Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 7004
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Education Pre-K -12
       
       
       
       
       
       581-01446-24                                          20247004__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to deregulation of public
    3         schools/assessment and accountability, instruction,
    4         and education choice; amending s. 1002.31, F.S.;
    5         revising how often a school district or charter school
    6         must update its school capacity determination;
    7         deleting a requirement relating to school capacity
    8         determination by district school boards; amending s.
    9         1002.3105, F.S.; deleting a requirement that a
   10         performance contract be completed if a student
   11         participates in an Academically Challenging Curriculum
   12         to Enhance Learning option; providing that a
   13         performance contract may be used at the discretion of
   14         the principal; repealing s. 1002.311, F.S., relating
   15         to single-gender programs; amending s. 1002.34, F.S.;
   16         deleting a requirement for the Commissioner of
   17         Education to provide for an annual comparative
   18         evaluation of charter technical career centers and
   19         public technical centers; amending s. 1002.45, F.S.;
   20         deleting the requirement that a notification to
   21         parents regarding virtual instruction be written;
   22         providing construction; amending s. 1002.53, F.S.;
   23         deleting a requirement for a school district to
   24         provide for admission of certain students to a summer
   25         prekindergarten program; amending s. 1002.61, F.S.;
   26         authorizing, rather than requiring, a school district
   27         to administer the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
   28         Program; providing that a student is eligible for
   29         summer reading camp under certain conditions; amending
   30         s. 1002.63, F.S.; deleting a requirement for an early
   31         learning coalition to verify that certain public
   32         schools comply with specified provisions; amending s.
   33         1002.71, F.S.; deleting a requirement for school
   34         district funding for certain programs; deleting a
   35         requirement for district school board attendance
   36         policies for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
   37         Programs; requiring a school district to certify its
   38         attendance records for a Voluntary Prekindergarten
   39         Education Program; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.;
   40         revising requirements for assessments needed for a
   41         student to earn a high school diploma; deleting a
   42         requirement for a student who transfers into a public
   43         high school to take specified assessments; amending s.
   44         1003.433, F.S.; deleting requirements that must be met
   45         by students who transfer to a public school for 11th
   46         or 12th grade; amending s. 1003.435, F.S.; deleting an
   47         exception for the high school equivalency diploma
   48         program; requiring school districts to adopt a policy
   49         that allows specified students to take the high school
   50         equivalency examination; amending s. 1003.455, F.S.;
   51         making technical changes to physical education
   52         requirements; amending s. 1003.4935, F.S.; deleting a
   53         requirement that the Department of Education collect
   54         and report certain data relating to a middle school
   55         career and professional academy or career-themed
   56         course; repealing s. 1003.4995, F.S., relating to the
   57         fine arts report prepared by the Commissioner of
   58         Education; repealing s. 1003.4996, F.S., relating to
   59         the Competency-Based Education Pilot Program; amending
   60         s. 1003.49965, F.S.; authorizing, rather than
   61         requiring, a school district to hold an Art in the
   62         Capitol Competition; amending s. 1003.51, F.S.;
   63         deleting a requirement regarding assessment procedures
   64         for Department of Juvenile Justice education programs;
   65         revising requirements for which assessment results
   66         must be included in a student’s discharge packet;
   67         revising requirements for when a district school board
   68         must face sanctions for unsatisfactory performance in
   69         its Department of Juvenile Justice programs; amending
   70         s. 1003.621, F.S.; deleting a requirement for
   71         academically high-performing school districts to
   72         submit an annual report to the State Board of
   73         Education; amending s. 1006.28, F.S.; revising the
   74         definition of the term “adequate instructional
   75         materials”; deleting a timeframe requirement for each
   76         district school superintendent to notify the
   77         department about instructional materials; deleting a
   78         requirement for such notification; authorizing, rather
   79         than requiring, a school principal to collect the
   80         purchase price of instructional materials lost,
   81         destroyed, or damaged by a student; amending s.
   82         1006.283, F.S.; deleting a timeframe requirement for a
   83         district school superintendent to certify to the
   84         Department of Education that instructional materials
   85         meet state standards; amending s. 1006.33, F.S.;
   86         requiring the Department of Education to advertise
   87         bids or proposals for instructional materials within a
   88         specified timeframe beginning in a specified
   89         instructional materials adoption cycle; requiring the
   90         department to publish specifications for subject areas
   91         within a specified timeframe; amending s. 1006.34,
   92         F.S.; requiring the commissioner to publish a list of
   93         adopted instructional materials within a specified
   94         timeframe beginning in a specified instructional
   95         materials adoption cycle; amending s. 1006.40, F.S.;
   96         authorizing district school boards to approve an
   97         exemption to the purchase of certain instructional
   98         materials; revising the timeframe between purchases of
   99         instructional materials; amending s. 1008.212, F.S.;
  100         revising deadline requirements for a certain written
  101         request by an individualized education program team;
  102         amending s. 1008.22, F.S.; deleting a requirement that
  103         a student pass a certain assessment to earn a high
  104         school diploma; deleting a requirement for the
  105         commissioner to publish a calendar of assessment and
  106         reporting schedules; revising a time requirement for
  107         each school district to establish schedules for the
  108         administration of statewide, standardized assessments;
  109         revising the information that must be included with
  110         the schedules; conforming provisions to changes made
  111         by the act; deleting a requirement for the
  112         commissioner to identify which SAT and ACT scores
  113         would satisfy graduation requirements; deleting a
  114         requirement for the commissioner to identify
  115         comparative scores for the Algebra I end-of-course
  116         assessment; amending s. 1008.25, F.S.; providing
  117         conditions under which a student must be promoted to
  118         grade 4; revising timeframe requirements for
  119         administering the coordinated screening and progress
  120         monitoring system; requiring two administrations of
  121         the coordinated screening and progress monitoring
  122         system for students in a summer prekindergarten
  123         program; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
  124         1008.33, F.S.; prohibiting a school from being
  125         required to use a certain parameter as the sole
  126         determining factor to recruit instructional personnel;
  127         providing requirements for a rule adopted by the State
  128         Board of Education; revising the date by which a
  129         school district must submit a memorandum of
  130         understanding to the Department of Education;
  131         increasing the length of time for which certain school
  132         districts must continue a turnaround plan; revising an
  133         authorization for the state board to allow a school
  134         additional time before implementing a turnaround
  135         option; revising requirements for schools that
  136         complete a plan cycle; deleting a requirement for a
  137         school to implement another turnaround option under
  138         certain circumstances; amending s. 1008.332, F.S.;
  139         revising a provision relating to the No Child Left
  140         Behind Act to relate to the Every Student Succeeds
  141         Act; deleting a requirement for committee members to
  142         annually report to specified entities; amending s.
  143         1008.34, F.S.; requiring that certain changes made by
  144         the state board to the school grades model or school
  145         grading scale go into effect in the following school
  146         year or later; conforming cross-references; amending
  147         s. 1008.345, F.S.; deleting a requirement for the
  148         Department of Education to develop an annual feedback
  149         report; deleting a requirement for the Commissioner of
  150         Education to review specified feedback reports and
  151         submit findings to the State Board of Education;
  152         deleting certain requirements for a report the
  153         commissioner produces annually for the state board;
  154         conforming a cross reference; amending s. 1000.05,
  155         F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing an
  156         effective date.
  157          
  158  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  159  
  160         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
  161  1002.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  162         1002.31 Controlled open enrollment; public school parental
  163  choice.—
  164         (2)
  165         (b) Each school district and charter school capacity
  166  determinations for its schools, by grade level, must be updated
  167  at least twice annually every 12 weeks and be identified on the
  168  school district and charter school’s websites. In determining
  169  the capacity of each district school, the district school board
  170  shall incorporate the specifications, plans, elements, and
  171  commitments contained in the school district educational
  172  facilities plan and the long-term work programs required under
  173  s. 1013.35. Each charter school governing board shall determine
  174  capacity based upon its charter school contract. Each virtual
  175  charter school and each school district with a contract with an
  176  approved virtual instruction program provider shall determine
  177  capacity based upon the enrollment requirements established
  178  under s. 1002.45(1)(e)4.
  179         Section 2. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (4) of
  180  section 1002.3105, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  181         1002.3105 Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance
  182  Learning (ACCEL) options.—
  183         (4) ACCEL REQUIREMENTS.—
  184         (c) If a student participates in an ACCEL option pursuant
  185  to the parental request under subparagraph (b)1., a performance
  186  contract is not required but may be used at the discretion of
  187  the principal must be executed by the student, the parent, and
  188  the principal. At a minimum, the performance contract must
  189  require compliance with:
  190         1. Minimum student attendance requirements.
  191         2. Minimum student conduct requirements.
  192         3.ACCEL option requirements established by the principal,
  193  which may include participation in extracurricular activities,
  194  educational outings, field trips, interscholastic competitions,
  195  and other activities related to the ACCEL option selected.
  196         (d) If a principal initiates a student’s participation in
  197  an ACCEL option, the student’s parent must be notified. A
  198  performance contract, pursuant to paragraph (c), is not required
  199  when a principal initiates participation but may be used at the
  200  discretion of the principal.
  201         Section 3. Section 1002.311, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  202         Section 4. Subsection (19) of section 1002.34, Florida
  203  Statutes, is amended to read:
  204         1002.34 Charter technical career centers.—
  205         (19) EVALUATION; REPORT.—The Commissioner of Education
  206  shall provide for an annual comparative evaluation of charter
  207  technical career centers and public technical centers. The
  208  evaluation may be conducted in cooperation with the sponsor,
  209  through private contracts, or by department staff. At a minimum,
  210  the comparative evaluation must address the demographic and
  211  socioeconomic characteristics of the students served, the types
  212  and costs of services provided, and the outcomes achieved. By
  213  December 30 of each year, the Commissioner of Education shall
  214  submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker
  215  of the House of Representatives, and the Senate and House
  216  committees that have responsibility for secondary and
  217  postsecondary career and technical education a report of the
  218  comparative evaluation completed for the previous school year.
  219         Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph
  220  (d) of subsection (3) of section 1002.45, Florida Statutes, are
  221  amended to read:
  222         1002.45 Virtual instruction programs.—
  223         (1) PROGRAM.—
  224         (b)1. Each school district shall provide at least one
  225  option for part-time and full-time virtual instruction for
  226  students residing within the school district. All school
  227  districts must provide parents with timely written notification
  228  of at least one open enrollment period for full-time students of
  229  90 days or more which ends 30 days before the first day of the
  230  school year. A school district virtual instruction program shall
  231  consist of the following:
  232         a. Full-time and part-time virtual instruction for students
  233  enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12.
  234         b. Full-time or part-time virtual instruction for students
  235  enrolled in dropout prevention and academic intervention
  236  programs under s. 1003.53, Department of Juvenile Justice
  237  education programs under s. 1003.52, core-curricula courses to
  238  meet class size requirements under s. 1003.03, or Florida
  239  College System institutions under this section.
  240         2. Each virtual instruction program established under
  241  paragraph (c) by a school district either directly or through a
  242  contract with an approved virtual instruction program provider
  243  shall operate under its own Master School Identification Number
  244  as prescribed by the department.
  245         (3) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Each virtual
  246  instruction program under this section must:
  247         (d) Provide each full-time student enrolled in the virtual
  248  instruction program who qualifies for free or reduced-price
  249  school lunches under the National School Lunch Act, or who is on
  250  the direct certification list, and who does not have a computer
  251  or Internet access in his or her home with:
  252         1. All equipment necessary for participants in the virtual
  253  instruction program, including, but not limited to, a computer,
  254  computer monitor, and printer, if a printer is necessary to
  255  participate in the virtual instruction program; and
  256         2. Access to or reimbursement for all Internet services
  257  necessary for online delivery of instruction.
  258  
  259  This paragraph does not prohibit a school district virtual
  260  instruction program from providing such equipment to any student
  261  enrolled in a virtual instruction program.
  262         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (6) of section
  263  1002.53, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  264         1002.53 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
  265  eligibility and enrollment.—
  266         (6)
  267         (b) A parent may enroll his or her child with any public
  268  school within the school district which is eligible to deliver
  269  the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program under this part,
  270  subject to available space. Each school district may limit the
  271  number of students admitted by any public school for enrollment
  272  in the school-year program; however, the school district must
  273  provide for the admission of every eligible child within the
  274  district whose parent enrolls the child in a summer
  275  prekindergarten program delivered by a public school under s.
  276  1002.61.
  277         Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph
  278  (a) of subsection (10) of section 1002.61, Florida Statutes, are
  279  amended, and subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:
  280         1002.61 Summer prekindergarten program delivered by public
  281  schools and private prekindergarten providers.—
  282         (1)(a) Each school district may shall administer the
  283  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at the district
  284  level for students enrolled under s. 1002.53(3)(b) in a summer
  285  prekindergarten program delivered by a public school.
  286         (10)(a) Each early learning coalition shall verify that
  287  each private prekindergarten provider and public school
  288  delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  289  within the coalition’s county or multicounty region complies
  290  with this part.
  291         (11)A student who did not attend the school year Voluntary
  292  Prekindergarten Education Program and lacks access to summer
  293  prekindergarten in the county in which he or she resides is
  294  eligible to enroll in the summer reading camp provided by the
  295  district school board under s. 1008.25.
  296         Section 8. Subsection (9) of section 1002.63, Florida
  297  Statutes, is amended to read:
  298         1002.63 School-year prekindergarten program delivered by
  299  public schools.—
  300         (9)(a) Each early learning coalition shall verify that each
  301  public school delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
  302  Program within the coalition’s service area complies with this
  303  part.
  304         (b) If a public school fails or refuses to comply with this
  305  part or engages in misconduct, the department must shall require
  306  that the school district to remove the school from eligibility
  307  to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and
  308  receive state funds under this part for a period of at least 2
  309  years but no more than 5 years.
  310         Section 9. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3), paragraph (b)
  311  of subsection (6), and subsection (7) of section 1002.71,
  312  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  313         1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
  314         (3)
  315         (d) For programs offered by school districts pursuant to s.
  316  1002.61, each district’s funding shall be based on a student
  317  enrollment that is evenly divisible by 12. If the result of
  318  dividing a district’s student enrollment by 12 is not a whole
  319  number, the district’s enrollment calculation shall be adjusted
  320  by adding the minimum number of students to produce a student
  321  enrollment calculation that is evenly divisible by 12.
  322         (6)
  323         (b)1. Each private prekindergarten provider’s and district
  324  school board’s attendance policy must require the parent of each
  325  student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to
  326  verify, each month, the student’s attendance on the prior
  327  month’s certified student attendance.
  328         2. The parent must submit the verification of the student’s
  329  attendance to the private prekindergarten provider or public
  330  school on forms prescribed by the department. The forms must
  331  include, in addition to the verification of the student’s
  332  attendance, a certification, in substantially the following
  333  form, that the parent continues to choose the private
  334  prekindergarten provider or public school in accordance with s.
  335  1002.53 and directs that payments for the program be made to the
  336  provider or school:
  337  
  338                VERIFICATION OF STUDENT’S ATTENDANCE               
  339                AND CERTIFICATION OF PARENTAL CHOICE               
  340  
  341  I, ...(Name of Parent)..., swear (or affirm) that my child,
  342  ...(Name of Student)..., attended the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  343  Education Program on the days listed above and certify that I
  344  continue to choose ...(Name of Provider or School)... to deliver
  345  the program for my child and direct that program funds be paid
  346  to the provider or school for my child.
  347  ...(Signature of Parent)...
  348  ...(Date)...
  349  
  350         3. The private prekindergarten provider or public school
  351  must keep each original signed form for at least 2 years. Each
  352  private prekindergarten provider must permit the early learning
  353  coalition, and each public school must permit the school
  354  district, to inspect the original signed forms during normal
  355  business hours. The department shall adopt procedures for early
  356  learning coalitions and school districts to review the original
  357  signed forms against the certified student attendance. The
  358  review procedures must shall provide for the use of selective
  359  inspection techniques, including, but not limited to, random
  360  sampling. Each early learning coalition and the school districts
  361  must comply with the review procedures.
  362         (7) The department shall require that administrative
  363  expenditures be kept to the minimum necessary for efficient and
  364  effective administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  365  Education Program. Administrative policies and procedures must
  366  shall be revised, to the maximum extent practicable, be revised
  367  to incorporate the use of automation and electronic submission
  368  of forms, including those required for child eligibility and
  369  enrollment, provider and class registration, and monthly
  370  certification of attendance for payment. A school district may
  371  use its automated daily attendance reporting system for the
  372  purpose of maintaining and transmitting attendance records to
  373  the early learning coalition in a mutually agreed-upon format.
  374  Each school district shall certify the correctness of attendance
  375  data submitted to the single point of entry system described in
  376  paragraph (5)(a) as required by the department. In addition,
  377  actions must shall be taken to reduce paperwork, eliminate the
  378  duplication of reports, and eliminate other duplicative
  379  activities. Each early learning coalition may retain and expend
  380  no more than 4.0 percent of the funds paid by the coalition to
  381  private prekindergarten providers and public schools under
  382  paragraph (5)(b). Funds retained by an early learning coalition
  383  under this subsection may be used only for administering the
  384  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and may not be used
  385  for the school readiness program or other programs.
  386         Section 10. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3),
  387  paragraph (c) of subsection (5), and subsection (6) of section
  388  1003.4282, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  389         1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
  390         (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
  391  REQUIREMENTS.—
  392         (a) Four credits in English Language Arts (ELA).—The four
  393  credits must be in ELA I, II, III, and IV. A student must pass
  394  the statewide, standardized grade 10 ELA assessment, or earn a
  395  concordant score, in order to earn a standard high school
  396  diploma.
  397         (b) Four credits in mathematics.—
  398         1. A student must earn one credit in Algebra I and one
  399  credit in Geometry. A student’s performance on the statewide,
  400  standardized Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) assessment
  401  constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade. A
  402  student must pass the statewide, standardized Algebra I EOC
  403  assessment, or earn a comparative score, in order to earn a
  404  standard high school diploma. A student’s performance on the
  405  statewide, standardized Geometry EOC assessment constitutes 30
  406  percent of the student’s final course grade.
  407         2. A student who earns an industry certification for which
  408  there is a statewide college credit articulation agreement
  409  approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the
  410  certification for one mathematics credit. Substitution may occur
  411  for up to two mathematics credits, except for Algebra I and
  412  Geometry. A student may earn two mathematics credits by
  413  successfully completing Algebra I through two full-year courses.
  414  A certified school counselor or the principal’s designee shall
  415  must advise the student that admission to a state university may
  416  require the student to earn 3 additional mathematics credits
  417  that are at least as rigorous as Algebra I.
  418         3. A student who earns a computer science credit may
  419  substitute the credit for up to one credit of the mathematics
  420  requirement, with the exception of Algebra I and Geometry, if
  421  the commissioner identifies the computer science credit as being
  422  equivalent in rigor to the mathematics credit. An identified
  423  computer science credit may not be used to substitute for both a
  424  mathematics and a science credit. A student who earns an
  425  industry certification in 3D rapid prototype printing may
  426  satisfy up to two credits of the mathematics requirement, with
  427  the exception of Algebra I, if the commissioner identifies the
  428  certification as being equivalent in rigor to the mathematics
  429  credit or credits.
  430         (5) AWARD OF A STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.—
  431         (c) A student who earns the required 24 credits, or the
  432  required 18 credits under s. 1002.3105(5), but fails to pass the
  433  assessments required under s. 1008.22(3) or achieve a 2.0 GPA
  434  shall be awarded a certificate of completion in a form
  435  prescribed by the State Board of Education. However, a student
  436  who is otherwise entitled to a certificate of completion may
  437  elect to remain in high school either as a full-time student or
  438  a part-time student for up to 1 additional year and receive
  439  special instruction designed to remedy his or her identified
  440  deficiencies.
  441         (6) UNIFORM TRANSFER OF HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS.—Beginning with
  442  the 2012-2013 school year, if a student transfers to a Florida
  443  public high school from out of country, out of state, a private
  444  school, or a home education program and the student’s transcript
  445  shows a credit in Algebra I, the student must pass the
  446  statewide, standardized Algebra I EOC assessment in order to
  447  earn a standard high school diploma unless the student earned a
  448  comparative score, passed a statewide assessment in Algebra I
  449  administered by the transferring entity, or passed the statewide
  450  mathematics assessment the transferring entity uses to satisfy
  451  the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,
  452  as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), 20 U.S.C.
  453  ss. 6301 et seq. If a student’s transcript shows a credit in
  454  high school reading or English Language Arts II or III, in order
  455  to earn a standard high school diploma, the student must take
  456  and pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 ELA assessment, or
  457  earn a concordant score. If a transfer student’s transcript
  458  shows a final course grade and course credit in Algebra I,
  459  Geometry, Biology I, or United States History, the transferring
  460  course final grade and credit must shall be honored without the
  461  student taking the requisite statewide, standardized EOC
  462  assessment and without the assessment results constituting 30
  463  percent of the student’s final course grade.
  464         Section 11. Section 1003.433, Florida Statutes, is amended
  465  to read:
  466         1003.433 Learning opportunities for out-of-state and out
  467  of-country transfer students and students needing additional
  468  instruction to meet high school graduation requirements.—
  469         (1) Students who enter a Florida public school at the 11th
  470  or 12th grade from out of state or out of country may shall not
  471  be required to spend additional time in a Florida public school
  472  in order to meet the high school course requirements if the
  473  student has met all requirements of the school district, state,
  474  or country from which he or she is transferring. Such students
  475  who are not proficient in English should receive immediate and
  476  intensive instruction in English language acquisition. However,
  477  to receive a standard high school diploma, a transfer student
  478  must earn a 2.0 grade point average and meet the requirements
  479  under s. 1008.22.
  480         (2) Students who earn the required 24 credits for the
  481  standard high school diploma except for passage of any must-pass
  482  assessment under s. 1003.4282 or s. 1008.22 or an alternate
  483  assessment by the end of grade 12 must be provided the following
  484  learning opportunities:
  485         (a) Participation in an accelerated high school equivalency
  486  diploma preparation program during the summer.
  487         (b) Upon receipt of a certificate of completion, be allowed
  488  to take the College Placement Test and be admitted to
  489  developmental education or credit courses at a Florida College
  490  System institution, as appropriate.
  491         (c) Participation in an adult general education program as
  492  provided in s. 1004.93 for such time as the student requires to
  493  master English, reading, mathematics, or any other subject
  494  required for high school graduation. A student attending an
  495  adult general education program shall have the opportunity to
  496  take any must-pass assessment under s. 1003.4282 or s. 1008.22
  497  an unlimited number of times in order to receive a standard high
  498  school diploma.
  499         (3) Students who have been enrolled in an ESOL program for
  500  less than 2 school years and have met all requirements for the
  501  standard high school diploma except for passage of any must-pass
  502  assessment under s. 1003.4282 or s. 1008.22 or alternate
  503  assessment may:
  504         (a) Receive immersion English language instruction during
  505  the summer following their senior year. Students receiving such
  506  instruction are eligible to take the required assessment or
  507  alternate assessment and receive a standard high school diploma
  508  upon passage of the required assessment or alternate assessment.
  509  This paragraph shall be implemented to the extent funding is
  510  provided in the General Appropriations Act.
  511         (b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, meet the
  512  requirement to pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 English
  513  Language Arts assessment by satisfactorily demonstrating grade
  514  level expectations on formative assessments, in accordance with
  515  state board rule.
  516         Section 12. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
  517  1003.435, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  518         1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.—
  519         (4)(a) A candidate for a high school equivalency diploma
  520  must shall be at least 18 years of age on the date of the
  521  examination, except that in extraordinary circumstances, as
  522  provided for in rules of the district school board of the
  523  district in which the candidate resides or attends school, a
  524  candidate may take the examination after reaching the age of 16
  525  with the written permission of his or her parent or guardian.
  526  School districts shall adopt a policy to allow for such written
  527  permission by a parent or guardian.
  528         Section 13. Subsection (6) of section 1003.455, Florida
  529  Statutes, is amended to read:
  530         1003.455 Physical education; assessment.—
  531         (6) In addition to the requirements in subsection (3), each
  532  district school board shall provide at least 100 minutes of
  533  supervised and, safe, and unstructured free-play recess each
  534  week for students in kindergarten through grade 5 so that there
  535  are at least 20 consecutive minutes of free-play recess per day.
  536  This requirement does not apply to charter schools.
  537         Section 14. Subsection (3) of section 1003.4935, Florida
  538  Statutes, is amended to read:
  539         1003.4935 Middle grades career and professional academy
  540  courses and career-themed courses.—
  541         (3) Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, if a school
  542  district implements a middle school career and professional
  543  academy or a career-themed course, the Department of Education
  544  shall collect and report student achievement data pursuant to
  545  performance factors identified under s. 1003.492(3) for students
  546  enrolled in an academy or a career-themed course.
  547         Section 15. Section 1003.4995, Florida Statutes, is
  548  repealed.
  549         Section 16. Section 1003.4996, Florida Statutes, is
  550  repealed.
  551         Section 17. Subsection (2) of section 1003.49965, Florida
  552  Statutes, is amended to read:
  553         1003.49965 Art in the Capitol Competition.—
  554         (2) A Each school district may shall annually hold an Art
  555  in the Capitol Competition for all public, private, and home
  556  education students in grades 6 through 8. Submissions must shall
  557  be judged by a selection committee consisting of art teachers
  558  whose students have not submitted artwork for consideration.
  559         Section 18. Paragraphs (g) and (r) of subsection (2) of
  560  section 1003.51, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  561         1003.51 Other public educational services.—
  562         (2) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
  563  articulating expectations for effective education programs for
  564  students in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, including,
  565  but not limited to, education programs in juvenile justice
  566  prevention, day treatment, residential, and detention programs.
  567  The rule shall establish policies and standards for education
  568  programs for students in Department of Juvenile Justice programs
  569  and shall include the following:
  570         (g) Assessment procedures, which:
  571         1. For prevention, day treatment, and residential programs,
  572  include appropriate academic and career assessments administered
  573  at program entry and exit that are selected by the Department of
  574  Education in partnership with representatives from the
  575  Department of Juvenile Justice, district school boards, and
  576  education providers. Assessments must be completed within the
  577  first 10 school days after a student’s entry into the program.
  578         2. provide for determination of the areas of academic need
  579  and strategies for appropriate intervention and instruction for
  580  each student in a detention facility within 5 school days after
  581  the student’s entry into the program and administer a research
  582  based assessment that will assist the student in determining his
  583  or her educational and career options and goals within 22 school
  584  days after the student’s entry into the program.
  585  
  586  The results of the these assessments required under this
  587  paragraph and under s. 1003.52(3)(d), together with a portfolio
  588  depicting the student’s academic and career accomplishments,
  589  must shall be included in the discharge packet assembled for
  590  each student.
  591         (r) A series of graduated sanctions for district school
  592  boards whose educational programs in Department of Juvenile
  593  Justice programs are considered to be unsatisfactory and for
  594  instances in which district school boards fail to meet standards
  595  prescribed by law, rule, or State Board of Education policy.
  596  These sanctions must shall include the option of requiring a
  597  district school board to contract with a provider or another
  598  district school board if the educational program at the
  599  Department of Juvenile Justice program is performing below
  600  minimum standards and, after 6 months, is still performing below
  601  minimum standards.
  602         Section 19. Subsection (4) of section 1003.621, Florida
  603  Statutes, is amended to read:
  604         1003.621 Academically high-performing school districts.—It
  605  is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and reward school
  606  districts that demonstrate the ability to consistently maintain
  607  or improve their high-performing status. The purpose of this
  608  section is to provide high-performing school districts with
  609  flexibility in meeting the specific requirements in statute and
  610  rules of the State Board of Education.
  611         (4) REPORTS.—The academically high-performing school
  612  district shall submit to the State Board of Education and the
  613  Legislature an annual report on December 1 which delineates the
  614  performance of the school district relative to the academic
  615  performance of students at each grade level in reading, writing,
  616  mathematics, science, and any other subject that is included as
  617  a part of the statewide assessment program in s. 1008.22. The
  618  annual report shall be submitted in a format prescribed by the
  619  Department of Education and shall include:
  620         (a) Longitudinal performance of students on statewide,
  621  standardized assessments taken under s. 1008.22;
  622         (b) Longitudinal performance of students by grade level and
  623  subgroup on statewide, standardized assessments taken under s.
  624  1008.22;
  625         (c) Longitudinal performance regarding efforts to close the
  626  achievement gap;
  627         (d)1. Number and percentage of students who take an
  628  Advanced Placement Examination; and
  629         2. Longitudinal performance regarding students who take an
  630  Advanced Placement Examination by demographic group,
  631  specifically by age, gender, race, and Hispanic origin, and by
  632  participation in the National School Lunch Program;
  633         (e) Evidence of compliance with subsection (1); and
  634         (f) A description of each waiver and the status of each
  635  waiver.
  636         Section 20. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraph (b)
  637  of subsection (3), and paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of
  638  section 1006.28, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  639         1006.28 Duties of district school board, district school
  640  superintendent; and school principal regarding K-12
  641  instructional materials.—
  642         (1) DEFINITIONS.—
  643         (a) As used in this section, the term:
  644         1. “Adequate instructional materials” means a sufficient
  645  number of student or site licenses or sets of materials that are
  646  available in bound, unbound, kit, or package form and may
  647  consist of hardbacked or softbacked textbooks, electronic
  648  content, consumables, learning laboratories, manipulatives,
  649  electronic media, and computer courseware or software that serve
  650  as the basis for instruction for each student in the core
  651  subject areas of mathematics, language arts, social studies,
  652  science, reading, and literature.
  653         2. “Instructional materials” has the same meaning as in s.
  654  1006.29(2).
  655         3. “Library media center” means any collection of books,
  656  ebooks, periodicals, or videos maintained and accessible on the
  657  site of a school, including in classrooms.
  658         (3) DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.—
  659         (b) Each district school superintendent shall annually
  660  notify the department by April 1 of each year the state-adopted
  661  instructional materials that will be requisitioned for use in
  662  his or her school district. The notification shall include a
  663  district school board plan for instructional materials use to
  664  assist in determining if adequate instructional materials have
  665  been requisitioned.
  666         (4) SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.—The school principal has the
  667  following duties for the management and care of materials at the
  668  school:
  669         (b) Money collected for lost or damaged instructional
  670  materials; enforcement.—The school principal may shall collect
  671  from each student or the student’s parent the purchase price of
  672  any instructional material the student has lost, destroyed, or
  673  unnecessarily damaged and to report and transmit the money
  674  collected to the district school superintendent. The failure to
  675  collect such sum upon reasonable effort by the school principal
  676  may result in the suspension of the student from participation
  677  in extracurricular activities or satisfaction of the debt by the
  678  student through community service activities at the school site
  679  as determined by the school principal, pursuant to policies
  680  adopted by district school board rule.
  681         Section 21. Subsection (1) of section 1006.283, Florida
  682  Statutes, is amended to read:
  683         1006.283 District school board instructional materials
  684  review process.—
  685         (1) A district school board or consortium of school
  686  districts may implement an instructional materials program that
  687  includes the review, recommendation, adoption, and purchase of
  688  instructional materials. The district school superintendent
  689  shall annually certify to the department by March 31 of each
  690  year that all instructional materials for core courses used by
  691  the district are aligned with applicable state standards. A list
  692  of the core instructional materials that will be used or
  693  purchased for use by the school district shall be included in
  694  the certification.
  695         Section 22. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
  696  1006.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  697         1006.33 Bids or proposals; advertisement and its contents.—
  698         (1)(a)1. Beginning on or before May 15 of any year in which
  699  an instructional materials adoption is to be initiated, the
  700  department shall advertise in the Florida Administrative
  701  Register 4 weeks preceding the date on which the bids shall be
  702  received, that at a certain designated time, not later than June
  703  15, sealed bids or proposals to be deposited with the department
  704  will be received from publishers or manufacturers for the
  705  furnishing of instructional materials proposed to be adopted as
  706  listed in the advertisement beginning April 1 following the
  707  adoption.
  708         2.Beginning with the 2026 instructional materials adoption
  709  cycle, on or before October 15 of any year and 2 years before
  710  any instructional materials adoption period, the department
  711  shall advertise in the Florida Administrative Register 4 weeks
  712  preceding the date on which the bids must be received that at a
  713  certain designated time not later than November 15, sealed bids
  714  or proposals to be deposited with the department will be
  715  received from publishers or manufacturers for the furnishing of
  716  instructional materials proposed to be adopted as listed in the
  717  advertisement beginning April 1 following the adoption. The
  718  department shall publish its specifications for each subject for
  719  which instructional materials are to be adopted a minimum of 180
  720  days before the date on which it will place such advertisement.
  721         Section 23. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
  722  1006.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  723         1006.34 Powers and duties of the commissioner and the
  724  department in selecting and adopting instructional materials.—
  725         (2) SELECTION AND ADOPTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS.—
  726         (a) The department shall notify all publishers and
  727  manufacturers of instructional materials who have submitted bids
  728  that within 3 weeks after the deadline for receiving bids, at a
  729  designated time and place, it will open the bids submitted and
  730  deposited with it. At the time and place designated, the bids
  731  must shall be opened, read, and tabulated in the presence of the
  732  bidders or their representatives. No one may revise his or her
  733  bid after the bids have been filed. When all bids have been
  734  carefully considered, the commissioner shall, from the list of
  735  suitable, usable, and desirable instructional materials reported
  736  by the state instructional materials reviewers, select and adopt
  737  instructional materials for each grade and subject field in the
  738  curriculum of public elementary, middle, and high schools in
  739  which adoptions are made and in the subject areas designated in
  740  the advertisement. Beginning with the 2026 instructional
  741  materials adoption cycle, the commissioner shall publish the
  742  list of adopted instructional materials not later than July 31
  743  of the year preceding the beginning of the adoption period. The
  744  adoption must shall continue for the period specified in the
  745  advertisement, beginning on the ensuing April 1. The adoption
  746  may shall not prevent the extension of a contract as provided in
  747  subsection (3). The commissioner shall always reserve the right
  748  to reject any and all bids. The commissioner may ask for new
  749  sealed bids from publishers or manufacturers whose instructional
  750  materials were recommended by the state instructional materials
  751  reviewers as suitable, usable, and desirable; specify the dates
  752  for filing such bids and the date on which they must shall be
  753  opened; and proceed in all matters regarding the opening of bids
  754  and the awarding of contracts as required by this part. In all
  755  cases, bids must shall be accompanied by a cash deposit or
  756  certified check of from $500 to $2,500, as the department may
  757  direct. The department shall, in adopting instructional
  758  materials, shall give due consideration both to the prices bid
  759  for furnishing instructional materials and to the report and
  760  recommendations of the state instructional materials reviewers.
  761  When the commissioner has finished with the report of the state
  762  instructional materials reviewers, the report must shall be
  763  filed and preserved with the department and must shall be
  764  available at all times for public inspection.
  765         Section 24. Subsection (2) of section 1006.40, Florida
  766  Statutes, is amended to read:
  767         1006.40 Purchase of instructional materials.—
  768         (2) Each district school board must purchase current
  769  instructional materials to provide students each student in
  770  kindergarten through grade 12 with a major tool of instruction
  771  in core courses of the subject areas of mathematics, language
  772  arts, science, social studies, reading, and literature. If
  773  deemed appropriate by the district school board, it may approve
  774  an exemption to such purchase for certain courses. Such purchase
  775  must be made within the first 5 3 years after the effective date
  776  of the adoption cycle unless a district school board or a
  777  consortium of school districts has implemented an instructional
  778  materials program pursuant to s. 1006.283.
  779         Section 25. Subsection (3) of section 1008.212, Florida
  780  Statutes, is amended to read:
  781         1008.212 Students with disabilities; extraordinary
  782  exemption.—
  783         (3) The IEP team, which must include the parent, may submit
  784  to the district school superintendent a written request for an
  785  extraordinary exemption at any time during the school year,
  786  subject to deadlines established by the district school
  787  superintendent but not later than 60 days before the current
  788  year’s assessment administration for which the request is made.
  789  A request must include all of the following:
  790         (a) A written description of the student’s disabilities,
  791  including a specific description of the student’s impaired
  792  sensory, manual, or speaking skills.
  793         (b) Written documentation of the most recent evaluation
  794  data.
  795         (c) Written documentation, if available, of the most recent
  796  administration of the statewide standardized assessment, an end
  797  of-course assessment, or an alternate assessment.
  798         (d) A written description of the condition’s effect on the
  799  student’s participation in the statewide standardized
  800  assessment, an end-of-course assessment, or an alternate
  801  assessment.
  802         (e) Written evidence that the student has had the
  803  opportunity to learn the skills being tested.
  804         (f) Written evidence that the student has been provided
  805  appropriate instructional accommodations.
  806         (g) Written evidence as to whether the student has had the
  807  opportunity to be assessed using the instructional
  808  accommodations on the student’s IEP which are allowable in the
  809  administration of the statewide standardized assessment, an end
  810  of-course assessment, or an alternate assessment in prior
  811  assessments.
  812         (h) Written evidence of the circumstance or condition as
  813  defined in subsection (1).
  814         Section 26. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (3),
  815  paragraphs (b), (d), (e), and (h) of subsection (7), and
  816  subsections (9) and (10) of section 1008.22, Florida Statutes,
  817  are amended to read:
  818         1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.—
  819         (3) STATEWIDE, STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.—The
  820  Commissioner of Education shall design and implement a
  821  statewide, standardized assessment program aligned to the core
  822  curricular content established in the state academic standards.
  823  The commissioner also must develop or select and implement a
  824  common battery of assessment tools that will be used in all
  825  juvenile justice education programs in the state. These tools
  826  must accurately measure the core curricular content established
  827  in the state academic standards. Participation in the assessment
  828  program is mandatory for all school districts and all students
  829  attending public schools, including adult students seeking a
  830  standard high school diploma under s. 1003.4282 and students in
  831  Department of Juvenile Justice education programs, except as
  832  otherwise provided by law. If a student does not participate in
  833  the assessment program, the school district must notify the
  834  student’s parent and provide the parent with information
  835  regarding the implications of such nonparticipation. The
  836  statewide, standardized assessment program shall be designed and
  837  implemented as follows:
  838         (a) Statewide, standardized comprehensive assessments.—
  839         1. The statewide, standardized English Language Arts (ELA)
  840  assessments shall be administered to students in grades 3
  841  through 10. Retake opportunities for the grade 10 ELA assessment
  842  must be provided. Reading passages and writing prompts for ELA
  843  assessments shall incorporate grade-level core curricula content
  844  from social studies. The statewide, standardized Mathematics
  845  assessments shall be administered annually in grades 3 through
  846  8. The statewide, standardized Science assessment shall be
  847  administered annually at least once at the elementary and middle
  848  grades levels. In order to earn a standard high school diploma,
  849  a student who has not earned a passing score on the grade 10 ELA
  850  assessment must earn a passing score on the assessment retake or
  851  earn a concordant score as authorized under subsection (9).
  852         2. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the end-of
  853  year comprehensive progress monitoring assessment administered
  854  pursuant to s. 1008.25(9)(b)2. is the statewide, standardized
  855  ELA assessment for students in grades 3 through 10 and the
  856  statewide, standardized Mathematics assessment for students in
  857  grades 3 through 8.
  858         (d) Students with disabilities; Florida Alternate
  859  Assessment.—
  860         1. Each district school board must provide instruction to
  861  prepare students with disabilities in the core content knowledge
  862  and skills necessary for successful grade-to-grade progression
  863  and high school graduation.
  864         2. A student with a disability, as defined in s. 1007.02,
  865  for whom the individual education plan (IEP) team determines
  866  that the statewide, standardized assessments under this section
  867  cannot accurately measure the student’s abilities, taking into
  868  consideration all allowable accommodations, shall have
  869  assessment results waived for the purpose of receiving a course
  870  grade and a standard high school diploma. Such waiver shall be
  871  designated on the student’s transcript. The statement of waiver
  872  shall be limited to a statement that performance on an
  873  assessment was waived for the purpose of receiving a course
  874  grade or a standard high school diploma, as applicable.
  875         3. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules, based
  876  upon recommendations of the commissioner, for the provision of
  877  assessment accommodations for students with disabilities and for
  878  students who have limited English proficiency.
  879         a. Accommodations that negate the validity of a statewide,
  880  standardized assessment are not allowed during the
  881  administration of the assessment. However, instructional
  882  accommodations are allowed in the classroom if identified in a
  883  student’s IEP. Students using instructional accommodations in
  884  the classroom that are not allowed on a statewide, standardized
  885  assessment may have assessment results waived if the IEP team
  886  determines that the assessment cannot accurately measure the
  887  student’s abilities.
  888         b. If a student is provided with instructional
  889  accommodations in the classroom that are not allowed as
  890  accommodations for statewide, standardized assessments, the
  891  district must inform the parent in writing and provide the
  892  parent with information regarding the impact on the student’s
  893  ability to meet expected performance levels. A parent must
  894  provide signed consent for a student to receive classroom
  895  instructional accommodations that would not be available or
  896  permitted on a statewide, standardized assessment and
  897  acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the
  898  implications of such instructional accommodations.
  899         c. If a student’s IEP states that online administration of
  900  a statewide, standardized assessment will significantly impair
  901  the student’s ability to perform, the assessment must shall be
  902  administered in hard copy.
  903         4. For students with significant cognitive disabilities,
  904  the Department of Education shall provide for implementation of
  905  the Florida Alternate Assessment to accurately measure the core
  906  curricular content established in the state academic standards.
  907         (7) ASSESSMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTING OF RESULTS.—
  908         (b)By January of each year, the commissioner shall publish
  909  on the department’s website a uniform calendar that includes the
  910  assessment and reporting schedules for, at a minimum, the next 2
  911  school years. The uniform calendar must be provided to school
  912  districts in an electronic format that allows each school
  913  district and public school to populate the calendar with, at
  914  minimum, the following information for reporting the district
  915  assessment schedules under paragraph (d):
  916         1. Whether the assessment is a district-required assessment
  917  or a state-required assessment.
  918         2. The specific date or dates that each assessment will be
  919  administered, including administrations of the coordinated
  920  screening and progress monitoring system under s. 1008.25(9)(b).
  921         3. The time allotted to administer each assessment.
  922         4. Whether the assessment is a computer-based assessment or
  923  a paper-based assessment.
  924         5. The grade level or subject area associated with the
  925  assessment.
  926         6. The date that the assessment results are expected to be
  927  available to teachers and parents.
  928         7. The type of assessment, the purpose of the assessment,
  929  and the use of the assessment results.
  930         8. A glossary of assessment terminology.
  931         9. Estimates of average time for administering state
  932  required and district-required assessments, by grade level.
  933         (c)(d) Each school district shall, by November 1 of each
  934  year, establish schedules for the administration of any
  935  statewide, standardized assessments and district-required
  936  assessments and approve the schedules as an agenda item at a
  937  district school board meeting. Each school district shall
  938  publish the testing schedules on its website which specify
  939  whether an assessment is a state-required or district-required
  940  assessment and the grade bands or subject area associated with
  941  the assessments using the uniform calendar, including all
  942  information required under paragraph (b), and submit the
  943  schedules to the Department of Education by October 1 of each
  944  year. Each public school shall publish schedules for statewide,
  945  standardized assessments and district-required assessments on
  946  its website using the uniform calendar, including all
  947  information required under paragraph (b). The school board
  948  approved assessment uniform calendar must be included in the
  949  parent guide required by s. 1002.23(5).
  950         (d)(e) A school district may not schedule more than 5
  951  percent of a student’s total school hours in a school year to
  952  administer statewide, standardized assessments; the coordinated
  953  screening and progress monitoring system under s. s.
  954  1008.25(9)(b)2.; and district-required local assessments. The
  955  district shall must secure written consent from a student’s
  956  parent before administering district-required local assessments
  957  that, after applicable statewide, standardized assessments and
  958  coordinated screening and progress monitoring are scheduled,
  959  exceed the 5 percent test administration limit for that student
  960  under this paragraph. The 5 percent test administration limit
  961  for a student under this paragraph may be exceeded as needed to
  962  provide test accommodations that are required by an IEP or are
  963  appropriate for an English language learner who is currently
  964  receiving services in a program operated in accordance with an
  965  approved English language learner district plan pursuant to s.
  966  1003.56. Notwithstanding this paragraph, a student may choose
  967  within a school year to take an examination or assessment
  968  adopted by State Board of Education rule pursuant to this
  969  section and ss. 1007.27, 1008.30, and 1008.44.
  970         (g)(h) The results of statewide, standardized assessment in
  971  ELA and mathematics, science, and social studies, including
  972  assessment retakes, must shall be reported in an easy-to-read
  973  and understandable format and delivered in time to provide
  974  useful, actionable information to students, parents, and each
  975  student’s current teacher of record and teacher of record for
  976  the subsequent school year; however, in any case, the district
  977  shall provide the results pursuant to this paragraph within 1
  978  week after receiving the results from the department. A report
  979  of student assessment results must, at a minimum, contain:
  980         1. A clear explanation of the student’s performance on the
  981  applicable statewide, standardized assessments.
  982         2. Information identifying the student’s areas of strength
  983  and areas in need of improvement.
  984         3. Specific actions that may be taken, and the available
  985  resources that may be used, by the student’s parent to assist
  986  his or her child based on the student’s areas of strength and
  987  areas in need of improvement.
  988         4. Longitudinal information, if available, on the student’s
  989  progress in each subject area based on previous statewide,
  990  standardized assessment data.
  991         5. Comparative information showing the student’s score
  992  compared to other students in the school district, in the state,
  993  or, if available, in other states.
  994         6. Predictive information, if available, showing the
  995  linkage between the scores attained by the student on the
  996  statewide, standardized assessments and the scores he or she may
  997  potentially attain on nationally recognized college entrance
  998  examinations.
  999  
 1000  The information included under this paragraph relating to
 1001  results from the statewide, standardized ELA assessments for
 1002  grades 3 through 10 and Mathematics assessments for grades 3
 1003  through 8 must be included in individual student reports under
 1004  s. 1008.25(9)(c).
 1005         (9) CONCORDANT SCORES.—The Commissioner of Education must
 1006  identify scores on the SAT and ACT that if achieved satisfy the
 1007  graduation requirement that a student pass the grade 10 ELA
 1008  assessment. The commissioner may identify concordant scores on
 1009  assessments other than the SAT and ACT. If the content or
 1010  scoring procedures change for the grade 10 ELA assessment, new
 1011  concordant scores must be determined. If new concordant scores
 1012  are not timely adopted, the last-adopted concordant scores
 1013  remain in effect until such time as new scores are adopted. The
 1014  state board shall adopt concordant scores in rule.
 1015         (10) COMPARATIVE SCORES FOR END-OF-COURSE (EOC)
 1016  ASSESSMENT.—The Commissioner of Education must identify one or
 1017  more comparative scores for the Algebra I EOC assessment. If the
 1018  content or scoring procedures change for the EOC assessment, new
 1019  comparative scores must be determined. If new comparative scores
 1020  are not timely adopted, the last-adopted comparative scores
 1021  remain in effect until such time as new scores are adopted. The
 1022  state board shall adopt comparative scores in rule.
 1023         Section 27. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5), paragraphs (b)
 1024  and (c) of subsections (7), and subsection (9) of section
 1025  1008.25, Florida Statutes, are amended, to read:
 1026         1008.25 Public school student progression; student support;
 1027  coordinated screening and progress monitoring; reporting
 1028  requirements.—
 1029         (5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.—
 1030         (c) To be promoted to grade 4, a student must score a Level
 1031  2 or higher on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts
 1032  assessment required under s. 1008.22 for grade 3. If a student’s
 1033  reading deficiency is not remedied by the end of grade 3, as
 1034  demonstrated by scoring Level 2 or higher on the statewide,
 1035  standardized assessment required under s. 1008.22 for grade 3,
 1036  the student must be retained unless the parent determines
 1037  retention is not in the best interest of the student and
 1038  approves a good cause exemption pursuant to paragraph (7)(b).
 1039         (7) ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL PROMOTION.—
 1040         (b) The district school board may only exempt students from
 1041  mandatory retention, as provided in paragraph (5)(c), for good
 1042  cause. A student who is promoted to grade 4 with a good cause
 1043  exemption shall be provided intensive reading instruction and
 1044  intervention that include specialized diagnostic information and
 1045  specific reading strategies to meet the needs of each student so
 1046  promoted. The school district shall assist schools and teachers
 1047  with the implementation of explicit, systematic, and
 1048  multisensory reading instruction and intervention strategies for
 1049  students promoted with a good cause exemption which research has
 1050  shown to be successful in improving reading among students who
 1051  have reading difficulties. Good cause exemptions are limited to
 1052  the following:
 1053         1. Limited English proficient students who have had less
 1054  than 2 years of instruction in an English for Speakers of Other
 1055  Languages program based on the initial date of entry into a
 1056  school in the United States.
 1057         2. Students with disabilities whose individual education
 1058  plan indicates that participation in the statewide assessment
 1059  program is not appropriate, consistent with the requirements of
 1060  s. 1008.212.
 1061         3. Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of
 1062  performance on an alternative standardized reading or English
 1063  Language Arts assessment approved by the State Board of
 1064  Education.
 1065         4. A student who demonstrates through a student portfolio
 1066  that he or she is performing at least at Level 2 on the
 1067  statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment.
 1068         5. Students with disabilities who take the statewide,
 1069  standardized English Language Arts assessment and who have an
 1070  individual education plan or a Section 504 plan that reflects
 1071  that the student has received intensive instruction in reading
 1072  or English Language Arts for more than 2 years but still
 1073  demonstrates a deficiency and was previously retained in
 1074  prekindergarten, kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3.
 1075         6. Students who have received intensive reading
 1076  intervention for 2 or more years but still demonstrate a
 1077  deficiency in reading and who were previously retained in
 1078  kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3 for a total of 2
 1079  years. A student may not be retained more than once in grade 3.
 1080         7. A student must be promoted to grade 4 if the parent
 1081  determines promotion is in the best interest of the student. The
 1082  parent and the school must develop a student intervention plan.
 1083  The intervention plan must be approved by the parent and may
 1084  include, but is not limited to, interventions and supports under
 1085  paragraph (5)(e) and subsection (8).
 1086         (c) Requests for good cause exemptions for students from
 1087  the mandatory retention requirement as described in
 1088  subparagraphs (b)3. and 4. shall be made consistent with the
 1089  following:
 1090         1. Documentation shall be submitted from the student’s
 1091  teacher to the school principal that indicates that the
 1092  promotion of the student is appropriate and is based upon the
 1093  student’s academic record. In order to minimize paperwork
 1094  requirements, such documentation shall consist only of the
 1095  existing progress monitoring plan, individual educational plan,
 1096  if applicable, report card, or student portfolio.
 1097         2. The school principal shall review and discuss such
 1098  recommendation with the teacher and make the determination as to
 1099  whether the student should be promoted or retained, subject to a
 1100  parent’s permission pursuant to subparagraph (b)7. If the school
 1101  principal determines that the student should be promoted, the
 1102  school principal shall make such recommendation in writing to
 1103  the district school superintendent. The district school
 1104  superintendent shall accept or reject the school principal’s
 1105  recommendation in writing.
 1106         (9) COORDINATED SCREENING AND PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM.—
 1107         (a) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the
 1108  Office of Early Learning, shall procure and require the use of a
 1109  statewide, standardized coordinated screening and progress
 1110  monitoring system for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1111  Program and public schools. The system must:
 1112         1. Measure student progress in meeting the appropriate
 1113  expectations in early literacy and mathematics skills and in
 1114  English Language Arts and mathematics standards as required by
 1115  ss. 1002.67(1)(a) and 1003.41 and identify the educational
 1116  strengths and needs of students.
 1117         2. For students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1118  Program through grade 3, measure student performance in oral
 1119  language development, phonological and phonemic awareness,
 1120  knowledge of print and letters, decoding, fluency, vocabulary,
 1121  and comprehension, as applicable by grade level, and, at a
 1122  minimum, provide interval level and norm-referenced data that
 1123  measures equivalent levels of growth.
 1124         3. Be a valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate
 1125  computer-based direct instrument that provides screening and
 1126  diagnostic capabilities for monitoring student progress;
 1127  identifies students who have a substantial deficiency in reading
 1128  or mathematics, including identifying students with
 1129  characteristics of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning
 1130  disorders; and informs instruction. Any student identified by
 1131  the system as having characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia
 1132  shall undergo further screening. Beginning with the 2023-2024
 1133  school year, the coordinated screening and progress monitoring
 1134  system must be computer-adaptive.
 1135         4. Provide data for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1136  Program accountability as required under s. 1002.68.
 1137         5. Provide Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
 1138  providers, school districts, schools, teachers, and parents with
 1139  data and resources that enhance differentiated instruction and
 1140  parent communication.
 1141         6. Provide baseline data to the department of each
 1142  student’s readiness for kindergarten. The determination of
 1143  kindergarten readiness must be based on the results of each
 1144  student’s initial progress monitoring assessment in
 1145  kindergarten. The methodology for determining a student’s
 1146  readiness for kindergarten must be developed by the department
 1147  and aligned to the methodology adopted pursuant to s.
 1148  1002.68(4).
 1149         7. Assess how well educational goals and curricular
 1150  standards are met at the provider, school, district, and state
 1151  levels and provide information to the department to aid in the
 1152  development of educational programs, policies, and supports for
 1153  providers, districts, and schools.
 1154         (b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, private
 1155  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program providers and public
 1156  schools must participate in the coordinated screening and
 1157  progress monitoring system pursuant to this paragraph.
 1158         1. For students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1159  Program through grade 2, the coordinated screening and progress
 1160  monitoring system must be administered at least three times
 1161  within a program year or school year, as applicable, with the
 1162  first administration occurring no later than the first 10 30
 1163  instructional days after a student’s enrollment or the start of
 1164  the program year or school year, the second administration
 1165  occurring midyear, and the third administration occurring within
 1166  the last 10 30 days of the program or school year pursuant to
 1167  state board rule. The state board may adopt alternate timeframes
 1168  to address nontraditional school year calendars or summer
 1169  programs to ensure the coordinated screening and progress
 1170  monitoring program is administered a minimum of three times
 1171  within a year or program.
 1172         2. For students in the summer prekindergarten program, the
 1173  coordinated screening and progress monitoring system must be
 1174  administered two times, with the first administration occurring
 1175  no later than the first 10 instructional days after a student’s
 1176  enrollment or the start of the summer prekindergarten program,
 1177  and the second administration occurring within the last 10 days
 1178  of the summer prekindergarten program pursuant to state board
 1179  rule.
 1180         3. For grades 3 through 10 English Language Arts and grades
 1181  3 through 8 Mathematics, the coordinated screening and progress
 1182  monitoring system must be administered at the beginning, middle,
 1183  and end of the school year pursuant to state board rule. The
 1184  end-of-year administration of the coordinated screening and
 1185  progress monitoring system must be a comprehensive progress
 1186  monitoring assessment administered in accordance with the
 1187  scheduling requirements under s. 1008.22(7) s. 1008.22(7)(c).
 1188         (c) To facilitate timely interventions and supports
 1189  pursuant to subsection (4), the system must provide results from
 1190  the first two administrations of the progress monitoring to a
 1191  student’s teacher within 1 week and to the student’s parent
 1192  within 2 weeks of the administration of the progress monitoring.
 1193  Delivery of results from the comprehensive, end-of-year progress
 1194  monitoring ELA assessment for grades 3 through 10 and
 1195  Mathematics assessment for grades 3 through 8 must be in
 1196  accordance with s. 1008.22(7) s. 1008.22(7)(h).
 1197         1. A student’s results from the coordinated screening and
 1198  progress monitoring system must be recorded in a written, easy
 1199  to-comprehend individual student report. Each school district
 1200  shall provide a parent secure access to his or her child’s
 1201  individual student reports through a web-based portal as part of
 1202  its student information system. Each early learning coalition
 1203  shall provide parents the individual student report in a format
 1204  determined by state board rule.
 1205         2. In addition to the information under subparagraph (a)5.,
 1206  the report must also include parent resources that explain the
 1207  purpose of progress monitoring, assist the parent in
 1208  interpreting progress monitoring results, and support informed
 1209  parent involvement. Parent resources may include personalized
 1210  video formats.
 1211         3. The department shall annually update school districts
 1212  and early learning coalitions on new system features and
 1213  functionality and collaboratively identify with school districts
 1214  and early learning coalitions strategies for meaningfully
 1215  reporting to parents results from the coordinated screening and
 1216  progress monitoring system. The department shall develop ways to
 1217  increase the utilization, by instructional staff and parents, of
 1218  student assessment data and resources.
 1219         4. An individual student report must be provided in a
 1220  printed format upon a parent’s request.
 1221         (d) Screening and progress monitoring system results,
 1222  including the number of students who demonstrate characteristics
 1223  of dyslexia and dyscalculia, shall be reported to the department
 1224  pursuant to state board rule and maintained in the department’s
 1225  Education Data Warehouse. Results must be provided to a
 1226  student’s teacher and parent in a timely manner as required in
 1227  s. 1008.22(7)(f) s. 1008.22(7)(g).
 1228         (e) The department, in collaboration with the Office of
 1229  Early Learning, shall provide training and support for effective
 1230  implementation of the screening and progress monitoring system.
 1231         Section 28. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and subsection
 1232  (4) of section 1008.33, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1233         1008.33 Authority to enforce public school improvement.—
 1234         (3)
 1235         (c) The state board shall adopt by rule a differentiated
 1236  matrix of intervention and support strategies for assisting
 1237  traditional public schools identified under this section and
 1238  rules for implementing s. 1002.33(9)(n), relating to charter
 1239  schools. The intervention and support strategies must address
 1240  student performance and may include improvement planning;
 1241  leadership quality improvement; educator quality improvement;
 1242  professional development; curriculum review, pacing, and
 1243  alignment across grade levels to improve background knowledge in
 1244  social studies, science, and the arts; and the use of continuous
 1245  improvement and monitoring plans and processes. In addition, the
 1246  state board may prescribe reporting requirements to review and
 1247  monitor the progress of the schools. The rule must define the
 1248  intervention and support strategies for school improvement for
 1249  schools earning a grade of “D” or “F” and the roles for the
 1250  district and department. A school may not be required to use the
 1251  measure of student learning growth in s. 1012.34(7) as the sole
 1252  determinant to recruit instructional personnel. The rule must
 1253  create a timeline for a school district’s school improvement
 1254  plan or district-managed turnaround plan to be approved and for
 1255  the school improvement funds under Title I to be released to the
 1256  school district. The timeline established in rule for the
 1257  release of school improvement funding under Title I may not
 1258  exceed 20 calendar days after the approval of the school
 1259  improvement plan or district-managed turnaround plan.
 1260         (4)(a) The state board shall apply intensive intervention
 1261  and support strategies tailored to the needs of schools earning
 1262  two consecutive grades of “D” or a grade of “F.” In the first
 1263  full school year after a school initially earns a grade of “D,”
 1264  the school district must immediately implement intervention and
 1265  support strategies prescribed in rule under paragraph (3)(c).
 1266  For a school that initially earns a grade of “F” or a second
 1267  consecutive grade of “D,” the school district must either
 1268  continue implementing or immediately begin implementing
 1269  intervention and support strategies prescribed in rule under
 1270  paragraph (3)(c) and provide the department, by September 15 1,
 1271  with the memorandum of understanding negotiated pursuant to s.
 1272  1001.42(21) and, by October 1, a district-managed turnaround
 1273  plan for approval by the state board. The district-managed
 1274  turnaround plan may include a proposal for the district to
 1275  implement an extended school day, a summer program, a
 1276  combination of an extended school day and a summer program, or
 1277  any other option authorized under paragraph (b) for state board
 1278  approval. A school district is not required to wait until a
 1279  school earns a second consecutive grade of “D” to submit a
 1280  turnaround plan for approval by the state board under this
 1281  paragraph. Upon approval by the state board, the school district
 1282  must implement the plan for the remainder of the school year and
 1283  continue the plan for 4 1 full school years year. The state
 1284  board may allow a school an additional year of implementation
 1285  before the school must implement a turnaround option required
 1286  under paragraph (b) if the school earns a first grade of “C” or
 1287  higher after the fourth it determines that the school is likely
 1288  to improve to a grade of “C” or higher after the first full
 1289  school year of implementation.
 1290         (b) Unless an additional year of implementation is provided
 1291  pursuant to paragraph (a), A school that, during the completes a
 1292  plan cycle under paragraph (a), and does not improve to a grade
 1293  of “B” or higher or does not improve and maintain to a grade of
 1294  “C” for 2 consecutive years or higher must implement one of the
 1295  following:
 1296         1. Reassign students to another school and monitor the
 1297  progress of each reassigned student;
 1298         2. Close the school and reopen the school as one or more
 1299  charter schools, each with a governing board that has a
 1300  demonstrated record of effectiveness; or
 1301         3. Contract with an outside entity that has a demonstrated
 1302  record of effectiveness to provide turnaround services
 1303  identified in state board rule, which may include school
 1304  leadership, educational modalities, teacher and leadership
 1305  professional development, curriculum, operation and management
 1306  services, school-based administrative staffing, budgeting,
 1307  scheduling, other educational service provider functions, or any
 1308  combination thereof. Selection of an outside entity may include
 1309  one or a combination of the following:
 1310         a. An external operator, which may be a district-managed
 1311  charter school or a high-performing charter school network in
 1312  which all instructional personnel are not employees of the
 1313  school district, but are employees of an independent governing
 1314  board composed of members who did not participate in the review
 1315  or approval of the charter.
 1316         b. A contractual agreement that allows for a charter school
 1317  network or any of its affiliated subsidiaries to provide
 1318  individualized consultancy services tailored to address the
 1319  identified needs of one or more schools under this section.
 1320         c.A contractual agreement that allows for the school to
 1321  become a community school model as defined in s. 1003.64(2)(c).
 1322  
 1323  A school district and outside entity under this subparagraph
 1324  must enter, at minimum, a 2-year, performance-based contract.
 1325  The contract must include school performance and growth metrics
 1326  the outside entity must meet on an annual basis. The state board
 1327  may require the school district to modify or cancel the
 1328  contract.
 1329         (c) Implementation of a turnaround option is not required
 1330  if the school improved and maintained a grade of “C” or higher
 1331  for 2 consecutive years, under paragraph (a). Implementation of
 1332  the turnaround option is not no longer required if the school
 1333  improves to a grade of “C” or higher, under paragraph (b).
 1334         (d) If a school earning two consecutive grades of “D” or a
 1335  grade of “F” does not improve to a grade of “C” or higher after
 1336  2 school years of implementing the turnaround option selected by
 1337  the school district under paragraph (b), the school district
 1338  must implement another turnaround option. Implementation of the
 1339  turnaround option must begin the school year following the
 1340  implementation period of the existing turnaround option, unless
 1341  the state board determines that the school is likely to improve
 1342  to a grade of “C” or higher if additional time is provided to
 1343  implement the existing turnaround option.
 1344         Section 29. Section 1008.332, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1345  to read:
 1346         1008.332 Committee of practitioners pursuant to federal
 1347  Every Student Succeeds No Child Left Behind Act.—The Department
 1348  of Education shall establish a committee of practitioners
 1349  pursuant to federal requirements of the Every Student Succeeds
 1350  No Child Left Behind Act of 2015 2001. The committee members
 1351  shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Education and shall
 1352  annually report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
 1353  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1.
 1354  The committee shall meet regularly and is authorized to review
 1355  potential rules and policies that will be considered by the
 1356  State Board of Education.
 1357         Section 30. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and subsection
 1358  (5) of section 1008.34, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1359         1008.34 School grading system; school report cards;
 1360  district grade.—
 1361         (3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.—
 1362         (c)1. The calculation of a school grade shall be based on
 1363  the percentage of points earned from the components listed in
 1364  subparagraph (b)1. and, if applicable, subparagraph (b)2. The
 1365  State Board of Education shall adopt in rule a school grading
 1366  scale that sets the percentage of points needed to earn each of
 1367  the school grades listed in subsection (2). There shall be at
 1368  least five percentage points separating the percentage
 1369  thresholds needed to earn each of the school grades. The state
 1370  board shall annually review the percentage of school grades of
 1371  “A” and “B” for the school year to determine whether to adjust
 1372  the school grading scale upward for the following school year’s
 1373  school grades. The first adjustment would occur no earlier than
 1374  the 2023-2024 school year. An adjustment must be made if the
 1375  percentage of schools earning a grade of “A” or “B” in the
 1376  current year represents 75 percent or more of all graded schools
 1377  within a particular school type, which consists of elementary,
 1378  middle, high, and combination. The adjustment must reset the
 1379  minimum required percentage of points for each grade of “A,”
 1380  “B,” “C,” or “D” at the next highest percentage ending in the
 1381  numeral 5 or 0, whichever is closest to the current percentage.
 1382  Annual reviews of the percentage of schools earning a grade of
 1383  “A” or “B” and adjustments to the required points must be
 1384  suspended when the following grading scale for a specific school
 1385  type is achieved:
 1386         a. Ninety percent or more of the points for a grade of “A.”
 1387         b. Eighty to eighty-nine percent of the points for a grade
 1388  of “B.”
 1389         c. Seventy to seventy-nine percent of the points for a
 1390  grade of “C.”
 1391         d. Sixty to sixty-nine percent of the points for a grade of
 1392  “D.”
 1393  
 1394  When the state board adjusts the grading scale upward, the state
 1395  board must inform the public of the degree of the adjustment and
 1396  its anticipated impact on school grades. Any changes made by the
 1397  state board to components in the school grades model or to the
 1398  school grading scale shall go into effect in the following
 1399  school year, at the earliest.
 1400         2. The calculation of school grades may not include any
 1401  provision that would raise or lower the school’s grade beyond
 1402  the percentage of points earned. Extra weight may not be added
 1403  in the calculation of any components.
 1404         (5) DISTRICT GRADE.—Beginning with the 2014-2015 school
 1405  year, a school district’s grade shall include a district-level
 1406  calculation of the components under paragraph (3)(b). This
 1407  calculation methodology captures each eligible student in the
 1408  district who may have transferred among schools within the
 1409  district or is enrolled in a school that does not receive a
 1410  grade. The department shall develop a district report card that
 1411  includes the district grade; the information required under s.
 1412  1008.345(3) s. 1008.345(5); measures of the district’s progress
 1413  in closing the achievement gap between higher-performing student
 1414  subgroups and lower-performing student subgroups; measures of
 1415  the district’s progress in demonstrating Learning Gains of its
 1416  highest-performing students; measures of the district’s success
 1417  in improving student attendance; the district’s grade-level
 1418  promotion of students scoring achievement levels 1 and 2 on
 1419  statewide, standardized English Language Arts and Mathematics
 1420  assessments; and measures of the district’s performance in
 1421  preparing students for the transition from elementary to middle
 1422  school, middle to high school, and high school to postsecondary
 1423  institutions and careers.
 1424         Section 31. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
 1425  1008.345, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1426         1008.345 Implementation of state system of school
 1427  improvement and education accountability.—
 1428         (3) The annual feedback report shall be developed by the
 1429  Department of Education.
 1430         (4) The commissioner shall review each district school
 1431  board’s feedback report and submit findings to the State Board
 1432  of Education. If adequate progress is not being made toward
 1433  implementing and maintaining a system of school improvement and
 1434  education accountability, the State Board of Education shall
 1435  direct the commissioner to prepare and implement a corrective
 1436  action plan. The commissioner and State Board of Education shall
 1437  monitor the development and implementation of the corrective
 1438  action plan.
 1439         (3)(5) The commissioner shall annually report to the State
 1440  Board of Education and the Legislature and recommend changes in
 1441  state policy necessary to foster school improvement and
 1442  education accountability. The report must shall include:
 1443         (a) for each school district:
 1444         (a)1. The percentage of students, by school and grade
 1445  level, demonstrating learning growth in English Language Arts
 1446  and mathematics.
 1447         (b)2. The percentage of students, by school and grade
 1448  level, in both the highest and lowest quartiles demonstrating
 1449  learning growth in English Language Arts and mathematics.
 1450         (c)3. The information contained in the school district’s
 1451  annual report required pursuant to s. 1008.25(10).
 1452         (b) Intervention and support strategies used by school
 1453  districts whose students in both the highest and lowest
 1454  quartiles exceed the statewide average learning growth for
 1455  students in those quartiles.
 1456         (c) Intervention and support strategies used by school
 1457  districts whose schools provide educational services to youth in
 1458  Department of Juvenile Justice programs that demonstrate
 1459  learning growth in English Language Arts and mathematics that
 1460  exceeds the statewide average learning growth for students in
 1461  those subjects.
 1462         (d) Based upon a review of each school district’s reading
 1463  instruction plan submitted pursuant to s. 1003.4201,
 1464  intervention and support strategies used by school districts
 1465  that were effective in improving the reading performance of
 1466  students, as indicated by student performance data, who are
 1467  identified as having a substantial reading deficiency pursuant
 1468  to s. 1008.25(5)(a).
 1469  
 1470  School reports must shall be distributed pursuant to this
 1471  subsection and s. 1001.42(18)(c) and according to rules adopted
 1472  by the State Board of Education.
 1473         Section 32. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
 1474  1000.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1475         1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in
 1476  the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of
 1477  access required.—
 1478         (2)
 1479         (d) Students may be separated by sex for a single-gender
 1480  program as provided under s. 1002.311, for any portion of a
 1481  class that deals with human reproduction, or during
 1482  participation in bodily contact sports. For the purpose of this
 1483  section, bodily contact sports include wrestling, boxing, rugby,
 1484  ice hockey, football, basketball, and other sports in which the
 1485  purpose or major activity involves bodily contact.
 1486         Section 33. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.