THE BILL ITSELF
SB 920
Mathematics Education
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 920 By Senator Gaetz 1-01217A-26 2026920__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to mathematics education; amending s.
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1003.4282, F.S.; providing requirements for
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mathematics pathways established by a certain
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workgroup; requiring that certain courses for the
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mathematics pathways be identified by specified dates;
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requiring the workgroup to submit identified
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mathematics pathways to the Governor and the
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Legislature; creating s. 1003.4936, F.S.; providing
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legislative findings; requiring the Department of
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Education to develop applied algebra courses;
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providing requirements for the applied algebra
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courses; requiring the department to develop the
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courses on specified timelines; requiring the
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department to collaborate with the Board of Governors
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of the State University System to ensure the courses
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are accepted as mathematics credits for state
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university admissions; requiring the department to
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collaborate with the Lastinger Center for Learning at
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the University of Florida to make specified
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recommendations to the Legislature; providing
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requirements for the recommendations; requiring the
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department to submit its recommendations to the
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Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (10) of section
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1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
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(10) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDIT.—The Department
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of Education shall convene a workgroup , no later than December
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1, 2024, to:
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(b) Establish three mathematics pathways for students
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enrolled in secondary grades by aligning mathematics courses to
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programs, postsecondary education, and careers. The workgroup
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shall collaborate to identify the three mathematics pathways and
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the mathematics course sequence within each pathway which align
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to the mathematics skills needed for success in the
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corresponding academic programs, postsecondary education, and
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careers.
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1. The mathematics pathways must incorporate the applied
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algebra courses established under s. 1003.4936 which align the
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Florida Standards for Algebra 1 with the career and technical
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education standards and benchmarks for each designated career
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cluster.
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2. Each mathematics pathway must include at least one
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course sequence beginning with an applied algebra course aligned
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to a specific career cluster. The workgroup shall identify
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additional mathematics courses that follow each applied algebra
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course and build on the algebraic reasoning, modeling, and
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quantitative skills introduced through industry-relevant
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applications. The mathematics pathways may include a plan to
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create new mathematics courses to complete a pathway.
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3. Each mathematics pathway must offer flexibility and the
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ability to move between pathways if necessary.
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4. Mathematics pathways must create clear links between
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precollege mathematics and college-level math pathways, and
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support student progression into postsecondary academic
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programs, state college career and technical education programs,
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career center programs, industry certification programs, and
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high-skill, high-wage occupations.
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5. The mathematics pathways that incorporate applied
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algebra courses created under s. 1003.4936(3)(a)1. must be
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identified no later than September 1, 2027. The mathematics
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pathways that incorporate applied algebra courses created under
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s. 1003.4936(3)(a)2. must be identified no later than September
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1, 2028. The workgroup shall submit identified mathematics
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pathways to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
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Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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Section 2. Section 1003.4936, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1003.4936 Applied algebra for career and technical
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education.—
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(1) The Legislature finds that algebra is an important step
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in a student’s mathematics pathway. Algebra is a prerequisite
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for higher level mathematics courses, and success in algebra is
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strongly connected with later mathematics success. Establishing
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an applied algebra course that integrates career and technical
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education standards equips students with mathematical skills
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directly connected to real industry practices and increases the
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relevance of algebra instruction. By contextualizing algebraic
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concepts within authentic occupational problems, such applied
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algebra courses improve student engagement, strengthen
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understanding of core math standards, and better prepare
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students for high-skill, high-wage careers. Such a course will
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enable students to pass the Algebra 1 end-of-course assessment,
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but also develop practical skills that support success in
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Florida’s workforce and postsecondary pathways.
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(2) The Department of Education shall develop an applied
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algebra course for each of the established career and technical
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education career clusters. Each applied algebra course must:
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(a) Integrate the career and technical education program
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standards and benchmarks for the relevant career cluster with
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the Florida Standards for Algebra 1.
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(b) Provide students with rigorous, career-relevant
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mathematical applications that demonstrate the use of algebraic
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concepts in authentic industry problems, processes, or settings.
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(c) Prepare students to take the statewide, standardized
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Algebra 1 end-of-course assessment required under s. 1008.22.
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(d) Meet all requirements for a mathematics credit required
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for high school graduation under s. 1003.4282(3)(b) or for
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middle grades promotion pursuant to s. 1003.4156(1)(b).
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(3)(a) The department shall develop the courses on the
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following timelines:
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1. Applied algebra courses in the following career clusters
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must be developed and available for district adoption in the
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2027-2028 school year:
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a. Agriculture, food, and natural resources.
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b. Architecture and construction.
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c. Business management and administration.
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d. Energy.
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e. Engineering and technology education.
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f. Finance.
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g. Health science.
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h. Information technology.
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i. Manufacturing.
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j. Transportation and distribution logistics.
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2. Applied algebra courses in the following career clusters
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must be developed and available for district adoption in the
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2028-2029 school year:
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a. Arts, AV technology, and communications.
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b. Education and training.
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c. Government and public administration.
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d. Hospitality and tourism.
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e. Human services.
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f. Law, public safety, and security.
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g. Marketing, sales, and service.
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(b) In grades 6 through 12, school districts may offer one
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or more applied algebra courses in lieu of Algebra 1, and
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successful completion of the course will satisfy the Algebra 1
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credit requirement for high school graduation or middle grades
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promotion.
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(c) The department shall collaborate with the Board of
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Governors of the State University System to ensure that each
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applied algebra course is accepted as a mathematics credit for
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state university admissions.
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(d) The department shall provide professional development,
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instructional resources, and technical assistance to support
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district implementation.
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Section 3. (1) The Department of Education shall
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collaborate with the Lastinger Center for Learning at the
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University of Florida to recommend to the Legislature an
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individualized, adaptive artificial intelligence tool to support
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mathematics instruction in kindergarten through grade 12. The
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recommendations must:
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(a) Ensure that recommended tools align to the Florida
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academic standards and prepare students for state assessments.
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(b) Consider alternate mathematics sequencing and grade
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level progression, and alternate funding models to support
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individualized progression through content.
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(c) Evaluate the extent to which tools provide real-time
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diagnostic assessments, individualized learning pathways,
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adaptive sequencing of content, and immediate, personalized
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feedback to students.
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(d) Evaluate the applicability of the tool to progress
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monitoring tools, district learning management systems,
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suggested interventions, small-group instructional supports, and
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professional development that enables teachers to integrate the
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tools into classroom instruction.
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(e) Provide for student data privacy and transparency in
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data collection and retention.
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(f) Consider statewide and district-level costs.
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(2) The department shall submit its recommendations to the
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Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
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House of Representatives by December 1, 2026.
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Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.