Florida Senate - 2019                   (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7070
       
       
        
       FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Education
       
       
       
       
       
       581-02515C-19                                         20197070pb
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to K-12 education; amending s.
    3         1002.333, F.S.; deleting the authorization for a
    4         traditional public school to receive funds from the
    5         Schools of Hope Program; deleting a requirement for
    6         the State Board of Education to provide awards and
    7         annually report certain information; creating s.
    8         1002.394, F.S.; establishing the Family Empowerment
    9         Scholarship Program; providing the purpose of the
   10         program; providing scholarship eligibility
   11         requirements; providing for the term of such
   12         scholarships; prohibiting certain students from
   13         scholarship eligibility; requiring school districts to
   14         inform specified households within their respective
   15         districts of their eligibility to receive a Family
   16         Empowerment Scholarship; requiring the Department of
   17         Education to provide the form to be used by school
   18         districts for that purpose; requiring school districts
   19         to notify certain students of specified information
   20         relating to statewide assessments; requiring school
   21         districts, upon the request of the department, to
   22         provide statewide assessments and related materials to
   23         certain private schools; providing requirements for
   24         the administration of statewide assessments at certain
   25         private schools; requiring school districts to publish
   26         information relating to the scholarship program on
   27         their respective websites; providing requirements for
   28         the published information; requiring the department to
   29         publish and update information relating to the program
   30         on the department website; requiring the department to
   31         cross-check specified information; providing
   32         requirements for private school participation in the
   33         program; providing requirements for participating
   34         students and their parents; providing the maximum
   35         number of students who may participate in the
   36         scholarship program, beginning with a specified school
   37         year; providing for subsequent increases in the
   38         authorized number of participating students; providing
   39         for the calculation of school district funding
   40         entitlement under the program; requiring school
   41         districts to report all students who attend a private
   42         school under the program; providing that such students
   43         must be reported separately for certain purposes;
   44         requiring the department to transfer funds from the
   45         General Revenue Fund to an account for the program;
   46         requiring that program funds for students entering a
   47         Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program be
   48         transferred from the school district in which the
   49         student last attended school before commitment;
   50         providing that the department must receive specified
   51         information relating to such students; requiring the
   52         Chief Financial Officer to make scholarship payments
   53         to the department; providing requirements for such
   54         payments; requiring the department to request from the
   55         Department of Financial Services a sample of certain
   56         endorsed warrants for a specified purpose; providing
   57         immunity of the state from liability; providing a
   58         scope of authority with regard to the regulation of
   59         private schools; authorizing the state board to adopt
   60         rules; providing an implementation schedule for a
   61         specified school year; providing additional
   62         eligibility requirements; requiring the Department of
   63         Education to expedite the publication of specified
   64         information on the department’s website; providing a
   65         deadline for a specified payment by the Chief
   66         Financial Officer; providing for the expiration of
   67         provisions related to a specified school year;
   68         amending s. 1002.40, F.S.; authorizing certain funds
   69         relating to the Hope Scholarship Program to be used to
   70         fund the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, under
   71         specified conditions; expanding the language required
   72         to be included on the contribution election form
   73         relating to the Hope Scholarship Program, as of a
   74         specified date; creating part VII of ch. 1003, F.S.,
   75         entitled “Public School Innovation”; creating s.
   76         1003.64, F.S.; providing legislative intent; creating
   77         the Community School Grant Program within the
   78         department; providing the purpose of the program;
   79         defining terms; requiring community schools to
   80         designate a community school program director;
   81         providing duties of community school program
   82         directors; establishing the Center for Community
   83         Schools within the University of Central Florida;
   84         requiring that the center be headed by a director;
   85         providing the duties of the center director; requiring
   86         community school program directors to annually submit
   87         a report to the center by a specified date; providing
   88         requirements for the report; requiring the center
   89         director to annually submit, by a specified date, a
   90         summary of such report and recommendations to the
   91         Commissioner of Education; requiring the commissioner
   92         to review the summary and recommendations; requiring
   93         the commissioner to annually submit, by a specified
   94         date, a report based on such summary and
   95         recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature;
   96         amending s. 1008.33, F.S.; authorizing a district
   97         managed turnaround plan to include a proposal
   98         regarding the length and number of planned school
   99         days; making a technical change; amending s. 1011.62,
  100         F.S.; creating the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher
  101         and Principal Allocation; providing the purpose of the
  102         allocation; requiring that, subject to the
  103         appropriation of funds, each school district receive
  104         an allocation based on its proportional share of
  105         Florida Education Finance Program base funding;
  106         authorizing the Legislature to specify a minimum
  107         allocation; requiring school districts to provide
  108         specified awards to eligible teachers and principals
  109         from allocated funds; requiring school districts to
  110         prorate awards under certain circumstances; creating
  111         the turnaround school supplemental services
  112         allocation; providing a purpose; providing for
  113         services that may be funded by the allocation;
  114         requiring a school district to submit a plan to its
  115         school board before distribution of the allocation;
  116         specifying requirements for such plans; requiring each
  117         school district to annually submit approved plans to
  118         the commissioner by a specified date; specifying the
  119         basis for each school district’s funding allocation;
  120         providing for a school’s continued eligibility for
  121         funding; amending s. 1011.71, F.S.; conforming
  122         provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
  123         1012.56, F.S.; deleting obsolete language; requiring
  124         school districts to provide test support information
  125         to individuals who do not meet passing scores on any
  126         subtest of the general knowledge examination; deleting
  127         the requirement that an individual who holds a
  128         temporary certificate demonstrate mastery of general
  129         knowledge within a specified timeframe; removing the
  130         prohibition on employment for an individual who has
  131         not met specified requirements; amending s. 1012.59,
  132         F.S.; revising requirements for rulemaking by the
  133         state board relating to certification fees; deleting a
  134         requirement that an examination fee be sufficient to
  135         cover the actual cost of developing and administering
  136         the examination; amending s. 1012.731, F.S.; renaming
  137         the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship
  138         Program as the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher
  139         Program; revising legislative intent relating to the
  140         program; deleting authority for the Department of
  141         Education to administer the program; specifying the
  142         funding source for the program; providing for
  143         recruitment, retention, and bonus awards; providing
  144         eligibility requirements; deleting a requirement for
  145         school districts to submit certain information to the
  146         department; deleting a requirement for the department
  147         to disburse scholarship funds to certain school
  148         districts; deleting a requirement for school districts
  149         to award specified scholarships; deleting a
  150         definition; amending s. 1012.732, F.S.; renaming the
  151         Florida Best and Brightest Principal Scholarship
  152         Program as the Florida Best and Brightest Principal
  153         Program; revising legislative intent relating to
  154         program; deleting authority for the department to
  155         administer the program; specifying the funding source
  156         for the program; providing eligibility requirements;
  157         deleting a requirement for the department to identify
  158         eligible school principals and disburse funds;
  159         deleting a requirement for school districts to award
  160         scholarships to specified school principals; deleting
  161         a requirement for school districts to provide certain
  162         principals with additional authority and
  163         responsibilities; deleting a definition; amending s.
  164         1013.31, F.S.; authorizing a school district, in the
  165         absence of a survey recommendation, to use funds from
  166         a taxpayer-approved bond referendum to fund
  167         construction of educational, auxiliary, or ancillary
  168         facilities and to use funds from a specified district
  169         school tax for certain capital outlay purposes;
  170         authorizing the commissioner to direct specified
  171         capital outlay funds to be withheld from school
  172         districts until a specified time; amending s. 1013.64,
  173         F.S.; prohibiting a district school board from using
  174         funds from state sources for certain new construction
  175         of educational plant space; providing exceptions;
  176         requiring the department, in conjunction with the
  177         Office of Economic and Demographic Research, to review
  178         and revise the limits on the cost per student station,
  179         based on certain factors; requiring the department to
  180         use the adjusted cost per student station for a each
  181         instructional level; requiring the department to
  182         collaborate with the office to select a certain index
  183         by a specified date; deleting a requirement for the
  184         department to make final determinations on district
  185         compliance; removing a prohibition on the use of funds
  186         for certain new construction; revising the costs that
  187         may not be included in calculating the cost per
  188         student station; providing an effective date.
  189          
  190  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  191  
  192         Section 1. Subsection (10) of section 1002.333, Florida
  193  Statutes, is amended to read:
  194         1002.333 Persistently low-performing schools.—
  195         (10) SCHOOLS OF HOPE PROGRAM.—The Schools of Hope Program
  196  is created within the Department of Education.
  197         (a) A school of hope is eligible to receive funds from the
  198  Schools of Hope Program for the following expenditures:
  199         1. Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized
  200  instructional support personnel, including costs associated
  201  with:
  202         a. Providing professional development.
  203         b. Hiring and compensating teachers, school leaders, and
  204  specialized instructional support personnel for services beyond
  205  the school day and year.
  206         2. Acquiring supplies, training, equipment, and educational
  207  materials, including developing and acquiring instructional
  208  materials.
  209         3. Providing one-time startup costs associated with
  210  providing transportation to students to and from the charter
  211  school.
  212         4. Carrying out community engagement activities, which may
  213  include paying the cost of student and staff recruitment.
  214         5. Providing funds to cover the nonvoted ad valorem millage
  215  that would otherwise be required for schools and the required
  216  local effort funds calculated pursuant to s. 1011.62 when the
  217  state board enters into an agreement with a hope operator
  218  pursuant to subsection (5).
  219         (b) A traditional public school that is required to submit
  220  a plan for implementation pursuant to s. 1008.33(4) is eligible
  221  to receive up to $2,000 per full-time equivalent student from
  222  the Schools of Hope Program based upon the strength of the
  223  school’s plan for implementation and its focus on evidence-based
  224  interventions that lead to student success by providing wrap
  225  around services that leverage community assets, improve school
  226  and community collaboration, and develop family and community
  227  partnerships. Wrap-around services include, but are not limited
  228  to, tutorial and after-school programs, student counseling,
  229  nutrition education, parental counseling, and adult education.
  230  Plans for implementation may also include models that develop a
  231  culture of attending college, high academic expectations,
  232  character development, dress codes, and an extended school day
  233  and school year. At a minimum, a plan for implementation must:
  234         1. Establish wrap-around services that develop family and
  235  community partnerships.
  236         2. Establish clearly defined and measurable high academic
  237  and character standards.
  238         3. Increase parental involvement and engagement in the
  239  child’s education.
  240         4. Describe how the school district will identify, recruit,
  241  retain, and reward instructional personnel. The state board may
  242  waive the requirements of s. 1012.22(1)(c)5., and suspend the
  243  requirements of s. 1012.34, to facilitate implementation of the
  244  plan.
  245         5. Identify a knowledge-rich curriculum that the school
  246  will use that focuses on developing a student’s background
  247  knowledge.
  248         6. Provide professional development that focuses on
  249  academic rigor, direct instruction, and creating high academic
  250  and character standards.
  251         (c)The state board shall:
  252         1. Provide awards for up to 25 schools and prioritize
  253  awards for plans submitted pursuant to paragraph (b) that are
  254  based on whole school transformation and that are developed in
  255  consultation with the school’s principal.
  256         2. Annually report on the implementation of this subsection
  257  in the report required by s. 1008.345(5), and provide summarized
  258  academic performance reports of each traditional public school
  259  receiving funds.
  260         (d) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
  261  funds allocated for the purpose of this subsection which are not
  262  disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are
  263  allocated may be carried forward for up to 5 years after the
  264  effective date of the original appropriation.
  265         Section 2. Section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, is created
  266  to read:
  267         1002.394The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
  268         (1) PURPOSE.—The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program is
  269  established to provide children of families in this state that
  270  have limited financial resources with educational options to
  271  achieve success in their education.
  272         (2) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—A student is eligible for a
  273  Family Empowerment Scholarship under this section if the student
  274  meets the following criteria:
  275         (a)1.The student is on the direct certification list
  276  pursuant to s. 1002.395(2)(c) or the student’s household income
  277  level does not exceed 260 percent of the federal poverty level;
  278  or
  279         2. The student is currently placed, or during the previous
  280  state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out-of-home
  281  care as defined in s. 39.01.
  282  
  283  A student who initially receives a scholarship based on
  284  eligibility under subparagraph 2. remains eligible to
  285  participate until the student graduates from high school or
  286  attains the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first, regardless
  287  of the student’s household income level. A sibling of a student
  288  who is participating in the scholarship program under this
  289  subsection is eligible for a scholarship if the student resides
  290  in the same household as the sibling.
  291         (b)The student is eligible to enroll in kindergarten or
  292  has spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida
  293  public school. For purposes of this paragraph, prior school year
  294  in attendance means that the student was enrolled and reported
  295  by a school district for funding during the preceding October
  296  and February Florida Education Finance Program surveys in
  297  kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time spent in a
  298  Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if funded
  299  under the Florida Education Finance Program.
  300  
  301  However, a dependent child of a member of the United States
  302  Armed Forces who transfers to a school in this state from out of
  303  state or from a foreign country due to a parent’s permanent
  304  change of station orders or a foster child is exempt from the
  305  prior public school attendance requirement under this paragraph,
  306  but must meet the other eligibility requirements specified under
  307  this section to participate in the program.
  308         (c) The parent has obtained acceptance for admission of the
  309  student to a private school that is eligible for the program
  310  under subsection (7) and the parent has requested a scholarship
  311  from the Department of Education at least 60 days before the
  312  date of the first scholarship payment. The request must be
  313  communicated directly to the department in a manner that creates
  314  a written or electronic record of the request and the date of
  315  receipt of the request. The department must notify the school
  316  district of the parent’s intent upon receipt of the parent’s
  317  request.
  318         (3) TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP.—
  319         (a) For purposes of continuity of educational choice, a
  320  Family Empowerment Scholarship shall remain in force until the
  321  student returns to a public school, graduates from high school,
  322  or reaches the age of 21, whichever occurs first. A scholarship
  323  student who enrolls in a public school or public school program
  324  is considered to have returned to a public school for the
  325  purpose of determining the end of the scholarship’s term.
  326  However, if a student enters a Department of Juvenile Justice
  327  detention center for a period of no more than 21 days, the
  328  student is not considered to have returned to a public school
  329  for that purpose.
  330         (b) Upon reasonable notice to the department and the school
  331  district, the student’s parent may remove the student from the
  332  private school and place the student in a public school in
  333  accordance with this section.
  334         (c) Upon reasonable notice to the department, the student’s
  335  parent may move the student from one participating private
  336  school to another participating private school.
  337         (4) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
  338  a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
  339         (a) Enrolled in a public school, including, but not limited
  340  to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; the College
  341  Preparatory Boarding Academy; a developmental research school
  342  authorized under s. 1002.32; or a charter school authorized
  343  under chapter 1002;
  344         (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
  345  providing educational services to youth in a Department of
  346  Juvenile Justice commitment program;
  347         (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
  348  this chapter;
  349         (d) Participating in a home education program as defined in
  350  s. 1002.01(1);
  351         (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
  352  s. 1002.43; or
  353         (f) Participating in a virtual school, correspondence
  354  school, or distance learning program that receives state funding
  355  pursuant to the student’s participation.
  356         (5) SCHOOL DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS.—
  357         (a) By July 15, 2019, and by April 1 of each year
  358  thereafter, a school district shall inform all households within
  359  the district receiving free or reduced-priced meals under the
  360  National School Lunch Act of their eligibility to apply to the
  361  department for a Family Empowerment Scholarship. The form of
  362  such notice shall be provided by the department, and the school
  363  district shall include the provided form in any normal
  364  correspondence with eligible households. Such notice is limited
  365  to once a year.
  366         (b) The school district in which a participating student
  367  resides must notify the student and his or her parent about the
  368  locations and times to take all statewide assessments under s.
  369  1008.22 if the student chooses to participate in such
  370  assessments. Upon the request of the department, a school
  371  district shall coordinate with the department to provide to a
  372  participating private school the statewide assessments
  373  administered under s. 1008.22 and any related materials for
  374  administering the assessments. For a student who participates in
  375  the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program whose parent requests
  376  that the student take the statewide assessments under s.
  377  1008.22, the district in which the student attends a private
  378  school shall provide locations and times to take all statewide
  379  assessments. A school district is responsible for implementing
  380  test administrations at a participating private school,
  381  including the:
  382         1. Provision of training for private school staff on test
  383  security and assessment administration procedures;
  384         2. Distribution of testing materials to a private school;
  385         3. Retrieval of testing materials from a private school;
  386         4. Provision of the required format for a private school to
  387  submit information to the district for test administration and
  388  enrollment purposes; and
  389         5. Provision of any required assistance, monitoring, or
  390  investigation at a private school.
  391         (c) Each school district must publish information about the
  392  Family Empowerment Scholarship Program on the district’s website
  393  homepage. At a minimum, the published information must include a
  394  website link to the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
  395  published on the Department of Education website as well as a
  396  telephone number and e-mail that students and parents may use to
  397  contact relevant personnel in the school district to obtain
  398  information about the scholarship.
  399         (6) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS.—The department
  400  shall:
  401         (a) Publish and update, as necessary, information on the
  402  department website about the Family Empowerment Scholarship
  403  Program, including, but not limited to, student eligibility
  404  criteria, parental responsibilities, and relevant data.
  405         (b)Cross-check the list of participating scholarship
  406  students with the public school enrollment lists before each
  407  scholarship payment to avoid duplication.
  408         (7) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—To be
  409  eligible to participate in the Family Empowerment Scholarship
  410  Program, a private school may be sectarian or nonsectarian and
  411  must:
  412         (a) Comply with all requirements for private schools
  413  participating in state school choice scholarship programs
  414  pursuant to s. 1002.421.
  415         (b) Provide to the department all documentation required
  416  for a student’s participation, including the private school’s
  417  and student’s fee schedules, at least 30 days before any
  418  quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student pursuant
  419  to paragraph (9)(f). A student is not eligible to receive a
  420  quarterly scholarship payment if the private school fails to
  421  meet this deadline.
  422         (c)1.Annually administer or make provision for students
  423  participating in the program in grades 3 through 10 to take one
  424  of the nationally norm-referenced tests identified by the
  425  department or to take the statewide assessments pursuant to s.
  426  1008.22. Students with disabilities for whom standardized
  427  testing is not appropriate are exempt from this requirement. A
  428  participating private school shall report a student’s scores to
  429  his or her parent.
  430         2.Administer the statewide assessments pursuant to s.
  431  1008.22 if the private school chooses to offer the statewide
  432  assessments. A participating private school may choose to offer
  433  and administer the statewide assessments to all students who
  434  attend the private school in grades 3 through 10 and must submit
  435  a request in writing to the department by March 1 of each year
  436  in order to administer the statewide assessments in the
  437  subsequent school year.
  438  
  439  If a private school fails to meet the requirements of this
  440  subsection or s. 1002.421, the commissioner may determine that
  441  the private school is ineligible to participate in the
  442  scholarship program.
  443         (8) PARENT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROGRAM
  444  PARTICIPATION.—A parent who applies for a Family Empowerment
  445  Scholarship is exercising his or her parental option to place
  446  his or her child in a private school.
  447         (a) The parent must select the private school and apply for
  448  the admission of his or her student.
  449         (b) The parent must request the scholarship at least 60
  450  days before the date of the first scholarship payment.
  451         (c)The parent must inform the applicable school district
  452  when the parent withdraws his or her student from a public
  453  school to attend an eligible private school.
  454         (d) Any student participating in the program must remain in
  455  attendance throughout the school year unless excused by the
  456  school for illness or other good cause.
  457         (e) Each parent and each student has an obligation to the
  458  private school to comply with the private school’s published
  459  policies.
  460         (f) The parent shall ensure that the student participating
  461  in the scholarship program takes the norm-referenced assessment
  462  offered by the private school. The parent may also choose to
  463  have the student participate in the statewide assessments
  464  pursuant to paragraph (5)(b).
  465         (g) If the parent requests that the student participating
  466  in the program take all statewide assessments required pursuant
  467  to s. 1008.22, the parent is responsible for transporting the
  468  student to the assessment site designated by the school
  469  district.
  470         (h) Upon receipt of a scholarship warrant, the parent to
  471  whom the warrant is issued must restrictively endorse the
  472  warrant to the private school for deposit into the private
  473  school’s account. The parent may not designate any entity or
  474  individual associated with the participating private school as
  475  the parent’s attorney in fact to endorse a scholarship warrant.
  476  A participant who fails to comply with this paragraph forfeits
  477  the scholarship.
  478         (9) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
  479         (a) The scholarship is established for up to 15,000
  480  students annually on a first-come, first-served basis beginning
  481  with the 2019-2020 school year. Beginning in the 2020-2021
  482  school year, the number of students participating in the
  483  scholarship program under this section may increase in
  484  accordance with the percentage increase in the state’s public
  485  school student enrollment.
  486         (b) The scholarship amount provided to a student for any
  487  single school year shall be for tuition and fees for an eligible
  488  private school, not to exceed annual limits, which shall be
  489  determined in accordance with this paragraph. The calculated
  490  amount for a student to attend an eligible private school shall
  491  be 95 percent of the unweighted FTE funding amount at the
  492  district level for that state fiscal year and shall be adjusted
  493  with each FEFP calculation through the calculation based on the
  494  October survey.
  495         (c) The amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship shall
  496  be the calculated amount or the amount of the private school’s
  497  tuition and fees, whichever is less. The amount of any
  498  assessment fee required by the participating private school may
  499  be paid from the total amount of the scholarship.
  500         (d) The school district shall report all students who are
  501  attending a private school under this program. The students
  502  attending private schools on Family Empowerment Scholarships
  503  shall be reported separately from other students reported for
  504  purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program.
  505         (e) Following notification on July 1, September 1, December
  506  1, or February 1 of the number of program participants, the
  507  department shall transfer, from general revenue funds only, the
  508  amount calculated under paragraph (c) from the school district’s
  509  total funding entitlement under the Florida Education Finance
  510  Program to a separate account for the scholarship program for
  511  quarterly disbursement to parents of participating students. For
  512  a student exiting a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment
  513  program who chooses to participate in the scholarship program,
  514  the amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated
  515  pursuant to paragraph (c) must be transferred from the school
  516  district in which the student last attended a public school
  517  before commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a
  518  student enters the scholarship program, the department must
  519  receive all documentation required for the student’s
  520  participation, including the private school’s and the student’s
  521  fee schedules, at least 30 days before the first quarterly
  522  scholarship payment is made for the student.
  523         (f) Upon notification by the department that it has
  524  received the documentation required under paragraph (e), the
  525  Chief Financial Officer shall make scholarship payments in four
  526  equal amounts no later than September 1, November 1, February 1,
  527  and April 1 of each school year in which the scholarship is in
  528  force. The initial payment shall be made after department
  529  verification of admission acceptance, and subsequent payments
  530  shall be made upon verification of continued enrollment and
  531  attendance at the private school. Payment must be by individual
  532  warrant made payable to the student’s parent and mailed by the
  533  department to the private school of the parent’s choice, and the
  534  parent shall restrictively endorse the warrant to the private
  535  school for deposit into the account of the private school.
  536         (g) Subsequent to each scholarship payment, the department
  537  shall request from the Department of Financial Services a sample
  538  of endorsed warrants to review and confirm compliance with
  539  endorsement requirements.
  540         (10) LIABILITY.—No liability shall arise on the part of the
  541  state based on the award or use of a Family Empowerment
  542  Scholarship.
  543         (11) SCOPE OF AUTHORITY.—The inclusion of eligible private
  544  schools within the options available to Florida public school
  545  students does not expand the regulatory authority of the state,
  546  its officers, or any school district to impose any additional
  547  regulation of private schools beyond those reasonably necessary
  548  to enforce requirements expressly set forth in this section.
  549         (12) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
  550  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this
  551  section.
  552         (13)IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL
  553  YEAR.—Notwithstanding the provisions of this section related to
  554  notification requirements and eligibility timelines, for the
  555  2019-2020 school year:
  556         (a) A student is eligible for a Family Empowerment
  557  Scholarship under this section if the student’s parent has
  558  obtained acceptance of the student’s admission to a private
  559  school that is eligible for the program under subsection (7) and
  560  the parent has requested a scholarship from the Department of
  561  Education no later than August 15, 2019. The request must be
  562  communicated directly to the department in a manner that creates
  563  a written or electronic record of the request and the date of
  564  receipt of the request.
  565         (b) The department shall expedite the publication of
  566  information relevant to the Family Empowerment Scholarship
  567  Program on the department’s website, including, but not limited
  568  to, the eligibility criteria for students to qualify for the
  569  scholarship under this section and how parents may request the
  570  scholarship. The department must immediately notify the school
  571  district of the parent’s intent upon receipt of the parent’s
  572  request.
  573         (c) Upon notification by the department that it has
  574  received the documentation required under paragraph (9)(e), the
  575  Chief Financial Officer shall make the first quarter payment of
  576  scholarships no later than October 1, 2019.
  577  
  578  This subsection shall expire June 30, 2020.
  579         Section 3. Paragraph (i) is added to subsection (11) of
  580  section 1002.40, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (a) of
  581  subsection (13) of that section is amended, to read:
  582         1002.40 The Hope Scholarship Program.—
  583         (11) FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
  584         (i)1.Beginning in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, up to 50
  585  percent of available prior fiscal year contributions received by
  586  a scholarship-funding organization under s. 212.1832 which have
  587  not been allocated for a scholarship under this section may be
  588  used to fund the program established under s. 1002.395.
  589         2.The available prior year contributions may be used to
  590  fund scholarships for students eligible pursuant to s.
  591  1002.395(3)(b)1. or 2. if the eligible contributions received
  592  for that program in a state fiscal year are insufficient to fund
  593  the students eligible for that program.
  594         3. The eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization
  595  shall separately account for each eligible student who receives
  596  the scholarship under s. 1002.395, which is funded pursuant to
  597  this paragraph and s. 1002.395.
  598         (13) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TAX CREDITS.—
  599         (a) A tax credit is available under s. 212.1832(1) for use
  600  by a person that makes an eligible contribution. Each eligible
  601  contribution is limited to a single payment of $105 per motor
  602  vehicle purchased at the time of purchase of a motor vehicle or
  603  a single payment of $105 per motor vehicle purchased at the time
  604  of registration of a motor vehicle that was not purchased from a
  605  dealer, except that a contribution may not exceed the state tax
  606  imposed under chapter 212 that would otherwise be collected from
  607  the purchaser by a dealer, designated agent, or private tag
  608  agent. Payments of contributions shall be made to a dealer at
  609  the time of purchase of a motor vehicle or to a designated agent
  610  or private tag agent at the time of registration of a motor
  611  vehicle that was not purchased from a dealer. An eligible
  612  contribution shall be accompanied by a contribution election
  613  form provided by the Department of Revenue. The form shall
  614  include, at a minimum, the following brief description of the
  615  Hope Scholarship Program: “THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES
  616  A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT WHO WAS SUBJECTED TO AN INCIDENT OF
  617  VIOLENCE OR BULLYING AT SCHOOL THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR A
  618  SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND AN ELIGIBLE PRIVATE SCHOOL RATHER THAN
  619  REMAIN IN AN UNSAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.” No later than July 1,
  620  2019, the form shall also include the following statement: “IN
  621  THE EVENT THAT THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HAS SURPLUS
  622  CONTRIBUTIONS AFTER FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE
  623  STUDENTS, THE SURPLUS CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE USED FOR FLORIDA TAX
  624  CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS. The form shall also include, at a minimum,
  625  a section allowing the consumer to designate, from all
  626  participating scholarship funding organizations, which
  627  organization will receive his or her donation. For purposes of
  628  this subsection, the term “purchase” does not include the lease
  629  or rental of a motor vehicle.
  630         Section 4. Part VII of chapter 1003, Florida Statutes,
  631  consisting of s. 1003.64, Florida Statutes, is created and
  632  entitled “Public School Innovation.”
  633         1003.64Community School Grant Program.—It is the intent of
  634  the Legislature to improve student success and well-being by
  635  engaging and supporting parents and community organizations in
  636  their efforts to positively impact student learning and
  637  development.
  638         (1) PURPOSE.—The Community School Grant Program is
  639  established within the Department of Education to fund and
  640  support the planning and implementation of community school
  641  programs, subject to legislative appropriation.
  642         (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
  643         (a)“Center for Community Schools” means the center
  644  established within the University of Central Florida.
  645         (b) “Community organization” means a nonprofit organization
  646  that has been in existence for at least 3 years and serves
  647  individuals within the county in which a community school is
  648  located.
  649         (3) COMMUNITY SCHOOL.—
  650         (a) A community school is a public school that receives a
  651  grant under this section and partners with a community
  652  organization, a university or college, and a health care
  653  provider to implement programs beyond the standard hours of
  654  instruction which may include, but are not limited to, student
  655  enrichment activities such as job training, internship
  656  opportunities, and career counseling services; wellness
  657  services; and family engagement programs.
  658         (b) Each community school must designate a person of its
  659  choosing as the community school program director. A community
  660  school program director shall coordinate with the partners
  661  specified under paragraph (a) to:
  662         1. Facilitate the implementation of a community school
  663  program.
  664         2. Comply with the reporting requirements under paragraph
  665  (5)(a).
  666         (4) CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.—The Center for Community
  667  Schools is established within the University of Central Florida.
  668  A center director shall head the Center for Community Schools.
  669  At a minimum, the center director shall:
  670         (a) Disseminate information about community schools to
  671  community organizations; district school boards; state
  672  universities and Florida College System institutions; and
  673  independent, not-for-profit colleges and universities located
  674  and chartered in this state which are accredited by the
  675  Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
  676  and Schools and are eligible to participate in the William L.
  677  Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program.
  678         (b) Coordinate, facilitate, and oversee the implementation
  679  of community schools that receive a grant under this section,
  680  and submit an annual report to the commissioner pursuant to
  681  paragraph (5)(b).
  682         (c)Publish on the center’s website the application form
  683  for:
  684         1. Implementing a community school program.
  685         2. Certification by the center as a community school.
  686         (d)Publish on the center’s website the process and
  687  criteria for:
  688         1. Approving the application for implementing a community
  689  school program under subparagraph (c)1.
  690         2. Awarding the certification under subparagraph (c)2.
  691         (e) Establish a process to administer grant funds awarded
  692  under this section.
  693         (f)Promote best practices and provide technical assistance
  694  about community schools to community school program directors.
  695         (5) REPORTS.—
  696         (a) By July 1 of each year, each community school program
  697  director shall submit to the center a report that includes, at a
  698  minimum, the following information:
  699         1. An assessment of the effectiveness of the community
  700  school program in improving student success outcomes;
  701         2.Any issues encountered in the design and execution of
  702  the community school program;
  703         3. Recommendations for improving the delivery of services
  704  to students, families, and community members under the program;
  705         4.The number of students, families, and community members
  706  served under the program; and
  707         5. Any other information requested by the center director.
  708         (b) The center director shall review the reports submitted
  709  under paragraph (a) and, by August 15 of each year, shall
  710  provide to the commissioner:
  711         1. A summary of the information reported by each community
  712  school that receives a grant under this section; and
  713         2. Recommendations for policy and funding investments to
  714  improve the implementation and oversight of community school
  715  programs and to remove any barriers to the expansion of
  716  community schools.
  717         (c) The commissioner shall review the summary and
  718  recommendations submitted by the center director under paragraph
  719  (b) and, by September 30 of each year, shall submit a report to
  720  the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
  721  the House of Representatives. The annual report submitted by the
  722  commissioner must, at a minimum, include information on the
  723  status of community schools and his or her recommendations for
  724  policy and funding investments to improve and expand community
  725  schools.
  726         Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1008.33, Florida
  727  Statutes, is amended to read:
  728         1008.33 Authority to enforce public school improvement.—
  729         (4)(a) The state board shall apply intensive intervention
  730  and support strategies tailored to the needs of schools earning
  731  two consecutive grades of “D” or a grade of “F.” In the first
  732  full school year after a school initially earns two consecutive
  733  grades of “D” or a grade of “F,” the school district must
  734  immediately implement intervention and support strategies
  735  prescribed in rule under paragraph (3)(c) and, by September 1,
  736  provide the department with the memorandum of understanding
  737  negotiated pursuant to s. 1001.42(21) and, by October 1, a
  738  district-managed turnaround plan for approval by the state
  739  board. The district-managed turnaround plan may include a
  740  proposal for the district to implement an extended school day, a
  741  summer program, or a combination of an extended school day and a
  742  summer program. Upon approval by the state board, the school
  743  district must implement the plan for the remainder of the school
  744  year and continue the plan for 1 full school year. The state
  745  board may allow a school an additional year of implementation
  746  before the school must implement a turnaround option required
  747  under paragraph (b) if it determines that the school is likely
  748  to improve to a grade of “C” or higher after the first full
  749  school year of implementation.
  750         (b) Unless an additional year of implementation is provided
  751  pursuant to paragraph (a), a school that earns three consecutive
  752  grades below a “C” must implement one of the following:
  753         1. Reassign students to another school and monitor the
  754  progress of each reassigned student;
  755         2. Close the school and reopen the school as one or more
  756  charter schools, each with a governing board that has a
  757  demonstrated record of effectiveness; or
  758         3. Contract with an outside entity that has a demonstrated
  759  record of effectiveness to operate the school. An outside entity
  760  may include a district-managed charter school in which all
  761  instructional personnel are not employees of the school
  762  district, but are employees of an independent governing board
  763  composed of members who did not participate in the review or
  764  approval of the charter.
  765         (c) Implementation of the turnaround option is no longer
  766  required if the school improves to a grade of “C” or higher.
  767         (d) If a school earning two consecutive grades of “D” or a
  768  grade of “F” does not improve to a grade of “C” or higher after
  769  2 full school years of implementing the turnaround option
  770  selected by the school district under paragraph (b), the school
  771  district must implement another turnaround option.
  772  Implementation of the turnaround option must begin the school
  773  year following the implementation period of the existing
  774  turnaround option, unless the state board determines that the
  775  school is likely to improve to a grade of “C” or higher if
  776  additional time is provided to implement the existing turnaround
  777  option.
  778         Section 6. Present subsections (18) and (19) of section
  779  1011.62, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (19)
  780  and (20), respectively, a new subsection (18) and subsection
  781  (21) are added to that section, and paragraph (a) of subsection
  782  (4) and subsection (14) of that section are amended, to read:
  783         1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
  784  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
  785  district for operation of schools is not determined in the
  786  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
  787  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
  788  follows:
  789         (4) COMPUTATION OF DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.—The
  790  Legislature shall prescribe the aggregate required local effort
  791  for all school districts collectively as an item in the General
  792  Appropriations Act for each fiscal year. The amount that each
  793  district shall provide annually toward the cost of the Florida
  794  Education Finance Program for kindergarten through grade 12
  795  programs shall be calculated as follows:
  796         (a) Estimated taxable value calculations.—
  797         1.a. Not later than 2 working days before July 19, the
  798  Department of Revenue shall certify to the Commissioner of
  799  Education its most recent estimate of the taxable value for
  800  school purposes in each school district and the total for all
  801  school districts in the state for the current calendar year
  802  based on the latest available data obtained from the local
  803  property appraisers. The value certified shall be the taxable
  804  value for school purposes for that year, and no further
  805  adjustments shall be made, except those made pursuant to
  806  paragraphs (c) and (d), or an assessment roll change required by
  807  final judicial decisions as specified in paragraph (19)(b)
  808  (18)(b). Not later than July 19, the Commissioner of Education
  809  shall compute a millage rate, rounded to the next highest one
  810  one-thousandth of a mill, which, when applied to 96 percent of
  811  the estimated state total taxable value for school purposes,
  812  would generate the prescribed aggregate required local effort
  813  for that year for all districts. The Commissioner of Education
  814  shall certify to each district school board the millage rate,
  815  computed as prescribed in this subparagraph, as the minimum
  816  millage rate necessary to provide the district required local
  817  effort for that year.
  818         b. The General Appropriations Act shall direct the
  819  computation of the statewide adjusted aggregate amount for
  820  required local effort for all school districts collectively from
  821  ad valorem taxes to ensure that no school district’s revenue
  822  from required local effort millage will produce more than 90
  823  percent of the district’s total Florida Education Finance
  824  Program calculation as calculated and adopted by the
  825  Legislature, and the adjustment of the required local effort
  826  millage rate of each district that produces more than 90 percent
  827  of its total Florida Education Finance Program entitlement to a
  828  level that will produce only 90 percent of its total Florida
  829  Education Finance Program entitlement in the July calculation.
  830         2. On the same date as the certification in sub
  831  subparagraph 1.a., the Department of Revenue shall certify to
  832  the Commissioner of Education for each district:
  833         a. Each year for which the property appraiser has certified
  834  the taxable value pursuant to s. 193.122(2) or (3), if
  835  applicable, since the prior certification under sub-subparagraph
  836  1.a.
  837         b. For each year identified in sub-subparagraph a., the
  838  taxable value certified by the appraiser pursuant to s.
  839  193.122(2) or (3), if applicable, since the prior certification
  840  under sub-subparagraph 1.a. This is the certification that
  841  reflects all final administrative actions of the value
  842  adjustment board.
  843         (14) QUALITY ASSURANCE GUARANTEE.—The Legislature may
  844  annually in the General Appropriations Act determine a
  845  percentage increase in funds per K-12 unweighted FTE as a
  846  minimum guarantee to each school district. The guarantee shall
  847  be calculated from prior year base funding per unweighted FTE
  848  student which shall include the adjusted FTE dollars as provided
  849  in subsection (19) (18), quality guarantee funds, and actual
  850  nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. From the base
  851  funding per unweighted FTE, the increase shall be calculated for
  852  the current year. The current year funds from which the
  853  guarantee shall be determined shall include the adjusted FTE
  854  dollars as provided in subsection (19) (18) and potential
  855  nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. A comparison of
  856  current year funds per unweighted FTE to prior year funds per
  857  unweighted FTE shall be computed. For those school districts
  858  which have less than the legislatively assigned percentage
  859  increase, funds shall be provided to guarantee the assigned
  860  percentage increase in funds per unweighted FTE student. Should
  861  appropriated funds be less than the sum of this calculated
  862  amount for all districts, the commissioner shall prorate each
  863  district’s allocation. This provision shall be implemented to
  864  the extent specifically funded.
  865         (18) THE FLORIDA BEST AND BRIGHTEST TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL
  866  ALLOCATION.—
  867         (a)The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher and Principal
  868  Allocation is created to recruit, retain, and recognize
  869  classroom teachers who meet the criteria established in s.
  870  1012.731 and reward principals who meet the criteria established
  871  in s. 1012.732. Subject to annual appropriation, each school
  872  district shall receive an allocation based on the district’s
  873  proportionate share of FEFP base funding. The Legislature may
  874  specify a minimum allocation for all districts in the General
  875  Appropriations Act.
  876         (b) From the allocation, each district shall provide the
  877  following for eligible classroom teachers:
  878         1. A one-time recruitment award, as provided in s.
  879  1012.731(3)(a);
  880         2. A retention award, as provided in s. 1012.731(3)(b); and
  881         3. A recognition award, as provided in s. 1012.731(3)(c)
  882  from the remaining balance of the appropriation after the
  883  payment of all other awards authorized under ss. 1012.731 and
  884  1012.732.
  885         (c) From the allocation, each district shall provide
  886  eligible principals an award as provided in s. 1012.732(4).
  887  
  888  If a district’s calculated awards exceed the allocation, the
  889  district may prorate the awards.
  890         (21) TURNAROUND SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES ALLOCATION.
  891  The turnaround school supplemental services allocation is
  892  created to provide district-managed turnaround schools, as
  893  identified in s. 1008.33(4)(a), schools that earn three
  894  consecutive grades below a “C”, as identified in s.
  895  1008.33(4)(b)3., and schools that have improved to a “C” and are
  896  no longer in turnaround status, as identified in s.
  897  1008.33(4)(c), with funds to offer services designed to improve
  898  the overall academic and community welfare of the schools’
  899  students and their families.
  900         (a) Services funded by the allocation may include, but are
  901  not limited to, tutorial and after-school programs, student
  902  counseling, nutrition education, parental counseling, and an
  903  extended school day and school year. In addition, services may
  904  include models that develop a culture that encourages students
  905  to complete high school and to attend college or career
  906  training, set high academic expectations, and inspire character
  907  development.
  908         (b) Before distribution of the allocation, the school
  909  district shall develop and submit a plan for implementation to
  910  its school board for approval no later than August 1 of each
  911  fiscal year.
  912         (c) At a minimum, the plans required under paragraph (b)
  913  must:
  914         1. Establish comprehensive support services that develop
  915  family and community partnerships;
  916         2. Establish clearly defined and measurable high academic
  917  and character standards;
  918         3. Increase parental involvement and engagement in the
  919  child’s education;
  920         4. Describe how instructional personnel will be identified,
  921  recruited, retained, and rewarded;
  922         5. Provide professional development that focuses on
  923  academic rigor, direct instruction, and creating high academic
  924  and character standards;
  925         6. Provide focused instruction to improve student academic
  926  proficiency, which may include additional instruction time
  927  beyond the normal school day or school year; and
  928         7. Include a strategy for continuing to provide services
  929  after the school is no longer in turnaround status by virtue of
  930  achieving a grade of “C” or higher.
  931         (d) Each school district shall submit its approved plans to
  932  the commissioner by September 1 of each fiscal year.
  933         (e) Subject to legislative appropriation, each school
  934  district’s allocation must be based on the unweighted FTE
  935  student enrollment at the eligible schools and a per-FTE funding
  936  amount of $500 or as provided in the General Appropriations Act.
  937  The supplement provided in the General Appropriations Act shall
  938  be based on the most recent school grades and shall serve as a
  939  proxy for the official calculation. Once school grades are
  940  available for the school year immediately preceding the fiscal
  941  year coinciding with the appropriation, the supplement shall be
  942  recalculated for the official participating schools as part of
  943  the subsequent FEFP calculation. The commissioner may prepare a
  944  preliminary calculation so that districts may proceed with
  945  timely planning and use of the funds. If the calculated funds
  946  for the statewide allocation exceed the funds appropriated, the
  947  allocation of funds to each school district must be prorated
  948  based on each school district’s share of the total unweighted
  949  FTE student enrollment for the eligible schools.
  950         (f) Subject to legislative appropriation, each school shall
  951  remain eligible for the allocation for a maximum of 4 continuous
  952  fiscal years while implementing a turnaround option pursuant to
  953  s. 1008.33(4). In addition, a school that improves to a grade of
  954  “C” or higher shall remain eligible to receive the allocation
  955  for a maximum of 2 continuous fiscal years after exiting
  956  turnaround status.
  957         Section 7. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
  958  (2) of section 1011.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  959         1011.71 District school tax.—
  960         (1) If the district school tax is not provided in the
  961  General Appropriations Act or the substantive bill implementing
  962  the General Appropriations Act, each district school board
  963  desiring to participate in the state allocation of funds for
  964  current operation as prescribed by s. 1011.62(19) s. 1011.62(18)
  965  shall levy on the taxable value for school purposes of the
  966  district, exclusive of millage voted under s. 9(b) or s. 12,
  967  Art. VII of the State Constitution, a millage rate not to exceed
  968  the amount certified by the commissioner as the minimum millage
  969  rate necessary to provide the district required local effort for
  970  the current year, pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1. In addition to
  971  the required local effort millage levy, each district school
  972  board may levy a nonvoted current operating discretionary
  973  millage. The Legislature shall prescribe annually in the
  974  appropriations act the maximum amount of millage a district may
  975  levy.
  976         (2) In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in
  977  subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 1.5
  978  mills against the taxable value for school purposes for charter
  979  schools pursuant to s. 1013.62(1) and (3) and for district
  980  schools to fund:
  981         (a) New construction, and remodeling projects, as set forth
  982  in s. 1013.64(6)(b) and included in the district’s educational
  983  plant survey pursuant to s. 1013.31, without regard to
  984  prioritization, sites and site improvement or expansion to new
  985  sites, existing sites, auxiliary facilities, athletic
  986  facilities, or ancillary facilities.
  987         Section 8. Subsections (3) and (7) of section 1012.56,
  988  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  989         1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
  990         (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
  991  demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
  992         (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
  993  examination required by state board rule;
  994         (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
  995  certificate issued by another state;
  996         (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
  997  National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
  998  educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
  999  Education;
 1000         (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
 1001  or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
 1002  state university, or private college or university that awards
 1003  an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
 1004  or an institution of higher education identified by the
 1005  Department of Education as having a quality program; or
 1006         (e) Effective July 1, 2015, Achievement of passing scores,
 1007  identified in state board rule, on national or international
 1008  examinations that test comparable content and relevant standards
 1009  in verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative reasoning
 1010  skills, including, but not limited to, the verbal, analytical
 1011  writing, and quantitative reasoning portions of the Graduate
 1012  Record Examination. Passing scores identified in state board
 1013  rule must be at approximately the same level of rigor as is
 1014  required to pass the general knowledge examinations.
 1015  
 1016  A school district that employs an individual who does not
 1017  achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
 1018  examination must provide information regarding the availability
 1019  of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
 1020  assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
 1021  must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
 1022  information guides, school district test preparation resources,
 1023  and preparation courses offered by state universities and
 1024  Florida College System institutions.
 1025         (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
 1026         (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
 1027  certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
 1028  who fulfills one of the following:
 1029         1. Meets all the requirements outlined in subsection (2).
 1030         2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
 1031  12:
 1032         a. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h).
 1033         b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
 1034  science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
 1035         c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
 1036  advanced degree.
 1037         d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
 1038  performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
 1039  student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
 1040  assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
 1041  Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
 1042  examination.
 1043         e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
 1044  education competency examination required by state board rule.
 1045         3. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h) and
 1046  completes a professional preparation and education competence
 1047  program approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(c).
 1048  An applicant who completes the program and is rated highly
 1049  effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
 1050  under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a passing
 1051  score on the professional education competency examination in
 1052  order to be awarded a professional certificate.
 1053         (b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to
 1054  any applicant who completes the requirements outlined in
 1055  paragraphs (2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area content
 1056  requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates
 1057  mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5) and
 1058  holds an accredited degree or a degree approved by the
 1059  Department of Education at the level required for the subject
 1060  area specialization in state board rule.
 1061         (c) The department shall issue one nonrenewable 2-year
 1062  temporary certificate and one nonrenewable 5-year professional
 1063  certificate to a qualified applicant who holds a bachelor’s
 1064  degree in the area of speech-language impairment to allow for
 1065  completion of a master’s degree program in speech-language
 1066  impairment.
 1067  
 1068  Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
 1069  and is nonrenewable. However, the requirement in paragraph
 1070  (2)(g) must be met within 1 calendar year of the date of
 1071  employment under the temporary certificate. Individuals who are
 1072  employed under contract at the end of the 1 calendar year time
 1073  period may continue to be employed through the end of the school
 1074  year in which they have been contracted. A school district shall
 1075  not employ, or continue the employment of, an individual in a
 1076  position for which a temporary certificate is required beyond
 1077  this time period if the individual has not met the requirement
 1078  of paragraph (2)(g). At least 1 year before an individual’s
 1079  temporary certificate is set to expire, the department shall
 1080  electronically notify the individual of the date on which his or
 1081  her certificate will expire and provide a list of each method by
 1082  which the qualifications for a professional certificate can be
 1083  completed. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
 1084  allow the department to extend the validity period of a
 1085  temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
 1086  professional certificate, not including the requirement in
 1087  paragraph (2)(g), were not completed due to the serious illness
 1088  or injury of the applicant, the military service of an
 1089  applicant’s spouse, or other extraordinary extenuating
 1090  circumstances. The rules must authorize the department to extend
 1091  the validity period of a temporary certificate for 1 year if the
 1092  certificateholder is rated effective or highly effective based
 1093  solely on a student learning growth formula approved by the
 1094  Commissioner of Education pursuant to s. 1012.34(8). The
 1095  department shall reissue the temporary certificate for 2
 1096  additional years upon approval by the Commissioner of Education.
 1097  A written request for reissuance of the certificate shall be
 1098  submitted by the district school superintendent, the governing
 1099  authority of a university lab school, the governing authority of
 1100  a state-supported school, or the governing authority of a
 1101  private school.
 1102         Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 1012.59, Florida
 1103  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1104         1012.59 Certification fees.—
 1105         (1) The State Board of Education, by rule, shall establish
 1106  by rule separate fees for applications, examinations,
 1107  certification, certification renewal, late renewal,
 1108  recordmaking, and recordkeeping, and may establish procedures
 1109  for scheduling and administering an examination upon an
 1110  applicant’s request. Unless otherwise specified in this
 1111  subsection, each fee shall be based on department estimates of
 1112  the revenue required to implement the provisions of law with
 1113  respect to certification of school personnel. The application
 1114  fee is shall be nonrefundable. The rule must specify an Each
 1115  examination fee for the following:
 1116         (a) Initial registration for first-time test takers.
 1117         (b) Retake of the full battery of subtests of an
 1118  examination, if applicable. The retake fee for the full battery
 1119  of subtests may not exceed the fee for the initial registration.
 1120         (c) Retake for each subtest of an examination. The retake
 1121  fee for each subtest must be prorated based on the number of
 1122  subtests within the examination shall be sufficient to cover the
 1123  actual cost of developing and administering the examination.
 1124         Section 10. Section 1012.731, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1125  to read:
 1126         1012.731 The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship
 1127  Program.—
 1128         (1) The Legislature recognizes that, second only to
 1129  parents, teachers play the most critical role within schools in
 1130  preparing students to achieve a high level of academic
 1131  performance. The Legislature further recognizes that research
 1132  has linked student outcomes to a teacher’s own academic
 1133  achievement. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to
 1134  recruit, retain, and recognize designate teachers who meet the
 1135  needs of this state and have achieved success in the classroom
 1136  high academic standards during their own education as Florida’s
 1137  best and brightest teacher scholars.
 1138         (2) There is created The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher
 1139  Scholarship Program is created to be administered by the
 1140  Department of Education. The scholarship program shall provide
 1141  categorical funding for scholarships to recruitment, retention,
 1142  and recognition awards be awarded to classroom teachers, as
 1143  defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), to be funded as provided in s.
 1144  1011.62(18) who have demonstrated a high level of academic
 1145  achievement.
 1146         (3)(a) To be eligible for a one-time recruitment award as
 1147  specified in the General Appropriations Act, a newly hired
 1148  teacher must be a content expert, based on criteria established
 1149  by the department, in mathematics, science, computer science,
 1150  reading, or civics scholarship in the amount of $6,000, a
 1151  classroom teacher must:
 1152         1. Have achieved a composite score at or above the 80th
 1153  percentile on either the SAT or the ACT based on the National
 1154  Percentile Ranks in effect when the classroom teacher took the
 1155  assessment and have been evaluated as highly effective pursuant
 1156  to s. 1012.34 in the school year immediately preceding the year
 1157  in which the scholarship will be awarded, unless the classroom
 1158  teacher is newly hired by the district school board and has not
 1159  been evaluated pursuant to s. 1012.34.
 1160         2. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, have achieved
 1161  a composite score at or above the 77th percentile or, if the
 1162  classroom teacher graduated cum laude or higher with a
 1163  baccalaureate degree, the 71st percentile on either the SAT,
 1164  ACT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT based on the National Percentile
 1165  Ranks in effect when the classroom teacher took the assessment;
 1166  and have been evaluated as highly effective pursuant to s.
 1167  1012.34, or have been evaluated as highly effective based on a
 1168  commissioner-approved student learning growth formula pursuant
 1169  to s. 1012.34(8), in the school year immediately preceding the
 1170  year in which the scholarship will be awarded, unless the
 1171  classroom teacher is newly hired by the district school board
 1172  and has not been evaluated pursuant to s. 1012.34.
 1173         (b) To be eligible for a retention award as specified in
 1174  the General Appropriations Act, a teacher must have been rated
 1175  as highly effective or effective the preceding year pursuant to
 1176  s. 1012.34, and teach in a school for 2 consecutive school
 1177  years, including the current year, that has improved an average
 1178  of 3 percentage points or more in the percentage of total
 1179  possible points achieved for determining school grades over the
 1180  prior 3 years
 1181         1.In order to demonstrate eligibility for an award, an
 1182  eligible classroom teacher must submit to the school district,
 1183  no later than November 1, an official record of his or her
 1184  qualifying assessment score and, beginning with the 2020-2021
 1185  school year, an official transcript demonstrating that he or she
 1186  graduated cum laude or higher with a baccalaureate degree, if
 1187  applicable. Once a classroom teacher is deemed eligible by the
 1188  school district, the teacher shall remain eligible as long as he
 1189  or she remains employed by the school district as a classroom
 1190  teacher at the time of the award and receives an annual
 1191  performance evaluation rating of highly effective pursuant to s.
 1192  1012.34 or is evaluated as highly effective based on a
 1193  commissioner-approved student learning growth formula pursuant
 1194  to s. 1012.34(8) for the 2019-2020 school year or thereafter.
 1195         2. A school district employee who is no longer a classroom
 1196  teacher may receive an award if the employee was a classroom
 1197  teacher in the prior school year, was rated highly effective,
 1198  and met the requirements of this section as a classroom teacher.
 1199         (c) To be eligible for a recognition award, a teacher must
 1200  be rated as highly effective and be selected by his or her
 1201  school principal, based on performance criteria and policies
 1202  adopted by the district school board. Recognition awards must be
 1203  provided from funds remaining under the allocation provided in
 1204  s. 1011.62(18) after the payment of all teacher recruitment and
 1205  retention awards and principal awards authorized under this
 1206  section and the General Appropriations Act Notwithstanding the
 1207  requirements of this subsection, for the 2017-2018, 2018-2019,
 1208  and 2019-2020 school years, any classroom teacher who:
 1209         1. Was evaluated as highly effective pursuant to s. 1012.34
 1210  in the school year immediately preceding the year in which the
 1211  scholarship will be awarded shall receive a scholarship of
 1212  $1200, including a classroom teacher who received an award
 1213  pursuant to paragraph (a).
 1214         2. Was evaluated as effective pursuant to s. 1012.34 in the
 1215  school year immediately preceding the year in which the
 1216  scholarship will be awarded a scholarship of up to $800. If the
 1217  number of eligible classroom teachers under this subparagraph
 1218  exceeds the total allocation, the department shall prorate the
 1219  per-teacher scholarship amount.
 1220  
 1221  This paragraph expires July 1, 2020.
 1222         (4) Annually, by December 1, each school district shall
 1223  submit to the department:
 1224         (a) The number of eligible classroom teachers who qualify
 1225  for the scholarship.
 1226         (b) The name and master school identification number (MSID)
 1227  of each school in the district to which an eligible classroom
 1228  teacher is assigned.
 1229         (c) The name of the school principal of each eligible
 1230  classroom teacher’s school if he or she has served as the
 1231  school’s principal for at least 2 consecutive school years
 1232  including the current school year.
 1233         (5) Annually, by February 1, the department shall disburse
 1234  scholarship funds to each school district for each eligible
 1235  classroom teacher to receive a scholarship in accordance with
 1236  this section.
 1237         (6) Annually, by April 1, each school district shall award
 1238  the scholarship to each eligible classroom teacher.
 1239         (7) For purposes of this section, the term “school
 1240  district” includes the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
 1241  and charter school governing boards.
 1242         Section 11. Section 1012.732, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1243  to read:
 1244         1012.732 The Florida Best and Brightest Principal
 1245  Scholarship Program.—
 1246         (1) The Legislature recognizes that the most effective
 1247  school principals establish a safe and supportive school
 1248  environment for students and faculty. Research shows that these
 1249  principals increase student learning by providing opportunities
 1250  for the professional growth, collaboration, and autonomy that
 1251  classroom teachers need to become and remain highly effective
 1252  educational professionals. As a result, these principals are
 1253  able to recruit and retain more of the best classroom teachers
 1254  and improve student outcomes at their schools, including schools
 1255  serving low-income and high-need student populations. Therefore,
 1256  it is the intent of the Legislature to designate school
 1257  principals whose schools make noticeable academic improvement
 1258  school faculty has a high percentage of classroom teachers who
 1259  are designated as Florida’s best and brightest teacher scholars
 1260  pursuant to s. 1012.731 as Florida’s best and brightest
 1261  principals.
 1262         (2) There is created The Florida Best and Brightest
 1263  Principal Scholarship Program is created to be administered by
 1264  the Department of Education. The program shall provide awards to
 1265  categorical funding for scholarships to be awarded to school
 1266  principals, as defined in s. 1012.01(3)(c)1., to be funded as
 1267  provided in s. 1011.62(18) who have recruited and retained a
 1268  high percentage of best and brightest teachers.
 1269         (3) A school principal identified pursuant to s.
 1270  1012.731(4)(c) is eligible to receive an award, as specified in
 1271  the General Appropriations Act, a scholarship under this section
 1272  if he or she has served as school principal at his or her school
 1273  for at least 4 2 consecutive school years including the current
 1274  school year and the school has improved an average of 3
 1275  percentage points or more in the percentage of total possible
 1276  points achieved for determining school grades over the prior 3
 1277  years his or her school has a ratio of best and brightest
 1278  teachers to other classroom teachers that is at the 80th
 1279  percentile or higher for schools within the same grade group,
 1280  statewide, including elementary schools, middle schools, high
 1281  schools, and schools with a combination of grade levels.
 1282         (4) Annually, by February 1, the department shall identify
 1283  eligible school principals and disburse funds to each school
 1284  district for each eligible school principal to receive a
 1285  scholarship. A scholarship of $5,000 must be awarded to every
 1286  eligible school principal assigned to a Title I school and a
 1287  scholarship of $4,000 to every eligible school principal who is
 1288  not assigned to a Title I school.
 1289         (5) Annually, by April 1, each school district must award a
 1290  scholarship to each eligible school principal.
 1291         (6)A school district must provide a best and brightest
 1292  principal with the additional authority and responsibilities
 1293  provided in s. 1012.28(8) for a minimum of 2 years.
 1294         (7) For purposes of this section, the term “school
 1295  district” includes the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
 1296  and charter school governing boards.
 1297         Section 12. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
 1298  section 1013.31, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1299         1013.31 Educational plant survey; localized need
 1300  assessment; PECO project funding.—
 1301         (1) At least every 5 years, each board shall arrange for an
 1302  educational plant survey, to aid in formulating plans for
 1303  housing the educational program and student population, faculty,
 1304  administrators, staff, and auxiliary and ancillary services of
 1305  the district or campus, including consideration of the local
 1306  comprehensive plan. The Department of Education shall document
 1307  the need for additional career and adult education programs and
 1308  the continuation of existing programs before facility
 1309  construction or renovation related to career or adult education
 1310  may be included in the educational plant survey of a school
 1311  district or Florida College System institution that delivers
 1312  career or adult education programs. Information used by the
 1313  Department of Education to establish facility needs must
 1314  include, but need not be limited to, labor market data, needs
 1315  analysis, and information submitted by the school district or
 1316  Florida College System institution.
 1317         (a) Educational plant survey and localized need assessment
 1318  for capital outlay purposes.—A survey recommendation is not
 1319  required when a district uses may only use funds from the
 1320  following sources for educational, auxiliary, and ancillary
 1321  plant capital outlay purposes without needing a survey
 1322  recommendation:
 1323         1. The local capital outlay improvement fund, consisting of
 1324  funds that come from and are a part of the district’s basic
 1325  operating budget;
 1326         2. A taxpayer-approved bond referendum, to fund
 1327  construction of If a board decides to build an educational,
 1328  auxiliary, or ancillary plant facility without a survey
 1329  recommendation and the taxpayers approve a bond referendum, the
 1330  voted bond referendum;
 1331         3. One-half cent sales surtax revenue;
 1332         4. One cent local governmental surtax revenue;
 1333         5. Impact fees; and
 1334         6. Private gifts or donations; and
 1335         7. The district school tax levied pursuant to s.
 1336  1011.71(2).
 1337         (d) Review and validation.—The Department of Education
 1338  shall review and validate the surveys of school districts and
 1339  Florida College System institutions, and the Chancellor of the
 1340  State University System shall review and validate the surveys of
 1341  universities, and any amendments thereto for compliance with the
 1342  requirements of this chapter and shall recommend those in
 1343  compliance for approval by the State Board of Education or the
 1344  Board of Governors, as appropriate. Annually, the department
 1345  shall perform an in-depth analysis of a representative sample of
 1346  each survey of recommended needs for five districts selected by
 1347  the commissioner from among districts with the largest need-to
 1348  revenue ratio. For the purpose of this subsection, the need-to
 1349  revenue ratio is determined by dividing the total 5-year cost of
 1350  projects listed on the district survey by the total 5-year fixed
 1351  capital outlay revenue projections from state and local sources
 1352  as determined by the department. The commissioner may direct
 1353  fixed capital outlay funds provided from general revenue or from
 1354  state trust funds to be withheld from districts until such time
 1355  as the survey accurately projects facilities needs.
 1356         Section 13. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (6)
 1357  of section 1013.64, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1358         1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs;
 1359  construction cost maximums for school district capital
 1360  projects.—Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay
 1361  and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital
 1362  outlay projects shall be determined as follows:
 1363         (6)
 1364         (b)1. A district school board may not use funds from state
 1365  sources the following sources: Public Education Capital Outlay
 1366  and Debt Service Trust Fund; School District and Community
 1367  College District Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund;
 1368  Classrooms First Program funds provided in s. 1013.68; nonvoted
 1369  1.5-mill levy of ad valorem property taxes provided in s.
 1370  1011.71(2); Classrooms for Kids Program funds provided in s.
 1371  1013.735; District Effort Recognition Program funds provided in
 1372  s. 1013.736; or High Growth District Capital Outlay Assistance
 1373  Grant Program funds provided in s. 1013.738 for any new
 1374  construction of educational plant space with a total cost per
 1375  student station, including change orders, which exceeds that
 1376  equals more than:
 1377         a. $17,952 for an elementary school,
 1378         b. $19,386 for a middle school, or
 1379         c. $25,181 for a high school,
 1380  
 1381  (January 2006) as adjusted annually to reflect increases or
 1382  decreases in the Consumer Price Index. These restrictions do not
 1383  apply to local funds as specified in s. 1013.31(1)(a). The
 1384  department, in conjunction with the Office of Economic and
 1385  Demographic Research, shall review and revise the cost per
 1386  student station limits to reflect actual construction costs by
 1387  December 1, 2019, and every 3 years thereafter. The adjusted
 1388  cost per student station shall be used by the department for
 1389  computation of the statewide average costs per student station
 1390  for each instructional level pursuant to paragraph (d). The
 1391  department shall also collaborate with the Office of Economic
 1392  and Demographic Research to select an industry-recognized
 1393  construction index to replace the Consumer Price Index by
 1394  December 1, 2019, adjusted annually to reflect changes in the
 1395  construction index.
 1396         2. School districts shall maintain accurate documentation
 1397  related to the costs of all new construction of educational
 1398  plant space reported to the Department of Education pursuant to
 1399  paragraph (d). The Auditor General shall review the
 1400  documentation maintained by the school districts and verify
 1401  compliance with the limits under this paragraph during its
 1402  scheduled operational audits of the school district. The
 1403  department shall make the final determination on district
 1404  compliance based on the recommendation of the Auditor General.
 1405         3. Effective July 1, 2017, in addition to the funding
 1406  sources listed in subparagraph 1., a district school board may
 1407  not use funds from any sources for new construction of
 1408  educational plant space with a total cost per student station,
 1409  including change orders, which equals more than the current
 1410  adjusted amounts provided in sub-subparagraphs 1.a.-c. which
 1411  shall subsequently be adjusted annually to reflect increases or
 1412  decreases in the Consumer Price Index. However, if a contract
 1413  has been executed for architectural and design services or for
 1414  construction management services before July 1, 2017, a district
 1415  school board may use funds from any source for the new
 1416  construction of educational plant space and such funds are
 1417  exempt from the total cost per student station requirements.
 1418         4. A district school board must not use funds from the
 1419  Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund or
 1420  the School District and Community College District Capital
 1421  Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund for any new construction of
 1422  an ancillary plant that exceeds 70 percent of the average cost
 1423  per square foot of new construction for all schools.
 1424         (c) Except as otherwise provided, new construction for
 1425  which a contract has been executed for architectural and design
 1426  services or for construction management services by a district
 1427  school board on or after July 1, 2017, may not exceed the cost
 1428  per student station as provided in paragraph (b). A school
 1429  district that exceeds the cost per student station provided in
 1430  paragraph (b), as determined by the Auditor General, shall be
 1431  subject to sanctions. If the Auditor General determines that the
 1432  cost per student station overage is de minimus or due to
 1433  extraordinary circumstances outside the control of the district,
 1434  the sanctions shall not apply. The sanctions are as follows:
 1435         1. The school district shall be ineligible for allocations
 1436  from the Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust
 1437  Fund for the next 3 years in which the school district would
 1438  have received allocations had the violation not occurred.
 1439         2. The school district shall be subject to the supervision
 1440  of a district capital outlay oversight committee. The oversight
 1441  committee is authorized to approve all capital outlay
 1442  expenditures of the school district, including new construction,
 1443  renovations, and remodeling, for 3 fiscal years following the
 1444  violation.
 1445         a. Each oversight committee shall be composed of the
 1446  following:
 1447         (I) One appointee of the Commissioner of Education who has
 1448  significant financial management, school facilities
 1449  construction, or related experience.
 1450         (II) One appointee of the office of the state attorney with
 1451  jurisdiction over the district.
 1452         (III) One appointee of the Chief Financial Officer who is a
 1453  licensed certified public accountant.
 1454         b. An appointee to the oversight committee may not be
 1455  employed by the school district; be a relative, as defined in s.
 1456  1002.33(24)(a)2., of any school district employee; or be an
 1457  elected official. Each appointee must sign an affidavit
 1458  attesting to these conditions and affirming that no conflict of
 1459  interest exists in his or her oversight role.
 1460         (d) The department shall:
 1461         1. Compute for each calendar year the statewide average
 1462  construction costs for facilities serving each instructional
 1463  level, for relocatable educational facilities, for
 1464  administrative facilities, and for other ancillary and auxiliary
 1465  facilities. The department shall compute the statewide average
 1466  costs per student station for each instructional level.
 1467         2. Annually review the actual completed construction costs
 1468  of educational facilities in each school district. For any
 1469  school district in which the total actual cost per student
 1470  station, including change orders, exceeds the statewide limits
 1471  established in paragraph (b), the school district shall report
 1472  to the department the actual cost per student station and the
 1473  reason for the school district’s inability to adhere to the
 1474  limits established in paragraph (b). The department shall
 1475  collect all such reports and shall provide these reports to the
 1476  Auditor General for verification purposes.
 1477  
 1478  Cost per student station includes contract costs, legal and
 1479  administrative costs, fees of architects and engineers,
 1480  furniture and equipment, and site improvement costs. Cost per
 1481  student station does not include legal and administrative costs,
 1482  architect and engineer fees, furniture and equipment costs, the
 1483  cost of purchasing or leasing the site, the cost of constructing
 1484  covered walkways, the costs of complying with public shelter and
 1485  hurricane hardening requirements, for the construction or the
 1486  cost of offsite and related offsite improvements. Cost per
 1487  student station also does not include the cost of any security
 1488  enhancements, including, but not limited to, the cost for
 1489  securing entries, checkpoint construction, lighting specifically
 1490  designed for entry point security, security cameras, automatic
 1491  locks and locking devices, electronic security systems, fencing
 1492  designed to prevent intruder entry into a building, bullet-proof
 1493  glass, or other capital construction items approved by the
 1494  school safety specialist to ensure building security for new
 1495  educational, auxiliary, or ancillary facilities; costs for these
 1496  items must be below 2 percent per student station.
 1497         Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.