Florida Senate - 2024 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 2516
FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Appropriations
576-01835E-24 20242516pb
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 110.123,
3 F.S.; revising definitions; defining the term
4 “participating college”; creating s. 110.1229, F.S.;
5 defining the term “college”; authorizing the district
6 board of trustees of a college to apply by a specified
7 date for participation in the state group health
8 insurance program and the prescription drug coverage
9 program; requiring the college to agree to specified
10 conditions; providing a timeframe for the enrollment
11 period; providing applicability; creating s. 985.176,
12 F.S.; subject to legislative appropriation,
13 authorizing specified entities to contract with
14 AMIkids, Inc., for specified purposes; amending s.
15 1002.33, F.S.; revising funding methods for students
16 enrolled in certain charter schools; requiring a
17 charter school to receive certain funds; requiring
18 that certain funds be expended; amending s. 1002.391,
19 F.S.; subject to legislative appropriation, creating
20 the Bridge to Speech Program; providing for the use of
21 funds; requiring the Department of Education to award
22 funds by a specified date; amending s. 1002.394, F.S.;
23 revising requirements for the Family Empowerment
24 Scholarship Program; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.;
25 revising requirements for the Florida Tax Credit
26 Scholarship Program; amending s. 1002.71, F.S.;
27 revising the percentage of certain funds that may be
28 expended by an early learning coalition; making
29 technical changes; creating s. 1003.4206, F.S.;
30 subject to legislative appropriation, creating the
31 Charity for Change program; authorizing the program to
32 use third-party providers to deliver specified
33 services; amending s. 1003.435, F.S.; requiring
34 district school boards to notify all candidates for
35 the high school equivalency diploma of adult secondary
36 and postsecondary education options; creating s.
37 1004.933, F.S.; providing legislative intent; defining
38 the terms “career education program” and
39 “institution”; establishing the Graduation Alternative
40 to Traditional Education (GATE) Program within the
41 Department of Education; providing the purposes of the
42 program; providing that students enrolled in the
43 program are exempt from payments for registration,
44 tuition, laboratory, and examination fees; providing
45 eligibility requirements; prohibiting an institution
46 from imposing additional eligibility requirements;
47 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules;
48 amending s. 1008.34, F.S.; providing that students in
49 high school who enroll in the GATE Program may not be
50 included in their school’s graduation rate; creating
51 s. 1009.711, F.S.; creating the GATE Scholarship
52 Program; requiring the department to administer the
53 program; requiring the program to reimburse eligible
54 institutions for student costs; requiring
55 participating institutions to report to the department
56 all students enrolled in the program; requiring the
57 department to reimburse participating institutions
58 within a specified timeframe; providing that
59 reimbursements are contingent on legislative
60 appropriations and may be prorated in the event that
61 total reimbursements owed exceed available funds;
62 requiring the state board to adopt rules; amending s.
63 1011.62, F.S.; creating the juvenile justice education
64 supplement; providing the purpose of the supplemental
65 allocation for juvenile justice education programs;
66 providing for calculation of the supplement as the sum
67 of specified allocations; revising the calculation of
68 the class-size-reduction allocation and specifying the
69 manner for calculating the student allocation;
70 amending s. 1011.80, F.S.; revising the number of
71 courses that certain students may be reported for,
72 relating to funding purposes; providing that such
73 courses do not have to be core curricula courses;
74 deleting a requirement for the department to develop a
75 list of courses to be designated as core curricula
76 courses; creating s. 1011.804, F.S.; creating the GATE
77 Program Student Success Incentive Fund for a specified
78 purpose; defining the term “institution”; providing
79 that, subject to the appropriation of funds by the
80 Legislature, each participating institution must
81 receive specified allocations; providing for proration
82 of funds, as necessary; providing an effective date.
83
84 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
85
86 Section 1. Present paragraphs (h) through (r) of subsection
87 (2) of section 110.123, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
88 paragraphs (i) through (s), respectively, a new paragraph (h) is
89 added to that subsection, and paragraphs (c) and (e) and present
90 paragraphs (j) and (l) of that subsection are amended, to read:
91 110.123 State group insurance program.—
92 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in ss. 110.123-110.1239, the term:
93 (c) “Enrollee” means all state officers and employees,
94 retired state officers and employees, surviving spouses of
95 deceased state officers and employees, eligible former
96 employees, and terminated employees or individuals with
97 continuation coverage who are enrolled in an insurance plan
98 offered by the state group insurance program. The term includes
99 all state university officers and employees, retired state
100 university officers and employees, surviving spouses of deceased
101 state university officers and employees, and terminated state
102 university employees or individuals with continuation coverage
103 who are enrolled in an insurance plan offered by the state group
104 insurance program. The term includes all participating college
105 officers and employees, retired participating college officers
106 and employees, surviving spouses of deceased participating
107 community officers and employees, and terminated participating
108 community employees or individuals with continuation coverage
109 who are enrolled in an insurance plan offered by the state group
110 insurance program. As used in this paragraph, state employees
111 and retired state employees also include employees and retired
112 employees of the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation.
113 (e) “Full-time state employees” means employees of all
114 branches or agencies of state government holding salaried
115 positions who are paid by state warrant or from agency funds and
116 who work or are expected to work an average of at least 30 hours
117 per week; employees of the Division of Rehabilitation and
118 Liquidation who work or are expected to work an average of at
119 least 30 hours per week; employees paid from regular salary
120 appropriations for 8 months’ employment, including university
121 personnel on academic contracts; and employees paid from other
122 personal-services (OPS) funds as described in subparagraphs 1.
123 and 2. The term includes all full-time employees of the state
124 universities and the participating colleges. The term does not
125 include seasonal workers who are paid from OPS funds.
126 1. For persons hired before April 1, 2013, the term
127 includes any person paid from OPS funds who:
128 a. Has worked an average of at least 30 hours or more per
129 week during the initial measurement period from April 1, 2013,
130 through September 30, 2013; or
131 b. Has worked an average of at least 30 hours or more per
132 week during a subsequent measurement period.
133 2. For persons hired after April 1, 2013, the term includes
134 any person paid from OPS funds who:
135 a. Is reasonably expected to work an average of at least 30
136 hours or more per week; or
137 b. Has worked an average of at least 30 hours or more per
138 week during the person’s measurement period.
139 (h) “Participating college” means a Florida College System
140 institution that enrolls in the state group insurance program
141 pursuant to s. 110.1229.
142 (k)(j) “Retired state officer or employee” or “retiree”
143 means any state or state university or participating college
144 officer or employee, or, beginning with the 2023 plan year, an
145 employee of the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation, who
146 retires under a state retirement system or a state optional
147 annuity or retirement program or is placed on disability
148 retirement, and who was insured under the state group insurance
149 program or the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation’s
150 group insurance program at the time of retirement, and who
151 begins receiving retirement benefits immediately after
152 retirement from state or state university or participating
153 college office or employment. The term also includes any state
154 officer or state employee who retires under the Florida
155 Retirement System Investment Plan established under part II of
156 chapter 121 if he or she:
157 1. Meets the age and service requirements to qualify for
158 normal retirement as set forth in s. 121.021(29); or
159 2. Has attained the age specified by s. 72(t)(2)(A)(i) of
160 the Internal Revenue Code and has 6 years of creditable service.
161 (m)(l) “State agency” or “agency” means any branch,
162 department, or agency of state government. “State agency” or
163 “agency” includes any state university or participating college
164 and the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation for purposes
165 of this section only.
166 Section 2. Section 110.1229, Florida Statutes, is created
167 to read:
168 110.1229 Participation by Florida College System
169 institutions.—
170 (1) As used in this section, the term “college” means a
171 Florida College System institution identified in s. 1000.21(5).
172 (2) The district board of trustees of a college may apply
173 by August 1, 2024, for participation in the state group health
174 insurance program authorized by s. 110.123 and the prescription
175 drug coverage program authorized by s. 110.12315 by submitting
176 an application along with a $500 nonrefundable fee to the
177 department.
178 (3) If the department determines that a college is eligible
179 to enroll, the college must agree to the following terms and
180 conditions:
181 (a) The minimum enrollment or contractual period must be 3
182 years.
183 (b) Termination of participation of a college requires
184 written notice 1 year before the termination date.
185 (c) If participation is terminated, a college may not
186 reapply for participation for a period of 2 years.
187 (d) If a college employer fails to make the payments
188 required by this section to fully reimburse the state, the
189 Department of Revenue or the Department of Financial Services
190 shall, upon the request of the Department of Management
191 Services, deduct the amount owed by the employer from any funds
192 not pledged to bond debt service satisfaction which are to be
193 distributed by it to the college. The amounts to be deducted
194 must be transferred to the Department of Management Services for
195 further distribution to the trust funds in accordance with this
196 chapter.
197 (e) The college shall furnish the department any
198 information requested by the department which the department
199 considers necessary to administer the state group health
200 insurance program and the prescription drug coverage program.
201 (f) The college shall adopt the state’s eligibility rules.
202 (g) The college shall pay monthly premiums in amounts
203 sufficient to cover claims costs and administrative costs.
204 (4) The enrollment period for colleges determined eligible
205 by the department shall begin before July 31, 2025.
206 (5) The provisions of ss. 624.436-624.446 do not apply to
207 the State Group Insurance Program or to this section.
208 Section 3. Section 985.176, Florida Statutes, is created to
209 read:
210 985.176 AMIkids, Inc.—As authorized by and consistent with
211 funding appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, the
212 department, the Department of Education, and the Department of
213 Children and Families may contract, in accordance with ss.
214 394.457 and 985.644 and the statutes governing the Department of
215 Education and the Department of Children and Families, with
216 AMIkids, Inc., a nonprofit organization exempt from taxation
217 pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to
218 provide alternatives to institutionalization or commitment for
219 young men and women by providing services, including, but not
220 limited to, education, behavior modification, skills
221 development, mental health, workforce development, family
222 functioning, and advocacy.
223 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (17) of section
224 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
225 1002.33 Charter schools.—
226 (17) FUNDING.—Students enrolled in a charter school,
227 regardless of the sponsorship, shall be funded as if they are in
228 a basic program or a special program, the same as students
229 enrolled in other public schools in a school district. Funding
230 for a charter lab school shall be as provided in s. 1002.32.
231 (b)1. The basis for the agreement for funding students
232 enrolled in a charter school shall be the sum of the school
233 district’s operating funds from the Florida Education Finance
234 Program as provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations
235 Act, including gross state and local funds, discretionary
236 lottery funds, and funds from the school district’s current
237 operating discretionary millage levy; divided by total funded
238 weighted full-time equivalent students in the school district;
239 and multiplied by the weighted full-time equivalent students for
240 the charter school. Charter schools whose students or programs
241 meet the eligibility criteria in law are entitled to their
242 proportionate share of categorical program funds included in the
243 total funds available in the Florida Education Finance Program
244 by the Legislature, including transportation, and the evidence
245 based reading allocation. Total funding for each charter school
246 shall be recalculated during the year to reflect the revised
247 calculations under the Florida Education Finance Program by the
248 state and the actual weighted full-time equivalent students
249 reported by the charter school during the full-time equivalent
250 student survey periods designated by the Commissioner of
251 Education. For charter schools operated by a not-for-profit or
252 municipal entity, any unrestricted current and capital assets
253 identified in the charter school’s annual financial audit may be
254 used for other charter schools operated by the not-for-profit or
255 municipal entity within the school district. For charter schools
256 operated by a not-for-profit entity, any unrestricted current or
257 capital assets identified in the charter school’s annual audit
258 may be used for other charter schools operated by the not-for
259 profit entity which are located outside of the originating
260 charter school’s school district, but within the state, through
261 an unforgivable loan that must be repaid within 5 years to the
262 originating charter school by the receiving charter school.
263 Unrestricted current assets shall be used in accordance with s.
264 1011.62, and any unrestricted capital assets shall be used in
265 accordance with s. 1013.62(2).
266 2.a. Funding for students enrolled in a charter school
267 sponsored by a state university or Florida College System
268 institution pursuant to paragraph (5)(a) shall be provided as
269 follows: funded as if they are in a basic program or a special
270 program in the school district. The basis for funding these
271 students is the sum of the total operating funds from the
272 Florida Education Finance Program for the school district in
273 which the school is located as provided in s. 1011.62 and the
274 General Appropriations Act, including gross state and local
275 funds, discretionary lottery funds, and funds from each school
276 district’s current operating discretionary millage levy, divided
277 by total funded weighted full-time equivalent students in the
278 district, and multiplied by the full-time equivalent membership
279 of the charter school. The Department of Education shall develop
280 a tool that each state university or Florida College System
281 institution sponsoring a charter school shall use for purposes
282 of calculating the funding amount for each eligible charter
283 school student. The total amount obtained from the calculation
284 must be appropriated from state funds in the General
285 Appropriations Act to the charter school.
286 (I) Each charter school shall receive state funds for
287 operating purposes provided in the Florida Education Finance
288 Program as defined in s. 1011.61(5) and as specified in the
289 General Appropriations Act.
290 (II) The nonvoted required local effort millage established
291 pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) which would otherwise be required for
292 charter schools must be from state funds.
293 (III) An equivalent amount of funds for the operating
294 discretionary millage authorized pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) must
295 be allocated to each charter school through a state-funded
296 discretionary contribution established pursuant to s.
297 1011.62(6).
298 (IV) All operating funds provided under this section must
299 be expended for the purposes of this section. The college or
300 university sponsoring a charter school is the fiscal agent for
301 such funds, and all rules of the institution governing the
302 budgeting and expenditure of state funds apply to the funds
303 unless otherwise provided by law or rule of the State Board of
304 Education.
305 b. Capital outlay funding for a charter school sponsored by
306 a state university or Florida College System institution
307 pursuant to paragraph (5)(a) is determined pursuant to s.
308 1013.62 and the General Appropriations Act.
309 Section 5. Subsection (5) is added to section 1002.391,
310 Florida Statutes, to read:
311 1002.391 Auditory-oral education programs.—
312 (5) As authorized by and consistent with funding
313 appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, the Bridge to
314 Speech Program is created to fund auditory-oral education
315 programs required at schools pursuant to this section. Funds
316 shall be provided at the level of the published tuition rates up
317 to the funds available as provided in the General Appropriations
318 Act. The Department of Education must award these funds to
319 eligible recipients no later than September 1 of each year, with
320 subsequent payments monthly thereafter.
321 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (12) of section
322 1002.394, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
323 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
324 (12) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
325 (a)1. Scholarships for students determined eligible
326 pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) may be funded once all scholarships
327 have been funded in accordance with s. 1002.395(6)(l)2. The
328 calculated scholarship amount for a participating student
329 determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) shall be based
330 upon the grade level and school district in which the student
331 was assigned as 100 percent of the funds per unweighted full
332 time equivalent in the Florida Education Finance Program for a
333 student in the basic program established pursuant to s.
334 1011.62(1)(c)1., plus a per-full-time equivalent share of funds
335 for the categorical programs established in s. 1011.62(5),
336 (7)(a), and (16), as funded in the General Appropriations Act.
337 2. A scholarship of $750 or an amount equal to the school
338 district expenditure per student riding a school bus, as
339 determined by the department, whichever is greater, may be
340 awarded to a an eligible student whose household income level
341 does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who
342 is currently placed, or during the previous state fiscal year
343 was placed, in foster care or in out-of-home care as defined in
344 s. 39.01 and who is enrolled in a Florida public school that is
345 different from the school to which the student was assigned or
346 in a lab school as defined in s. 1002.32 if the school district
347 does not provide the student with transportation to the school.
348 Only one scholarship may be awarded pursuant to this
349 subparagraph per household.
350 3. The organization must provide the department with the
351 documentation necessary to verify the student’s participation.
352 Upon receiving the documentation, the department shall transfer,
353 beginning August 1, from state funds only, the amount calculated
354 pursuant to subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly
355 disbursement to parents of participating students each school
356 year in which the scholarship is in force. For a student exiting
357 a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses
358 to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of the
359 Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to
360 subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in
361 which the student last attended a public school before
362 commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a student
363 enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive
364 all documentation required for the student’s participation,
365 including the private school’s and the student’s fee schedules,
366 at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholarship payment
367 is made for the student.
368 4. The initial payment shall be made after the
369 organization’s verification of admission acceptance, and
370 subsequent payments shall be made upon verification of continued
371 enrollment and attendance at the private school. Payment must be
372 by funds transfer or any other means of payment that the
373 department deems to be commercially viable or cost-effective. An
374 organization shall ensure that the parent has approved a funds
375 transfer before any scholarship funds are deposited.
376 5. An organization may not transfer any funds to an account
377 of a student determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a)
378 which has a balance in excess of $24,000.
379 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (11) of section
380 1002.395, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
381 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.—
382 (11) SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT AND PAYMENT.—
383 (a) The scholarship amount provided to any student for any
384 single school year by an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding
385 organization from eligible contributions shall be for total
386 costs authorized under paragraph (6)(d), not to exceed annual
387 limits, which shall be determined as follows:
388 1. For a student who received a scholarship in the 2018
389 2019 school year, who remains eligible, and who is enrolled in
390 an eligible private school, the amount shall be the greater
391 amount calculated pursuant to subparagraph 2. or a percentage of
392 the unweighted FTE funding amount for the 2018-2019 state fiscal
393 year and thereafter as follows:
394 a. Eighty-eight percent for a student enrolled in
395 kindergarten through grade 5.
396 b. Ninety-two percent for a student enrolled in grade 6
397 through grade 8.
398 c. Ninety-six percent for a student enrolled in grade 9
399 through grade 12.
400 2. For students initially eligible in the 2019-2020 school
401 year or thereafter, the calculated amount for a student to
402 attend an eligible private school shall be calculated in
403 accordance with s. 1002.394(12)(a).
404 3. The scholarship amount awarded to a student whose
405 household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the
406 federal poverty level or who is currently placed, or during the
407 previous state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out
408 of-home care as defined in s. 39.01 and who is enrolled in a
409 Florida public school that is different from the school to which
410 the student was assigned, or in a lab school as defined in s.
411 1002.32, must be an amount equal to the school district
412 expenditure per student riding a school bus, as determined by
413 the department, or $750, whichever is greater. Only one
414 scholarship may be awarded pursuant to this subparagraph per
415 household.
416 Section 8. Subsection (7) of section 1002.71, Florida
417 Statutes, is amended to read:
418 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
419 (7) The department shall require that administrative
420 expenditures be kept to the minimum necessary for efficient and
421 effective administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten
422 Education Program. Administrative policies and procedures must
423 shall be revised, to the maximum extent practicable, to
424 incorporate the use of automation and electronic submission of
425 forms, including those required for child eligibility and
426 enrollment, provider and class registration, and monthly
427 certification of attendance for payment. A school district may
428 use its automated daily attendance reporting system for the
429 purpose of transmitting attendance records to the early learning
430 coalition in a mutually agreed-upon format. In addition, actions
431 must shall be taken to reduce paperwork, eliminate the
432 duplication of reports, and eliminate other duplicative
433 activities. Each early learning coalition may retain and expend
434 no more than 5 4.0 percent of the funds paid by the coalition to
435 private prekindergarten providers and public schools under
436 paragraph (5)(b). Funds retained by an early learning coalition
437 under this subsection may be used only for administering the
438 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and may not be used
439 for the school readiness program or other programs.
440 Section 9. Section 1003.4206, Florida Statutes, is created
441 to read:
442 1003.4206 Charity for Change program.—As authorized by and
443 consistent with funding appropriated in the General
444 Appropriations Act, the Charity for Change program is created to
445 implement the character education standards required pursuant to
446 s. 1003.42(2)(t). The program may use third-party providers to
447 deliver after-school and summer services that empower students
448 with an evidence-based curriculum that integrates character
449 education, service learning, charitable and community
450 engagement, and academics.
451 Section 10. Subsection (3) of section 1003.435, Florida
452 Statutes, is amended to read:
453 1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.—
454 (3) Each district school board shall:
455 (a) Offer and administer the high school equivalency
456 diploma examinations and the subject area examinations to all
457 candidates pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education.
458 (b) Notify each candidate of adult secondary and
459 postsecondary education options available in or near the
460 district. The candidate must also be informed of the eligibility
461 requirements and any minimum academic requirements for each
462 available option.
463 Section 11. Section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, is created
464 to read:
465 1004.933 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education
466 (GATE) Program.—
467 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the Legislature
468 that each high school student have the opportunity to earn
469 postsecondary course credits at no cost to the student while
470 pursuing the completion of a standard high school diploma or
471 equivalent credential. Furthermore, to help meet this state’s
472 workforce skill needs, it is the intent of the Legislature that
473 high school students have access to high-quality workforce
474 education programs that can help them build their basic
475 education abilities and attain industry-recognized postsecondary
476 credentials.
477 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
478 (a) “Career education program” means an applied technology
479 diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7) or a career
480 certificate program as defined in s. 1004.02(20).
481 (b) “Institution” means a school district career center
482 under s. 1001.44, a charter technical career center under s.
483 1002.34, or a Florida College System institution under s.
484 1000.21.
485 (3) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Graduation Alternative to
486 Traditional Education (GATE) Program is created within the
487 Department of Education for the following purposes:
488 (a) Assisting students who may have challenges in
489 completing the requirements for a standard high school diploma
490 in a traditional setting.
491 (b) Creating an alternative education pathway that supports
492 this state’s commitment to educational accessibility for all
493 students by providing additional opportunities for students 16
494 to 21 years of age who have discontinued enrollment in
495 traditional high school programs.
496 (c) Increasing the number of students who successfully earn
497 a high school credential in this state.
498 (d) Increasing the interest and participation of students
499 in career and technical education (CTE) programs.
500 (4) PAYMENT EXEMPTION; ELIGIBILITY.—
501 (a) Any student enrolled in the GATE Program is exempt from
502 the payment of registration, tuition, laboratory, and
503 examination fees to a participating institution. Instructional
504 materials assigned for use under the GATE Program must be made
505 available to GATE Program students free of charge. An
506 institution may not require payment by students of instructional
507 material costs eligible for reimbursement under s. 1009.711.
508 (b) To be eligible for participation in the GATE Program, a
509 student may not have earned a standard high school diploma
510 pursuant to s. 1003.4282 or a high school equivalency diploma
511 pursuant to s. 1003.435 before enrolling in the GATE Program and
512 must:
513 1. Be a resident of this state as defined in s. 1009.21;
514 2. Be concurrently enrolled in an adult secondary education
515 program as defined in s. 1004.02(4) and a career education
516 program at a Florida College System institution, a school
517 district career center, or a charter technical career center;
518 3. Be 16 to 21 years of age at the time of initial
519 enrollment;
520 4. Select the CTE pathway or program of his or her choice
521 at the time of enrollment. The student may not change the
522 requested pathway after enrollment;
523 5. Maintain a 2.0 GPA for CTE coursework; and
524 6. Complete the programs under subparagraph 2. within 3
525 years after initial enrollment unless the institution determines
526 that an extension is warranted due to extenuating circumstances.
527 (c) An institution may not impose additional criteria to
528 determine a student’s eligibility to receive a waiver under this
529 section.
530 (5) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
531 to implement this section.
532 Section 12. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
533 1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
534 1008.34 School grading system; school report cards;
535 district grade.—
536 (3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.—
537 (b)1. A school’s grade shall be based on the following
538 components, each worth 100 points:
539 a. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
540 standardized assessments in English Language Arts under s.
541 1008.22(3).
542 b. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
543 standardized assessments in mathematics under s. 1008.22(3).
544 c. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
545 standardized assessments in science under s. 1008.22(3).
546 d. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide,
547 standardized assessments in social studies under s. 1008.22(3).
548 e. The percentage of eligible students who make Learning
549 Gains in English Language Arts as measured by statewide,
550 standardized assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3).
551 f. The percentage of eligible students who make Learning
552 Gains in mathematics as measured by statewide, standardized
553 assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3).
554 g. The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25
555 percent in English Language Arts, as identified by prior year
556 performance on statewide, standardized assessments, who make
557 Learning Gains as measured by statewide, standardized English
558 Language Arts assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3).
559 h. The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25
560 percent in mathematics, as identified by prior year performance
561 on statewide, standardized assessments, who make Learning Gains
562 as measured by statewide, standardized Mathematics assessments
563 administered under s. 1008.22(3).
564 i. For schools comprised of middle grades 6 through 8 or
565 grades 7 and 8, the percentage of eligible students passing high
566 school level statewide, standardized end-of-course assessments
567 or attaining national industry certifications identified in the
568 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to state board
569 rule.
570 j. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, for schools
571 comprised of grade levels that include grade 3, the percentage
572 of eligible students who score an achievement level 3 or higher
573 on the grade 3 statewide, standardized English Language Arts
574 assessment administered under s. 1008.22(3).
575
576 In calculating Learning Gains for the components listed in sub
577 subparagraphs e.-h., the State Board of Education shall require
578 that learning growth toward achievement levels 3, 4, and 5 is
579 demonstrated by students who scored below each of those levels
580 in the prior year. In calculating the components in sub
581 subparagraphs a.-d., the state board shall include the
582 performance of English language learners only if they have been
583 enrolled in a school in the United States for more than 2 years.
584 2. For a school comprised of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or
585 grades 10, 11, and 12, the school’s grade shall also be based on
586 the following components, each worth 100 points:
587 a. The 4-year high school graduation rate of the school as
588 defined by state board rule. Students enrolled in high school
589 who choose to enroll in the GATE Program pursuant to s. 1004.933
590 may not be included in their school’s graduation rate.
591 b. The percentage of students who were eligible to earn
592 college and career credit through an assessment identified
593 pursuant to s. 1007.27(2), College Board Advanced Placement
594 examinations, International Baccalaureate examinations, dual
595 enrollment courses, including career dual enrollment courses
596 resulting in the completion of 300 or more clock hours during
597 high school which are approved by the state board as meeting the
598 requirements of s. 1007.271, or Advanced International
599 Certificate of Education examinations; who, at any time during
600 high school, earned national industry certification identified
601 in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List, pursuant to
602 rules adopted by the state board; or who earned an Armed
603 Services Qualification Test score that falls within Category II
604 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and
605 earned a minimum of two credits in Junior Reserve Officers’
606 Training Corps courses from the same branch of the United States
607 Armed Forces.
608 Section 13. Section 1009.711, Florida Statutes, is created
609 to read:
610 1009.711 GATE Scholarship Program.—
611 (1) The GATE Scholarship Program is created to financially
612 support institutions in providing the GATE Program established
613 pursuant to s. 1004.933.
614 (2) The Department of Education shall administer the GATE
615 Scholarship Program in accordance with rules adopted by the
616 State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (6).
617 (3) The program shall reimburse eligible institutions for
618 registration, tuition, laboratory, and examination fees and
619 related instructional materials costs for students enrolled in
620 the GATE Program. School district career centers and Florida
621 College System institutions must be reimbursed at the in-state
622 resident tuition rate established in s. 1009.22(3)(c).
623 (4) Each participating institution shall report to the
624 department all students enrolled in the GATE Scholarship Program
625 during the fall, spring, or summer terms within 30 days after
626 the end of regular registration. For each eligible student, the
627 institution shall report the total reimbursable expenses by
628 category, which the department must consider in determining an
629 institution’s award under this section. The department shall
630 reimburse each participating institution no later than 30 days
631 after the institution has reported enrollment for that term.
632 (5) Reimbursements from the GATE Scholarship Program are
633 contingent upon an annual appropriation in the General
634 Appropriations Act. If the statewide reimbursement amount is
635 greater than the appropriation, the institutional reimbursement
636 amounts specified in subsection (3) must be prorated among the
637 institutions that have timely reported eligible students to the
638 department.
639 (6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
640 implement this section.
641 Section 14. Subsection (9) of section 1011.62, Florida
642 Statutes, is amended to read:
643 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
644 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
645 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
646 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
647 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
648 follows:
649 (9) CALCULATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOCATION FOR JUVENILE
650 JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.—The juvenile justice education
651 supplement is created to provide supplemental funding to support
652 the education of students in juvenile justice education
653 programs. The supplemental allocation must be the sum of the
654 class-size-reduction allocation and the student allocation.
655 (a) The class-size-reduction allocation shall be calculated
656 by multiplying the total kindergarten through grade 12 weighted
657 full-time equivalent student membership in juvenile justice
658 education programs in each school district shall be multiplied
659 by the amount of the state average class-size-reduction factor
660 multiplied by the comparable wage factor for the school district
661 established in subsection (2). An amount equal to the sum of
662 this calculation shall be allocated in the Florida Education
663 Finance Program to each school district to supplement other
664 sources of funding for students in juvenile justice education
665 programs.
666 (b) The student allocation shall be calculated based on the
667 number of students reported in a juvenile justice education
668 program. The total kindergarten through grade 12 unweighted
669 full-time equivalent student membership in juvenile justice
670 education programs in each school district, excluding students
671 with disabilities, shall be multiplied by a percentage of the
672 base student allocation as provided in the General
673 Appropriations Act. The total kindergarten through grade 12
674 unweighted full-time equivalent student membership in juvenile
675 justice education programs in each school district, for students
676 with disabilities, shall be multiplied by an additional
677 percentage of the base student allocation as provided in the
678 General Appropriations Act. The base amount and the amount for
679 students with disabilities shall be summed to provide the
680 student allocation.
681 (c) Funds allocated under this subsection shall be used to
682 provide the juvenile justice education programs pursuant to s.
683 1003.52 and may be used to pay for the high school equivalency
684 examination fees for juvenile justice students who pass the high
685 school equivalency examination in full, or in part, while in a
686 juvenile justice education program, the industry credentialing
687 testing fees for such students, and the costs associated with
688 such juvenile justice students enrolled in career and technical
689 education courses that lead to industry-recognized
690 certifications.
691 Section 15. Subsection (10) of section 1011.80, Florida
692 Statutes, is amended to read:
693 1011.80 Funds for operation of workforce education
694 programs.—
695 (10) A high school student dually enrolled under s.
696 1007.271 in a workforce education program operated by a Florida
697 College System institution or school district career center
698 generates the amount calculated for workforce education funding,
699 including any payment of performance funding, and the
700 proportional share of full-time equivalent enrollment generated
701 through the Florida Education Finance Program for the student’s
702 enrollment in a high school. If a high school student is dually
703 enrolled in a Florida College System institution program,
704 including a program conducted at a high school, the Florida
705 College System institution earns the funds generated for
706 workforce education funding, and the school district earns the
707 proportional share of full-time equivalent funding from the
708 Florida Education Finance Program. If a student is dually
709 enrolled in a career center operated by the same district as the
710 district in which the student attends high school, that district
711 earns the funds generated for workforce education funding and
712 also earns the proportional share of full-time equivalent
713 funding from the Florida Education Finance Program. If a student
714 is dually enrolled in a workforce education program provided by
715 a career center operated by a different school district, the
716 funds must be divided between the two school districts
717 proportionally from the two funding sources. A student may not
718 be reported for funding in a dual enrollment workforce education
719 program unless the student has completed the basic skills
720 assessment pursuant to s. 1004.91. A student who is coenrolled
721 in a K-12 education program and an adult education program may
722 be reported for purposes of funding in an adult education
723 program. If a student is coenrolled in core curricula courses
724 for credit recovery or dropout prevention purposes and does not
725 have a pattern of excessive absenteeism or habitual truancy or a
726 history of disruptive behavior in school, the student may be
727 reported for funding for up to four two courses per year. Such a
728 student is exempt from the payment of the block tuition for
729 adult general education programs provided in s. 1009.22(3)(c).
730 The Department of Education shall develop a list of courses to
731 be designated as core curricula courses for the purposes of
732 coenrollment.
733 Section 16. Section 1011.804, Florida Statutes, is created
734 to read:
735 1011.804 GATE Program Student Success Incentive Fund.—
736 (1) A GATE Program Student Success Incentive Fund is
737 created to reward school districts and Florida College System
738 institutions for the documented success of students
739 participating in the GATE Program established under s. 1004.933.
740 (2) As used in this section, the term “institution” means a
741 school district career center established under s. 1001.44, a
742 charter technical career center established under s. 1002.34, or
743 a Florida College System institution identified in s. 1000.21,
744 which offers the GATE Program pursuant to s. 1004.933.
745 (3) Subject to legislative appropriation, each
746 participating institution must receive an allocation based on
747 the performance of students in its GATE Program according to the
748 following metrics:
749 (a) The number of students obtaining a standard high school
750 diploma or high school equivalency diploma while participating
751 in the program.
752 (b) The number of postsecondary industry certifications or
753 other program completion credentials earned by students
754 participating in the program. Eligible industry certifications
755 must be identified on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding
756 List approved by the State Board of Education under s. 1008.44.
757 (c) Unless otherwise specified in the General
758 Appropriations Act, each institution must be provided $750 per
759 student described in paragraph (a) and $1,000 per student
760 earning certificates or credentials as provided in paragraph
761 (b). If funds are insufficient to fully fund the calculated
762 total award, such funds must be prorated among the institutions.
763 Section 17. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.