Florida Senate - 2012                       CS for CS for SB 834
       
       
       
       By the Committees on Criminal Justice; Education Pre-K - 12; and
       Education Pre-K - 12
       
       
       
       591-03216-12                                           2012834c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to juvenile justice education and
    3         workforce programs; amending s. 985.03, F.S.;
    4         providing a definition for the term “juvenile justice
    5         education programs” for purposes of the act; amending
    6         s. 985.46, F.S.; requiring that each juvenile
    7         committed to a juvenile justice commitment program
    8         have a transition plan upon release; requiring that
    9         the transition plan include an education transition
   10         plan component and information regarding delinquency
   11         treatment and intervention services that are
   12         accessible upon exiting the program; amending s.
   13         985.618, F.S.; providing legislative intent regarding
   14         juvenile justice education and workforce-related
   15         programs; requiring that the Department of Juvenile
   16         Justice, in collaboration with the Department of
   17         Education, annually verify that each juvenile justice
   18         education program meets specified minimum standards;
   19         requiring that the department collaborate with certain
   20         entities to adopt rules; amending s. 985.632, F.S.;
   21         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   22         requiring that the Department of Education rather than
   23         the Department of Juvenile Justice ensure that there
   24         is accurate cost accounting for certain education
   25         programs; requiring that the Department of Education
   26         submit annual cost data to the department; requiring
   27         that the effectiveness of juvenile justice education
   28         programs be determined by implementing systematic data
   29         collection, data analysis, and evaluations; requiring
   30         that the programs be evaluated based on student
   31         performance outcomes; requiring that the Department of
   32         Juvenile Justice, in collaboration with the Department
   33         of Education and in consultation with other entities,
   34         prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor
   35         and the Legislature by a specified date; amending s.
   36         985.721, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending
   37         s. 1001.42, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes
   38         made by the act; conforming a cross-reference;
   39         amending ss. 1002.20 and 1002.45, F.S.; conforming
   40         cross-references; amending s. 1003.01, F.S.; revising
   41         the term “juvenile justice education programs or
   42         schools” to conform to changes made by the act;
   43         creating s. 1003.515, F.S.; providing a short title;
   44         providing a legislative finding; providing purposes of
   45         the Florida Juvenile Justice Education Act; providing
   46         a definition for the term “juvenile justice education
   47         programs”; providing responsibilities for school
   48         districts and private providers contracted by school
   49         districts to offer education services to youth in
   50         juvenile justice education programs; requiring that
   51         each juvenile justice residential and nonresidential
   52         program involve the regional workforce board or
   53         economic development agency and local postsecondary
   54         institutions to determine the occupational areas for
   55         the education and workforce-related program; providing
   56         requirements for education and workforce-related
   57         services in juvenile justice programs; providing
   58         responsibilities for the Department of Education;
   59         requiring that the department identify each juvenile
   60         justice residential and nonresidential education
   61         program, excluding detention programs, by performance
   62         ratings; providing criteria for determining
   63         performance ratings; requiring that the department
   64         make available a common student pre- and post
   65         assessment to measure the academic progress in reading
   66         and mathematics of youth in juvenile justice education
   67         programs; requiring that juvenile justice residential
   68         and nonresidential education programs, excluding
   69         detention centers, be held accountable for student
   70         performance outcomes for a specified period after
   71         youth are released from the programs; providing for
   72         program accountability; requiring that the department
   73         monitor the education performance of youth, prohibit
   74         certain school district or private providers, under
   75         specified circumstances, from delivering education
   76         services, and verify that a school district is
   77         operating or contracting to deliver education
   78         services; providing for a school district’s
   79         responsibilities; requiring that a youth who exits the
   80         program attain an industry certification, enroll in a
   81         program to complete the industry certification, be
   82         gainfully employed, or enroll in and continue his or
   83         her education based on a transition plan; requiring
   84         that an education transition plan component be
   85         incorporated in a youth’s transition plan; requiring
   86         that each juvenile justice education program develop
   87         the education transition plan component during the
   88         course of the youth’s stay in a juvenile justice
   89         residential or nonresidential program; providing
   90         funding requirements for the juvenile justice
   91         education programs; prohibiting a district school
   92         board from being charged rent, maintenance, utilities,
   93         or overhead on facilities; requiring that the
   94         Department of Juvenile Justice provide maintenance,
   95         repairs, and remodeling of existing facilities;
   96         requiring that the State Board of Education
   97         collaborate with the Department of Juvenile Justice,
   98         the Department of Economic Opportunity, school
   99         districts, and private providers to adopt rules;
  100         repealing s. 1003.52, F.S., relating to educational
  101         services in Department of Juvenile Justice programs;
  102         amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; providing an exemption from
  103         the payment of postsecondary education fees and
  104         tuition for certain youth who are ordered by a court
  105         to participate in a juvenile justice residential
  106         program; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; extending dates
  107         relating to the funding of students who are enrolled
  108         in juvenile justice education programs or in education
  109         programs for juveniles placed in secure facilities;
  110         conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective
  111         date.
  112  
  113  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  114  
  115         Section 1. Present subsections (30) through (57) of section
  116  985.03, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (31)
  117  through (58), respectively, and a new subsection (30) is added
  118  to that section, to read:
  119         985.03 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
  120         (30) “Juvenile justice education programs” has the same
  121  meaning as provided in s. 1003.01(11)(a).
  122         Section 2. Subsection (6) is added to section 985.46,
  123  Florida Statutes, to read:
  124         985.46 Conditional release.—
  125         (6) Each juvenile committed to a commitment program shall
  126  have a transition plan upon release. Transition planning shall
  127  begin for each juvenile upon placement in a commitment program
  128  and shall result in an individual transition plan for each youth
  129  before he or she is released. The transition plan shall be
  130  developed with the participation of the youth, representatives
  131  of the commitment program, school district personnel, and
  132  representatives of conditional release or postcommitment
  133  probation programs, if appropriate. The transition plan shall
  134  include an education transition plan component as provided in s.
  135  1003.515(10), as well as information regarding pertinent
  136  delinquency treatment and intervention services that are
  137  accessible upon exiting the program.
  138         (a)For a juvenile who is released on conditional release
  139  or postcommitment probation status, the transition plan shall be
  140  incorporated into the conditions of release.
  141         (b)For a juvenile who is not released on conditional
  142  release or postcommitment probation status, the transition plan
  143  shall be explained to the youth and provided upon release, with
  144  all necessary referrals having been made at least 30 days before
  145  the youth exits the program.
  146         (c)For a juvenile who participates in a nonresidential
  147  program, the transition plan shall be explained to the youth and
  148  provided upon release. For a juvenile who participates in a
  149  nonresidential program and who is released on conditional
  150  release or postcommitment probation status, the transition plan
  151  shall be incorporated into the conditions of release.
  152         Section 3. Section 985.618, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  153  read:
  154         (Substantial rewording of section. See
  155         s. 985.618, F.S., for present text.)
  156         985.618 Education and workforce-related programs.—
  157         (1)The Legislature intends for youth in juvenile justice
  158  programs to be provided a quality education that includes
  159  workforce-related skills that lead to continuing education or
  160  meaningful employment, or both, and that results in reduced
  161  rates of recidivism.
  162         (2) The department, in collaboration with the Department of
  163  Education, shall annually verify that each juvenile justice
  164  education program, at a minimum:
  165         (a)Provides access to virtual course offerings that
  166  maximize learning opportunities for youth.
  167         (b) Encourages access to virtual counseling to address the
  168  educational and workforce needs of adjudicated youth.
  169         (c)Provides instruction from individuals who hold industry
  170  credentials in the occupational areas in which they teach.
  171         (d)Ensures student access to instruction during evenings
  172  and weekends.
  173         (e)Considers, before placement, the age, interests, prior
  174  education, training, work experience, emotional and mental
  175  abilities, treatment needs, and physical capabilities of the
  176  youth and the duration of the term of placement imposed.
  177         (f) Provides specialized instruction, related services,
  178  accommodations, and modifications as are necessary to ensure the
  179  provision of a free, appropriate public education for students
  180  with disabilities.
  181         (g) Expends funds in a manner that directly supports the
  182  attainment of successful student outcomes as specified in s.
  183  1003.515(7) and that allows youth to engage in real work
  184  situations whenever possible.
  185         (3)The department shall collaborate with the Department of
  186  Education, the Department of Economic Opportunity, school
  187  districts, and private providers to adopt rules to administer
  188  this section.
  189         Section 4. Section 985.632, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  190  read:
  191         985.632 Quality assurance and cost-effectiveness.—
  192         (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
  193  department:
  194         (a) Ensure that information be provided to decisionmakers
  195  in a timely manner so that resources are allocated to programs
  196  of the department which achieve desired performance levels.
  197         (b) Provide information about the cost of such programs and
  198  their differential effectiveness so that the quality of such
  199  programs can be compared and improvements made continually.
  200         (c) Provide information to aid in developing related policy
  201  issues and concerns.
  202         (d) Provide information to the public about the
  203  effectiveness of such programs in meeting established goals and
  204  objectives.
  205         (e) Provide a basis for a system of accountability so that
  206  each client is afforded the best programs to meet his or her
  207  needs.
  208         (f) Improve service delivery to clients.
  209         (g) Modify or eliminate activities that are not effective.
  210         (2) As used in this section, the term:
  211         (a) “Client” means any person who is being provided
  212  treatment or services by the department or by a provider under
  213  contract with the department.
  214         (b) “Program component” means an aggregation of generally
  215  related objectives which, because of their special character,
  216  related workload, and interrelated output, can logically be
  217  considered an entity for purposes of organization, management,
  218  accounting, reporting, and budgeting.
  219         (c) “Program effectiveness” means the ability of the
  220  program to achieve desired client outcomes, goals, and
  221  objectives.
  222         (3) The department shall annually collect and report cost
  223  data for every program operated by the department or its
  224  contracted provider or contracted by the department. The cost
  225  data shall conform to a format approved by the department and
  226  the Legislature. Uniform cost data shall be reported and
  227  collected for each education program operated by a school
  228  district or private provider contracted by a school district
  229  state-operated and contracted programs so that comparisons can
  230  be made among programs. The Department of Education shall ensure
  231  that there is accurate cost accounting for education programs
  232  operated by school districts, including those programs operated
  233  by private providers under contract with school districts state
  234  operated services including market-equivalent rent and other
  235  shared cost. The cost of the educational program provided to a
  236  residential facility shall be reported and included in the cost
  237  of a program. The Department of Education shall submit an annual
  238  cost data report to the department President of the Senate, the
  239  Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of
  240  each house of the Legislature, the appropriate substantive and
  241  fiscal committees of each house of the Legislature, and the
  242  Governor, no later than December 1 of each year. The annual cost
  243  data shall be included in the annual report required in
  244  subsection (7). Cost-benefit analysis for juvenile justice
  245  education educational programs shall will be developed and
  246  implemented in collaboration with and in cooperation with the
  247  Department of Education, local providers, and local school
  248  districts. Cost data for the report shall include data collected
  249  by the Department of Education for the purposes of preparing the
  250  annual report required by s. 1003.52(19).
  251         (4)(a) The department, in consultation with the Office of
  252  Economic and Demographic Research and contract service
  253  providers, shall develop a cost-effectiveness model and apply
  254  the model to each commitment program. Program recidivism rates
  255  shall be a component of the model. The cost-effectiveness model
  256  shall compare program costs to client outcomes and program
  257  outputs. It is the intent of the Legislature that continual
  258  development efforts take place to improve the validity and
  259  reliability of the cost-effectiveness model.
  260         (b) The department shall rank commitment programs based on
  261  the cost-effectiveness model and shall submit a report to the
  262  appropriate substantive and fiscal committees of each house of
  263  the Legislature by December 31 of each year.
  264         (c) Based on reports of the department on client outcomes
  265  and program outputs and on the department’s most recent cost
  266  effectiveness rankings, the department may terminate a program
  267  operated by the department or a provider if the program has
  268  failed to achieve a minimum threshold of program effectiveness.
  269  This paragraph does not preclude the department from terminating
  270  a contract as provided under this section or as otherwise
  271  provided by law or contract, and does not limit the department’s
  272  authority to enter into or terminate a contract.
  273         (d) In collaboration with the Office of Economic and
  274  Demographic Research, and contract service providers, the
  275  department shall develop a work plan to refine the cost
  276  effectiveness model so that the model is consistent with the
  277  performance-based program budgeting measures approved by the
  278  Legislature to the extent the department deems appropriate. The
  279  department shall notify the Office of Program Policy Analysis
  280  and Government Accountability of any meetings to refine the
  281  model.
  282         (e) Contingent upon specific appropriation, the department,
  283  in consultation with the Office of Economic and Demographic
  284  Research, and contract service providers, shall:
  285         1. Construct a profile of each commitment program that uses
  286  the results of the quality assurance report required by this
  287  section, the cost-effectiveness report required in this
  288  subsection, and other reports available to the department.
  289         2. Target, for a more comprehensive evaluation, any
  290  commitment program that has achieved consistently high, low, or
  291  disparate ratings in the reports required under subparagraph 1.
  292         3. Identify the essential factors that contribute to the
  293  high, low, or disparate program ratings.
  294         4. Use the results of these evaluations in developing or
  295  refining juvenile justice programs or program models, client
  296  outcomes and program outputs, provider contracts, quality
  297  assurance standards, and the cost-effectiveness model.
  298         (5)(a) Program effectiveness shall be determined by
  299  implementing systematic data collection, data analysis, and
  300  education and workforce-related program evaluations pursuant to
  301  this section and s. 1003.515.
  302         (b)The evaluation of juvenile justice education and
  303  workforce-related programs shall be based on the performance
  304  outcomes provided in s. 1003.515(7).
  305         (6)(5) The department shall:
  306         (a) Establish a comprehensive quality assurance system for
  307  each program operated by the department or its contracted
  308  provider operated by a provider under contract with the
  309  department. Each contract entered into by the department must
  310  provide for quality assurance.
  311         (b) Provide operational definitions of and criteria for
  312  quality assurance for each specific program component.
  313         (c) Establish quality assurance goals and objectives for
  314  each specific program component.
  315         (d) Establish the information and specific data elements
  316  required for the quality assurance program.
  317         (e) Develop a quality assurance manual of specific,
  318  standardized terminology and procedures to be followed by each
  319  program.
  320         (f) Evaluate each program operated by the department or its
  321  contracted a provider under a contract with the department and
  322  establish minimum thresholds for each program component. If a
  323  provider fails to meet the established minimum thresholds, such
  324  failure shall cause the department to cancel the provider’s
  325  contract unless the provider achieves compliance with minimum
  326  thresholds within 6 months or unless there are documented
  327  extenuating circumstances. In addition, the department may not
  328  contract with the same provider for the canceled service for a
  329  period of 12 months. If a department-operated program fails to
  330  meet the established minimum thresholds, the department must
  331  take necessary and sufficient steps to ensure and document
  332  program changes to achieve compliance with the established
  333  minimum thresholds. If the department-operated program fails to
  334  achieve compliance with the established minimum thresholds
  335  within 6 months and if there are no documented extenuating
  336  circumstances, the department must notify the Executive Office
  337  of the Governor and the Legislature of the corrective action
  338  taken. Appropriate corrective action may include, but is not
  339  limited to:
  340         1. Contracting out for the services provided in the
  341  program;
  342         2. Initiating appropriate disciplinary action against all
  343  employees whose conduct or performance is deemed to have
  344  materially contributed to the program’s failure to meet
  345  established minimum thresholds;
  346         3. Redesigning the program; or
  347         4. Realigning the program.
  348  
  349  The department shall submit an annual report to the President of
  350  the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
  351  Minority Leader of each house of the Legislature, the
  352  appropriate substantive and fiscal committees of each house of
  353  the Legislature, and the Governor, no later than February 1 of
  354  each year. The annual report must contain, at a minimum, for
  355  each specific program component: a comprehensive description of
  356  the population served by the program; a specific description of
  357  the services provided by the program; cost; a comparison of
  358  expenditures to federal and state funding; immediate and long
  359  range concerns; and recommendations to maintain, expand,
  360  improve, modify, or eliminate each program component so that
  361  changes in services lead to enhancement in program quality. The
  362  department shall ensure the reliability and validity of the
  363  information contained in the report.
  364         (7)The department, in collaboration with the Department of
  365  Education and in consultation with the school districts and
  366  private juvenile justice education program providers, shall
  367  prepare an annual report containing the education performance
  368  outcomes, based on the criteria in s. 1003.515(7), of youth in
  369  juvenile justice education programs. The report shall delineate
  370  the performance outcomes of youth in the state, in each school
  371  district’s juvenile justice education program, and for each
  372  private provider’s juvenile justice education program, including
  373  the performance outcomes of all major student populations and
  374  genders, as determined by the Department of Education. The
  375  report shall address the use and successful completion of
  376  virtual instruction courses and the successful implementation of
  377  transition and reintegration plans. The report must include an
  378  analysis of the performance of youth over time, including, but
  379  not limited to, additional education attainment, employment,
  380  earnings, industry certification, and rates of recidivism. The
  381  report must also include recommendations for improving
  382  performance outcomes and for additional cost savings and
  383  efficiencies. The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the
  384  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
  385  Representatives by December 31, 2013, and each year thereafter.
  386         (8)(6) The department shall collect and analyze available
  387  statistical data for the purpose of ongoing evaluation of all
  388  programs. The department shall provide the Legislature with
  389  necessary information and reports to enable the Legislature to
  390  make informed decisions regarding the effectiveness of, and any
  391  needed changes in, services, programs, policies, and laws.
  392         Section 5. Section 985.721, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  393  read:
  394         985.721 Escapes from secure detention or residential
  395  commitment facility.—An escape from:
  396         (1) Any secure detention facility maintained for the
  397  temporary detention of children, pending adjudication,
  398  disposition, or placement;
  399         (2) Any residential commitment facility described in s.
  400  985.03(46) 985.03(45), maintained for the custody, treatment,
  401  punishment, or rehabilitation of children found to have
  402  committed delinquent acts or violations of law; or
  403         (3) Lawful transportation to or from any such secure
  404  detention facility or residential commitment facility,
  405  
  406  constitutes escape within the intent and meaning of s. 944.40
  407  and is a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in
  408  s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
  409         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (18) of section
  410  1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  411         1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
  412  district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
  413  powers and perform all duties listed below:
  414         (18) IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
  415  Maintain a state system of school improvement and education
  416  accountability as provided by statute and State Board of
  417  Education rule. This system of school improvement and education
  418  accountability shall be consistent with, and implemented
  419  through, the district’s continuing system of planning and
  420  budgeting required by this section and ss. 1008.385, 1010.01,
  421  and 1011.01. This system of school improvement and education
  422  accountability shall comply with the provisions of ss. 1008.33,
  423  1008.34, 1008.345, and 1008.385 and include the following:
  424         (b) Public disclosure.—The district school board shall
  425  provide information regarding the performance of students in and
  426  education educational programs as required pursuant to ss.
  427  1008.22 and 1008.385 and implement a system of school reports as
  428  required by statute and State Board of Education rule which
  429  shall include schools operating for the purpose of providing
  430  education educational services to youth in Department of
  431  Juvenile Justice residential and nonresidential programs, and
  432  for those programs schools, report on the data and education
  433  outcomes elements specified in s. 1003.515(7) 1003.52(19).
  434  Annual public disclosure reports shall be in an easy-to-read
  435  report card format and shall include the school’s grade, high
  436  school graduation rate calculated without GED tests,
  437  disaggregated by student ethnicity, and performance data as
  438  specified in state board rule.
  439         Section 7. Subsection (20) of section 1002.20, Florida
  440  Statutes, is amended to read:
  441         1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
  442  school students must receive accurate and timely information
  443  regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
  444  of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
  445  students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
  446  rights including, but not limited to, the following:
  447         (20) JUVENILE JUSTICE PROGRAMS.—Students who are in
  448  juvenile justice programs have the right to receive educational
  449  programs and services in accordance with the provisions of s.
  450  1003.515 1003.52.
  451         Section 8. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
  452  1002.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  453         1002.45 Virtual instruction programs.—
  454         (1) PROGRAM.—
  455         (b) Each school district that is eligible for the sparsity
  456  supplement pursuant to s. 1011.62(7) shall provide all enrolled
  457  public school students within its boundaries the option of
  458  participating in part-time and full-time virtual instruction
  459  programs. Each school district that is not eligible for the
  460  sparsity supplement shall provide at least three options for
  461  part-time and full-time virtual instruction. All school
  462  districts must provide parents with timely written notification
  463  of an open enrollment period for full-time students of at least
  464  90 days that ends no later than 30 days before prior to the
  465  first day of the school year. The purpose of the program is to
  466  make quality virtual instruction available to students using
  467  online and distance learning technology in the nontraditional
  468  classroom. A school district virtual instruction program shall
  469  provide the following:
  470         1. Full-time virtual instruction for students enrolled in
  471  kindergarten through grade 12.
  472         2. Part-time virtual instruction for students enrolled in
  473  grades 9 through 12 courses that are measured pursuant to
  474  subparagraph (8)(a)2.
  475         3. Full-time or part-time virtual instruction for students
  476  enrolled in dropout prevention and academic intervention
  477  programs under s. 1003.53, Department of Juvenile Justice
  478  education programs under s. 1003.515 1003.52, core-curricula
  479  courses to meet class size requirements under s. 1003.03, or
  480  Florida College System institutions under this section.
  481         Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (11) of section
  482  1003.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  483         1003.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
  484         (11)(a) “Juvenile justice education programs or schools”
  485  means programs or schools operating for the purpose of providing
  486  educational services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice
  487  programs, for a school year comprised of 250 days of instruction
  488  distributed over 12 months. At the request of the provider, a
  489  district school board may decrease the minimum number of days of
  490  instruction by up to 10 days for teacher planning for
  491  residential programs and up to 20 days for teacher planning for
  492  nonresidential programs, subject to the approval of the
  493  Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Education.
  494         Section 10. Section 1003.515, Florida Statutes, is created
  495  to read:
  496         1003.515 The Florida Juvenile Justice Education Act.—
  497         (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “Florida
  498  Juvenile Justice Education Act.”
  499         (2) LEGISLATIVE FINDING.—The Legislature finds that an
  500  education is the single most important factor in the
  501  rehabilitation of adjudicated youth who are in Department of
  502  Juvenile Justice residential and nonresidential programs.
  503         (3) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are to:
  504         (a) Provide performance-based outcome measures and
  505  accountability for juvenile justice education programs; and
  506         (b)Improve academic and workforce-related outcomes so that
  507  adjudicated and at-risk youth may successfully complete the
  508  transition to and reenter the academic and workforce
  509  environments.
  510         (4) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term
  511  “juvenile justice education programs” has the same meaning as in
  512  s. 1003.01(11)(a).
  513         (5) SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CONTRACTED EDUCATION PROVIDER
  514  RESPONSIBILITIES.—
  515         (a) A school district or private provider contracted by a
  516  school district to offer education services to youth in a
  517  juvenile justice education program shall:
  518         1. Provide rigorous and relevant academic and workforce
  519  related curricula that will lead to industry certifications in
  520  an occupational area of high demand identified in the Industry
  521  Certification Funding list adopted by the State Board of
  522  Education, or articulate to secondary or postsecondary-level
  523  coursework, as appropriate.
  524         2.Support state, local, and regional economic development
  525  demands.
  526         3. Make high-wage and high-demand careers more accessible
  527  to adjudicated and at-risk youth.
  528         4. Reduce rates of recidivism for adjudicated youth.
  529         5. Provide access to the appropriate courses and
  530  instruction to prepare youth for a standard high school diploma,
  531  a special diploma, or a high school equivalency diploma, as
  532  appropriate.
  533         6. Provide access to virtual education courses that are
  534  appropriate to meet the requirements of academic or workforce
  535  related programs and the requirements for continuing education
  536  specified in the youth’s transition and postrelease plans.
  537         7. Provide opportunities for earning credits toward high
  538  school graduation or credits that articulate to postsecondary
  539  education institutions while the youth are in residential and
  540  nonresidential juvenile justice facilities.
  541         8. Ensure that the credits and partial credits earned by
  542  the youth are transferred and included in the youth’s records as
  543  part of the transition plan.
  544         9.Ensure that the education program consists of the
  545  appropriate academic, workforce-related, or exceptional
  546  education curricula and related services that directly support
  547  performance outcomes, which must be specified in each youth’s
  548  education transition plan component as required by subsection
  549  (10).
  550         10. If the duration of a youth’s stay in a program is less
  551  than 40 days, ensure that the youth receives employability, life
  552  skills, and academic remediation, as appropriate. In addition,
  553  counseling and transition services must be provided which
  554  mitigate the youth’s identified risk factors and prepare the
  555  youth for a successful reintegration into the school, community,
  556  and home settings.
  557         11. Maintain an academic record for each youth who is
  558  enrolled in a juvenile justice facility, as required by s.
  559  1003.51, and ensure that the coursework, credits, partial
  560  credits, occupational completion points, and industry
  561  certifications earned by the youth are transferred and included
  562  in the youth’s transition plan pursuant to s. 985.46.
  563         (b)Each school district and private provider shall ensure
  564  that the following youth participate in the program:
  565         1.Youth who are of compulsory school attendance age
  566  pursuant to s. 1003.21.
  567         2.Youth who are not of compulsory school attendance age
  568  and who have not received a high school diploma or its
  569  equivalent, if the youth is in a residential or nonresidential
  570  juvenile justice program. Such youth must participate in the
  571  education program and participate in a workforce-related
  572  education program that leads to industry certification in an
  573  occupational area of high demand. This subparagraph does not
  574  limit the rights of students with disabilities, as defined under
  575  the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, who are not of
  576  compulsory school attendance age and who have not received a
  577  high school diploma to receive a free, appropriate public
  578  education in accordance with their individualized needs.
  579         3.Youth who have attained a high school diploma or its
  580  equivalent and who are not employed. Such youth must participate
  581  in a workforce-related education program that leads to
  582  employment in an occupational area of high demand. Such youth
  583  may enroll in a state postsecondary institution to complete the
  584  workforce-related education program and are exempt from the
  585  payment of tuition and fees pursuant to s. 1009.25(1)(g).
  586         (6) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—In compliance with the strategic
  587  5-year plan under s. 1003.491, each juvenile justice residential
  588  and nonresidential education program shall, in collaboration
  589  with the regional workforce board or economic development agency
  590  and local postsecondary institutions, determine the appropriate
  591  occupational areas for the program. Juvenile justice education
  592  programs must:
  593         (a)Ensure that rigorous academic and workforce-related
  594  coursework is offered and meets or exceeds appropriate state
  595  approved subject area standards, and results in the attainment
  596  of industry certification and postsecondary credit, when
  597  appropriate;
  598         (b)Ensure instruction from individuals who hold industry
  599  credentials in the occupational areas in which they teach;
  600         (c) Maximize the use of private sector personnel;
  601         (d)Use strategies to maximize the delivery of virtual
  602  instruction;
  603         (e) Maximize instructional efficiency for youth in juvenile
  604  justice facilities;
  605         (f)Provide opportunities for youth to earn weighted or
  606  dual enrollment credit for higher-level courses, when
  607  appropriate;
  608         (g) Promote credit recovery; and
  609         (h)Provide instruction that results in competency,
  610  certification, or credentials in workplace skills, including,
  611  but not limited to, communication skills, interpersonal skills,
  612  decisionmaking skills, work ethic, and the importance of
  613  attendance and timeliness in the work environment.
  614         (7)DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.—
  615         (a)The department shall identify each residential and
  616  nonresidential juvenile justice education program, excluding
  617  detention programs, as having one of the following performance
  618  ratings as defined by State Board of Education rule:
  619         1.High performance.
  620         2.Adequate performance.
  621         3.Failing performance.
  622         (b)The department shall consider the level of rigor
  623  associated with the attainment of a particular outcome when
  624  assigning weight to the outcome. The department shall evaluate
  625  the following elements in determining a juvenile justice
  626  education program’s performance rating:
  627         1.One or more of the following outcomes for a youth who is
  628  14 years of age or younger:
  629         a.Achieving academic progress in reading and mathematics,
  630  as measured by the statewide common pre- and post-assessment
  631  adopted by the department for use in juvenile justice education
  632  programs, and participating in continuing education upon release
  633  from a juvenile justice residential or nonresidential program.
  634         b.Completing secondary coursework and participating in
  635  continuing education upon release from a juvenile justice
  636  residential or nonresidential program.
  637         c.Attaining occupational completion points in an
  638  occupational area of high demand identified in the Industry
  639  Certification Funding list adopted by the State Board of
  640  Education and participating in continuing education upon release
  641  from a juvenile justice residential or nonresidential program.
  642         d.Attaining an industry certification in an occupational
  643  area of high demand identified in the Industry Certification
  644  Funding list adopted by the State Board of Education, if
  645  available and appropriate, and participating in continuing
  646  education upon release from a juvenile justice residential or
  647  nonresidential program.
  648         2.One or more of the following outcomes for a youth who is
  649  15 years of age or older:
  650         a. Achieving academic progress in reading and mathematics,
  651  as measured by the statewide common pre- and post-assessment
  652  adopted by the department for use in juvenile justice education
  653  programs, and participating in continuing education upon release
  654  from a juvenile justice residential or nonresidential program.
  655         b. Earning secondary or postsecondary credit upon release
  656  from a juvenile justice facility and participating in continuing
  657  education upon release from a juvenile justice residential or
  658  nonresidential program.
  659         c.Attaining a high school diploma or its equivalent and
  660  participating in continuing education at the postsecondary level
  661  upon release from a juvenile justice residential or
  662  nonresidential program.
  663         d. Attaining a high school diploma or its equivalent and
  664  obtaining employment.
  665         e.Attaining an industry certification in an occupational
  666  area of high demand identified in the Industry Certification
  667  Funding list adopted by the State Board of Education and
  668  obtaining employment.
  669         f. Attaining occupational completion points in an
  670  occupational area of high demand and obtaining employment.
  671         g. Attaining occupational completion points in an
  672  occupational area of high demand identified in the Industry
  673  Certification Funding list adopted by the State Board of
  674  Education and, upon release from a juvenile justice residential
  675  or nonresidential program, participating in continuing education
  676  in order to complete the industry certification in that
  677  occupation.
  678         (c)By September 1, 2012, the department shall make
  679  available a common student pre- and post-assessment to measure
  680  the academic progress in reading and mathematics of youth who
  681  are assigned to juvenile justice education programs.
  682  
  683  For purposes of performance ratings, juvenile justice
  684  residential and nonresidential education programs, excluding
  685  detention centers, shall be held accountable for the performance
  686  outcomes of youth for no more than 6 months after the release of
  687  youth from the residential or nonresidential program. This
  688  subsection does not abrogate the provisions of s. 1002.22 which
  689  relate to education records or the requirements of 20 U.S.C. s.
  690  1232g, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
  691         (8)PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY.—
  692         (a) The department shall, in collaboration with the
  693  Department of Juvenile Justice:
  694         1.Monitor the education performance of youth in juvenile
  695  justice facilities.
  696         2.Prohibit school districts or private providers that have
  697  failing performance ratings from delivering the education
  698  services.
  699         3.Verify that a school district is operating or
  700  contracting with a private provider to deliver education
  701  services.
  702         (b) If a school district’s juvenile justice residential or
  703  nonresidential education program earns two failing performance
  704  ratings in any 3-year period, as provided in subsection (7), the
  705  school district shall contract with a private provider that has
  706  an adequate or higher performance rating or enter into an
  707  agreement with a school district that has an adequate or higher
  708  performance rating to deliver the education services to the
  709  youth in the program.
  710         (c)Except as provided in paragraph (b), the school
  711  district of the county in which the residential or
  712  nonresidential facility is located shall deliver education
  713  services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs. A
  714  school district may contract with a private provider to deliver
  715  the education services in lieu of directly providing the
  716  education services. The contract shall include performance
  717  criteria as provided in subsection (7).
  718         (d)When determining educational placement for youth who
  719  enroll in a school district upon release, the school district
  720  must adhere to the transition plan established under s.
  721  985.46(6).
  722         (e)If a private provider under contract with a school
  723  district maintains a high-performance rating pursuant to
  724  subsection (7), the school district may not require a private
  725  provider to use the school district’s personnel.
  726         (f)Academic instructional personnel must be certified by
  727  the Department of Education; however, a nondegreed teacher of
  728  career education may be certified by a local school district
  729  under s. 1012.39 and may be designated as teaching out-of-field.
  730  An instructor who is deemed to be an expert in a specific field
  731  may be employed under s. 1012.55(1).
  732         (g)Each school district must provide juvenile justice
  733  education programs access to substitute classroom teachers used
  734  by the school district.
  735         (9) EXITING PROGRAM.—Upon exiting a program, a youth must:
  736         (a) Attain an industry certification in an occupational
  737  area of high demand identified in the Industry Certification
  738  Funding list adopted by the State Board of Education;
  739         (b) Enroll in a program to complete the industry
  740  certification;
  741         (c) Be gainfully employed and earning full-time wages; or
  742         (d)Enroll in and continue his or her education based on
  743  the transition and postrelease plan provided in s. 958.46.
  744         (10)EDUCATION TRANSITION PLAN COMPONENT.—
  745         (a) The education transition plan component shall be
  746  incorporated in the transition plan pursuant to s. 985.46(6).
  747         (b) Each juvenile justice education program must develop an
  748  education transition plan component during the course of a
  749  youth’s stay in a juvenile justice residential or nonresidential
  750  program which coordinates academic and workforce services and
  751  assists the youth in successful community reintegration upon the
  752  youth’s release.
  753         (c)The development of the education transition plan
  754  component shall begin upon a youth’s placement in the program.
  755  The education transition plan component must include the
  756  academic and workforce services to be provided during the
  757  program stay and the establishment of services to be implemented
  758  upon release. The appropriate personnel in the juvenile justice
  759  residential and nonresidential program, the members of the
  760  community, the youth, and the youth’s family, when appropriate,
  761  shall collaborate to develop the education transition plan
  762  component.
  763         (d)Education planning for reintegration shall begin when
  764  placement decisions are made and continue throughout the youth’s
  765  stay in order to provide for continuing education, job
  766  placement, and other necessary services. Individuals who are
  767  responsible for reintegration shall coordinate activities to
  768  ensure that the education transition plan component is
  769  successfully implemented and a youth is provided access to
  770  support services that will sustain the youth’s success once he
  771  or she is no longer under the supervision of the Department of
  772  Juvenile Justice. The education transition plan component must
  773  provide for continuing education, workforce development, or
  774  meaningful job placement pursuant to the performance outcomes in
  775  subsection (7). For purposes of this section, the term
  776  “reintegration” means the process by which a youth returns to
  777  the community following release from a juvenile justice program.
  778         (11)FUNDING.—
  779         (a)Youth who are participating in GED preparation programs
  780  while under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile
  781  Justice shall be funded at the basic program cost factor for
  782  juvenile justice programs in the Florida Education Finance
  783  Program (FEFP). Juvenile justice education programs shall be
  784  funded in the appropriate FEFP program based on the education
  785  services needed by the students in the programs pursuant to s.
  786  1011.62.
  787         (b)Juvenile justice education programs operated through a
  788  contract with the Department of Juvenile Justice and under the
  789  purview of the department’s quality assurance standards and
  790  performance outcomes shall receive the appropriate FEFP funding
  791  for juvenile justice programs.
  792         (c)A district school board shall fund the education
  793  program in a juvenile justice facility at the same or higher
  794  level of funding for equivalent students in the district school
  795  system based on the funds generated through the FEFP and funds
  796  allocated from federal programs.
  797         (d)Consistent with the rules of the State Board of
  798  Education, district school boards shall request an alternative
  799  full-time equivalent (FTE) survey for juvenile justice programs
  800  experiencing fluctuations in student enrollment.
  801         (e)The State Board of Education shall prescribe rules
  802  relating to FTE count periods which must be the same for
  803  juvenile justice programs and other public school programs. The
  804  summer school period for students in juvenile justice programs
  805  shall begin on the day immediately preceding the subsequent
  806  regular school year. Students may be funded for no more than 25
  807  hours per week of direct instruction; however, students shall be
  808  provided access to virtual instruction in order to maximize the
  809  most efficient use of time.
  810         (12)FACILITIES.—The district school board may not be
  811  charged any rent, maintenance, utilities, or overhead on the
  812  facilities. Maintenance, repairs, and remodeling of existing
  813  facilities shall be provided by the Department of Juvenile
  814  Justice.
  815         (13)RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall
  816  collaborate with the Department of Juvenile Justice, the
  817  Department of Economic Opportunity, school districts, and
  818  private providers to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and
  819  120.54 to administer this section.
  820         Section 11. Section 1003.52, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  821         Section 12. Present paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of
  822  section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
  823  (h), and a new paragraph (g) is added to that subsection, to
  824  read:
  825         1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
  826         (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
  827  tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
  828  provides postsecondary career programs, Florida College System
  829  institution, or state university:
  830         (g) For purposes of completing coursework initiated while
  831  in the temporary custody of the state, youth who are eligible
  832  under s. 1003.515(5)(b)3. and who are ordered by a court to
  833  participate in a juvenile justice residential program.
  834         Section 13. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
  835  1011.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  836         1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
  837  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
  838  district for operation of schools is not determined in the
  839  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
  840  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
  841  follows:
  842         (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
  843  OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
  844  determining the annual allocation to each district for
  845  operation:
  846         (f) Supplemental academic instruction; categorical fund.—
  847         1. There is created a categorical fund to provide
  848  supplemental academic instruction to students in kindergarten
  849  through grade 12. This paragraph may be cited as the
  850  “Supplemental Academic Instruction Categorical Fund.”
  851         2. Categorical funds for supplemental academic instruction
  852  shall be allocated annually to each school district in the
  853  amount provided in the General Appropriations Act. These funds
  854  shall be in addition to the funds appropriated on the basis of
  855  FTE student membership in the Florida Education Finance Program
  856  and shall be included in the total potential funds of each
  857  district. These funds shall be used to provide supplemental
  858  academic instruction to students enrolled in the K-12 program.
  859  Supplemental instruction strategies may include, but are not
  860  limited to: modified curriculum, reading instruction, after
  861  school instruction, tutoring, mentoring, class size reduction,
  862  extended school year, intensive skills development in summer
  863  school, and other methods for improving student achievement.
  864  Supplemental instruction may be provided to a student in any
  865  manner and at any time during or beyond the regular 180-day term
  866  identified by the school as being the most effective and
  867  efficient way to best help that student progress from grade to
  868  grade and to graduate.
  869         3. Effective with the 2012-2013 1999-2000 fiscal year,
  870  funding on the basis of FTE membership beyond the 180-day
  871  regular term shall be provided in the FEFP only for students
  872  enrolled in juvenile justice education programs or in education
  873  programs for juveniles placed in secure facilities or programs
  874  under s. 985.19. Funding for instruction beyond the regular 180
  875  day school year for all other K-12 students shall be provided
  876  through the supplemental academic instruction categorical fund
  877  and other state, federal, and local fund sources with ample
  878  flexibility for schools to provide supplemental instruction to
  879  assist students in progressing from grade to grade and
  880  graduating.
  881         4. The Florida State University School, as a lab school, is
  882  authorized to expend from its FEFP or Lottery Enhancement Trust
  883  Fund allocation the cost to the student of remediation in
  884  reading, writing, or mathematics for any graduate who requires
  885  remediation at a postsecondary educational institution.
  886         5. Beginning in the 1999-2000 school year, Dropout
  887  prevention programs as defined in ss. 1003.515 1003.52,
  888  1003.53(1)(a), (b), and (c), and 1003.54 shall be included in
  889  group 1 programs under subparagraph (d)3.
  890         Section 14. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.