Florida Senate - 2015                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS for SB 1552
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì501414qÎ501414                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/06/2015           .                                
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       Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (Stargel) recommended
       the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (6) and
    6  subsection (16) of section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, are
    7  amended to read:
    8         1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
    9  school students must receive accurate and timely information
   10  regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
   11  of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
   12  students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
   13  rights including, but not limited to, the following:
   14         (6) EDUCATIONAL CHOICE.—
   15         (a) Public school choices.—Parents of public school
   16  students may seek whatever public school choice options that are
   17  applicable and available to students in their school districts.
   18  These options may include controlled open enrollment, single
   19  gender programs, lab schools, virtual instruction programs,
   20  charter schools, charter technical career centers, magnet
   21  schools, alternative schools, special programs, auditory-oral
   22  education programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment,
   23  International Baccalaureate, International General Certificate
   24  of Secondary Education (pre-AICE), Advanced International
   25  Certificate of Education, CAPE digital tools, CAPE industry
   26  certifications, collegiate high school programs, early
   27  admissions, credit by examination or demonstration of
   28  competency, the New World School of the Arts, the Florida School
   29  for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Florida Virtual School.
   30  These options may also include the public educational school
   31  choice options of the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the
   32  McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program.
   33         (b) Private educational school choices.—Parents of public
   34  school students may seek private educational school choice
   35  options under certain programs.
   36         1. Under the McKay Scholarships for Students with
   37  Disabilities Program, the parent of a public school student with
   38  a disability may request and receive a McKay Scholarship for the
   39  student to attend a private school in accordance with s.
   40  1002.39.
   41         2. Under the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, the
   42  parent of a student who qualifies for free or reduced-price
   43  school lunch or who is currently placed, or during the previous
   44  state fiscal year was placed, in foster care as defined in s.
   45  39.01 may seek a scholarship from an eligible nonprofit
   46  scholarship-funding organization in accordance with s. 1002.395.
   47         3. Under the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts
   48  Program, the parent of a student with a qualifying disability
   49  may apply for a personal learning scholarship to be used for
   50  educational purposes pursuant to s. 1002.385.
   51         (16) SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RATING
   52  REPORTS; FISCAL TRANSPARENCY.—Parents of public school students
   53  have the right are entitled to an easy-to-read report card about
   54  the school’s grade designation or, if applicable under s.
   55  1008.341, the school’s improvement rating, and the school’s
   56  accountability report, including the school financial report as
   57  required under s. 1010.215 and the school district’s annual
   58  financial report, including the expenditures on a per FTE basis
   59  for the following fund types: general funds, special revenue
   60  funds, debt service funds, and capital project fund. Fiduciary
   61  funds, enterprise funds, and internal service funds may not be
   62  included. At minimum, the total expenditures on a per FTE basis,
   63  as reported in the school district’s annual financial report,
   64  must be included in the parent guide.
   65         Section 2. Section 1002.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   66  read:
   67         1002.31 Controlled open enrollment; Public school parental
   68  choice.—
   69         (1) As used in this section, “controlled open enrollment”
   70  means a public education delivery system that allows school
   71  districts to make student school assignments using parents’
   72  indicated preferential school choice as a significant factor.
   73         (2) As part of a district’s controlled open enrollment, and
   74  in addition to the existing choice programs provided in s.
   75  1002.20(6)(a), each district school board shall allow a parent
   76  to enroll his or her child in and transport his or her child to
   77  any public school that has not reached capacity in the district.
   78  However, a district may provide transportation to students at
   79  the district’s discretion. For purposes of continuity of
   80  educational choice, the student shall remain at the school
   81  chosen by the parent until the student completes the highest
   82  grade level at the school may offer controlled open enrollment
   83  within the public schools which is in addition to the existing
   84  choice programs such as virtual instruction programs, magnet
   85  schools, alternative schools, special programs, advanced
   86  placement, and dual enrollment.
   87         (3) Each district school board offering controlled open
   88  enrollment shall adopt by rule and post on its website the
   89  process required to participate in controlled open enrollment.
   90  The process a controlled open enrollment plan which must:
   91         (a) Adhere to federal desegregation requirements.
   92         (b) Include an application process required to participate
   93  in controlled open enrollment that allows parents to declare
   94  school preferences, including placement of siblings within the
   95  same school.
   96         (b)(c) Provide a lottery procedure to determine student
   97  assignment and establish an appeals process for hardship cases.
   98         (c)(d) Afford parents of students in multiple session
   99  schools preferred access to controlled open enrollment.
  100         (d)(e) Maintain socioeconomic, demographic, and racial
  101  balance.
  102         (e)(f) Address the availability of transportation.
  103         (f) Maintain existing academic eligibility criteria for
  104  schools of choice, pursuant to s. 1002.20(6)(a).
  105         (g) Identify schools that have not reached capacity, as
  106  determined by the school district. When determining capacity of
  107  each school in the district, the school district shall
  108  incorporate the specifications, plans, elements, and commitments
  109  contained in the school district educational facilities plan and
  110  the long-term work programs required under s. 1013.35 in its
  111  determination.
  112         (h) For any county with a military base, create a
  113  preference process for dependent children of active duty
  114  military personnel.
  115         (4) In accordance with the reporting requirements of s.
  116  1011.62, each district school board shall annually report the
  117  number of students exercising public school choice, by type of
  118  choice attending the various types of public schools of choice
  119  in the district, in accordance with including schools such as
  120  virtual instruction programs, magnet schools, and public charter
  121  schools, according to rules adopted by the State Board of
  122  Education.
  123         (5) A parent may enroll his or her child in and transport
  124  his or her child to any public school that has not reached
  125  capacity in any school district in the state. The school
  126  district shall accept the student, pursuant to that district’s
  127  controlled open enrollment participation process, and report the
  128  student for purposes of the school district’s funding pursuant
  129  to the Florida Education Finance Program. For purposes of
  130  continuity of educational choice, the student shall remain at
  131  the school chosen by the parent until the student completes the
  132  highest grade level at the school For a school or program that
  133  is a public school of choice under this section, the calculation
  134  for compliance with maximum class size pursuant to s. 1003.03 is
  135  the average number of students at the school level.
  136         (6) Each district school board shall establish a transfer
  137  process for a parent to request that his or her child be
  138  transferred to another classroom teacher. This subsection does
  139  not give a parent the right to choose a specific classroom
  140  teacher. A school must grant or deny the transfer within 2 weeks
  141  after receiving the request. If a request for transfer is
  142  denied, the school shall notify the parent and specify the
  143  reasons for the denial. An explanation of the transfer process
  144  must be made available in the parent guide or a similar
  145  publication.
  146         Section 3. Paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subsection (6),
  147  paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) of subsection (7), paragraphs (e),
  148  (f), and (g) of subsection (8), paragraphs (g), (n), and (p) of
  149  subsection (9), paragraph (a) of subsection (10), paragraphs (b)
  150  and (e) of subsection (17), subsection (21), and paragraph (c)
  151  of subsection (26) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are
  152  amended, paragraphs (h) and (i) are added to subsection (8) of
  153  that section, a new subsection (27) is added to that section,
  154  and present subsections (27) and (28) are redesignated as
  155  subsections (28) and (29), respectively, to read:
  156         1002.33 Charter schools.—
  157         (6) APPLICATION PROCESS AND REVIEW.—Charter school
  158  applications are subject to the following requirements:
  159         (a) A person or entity wishing to open a charter school
  160  shall prepare and submit an application on a model application
  161  form prepared by the Department of Education which:
  162         1. Demonstrates how the school will use the guiding
  163  principles and meet the statutorily defined purpose of a charter
  164  school.
  165         2. Provides a detailed curriculum plan that illustrates how
  166  students will be provided services to attain the Sunshine State
  167  Standards.
  168         3. Contains goals and objectives for improving student
  169  learning and measuring that improvement. These goals and
  170  objectives must indicate how much academic improvement students
  171  are expected to show each year, how success will be evaluated,
  172  and the specific results to be attained through instruction.
  173         4. Describes the reading curriculum and differentiated
  174  strategies that will be used for students reading at grade level
  175  or higher and a separate curriculum and strategies for students
  176  who are reading below grade level. A sponsor shall deny an
  177  application a charter if the school does not propose a reading
  178  curriculum that is consistent with effective teaching strategies
  179  that are grounded in scientifically based reading research, but
  180  the sponsor may not require the school to implement any
  181  curriculum adopted by the school district.
  182         5. Contains an annual financial plan for each year
  183  requested by the charter for operation of the school for up to 5
  184  years. This plan must contain anticipated fund balances based on
  185  revenue projections, a spending plan based on projected revenues
  186  and expenses, and a description of controls that will safeguard
  187  finances and projected enrollment trends.
  188         6. Discloses the name of each applicant, governing board
  189  member, and proposed management company or cooperative, if any;
  190  the name and sponsor of any charter school currently operated or
  191  previously operated by such parties; and the academic and
  192  financial history of such charter schools, which the sponsor
  193  shall consider in deciding to approve or deny the application.
  194         7. Documents that the governing board is independent of any
  195  management company or cooperative and may, at its sole
  196  discretion, terminate a contract with the management company or
  197  cooperative at any time.
  198         8.6. Contains additional information a sponsor may require,
  199  which shall be attached as an addendum to the charter school
  200  application described in this paragraph.
  201         9.7. For the establishment of a virtual charter school,
  202  documents that the applicant has contracted with a provider of
  203  virtual instruction services pursuant to s. 1002.45(1)(d).
  204         (b) A sponsor shall receive and review all applications for
  205  a charter school using an evaluation instrument developed by the
  206  Department of Education. A sponsor shall receive and consider
  207  charter school applications received on or before August 1 of
  208  each calendar year for charter schools to be opened at the
  209  beginning of the school district’s next school year, or to be
  210  opened at a time agreed to by the applicant and the sponsor. A
  211  sponsor may not refuse to receive a charter school application
  212  submitted before August 1 and may receive an application
  213  submitted later than August 1 if it chooses. In order to
  214  facilitate greater collaboration in the application process, an
  215  applicant may submit a draft charter school application on or
  216  before May 1 with an application fee of $500. If a draft
  217  application is timely submitted, the sponsor shall review and
  218  provide feedback as to material deficiencies in the application
  219  by July 1. The applicant shall then have until August 1 to
  220  resubmit a revised and final application. The sponsor may
  221  approve the draft application. Except as provided for a draft
  222  application, a sponsor may not charge an applicant for a charter
  223  any fee for the processing or consideration of an application,
  224  and a sponsor may not base its consideration or approval of a
  225  final application upon the promise of future payment of any
  226  kind. Before approving or denying any final application, the
  227  sponsor shall allow the applicant, upon receipt of written
  228  notification, at least 7 calendar days to make technical or
  229  nonsubstantive corrections and clarifications, including, but
  230  not limited to, corrections of grammatical, typographical, and
  231  like errors or missing signatures, if such errors are identified
  232  by the sponsor as cause to deny the final application.
  233         1. In order to facilitate an accurate budget projection
  234  process, a sponsor shall be held harmless for FTE students who
  235  are not included in the FTE projection due to approval of
  236  charter school applications after the FTE projection deadline.
  237  In a further effort to facilitate an accurate budget projection,
  238  within 15 calendar days after receipt of a charter school
  239  application, a sponsor shall report to the Department of
  240  Education the name of the applicant entity, the proposed charter
  241  school location, and its projected FTE.
  242         2. In order to ensure fiscal responsibility, an application
  243  for a charter school shall include a full accounting of expected
  244  assets, a projection of expected sources and amounts of income,
  245  including income derived from projected student enrollments and
  246  from community support, and an expense projection that includes
  247  full accounting of the costs of operation, including start-up
  248  costs. To ensure continued financial responsibility, a charter
  249  school shall submit quarterly financial statements for the first
  250  year of operation which include a full accounting of the costs
  251  of operation and sources of income. If a school’s financial
  252  statement indicates that the school is not financially viable,
  253  the school must also prepare and submit a plan that describes
  254  specific actions the school will take to become viable.
  255         3.a. A sponsor shall by a majority vote approve or deny an
  256  application no later than 60 calendar days after the application
  257  is received, unless the sponsor and the applicant mutually agree
  258  in writing to temporarily postpone the vote to a specific date,
  259  at which time the sponsor shall by a majority vote approve or
  260  deny the application. If the sponsor fails to act on the
  261  application, an applicant may appeal to the State Board of
  262  Education as provided in paragraph (c). If an application is
  263  denied, the sponsor shall, within 10 calendar days after such
  264  denial, articulate in writing the specific reasons, based upon
  265  good cause, supporting its denial of the charter application and
  266  shall provide the letter of denial and supporting documentation
  267  to the applicant and to the Department of Education.
  268         b. An application submitted by a high-performing charter
  269  school identified pursuant to s. 1002.331 may be denied by the
  270  sponsor only if the sponsor demonstrates by clear and convincing
  271  evidence that:
  272         (I) The application does not materially comply with the
  273  requirements in paragraph (a);
  274         (II) The charter school proposed in the application does
  275  not materially comply with the requirements in paragraphs
  276  (9)(a)-(f);
  277         (III) The proposed charter school’s educational program
  278  does not substantially replicate that of the applicant or one of
  279  the applicant’s high-performing charter schools;
  280         (IV) The applicant has made a material misrepresentation or
  281  false statement or concealed an essential or material fact
  282  during the application process; or
  283         (V) The proposed charter school’s educational program and
  284  financial management practices do not materially comply with the
  285  requirements of this section.
  286  
  287  Material noncompliance is a failure to follow requirements or a
  288  violation of prohibitions applicable to charter school
  289  applications, which failure is quantitatively or qualitatively
  290  significant either individually or when aggregated with other
  291  noncompliance. An applicant is considered to be replicating a
  292  high-performing charter school if the proposed school is
  293  substantially similar to at least one of the applicant’s high
  294  performing charter schools and the organization or individuals
  295  involved in the establishment and operation of the proposed
  296  school are significantly involved in the operation of replicated
  297  schools.
  298         c. If the sponsor denies an application submitted by a
  299  high-performing charter school, the sponsor must, within 10
  300  calendar days after such denial, state in writing the specific
  301  reasons, based upon the criteria in sub-subparagraph b.,
  302  supporting its denial of the application and must provide the
  303  letter of denial and supporting documentation to the applicant
  304  and to the Department of Education. The applicant may appeal the
  305  sponsor’s denial of the application directly to the State Board
  306  of Education pursuant to paragraph (c) and must provide the
  307  sponsor with a copy of the appeal sub-subparagraph (c)3.b.
  308         4. For budget projection purposes, the sponsor shall report
  309  to the Department of Education the approval or denial of a
  310  charter application within 10 calendar days after such approval
  311  or denial. In the event of approval, the report to the
  312  Department of Education shall include the final projected FTE
  313  for the approved charter school.
  314         5. Upon approval of a charter application, the initial
  315  startup shall commence with the beginning of the public school
  316  calendar for the district in which the charter is granted unless
  317  the sponsor allows a waiver of this subparagraph for good cause.
  318         6. A person, or an officer of an entity, who submits an
  319  application pursuant to this subsection must undergo background
  320  screening in the same manner as instructional and
  321  noninstructional personnel hired or contracted to fill positions
  322  in a charter school or as members of the governing board of a
  323  charter school undergo background screening under s. 1012.32.
  324  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, a person
  325  may not receive approval of a charter application until the
  326  person’s screening is completed and the results have been
  327  submitted to, and reviewed by, the sponsor.
  328         (c)1. An applicant may appeal any denial of that
  329  applicant’s application or failure to act on an application to
  330  the State Board of Education within no later than 30 calendar
  331  days after receipt of the sponsor’s decision or failure to act
  332  and shall notify the sponsor of its appeal. Any response of the
  333  sponsor shall be submitted to the State Board of Education
  334  within 30 calendar days after notification of the appeal. Upon
  335  receipt of notification from the State Board of Education that a
  336  charter school applicant is filing an appeal, the Commissioner
  337  of Education shall convene a meeting of the Charter School
  338  Appeal Commission to study and make recommendations to the State
  339  Board of Education regarding its pending decision about the
  340  appeal. The commission shall forward its recommendation to the
  341  state board at least 7 calendar days before the date on which
  342  the appeal is to be heard. An appeal regarding the denial of an
  343  application submitted by a high-performing charter school
  344  pursuant to s. 1002.331 shall be conducted by the State Board of
  345  Education in accordance with this paragraph, except that the
  346  commission shall not convene to make recommendations regarding
  347  the appeal. However, the Commissioner of Education shall review
  348  the appeal and make a recommendation to the state board.
  349         2. The Charter School Appeal Commission or, in the case of
  350  an appeal regarding an application submitted by a high
  351  performing charter school, the State Board of Education may
  352  reject an appeal submission for failure to comply with
  353  procedural rules governing the appeals process. The rejection
  354  shall describe the submission errors. The appellant shall have
  355  15 calendar days after notice of rejection in which to resubmit
  356  an appeal that meets the requirements set forth in State Board
  357  of Education rule. An appeal submitted subsequent to such
  358  rejection is considered timely if the original appeal was filed
  359  within 30 calendar days after receipt of notice of the specific
  360  reasons for the sponsor’s denial of the charter application.
  361         3.a. The State Board of Education shall by majority vote
  362  accept or reject the decision of the sponsor no later than 90
  363  calendar days after an appeal is filed in accordance with State
  364  Board of Education rule. The State Board of Education shall
  365  remand the application to the sponsor with its written decision
  366  that the sponsor approve or deny the application. The sponsor
  367  shall implement the decision of the State Board of Education.
  368  The decision of the State Board of Education is not subject to
  369  the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 120.
  370         b. If an appeal concerns an application submitted by a
  371  high-performing charter school identified pursuant to s.
  372  1002.331, the State Board of Education shall determine whether
  373  the sponsor’s denial of the application complies with the
  374  requirements in sub-subparagraph (b)3.b. sponsor has shown, by
  375  clear and convincing evidence, that:
  376         (I) The application does not materially comply with the
  377  requirements in paragraph (a);
  378         (II) The charter school proposed in the application does
  379  not materially comply with the requirements in paragraphs
  380  (9)(a)-(f);
  381         (III) The proposed charter school’s educational program
  382  does not substantially replicate that of the applicant or one of
  383  the applicant’s high-performing charter schools;
  384         (IV) The applicant has made a material misrepresentation or
  385  false statement or concealed an essential or material fact
  386  during the application process; or
  387         (V) The proposed charter school’s educational program and
  388  financial management practices do not materially comply with the
  389  requirements of this section.
  390  
  391  The State Board of Education shall approve or reject the
  392  sponsor’s denial of an application no later than 90 calendar
  393  days after an appeal is filed in accordance with State Board of
  394  Education rule. The State Board of Education shall remand the
  395  application to the sponsor with its written decision that the
  396  sponsor approve or deny the application. The sponsor shall
  397  implement the decision of the State Board of Education. The
  398  decision of the State Board of Education is not subject to the
  399  Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 120.
  400         (7) CHARTER.—The major issues involving the operation of a
  401  charter school shall be considered in advance and written into
  402  the charter. The charter shall be signed by the governing board
  403  of the charter school and the sponsor, following a public
  404  hearing to ensure community input.
  405         (a) The charter shall address and criteria for approval of
  406  the charter shall be based on:
  407         1. The school’s mission, the students to be served, and the
  408  ages and grades to be included.
  409         2. The focus of the curriculum, the instructional methods
  410  to be used, any distinctive instructional techniques to be
  411  employed, and identification and acquisition of appropriate
  412  technologies needed to improve educational and administrative
  413  performance which include a means for promoting safe, ethical,
  414  and appropriate uses of technology which comply with legal and
  415  professional standards.
  416         a. The charter shall ensure that reading is a primary focus
  417  of the curriculum and that resources are provided to identify
  418  and provide specialized instruction for students who are reading
  419  below grade level. The curriculum and instructional strategies
  420  for reading must be consistent with the Next Generation Sunshine
  421  State Standards and grounded in scientifically based reading
  422  research. For purposes of determining eligibility for the
  423  research-based reading instruction allocation, the reading
  424  curriculum and instructional strategies specified in the charter
  425  satisfy the research-based reading plan requirement under s.
  426  1011.62(9).
  427         b. In order to provide students with access to diverse
  428  instructional delivery models, to facilitate the integration of
  429  technology within traditional classroom instruction, and to
  430  provide students with the skills they need to compete in the
  431  21st century economy, the Legislature encourages instructional
  432  methods for blended learning courses consisting of both
  433  traditional classroom and online instructional techniques.
  434  Charter schools may implement blended learning courses which
  435  combine traditional classroom instruction and virtual
  436  instruction. Students in a blended learning course must be full
  437  time students of the charter school and receive the online
  438  instruction in a classroom setting at the charter school.
  439  Instructional personnel certified pursuant to s. 1012.55 who
  440  provide virtual instruction for blended learning courses may be
  441  employees of the charter school or may be under contract to
  442  provide instructional services to charter school students. At a
  443  minimum, such instructional personnel must hold an active state
  444  or school district adjunct certification under s. 1012.57 for
  445  the subject area of the blended learning course. The funding and
  446  performance accountability requirements for blended learning
  447  courses are the same as those for traditional courses.
  448         3. The current incoming baseline standard of student
  449  academic achievement, the outcomes to be achieved, and the
  450  method of measurement that will be used. The criteria listed in
  451  this subparagraph shall include a detailed description of:
  452         a. How the baseline student academic achievement levels and
  453  prior rates of academic progress will be established.
  454         b. How these baseline rates will be compared to rates of
  455  academic progress achieved by these same students while
  456  attending the charter school.
  457         c. To the extent possible, how these rates of progress will
  458  be evaluated and compared with rates of progress of other
  459  closely comparable student populations.
  460  
  461  The district school board is required to provide academic
  462  student performance data to charter schools for each of their
  463  students coming from the district school system, as well as
  464  rates of academic progress of comparable student populations in
  465  the district school system.
  466         4. The methods used to identify the educational strengths
  467  and needs of students and how well educational goals and
  468  performance standards are met by students attending the charter
  469  school. The methods shall provide a means for the charter school
  470  to ensure accountability to its constituents by analyzing
  471  student performance data and by evaluating the effectiveness and
  472  efficiency of its major educational programs. Students in
  473  charter schools shall, at a minimum, participate in the
  474  statewide assessment program created under s. 1008.22.
  475         5. In secondary charter schools, a method for determining
  476  that a student has satisfied the requirements for graduation in
  477  s. 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282.
  478         6. A method for resolving conflicts between the governing
  479  board of the charter school and the sponsor.
  480         7. The admissions procedures and dismissal procedures,
  481  including the school’s code of student conduct.
  482         8. The ways by which the school will achieve a
  483  racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or
  484  within the racial/ethnic range of other public schools in the
  485  same school district.
  486         9. The financial and administrative management of the
  487  school, including a reasonable demonstration of the professional
  488  experience or competence of those individuals or organizations
  489  applying to operate the charter school or those hired or
  490  retained to perform such professional services and the
  491  description of clearly delineated responsibilities and the
  492  policies and practices needed to effectively manage the charter
  493  school. A description of internal audit procedures and
  494  establishment of controls to ensure that financial resources are
  495  properly managed must be included. Both public sector and
  496  private sector professional experience shall be equally valid in
  497  such a consideration. The charter must document that the
  498  governing board is independent of any management company or
  499  cooperative and may, at its sole discretion, terminate the
  500  contract with the management company or cooperative at any time.
  501         10. The asset and liability projections required in the
  502  application which are incorporated into the charter and shall be
  503  compared with information provided in the annual report of the
  504  charter school.
  505         11. A description of procedures that identify various risks
  506  and provide for a comprehensive approach to reduce the impact of
  507  losses; plans to ensure the safety and security of students and
  508  staff; plans to identify, minimize, and protect others from
  509  violent or disruptive student behavior; and the manner in which
  510  the school will be insured, including whether or not the school
  511  will be required to have liability insurance, and, if so, the
  512  terms and conditions thereof and the amounts of coverage.
  513         12. The term of the charter which shall provide for
  514  cancellation of the charter if insufficient progress has been
  515  made in attaining the student achievement objectives of the
  516  charter and if it is not likely that such objectives can be
  517  achieved before expiration of the charter. The initial term of
  518  the a charter is either shall be for 4 years or 5 years. In
  519  order to facilitate access to long-term financial resources for
  520  charter school construction, Charter schools that are operated
  521  by a municipality or other public entity, as provided by law, or
  522  a private, not-for-profit corporation granted 501(c)(3) status
  523  by the Internal Revenue Service are eligible for up to a 15-year
  524  charter, subject to approval by the district school board. A
  525  charter lab school is also eligible for a charter for a term of
  526  up to 15 years. In addition, to facilitate access to long-term
  527  financial resources for charter school construction, charter
  528  schools that are operated by a private, not-for-profit, s.
  529  501(c)(3) status corporation are eligible for up to a 15-year
  530  charter, subject to approval by the district school board. Such
  531  long-term charters remain subject to annual review and may be
  532  terminated during the term of the charter, but only according to
  533  the provisions set forth in subsection (8) or paragraph (9)(n).
  534         13. Termination or nonrenewal of the charter pursuant to
  535  subsection (8) or paragraph (9)(n).
  536         14.13. The facilities to be used and their location. The
  537  sponsor shall may not require a charter school to have a
  538  certificate of occupancy or a temporary certificate of occupancy
  539  for such a facility no later than 30 earlier than 15 calendar
  540  days before the first day of school.
  541         15.14. The qualifications to be required of the teachers
  542  and the potential strategies used to recruit, hire, train, and
  543  retain qualified staff to achieve best value.
  544         16.15. The governance structure of the school, including
  545  the status of the charter school as a public or private employer
  546  as required in paragraph (12)(i).
  547         17.16. A timetable for implementing the charter which
  548  addresses the implementation of each element thereof and the
  549  date by which the charter shall be awarded in order to meet this
  550  timetable.
  551         18.17. In the case of an existing public school that is
  552  being converted to charter status, alternative arrangements for
  553  current students who choose not to attend the charter school and
  554  for current teachers who choose not to teach in the charter
  555  school after conversion in accordance with the existing
  556  collective bargaining agreement or district school board rule in
  557  the absence of a collective bargaining agreement. However,
  558  alternative arrangements shall not be required for current
  559  teachers who choose not to teach in a charter lab school, except
  560  as authorized by the employment policies of the state university
  561  which grants the charter to the lab school.
  562         19.18. Full disclosure of the identity of all relatives
  563  employed by the charter school who are related to the charter
  564  school owner, president, chairperson of the governing board of
  565  directors, superintendent, governing board member, principal,
  566  assistant principal, or any other person employed by the charter
  567  school who has equivalent decisionmaking authority. For the
  568  purpose of this subparagraph, the term “relative” means father,
  569  mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first
  570  cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in
  571  law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,
  572  stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother,
  573  stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
  574         20.19. Implementation of the activities authorized under s.
  575  1002.331 by the charter school when it satisfies the eligibility
  576  requirements for a high-performing charter school. A high
  577  performing charter school shall notify its sponsor in writing by
  578  March 1 if it intends to increase enrollment or expand grade
  579  levels the following school year. The written notice shall
  580  specify the amount of the enrollment increase and the grade
  581  levels that will be added, as applicable.
  582         (b)1. A charter may be renewed provided that a program
  583  review demonstrates that the criteria in paragraph (a) have been
  584  successfully accomplished and that none of the grounds for
  585  nonrenewal established by paragraph (8)(a) has been documented.
  586  In order to facilitate long-term financing for charter school
  587  construction, Charter schools operating for a minimum of 3 years
  588  and demonstrating exemplary academic programming and fiscal
  589  management are eligible for a 15-year charter renewal. Such
  590  long-term charter is subject to annual review and may be
  591  terminated during the term of the charter.
  592         2. The 15-year charter renewal that may be granted pursuant
  593  to subparagraph 1. shall be granted to a charter school that has
  594  received a school grade of “A” or “B” pursuant to s. 1008.34 in
  595  3 of the past 4 years and is not in a state of financial
  596  emergency or deficit position as defined by this section. Such
  597  long-term charter is subject to annual review and may be
  598  terminated during the term of the charter pursuant to subsection
  599  (8).
  600         (d)1. Each charter school’s governing board must appoint a
  601  representative to facilitate parental involvement, provide
  602  access to information, assist parents and others with questions
  603  and concerns, and resolve disputes. The representative must
  604  reside in the school district in which the charter school is
  605  located and may be a governing board member, charter school
  606  employee, or individual contracted to represent the governing
  607  board. If the governing board oversees multiple charter schools
  608  in the same school district, the governing board must appoint a
  609  separate individual representative for each charter school in
  610  the district. The representative’s contact information must be
  611  provided annually in writing to parents and posted prominently
  612  on the charter school’s website if a website is maintained by
  613  the school. The sponsor may not require that governing board
  614  members reside in the school district in which the charter
  615  school is located if the charter school complies with this
  616  paragraph.
  617         2. Each charter school’s governing board must hold at least
  618  two public meetings per school year in the school district. The
  619  meetings must be noticed, open, and accessible to the public,
  620  and attendees must be provided an opportunity to receive
  621  information and provide input regarding the charter school’s
  622  operations. The appointed representative and charter school
  623  principal or director, or his or her equivalent, must be
  624  physically present at each meeting.
  625         (8) CAUSES FOR NONRENEWAL OR TERMINATION OF CHARTER.—
  626         (e) When a charter is not renewed or is terminated or when
  627  a charter school is closed voluntarily by the operator, the
  628  school shall be dissolved under the provisions of law under
  629  which the school was organized, and any unencumbered public
  630  funds, except for capital outlay funds and federal charter
  631  school program grant funds, from the charter school shall revert
  632  to the sponsor. Capital outlay funds provided pursuant to s.
  633  1013.62 and federal charter school program grant funds that are
  634  unencumbered shall revert to the department to be redistributed
  635  among eligible charter schools. In the event a charter school is
  636  dissolved or is otherwise terminated, all district school board
  637  property and improvements, furnishings, and equipment purchased
  638  with public funds shall automatically revert to full ownership
  639  by the district school board, subject to complete satisfaction
  640  of any lawful liens or encumbrances. Any unencumbered public
  641  funds from the charter school, district school board property
  642  and improvements, furnishings, and equipment purchased with
  643  public funds, or financial or other records pertaining to the
  644  charter school, in the possession of any person, entity, or
  645  holding company, other than the charter school, shall be held in
  646  trust upon the district school board’s request, until any appeal
  647  status is resolved.
  648         (f) If a charter is not renewed or is terminated or a
  649  charter school is closed voluntarily by the operator, the
  650  charter school is responsible for all debts of the charter
  651  school. The district may not assume the debt from any contract
  652  made between the governing body of the school and a third party,
  653  except for a debt that is previously detailed and agreed upon in
  654  writing by both the district and the governing body of the
  655  school and that may not reasonably be assumed to have been
  656  satisfied by the district.
  657         (g) If a charter is not renewed or is terminated, a student
  658  who attended the school may apply to, and shall be enrolled in,
  659  another public school. Normal application deadlines shall be
  660  disregarded under such circumstances.
  661         (h) The governing board of a charter school that closes
  662  voluntarily shall notify the sponsor and the department in
  663  writing within 7 calendar days of its decision to cease
  664  operations. The notice must state the reasons for the closure
  665  and acknowledge that the governing board agrees to follow the
  666  procedures for dissolution and reversion of public funds
  667  specified in this subsection and paragraph (9)(o).
  668         (i) For a high-performing charter school that is having the
  669  charter agreement renewed, the charter contract, as that
  670  contract exists on the day the term of the contract is to
  671  terminate, must be automatically renewed for the length of the
  672  current term if the charter school governing board and sponsor
  673  have not executed the renewal before the term of the charter
  674  agreement is scheduled to expire.
  675         (9) CHARTER SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS.—
  676         (g)1. In order to provide financial information that is
  677  comparable to that reported for other public schools, charter
  678  schools are to maintain all financial records that constitute
  679  their accounting system:
  680         a. In accordance with the accounts and codes prescribed in
  681  the most recent issuance of the publication titled “Financial
  682  and Program Cost Accounting and Reporting for Florida Schools”;
  683  or
  684         b. At the discretion of the charter school’s governing
  685  board, a charter school may elect to follow generally accepted
  686  accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations, but must
  687  reformat this information for reporting according to this
  688  paragraph.
  689         2. Charter schools shall provide annual financial report
  690  and program cost report information in the state-required
  691  formats for inclusion in district reporting in compliance with
  692  s. 1011.60(1). Charter schools that are operated by a
  693  municipality or are a component unit of a parent nonprofit
  694  organization may use the accounting system of the municipality
  695  or the parent but must reformat this information for reporting
  696  according to this paragraph.
  697         3. A charter school shall, upon execution of the contract,
  698  provide the sponsor with a concise, uniform, monthly financial
  699  statement summary sheet that contains a balance sheet and a
  700  statement of revenue, expenditures, and changes in fund balance.
  701  The balance sheet and the statement of revenue, expenditures,
  702  and changes in fund balance shall be in the governmental funds
  703  format prescribed by the Governmental Accounting Standards
  704  Board. A high-performing charter school pursuant to s. 1002.331
  705  may provide a quarterly financial statement in the same format
  706  and requirements as the uniform monthly financial statement
  707  summary sheet. The sponsor shall review each monthly financial
  708  statement, to identify the existence of any conditions
  709  identified in s. 1002.345(1)(a).
  710         4. A charter school shall maintain and provide financial
  711  information as required in this paragraph. The financial
  712  statement required in subparagraph 3. must be in a form
  713  prescribed by the Department of Education.
  714         (n)1. The director and a representative of the governing
  715  board of a charter school that has earned a grade of “D” or “F”
  716  pursuant to s. 1008.34 shall appear before the sponsor to
  717  present information concerning each contract component having
  718  noted deficiencies. The director and a representative of the
  719  governing board shall submit to the sponsor for approval a
  720  school improvement plan to raise student performance. Upon
  721  approval by the sponsor, the charter school shall begin
  722  implementation of the school improvement plan. The department
  723  shall offer technical assistance and training to the charter
  724  school and its governing board and establish guidelines for
  725  developing, submitting, and approving such plans.
  726         2.a. If a charter school earns three consecutive grades of
  727  “D,” two consecutive grades of “D” followed by a grade of “F,”
  728  or two nonconsecutive grades of “F” within a 3-year period, the
  729  charter school governing board shall choose one of the following
  730  corrective actions:
  731         (I) Contract for educational services to be provided
  732  directly to students, instructional personnel, and school
  733  administrators, as prescribed in state board rule;
  734         (II) Contract with an outside entity that has a
  735  demonstrated record of effectiveness to operate the school;
  736         (III) Reorganize the school under a new director or
  737  principal who is authorized to hire new staff; or
  738         (IV) Voluntarily close the charter school.
  739         b. The charter school must implement the corrective action
  740  in the school year following receipt of a third consecutive
  741  grade of “D,” a grade of “F” following two consecutive grades of
  742  “D,” or a second nonconsecutive grade of “F” within a 3-year
  743  period.
  744         c. The sponsor may annually waive a corrective action if it
  745  determines that the charter school is likely to improve a letter
  746  grade if additional time is provided to implement the
  747  intervention and support strategies prescribed by the school
  748  improvement plan. Notwithstanding this sub-subparagraph, a
  749  charter school that earns a second consecutive grade of “F” is
  750  subject to subparagraph 4.
  751         d. A charter school is no longer required to implement a
  752  corrective action if it improves by at least one letter grade.
  753  However, the charter school must continue to implement
  754  strategies identified in the school improvement plan. The
  755  sponsor must annually review implementation of the school
  756  improvement plan to monitor the school’s continued improvement
  757  pursuant to subparagraph 5.
  758         e. A charter school implementing a corrective action that
  759  does not improve by at least one letter grade after 2 full
  760  school years of implementing the corrective action must select a
  761  different corrective action. Implementation of the new
  762  corrective action must begin in the school year following the
  763  implementation period of the existing corrective action, unless
  764  the sponsor determines that the charter school is likely to
  765  improve a letter grade if additional time is provided to
  766  implement the existing corrective action. Notwithstanding this
  767  sub-subparagraph, a charter school that earns a second
  768  consecutive grade of “F” while implementing a corrective action
  769  is subject to subparagraph 4.
  770         3. A charter school with a grade of “D” or “F” that
  771  improves by at least one letter grade must continue to implement
  772  the strategies identified in the school improvement plan. The
  773  sponsor must annually review implementation of the school
  774  improvement plan to monitor the school’s continued improvement
  775  pursuant to subparagraph 5.
  776         4. A charter school’s charter is automatically terminated
  777  if the school earns two consecutive grades of “F” after all
  778  school grade appeals are final The sponsor shall terminate a
  779  charter if the charter school earns two consecutive grades of
  780  “F” unless:
  781         a. The charter school is established to turn around the
  782  performance of a district public school pursuant to s.
  783  1008.33(4)(b)3. Such charter schools shall be governed by s.
  784  1008.33;
  785         b. The charter school serves a student population the
  786  majority of which resides in a school zone served by a district
  787  public school that earned a grade of “F” in the year before the
  788  charter school opened and the charter school earns at least a
  789  grade of “D” in its third year of operation. The exception
  790  provided under this sub-subparagraph does not apply to a charter
  791  school in its fourth year of operation and thereafter; or
  792         c. The state board grants the charter school a waiver of
  793  termination. The charter school must request the waiver within
  794  15 days after the department’s official release of school
  795  grades. The state board may waive termination if the charter
  796  school demonstrates that the Learning Gains of its students on
  797  statewide assessments are comparable to or better than the
  798  Learning Gains of similarly situated students enrolled in nearby
  799  district public schools. The waiver is valid for 1 year and may
  800  only be granted once. Charter schools that have been in
  801  operation for more than 5 years are not eligible for a waiver
  802  under this sub-subparagraph.
  803  
  804  The sponsor shall notify in writing the charter school’s
  805  governing board, the charter school principal, and the
  806  department when a charter is terminated under this subparagraph.
  807  A charter terminated under this subparagraph is governed by the
  808  requirements of paragraphs (8)(e)-(g) and paragraph (o) of this
  809  subsection.
  810         5. The director and a representative of the governing board
  811  of a graded charter school that has implemented a school
  812  improvement plan under this paragraph shall appear before the
  813  sponsor at least once a year to present information regarding
  814  the progress of intervention and support strategies implemented
  815  by the school pursuant to the school improvement plan and
  816  corrective actions, if applicable. The sponsor shall communicate
  817  at the meeting, and in writing to the director, the services
  818  provided to the school to help the school address its
  819  deficiencies.
  820         6. Notwithstanding any provision of this paragraph except
  821  sub-subparagraphs 4.a.-c., the sponsor may terminate the charter
  822  at any time pursuant to subsection (8).
  823         (p)1. Each charter school shall maintain a website that
  824  enables the public to obtain information regarding the school;
  825  the school’s academic performance; the names of the governing
  826  board members; the programs at the school; any management
  827  companies, cooperatives, service providers, or education
  828  management corporations associated with the school; the school’s
  829  annual budget and its annual independent fiscal audit; the
  830  school’s grade pursuant to s. 1008.34; and, on a quarterly
  831  basis, the minutes of governing board meetings.
  832         2. Each charter school’s governing board shall appoint a
  833  representative to facilitate parental involvement, provide
  834  access to information, assist parents and others with questions
  835  and concerns, and resolve disputes. The representative must
  836  reside in the school district in which the charter school is
  837  located and may be a governing board member, charter school
  838  employee, or individual contracted to represent the governing
  839  board. If the governing board oversees multiple charter schools
  840  in the same school district, the governing board must appoint a
  841  separate individual representative for each charter school in
  842  the district. The representative’s contact information must be
  843  provided annually, in writing, to parents and posted prominently
  844  on the charter school’s website. The sponsor may not require
  845  that governing board members reside in the school district in
  846  which the charter school is located if the charter school
  847  complies with this paragraph.
  848         3. Each charter school’s governing board must hold at least
  849  two public meetings per school year in the school district where
  850  the charter school is located. The meetings must be noticed,
  851  open, and accessible to the public, and attendees must be
  852  provided an opportunity to receive information and provide input
  853  regarding the charter school’s operations. The appointed
  854  representative and charter school principal or director, or his
  855  or her equivalent, must be physically present at each meeting.
  856         (10) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.—
  857         (a) A charter school shall be open to any student covered
  858  in an interdistrict agreement or residing in the school district
  859  in which the charter school is located; however, in the case of
  860  a charter lab school, the charter lab school shall be open to
  861  any student eligible to attend the lab school as provided in s.
  862  1002.32 or who resides in the school district in which the
  863  charter lab school is located. Any eligible student shall be
  864  allowed interdistrict transfer to attend a charter school when
  865  based on good cause. Good cause shall include, but is not
  866  limited to, geographic proximity to a charter school in a
  867  neighboring school district. A charter school that has not
  868  reached capacity, as provided in s. 1002.31(3)(g), may be open
  869  to any student in the state.
  870         (17) FUNDING.—Students enrolled in a charter school,
  871  regardless of the sponsorship, shall be funded as if they are in
  872  a basic program or a special program, the same as students
  873  enrolled in other public schools in the school district. Funding
  874  for a charter lab school shall be as provided in s. 1002.32.
  875         (b) The basis for the agreement for funding students
  876  enrolled in a charter school shall be the sum of the school
  877  district’s operating funds from the Florida Education Finance
  878  Program as provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations
  879  Act, including gross state and local funds, discretionary
  880  lottery funds, and funds from the school district’s current
  881  operating discretionary millage levy; divided by total funded
  882  weighted full-time equivalent students in the school district;
  883  multiplied by the weighted full-time equivalent students for the
  884  charter school. Charter schools whose students or programs meet
  885  the eligibility criteria in law are entitled to their
  886  proportionate share of categorical program funds included in the
  887  total funds available in the Florida Education Finance Program
  888  by the Legislature, including transportation, the research-based
  889  reading allocation, and the Florida digital classrooms
  890  allocation. Total funding for each charter school shall be
  891  recalculated during the year to reflect the revised calculations
  892  under the Florida Education Finance Program by the state and the
  893  actual weighted full-time equivalent students reported by the
  894  charter school during the full-time equivalent student survey
  895  periods designated by the Commissioner of Education.
  896         (e) District school boards shall make timely and efficient
  897  payment and reimbursement to charter schools, including
  898  processing paperwork required to access special state and
  899  federal funding for which they may be eligible. The district
  900  school board may distribute funds to a charter school for up to
  901  3 months based on the projected full-time equivalent student
  902  membership of the charter school. Thereafter, the results of
  903  full-time equivalent student membership surveys shall be used in
  904  adjusting the amount of funds distributed monthly to the charter
  905  school for the remainder of the fiscal year. The payment shall
  906  be issued no later than 10 working days after the district
  907  school board receives a distribution of state or federal funds.
  908  If a warrant for payment is not issued within 10 working days
  909  after receipt of funding by the district school board, the
  910  school district shall pay to the charter school, in addition to
  911  the amount of the scheduled disbursement, interest at a rate of
  912  1 percent per month calculated on a daily basis on the unpaid
  913  balance from the expiration of the 10 working days until such
  914  time as the warrant is issued. The district school board may not
  915  delay payment to a charter school of any portion of the funds
  916  provided in paragraph (b) based on the timing of receipt of
  917  local funds by the district school board.
  918         (21) PUBLIC INFORMATION ON CHARTER SCHOOLS.—
  919         (a) The Department of Education shall provide information
  920  to the public, directly and through sponsors, on how to form and
  921  operate a charter school and how to enroll in a charter school
  922  once it is created. This information shall include a standard
  923  model application form, standard charter contract, standard
  924  application evaluation instrument, and standard charter renewal
  925  contract, which shall include the information specified in
  926  subsection (7) and shall be developed by consulting and
  927  negotiating with both school districts and charter schools
  928  before implementation. The charter and charter renewal contracts
  929  shall be used by charter school sponsors.
  930         (26) STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.—
  931         (c) An employee of the charter school, or his or her
  932  spouse, or an employee of a management company, cooperative, or
  933  charter management organization, or his or her spouse, may not
  934  be a member of the governing board of the charter school.
  935         (27) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND ETHICS.—An individual may
  936  not serve as a member of a governing board of a charter school,
  937  an education management corporation, or charter school
  938  cooperative organization if he or she or an immediate family
  939  member receives a pension or any compensation from the charter
  940  school, or if the individual’s partner is an owner or principal
  941  with an entity or independent contractor with whom the charter
  942  school does business or contracts, directly or indirectly, for
  943  professional services, goods, or facilities. An individual may
  944  not serve as a governing board member if an immediate family
  945  member is an employee of the school. Members of the governing
  946  board of a charter school may not be appointed, removed, or
  947  replaced by an entity or component unit of an entity, which the
  948  charter school has entered into any contract with.
  949         Section 4. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2), paragraph (b)
  950  of subsection (3), and subsection (5) of section 1002.331,
  951  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  952         1002.331 High-performing charter schools.—
  953         (2) A high-performing charter school is authorized to:
  954         (e) Receive a modification of its charter to a term of 15
  955  years or a 15-year charter renewal. The charter may be modified
  956  or renewed for a shorter term at the option of the high
  957  performing charter school. The charter must be consistent with
  958  s. 1002.33(7)(a)20. s. 1002.33(7)(a)19. and (10)(h) and (i), is
  959  subject to annual review by the sponsor, and may be terminated
  960  during its term pursuant to s. 1002.33(8).
  961  
  962  A high-performing charter school shall notify its sponsor in
  963  writing by March 1 if it intends to increase enrollment or
  964  expand grade levels the following school year. The written
  965  notice shall specify the amount of the enrollment increase and
  966  the grade levels that will be added, as applicable. If a charter
  967  school notifies the sponsor of its intent to expand, the sponsor
  968  shall modify the charter within 90 days to include the new
  969  enrollment maximum and may not make any other changes. The
  970  sponsor may deny a request to increase the enrollment of a high
  971  performing charter school if the commissioner has declassified
  972  the charter school as high-performing. If a high-performing
  973  charter school requests to consolidate multiple charters, the
  974  sponsor shall have 40 days after receipt of that request to
  975  provide an initial draft charter to the charter school. The
  976  sponsor and charter school shall have 50 days thereafter to
  977  negotiate and notice the charter contract for final approval by
  978  the sponsor.
  979         (3)
  980         (b) A high-performing charter school may not establish more
  981  than one charter school within the state under paragraph (a) in
  982  any year. A subsequent application to establish a charter school
  983  under paragraph (a) may not be submitted unless each charter
  984  school established in this manner achieves high-performing
  985  charter school status. The limits set forth in this paragraph do
  986  not apply to charter schools established by a high-performing
  987  charter school in the attendance zone of a school identified as
  988  in need of intervention and support pursuant to s. 1008.33(3)(b)
  989  or to meet needs for innovative choice options identified by the
  990  district school board.
  991         (5) The Commissioner of Education, upon request by a
  992  charter school, shall verify that the charter school meets the
  993  criteria in subsection (1) and provide a letter to the charter
  994  school and the sponsor stating that the charter school is a
  995  high-performing charter school pursuant to this section. The
  996  commissioner shall annually determine whether a high-performing
  997  charter school under subsection (1) continues to meet the
  998  criteria in that subsection. Such high-performing charter school
  999  shall maintain its high-performing status unless the
 1000  commissioner determines that the charter school no longer meets
 1001  the criteria in subsection (1), at which time the commissioner
 1002  shall send a letter to the charter school and its sponsor
 1003  providing notification that the charter school has been
 1004  declassified of its declassification as a high-performing
 1005  charter school.
 1006         Section 5. Present subsection (2) of section 1002.332,
 1007  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (3), and a new
 1008  subsection (2) is added to that section, to read:
 1009         1002.332 High-performing charter school system.—
 1010         (2) An entity that successfully operates a system of
 1011  charter schools outside the state may apply to the State Board
 1012  of Education for status as a high-performing charter school
 1013  system. The state board shall adopt rules prescribing a process
 1014  for determining whether the entity meets the requirements of
 1015  this subsection by reviewing student demographic and performance
 1016  data and fiscal accountability of all schools operated by the
 1017  entity. To the extent practicable, the state board shall develop
 1018  a rubric for the approval of such entities which aligns with the
 1019  priorities of the federal Charter Schools Program Grants for
 1020  Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools in the
 1021  Federal Register, Volume 76, No. 133. An entity classified as a
 1022  high-performing charter school system pursuant to this
 1023  subsection may submit an application in the same manner as
 1024  specified in s. 1002.331(3) to establish and operate a new
 1025  charter school in this state. For the first 3 school years of
 1026  operation, each charter school established by such an entity
 1027  shall receive a reduction in administrative fees as authorized
 1028  under s. 1002.33(20)(a)3.
 1029         Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
 1030  1002.451, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1031         1002.451 District innovation school of technology program.—
 1032         (1) DISTRICT INNOVATION SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.—
 1033         (c) An innovation school of technology must be open to any
 1034  student covered in an interdistrict agreement or residing in the
 1035  school district in which the innovation school of technology is
 1036  located. An innovation school of technology shall enroll an
 1037  eligible student who submits a timely application if the number
 1038  of applications does not exceed the capacity of a program,
 1039  class, grade level, or building. If the number of applications
 1040  exceeds capacity, all applicants shall have an equal chance of
 1041  being admitted through a public random selection process.
 1042  However, a district may give enrollment preference to students
 1043  who identify the innovation school of technology as the
 1044  student’s preferred choice pursuant to the district’s public
 1045  school parental choice controlled open enrollment plan.
 1046         Section 7. Section 1003.3101, Florida Statutes, is created
 1047  to read:
 1048         1003.3101Additional school choice options.—Each district
 1049  school board shall establish a transfer process for a parent to
 1050  request his or her child be transferred to another classroom
 1051  teacher. A school must grant or deny the transfer within 2 weeks
 1052  after receiving a request. If a request for transfer is denied,
 1053  the school shall notify the parent and specify the reasons for a
 1054  denial. An explanation of the transfer process must be made
 1055  available in the student handbook or a similar publication.
 1056         Section 8. Section 1003.5711, Florida Statutes, is created
 1057  to read:
 1058         1003.5711Instruction for students receiving hospitalized
 1059  program services.—
 1060         (1)A public school student in prekindergarten through
 1061  grade 12 who is deemed eligible for hospitalized program
 1062  services in this state is considered a student with a
 1063  disability.
 1064         (a) If the student has an individual education plan (IEP),
 1065  the IEP must be followed, but upon request of the student’s
 1066  parent, the IEP may be modified to accommodate the student’s use
 1067  of hospitalized program services in a children’s hospital
 1068  pursuant to this section.
 1069         (b) The student’s IEP may be modified to reduce the
 1070  student’s course load to core courses identified in s.
 1071  1002.20(19)(a). The student may be excused or exempted from
 1072  physical education classes or instruction based on the IEP or
 1073  orders from the student’s medical doctor. The student’s IEP may
 1074  allow the student to receive instruction beyond the normal
 1075  school hours, school day, or school year of the school district.
 1076         (2) A student who is admitted to a children’s hospital for
 1077  hospitalized program services must continue to receive
 1078  educational instruction.
 1079         (a) If a student is expected to be absent from school and
 1080  admitted to the children’s hospital for hospitalized program
 1081  services for at least 10 consecutive days, no later than the
 1082  fifth day of the student’s hospital stay, the school district in
 1083  which the student is or was most recently enrolled may choose to
 1084  provide a certified teacher to the children’s hospital to
 1085  provide instruction to the student. If that school district
 1086  declines to provide a certified teacher, the school district in
 1087  which the children’s hospital is located must provide a
 1088  certified teacher to provide the student with instruction or
 1089  must partner with the Florida Virtual School or an approved
 1090  provider as defined in s. 1002.45 for instructional services as
 1091  authorized in this section. Such school district shall also
 1092  provide the student’s instructional materials and other
 1093  necessary educational support and services identified in the
 1094  IEP.
 1095         (b) A student in prekindergarten through grade 6 shall be
 1096  taught in person by the certified teacher. A student in grades 7
 1097  through 12 shall be taught in person by the certified teacher,
 1098  or the student may choose to utilize instruction from the
 1099  Florida Virtual School. If the Florida Virtual School is used by
 1100  any student, at least one certified teacher from the Florida
 1101  Virtual School must be present at the hospital to assist with
 1102  online learning.
 1103         (3) If a school district other than the one in which the
 1104  student was previously enrolled provides the hospitalized
 1105  program services, the Department of Education must transfer the
 1106  funds from the school district in which the student was
 1107  previously enrolled to the school district in which the
 1108  children’s hospital providing hospitalized program services is
 1109  located. This transfer shall occur no later than each subsequent
 1110  quarterly FEFP payment.
 1111         (4) The children’s hospital providing the hospitalized
 1112  program services is responsible for providing adequate
 1113  educational space for each student, but is not required to
 1114  comply with chapter 1013. The hospital and applicable school
 1115  district must enter into an agreement to implement this section.
 1116  The agreement may be student-specific or address all students as
 1117  necessary.
 1118         (5) The intent of this section is to supplement existing
 1119  laws, rules, and regulations concerning hospitalized students
 1120  that use hospitalized program services at a children’s hospital.
 1121         Section 9. Section 1004.6491, Florida Statutes, is created
 1122  to read:
 1123         1004.6491Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation.—
 1124         (1) There is established the Florida Institute for Charter
 1125  School Innovation within the Florida State University. The
 1126  purpose of the institute is to advance charter school
 1127  accountability, quality, and innovation; provide support and
 1128  technical assistance to charter school applicants; connect
 1129  aspiring teachers to opportunities to experience teaching in
 1130  schools of choice; and conduct research and develop and promote
 1131  best practices for charter school authorization, financing,
 1132  management, operations, and instructional practices.
 1133         (2) The institute shall:
 1134         (a) Conduct research to inform both policy and practice
 1135  related to charter school accountability, financing, management,
 1136  operations, and instructional practices.
 1137         (b) Partner with state-approved teacher preparation
 1138  programs in this state to provide opportunities for aspiring
 1139  teachers to experience teaching in schools of choice.
 1140         (c) Provide technical assistance and support to charter
 1141  school applicants with innovative charter school concepts.
 1142         (3) The President of the Florida State University shall
 1143  appoint a director of the institute. The director is responsible
 1144  for overall management of the institute and for developing and
 1145  executing the work of the institute consistent with this
 1146  section. The director may engage individuals in other state
 1147  universities with accredited colleges of education to
 1148  participate in the institute.
 1149         (4) By each October 1, the institute shall provide a
 1150  written report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
 1151  the Speaker of the House of Representatives which outlines its
 1152  activities in the preceding year, reports significant research
 1153  findings, details expenditures of state funds, and provides
 1154  specific recommendations for improving the institute’s ability
 1155  to fulfil its mission and for changes to statewide charter
 1156  school policy.
 1157         (5) Within 180 days after completion of the institute’s
 1158  fiscal year, the institute shall provide to the Auditor General,
 1159  the Board of Governors of the State University System, and the
 1160  State Board of Education a report on the results of an annual
 1161  financial audit conducted by an independent certified public
 1162  accountant in accordance with s. 11.45.
 1163         Section 10. Subsection (1) of section 1011.61, Florida
 1164  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1165         1011.61 Definitions.—Notwithstanding the provisions of s.
 1166  1000.21, the following terms are defined as follows for the
 1167  purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program:
 1168         (1) A “full-time equivalent student” in each program of the
 1169  district is defined in terms of full-time students and part-time
 1170  students as follows:
 1171         (a) A “full-time student” is one student on the membership
 1172  roll of one school program or a combination of school programs
 1173  listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) for the school year or the equivalent
 1174  for:
 1175         1. Instruction in a standard school, comprising not less
 1176  than 900 net hours for a student in or at the grade level of 4
 1177  through 12, or not less than 720 net hours for a student in or
 1178  at the grade level of kindergarten through grade 3 or in an
 1179  authorized prekindergarten exceptional program;
 1180         2. Instruction in a double-session school or a school
 1181  utilizing an experimental school calendar approved by the
 1182  Department of Education, comprising not less than the equivalent
 1183  of 810 net hours in grades 4 through 12 or not less than 630 net
 1184  hours in kindergarten through grade 3; or
 1185         3. Instruction comprising the appropriate number of net
 1186  hours set forth in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. for
 1187  students who, within the past year, have moved with their
 1188  parents for the purpose of engaging in the farm labor or fish
 1189  industries, if a plan furnishing such an extended school day or
 1190  week, or a combination thereof, has been approved by the
 1191  commissioner. Such plan may be approved to accommodate the needs
 1192  of migrant students only or may serve all students in schools
 1193  having a high percentage of migrant students. The plan described
 1194  in this subparagraph is optional for any school district and is
 1195  not mandated by the state.
 1196         (b) A “part-time student” is a student on the active
 1197  membership roll of a school program or combination of school
 1198  programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) who is less than a full-time
 1199  student.
 1200         (c)1. A “full-time equivalent student” is:
 1201         a. A full-time student in any one of the programs listed in
 1202  s. 1011.62(1)(c); or
 1203         b. A combination of full-time or part-time students in any
 1204  one of the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) which is the
 1205  equivalent of one full-time student based on the following
 1206  calculations:
 1207         (I) A full-time student in a combination of programs listed
 1208  in s. 1011.62(1)(c) shall be a fraction of a full-time
 1209  equivalent membership in each special program equal to the
 1210  number of net hours per school year for which he or she is a
 1211  member, divided by the appropriate number of hours set forth in
 1212  subparagraph (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2. The difference between
 1213  that fraction or sum of fractions and the maximum value as set
 1214  forth in subsection (4) for each full-time student is presumed
 1215  to be the balance of the student’s time not spent in a special
 1216  program and shall be recorded as time in the appropriate basic
 1217  program.
 1218         (II) A prekindergarten student with a disability shall meet
 1219  the requirements specified for kindergarten students.
 1220         (III) A full-time equivalent student for students in
 1221  kindergarten through grade 12 in a full-time virtual instruction
 1222  program under s. 1002.45 or a virtual charter school under s.
 1223  1002.33 shall consist of six full-credit completions or the
 1224  prescribed level of content that counts toward promotion to the
 1225  next grade in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c). Credit
 1226  completions may be a combination of full-credit courses or half
 1227  credit courses. Beginning in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the
 1228  reported full-time equivalent students and associated funding of
 1229  students enrolled in courses requiring passage of an end-of
 1230  course assessment under s. 1003.4282 to earn a standard high
 1231  school diploma shall be adjusted if the student does not pass
 1232  the end-of-course assessment. However, no adjustment shall be
 1233  made for a student who enrolls in a segmented remedial course
 1234  delivered online.
 1235         (IV) A full-time equivalent student for students in
 1236  kindergarten through grade 12 in a part-time virtual instruction
 1237  program under s. 1002.45 shall consist of six full-credit
 1238  completions in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3.
 1239  Credit completions may be a combination of full-credit courses
 1240  or half-credit courses. Beginning in the 2016-2017 fiscal year,
 1241  the reported full-time equivalent students and associated
 1242  funding of students enrolled in courses requiring passage of an
 1243  end-of-course assessment under s. 1003.4282 to earn a standard
 1244  high school diploma shall be adjusted if the student does not
 1245  pass the end-of-course assessment. However, no adjustment shall
 1246  be made for a student who enrolls in a segmented remedial course
 1247  delivered online.
 1248         (V) A Florida Virtual School full-time equivalent student
 1249  shall consist of six full-credit completions or the prescribed
 1250  level of content that counts toward promotion to the next grade
 1251  in the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3. for students
 1252  participating in kindergarten through grade 12 part-time virtual
 1253  instruction and the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) for
 1254  students participating in kindergarten through grade 12 full
 1255  time virtual instruction. Credit completions may be a
 1256  combination of full-credit courses or half-credit courses.
 1257  Beginning in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the reported full-time
 1258  equivalent students and associated funding of students enrolled
 1259  in courses requiring passage of an end-of-course assessment
 1260  under s. 1003.4282 to earn a standard high school diploma shall
 1261  be adjusted if the student does not pass the end-of-course
 1262  assessment. However, no adjustment shall be made for a student
 1263  who enrolls in a segmented remedial course delivered online.
 1264         (VI) Each successfully completed full-credit course earned
 1265  through an online course delivered by a district other than the
 1266  one in which the student resides shall be calculated as 1/6 FTE.
 1267         (VII) A full-time equivalent student for courses requiring
 1268  passage of a statewide, standardized end-of-course assessment
 1269  under s. 1003.4282 to earn a standard high school diploma shall
 1270  be defined and reported based on the number of instructional
 1271  hours as provided in this subsection until the 2016-2017 fiscal
 1272  year. Beginning in the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the FTE for the
 1273  course shall be assessment-based and shall be equal to 1/6 FTE.
 1274  The reported FTE shall be adjusted if the student does not pass
 1275  the end-of-course assessment. However, no adjustment shall be
 1276  made for a student who enrolls in a segmented remedial course
 1277  delivered online.
 1278         (VIII) For students enrolled in a school district as a
 1279  full-time student, the district may report 1/6 FTE for each
 1280  student who passes a statewide, standardized end-of-course
 1281  assessment without being enrolled in the corresponding course.
 1282         2. A student in membership in a program scheduled for more
 1283  or less than 180 school days or the equivalent on an hourly
 1284  basis as specified by rules of the State Board of Education is a
 1285  fraction of a full-time equivalent membership equal to the
 1286  number of instructional hours in membership divided by the
 1287  appropriate number of hours set forth in subparagraph (a)1.;
 1288  however, for the purposes of this subparagraph, membership in
 1289  programs scheduled for more than 180 days is limited to students
 1290  enrolled in:
 1291         a. Juvenile justice education programs.
 1292         b. The Florida Virtual School.
 1293         c. Virtual instruction programs and virtual charter schools
 1294  for the purpose of course completion and credit recovery
 1295  pursuant to ss. 1002.45 and 1003.498. Course completion applies
 1296  only to a student who is reported during the second or third
 1297  membership surveys and who does not complete a virtual education
 1298  course by the end of the regular school year. The course must be
 1299  completed no later than the deadline for amending the final
 1300  student enrollment survey for that year. Credit recovery applies
 1301  only to a student who has unsuccessfully completed a traditional
 1302  or virtual education course during the regular school year and
 1303  must re-take the course in order to be eligible to graduate with
 1304  the student’s class.
 1305  
 1306  The full-time equivalent student enrollment calculated under
 1307  this subsection is subject to the requirements in subsection
 1308  (4).
 1309  
 1310  The department shall determine and implement an equitable method
 1311  of equivalent funding for experimental schools and for schools
 1312  operating under emergency conditions, which schools have been
 1313  approved by the department to operate for less than the minimum
 1314  school day.
 1315         Section 11. Section 1011.6202, Florida Statutes, is created
 1316  to read:
 1317         1011.6202 Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative.—The
 1318  Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative is created within
 1319  the Department of Education. The purpose of the pilot program is
 1320  to provide the principal of a participating school with
 1321  increased autonomy and authority to operate his or her school in
 1322  a way that produces significant improvements in student
 1323  achievement and school management while complying with
 1324  constitutional requirements. The State Board of Education may,
 1325  upon approval of a principal autonomy proposal, enter into a
 1326  performance contract with up to six district school boards for
 1327  participation in the program.
 1328         (1) PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS.—A Florida school
 1329  district may submit to the state board for approval a principal
 1330  autonomy proposal that exchanges statutory and rule exemptions
 1331  for an agreement to meet performance goals established in the
 1332  proposal. If approved by the state board, the school district
 1333  shall be eligible to participate in the program for 3 years. At
 1334  the end of the 3 years, the performance of all participating
 1335  schools in the school district shall be evaluated.
 1336         (2) PRINCIPAL AUTONOMY PROPOSAL.—
 1337         (a) To participate in the program, a school district must:
 1338         1. Identify three middle or high schools whose principals
 1339  will have fiscal and administrative autonomy.
 1340         2. Describe the current financial and administrative
 1341  management of each participating school; identify the areas in
 1342  which each school principal will have increased fiscal and
 1343  administrative autonomy, including the authority and
 1344  responsibilities provided in s. 1012.28(8); and identify the
 1345  areas in which each participating school will continue to follow
 1346  district school board fiscal and administrative policies.
 1347         3. Explain the methods used to identify the educational
 1348  strengths and needs of the participating school’s students and
 1349  identify how student achievement can be improved.
 1350         4. Establish performance goals for student achievement, as
 1351  defined in s. 1008.34(1), and explain how the increased autonomy
 1352  of principals will help participating schools improve student
 1353  achievement and school management.
 1354         5. Provide each participating school’s mission and a
 1355  description of its student population.
 1356         (b) The state board shall establish criteria, which must
 1357  include the criteria listed in paragraph (a), for the approval
 1358  of a principal autonomy proposal.
 1359         (c) A school district must submit its principal autonomy
 1360  proposal to the state board for approval by December 1 in order
 1361  to begin participation in the subsequent school year. By
 1362  February 28 of the school year in which the proposal is
 1363  submitted, the state board shall notify the district school
 1364  board in writing whether the proposal is approved.
 1365         (3) EXEMPTION FROM LAWS.—
 1366         (a) With the exception of those laws listed in paragraph
 1367  (b), a participating school district is exempt from the
 1368  provisions of chapters 1000-1013 and rules of the state board
 1369  which implement those exempt provisions.
 1370         (b) A participating school district shall comply with the
 1371  provisions of chapters 1000-1013, and rules of the state board
 1372  which implement those provisions, pertaining to the following:
 1373         1. Those laws relating to the election and compensation of
 1374  district school board members, the election or appointment and
 1375  compensation of district school superintendents, public meetings
 1376  and public records requirements, financial disclosure, and
 1377  conflicts of interest.
 1378         2. Those laws relating to the student assessment program
 1379  and school grading system, including chapter 1008.
 1380         3. Those laws relating to the provision of services to
 1381  students with disabilities.
 1382         4. Those laws relating to civil rights, including s.
 1383  1000.05, relating to discrimination.
 1384         5. Those laws relating to student health, safety, and
 1385  welfare.
 1386         6. Section 1001.42(4)(f), relating to the uniform opening
 1387  and closing date for public schools.
 1388         7. Section 1003.03, governing maximum class size, except
 1389  that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s. 1003.03 is
 1390  the average at the school level for a participating school.
 1391         8. Sections 1012.22(1)(c) and 1012.27(2), relating to
 1392  compensation and salary schedules.
 1393         9. Section 1012.33(5), relating to workforce reductions for
 1394  annual contracts for instructional personnel. This subparagraph
 1395  does not apply to at-will employees.
 1396         10. Section 1012.335, relating to annual contracts for
 1397  instructional personnel hired on or after July 1, 2011. This
 1398  subparagraph does not apply to at-will employees.
 1399         11. Section 1012.34, relating to personnel evaluation
 1400  procedures and criteria.
 1401         12. Those laws pertaining to educational facilities,
 1402  including chapter 1013, except that s. 1013.20, relating to
 1403  covered walkways for relocatables, and s. 1013.21, relating to
 1404  the use of relocatable facilities exceeding 20 years of age, are
 1405  eligible for exemption.
 1406         13. Those laws pertaining to participating school
 1407  districts, including this section and ss. 1011.64(2)(b),
 1408  1011.69(2), 1012.28(8), and 1012.986(1)(e).
 1409         (4) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.—Each participating school
 1410  district shall require that the principal of each participating
 1411  school complete professional development provided through the
 1412  William Cecil Golden Professional Development Program for School
 1413  Leaders under s. 1012.986. The professional development must be
 1414  completed before a school may participate in the Principal
 1415  Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative.
 1416         (5) TERM OF PARTICIPATION.—The state board shall authorize
 1417  a school district to participate in the program for a period of
 1418  3 years commencing with approval of the principal autonomy
 1419  proposal. Authorization to participate in the program may be
 1420  renewed upon action of the state board. The state board may
 1421  revoke authorization to participate in the program if the school
 1422  district fails to meet the requirements of this section during
 1423  the 3-year period.
 1424         (6) REPORTING.—Each participating school district shall
 1425  submit an annual report to the state board. The state board
 1426  shall annually report on the implementation of the Principal
 1427  Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative. Upon completion of the
 1428  program’s first 3-year term, the Commissioner of Education shall
 1429  submit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
 1430  House of Representatives by December 1 a full evaluation of the
 1431  effectiveness of the program.
 1432         (7) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
 1433  rules to administer this section.
 1434         Section 12. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
 1435  1011.64, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1436         1011.64 School district minimum classroom expenditure
 1437  requirements.—
 1438         (2) For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this
 1439  section, the Legislature shall prescribe minimum academic
 1440  performance standards and minimum classroom expenditure
 1441  requirements for districts not meeting such minimum academic
 1442  performance standards in the General Appropriations Act.
 1443         (b) School district minimum classroom expenditure
 1444  requirements shall be calculated pursuant to subsection (3) and
 1445  may include training pursuant to s. 1012.986(1)(e).
 1446         Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 1011.69, Florida
 1447  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1448         1011.69 Equity in School-Level Funding Act.—
 1449         (2) Beginning in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, district school
 1450  boards shall allocate to schools within the district an average
 1451  of 90 percent of the funds generated by all schools and
 1452  guarantee that each school receives at least 80 percent, except
 1453  that a school participating in the Principal Autonomy Pilot
 1454  Program Initiative under s. 1011.6202 is guaranteed to receive
 1455  at least 90 percent, of the funds generated by that school based
 1456  upon the Florida Education Finance Program as provided in s.
 1457  1011.62 and the General Appropriations Act, including gross
 1458  state and local funds, discretionary lottery funds, and funds
 1459  from the school district’s current operating discretionary
 1460  millage levy. Total funding for each school shall be
 1461  recalculated during the year to reflect the revised calculations
 1462  under the Florida Education Finance Program by the state and the
 1463  actual weighted full-time equivalent students reported by the
 1464  school during the full-time equivalent student survey periods
 1465  designated by the Commissioner of Education. If the district
 1466  school board is providing programs or services to students
 1467  funded by federal funds, any eligible students enrolled in the
 1468  schools in the district shall be provided federal funds.
 1469         Section 14. Subsection (8) is added to section 1012.28,
 1470  Florida Statutes, to read:
 1471         1012.28 Public school personnel; duties of school
 1472  principals.—
 1473         (8) The principal of a participating school in a
 1474  participating school district approved under s. 1011.6202 has
 1475  the following additional authority and responsibilities:
 1476         (a) In addition to the authority provided in subsection
 1477  (6), the authority to select qualified instructional personnel
 1478  for placement or to refuse to accept the placement or transfer
 1479  of instructional personnel by the district school
 1480  superintendent. Placement of instructional personnel at a
 1481  participating school in a participating school district does not
 1482  affect the employee’s status as a school district employee.
 1483         (b) The authority to deploy financial resources to school
 1484  programs at the principal’s discretion to help improve student
 1485  achievement, as defined in s. 1008.34(1), and meet performance
 1486  goals identified in the principal autonomy proposal submitted
 1487  pursuant to s. 1011.6202.
 1488         (c) The responsibility to annually provide to the district
 1489  school superintendent and the district school board a budget for
 1490  the operation of the participating school which identifies how
 1491  funds provided pursuant to s. 1011.69(2) are allocated. The
 1492  school district shall include the budget in the annual report
 1493  provided to the State Board of Education pursuant to s.
 1494  1011.6202(6).
 1495         Section 15. Subsection (2) of section 1012.42, Florida
 1496  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1497         1012.42 Teacher teaching out-of-field.—
 1498         (2) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.—When a teacher in a district
 1499  school system is assigned teaching duties in a class dealing
 1500  with subject matter that is outside the field in which the
 1501  teacher is certified, outside the field that was the applicant’s
 1502  minor field of study, or outside the field in which the
 1503  applicant has demonstrated sufficient subject area expertise, as
 1504  determined by district school board policy in the subject area
 1505  to be taught, the parents of all students in the class shall be
 1506  notified in writing of such assignment. A parent that receives
 1507  this notification may, after the October student membership
 1508  survey, request that his or her child be transferred to another
 1509  classroom teacher within the school and grade in which the child
 1510  is currently enrolled. If space is available in a classroom
 1511  taught by an in-field teacher, the school district shall grant
 1512  the parent’s request and transfer the student to the in-field
 1513  classroom teacher within a reasonable period of time, not to
 1514  exceed 2 weeks. An explanation of the transfer process must be
 1515  made available in the student handbook or a similar publication.
 1516  This does not provide a parent the right to choose a specific
 1517  teacher.
 1518         Section 16. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (1) of
 1519  section 1012.986, Florida Statutes, to read:
 1520         1012.986 William Cecil Golden Professional Development
 1521  Program for School Leaders.—
 1522         (1) There is established the William Cecil Golden
 1523  Professional Development Program for School Leaders to provide
 1524  high standards and sustained support for principals as
 1525  instructional leaders. The program shall consist of a
 1526  collaborative network of state and national professional
 1527  leadership organizations to respond to instructional leadership
 1528  needs throughout the state. The network shall support the human
 1529  resource development needs of principals, principal leadership
 1530  teams, and candidates for principal leadership positions using
 1531  the framework of leadership standards adopted by the State Board
 1532  of Education, the Southern Regional Education Board, and the
 1533  National Staff Development Council. The goal of the network
 1534  leadership program is to:
 1535         (e) For principals of schools participating in the
 1536  Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative under s. 1011.6202,
 1537  provide training on the following:
 1538         1. Managing instructional personnel, including developing a
 1539  high-performing instructional leadership team.
 1540         2. Public school budgeting, financial management, and human
 1541  resources policies and procedures.
 1542         3. Best practices for the effective exercise of increased
 1543  budgetary and staffing flexibility to improve student
 1544  achievement and operational efficiency.
 1545         Section 17. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 1546  1013.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1547         1013.62 Charter schools capital outlay funding.—
 1548         (1) In each year in which funds are appropriated for
 1549  charter school capital outlay purposes, the Commissioner of
 1550  Education shall allocate the funds among eligible charter
 1551  schools.
 1552         (a) To be eligible for a funding allocation, a charter
 1553  school must:
 1554         1.a. Have been in operation for 3 or more years;
 1555         b. Be governed by a governing board established in the
 1556  state for 3 or more years which operates both charter schools
 1557  and conversion charter schools within the state;
 1558         c. Be an expanded feeder chain of a charter school within
 1559  the same school district that is currently receiving charter
 1560  school capital outlay funds;
 1561         d. Have been accredited by the Commission on Schools of the
 1562  Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; or
 1563         e. Serve students in facilities that are provided by a
 1564  business partner for a charter school-in-the-workplace pursuant
 1565  to s. 1002.33(15)(b).
 1566         2. Have an annual audit that does not reveal any of the
 1567  financial emergency conditions provided in s. 218.503(1) for the
 1568  most recent fiscal year for which such audit results are
 1569  available stability for future operation as a charter school.
 1570         3. Have satisfactory student achievement based on state
 1571  accountability standards applicable to the charter school.
 1572         4. Have received final approval from its sponsor pursuant
 1573  to s. 1002.33 for operation during that fiscal year.
 1574         5. Serve students in facilities that are not provided by
 1575  the charter school’s sponsor.
 1576         Section 18. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
 1577  student reporting requirements related to withdrawals,
 1578  suspensions, expulsions, and other related instances where
 1579  students are no longer enrolled in a school, must be the same
 1580  for public schools, including charter schools. Thus, charter
 1581  school reporting requirements for these instances apply to all
 1582  public schools, and public school reporting requirements apply
 1583  to all charter schools.
 1584         Section 19. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.
 1585  
 1586  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
 1587  And the title is amended as follows:
 1588         Delete everything before the enacting clause
 1589  and insert:
 1590                        A bill to be entitled                      
 1591         An act relating to student choice; amending s.
 1592         1002.20, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made
 1593         by the act; authorizing parents of public school
 1594         students to seek private educational choice options
 1595         through the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship
 1596         Accounts Program under certain circumstances;
 1597         providing that a parent has the right to know certain
 1598         financial information; requiring the information to be
 1599         published in a parent guide; amending s. 1002.31,
 1600         F.S.; requiring each district school board to allow a
 1601         parent to enroll his or her child in and transport his
 1602         or her child to any public school that has not reached
 1603         capacity in the district; authorizing a school
 1604         district to provide transportation to such students at
 1605         the district’s discretion; requiring the student to
 1606         remain at such school for a specified timeframe;
 1607         revising requirements for the controlled open
 1608         enrollment process; authorizing a parent to enroll his
 1609         or her child in and transport his or her child to any
 1610         public school that has not reached capacity in the
 1611         state; requiring each district school board to
 1612         establish a transfer process to another classroom
 1613         teacher; providing that a parent is not given the
 1614         right to choose a specific classroom teacher;
 1615         providing requirements for the transfer process;
 1616         amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; revising required contents
 1617         of charter school applications; requiring a charter
 1618         school to submit quarterly financial statements for
 1619         the first year of operation with specified information
 1620         included; requiring a charter school to submit a plan
 1621         to become financially viable under certain
 1622         circumstances; conforming provisions regarding the
 1623         appeal process for denial of a high-performing charter
 1624         school application; specifying that the reading
 1625         curriculum and instructional strategies in a charter
 1626         school’s charter satisfy the research-based reading
 1627         plan requirement and that charter schools are eligible
 1628         for the research-based reading allocation; requiring a
 1629         person or officer of an entity who submits a charter
 1630         school application to undergo background screening;
 1631         prohibiting a sponsor from approving a charter school
 1632         application until completion, receipt, and review of
 1633         the results of such screening; requiring a charter to
 1634         document that the governing board is independent of a
 1635         management company or cooperative; revising charter
 1636         provisions relating to long-term charters; revising
 1637         the deadline by which a charter school must have a
 1638         certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of
 1639         occupancy; revising conditions for nonrenewal or
 1640         termination of a charter; requiring the sponsor to
 1641         review monthly financial statements; requiring the
 1642         sponsor to notify specified parties of a charter’s
 1643         termination under certain circumstances; requiring a
 1644         charter school’s governing board to appoint a
 1645         representative to provide information and assistance
 1646         to parents; requiring the governing board to hold a
 1647         certain number of meetings that are noticed, open, and
 1648         accessible to the public per school year; authorizing
 1649         a charter school that has not reached capacity to be
 1650         open to any student in the state; revising
 1651         requirements for the funding of charter schools;
 1652         prohibiting the district school board from delaying
 1653         payment to a charter school under specified
 1654         circumstances; requiring the Department of Education
 1655         to include a standard application form when providing
 1656         information to the public on how to form, operate, and
 1657         enroll in a charter school; prohibiting an employee of
 1658         a management company or cooperative from being a
 1659         member of a charter school governing board;
 1660         prohibiting specified conflicts of interests on the
 1661         part of members of the governing board of a charter
 1662         school or charter school cooperative organization;
 1663         amending s. 1002.331, F.S.; providing an exception to
 1664         the prohibition on a high-performing charter school
 1665         establishing more than one charter school in this
 1666         state under specified circumstances; conforming
 1667         provisions and a cross-reference to changes made by
 1668         the act; amending s. 1002.332, F.S.; authorizing
 1669         certain out-of-state entities to apply for designation
 1670         as a high-performing charter school system; requiring
 1671         the State Board of Education to adopt by rule
 1672         eligibility criteria for such designation; requiring
 1673         that charter schools established by such entities
 1674         receive a reduction in certain administrative fees;
 1675         amending s. 1002.451, F.S.; conforming a provision to
 1676         changes made by the act; creating s. 1003.3101, F.S.;
 1677         requiring each district school board to establish a
 1678         classroom teacher transfer process for parents,
 1679         approve or deny a request within a certain timeframe,
 1680         and post an explanation of the transfer process in the
 1681         student handbook or a similar publication; creating s.
 1682         1003.5711, F.S.; providing that certain students who
 1683         are deemed eligible for hospitalized program services
 1684         are considered students with a disability; authorizing
 1685         an individual education plan to be modified to
 1686         accommodate such services; requiring the student to
 1687         continue to receive educational instruction; requiring
 1688         a school district to provide the student with a
 1689         certified teacher or to partner with the Florida
 1690         Virtual School or an approved provider for
 1691         instructional services under certain circumstances;
 1692         requiring the department to transfer funds for the
 1693         student; requiring a children’s hospital to provide
 1694         adequate educational space for each student; requiring
 1695         the hospital and school district to enter in an
 1696         agreement; creating s. 1004.6491, F.S.; establishing
 1697         the Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation;
 1698         specifying requirements for the institute; requiring
 1699         an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature;
 1700         requiring a report on the institute’s annual financial
 1701         audit to the Auditor General, the Board of Governors
 1702         of the State University System, and the State Board of
 1703         Education; amending s. 1011.61, F.S.; revising the
 1704         definition of the term “full-time student” for the
 1705         purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program;
 1706         creating s. 1011.6202, F.S.; creating the Principal
 1707         Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative; providing a
 1708         procedure for a school district to participate in the
 1709         program; providing requirements for participating
 1710         school districts and schools; exempting participating
 1711         school districts from certain laws and rules;
 1712         requiring principals of participating schools to
 1713         complete a specific professional development program;
 1714         providing for the term of participation in the
 1715         program; providing for renewal or revocation of
 1716         authorization to participate in the program; providing
 1717         for reporting and rulemaking; amending s. 1011.64,
 1718         F.S.; providing that certain training may be included
 1719         in school district minimum classroom expenditure
 1720         requirements; amending s. 1011.69, F.S.; requiring
 1721         participating district school boards to allocate a
 1722         specified percentage of certain funds to participating
 1723         schools; amending s. 1012.28, F.S.; providing
 1724         additional authority and responsibilities of the
 1725         principal of a participating school in a charter
 1726         school district; amending s. 1012.42, F.S.;
 1727         authorizing a parent who receives notification that a
 1728         teacher is teaching outside his or her field to
 1729         request that his or her child be transferred to
 1730         another classroom teacher within the school and grade
 1731         in which the child is currently enrolled; amending s.
 1732         1012.986, F.S.; specifying the contents of a specific
 1733         professional development program for certain school
 1734         principals; amending s. 1013.62, F.S.; revising
 1735         eligibility requirements for charter school capital
 1736         outlay funding; specifying applicability of certain
 1737         reporting requirements to charter schools and public
 1738         schools; providing an effective date.