Florida Senate - 2015                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SPB 7050
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì777752@Î777752                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: FAV            .                                
                  03/17/2015           .                                
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       The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
       (Ring) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Between lines 113 and 114
    4  insert:
    5         Section 3. Paragraph (b) of subsection (12) of section
    6  1011.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
    8  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
    9  district for operation of schools is not determined in the
   10  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
   11  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
   12  follows:
   13         (12) FLORIDA DIGITAL CLASSROOMS ALLOCATION.—
   14         (b) Each district school board shall adopt a district
   15  digital classrooms plan that meets the unique needs of students,
   16  schools, and personnel and submit the plan for approval to the
   17  Department of Education. In addition, each district school board
   18  must, at a minimum, seek input from the district’s
   19  instructional, curriculum, and information technology staff to
   20  develop the district digital classrooms plan. The district’s
   21  plan must be within the general parameters established in the
   22  Florida digital classrooms plan pursuant to s. 1001.20. In
   23  addition, if the district participates in federal technology
   24  initiatives and grant programs, the district digital classrooms
   25  plan must include a plan for meeting requirements of such
   26  initiatives and grant programs. Funds allocated under this
   27  subsection must be used to support implementation of district
   28  digital classrooms plans. By October 1, 2014, and by March 1 of
   29  each year thereafter, on a date determined by the department,
   30  each district school board shall submit to the department, in a
   31  format prescribed by the department, a digital classrooms plan.
   32  At a minimum, such plan must include, and be annually updated to
   33  reflect, the following:
   34         1. Measurable student performance outcomes. Outcomes
   35  related to student performance, including outcomes for students
   36  with disabilities, must be tied to the efforts and strategies to
   37  improve outcomes related to student performance by integrating
   38  technology in classroom teaching and learning. Results of the
   39  outcomes shall be reported at least annually for the current
   40  school year and subsequent 3 years and be accompanied by an
   41  independent evaluation and validation of the reported results.
   42         2. Digital learning and technology infrastructure purchases
   43  and operational activities. Such purchases and activities must
   44  be tied to the measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1.,
   45  including, but not limited to, connectivity, broadband access,
   46  wireless capacity, Internet speed, and data security, all of
   47  which must meet or exceed minimum requirements and protocols
   48  established by the department. For each year that the district
   49  uses funds for infrastructure, a third-party, independent
   50  evaluation of the district’s technology inventory and
   51  infrastructure needs must accompany the district’s plan.
   52         3. Professional development purchases and operational
   53  activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
   54  measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
   55  limited to, using technology in the classroom and improving
   56  digital literacy and competency.
   57         4. Digital tool purchases and operational activities. Such
   58  purchases and activities must be tied to the measurable outcomes
   59  under subparagraph 1., including, but not limited to,
   60  competency-based credentials that measure and demonstrate
   61  digital competency and certifications; third-party assessments
   62  that demonstrate acquired knowledge and use of digital
   63  applications; and devices that meet or exceed minimum
   64  requirements and protocols established by the department.
   65         5. Online assessment-related purchases and operational
   66  activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
   67  measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
   68  limited to, expanding the capacity to administer assessments and
   69  compatibility with minimum assessment protocols and requirements
   70  established by the department. If the administration of online
   71  assessments after January 1, 2015, does not comply with the
   72  minimum assessment protocols and requirements established by the
   73  department, the department shall contract with an independent,
   74  auditing entity that has expertise in the area of the
   75  noncompliance to evaluate the extent of the noncompliance and
   76  provide recommendations to remediate the noncompliance in future
   77  administrations of online assessments.
   78         Section 4. For the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the sum of
   79  $9,993,566, from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated in the
   80  “Special Categories - Contracted Services” appropriation
   81  category to the Agency for State Technology to conduct the
   82  agency’s duties under s. 282.0051(10)(b) and (c), Florida
   83  Statutes.
   84  
   85  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   86  And the title is amended as follows:
   87         Delete line 28
   88  and insert:
   89         conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1011.62,
   90         F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to
   91         contract with an independent, auditing entity if the
   92         administration of online assessments after a certain
   93         date does not comply with the minimum assessment
   94         protocols and requirements established by the
   95         department; requiring the auditing entity to perform
   96         certain duties; providing an appropriation to the
   97         agency; providing an effective