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CS/CS/HB 537 — Student Achievement
by Education & Employment Committee; Education Quality Subcommittee; and Rep. Valdés and others (SB 590 by Senators Burgess and Perry)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Pre-K -12 Committee (ED)
The bill establishes the two-year Music-based Supplemental Content to Accelerate Learner Engagement and Success (mSCALES) Pilot Program (pilot program) within the Department of Education (DOE). The pilot program is intended to assist districts in adopting music-based supplemental materials that support STEM courses for middle school students.
School districts in Alachua, Marion, and Miami-Dade counties will each receive $6 per student if the district is approved by the DOE for participation in the pilot program. Each school district must utilize the adopted music-based supplemental materials at least twice per week to supplement mathematics instruction by teachers who are certified to teach mathematics.
The bill requires the College of Education at the University of Florida to continuously evaluate the program’s effectiveness and annually share the findings of its evaluations with the DOE and the Legislature. The University of Florida must submit a final report by October 1, 2026, to the DOE, the Legislature, and the Florida Center for Partnerships for Arts-Integrated Teaching.
The mSCALES Pilot Program is subject to legislative appropriation.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2024.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 111-0