaluation.
975 (5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.—
976 (b) A Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program student
977 who exhibits a substantial deficiency in early literacy skills
978 based upon the results of the administration of the midyear or
979 final coordinated screening and progress monitoring under
980 subsection (9) shall be referred to the local school district
981 and may be eligible to receive instruction in early literacy
982 skills before participating in kindergarten. A Voluntary
983 Prekindergarten Education Program student who scores below the
984 25th 10th percentile on the final administration of the
985 coordinated screening and progress monitoring under subsection
986 (9) shall be referred to the local school district and is
987 eligible to receive early literacy skill instructional support
988 through a summer bridge program the summer before participating
989 in kindergarten. The summer bridge program must meet
990 requirements adopted by the department and shall consist of 4
991 hours of instruction per day for a minimum of 100 total hours. A
992 student with an individual education plan who has been retained
993 pursuant to paragraph (2)(g) and has demonstrated a substantial
994 deficiency in early literacy skills must receive instruction in
995 early literacy skills.
996 (d) The parent of any student who exhibits a substantial
997 deficiency in reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be
998 immediately notified in writing of the following:
999 1. That his or her child has been identified as having a
1000 substantial deficiency in reading, including a description and
1001 explanation, in terms understandable to the parent, of the exact
1002 nature of the student’s difficulty in learning and lack of
1003 achievement in reading.
1004 2. A description of the current services that are provided
1005 to the child.
1006 3. A description of the proposed intensive interventions
1007 and supports that will be provided to the child that are
1008 designed to remediate the identified area of reading deficiency.
1009 4. The student progression requirements under paragraph
1010 (2)(h) and that if the child’s reading deficiency is not
1011 remediated by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained
1012 unless he or she is exempt from mandatory retention for good
1013 cause.
1014 5. Strategies, including multisensory strategies and
1015 programming, through a read-at-home plan the parent can use in
1016 helping his or her child succeed in reading. The read-at-home
1017 plan must provide access to the resources identified in
1018 paragraph (e).
1019 6. That the statewide, standardized English Language Arts
1020 assessment is not the sole determiner of promotion and that
1021 additional evaluations, portfolio reviews, and assessments are
1022 available to the child to assist parents and the school district
1023 in knowing when a child is reading at or above grade level and
1024 ready for grade promotion.
1025 7. The district’s specific criteria and policies for a
1026 portfolio as provided in subparagraph (7)(b)4. and the evidence
1027 required for a student to demonstrate mastery of Florida’s
1028 academic standards for English Language Arts. A school must
1029 immediately begin collecting evidence for a portfolio when a
1030 student in grade 3 is identified as being at risk of retention
1031 or upon the request of the parent, whichever occurs first.
1032 8. The district’s specific criteria and policies for
1033 midyear promotion. Midyear promotion means promotion of a
1034 retained student at any time during the year of retention once
1035 the student has demonstrated ability to read at grade level.
1036 9. Information about the student’s eligibility for the New
1037 Worlds Reading Initiative under s. 1003.485 and the New Worlds
1038 Scholarship Accounts under s. 1002.411 and information on parent
1039 training modules and other reading engagement resources
1040 available through the initiative.
1041
1042 After initial notification, the school shall apprise the parent
1043 at least monthly of the student’s progress in response to the
1044 intensive interventions and supports and the student’s
1045 eligibility for the New Worlds Reading Initiative under s.
1046 1003.485. Such communications must be in writing and must
1047 explain any additional interventions or supports that will be
1048 implemented to accelerate the student’s progress if the
1049 interventions and supports already being implemented have not
1050 resulted in improvement. Upon the request of the parent, the
1051 teacher or school administrator shall meet to discuss the
1052 student’s progress. The parent may request more frequent
1053 notification of the student’s progress, more frequent
1054 interventions or supports, and earlier implementation of the
1055 additional interventions or supports described in the initial
1056 notification.
1057 (9) COORDINATED SCREENING AND PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM.—
1058 (a) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the
1059 Office of Early Learning, shall procure and require the use of a
1060 statewide, standardized coordinated screening and progress
1061 monitoring system for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
1062 Program and public schools. The system must:
1063 1. Measure student progress in meeting the appropriate
1064 expectations in early literacy and mathematics skills and in
1065 English Language Arts and mathematics standards as required by
1066 ss. 1002.67(1)(a) and 1003.41 and identify the educational
1067 strengths and needs of students.
1068 2. For students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
1069 Program through grade 3, measure student performance in oral
1070 language development, phonological and phonemic awareness,
1071 knowledge of print and letters, decoding, fluency, vocabulary,
1072 and comprehension, as applicable by grade level, and, at a
1073 minimum, provide interval level and norm-referenced data that
1074 measures equivalent levels of growth.
1075 3. Be a valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate
1076 computer-based direct instrument that provides screening and
1077 diagnostic capabilities for monitoring student progress;
1078 identifies students who have a substantial deficiency in reading
1079 or mathematics, including identifying students with
1080 characteristics of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning
1081 disorders; and informs instruction. Any student identified by
1082 the system as having characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia
1083 shall undergo further screening. Any student whose performance
1084 in the system meets thresholds established by State Board of
1085 Education rule in circumstances in which the system is not
1086 capable of identifying characteristics of dyslexia or
1087 dyscalculia must undergo further screening. The further
1088 screening required under this subparagraph is used to refine
1089 instructional planning and parental communication and is not a
1090 prerequisite for the interventions or evaluation obligations
1091 described in subsection (4). The State Board of Education shall
1092 adopt rules establishing timelines, performance thresholds, and
1093 parental notification requirements for further screening under
1094 this subparagraph. Screening activities under this subsection
1095 shall occur concurrently with the interventions and evaluation
1096 obligations described in subsection (4) and may not be used to
1097 delay or deny an appropriate evaluation. Beginning with the
1098 2023-2024 school year, the coordinated screening and progress
1099 monitoring system must be computer-adaptive.
1100 4. Provide data for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
1101 Program accountability as required under s. 1002.68.
1102 5. Provide Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
1103 providers, school districts, schools, teachers, and parents with
1104 data and resources that enhance differentiated instruction and
1105 parent communication.
1106 6. Provide baseline data to the department of each
1107 student’s readiness for kindergarten. The determination of
1108 kindergarten readiness must be based on the results of each
1109 student’s initial progress monitoring assessment in
1110 kindergarten. The methodology for determining a student’s
1111 readiness for kindergarten must be developed by the department
1112 and aligned to the methodology adopted pursuant to s. 1002.68(3)
1113 s. 1002.68(4).
1114 7. Assess how well educational goals and curricular
1115 standards are met at the provider, school, district, and state
1116 levels and provide information to the department to aid in the
1117 development of educational programs, policies, and supports for
1118 providers, districts, and schools.
1119 Section 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
1120 1008.2125, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1121 1008.2125 The Council for Early Grade Success.—
1122 (1) The Council for Early Grade Success, a council as
1123 defined in s. 20.03(7), is created within the Department of
1124 Education to oversee the coordinated screening and progress
1125 monitoring program under s. 1008.25(9) for students in the
1126 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program through grade 3 and,
1127 except as otherwise provided in this section, shall operate
1128 consistent with s. 20.052.
1129 (a) The council shall be responsible for reviewing the
1130 implementation of, training for, and outcomes from the
1131 coordinated screening and progress monitoring program to provide
1132 recommendations to the department that support grade 3 students
1133 reading at or above grade level. The council, at a minimum,
1134 shall:
1135 1. Provide recommendations on the implementation of the
1136 coordinated screening and progress monitoring program, including
1137 reviewing any procurement solicitation documents and criteria
1138 before being published.
1139 2. Develop training plans and timelines for such training.
1140 3. Identify appropriate personnel, processes, and
1141 procedures required for the administration of the coordinated
1142 screening and progress monitoring program.
1143 4. Provide input on the methodology for calculating a
1144 provider’s or school’s performance metric and designations under
1145 s. 1002.68(3) s. 1002.68(4).
1146 5. Work with the department to review the methodology for
1147 determining a child’s kindergarten readiness.
1148 6. Review data on age-appropriate learning gains by grade
1149 level that a student would need to attain in order to
1150 demonstrate proficiency in reading by grade 3.
1151 7. Continually review anonymized data from the results of
1152 the coordinated screening and progress monitoring program for
1153 students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
1154 through grade 3 to help inform recommendations to the department
1155 that support practices that will enable grade 3 students to read
1156 at or above grade level.
1157 Section 19. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and subsection
1158 (5) of section 1008.33, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1159 1008.33 Authority to enforce public school improvement.—
1160 (3)
1161 (c) The state board shall adopt by rule a differentiated
1162 matrix of intervention and support strategies for assisting
1163 traditional public schools identified under this section and
1164 rules for implementing s. 1002.33(9)(n), relating to charter
1165 schools. The intervention and support strategies must address
1166 student performance and may include improvement planning;
1167 leadership quality improvement; educator quality improvement;
1168 professional learning; curriculum review, pacing, and alignment
1169 across grade levels to improve background knowledge in social
1170 studies, science, and the arts; and the use of continuous
1171 improvement and monitoring plans and processes. In addition, the
1172 state board may prescribe reporting requirements to review and
1173 monitor the progress of the schools. The rule must define the
1174 intervention and support strategies for school improvement for
1175 schools earning a grade of “D” or “F” and the roles for the
1176 district and department. A school may not be required to use the
1177 measure of student learning growth in s. 1012.34(7) as the sole
1178 determinant to recruit instructional personnel. The rule must
1179 create a timeline for a school district’s school improvement
1180 plan or district-managed turnaround plan to be approved and for
1181 the school improvement funds under Title I to be released to the
1182 school district. The timeline established by rule for the
1183 release of school improvement funding under Title I may not
1184 exceed 20 calendar days after the approval of the school
1185 improvement plan or district-managed turnaround plan.
1186 (5) The state board shall adopt rules pursuant to ss.
1187 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this section. The rules
1188 shall include timelines for submission of implementation plans,
1189 approval criteria for implementation plans, timelines for
1190 releasing Title I funding, timelines for implementing
1191 intervention and support strategies, a standard charter school
1192 turnaround contract, a standard facility lease, and a mutual
1193 management agreement. The state board shall consult with
1194 education stakeholders in developing the rules.
1195 Section 20. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (2) of
1196 section 1010.20, Florida Statutes, to read:
1197 1010.20 Cost accounting and reporting for school
1198 districts.—
1199 (2) COST REPORTING.—
1200 (e) Each charter school shall receive and respond to
1201 monitoring questions from the department.
1202 Section 21. Subsection (1) of section 1011.14, Florida
1203 Statutes, is amended to read:
1204 1011.14 Obligations for a period of 1 year.—District school
1205 boards are authorized only under the following conditions to
1206 create obligations by way of anticipation of budgeted revenues
1207 accruing on a current basis without pledging the credit of the
1208 district or requiring future levy of taxes for certain purposes
1209 for a period of 1 year; however, such obligations may be
1210 extended from year to year with the consent of the lender for a
1211 period not to exceed 4 years, or for a total of 5 years
1212 including the initial year of the loan:
1213 (1) PURPOSES.—The purposes for which such obligations may
1214 be incurred within the intent of this section shall include only
1215 the purchase of school buses, land, and equipment for
1216 educational purposes; the erection of, alteration to, or
1217 addition to educational plants, ancillary plants, and auxiliary
1218 facilities; and the adjustment of insurance on educational
1219 property on a 5-year plan, as provided by rules of the State
1220 Board of Education.
1221 Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
1222 1011.69, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1223 1011.69 Equity in School-Level Funding Act.—
1224 (4) After providing Title I, Part A, Basic funds to schools
1225 above the 75 percent poverty threshold, which may include high
1226 schools above the 50 percent threshold as permitted by federal
1227 law, school districts shall provide any remaining Title I, Part
1228 A, Basic funds directly to all eligible schools as provided in
1229 this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, an eligible
1230 school is a school that is eligible to receive Title I funds,
1231 including a charter school. The threshold for identifying
1232 eligible schools may not exceed the threshold established by a
1233 school district for the 2016-2017 school year or the statewide
1234 percentage of economically disadvantaged students, as determined
1235 annually.
1236 (a) Prior to the allocation of Title I funds to eligible
1237 schools, a school district may withhold funds only as follows:
1238 1. One percent for parent involvement, in addition to the
1239 one percent the district must reserve under federal law for
1240 allocations to eligible schools for parent involvement;
1241 2. A necessary and reasonable amount for administration
1242 which includes the district’s indirect cost rate, not to exceed
1243 a total of 10 percent;
1244 3. A reasonable and necessary amount to provide:
1245 a. Homeless programs;
1246 b. Delinquent and neglected programs;
1247 c. Prekindergarten programs and activities;
1248 d. Private school equitable services; and
1249 e. Transportation for foster care children to their school
1250 of origin or choice programs; and
1251 4. A necessary and reasonable amount, not to exceed 1
1252 percent, for eligible schools to provide educational services in
1253 accordance with the approved Title I plan. Such educational
1254 services may include the provision of STEM curricula,
1255 instructional materials, and related learning technologies that
1256 support academic achievement in science, technology,
1257 engineering, and mathematics in Title I schools, including, but
1258 not limited to, technologies related to drones, coding,
1259 animation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science,
1260 the engineering design process, mobile development, and
1261 robotics. Funds may be reserved under this subparagraph only to
1262 the extent that all required reservations under federal law have
1263 been met and that such reservation does not reduce school-level
1264 allocations below the levels required under federal law.
1265 Section 23. Subsections (2) through (6) of section 1011.71,
1266 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1267 1011.71 District school tax.—
1268 (2) In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in
1269 subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 1.5
1270 mills against the taxable value for school purposes for charter
1271 schools pursuant to s. 1013.62(1) and (3) and for district
1272 schools for operational or capital purposes to fund:
1273 (a) New construction, remodeling projects, sites and site
1274 improvement or expansion to new sites, existing sites, auxiliary
1275 facilities, athletic facilities, or ancillary facilities.
1276 (b) Maintenance, renovation, and repair of existing school
1277 plants or of leased facilities to correct deficiencies pursuant
1278 to s. 1013.15(2).
1279 (c) The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of school buses.
1280 (d) The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of new and
1281 replacement equipment; computer and device hardware and
1282 operating system software necessary for gaining access to or
1283 enhancing the use of electronic and digital instructional
1284 content and resources; and enterprise resource software
1285 applications that are classified as capital assets in accordance
1286 with definitions of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board,
1287 have a useful life of at least 5 years, and are used to support
1288 districtwide administration or state-mandated reporting
1289 requirements. Enterprise resource software may be acquired by
1290 annual license fees, maintenance fees, or lease agreements.
1291 (e) Payments for educational facilities and sites due under
1292 a lease-purchase agreement entered into by a district school
1293 board pursuant to s. 1003.02(1)(f) or s. 1013.15(2), not
1294 exceeding, in the aggregate, an amount equal to three-fourths of
1295 the proceeds from the millage levied by a district school board
1296 pursuant to this subsection. The three-fourths limit is waived
1297 for lease-purchase agreements entered into before June 30, 2009,
1298 by a district school board pursuant to this paragraph. If
1299 payments under lease-purchase agreements in the aggregate,
1300 including lease-purchase agreements entered into before June 30,
1301 2009, exceed three-fourths of the proceeds from the millage
1302 levied pursuant to this subsection, the district school board
1303 may not withhold the administrative fees authorized by s.
1304 1002.33(20) from any charter school operating in the school
1305 district.
1306 (f) Payment of loans approved pursuant to ss. 1011.14 and
1307 1011.15.
1308 (g) Payment of costs directly related to complying with
1309 state and federal environmental statutes, rules, and regulations
1310 governing school facilities.
1311 (h) Payment of costs of leasing relocatable educational
1312 facilities, of renting or leasing educational facilities and
1313 sites pursuant to s. 1013.15(2), or of renting or leasing
1314 buildings or space within existing buildings pursuant to s.
1315 1013.15(4).
1316 (i) Payment of the cost of school buses when a school
1317 district contracts with a private entity to provide student
1318 transportation services if the district meets the requirements
1319 of this paragraph.
1320 1. The district’s contract must require that the private
1321 entity purchase, lease-purchase, or lease, and operate and
1322 maintain, one or more school buses of a specific type and size
1323 that meet the requirements of s. 1006.25.
1324 2. Each such school bus must be used for the daily
1325 transportation of public school students in the manner required
1326 by the school district.
1327 3. Annual payment for each such school bus may not exceed
1328 10 percent of the purchase price of the state pool bid.
1329 4. The proposed expenditure of the funds for this purpose
1330 must have been included in the district school board’s notice of
1331 proposed tax for school capital outlay as provided in s.
1332 200.065(10).
1333 (j) Payment of the cost of the opening day collection for
1334 the library media center of a new school.
1335 (k) Payment of salaries and benefits for employees whose
1336 job duties support activities funded by this subsection.
1337 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), if the revenue from 1.5
1338 mills is insufficient to meet the payments due under a lease
1339 purchase agreement entered into before June 30, 2009, by a
1340 district school board pursuant to paragraph (2)(e), or to meet
1341 other critical district fixed capital outlay needs, the board,
1342 in addition to the 1.5 mills, may levy up to 0.25 mills for
1343 fixed capital outlay in lieu of levying an equivalent amount of
1344 the discretionary mills for operations as provided in the
1345 General Appropriations Act. Millage levied pursuant to this
1346 subsection is subject to the provisions of s. 200.065 and,
1347 combined with the 1.5 mills authorized in subsection (2), may
1348 not exceed 1.75 mills. If the district chooses to use up to 0.25
1349 mills for fixed capital outlay, the compression adjustment
1350 pursuant to s. 1011.62(5) shall be calculated for the standard
1351 discretionary millage that is not eligible for transfer to
1352 capital outlay.
1353 (4) If the revenue from the millage authorized in
1354 subsection (2) is insufficient to make payments due under a
1355 lease-purchase agreement entered into prior to June 30, 2008, by
1356 a district school board pursuant to paragraph (2)(e), an amount
1357 up to 0.5 mills of the taxable value for school purposes within
1358 the school district shall be legally available for such
1359 payments, notwithstanding other restrictions on the use of such
1360 revenues imposed by law.
1361 (5) A school district may expend, subject to s. 200.065, up
1362 to $200 per unweighted full-time equivalent student from the
1363 revenue generated by the millage levy authorized by subsection
1364 (2) to fund, in addition to expenditures authorized in
1365 paragraphs (2)(a)-(j), expenses for the following:
1366 (a) The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of driver’s
1367 education vehicles; motor vehicles used for the maintenance or
1368 operation of plants and equipment; security vehicles; or
1369 vehicles used in storing or distributing materials and
1370 equipment.
1371 (b) Payment of the cost of premiums, as defined in s.
1372 627.403, for property and casualty insurance necessary to insure
1373 school district educational and ancillary plants. As used in
1374 this paragraph, casualty insurance has the same meaning as in s.
1375 624.605(1)(b), (d), (f), (g), (h), and (m). Operating revenues
1376 that are made available through the payment of property and
1377 casualty insurance premiums from revenues generated under this
1378 subsection may be expended only for nonrecurring operational
1379 expenditures of the school district.
1380 (6) Violations of the expenditure provisions in subsection
1381 (2) or subsection (5) shall result in an equal dollar reduction
1382 in the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) funds for the
1383 violating district in the fiscal year following the audit
1384 citation.
1385 Section 24. Subsection (2) of section 1011.73, Florida
1386 Statutes, is amended to read:
1387 1011.73 District millage elections.—
1388 (2) MILLAGE AUTHORIZED NOT TO EXCEED 4 YEARS.—The district
1389 school board, pursuant to resolution adopted at a regular
1390 meeting, shall direct the county commissioners to call an
1391 election at which the electors within the school district may
1392 approve an ad valorem tax millage as authorized under s.
1393 1011.71(7) s. 1011.71(9). Such election may be held at any time,
1394 except that not more than one such election shall be held during
1395 any 12-month period. Any millage so authorized shall be levied
1396 for a period not in excess of 4 years or until changed by
1397 another millage election, whichever is earlier. If any such
1398 election is invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction,
1399 such invalidated election shall be considered not to have been
1400 held.
1401 Section 25. Section 1011.804, Florida Statutes, is amended
1402 to read:
1403 1011.804 GATE Startup Grant Program.—
1404 (1) The GATE Startup Grant Program is established within
1405 the Department of Education to fund and support the startup and
1406 implementation of the GATE Program, subject to legislative
1407 appropriation. The purpose of the grant program is to increase
1408 access to programs that support adult learners earning a high
1409 school credential, either a high school diploma or its
1410 equivalent, and a workforce credential aligned to statewide or
1411 regional demand. The department shall administer the grants,
1412 determine eligibility, and distribute grant awards.
1413 (2) As used in this section, the term “institution” means a
1414 school district career center established under s. 1001.44, a
1415 charter technical career center established under s. 1002.34, or
1416 a Florida College System institution identified in s. 1000.21
1417 which offers the GATE Program pursuant to s. 1004.933.
1418 (3) The department may solicit proposals from institutions
1419 without programs that meet the requirements of s. 1004.933. Such
1420 institutions must be located in or serve a rural area of
1421 opportunity , as defined in s. 288.0656(2)(d) as designated by
1422 the Governor. For purposes of this subsection, an institution
1423 serves a rural area of opportunity if the institution’s service
1424 area includes one or more counties or municipalities included
1425 within a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1426 288.0656(2)(d). An institution’s principal place of business,
1427 main campus, or administrative offices are not required to be
1428 located within a rural area of opportunity in order to satisfy
1429 the service requirement.
1430 (a) The department may award a grant to an institution
1431 that, at the time of application, does not offer programs that
1432 meet the requirements of s. 1004.933 to support startup and
1433 implementation activities.
1434 (b) The department may award a grant to an institution
1435 that, at the time of application, offers programs that meet the
1436 requirements of s. 1004.933 only for costs authorized in
1437 subsection (6), excluding new construction, structural
1438 expansion, and major renovation.
1439 (4) The department shall prioritize grant proposals that
1440 combine adult basic education, adult secondary education, and
1441 career education programs at one location or allow students to
1442 complete programs through distance learning. An applicant may
1443 not receive more than 10 percent of the total amount
1444 appropriated for the program.
1445 (5) The department shall make the grant application
1446 available to potential applicants no later than August 15 of
1447 each year in which funds are appropriated for the program, 2024.
1448 A grant proposal must include:
1449 (a) The institution or institutions that will provide the
1450 adult basic education, adult secondary education, and career
1451 education programs;
1452 (b) The proposed adult basic education and adult secondary
1453 education program or programs the institution or institutions
1454 will provide, and the projected enrollment for such program or
1455 programs;
1456 (c) The proposed career education program or programs the
1457 institution or institutions will provide and the projected
1458 enrollment for such program or programs;
1459 (d) The credential or credentials associated with the
1460 career education program or programs. Such credential or
1461 credentials must be included on the Master Credentials List
1462 under s. 445.004(4);
1463 (e) The cost of instruction for all programs contemplated
1464 in the proposal, including costs for tuition, fees,
1465 registration, and laboratory, examination, and instructional
1466 materials costs;
1467 (f) Outreach strategies, including collaboration with local
1468 workforce development boards; and
1469 (g) A plan or timeline for implementing s. 1004.933 and
1470 enrolling students; and
1471 (h) Documentation identifying the counties or
1472 municipalities within the institution’s service area which are
1473 included in a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.
1474 288.0656(2)(d).
1475 (6) Grant funds may be used for planning activities and
1476 other expenses associated with the creation and implementation
1477 of the GATE Program, such as expenses related to program
1478 instruction, instructional equipment, supplies, instructional
1479 personnel, and student services, minor facility modifications
1480 necessary to install or operate instructional equipment used for
1481 the GATE Program, and marketing and outreach activities to
1482 recruit and enroll eligible students. Marketing and outreach
1483 activities and minor facility modifications authorized under
1484 this subsection are allowable direct costs of program
1485 implementation. Grant funds may not be used for indirect costs.
1486 Grant recipients must submit an annual report in a format
1487 prescribed by the department. The department shall consolidate
1488 such annual reports and include the reports in the report
1489 required by s. 1004.933(6).
1490 (7) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
1491 administer this section.
1492 Section 26. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1493 1012.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1494 1012.22 Public school personnel; powers and duties of the
1495 district school board.—The district school board shall:
1496 (3)(a) Collective bargaining.—Notwithstanding provisions of
1497 chapter 447 related to district school board collective
1498 bargaining, collective bargaining may not preclude a district
1499 school board from carrying out its constitutional and statutory
1500 duties related to the following:
1501 1. Providing incentives to effective and highly effective
1502 teachers.
1503 2. Implementing intervention and support strategies under
1504 s. 1008.33 to address the causes of low student performance and
1505 improve student academic performance and attendance.
1506 3. Implementing student discipline provisions required by
1507 law, including a review of a student’s abilities, past
1508 performance, behavior, and needs.
1509 4. Implementing school safety plans and requirements.
1510 5. Implementing staff and student recognition programs.
1511 6. Distributing correspondence to parents, teachers, and
1512 community members related to the daily operation of schools and
1513 the district.
1514 7. Providing any required notice or copies of information
1515 related to the district school board or district operations
1516 which is readily available on the school district’s website.
1517 8. The school district’s calendar.
1518 9. Providing salary supplements pursuant to sub
1519 subparagraph (1)(c)5.c.(III).
1520 10. Implementing the salary increases and salary
1521 distribution plan required under s. 1011.62(14).
1522 Section 27. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
1523 1012.555, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1524 1012.555 Teacher Apprenticeship Program.—
1525 (2)
1526 (d) An apprentice teacher must be appointed by the district
1527 school board or work in the district as an education
1528 paraprofessional and must be paid in accordance with s. 446.032
1529 and rules adopted by the State Board of Education.
1530 Section 28. (1) The Department of Education shall
1531 collaborate with the Lastinger Center for Learning at the
1532 University of Florida to recommend to the Legislature
1533 individualized, adaptive artificial intelligence tools to
1534 support mathematics instruction in kindergarten through grade
1535 12. The recommendations must:
1536 (a) Ensure that recommended tools align to the Florida
1537 academic standards and prepare students for state assessments.
1538 (b) Consider alternate mathematics sequencing and grade
1539 level progression, and alternate funding models to support
1540 individualized progression through content.
1541 (c) Evaluate the extent to which the tools provide real
1542 time diagnostic assessments, individualized learning pathways,
1543 adaptive sequencing of content, and immediate, personalized
1544 feedback to students.
1545 (d) Evaluate the applicability of the tools to progress
1546 monitoring tools, district learning management systems,
1547 suggested interventions, small-group instructional supports, and
1548 professional development that enables teachers to integrate the
1549 tools into classroom instruction.
1550 (e) Provide for student data privacy and transparency in
1551 data collection and retention.
1552 (f) Consider statewide and district-level costs.
1553 (2) The department shall submit its recommendations to the
1554 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1555 House of Representatives by December 1, 2026.
1556 Section 29. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
1557
1558 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
1559 And the title is amended as follows:
1560 Delete everything before the enacting clause
1561 and insert:
1562 A bill to be entitled
1563 An act relating to education; amending s. 120.81,
1564 F.S.; providing that district school boards are not
1565 subject to the requirements for rules in chapter 120
1566 when making and adopting rules with public input at a
1567 public meeting; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; removing
1568 certain schools from specified contract restrictions;
1569 revising the conditions considered an educational
1570 emergency; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; authorizing a
1571 student to carry a United States Food and Drug
1572 Administration (FDA)-approved epinephrine delivery
1573 device, rather than an epinephrine auto-injector;
1574 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules
1575 for the use of an FDA-approved epinephrine delivery
1576 device, rather than an epinephrine auto-injector;
1577 making conforming changes; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.;
1578 providing additional criteria for award of a 15-year
1579 charter; providing that students may not be dismissed
1580 from certain charter schools based on academic
1581 performance; amending s. 1002.42, F.S.; authorizing a
1582 private school to purchase a supply of FDA-approved
1583 epinephrine delivery devices, rather than epinephrine
1584 auto-injectors; making conforming changes; amending s.
1585 1002.68, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to the
1586 calculation of a kindergarten readiness rate; revising
1587 the period of time for which a public or private
1588 prekindergarten provider is prohibited from
1589 participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
1590 Education Program for a failing program assessment
1591 composite score; amending s. 1002.71, F.S.; revising
1592 requirements for attendance reporting by private
1593 prekindergarten providers; requiring that
1594 administrative policies and procedures be revised into
1595 certain forms; requiring school districts to certify
1596 attendance data in a specified manner; amending s.
1597 1002.945, F.S.; requiring the Department of Children
1598 and Families to make a specified determination for
1599 child care providers; deleting an exception; amending
1600 s. 1003.42, F.S.; revising required instruction on the
1601 principles of agriculture; requiring the Department of
1602 Education to collaborate with specified entities to
1603 develop associated standards and a curriculum;
1604 authorizing the department to contract with certain
1605 agricultural education organizations for specified
1606 purposes; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; providing that
1607 completion of 2 years of marching band shall satisfy
1608 two specified credit requirements; authorizing
1609 completion of a specified dance techniques class to
1610 satisfy specified high school diploma credit
1611 requirements; providing requirements for mathematics
1612 pathways established by a certain workgroup; requiring
1613 that certain courses for the mathematics pathways be
1614 identified by specified dates; requiring the workgroup
1615 to submit identified mathematics pathways to the
1616 Governor and the Legislature; creating s. 1003.4936,
1617 F.S.; providing legislative findings; requiring the
1618 Department of Education to develop applied algebra
1619 courses; providing requirements for the applied
1620 algebra courses; requiring the department to develop
1621 the courses on specified timelines; authorizing school
1622 districts to satisfy certain graduation requirements
1623 with an applied algebra course; requiring the
1624 department to collaborate with the Board of Governors
1625 of the State University System to ensure the courses
1626 are accepted as mathematics credits for state
1627 university admissions; requiring the department to
1628 provide certain implementation support; amending s.
1629 1003.5716, F.S.; requiring a school district to take
1630 specified actions if a related service identified in a
1631 student’s individual education plan (IEP) is not
1632 provided; providing that a parent or guardian has the
1633 right to request provider logs or notes within a
1634 specified timeframe; requiring the school district to
1635 inform parents of such right; amending s. 1004.85,
1636 F.S.; authorizing an educator preparation institute to
1637 allow certain program participants to enroll in
1638 introductory coursework; amending s. 1004.933, F.S.;
1639 revising the definition of the term “institution”;
1640 deleting the age limit for enrollment in the
1641 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education
1642 Program; clarifying that students are not required to
1643 enroll in adult secondary and career education program
1644 coursework simultaneously; amending s. 1006.12, F.S.;
1645 revising requirements relating to safe-school officers
1646 at public schools, including charter schools; amending
1647 s. 1007.2616, F.S.; requiring the State Board of
1648 Education to establish by rule or maintain specified
1649 computer science subject area coverages; requiring the
1650 state board to adopt competencies and skills and
1651 designate corresponding examinations; requiring the
1652 Department of Education to submit recommended
1653 competencies and skills for certain coverages to the
1654 state board for approval by a specified date;
1655 requiring the department to coordinate development and
1656 availability of certain examinations by a specified
1657 date; amending s. 1008.25, F.S.; requiring specified
1658 resources for certain students to include information
1659 about the student’s eligibility for the New Worlds
1660 Reading Initiative; requiring school districts to take
1661 specified actions when screening identifies a student
1662 as exhibiting characteristics of dyslexia or
1663 dyscalculia; revising the score threshold for
1664 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
1665 eligibility for specified instructional support;
1666 requiring monthly written communications to include
1667 specified eligibility information; providing
1668 circumstances under which a student must undergo
1669 further screening for dyslexia or dyscalculia;
1670 providing that such screening has a specified purpose;
1671 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules;
1672 conforming cross-references; amending s. 1008.2125,
1673 F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
1674 1008.33, F.S.; revising requirements relating to
1675 district and school improvement; amending s. 1010.20,
1676 F.S.; requiring charter schools to respond to
1677 monitoring questions from the Department of Education;
1678 amending s. 1011.14, F.S.; revising authorized
1679 purposes for school district short-term obligations;
1680 amending s. 1011.69, F.S.; revising a category of
1681 funding which a school district is authorized to
1682 withhold; amending s. 1011.71, F.S.; authorizing
1683 specified discretionary millage proceeds to be used
1684 for operational or capital purposes; deleting
1685 specified purposes that certain proceeds and revenue
1686 may be used for; amending s. 1011.73, F.S.; conforming
1687 a cross-reference; amending s. 1011.804, F.S.;
1688 revising the GATE Startup Grant Program; specifying
1689 what constitutes service to a rural area of
1690 opportunity for purposes of specified provisions;
1691 revising eligibility and award authority for grants;
1692 revising application availability and application
1693 requirements; revising allowable uses of grant funds
1694 to include specified implementation-related costs;
1695 amending s. 1012.22, F.S.; providing that collective
1696 bargaining may not preclude specified salary
1697 supplements and implementation of the salary increase
1698 and salary distribution plan; amending s. 1012.555,
1699 F.S.; revising eligibility requirements for
1700 participation in the Teacher Apprenticeship Program;
1701 requiring the department to collaborate with the
1702 Lastinger Center for Learning to make specified
1703 recommendations relating to artificial intelligence in
1704 learning to the Governor and the Legislature by a
1705 specified date; providing requirements for the
1706 recommendations; providing an effective date.