CS/CS/HB 1279 full text · Session Watch

2 An act relating to education; creating s. 413.0114,

3 F.S.; requiring entities that offer fee-based services

4 to individuals who are blind or visually impaired to

5 disclose in writing whether the services may be

6 obtained elsewhere at no cost; specifying requirements

7 for the disclosure; providing penalties for

8 violations; authorizing the State Board of Education

9 to adopt rules; amending s. 413.208, F.S.; requiring

10 certain service providers to apply to, rather than

11 register with, the Division of Vocational

12 Rehabilitation; requiring the division to establish

13 minimum qualifications for service providers;

14 requiring the division to establish an annual

15 application period; authorizing the division to

16 approve or deny any service provider application;

17 providing that, as of a specified date, only certain

18 service providers may participate in the vocational

19 rehabilitation program; requiring the division to

20 develop and make publicly available a certain annual

21 report; requiring service providers to meet certain

22 standards to maintain approved status; requiring that

23 the rates for vocational rehabilitation services meet

24 certain criteria; amending s. 491.005, F.S.; revising

25 the date for a requirement to obtain a license as a

26 marriage and family therapist; amending s. 1001.42,

27 F.S.; revising public information requirements

28 relating to virtual instruction options; removing

29 certain schools from specified contract restrictions;

30 revising the conditions considered an educational

31 emergency; revising virtual instruction requirements;

32 amending s. 1001.92, F.S.; revising certain

33 performance-based metrics; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.;

34 authorizing a student to carry a United States Food

35 and Drug Administration-approved epinephrine delivery

36 device; making conforming changes; amending s.

37 1002.42, F.S.; authorizing private schools to purchase

38 a supply of Food and Drug Administration-approved

39 epinephrine delivery devices, rather than epinephrine

40 auto-injectors; making conforming changes; amending s.

41 1002.421, F.S.; revising circumstances under which

42 regular and direct contact with teachers is satisfied

43 for certain scholarship students; amending s. 1002.68,

44 F.S.; deleting obsolete provisions relating to

45 calculation of kindergarten readiness rates; revising

46 cross-references and program accountability provisions

47 for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;

48 amending s. 1002.945, F.S.; requiring the Department

49 of Children and Families to determine whether a child

50 care provider is the primary cause of certain class I

51 violations; deleting an exception; amending s.

52 1003.4203, F.S.; requiring that the Department of

53 Education make CAPE Digital Tool certificates

54 available to middle grades students; limiting the

55 number of such certificates a middle grades student

56 may earn each school year; amending s. 1003.4282,

57 F.S.; providing that completion of 2 years of marching

58 band satisfies specified credit requirements;

59 authorizing a dance techniques course to satisfy

60 specified graduation credit requirements; revising

61 requirements for mathematics pathways established by a

62 Department of Education workgroup; requiring the

63 department to develop identified mathematics pathways

64 and applied algebra courses by specified dates;

65 requiring the department to collaborate with the Board

66 of Governors of the State University System to ensure

67 the courses are accepted as mathematics credits for

68 state university admissions; amending s. 1003.437,

69 F.S.; requiring the State Board of Education to

70 establish a uniform weighted grading system for

71 specified courses and articulated acceleration

72 mechanisms; requiring district school boards to use

73 the system for a specified purpose; amending s.

74 1003.5716, F.S.; requiring school districts to provide

75 notice and a make-up plan when a related service in a

76 student's individual education program is not provided

77 as scheduled; authorizing parents or guardians to

78 access certain service logs and progress notes within

79 a specified timeframe; amending s. 1004.343, F.S.;

80 revising the date the University of South Florida

81 Trafficking in Persons - Risk to Resilience Lab must

82 begin submitting a specified report relating to human

83 trafficking; requiring consultation with the

84 Department of Law Enforcement in the submission of

85 such report; extending the date of the scheduled

86 repeal of the Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous

87 Human Trafficking Data; amending s. 1004.39, F.S.;

88 revising provisions relating to the College of Law at

89 Florida International University; deleting a specified

90 association from certain provisions; amending s.

91 1004.40, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the

92 College of Law at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical

93 University; deleting a specified association from

94 certain provisions; amending s. 1005.06, F.S.;

95 revising the list of institutions that are not under

96 the jurisdiction of the Commission for Independent

97 Education; amending s. 1006.12, F.S.; revising

98 requirements for safe-school officers; authorizing

99 charter schools to implement safe-school officer

100 options notwithstanding certain local ordinances or

101 development orders; amending s. 1007.25, F.S.;

102 revising the timeframe for Florida College System

103 institutions and state universities to submit comments

104 in response to a specified notice of intent; amending

105 s. 1007.271, F.S.; revising the list of postsecondary

106 institutions that are eligible to participate in a

107 dual enrollment program; amending s. 1008.2125, F.S.;

108 conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1008.25,

109 F.S.; requiring specified parent resources to include

110 information about eligibility for the New Worlds

111 Reading Initiative; revising the score threshold for

112 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program summer

113 bridge eligibility; requiring certain monthly written

114 communications to include specified eligibility

115 information; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.

116 1008.47, F.S.; revising the timeframe for a public

117 postsecondary institution to seek and obtain

118 accreditation; amending s. 1009.21, F.S.; providing

119 that a person may not lose his or her resident status

120 for tuition purposes due to his or her parent serving

121 outside this state in certain capacities; amending s.

122 1009.25, F.S.; revising the requirements for a student

123 to meet the definition of "homeless children and

124 youths"; providing that certain distance learning

125 students are ineligible for specified fee exemptions;

126 amending s. 1009.893, F.S.; authorizing a student to

127 defer an award under the Benacquisto Scholarship

128 Program; amending s. 1009.983, F.S.; authorizing a

129 specified designee with certain credentials to serve

130 as director of the direct-support organization for the

131 Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Inc.; amending s.

132 1009.986, F.S.; revising the membership of the board

133 of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc.; amending s.

134 1011.62, F.S.; revising the academic acceleration

135 options supplement in the Florida Education Finance

136 Program to include a method for calculating additional

137 full-time equivalent membership based on a specified

138 course and test score; requiring school districts to

139 allocate at least a specified percentage of certain

140 funds for a certain purpose; providing specified

141 bonuses; amending s. 1011.69, F.S.; revising a

142 category of Title I funds that a school district may

143 withhold; authorizing a school district to reserve

144 funds for certain STEM-related educational services;

145 providing an effective date.

147 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

149 Section 1. Section 413.0114, Florida Statutes, is created

150 to read:

151 413.0114 Consumer disclosure for blind-related services.—

152 (1) An individual, a business, a nonprofit, or other

153 entity offering fee-based services to individuals who are blind

154 or visually impaired shall, before entering into a contract or

155 accepting payment, disclose in writing whether equivalent or

156 substantially similar services may be available at no cost

157 through the Division of Blind Services or another public agency.

158 (2) The written disclosure must:

159 (a) Be provided in plain language and, upon request, in an

160 accessible format, such as braille, large print, or audio.

161 (b) Include contact information for the Division of Blind

162 Services.

163 (c) Be signed or electronically acknowledged by the

164 consumer or his or her representative.

165 (3) A violation of this section constitutes an unfair or

166 deceptive trade practice under part II of chapter 501 and is

167 subject to penalties and enforcement as provided therein.

168 (4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to

169 implement this section.

170 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 413.208, Florida

171 Statutes, is amended to read:

172 413.208 Service providers; quality assurance; fitness for

173 responsibilities; background screening.—

174 (1) Service providers must apply to ~~register with~~ the

175 division. To qualify for approval, a ~~registration, the division~~

176 ~~must ensure that the~~ service provider must maintain ~~maintains~~ an

177 internal system of quality assurance, have ~~has~~ proven functional

178 systems, meet the minimum qualifications, and be is subject to a

179 due-diligence inquiry as to its fitness to undertake service

180 responsibilities.

181 (a) The division shall establish minimum qualifications

182 for service providers. The division shall establish an annual

183 application period for service providers to submit applications.

184 The division may approve or deny any service provider

185 application. Beginning January 1, 2027, only service providers

186 that meet the minimum qualifications established by the division

187 and that have been approved to provide employment-related

188 services to individuals with disabilities may participate in the

189 vocational rehabilitation program.

190 (b) The division shall develop and make publicly available

191 an annual report of service provider effectiveness, which

192 includes an evaluation system measuring the effectiveness of all

193 service providers that are approved by the division to provide

194 employment-related services to individuals with disabilities.

195 (c) In order to maintain approved status with the

196 division, service providers must meet minimum standards of

197 effectiveness in the provision of vocational rehabilitation

198 services, including placement of individuals in competitive and

199 integrated employment.

200 (d) Rates for vocational rehabilitation services must be

201 allocable, reasonable, and necessary, as determined by the

202 division.

203 Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section

204 491.005, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

205 491.005 Licensure by examination.—

206 (3) MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY.—Upon verification of

207 documentation and payment of a fee not to exceed $200, as set by

208 board rule, the department shall issue a license as a marriage

209 and family therapist to an applicant whom the board certifies

210 has met all of the following criteria:

211 (c)1. Attained one of the following:

212 a. A minimum of a master's degree in marriage and family

213 therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on

214 Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.

215 b. A minimum of a master's degree with a major emphasis in

216 marriage and family therapy or a closely related field from a

217 university program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of

218 Counseling and Related Educational Programs and graduate courses

219 approved by the board.

220 c. A minimum of a master's degree with an emphasis in

221 marriage and family therapy or a closely related field, with a

222 degree conferred before September 1, 2032 ~~2027,~~ from an

223 institutionally accredited college or university and graduate

224 courses approved by the board.

225 2. If the course title that appears on the applicant's

226 transcript does not clearly identify the content of the

227 coursework, the applicant provided additional documentation,

228 including, but not limited to, a syllabus or catalog description

229 published for the course. The required master's degree must have

230 been received in an institution of higher education that, at the

231 time the applicant graduated, was fully accredited by an

232 institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for

233 Higher Education Accreditation or its successor organization or

234 was a member in good standing with Universities Canada, or an

235 institution of higher education located outside the United

236 States and Canada which, at the time the applicant was enrolled

237 and at the time the applicant graduated, maintained a standard

238 of training substantially equivalent to the standards of

239 training of those institutions in the United States which are

240 accredited by an institutional accrediting body recognized by

241 the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor

242 organization. Such foreign education and training must have been

243 received in an institution or program of higher education

244 officially recognized by the government of the country in which

245 it is located as an institution or program to train students to

246 practice as professional marriage and family therapists or

247 psychotherapists. The applicant has the burden of establishing

248 that the requirements of this provision have been met, and the

249 board shall require documentation, such as an evaluation by a

250 foreign equivalency determination service, as evidence that the

251 applicant's graduate degree program and education were

252 equivalent to an accredited program in this country. An

253 applicant with a master's degree from a program that did not

254 emphasize marriage and family therapy may complete the

255 coursework requirement in a training institution fully

256 accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and

257 Family Therapy Education recognized by the United States

258 Department of Education.

260 For the purposes of dual licensure, the department shall license

261 as a marriage and family therapist any person who meets the

262 requirements of s. 491.0057. Fees for dual licensure may not

263 exceed those stated in this subsection.

264 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (17) and

265 subsections (21) and (23) of section 1001.42, Florida Statutes,

266 are amended to read:

267 1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The

268 district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all

269 powers and perform all duties listed below:

270 (17) PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM.—

271 (a) Adopt procedures whereby the general public can be

272 adequately informed of the educational programs, needs, and

273 objectives of public education within the district, including

274 educational opportunities available through approved virtual

275 instruction program providers under s. 1002.45 or the school

276 district's virtual instruction program ~~the Florida Virtual~~

277 ~~School.~~

278 (21) EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY.—To free schools that have ~~with~~

279 a school grade of "D" or "F" or are persistently low-performing

280 schools as described in s. 1002.333 from contract restrictions

281 that limit the school district's ~~school's~~ ability to implement

282 programs and strategies needed to improve student performance, a

283 district school board may adopt salary incentives or other

284 strategies that address the selection, placement, compensation,

285 and expectations of instructional personnel and provide

286 principals with the autonomy described in s. 1012.28(8). For

287 purposes of this subsection, an educational emergency exists in

288 a school district if one or more schools in the district have a

289 school grade of "D" or "F" or are persistently low-performing

290 schools as described in s. 1002.333. ~~"F."~~ Notwithstanding

291 chapter 447, relating to collective bargaining, a district

292 school board may:

293 (a) Provide salary incentives that differentiate based on

294 a teacher's certification, subject area taught, or grade level

295 taught. Such incentives are not subject to collective bargaining

296 requirements.

297 (b) Notwithstanding s. 1012.2315, relating to assignment

298 of teachers, adopt strategies to assign high-quality teachers

299 more equitably across schools in the district to low-performing

300 schools as a management right. Such strategies are not subject

301 to collective bargaining requirements.

302 (23) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.—Provide students with access to

303 courses, based on the students' choice, available through the

304 school district's a virtual instruction program option or an

305 approved virtual instruction program provider under s. 1002.45,

306 ~~including the Florida Virtual School and other approved~~

307 ~~providers,~~ and award credit for successful completion of such

308 courses.

309 Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 1001.92, Florida

310 Statutes, is amended to read:

311 1001.92 State University System Performance-Based

312 Incentive.—

313 (1) A State University System Performance-Based Incentive

314 shall be awarded to state universities using performance-based

315 metrics adopted by the Board of Governors of the State

316 University System. Beginning with the Board of Governors'

317 determination of each university's performance improvement and

318 achievement ratings, and the related distribution of annual

319 fiscal year appropriation, the performance-based metrics must

320 include:

321 (a) The 4-year graduation rate and adjusted cohort

322 graduation rate for engineering programs for first-time-in-

323 college students;

324 (b) Beginning in fiscal year 2022-2023, the 3-year

325 graduation rate for associate in arts transfer students;

326 (c) Retention rates;

327 (d) Postgraduation education rates;

328 (e) Degree production;

329 (f) Affordability;

330 (g) Postgraduation employment and salaries, including wage

331 thresholds that reflect the added value of a baccalaureate

332 degree;

333 (h) Access rate, based on the percentage of first-year

334 undergraduate students enrolled during the fall term who

335 received a Pell Grant during the fall term; and

336 (i) Beginning in fiscal year 2021-2022, the 6-year

337 graduation rate for students who are awarded a Pell Grant in

338 their first year.

340 The Board of Governors may approve other metrics in a publicly

341 noticed meeting. The board shall adopt benchmarks to evaluate

342 each state university's performance on the metrics to measure

343 the state university's achievement of institutional excellence

344 or need for improvement and minimum requirements for eligibility

345 to receive performance funding. Benchmarks and metrics may not

346 be adjusted after university performance data has been received

347 by the Board of Governors.

348 Section 6. Paragraph (i) of subsection (3) of section

349 1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

350 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public

351 school students must receive accurate and timely information

352 regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed

353 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12

354 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory

355 rights including, but not limited to, the following:

356 (3) HEALTH ISSUES.—

357 (i) Epinephrine use and supply.—

358 1. A student who has experienced or is at risk for life-

359 threatening allergic reactions may carry a United States Food

360 and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved an epinephrine delivery

361 device ~~auto-injector~~ and self-administer epinephrine by such

362 FDA-approved delivery device ~~auto-injector~~ while in school,

363 participating in school-sponsored activities, or in transit to

364 or from school or school-sponsored activities if the school has

365 been provided with parental and physician authorization. The

366 State Board of Education, in cooperation with the Department of

367 Health, shall adopt rules for such use of FDA-approved

368 epinephrine delivery devices which must ~~auto-injectors that~~

369 ~~shall~~ include provisions to protect the safety of all students

370 from the misuse or abuse of such delivery devices ~~auto-~~

371 ~~injectors.~~ A school district, county health department, public-

372 private partner, and their employees and volunteers shall be

373 indemnified by the parent of a student authorized to carry an

374 FDA-approved epinephrine delivery device ~~auto-injector~~ for any

375 and all liability with respect to the student's use of an FDA-

376 approved epinephrine delivery device ~~auto-injector~~ pursuant to

377 this paragraph.

378 2. A public school may purchase a supply of FDA-approved

379 epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ from a wholesale

380 distributor as defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an

381 arrangement with a wholesale distributor or manufacturer as

382 defined in s. 499.003 for the FDA-approved epinephrine delivery

383 devices ~~auto-injectors~~ at fair-market, free, or reduced prices

384 for use in the event a student has an anaphylactic reaction. The

385 FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ must be

386 maintained in a secure location on the public school's premises.

387 The participating school district shall adopt a protocol

388 developed by a licensed physician for the administration by

389 school personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic

390 reaction and to administer an epinephrine by an FDA-approved

391 delivery device ~~auto-injection.~~ The supply of FDA-approved

392 epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ may be provided to

393 and used by a student authorized to self-administer epinephrine

394 by FDA-approved delivery device ~~auto-injector~~ under subparagraph

395 1. or trained school personnel.

396 3. The school district and its employees, agents, and the

397 physician who provides the standing protocol for school FDA-

398 approved epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ are not

399 liable for any injury arising from the use of such an

400 epinephrine delivery device ~~auto-injector~~ administered by

401 trained school personnel who follow the adopted protocol and

402 whose professional opinion is that the student is having an

403 anaphylactic reaction:

404 a. Unless the trained school personnel's action is willful

405 and wanton;

406 b. Notwithstanding that the parents or guardians of the

407 student to whom the epinephrine is administered have not been

408 provided notice or have not signed a statement acknowledging

409 that the school district is not liable; and

410 c. Regardless of whether authorization has been given by

411 the student's parents or guardians or by the student's

412 physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered

413 nurse.

414 Section 7. Subsection (17) of section 1002.42, Florida

415 Statutes, is amended to read:

416 1002.42 Private schools.—

417 (17) EPINEPHRINE SUPPLY.—

418 (a) A private school may purchase a supply of United

419 States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved epinephrine

420 delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ from a wholesale distributor as

421 defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an arrangement with a

422 wholesale distributor or manufacturer as defined in s. 499.003

423 for the FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~

424 at fair-market, free, or reduced prices for use in the event a

425 student has an anaphylactic reaction. The FDA-approved

426 epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ must be maintained

427 in a secure location on the private school's premises. The

428 participating private school shall adopt a protocol developed by

429 a licensed physician for the administration by private school

430 personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic reaction

431 and to administer epinephrine by an FDA-approved epinephrine

432 delivery device ~~auto-injection.~~ The supply of FDA-approved

433 epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ may be provided to

434 and used by a student authorized to self-administer epinephrine

435 by an FDA-approved delivery device ~~auto-injector~~ under s.

436 1002.20(3)(i) or trained school personnel.

437 (b) The private school and its employees, agents, and the

438 physician who provides the standing protocol for school FDA-

439 approved epinephrine delivery devices ~~auto-injectors~~ are not

440 liable for any injury arising from the use of an FDA-approved

441 epinephrine delivery device ~~auto-injector~~ administered by

442 trained school personnel who follow the adopted protocol and

443 whose professional opinion is that the student is having an

444 anaphylactic reaction:

445 1. Unless the trained school personnel's action is willful

446 and wanton;

447 2. Notwithstanding that the parents or guardians of the

448 student to whom the epinephrine is administered have not been

449 provided notice or have not signed a statement acknowledging

450 that the school district is not liable; and

451 3. Regardless of whether authorization has been given by

452 the student's parents or guardians or by the student's

453 physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered

454 nurse.

455 Section 8. Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) of section

456 1002.421, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

457 1002.421 State school choice scholarship program

458 accountability and oversight.—

459 (1) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—A private

460 school participating in an educational scholarship program

461 established pursuant to this chapter must be a private school as

462 defined in s. 1002.01 in this state, be registered, and be in

463 compliance with all requirements of this section in addition to

464 private school requirements outlined in s. 1002.42, specific

465 requirements identified within respective scholarship program

466 laws, and other provisions of Florida law that apply to private

467 schools, and must:

468 (i) Maintain a physical location in the state at which

469 each student has regular and direct contact with teachers.

470 Regular and direct contact with teachers may be satisfied for

471 students enrolled in a personalized education program or for

472 students eligible for a scholarship under s. 1002.394(3)(b) if

473 students have regular and direct contact with teachers at the

474 physical location at least 2 school days per week and the

475 student learning plan addresses the remaining instructional

476 time.

478 The department shall suspend the payment of funds to a private

479 school that knowingly fails to comply with this subsection, and

480 shall prohibit the school from enrolling new scholarship

481 students, for 1 fiscal year and until the school complies. If a

482 private school fails to meet the requirements of this subsection

483 or has consecutive years of material exceptions listed in the

484 report required under paragraph (q), the commissioner may

485 determine that the private school is ineligible to participate

486 in a scholarship program.

487 Section 9. Subsection (3), paragraph (e) of subsection

488 (4), paragraph (a) of subsection (5), and paragraph (e) of

489 subsection (6) of section 1002.68, Florida Statutes, are amended

490 to read:

491 1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

492 accountability.—

493 ~~(3)(a) For the 2020-2021 program year, the department~~

494 ~~shall calculate a kindergarten readiness rate for each private~~

495 ~~prekindergarten provider and public school participating in the~~

496 ~~Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program based upon learning~~

497 ~~gains and the percentage of students assessed as ready for~~

498 ~~kindergarten. The department shall require that each school~~

499 ~~district administer the statewide kindergarten screening in use~~

500 ~~before the 2021-2022 school year to each kindergarten student in~~

501 ~~the school district within the first 30 school days of the 2021-~~

502 ~~2022 school year. Private schools may administer the statewide~~

503 ~~kindergarten screening to each kindergarten student in a private~~

504 ~~school who was enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten~~

505 ~~Education Program. Learning gains shall be determined using a~~

506 ~~value-added measure based on growth demonstrated by the results~~

507 ~~of the preassessment and postassessment in use before the 2021-~~

508 ~~2022 program year. However, a provider may not be newly placed~~

509 ~~on probationary status under this paragraph. A provider~~

510 ~~currently on probationary status may only be removed from such~~

511 ~~status if the provider earns the minimum rate, determined~~

512 ~~pursuant to subsection (5). The methodology for calculating a~~

513 ~~provider's readiness rate may not include students who are not~~

514 ~~administered the statewide kindergarten screening.~~

515 ~~(b) For the 2021-2022 program year, kindergarten screening~~

516 ~~results may not be used in the calculation of readiness rates.~~

517 ~~Any private prekindergarten provider or public school~~

518 ~~participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program~~

519 ~~which fails to meet the minimum kindergarten readiness rate for~~

520 ~~the 2021-2022 program year is subject to the probation~~

521 ~~requirements of subsection (5).~~

522 (3)(4)

523 (e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall

524 provide for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten

525 provider and public school based on the provider's designation.

526 The maximum differential payment may not exceed a total of 15

527 percent of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent

528 student under s. 1002.71 attending in the consecutive program

529 year for that program. A private prekindergarten provider or

530 public school may not receive a differential payment if it

531 receives a designation of "proficient" or lower. ~~Before the~~

532 ~~adoption of the methodology, the department shall confer with~~

533 ~~the Council for Early Grade Success under s. 1008.2125 before~~

534 ~~receiving approval from the State Board of Education for the~~

535 ~~final recommendations on the designation system and differential~~

536 ~~payments.~~

537 ~~(4)(a)(5)(a)~~ If a public school's or private

538 prekindergarten provider's program assessment composite score

539 for its prekindergarten classrooms fails to meet the minimum

540 program assessment composite score for contracting adopted in

541 rule by the department, the private prekindergarten provider or

542 public school may not participate in the Voluntary

543 Prekindergarten Education Program beginning in the consecutive

544 program year and thereafter until the public school or private

545 prekindergarten provider meets the minimum composite score for

546 contracting. A public school or private prekindergarten provider

547 may request one program assessment per program year in order to

548 requalify for participation in the Voluntary Prekindergarten

549 Education Program, provided that the public school or private

550 prekindergarten provider is not excluded from participation

551 under ss. 1002.55(6), 1002.61(10)(b), 1002.63(9)(b), or

552 paragraph (b) ~~(5)(b) of this section.~~ If a public school or

553 private prekindergarten provider would like an additional

554 program assessment completed within the same program year, the

555 public school or private prekindergarten provider shall be

556 responsible for the cost of the program assessment.

557 (5)(6)

558 (e) A private prekindergarten provider or public school

559 granted a good cause exemption shall continue to implement its

560 improvement plan and continue the corrective actions required

561 under paragraph (4)(b) ~~(5)(b)~~ until the provider or school meets

562 the minimum performance metric.

563 Section 10. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (4) of

564 section 1002.945, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

565 1002.945 Gold Seal Quality Care Program.—

566 (4) In order to obtain and maintain a designation as a

567 Gold Seal Quality Care provider, a child care facility, large

568 family child care home, or family day care home must meet the

569 following additional criteria:

570 (a) The child care provider must not have had any class I

571 violations, as defined by rule of the Department of Children and

572 Families, for which the Department of Children and Families

573 determines that the child care provider is the primary cause of

574 the violation within the 2 years preceding its application for

575 designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider. Commission of

576 a class I violation for which the Department of Children and

577 Families determines that the child care provider is the primary

578 cause of the violation shall be grounds for termination of the

579 designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider until the

580 provider has no class I violations for a period of 2 years.

581 ~~(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of~~

582 ~~Education determines through a formal process that a provider~~

583 ~~has been in business for at least 5 years and has no other class~~

584 ~~I violations recorded, the department may recommend to the state~~

585 ~~board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care~~

586 ~~status. The state board's determination regarding such~~

587 ~~provider's status is final.~~

588 Section 11. Subsection (2) of section 1003.4203, Florida

589 Statutes, is amended to read:

590 1003.4203 Digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool

591 certificates, CAPE industry certifications, and technical

592 assistance.—

593 (2) CAPE DIGITAL TOOL CERTIFICATES.—The department shall

594 identify, in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under

595 ss. 1003.492 and 1008.44, CAPE Digital Tool certificates that

596 indicate a student's digital skills. The department shall notify

597 each school district when the certificates are available. The

598 certificates shall be made available to all public elementary

599 and middle grades students. Targeted skills to be mastered for

600 the certificate include digital skills that are necessary to the

601 student's academic work and skills the student may need in

602 future employment. CAPE Digital Tool certificates earned by

603 students are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s.

604 1011.62(17). Middle grade students may not earn more than two

605 CAPE Digital Tools certificates per school year.

606 Section 12. Paragraph (f) of subsection (3) and subsection

607 (10) of section 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, are amended to

608 read:

609 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school

610 diploma.—

611 (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT

612 REQUIREMENTS.—

613 (f) One credit in physical education.—Physical education

614 must include the integration of health. Participation in an

615 interscholastic sport at the junior varsity or varsity level for

616 two full seasons shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in

617 physical education. A district school board may not require that

618 the one credit in physical education be taken during the 9th

619 grade year. Completion of 2 years of marching band shall satisfy

620 the one-credit requirement in physical education and or the one-

621 credit requirement in performing arts. This credit may not be

622 used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the

623 requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual

624 education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 1.0 credit with

625 a grade of "C" or better in a dance techniques course, a

626 significant component of which is activities designed to

627 maintain or improve health-related fitness and lifelong fitness,

628 shall satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education

629 or the one-credit requirement in performing arts. This credit

630 may not be used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or

631 the requirement for adaptive physical education under an IEP or

632 504 plan. Completion of one semester with a grade of "C" or

633 better in a marching band class, in a physical activity class

634 that requires participation in marching band activities as an

635 extracurricular activity, or in a dance class shall satisfy one-

636 half credit in physical education or one-half credit in

637 performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the

638 personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive

639 physical education under an IEP or 504 plan. Completion of 2

640 years in a Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a

641 significant component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-

642 credit requirement in physical education and the one-credit

643 requirement in performing arts. This credit may not be used to

644 satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the requirement for

645 adaptive physical education under an IEP or 504 plan.

646 (10) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDIT.—The Department

647 of Education shall convene a workgroup, ~~no later than December~~

648 ~~1, 2024,~~ to:

649 (a) Identify best practices in career and technical

650 education pathways from middle school to high school to aid

651 middle school students in career planning and facilitate their

652 transition to high school programs. The career pathway must be

653 linked to postsecondary programs.

654 (b) Establish three mathematics pathways for students

655 enrolled in secondary grades by aligning mathematics courses to

656 programs, postsecondary education, and careers. The workgroup

657 shall collaborate to identify the three mathematics pathways and

658 the mathematics course sequence within each pathway that ~~which~~

659 align to the mathematics skills needed for success in the

660 corresponding academic programs, postsecondary education, and

661 careers.

662 1. The mathematics pathways must be identified no later

663 than September 1, 2026. The Department of Education shall submit

664 identified mathematics pathways to the Governor, the President

665 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

666 2. The mathematics pathways must incorporate an applied

667 algebra course that aligns with established career and technical

668 education career clusters.

669 3. The Department of Education shall develop applied

670 algebra courses aligned with the identified mathematics pathways

671 and the established career and technical education career

672 clusters by January 1, 2027, with availability for district

673 implementation in the 2029-2030 school year.

674 a. The applied algebra for engineering and technology

675 course must incorporate content and contexts that apply to the

676 following career clusters: energy, engineering and technology

677 education, and information technology.

678 b. The applied algebra for health science course must

679 incorporate content and contexts that apply to the health

680 science career cluster.

681 c. The applied algebra for business and finance course

682 must incorporate content and contexts that apply to the

683 following career clusters: business management and

684 administration; finance; government and public administration;

685 and marketing, sales, and service.

686 d. The applied algebra for industrial pathways course must

687 incorporate content and contexts that apply to the following

688 career clusters: architecture and construction; manufacturing;

689 and transportation, distribution, and logistics.

690 e. The applied algebra for agriculture and natural

691 resources course must incorporate content and contexts that

692 apply to the agriculture, food, and natural resources career

693 cluster.

694 4. Each mathematics pathway must offer flexibility and the

695 ability to move between pathways if necessary.

696 5. Mathematics pathways must create clear links between

697 secondary mathematics and postsecondary mathematics pathways, as

698 established in State Board of Education rule, and support

699 student progression into postsecondary academic programs, state

700 college career and technical education programs, career center

701 programs, industry certification programs, and high-skill, high-

702 wage occupations.

703 6. Each applied algebra course must prepare students to

704 take the statewide, standardized Algebra I end-of-course

705 assessment required under s. 1008.22.

706 7. Each applied algebra course must meet all requirements

707 for a mathematics credit required for high school graduation

708 under s. 1003.4282(3)(b) or for middle grades promotion pursuant

709 to s. 1003.4156(1)(b).

710 8. The Department of Education shall collaborate with the

711 Board of Governors of the State University System to ensure that

712 each applied algebra course is accepted as a mathematics credit

713 for state university admissions.

714 9. The Department of Education shall provide professional

715 learning, instructional resources, and technical assistance to

716 support district implementation for the 2029-2030 school year.

717 Section 13. Section 1003.437, Florida Statutes, is amended

718 to read:

719 1003.437 Middle and high school grading system.—The

720 grading system and interpretation of letter grades used to

721 measure student success in grade 6 through grade 12 courses for

722 students in public schools shall be as follows:

723 (1) Grade "A" equals 90 percent through 100 percent, has a

724 grade point average value of 4, and is defined as "outstanding

725 progress."

726 (2) Grade "B" equals 80 percent through 89 percent, has a

727 grade point average value of 3, and is defined as "above average

728 progress."

729 (3) Grade "C" equals 70 percent through 79 percent, has a

730 grade point average value of 2, and is defined as "average

731 progress."

732 (4) Grade "D" equals 60 percent through 69 percent, has a

733 grade point average value of 1, and is defined as "lowest

734 acceptable progress."

735 (5) Grade "F" equals zero percent through 59 percent, has

736 a grade point average value of zero, and is defined as

737 "failure."

738 (6) Grade "I" equals zero percent, has a grade point

739 average value of zero, and is defined as "incomplete."

741 The State Board of Education shall establish a statewide uniform

742 weighted grading system for honors courses and articulated

743 acceleration mechanisms identified in s. 1007.27. ~~For the~~

744 ~~purposes of class ranking,~~ District school boards shall use the

745 ~~may exercise a~~ weighted grading system to calculate weighted

746 high school grade point averages ~~pursuant to s. 1007.271.~~

747 Section 14. Subsection (5) is added to section 1003.5716,

748 Florida Statutes, to read:

749 1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career

750 opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of

751 age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate

752 public education. As used in this section, the term "IEP" means

753 individual education plan.

754 (5)

755 (a) If a related service identified in a student's IEP is

756 not provided as scheduled, the school district must notify the

757 parent or guardian in writing or by electronic means within 10

758 school days, explain the reason the service was not provided,

759 and discuss a plan for make-up services.

760 (b) A parent or guardian has the right to access, upon

761 request, all service provider logs or progress notes within 15

762 school days after such service is provided. The school district

763 shall inform parents of this right at each IEP meeting.

765 Section 15. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 1004.343,

766 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

767 1004.343 Statewide Data Repository for Anonymous Human

768 Trafficking Data.—

769 (5) Beginning January 31, 2027 ~~July 1, 2025,~~ and annually

770 thereafter, the University of South Florida Trafficking in

771 Persons - Risk to Resilience Lab, in consultation with the

772 Department of Law Enforcement, shall submit an annual report and

773 analysis on its findings to the Governor, the Attorney General,

774 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

775 Representatives.

776 (6) This section is repealed July 1, 2027 ~~2026,~~ unless

777 reviewed and reenacted by the Legislature before that date.

778 Section 16. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section

779 1004.39, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

780 1004.39 College of Law at Florida International

781 University.—

782 (3) The College of Law at Florida International

783 University, to the extent consistent with the standards required

784 by a ~~the American Bar Association or any other~~ nationally

785 recognized association for the accreditation of colleges of law,

786 shall develop a law library collection utilizing electronic

787 formats and mediums.

788 (4) The College of Law at Florida International University

789 shall develop and institute a program that is consistent with

790 sound legal education principles as determined by a ~~the American~~

791 ~~Bar Association or any other~~ nationally recognized association

792 for the accreditation of colleges of law and that, to the extent

793 consistent with such sound legal education principles, is

794 structured to serve the legal needs of traditionally underserved

795 portions of the population by providing an opportunity for

796 participation in a legal clinic program or pro bono legal

797 service.

798 (5) The Florida International University Board of Trustees

799 and the Board of Governors may accept grants, donations, gifts,

800 and moneys available for this purpose, including moneys for

801 planning and constructing the college. The Florida International

802 University Board of Trustees may procure and accept any federal

803 funds that are available for the planning, creation, and

804 establishment of the college of law. If a ~~the American Bar~~

805 ~~Association or any other~~ nationally recognized association for

806 the accreditation of colleges of law issues a third disapproval

807 of an application for provisional approval or for full approval

808 or fails to grant, within 5 years following the graduation of

809 the first class, a provisional approval, to the College of Law

810 at Florida International University, the Board of Governors

811 shall make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature

812 as to whether the college of law will cease operations at the

813 end of the full academic year subsequent to the receipt by the

814 college of law of any such third disapproval, or whether the

815 college of law will continue operations and any conditions for

816 continued operations. If the college of law ceases operations

817 pursuant to this section, the following conditions apply:

818 (a) The authority for the College of Law at Florida

819 International University and the authority of the Florida

820 International University Board of Trustees and the Board of

821 Governors provided in this section shall terminate upon the

822 cessation of operations of the College of Law at Florida

823 International University. The College of Law at Florida

824 International University shall receive no moneys allocated for

825 the planning, construction, or operation of the college of law

826 after its cessation of operations other than moneys to be

827 expended for the cessation of operations of the college of law.

828 Any moneys allocated to the College of Law at Florida

829 International University not expended prior to or scheduled to

830 be expended after the date of the cessation of the college of

831 law shall be appropriated for other use by the Legislature of

832 the State of Florida.

833 (b) Any buildings of the College of Law at Florida

834 International University constructed from the expenditure of

835 capital outlay funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be

836 owned by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust

837 Fund and managed by the Florida International University Board

838 of Trustees upon the cessation of the college of law.

839 Section 17. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section

840 1004.40, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

841 1004.40 College of Law at Florida Agricultural and

842 Mechanical University.—

843 (3) The College of Law at Florida Agricultural and

844 Mechanical University, to the extent consistent with the

845 standards required by a ~~the American Bar Association or any~~

846 ~~other~~ nationally recognized association for the accreditation of

847 colleges of law, shall develop a law library collection

848 utilizing electronic formats and mediums.

849 (4) The College of Law at Florida Agricultural and

850 Mechanical University shall develop and institute a program that

851 is consistent with sound legal education principles as

852 determined by a ~~the American Bar Association or any other~~

853 nationally recognized association for the accreditation of

854 colleges of law and that, to the extent consistent with such

855 sound legal education principles, is structured to serve the

856 legal needs of traditionally underserved portions of the

857 population by providing an opportunity for participation in a

858 legal clinic program or pro bono legal service.

859 (5) The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

860 Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors may accept grants,

861 donations, gifts, and moneys available for this purpose,

862 including moneys for planning and constructing the college. The

863 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Board of Trustees

864 may procure and accept any federal funds that are available for

865 the planning, creation, and establishment of the college of law.

866 If a ~~the American Bar Association or any other~~ nationally

867 recognized association for the accreditation of colleges of law

868 issues a third disapproval of an application for provisional

869 approval or for full approval or fails to grant, within 5 years

870 following the graduation of the first class, a provisional

871 approval, to the College of Law at Florida Agricultural and

872 Mechanical University, the Board of Governors shall make

873 recommendations to the Governor and Legislature as to whether

874 the college of law will cease operations at the end of the full

875 academic year subsequent to the receipt by the college of law of

876 any such third disapproval, or whether the college of law will

877 continue operations and any conditions for continued operations.

878 If the college of law ceases operations of the college of law

879 pursuant to this section, the following conditions apply:

880 (a) The authority for the College of Law at Florida

881 Agricultural and Mechanical University and the authority of the

882 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Board of Trustees

883 and the Board of Governors provided in this section shall

884 terminate upon the cessation of operations of the College of Law

885 at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. The College

886 of Law at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University shall

887 receive no moneys allocated for the planning, construction, or

888 operation of the college of law after its cessation of

889 operations other than moneys to be expended for the cessation of

890 operations of the college of law. Any moneys allocated to the

891 College of Law at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

892 not expended prior to or scheduled to be expended after the date

893 of the cessation of the college of law shall be appropriated for

894 other use by the Legislature of the State of Florida.

895 (b) Any buildings of the College of Law at Florida

896 Agricultural and Mechanical University constructed from the

897 expenditure of capital outlay funds appropriated by the

898 Legislature shall be owned by the Board of Trustees of the

899 Internal Improvement Trust Fund and managed by the Florida

900 Agricultural and Mechanical University Board of Trustees upon

901 the cessation of the college of law.

902 Section 18. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

903 1005.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

904 1005.06 Institutions not under the jurisdiction or purview

905 of the commission.—

906 (1) Except as otherwise provided in law, the following

907 institutions are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the

908 commission and are not required to obtain licensure:

909 (b) Any college or, school, ~~or course~~ licensed or approved

910 as an institution for establishment and operation by another

911 state agency. A college or school, or any of its programs or

912 courses, does not qualify for exemption from the commission's

913 jurisdiction under this paragraph solely because another state

914 agency licenses or approves one or more of its programs or

915 courses. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit

916 or affect the exemptions for contract training, continuing

917 education, or professional development programs or courses under

918 paragraph (d), even if such programs or courses are approved

919 under chapter 466 ~~for establishment and operation under part I~~

920 ~~of chapter 464, chapter 466, or chapter 475, or any other~~

921 ~~chapter of the Florida Statutes requiring licensing or approval~~

922 ~~as defined in this chapter.~~

923 Section 19. Section 1006.12, Florida Statutes, is amended

924 to read:

925 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For

926 the protection and safety of school personnel, property,

927 students, and visitors, each district school board and school

928 district superintendent shall partner with law enforcement

929 agencies or security agencies to establish or assign one or more

930 safe-school officers at each school facility within the

931 district, including charter schools. A district school board

932 must collaborate with charter school governing boards to

933 facilitate charter school access to all safe-school officer

934 options available under this section. Notwithstanding any local

935 ordinance or development order, the school district or charter

936 school may implement any combination of the options in

937 subsections (1)-(4) to best meet the needs of the school

938 district and charter schools.

939 (1) SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.—A school district may

940 establish school resource officer programs through a cooperative

941 agreement with law enforcement agencies.

942 (a) School resource officers shall undergo criminal

943 background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation

944 and be certified law enforcement officers, as defined in s.

945 943.10(1), who are employed by a law enforcement agency as

946 defined in s. 943.10(4). The powers and duties of a law

947 enforcement officer shall continue throughout the employee's

948 tenure as a school resource officer.

949 (b) School resource officers shall abide by district

950 school board policies and shall consult with and coordinate

951 activities through the school principal, but shall be

952 responsible to the law enforcement agency in all matters

953 relating to employment, subject to agreements between a district

954 school board and a law enforcement agency. The agreements shall

955 identify the entity responsible for maintaining records relating

956 to training. Activities conducted by the school resource officer

957 which are part of the regular instructional program of the

958 school shall be under the direction of the school principal.

959 (2) SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICER.—A school district may

960 commission one or more school safety officers for the protection

961 and safety of school personnel, property, and students within

962 the school district. The district school superintendent may

963 recommend, and the district school board may appoint, one or

964 more school safety officers.

965 (a) School safety officers shall undergo criminal

966 background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation

967 and be law enforcement officers, as defined in s. 943.10(1),

968 certified under chapter 943 and employed by either a law

969 enforcement agency or by the district school board. If the

970 officer is employed by the district school board, the district

971 school board is the employing agency for purposes of chapter

972 943, and must comply with that chapter.

973 (b) A school safety officer has and shall exercise the

974 power to make arrests for violations of law on district school

975 board property or on property owned or leased by a charter

976 school under a charter contract, as applicable, and to arrest

977 persons, whether on or off such property, who violate any law on

978 such property under the same conditions that deputy sheriffs are

979 authorized to make arrests. A school safety officer has the

980 authority to carry weapons when performing his or her official

981 duties.

982 (c) School safety officers must complete mental health

983 crisis intervention training using a curriculum developed by a

984 national organization with expertise in mental health crisis

985 intervention. The training shall improve officers' knowledge and

986 skills as first responders to incidents involving students with

987 emotional disturbance or mental illness, including de-escalation

988 skills to ensure student and officer safety.

989 (d) A district school board may enter into mutual aid

990 agreements with one or more law enforcement agencies as provided

991 in chapter 23. A school safety officer's salary may be paid

992 jointly by the district school board and the law enforcement

993 agency, as mutually agreed to.

994 (3) SCHOOL GUARDIAN.—

995 (a) At the school district's or the charter school

996 governing board's discretion, as applicable, pursuant to s.

997 30.15, a school district or charter school governing board may

998 participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach

999 Scott Beigel Guardian Program to meet the requirement of

1000 establishing a safe-school officer. The following individuals

1001 may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned

1002 activities for purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory

1003 completion of the requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and

1004 certification by a sheriff:

1005 1. A school district employee or personnel, as defined

1006 under s. 1012.01, or a charter school employee, as provided

1007 under s. 1002.33(12)(a), who volunteers to serve as a school

1008 guardian in addition to his or her official job duties; or

1009 2. An employee of a school district or a charter school

1010 who is hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school

1011 guardian.

1012 (b) Before appointing an individual as a school guardian,

1013 the school district or charter school shall contact the

1014 Department of Law Enforcement and review all information

1015 maintained under s. 30.15(1)(k)3.c. related to the individual.

1016 (c) The department shall provide to the Department of Law

1017 Enforcement any information relating to a school guardian

1018 received pursuant to subsection (5).

1019 (4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter

1020 school governing board may contract with a security agency as

1021 defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard

1022 an individual who holds a Class "D" and Class "G" license

1023 pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and

1024 contractual conditions are met:

1025 (a) An individual who serves as a school security guard,

1026 for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section,

1027 must:

1028 1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required

1029 training conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.

1030 2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a

1031 psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the

1032 Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the

1033 evaluation to the sheriff's office and school district, charter

1034 school governing board, or employing security agency, as

1035 applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to

1036 provide the sheriff's office, school district, charter school

1037 governing board, or employing security agency with mental health

1038 and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph.

1039 3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent

1040 random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s.

1041 112.0455 and the sheriff's office, school district, charter

1042 school governing board, or employing security agency, as

1043 applicable.

1044 4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the

1045 sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will

1046 be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in

1047 that county. The sheriff's approval authorizes the security

1048 agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the

1049 county, and the sheriff's approval is not limited to any

1050 particular school.

1051 5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon

1052 inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff

1053 pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and

1054 provide documentation to the sheriff's office, school district,

1055 charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as

1056 applicable.

1057 (b) The contract between a security agency and a school

1058 district or a charter school governing board regarding

1059 requirements applicable to school security guards serving in the

1060 capacity of a safe-school officer for purposes of satisfying the

1061 requirements of this section shall define the entity or entities

1062 responsible for maintaining records relating to training,

1063 inspection, and firearm qualification.

1064 (c) School security guards serving in the capacity of a

1065 safe-school officer pursuant to this subsection are in support

1066 of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s. 790.115, and

1067 must aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant

1068 incidents on school premises.

1069 (d) The Office of Safe Schools shall provide the

1070 Department of Law Enforcement any information related to a

1071 school security guard that the office receives pursuant to

1072 subsection (5).

1073 (5) NOTIFICATION.—The district school superintendent or

1074 charter school administrator, or a respective designee shall

1075 notify the county sheriff and the Office of Safe Schools

1076 immediately after, but no later than 72 hours after:

1077 (a) A safe-school officer is dismissed for misconduct or

1078 is otherwise disciplined.

1079 (b) A safe-school officer discharges his or her firearm in

1080 the exercise of the safe-school officer's duties, other than for

1081 training purposes.

1082 (6) CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING.—Each safe-school officer

1083 who is also a sworn law enforcement officer shall complete

1084 mental health crisis intervention training using a curriculum

1085 developed by a national organization with expertise in mental

1086 health crisis intervention. The training must improve the

1087 officer's knowledge and skills as a first responder to incidents

1088 involving students with emotional disturbance or mental illness,

1089 including de-escalation skills to ensure student and officer

1090 safety.

1091 (7) LIMITATIONS.—An individual must satisfy the background

1092 screening, psychological evaluation, and drug test requirements

1093 and be approved by the sheriff before participating in any

1094 training required by s. 30.15(1)(k), which may be conducted only

1095 by a sheriff.

1096 (8) EXEMPTION.—Any information that would identify whether

1097 a particular individual has been appointed as a safe-school

1098 officer pursuant to this section held by a law enforcement

1099 agency, school district, or charter school is exempt from s.

1100 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.

1102 If a district school board, through its adopted policies,

1103 procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any

1104 safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school

1105 district must assign a school resource officer or school safety

1106 officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the

1107 charter school's share of the costs of the school resource

1108 officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school

1109 allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s.

1110 1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district.

1111 Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section

1112 1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1113 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;

1114 other degree requirements.—

1115 (9)

1116 (b) An associate in arts specialized transfer degree must

1117 include 36 semester hours of general education coursework and

1118 require 60 semester hours or more of college credit. Specialized

1119 transfer degrees are designed for Florida College System

1120 institution students who need supplemental lower-level

1121 coursework in preparation for transfer to another institution.

1122 The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for the

1123 review and approval of new specialized transfer degrees. The

1124 approval process must require:

1125 1. A Florida College System institution to submit a notice

1126 of its intent to propose a new associate in arts specialized

1127 degree program to the Division of Florida Colleges. The notice

1128 must include the recommended credit hours, the rationale for the

1129 specialization, the demand for students entering the field, and

1130 the coursework being proposed to be included beyond the 60

1131 semester hours required for the general transfer degree, if

1132 applicable. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida

1133 College System institution at any time.

1134 2. The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice

1135 of intent within 10 business days after receipt to all Florida

1136 College System institutions and to the Chancellor of the State

1137 University System, who shall forward the notice to all state

1138 universities. State universities and Florida College System

1139 institutions shall have 30 60 days after receipt of the notice

1140 to submit comments to the proposed associate in arts specialized

1141 transfer degree.

1142 3. After the submission of comments pursuant to

1143 subparagraph 2., the requesting Florida College System

1144 institution to submit a proposal that, at a minimum, includes:

1145 a. Evidence that the coursework for the associate in arts

1146 specialized transfer degree includes demonstration of competency

1147 in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262 and demonstration

1148 of civic literacy competency as provided in subsection (5).

1149 b. Demonstration that all required coursework will count

1150 toward the associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree.

1151 c. An analysis of demand and unmet need for students

1152 entering the specialized field of study at the baccalaureate

1153 level.

1154 d. Justification for the program length if it exceeds 60

1155 credit hours, including references to the common prerequisite

1156 manual or other requirements for the baccalaureate degree. This

1157 includes documentation of alignment between the exit

1158 requirements of a Florida College System institution and the

1159 admissions requirements of a baccalaureate program at a state

1160 university to which students would typically transfer.

1161 e. Articulation agreements for graduates of the associate

1162 in arts specialized transfer degree.

1163 f. Responses to the comments received under subparagraph

1164 2.

1165 Section 21. Subsections (1) and (16) of section 1007.271,

1166 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1167 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—

1168 (1) The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an

1169 eligible secondary student in this state or home education

1170 student in this state in a postsecondary course creditable

1171 toward high school completion and a career certificate or an

1172 associate or baccalaureate degree. Postsecondary institutions

1173 that are eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program

1174 are Florida public postsecondary institutions and eligible not-

1175 for-profit independent colleges and universities pursuant to s.

1176 1011.62(1)(i). A student ~~who is~~ enrolled in postsecondary

1177 instruction that is not creditable toward a high school diploma

1178 may not be classified as a dual enrollment student.

1179 (16) Students who ~~meet the eligibility requirements of~~

1180 ~~this section and who choose to~~ participate in dual enrollment

1181 programs are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition,

1182 and laboratory fees.

1183 Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

1184 1008.2125, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1185 1008.2125 The Council for Early Grade Success.—

1186 (1) The Council for Early Grade Success, a council as

1187 defined in s. 20.03(7), is created within the Department of

1188 Education to oversee the coordinated screening and progress

1189 monitoring program under s. 1008.25(9) for students in the

1190 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program through grade 3 and,

1191 except as otherwise provided in this section, shall operate

1192 consistent with s. 20.052.

1193 (a) The council shall be responsible for reviewing the

1194 implementation of, training for, and outcomes from the

1195 coordinated screening and progress monitoring program to provide

1196 recommendations to the department that support grade 3 students

1197 reading at or above grade level. The council, at a minimum,

1198 shall:

1199 1. Provide recommendations on the implementation of the

1200 coordinated screening and progress monitoring program, including

1201 reviewing any procurement solicitation documents and criteria

1202 before being published.

1203 2. Develop training plans and timelines for such training.

1204 3. Identify appropriate personnel, processes, and

1205 procedures required for the administration of the coordinated

1206 screening and progress monitoring program.

1207 4. Provide input on the methodology for calculating a

1208 provider's or school's performance metric and designations under

1209 s. 1002.68(3) ~~s. 1002.68(4).~~

1210 5. Work with the department to review the methodology for

1211 determining a child's kindergarten readiness.

1212 6. Review data on age-appropriate learning gains by grade

1213 level that a student would need to attain in order to

1214 demonstrate proficiency in reading by grade 3.

1215 7. Continually review anonymized data from the results of

1216 the coordinated screening and progress monitoring program for

1217 students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

1218 through grade 3 to help inform recommendations to the department

1219 that support practices that will enable grade 3 students to read

1220 at or above grade level.

1221 Section 23. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4), paragraphs

1222 (b) and (d) of subsection (5), and paragraph (a) of subsection

1223 (9) of section 1008.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1224 1008.25 Public school student progression; student

1225 support; coordinated screening and progress monitoring;

1226 reporting requirements.—

1227 (4) ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT.—

1228 (c) A student who has a substantial reading deficiency as

1229 determined in paragraph (5)(a) or a substantial mathematics

1230 deficiency as determined in paragraph (6)(a) must be covered by

1231 a federally required student plan, such as an individual

1232 education plan or an individualized progress monitoring plan, or

1233 both, as necessary. The individualized progress monitoring plan

1234 must be developed within 45 days after the results of the

1235 coordinated screening and progress monitoring system become

1236 available. The plan must, at a minimum, include:

1237 1. The student's specific, identified reading or

1238 mathematics skill deficiency.

1239 2. Goals and benchmarks for student growth in reading or

1240 mathematics.

1241 3. A description of the specific measures that will be

1242 used to evaluate and monitor the student's reading or

1243 mathematics progress.

1244 4. For a substantial reading deficiency, the specific

1245 evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the science of

1246 reading which the student will receive.

1247 5. Strategies, resources, and materials that will be

1248 provided to the student's parent to support the student to make

1249 reading or mathematics progress. For a student with a

1250 substantial reading deficiency, resources must include

1251 information about the student's eligibility for the New Worlds

1252 Reading Initiative under s. 1003.485.

1253 6. Any additional services the student's teacher deems

1254 available and appropriate to accelerate the student's reading or

1255 mathematics skill development.

1256 (5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.—

1257 (b) A Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program student

1258 who exhibits a substantial deficiency in early literacy skills

1259 based upon the results of the administration of the midyear or

1260 final coordinated screening and progress monitoring under

1261 subsection (9) shall be referred to the local school district

1262 and may be eligible to receive instruction in early literacy

1263 skills before participating in kindergarten. A Voluntary

1264 Prekindergarten Education Program student who scores below the

1265 25th ~~10th~~ percentile on the final administration of the

1266 coordinated screening and progress monitoring under subsection

1267 (9) shall be referred to the local school district and is

1268 eligible to receive early literacy skill instructional support

1269 through a summer bridge program the summer before participating

1270 in kindergarten. The summer bridge program must meet

1271 requirements adopted by the department and shall consist of 4

1272 hours of instruction per day for a minimum of 100 total hours. A

1273 student with an individual education plan who has been retained

1274 pursuant to paragraph (2)(g) and has demonstrated a substantial

1275 deficiency in early literacy skills must receive instruction in

1276 early literacy skills.

1277 (d) The parent of any student who exhibits a substantial

1278 deficiency in reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be

1279 immediately notified in writing of the following:

1280 1. That his or her child has been identified as having a

1281 substantial deficiency in reading, including a description and

1282 explanation, in terms understandable to the parent, of the exact

1283 nature of the student's difficulty in learning and lack of

1284 achievement in reading.

1285 2. A description of the current services that are provided

1286 to the child.

1287 3. A description of the proposed intensive interventions

1288 and supports that will be provided to the child that are

1289 designed to remediate the identified area of reading deficiency.

1290 4. The student progression requirements under paragraph

1291 (2)(h) and that if the child's reading deficiency is not

1292 remediated by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained

1293 unless he or she is exempt from mandatory retention for good

1294 cause.

1295 5. Strategies, including multisensory strategies and

1296 programming, through a read-at-home plan the parent can use in

1297 helping his or her child succeed in reading. The read-at-home

1298 plan must provide access to the resources identified in

1299 paragraph (e).

1300 6. That the statewide, standardized English Language Arts

1301 assessment is not the sole determiner of promotion and that

1302 additional evaluations, portfolio reviews, and assessments are

1303 available to the child to assist parents and the school district

1304 in knowing when a child is reading at or above grade level and

1305 ready for grade promotion.

1306 7. The district's specific criteria and policies for a

1307 portfolio as provided in subparagraph (7)(b)4. and the evidence

1308 required for a student to demonstrate mastery of Florida's

1309 academic standards for English Language Arts. A school must

1310 immediately begin collecting evidence for a portfolio when a

1311 student in grade 3 is identified as being at risk of retention

1312 or upon the request of the parent, whichever occurs first.

1313 8. The district's specific criteria and policies for

1314 midyear promotion. Midyear promotion means promotion of a

1315 retained student at any time during the year of retention once

1316 the student has demonstrated ability to read at grade level.

1317 9. Information about the student's eligibility for the New

1318 Worlds Reading Initiative under s. 1003.485 and the New Worlds

1319 Scholarship Accounts under s. 1002.411 and information on parent

1320 training modules and other reading engagement resources

1321 available through the initiative.

1323 After initial notification, the school shall apprise the parent

1324 at least monthly of the student's progress in response to the

1325 intensive interventions and supports and the student's

1326 eligibility for the New Worlds Reading Initiative under s.

1327 1003.485. Such communications must be in writing and must

1328 explain any additional interventions or supports that will be

1329 implemented to accelerate the student's progress if the

1330 interventions and supports already being implemented have not

1331 resulted in improvement. Upon the request of the parent, the

1332 teacher or school administrator shall meet to discuss the

1333 student's progress. The parent may request more frequent

1334 notification of the student's progress, more frequent

1335 interventions or supports, and earlier implementation of the

1336 additional interventions or supports described in the initial

1337 notification.

1338 (9) COORDINATED SCREENING AND PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM.—

1339 (a) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the

1340 Office of Early Learning, shall procure and require the use of a

1341 statewide, standardized coordinated screening and progress

1342 monitoring system for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education

1343 Program and public schools. The system must:

1344 1. Measure student progress in meeting the appropriate

1345 expectations in early literacy and mathematics skills and in

1346 English Language Arts and mathematics standards as required by

1347 ss. 1002.67(1)(a) and 1003.41 and identify the educational

1348 strengths and needs of students.

1349 2. For students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education

1350 Program through grade 3, measure student performance in oral

1351 language development, phonological and phonemic awareness,

1352 knowledge of print and letters, decoding, fluency, vocabulary,

1353 and comprehension, as applicable by grade level, and, at a

1354 minimum, provide interval level and norm-referenced data that

1355 measures equivalent levels of growth.

1356 3. Be a valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate

1357 computer-based direct instrument that provides screening and

1358 diagnostic capabilities for monitoring student progress;

1359 identifies students who have a substantial deficiency in reading

1360 or mathematics, including identifying students with

1361 characteristics of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning

1362 disorders; and informs instruction. Any student identified by

1363 the system as having characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia

1364 shall undergo further screening. Beginning with the 2023-2024

1365 school year, the coordinated screening and progress monitoring

1366 system must be computer-adaptive.

1367 4. Provide data for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education

1368 Program accountability as required under s. 1002.68.

1369 5. Provide Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

1370 providers, school districts, schools, teachers, and parents with

1371 data and resources that enhance differentiated instruction and

1372 parent communication.

1373 6. Provide baseline data to the department of each

1374 student's readiness for kindergarten. The determination of

1375 kindergarten readiness must be based on the results of each

1376 student's initial progress monitoring assessment in

1377 kindergarten. The methodology for determining a student's

1378 readiness for kindergarten must be developed by the department

1379 and aligned to the methodology adopted pursuant to s. 1002.68(3)

1380 ~~s. 1002.68(4).~~

1381 7. Assess how well educational goals and curricular

1382 standards are met at the provider, school, district, and state

1383 levels and provide information to the department to aid in the

1384 development of educational programs, policies, and supports for

1385 providers, districts, and schools.

1386 Section 24. Subsection (2) of section 1008.47, Florida

1387 Statutes, is amended to read:

1388 1008.47 Postsecondary education institution

1389 accreditation.—

1390 (2) ACCREDITATION.—

1391 (a) ~~By September 1, 2022,~~ The Board of Governors or the

1392 State Board of Education, as applicable, shall identify and

1393 determine the accrediting agencies or associations best suited

1394 to serve as an accreditor for public postsecondary institutions.

1395 Such accrediting agencies or associations must be recognized by

1396 the database created and maintained by the United States

1397 Department of Education. Within 3 years ~~In the year~~ following

1398 reaffirmation or fifth-year review by its accrediting agencies

1399 or associations, each public postsecondary institution must seek

1400 and obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency or

1401 association identified by the Board of Governors or State Board

1402 of Education, respectively, before its next reaffirmation or

1403 fifth-year review date. The requirements in this section are

1404 limited to a one-time change in accreditation. The requirements

1405 of this subsection are not applicable to those professional,

1406 graduate, departmental, or certificate programs at public

1407 postsecondary institutions that have specific accreditation

1408 requirements or best practices, including, but not limited to,

1409 law, pharmacy, engineering, or other similarly situated

1410 educational programs.

1411 (b) Once a public postsecondary institution is required to

1412 seek and obtain accreditation from an agency or association

1413 identified pursuant to paragraph (a), the institution shall seek

1414 accreditation from an ~~a regional~~ accrediting agency or

1415 association and provide quarterly reports of its progress to the

1416 Board of Governors or State Board of Education, as applicable.

1417 If each ~~regional~~ accreditation agency or association identified

1418 pursuant to paragraph (a) has refused to grant candidacy status

1419 to an institution, the institution must seek and obtain

1420 accreditation from any accrediting agency or association that is

1421 different from its current accrediting agency or association and

1422 is recognized by the database created and maintained by the

1423 United States Department of Education. If a public postsecondary

1424 institution is not granted candidacy status before its next

1425 reaffirmation or fifth-year review date, the institution may

1426 remain with its current accrediting agency or association.

1427 (c) This subsection expires December 31, 2032.

1428 Section 25. Subsection (7) of section 1009.21, Florida

1429 Statutes, is amended to read:

1430 1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition

1431 purposes.—Students shall be classified as residents or

1432 nonresidents for the purpose of assessing tuition in

1433 postsecondary educational programs offered by charter technical

1434 career centers or career centers operated by school districts,

1435 in Florida College System institutions, and in state

1436 universities.

1437 (7) A person may ~~shall~~ not lose his or her resident status

1438 for tuition purposes solely by reason of his or her serving, or,

1439 if such person is a dependent child, by reason of his or her

1440 parent's or parents' serving outside this state as active duty

1441 or civilian personnel:,

1442 (a) In the Armed Forces ~~outside this state.~~

1443 (b) On assignment for the United States Department of

1444 State or Department of Defense.

1445 (c) Teaching at a Department of Defense Dependent School.

1446 Section 26. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section

1447 1009.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1448 1009.25 Fee exemptions.—

1449 (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of

1450 tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that

1451 provides workforce education programs, Florida College System

1452 institution, or state university:

1453 (e) A student who meets the definition of homeless

1454 children and youths in s. 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless

1455 Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 11434a(2), as previously determined

1456 by a public school in this state. This includes a student who

1457 would otherwise meet the requirements of this paragraph, as

1458 determined by a college or university, but for his or her

1459 residence in college or university dormitory housing. The State

1460 Board of Education may adopt rules and the Board of Governors

1461 may adopt regulations regarding documentation and procedures to

1462 implement this paragraph. Such rules and regulations must

1463 consider documentation of a student's circumstance to be

1464 adequate if such documentation meets the standards under 20

1465 U.S.C. s. 1087uu-2(a). Any student who is determined to be a

1466 homeless child or youth for a preceding award year is presumed

1467 to be a homeless child or youth for each subsequent year unless

1468 the student informs the institution that the student's

1469 circumstances have changed or the institution has specific

1470 conflicting information about the student's independence, and

1471 has informed the student of this information. A distance

1472 learning student residing out-of-state is ineligible for the

1473 exemption in this paragraph.

1474 Section 27. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section

1475 1009.893, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1476 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—

1477 (4) In order to be eligible for an initial award under the

1478 scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of

1479 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).

1480 (a) A student who is a resident of this state, as

1481 determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of

1482 Education, must:

1483 1. Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its

1484 equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282,

1485 or s. 1003.435 unless:

1486 a. The student completes a home education program

1487 according to s. 1002.41; or

1488 b. The student earns a high school diploma from a non-

1489 Florida school while living with a parent who is on military or

1490 public service assignment out of this state;

1491 2. Be accepted by and enroll in a Florida public or

1492 independent postsecondary educational institution that is

1493 regionally accredited; and

1494 3. Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program

1495 at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or

1496 independent postsecondary educational institution during the

1497 fall academic term following high school graduation. A student

1498 may defer the initial scholarship award for up to 1 year.

1499 Section 28. Subsection (5) of section 1009.983, Florida

1500 Statutes, is amended to read:

1501 1009.983 Direct-support organization; authority.—

1502 (5) The chair of the board or a designee who possesses

1503 knowledge, skill, and experience in the areas of accounting,

1504 risk management, or investment management shall serve as a

1505 director of the direct-support organization. The chair and the

1506 executive director of the board shall jointly name, at a

1507 minimum, four other individuals to serve as directors of the

1508 organization.

1509 Section 29. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section

1510 1009.986, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1511 1009.986 Florida ABLE program.—

1512 (3) DIRECT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION; FLORIDA ABLE, INC.—

1513 (d)1. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., shall

1514 consist of:

1515 a. The chair of the Florida Prepaid College Board, or a

1516 ~~his or her~~ designee who possesses knowledge, skill, and

1517 experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or

1518 investment management.

1519 b. Up to three individuals who possess knowledge, skill,

1520 and experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or

1521 investment management, one of whom may be a current member of

1522 the Florida Prepaid College Board, who shall be appointed by the

1523 Florida Prepaid College Board.

1524 c. One individual who possesses knowledge, skill, and

1525 experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or

1526 investment management, who shall be appointed by the Governor.

1527 d. Two individuals who are advocates of persons with

1528 disabilities, one of whom shall be appointed by the President of

1529 the Senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of

1530 the House of Representatives. At least one of the individuals

1531 appointed under this sub-subparagraph must be an advocate of

1532 persons with developmental disabilities, as that term is defined

1533 in s. 393.063.

1534 2.a. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraph

1535 1.b. shall be up to 3 years as determined by the Florida Prepaid

1536 College Board. Such appointees may be reappointed.

1537 b. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraphs 1.c.

1538 and d. shall be 3 years. Such appointees may be reappointed.

1539 3. Unless authorized by the board of directors of Florida

1540 ABLE, Inc., an individual director has no authority to control

1541 or direct the operations of Florida ABLE, Inc., or the actions

1542 of its officers and employees.

1543 4. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc.:

1544 a. Shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon

1545 the call of the chair.

1546 b. May use any method of telecommunications to conduct, or

1547 establish a quorum at, its meetings or the meetings of a

1548 subcommittee or other subdivision if the public is given proper

1549 notice of the telecommunications meeting and provided reasonable

1550 access to observe and, if appropriate, to participate.

1551 c. Shall annually elect a board member to serve as chair.

1552 5. A majority of the total current membership of the board

1553 of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., constitutes a quorum of the

1554 board.

1555 6. Members of the board of directors of Florida ABLE,

1556 Inc., and the board's subcommittees or other subdivisions shall

1557 serve without compensation; however, the members may be

1558 reimbursed for reasonable, necessary, and actual travel expenses

1559 pursuant to s. 112.061.

1560 Section 30. Present paragraphs (h) and (i) of subsection

1561 (17) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as

1562 paragraphs (i) and (j), respectively, and a new paragraph (h) is

1563 added to that subsection, to read:

1564 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual

1565 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each

1566 district for operation of schools is not determined in the

1567 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing

1568 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as

1569 follows:

1570 (17) ACADEMIC ACCELERATION OPTIONS SUPPLEMENT.—The

1571 academic acceleration options supplement is created to assist

1572 school districts in providing academic acceleration options,

1573 career-themed courses, and courses that lead to digital tool

1574 certificates and industry certifications for prekindergarten

1575 through grade 12 students and shall be allocated annually in the

1576 General Appropriations Act.

1577 (h) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent

1578 membership based on Florida advanced courses and tests scores of

1579 students.—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student

1580 membership shall be calculated for each student in a Florida

1581 advanced course who achieves a minimum score on an assessment

1582 identified by the Department of Education pursuant to s.

1583 1007.27(2) and added to the total full-time equivalent student

1584 membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in the

1585 subsequent fiscal year. Each district shall allocate at least 80

1586 percent of the funds provided to the district for advanced

1587 course instruction, in accordance with this paragraph, to the

1588 high school that generates the funds. The school district shall

1589 distribute to each classroom teacher who provided the advanced

1590 course instruction:

1591 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by

1592 the Florida advanced course teacher in each Florida advanced

1593 course who achieves a minimum score on an assessment identified

1594 by the Department of Education pursuant to s. 1007.27(2).

1595 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Florida advanced

1596 course teacher in a school designated with a grade of "D" or "F"

1597 who has at least one student who achieves a minimum score on an

1598 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to

1599 s. 1007.27(2), regardless of the number of classes taught or of

1600 the number of students who achieve a minimum score on an

1601 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to

1602 s. 1007.27(2).

1603 Section 31. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section

1604 1011.69, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1605 1011.69 Equity in School-Level Funding Act.—

1606 (4) After providing Title I, Part A, Basic funds to

1607 schools above the 75 percent poverty threshold, which may

1608 include high schools above the 50 percent threshold as permitted

1609 by federal law, school districts shall provide any remaining

1610 Title I, Part A, Basic funds directly to all eligible schools as

1611 provided in this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, an

1612 eligible school is a school that is eligible to receive Title I

1613 funds, including a charter school. The threshold for identifying

1614 eligible schools may not exceed the threshold established by a

1615 school district for the 2016-2017 school year or the statewide

1616 percentage of economically disadvantaged students, as determined

1617 annually.

1618 (a) Prior to the allocation of Title I funds to eligible

1619 schools, a school district may withhold funds only as follows:

1620 1. One percent for parent involvement, in addition to the

1621 one percent the district must reserve under federal law for

1622 allocations to eligible schools for parent involvement;

1623 2. A necessary and reasonable amount for administration

1624 which includes the district's indirect cost rate, not to exceed

1625 a total of 10 percent;

1626 3. A reasonable and necessary amount to provide:

1627 a. Homeless programs;

1628 b. Delinquent and neglected programs;

1629 c. Prekindergarten programs and activities;

1630 d. Private school equitable services; and

1631 e. Transportation for foster care children to their school

1632 of origin or choice programs; and

1633 4. A necessary and reasonable amount, not to exceed 1

1634 percent, for eligible schools to provide educational services in

1635 accordance with the approved Title I plan. Such educational

1636 services may include the provision of STEM curricula,

1637 instructional materials, and related learning technologies that

1638 support academic achievement in science, technology,

1639 engineering, and mathematics in Title I schools, including, but

1640 not limited to, technologies related to drones, coding,

1641 animation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science,

1642 the engineering design process, mobile development, and

1643 robotics. Funds may be reserved under this subparagraph only to

1644 the extent that all required reservations under federal law have

1645 been met and that such reservation does not reduce school-level

1646 allocations below the levels required under federal law.

1647 Section 32. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.