The Florida Senate

1008.31  Florida's K-20 education performance accountability system; legislative intent; performance-based funding; mission, goals, and systemwide measures.--

(1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--It is the intent of the Legislature that:

(a)  The performance accountability system implemented to assess the effectiveness of Florida's seamless K-20 education delivery system provide answers to the following questions in relation to its mission and goals:

1.  What is the public receiving in return for funds it invests in education?

2.  How effectively is Florida's K-20 education system educating its students?

3.  How effectively are the major delivery sectors promoting student achievement?

4.  How are individual schools and postsecondary education institutions performing their responsibility to educate their students as measured by how students are performing and how much they are learning?

(b)  The K-20 education performance accountability system be established as a single, unified accountability system with multiple components, including, but not limited to, measures of adequate yearly progress, individual student learning gains in public schools, school grades, and return on investment.

(c)  The K-20 education performance accountability system comply with the accountability requirements of the "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001," Pub. L. No. 107-110.

(d)  The State Board of Education recommend to the Legislature systemwide performance standards; the Legislature establish systemwide performance measures and standards; and the systemwide measures and standards provide Floridians with information on what the public is receiving in return for the funds it invests in education and how well the K-20 system educates its students.

(e)  The State Board of Education establish performance measures and set performance standards for individual components of the public education system, including individual schools and postsecondary educational institutions, with measures and standards based primarily on student achievement.

(2)  MISSION, GOALS, AND SYSTEMWIDE MEASURES.--

(a)  The mission of Florida's K-20 education system shall be to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities.

(b)  The State Board of Education shall adopt guiding principles for establishing state and sector-specific standards and measures.

(c)  The State Board of Education shall maintain an accountability system that measures student progress toward the following goals:

1.  Highest student achievement, as measured by: student FCAT performance and annual learning gains; the number and percentage of schools that improve at least one school performance grade designation or maintain a school performance grade designation of "A" pursuant to s. 1008.34; graduation or completion rates at all learning levels; and other measures identified in law or rule.

2.  Seamless articulation and maximum access, as measured by: the percentage of students who demonstrate readiness for the educational level they are entering, from kindergarten through postsecondary education and into the workforce; the number and percentage of students needing remediation; the percentage of Floridians who complete associate, baccalaureate, graduate, professional, and postgraduate degrees; the number and percentage of credits that articulate; the extent to which each set of exit-point requirements matches the next set of entrance-point requirements; the degree to which underserved populations access educational opportunity; the extent to which access is provided through innovative educational delivery strategies; and other measures identified in law or rule.

3.  Skilled workforce and economic development, as measured by: the number and percentage of graduates employed in their areas of preparation; the percentage of Floridians with high school diplomas and postsecondary education credentials; the percentage of business and community members who find that Florida's graduates possess the skills they need; national rankings; and other measures identified in law or rule.

4.  Quality efficient services, as measured by: cost per completer or graduate; average cost per noncompleter at each educational level; cost disparity across institutions offering the same degrees; the percentage of education customers at each educational level who are satisfied with the education provided; and other measures identified in law or rule.

(3)  SYSTEMWIDE DATA COLLECTION.--School districts and public postsecondary educational institutions shall maintain information systems that will provide the State Board of Education and the Legislature with information and reports necessary to address the specifications of the accountability system. The State Board of Education shall determine the standards for the required data. The level of comprehensiveness and quality shall be no less than that which was available as of June 30, 2001.

History.--s. 375, ch. 2002-387; s. 1, ch. 2003-80; s. 13, ch. 2005-56.