SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-33

No. CS/CS/SB 182

Education
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SPONSOR
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; Education Pre-K - 12; Jones
FILED BY
Shevrin D. Jones — District 34, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Education; Providing that students may not be dismissed from certain charter schools based on academic performance; requiring students in specified grades to receive instruction in cursive writing; requiring, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at each public school in the district; establishing the School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program within the Department of Education, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates cursive instruction and restricts charter school dismissals.

Public schools must teach cursive writing to grades 3-5, with students demonstrating proficiency by the end of grade 5.

Charter schools may not dismiss students based on academic performance while implementing a school improvement or corrective action plan.

Private schools with 150 or fewer students are permitted uses in commercial zoning without rezoning or special exceptions.

School districts must display portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in each public school, subject to legislative appropriation.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Charter School Dismissal Ban majors. 1002.33(10)(e)

AIProhibits dismissing students from charter schools based on academic performance while the school is under a state-mandated improvement or corrective action plan.

“A student may not be dismissed based on academic performance while a school is implementing a school improvement plan pursuant to paragraph (9)(n) or corrective action plan” bill text, line 84 →
§ 2 Cursive Writing Mandate majors. 1003.42(2)(w)

AIRequires public schools to teach cursive writing in grades 3-5 and mandates that students demonstrate proficiency in cursive by the end of grade 5.

“By the end of grade 5, each student must demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing.” bill text, line 253 →
§ 3 Private School Zoning Exemption majors. 1002.42(19)(d)

AIExempts private schools enrolling 150 or fewer students from rezoning, special exceptions, and most land use conditions in commercial or mixed-use zoning districts.

“shall be considered a permitted use and occupancy in a commercial or mixed-use zoning district within a county or municipality without rezoning or obtaining a special exception” bill text, line 199 →
§ 4 Teacher Mentoring Program moderates. 1012.988(2)(a)

AIEstablishes a state program allowing districts to place highly effective or retired teachers in D- or F-rated schools to mentor struggling or new teachers, funded by educational enrichment allocations.

“School districts and charter schools may place retired classroom teachers or current classroom teachers in schools earning a grade of "D" or "F" to act as teacher mentors” bill text, line 296 →
§ 5 Mandatory Portraits Display moderates. 1003.44(4)(b)

AIRequires district school boards to adopt rules displaying portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in every public school building, subject to legislative appropriation.

“Subject to legislative appropriation, the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in a conspicuous place at each public school in the district.” bill text, line 283 →
§ 6 Scholarship Fund Reversion Change moderates. 1002.395(11)(h)

AIChanges the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program so that unspent funds revert to the sponsoring organization rather than the state, with strict annual expenditure requirements.

“A student's scholarship account must be closed and any remaining funds must revert to the organization” bill text, line 119 →
TIMELINE
4/21/2026
Chapter No. 2026-33
4/20/2026
Approved by Governor
4/9/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 91, NAYS 11
3/12/2026
Amendment 899512 Concur
3/12/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/12/2026
In Messages
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 833
3/12/2026
Concurred in House amendment(s) as amended (696291) -SJ 833
3/12/2026
Amendment(s) to House amendment(s) adopted (899512) -SJ 831
3/11/2026
In returning messages
3/11/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 110, NAYS 0
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time
3/11/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/11/2026
Amendment 696291 adopted
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time
3/10/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
3/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
3/10/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
3/6/2026
In Messages
3/6/2026
CS passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 0 -SJ 674
3/6/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 674
3/6/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 674
3/3/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/06/26
3/3/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/2/2026
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
2/26/2026
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education read 1st time
2/26/2026
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 03/02/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/26/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
2/26/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/25/2026
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
2/20/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12...
2/12/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
2/11/2026
CS by Education Pre-K - 12 read 1st time
2/11/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/10/2026
CS by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
2/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 02/10/26, 3:00 pm, 412...
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/3/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
10/14/2025
Filed
35 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1002.33
+31 / −0
s. 1002.395
+111 / −12
s. 1002.42
+356 / −0
s. 1003.42
+133 / −0
s. 1003.44
+61 / −19
s. 1012.988
+388 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
3 MORE →