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CS/HB 1597 — Florida Virtual School
by Choice and Innovation Subcommittee and Rep. Gossett-Seidman and others (CS/SB 926 by Education Pre-K -12 Committee and Senators Rodriguez and Jones)
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 provides additional support to military children who are out-of-state due to the duty station of their military parent or guardian. The bill establishes a process by which a parent or guardian can request flexibility in assessment administration to permit a student to participate in statewide, standardized assessments while out-of-state.
The bill defines “child of a military family residing outside this state eligible for flexibility in assessment administration” to mean a Florida Virtual School (FLVS) full-time student of a military family residing outside of Florida who is prevented by his or her parent’s or guardian’s out-of-state military duty station’s location from participating in a Florida-based FLVS secure and proctored exam.
The bill requires that the flexibility in assessment administration must allow an eligible student to participate in statewide, standardized assessments administered securely by a licensed, certified instructor or education services officer test administrator at his or her parent’s or guardian’s current military duty station. The administrator of the assessment must complete the training adopted in State Board of Education (SBE) rule.
The request for flexibility in assessment administration must be made in writing by the student’s parent or guardian to the FLVS within a specified timeframe. The FLVS must make a recommendation regarding granting or denying the request to the Department of Education (DOE), which makes a final determination on the request.
The FLVS must maintain data regarding the number of requests for flexibility in assessment administration made, the number of requests for flexibility in assessment administration granted, and data regarding student performance on statewide, standardized assessments, and make such data available to the Legislature upon request.
The bill requires the SBE to adopt rules governing the flexibility in assessment administration process established by the bill.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2023.
Vote: Senate 39-0; House 116-0