Senate Bill 2050c1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050

    By the Committee on Education and Senators Lee, Hargrett and
    Webster




    304-1952-99

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to school safety and truancy

  3         reduction; amending s. 230.23, F.S.; requiring

  4         school improvement plans to include additional

  5         issues; amending s. 230.2316, F.S.; providing

  6         for priorities for school districts projecting

  7         FTE for certain dropout prevention programs;

  8         specifying the elements of dropout prevention

  9         programs; specifying additional contents for

10         the education program; requiring students in

11         grades 1-12 to be eligible for dropout

12         prevention programs; providing for applications

13         by school districts to the Department of

14         Education for grants to operate second chance

15         schools; establishing grant and program

16         requirements; providing for the generation of

17         operating funds through programs of the Florida

18         Education Finance Program; providing new

19         requirements for students seeking to reenter

20         traditional schools; amending s. 231.085, F.S.;

21         requiring principals to ensure the accuracy and

22         timeliness of school reports; requiring

23         principals to provide staff training

24         opportunities; amending s. 231.17, F.S.;

25         providing for additional minimum competencies

26         for professional certification for certain

27         educators; creating s. 232.001, F.S.; allowing

28         the Manatee County District School Board to

29         raise the compulsory age of attendance for

30         children; providing requirements for the school

31         board if it chooses to participate in the pilot

                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         project; providing for the applicability of

  2         state law and State Board of Education rule;

  3         providing an exception from the provisions

  4         relating to a declaration of intent to

  5         terminate school enrollment; requiring a study;

  6         amending s. 232.17, F.S.; providing legislative

  7         findings; placing responsibility on school

  8         district superintendents for enforcing

  9         attendance; establishing requirements for

10         school board policies; revising the current

11         steps for enforcing regular school attendance;

12         requiring public schools to follow the steps;

13         establishing the requirements for school

14         principals, primary teachers, child study

15         teams, and parents; providing for parents to

16         appeal; allowing the superintendent to seek

17         criminal prosecution for parental

18         noncompliance; requiring the superintendent,

19         parent, or guardian to file certain petitions

20         involving ungovernable children in certain

21         circumstances; requiring the superintendent to

22         provide the court with certain evidence;

23         allowing for court enforcement for children who

24         refuse to comply; revising the notice

25         requirements to parents, guardians, or others;

26         eliminating a current condition for notice;

27         eliminating the option for referral to case

28         staffing committees; requiring the

29         superintendent to take steps to bring about

30         criminal prosecution and requiring related

31         notice; authorizing the superintendent to file

                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         truancy petitions; allowing for the return of

  2         absent children to additional locations;

  3         requiring parental notification; amending s.

  4         232.19, F.S., relating to habitual truancy;

  5         authorizing superintendents to file truancy

  6         petitions; requiring that a court order for

  7         school attendance be obtained as a part of

  8         services; revising the requirements that must

  9         be met prior to filing a petition; amending s.

10         232.26, F.S.; removing a limitation on the

11         principal's authority to discipline or expel

12         pupils for unlawful possession or use of

13         controlled substances under chapter 893, F.S.;

14         amending s. 236.081, F.S.; amending procedures

15         that must be followed in determining the annual

16         allocation to each school district for

17         operation; requiring the average daily

18         attendance of the student membership to be

19         calculated by school and by district; amending

20         s. 240.529, F.S.; providing additional

21         legislative intent related to teacher

22         preparation programs; providing the criteria

23         for continued program approval; providing for

24         the requirements for instructors in

25         postsecondary teacher preparation programs who

26         instruct or supervise preservice field

27         experience courses or internships; eliminating

28         the requirement related to a commitment to

29         teaching in the public schools for a period of

30         time; providing additional requirements for

31         school district and instructional personnel who

                                  3

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         supervise or direct certain teacher preparation

  2         students; amending s. 984.03, F.S.; redefining

  3         the term "habitual truant"; requiring the state

  4         attorney to file a child-in-need-of-services

  5         petition in certain circumstances; eliminating

  6         the requirement for referral for evaluation;

  7         defining the term "truancy petition"; requiring

  8         the appropriate jurisdictional agency to file a

  9         petition; creating s. 984.151, F.S.; providing

10         procedures for truancy petitions; providing for

11         truancy hearings and penalties; providing an

12         effective date.

13

14         WHEREAS, the voters of the State of Florida, in the

15  1998 General Election, amended Article IX, section 1, of the

16  Florida Constitution to state that, "Adequate provision shall

17  be made by law for a ...safe, secure, and high quality system

18  of free public schools...," and

19         WHEREAS, House Bill 1309, a comprehensive school safety

20  and discipline package, was enacted by the Legislature in the

21  1997 Session, addressing dropouts, habitual truancy, zero

22  tolerance for crime, drugs, alcohol, and weapons, alternative

23  placement of disruptive students, and cooperative agreements

24  with local law enforcement for crime reporting, and

25         WHEREAS, the Legislature annually provides for

26  safe-schools appropriations to be used for after school

27  programs for middle school students, alternative programs for

28  adjudicated youth, school resource officers, and conflict

29  resolution strategies, and

30         WHEREAS, the enhancement of school safety should be

31  measured as an element of school performance and

                                  4

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  accountability and improved crime and incident reporting, as

  2  well as a heightened emphasis on character education in the

  3  curriculum of the early grades, NOW, THEREFORE,

  4

  5  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  6

  7         Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (16) of section

  8  230.23, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:

  9         230.23  Powers and duties of school board.--The school

10  board, acting as a board, shall exercise all powers and

11  perform all duties listed below:

12         (16)  IMPLEMENT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND

13  ACCOUNTABILITY.--Maintain a system of school improvement and

14  education accountability as provided by statute and State

15  Board of Education rule. This system of school improvement and

16  education accountability shall be consistent with, and

17  implemented through, the district's continuing system of

18  planning and budgeting required by this section and ss.

19  229.555 and 237.041. This system of school improvement and

20  education accountability shall include, but not be limited to,

21  the following:

22         (a)  School improvement plans.--Annually approve and

23  require implementation of a new, amended, or continuation

24  school improvement plan for each school in the district.  Such

25  plan shall be designed to achieve the state education goals

26  and student performance standards pursuant to ss. 229.591(3)

27  and 229.592. Beginning in 1999-2000, each plan shall also

28  address issues relative to budget, training, instructional

29  materials, technology, staffing, student support services,

30  specific school safety and discipline strategies, and other

31

                                  5

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  matters of resource allocation, as determined by school board

  2  policy.

  3         Section 2.  Subsection (3) of section 230.2316, Florida

  4  Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:

  5         230.2316  Dropout prevention.--

  6         (3)  STUDENT ELIGIBILITY AND PROGRAM CRITERIA.--

  7         (a)  The priorities for districts projecting FTE for

  8  dropout prevention programs, other than those serving students

  9  in residential and nonresidential programs operated or

10  contracted by the Department of Juvenile Justice, must be as

11  follows:

12         1.  The first priority must be to address students who

13  are at risk of dropping out due to repeated disruptive

14  behavior, violent behavior, or delinquent behavior. The school

15  district must include, as an indicator of need, recommended

16  strategies to reduce disruptive and violent behavior as

17  identified in school improvement plans. School districts must

18  project the number of FTE's for which alternatives are

19  required as a solution.  It is the intent of the Legislature

20  to fund these FTE's prior to those projected in dropout

21  prevention for other purposes.

22         2.  The second priority must be to implement intensive

23  instruction programs within alternative settings for students

24  who fail to meet promotion requirements and require either

25  intensive instruction in selected subject areas or a more

26  structured learning environment in order to achieve

27  satisfactorily.

28         3.  The third priority must be for students who are at

29  risk of dropping out due to other factors as identified by the

30  district.

31

                                  6

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (b)(a)  Dropout prevention programs shall differ from

  2  traditional education programs and schools in scheduling,

  3  administrative structure, philosophy, curriculum, or setting

  4  and shall employ alternative teaching methodologies,

  5  curricula, learning activities, and or diagnostic and

  6  assessment procedures in order to meet the needs, interests,

  7  abilities, and talents of eligible students. The educational

  8  program shall provide curricula, character education, and

  9  related services which support the program goals and lead to

10  completion of a high school diploma. Student participation in

11  such programs shall be voluntary. Districts may, however,

12  assign students to a program for disruptive students. The

13  minimum period of time during which the student participates

14  in the program shall be equivalent to two instructional

15  periods per day unless the program utilizes a student support

16  and assistance component rather than regularly scheduled

17  courses.

18         (c)(b)  Students in grades 1-12 4-12 shall be eligible

19  for dropout prevention programs. Eligible dropout prevention

20  students shall be reported for dropout prevention full-time

21  equivalent student membership in the Florida Education Finance

22  Program in standard dropout prevention classes or student

23  support and assistance components which provide academic

24  assistance and coordination of support services to students

25  enrolled full time in a regular classroom. The student support

26  and assistance component shall include auxiliary services

27  provided to students or teachers, or both. Students

28  participating in this model shall generate funding only for

29  the time that they receive extra services or auxiliary help.

30         (d)(c)  A student shall be identified as being a

31  potential dropout based upon one of the following criteria:

                                  7

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         1.  The student has shown a lack of motivation in

  2  school through grades which are not commensurate with

  3  documented ability levels or high absenteeism or habitual

  4  truancy as defined in s. 228.041(28).

  5         2.  The student has not been successful in school as

  6  determined by retentions, failing grades, or low achievement

  7  test scores and has needs and interests that cannot be met

  8  through traditional programs.

  9         3.  The student has been identified as a potential

10  school dropout by student services personnel using district

11  criteria. District criteria that are used as a basis for

12  student referral to an educational alternatives program shall

13  identify specific student performance indicators that the

14  educational alternative program seeks to address.

15         4.  The student has documented drug-related or

16  alcohol-related problems, or has immediate family members with

17  documented drug-related or alcohol-related problems that

18  adversely affect the student's performance in school.

19         5.  The student has a history of disruptive behavior in

20  school or has committed an offense that warrants out-of-school

21  suspension or expulsion from school according to the district

22  code of student conduct. For the purposes of this program,

23  "disruptive behavior" is behavior that:

24         a.  Interferes with the student's own learning or the

25  educational process of others and requires attention and

26  assistance beyond that which the traditional program can

27  provide or results in frequent conflicts of a disruptive

28  nature while the student is under the jurisdiction of the

29  school either in or out of the classroom; or

30         b.  Severely threatens the general welfare of students

31  or others with whom the student comes into contact.

                                  8

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         6.  The student is assigned to a program provided

  2  pursuant to chapter 39, chapter 984, or chapter 985 which is

  3  sponsored by a state-based or community-based agency or is

  4  operated or contracted for by the Department of Children and

  5  Family Services or the Department of Juvenile Justice.

  6         (e)(d)1.  "Second chance schools" means school district

  7  programs provided through cooperative agreements between the

  8  Department of Juvenile Justice, private providers, state or

  9  local law enforcement agencies, or other state agencies for

10  students who have been disruptive or violent or who have

11  committed serious offenses.  As partnership programs, second

12  chance schools are eligible for waivers by the Commissioner of

13  Education from chapters 230-235 and 239 and State Board of

14  Education rules that prevent the provision of appropriate

15  educational services to violent, severely disruptive, or

16  delinquent students in small nontraditional settings or in

17  court-adjudicated settings.

18         2.  School districts seeking to enter into a

19  partnership with a private entity to operate a second chance

20  school for disruptive students may apply to the Department of

21  Education for start-up grants from the Department of

22  Education. These grants must be available for 1 year and must

23  be used to offset the start-up costs for implementing such

24  programs off public school campuses. General operating funds

25  must be generated through the appropriate programs of the

26  Florida Education Finance Program. Grants approved under this

27  program shall be for the full operation of the school by a

28  private nonprofit or for-profit provider. This program must

29  operate under rules adopted by the Department of Education and

30  must be implemented to the extent funded by the Legislature.

31

                                  9

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         3.2.  A student enrolled in a sixth, seventh, eighth,

  2  ninth, or tenth grade class may be assigned to a second chance

  3  school if the student meets the following criteria:

  4         a.  The student is a habitual truant as defined in s.

  5  228.041(28).

  6         b.  The student's excessive absences have detrimentally

  7  affected the student's academic progress and the student may

  8  have unique needs that a traditional school setting may not

  9  meet.

10         c.  The student's high incidences of truancy have been

11  directly linked to a lack of motivation.

12         d.  The student has been identified as at risk of

13  dropping out of school.

14         4.3.  A student who is habitually truant may be

15  assigned to a second chance school only if the case staffing

16  committee, established pursuant to s. 984.12, determines that

17  such placement could be beneficial to the student and the

18  criteria included in subparagraph 2. are met.

19         5.4.  A student may be assigned to a second chance

20  school if the school district in which the student resides has

21  a second chance school and if the student meets one of the

22  following criteria:

23         a.  The student habitually exhibits disruptive behavior

24  in violation of the code of student conduct adopted by the

25  school board.

26         b.  The student interferes with the student's own

27  learning or the educational process of others and requires

28  attention and assistance beyond that which the traditional

29  program can provide, or, while the student is under the

30  jurisdiction of the school either in or out of the classroom,

31  frequent conflicts of a disruptive nature occur.

                                  10

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         c.  The student has committed a serious offense which

  2  warrants suspension or expulsion from school according to the

  3  district code of student conduct.  For the purposes of this

  4  program, "serious offense" is behavior which:

  5         (I)  Threatens the general welfare of students or

  6  others with whom the student comes into contact;

  7         (II)  Includes violence;

  8         (III)  Includes possession of weapons or drugs; or

  9         (IV)  Is harassment or verbal abuse of school personnel

10  or other students.

11         6.5.  Prior to assignment of students to second chance

12  schools, school boards are encouraged to use alternative

13  programs, such as in-school suspension, which provide

14  instruction and counseling leading to improved student

15  behavior, a reduction in the incidence of truancy, and the

16  development of more effective interpersonal skills.

17         7.6.  Students assigned to second chance schools must

18  be evaluated by the school's local child study team before

19  placement in a second chance school. The study team shall

20  ensure that students are not eligible for placement in a

21  program for emotionally disturbed children.

22         8.7.  Students who exhibit academic and social progress

23  and who wish to return to a traditional school shall complete

24  a character-education program and demonstrate preparedness to

25  reenter the regular school setting be evaluated by school

26  district personnel prior to reentering a traditional school.

27         9.8.  Second chance schools shall be funded at the

28  dropout prevention program weight pursuant to s. 236.081 and

29  may receive school safety funds or other funds as appropriate.

30         Section 3.  Section 231.085, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:

                                  11

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         231.085  Duties of principals.--A district school board

  2  shall employ, through written contract, public school

  3  principals who shall supervise the operation and management of

  4  the schools and property as the board determines necessary.

  5  Each principal shall perform such duties as may be assigned by

  6  the superintendent pursuant to the rules of the school board.

  7  Such rules shall include, but not be limited to, rules

  8  relating to administrative responsibility, instructional

  9  leadership of the educational program of the school to which

10  the principal is assigned, submission of personnel

11  recommendations to the superintendent, administrative

12  responsibility for records and reports, administration of

13  corporal punishment, and student suspension.  Each principal

14  shall provide leadership in the development or revision and

15  implementation of a school improvement plan pursuant to s.

16  230.23(16). Each principal must make the necessary provisions

17  to ensure that all school reports are accurate and timely, and

18  must provide the necessary training opportunities for staff to

19  accurately report attendance, FTE program participation,

20  student performance, teacher appraisal, and school safety and

21  discipline data.

22         Section 4.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section

23  231.17, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:

24         231.17  Official statements of eligibility and

25  certificates granted on application to those meeting

26  prescribed requirements.--

27         (5)  MINIMUM COMPETENCIES FOR PROFESSIONAL

28  CERTIFICATE.--

29         (a)  The state board must specify, by rule, the minimum

30  essential competencies that educators must possess and

31  demonstrate in order to qualify to teach students the

                                  12

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  standards of student performance adopted by the state board.

  2  The minimum competencies must include but are not limited to

  3  the ability to:

  4         1.  Write in a logical and understandable style with

  5  appropriate grammar and sentence structure.

  6         2.  Read, comprehend, and interpret professional and

  7  other written material.

  8         3.  Comprehend and work with fundamental mathematical

  9  concepts.

10         4.  Recognize signs of severe emotional distress in

11  students and apply techniques of crisis intervention with an

12  emphasis on suicide prevention and positive emotional

13  development.

14         5.  Recognize signs of alcohol and drug abuse in

15  students and apply counseling techniques with emphasis on

16  intervention and prevention of future abuse.

17         6.  Recognize the physical and behavioral indicators of

18  child abuse and neglect, know rights and responsibilities

19  regarding reporting, know how to care for a child's needs

20  after a report is made, and know recognition, intervention,

21  and prevention strategies pertaining to child abuse and

22  neglect which can be related to children in a classroom

23  setting in a nonthreatening, positive manner.

24         7.  Comprehend patterns of physical, social, and

25  academic development in students, including exceptional

26  students in the regular classroom, and counsel these students

27  concerning their needs in these areas.

28         8.  Recognize and be aware of the instructional needs

29  of exceptional students.

30

31

                                  13

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         9.  Comprehend patterns of normal development in

  2  students and employ appropriate intervention strategies for

  3  disorders of development.

  4         10.  Identify and comprehend the codes and standards of

  5  professional ethics, performance, and practices adopted

  6  pursuant to s. 231.546(2)(b), the grounds for disciplinary

  7  action provided by s. 231.28, and the procedures for resolving

  8  complaints filed pursuant to this chapter, including appeal

  9  processes.

10         11.  Recognize and demonstrate awareness of the

11  educational needs of students who have limited proficiency in

12  English and employ appropriate teaching strategies.

13         12.  Use appropriate technology in teaching and

14  learning processes.

15         13.  Use assessment strategies to assist the continuous

16  development of the learner.

17         14.  Use teaching and learning strategies that include

18  considering each student's culture, learning styles, special

19  needs, and socioeconomic background.

20         15.  Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the

21  subject matter that is aligned with the subject knowledge and

22  skills specified in the student performance standards approved

23  by the state board.

24         16.  Demonstrate knowledge and skill in managing

25  student behavior inside and outside a classroom setting. Such

26  knowledge and skill must include techniques for preventing and

27  effectively intervening in incidents of disruptive or violent

28  behavior.

29         17.  Recognize the early signs of truancy in students

30  and identify effective interventions to avoid or resolve

31  nonattendance behavior.

                                  14

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         Section 5.  Section 232.001, Florida Statutes, is

  2  created to read:

  3         232.001  Pilot project.--It is the purpose of this

  4  section to authorize the Manatee County District School Board

  5  to implement a pilot project that raises the compulsory age of

  6  attendance for children from the age of 16 years to the age of

  7  18 years. The pilot project applies to each child who has not

  8  attained the age of 16 years by September 30 of the school

  9  year in which a school board policy is adopted.

10         (1)  Beginning July 1, 1999, the Manatee County

11  District School Board may implement a pilot project consistent

12  with policy adopted by the school board to raise the

13  compulsory age of attendance for children from the age of 16

14  years to the age of 18 years.

15         (2)  If the district school board chooses to

16  participate in the pilot project, the district school board

17  must, before the beginning of the school year, adopt a policy

18  for raising the compulsory age of attendance for children from

19  the age of 16 years to 18 years.

20         (a)  Before the adoption of the policy, the district

21  school board must provide a notice of intent to adopt a policy

22  to raise the compulsory age of attendance for children from

23  the age of 16 years to the age of 18 years. The notice must be

24  provided to the parent or legal guardian of each child who is

25  15 years of age and who is enrolled in a school in the

26  district.

27         (b)  Within 2 weeks after adoption of the school board

28  policy, the district school board must provide notice of the

29  policy to the parent or legal guardian of each child who is 15

30  years of age and who is enrolled in a school in the district.

31  The notice must also provide information related to the

                                  15

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  penalties for refusing or failing to comply with the

  2  compulsory attendance requirements and information on

  3  alternative education programs offered within the school

  4  district.

  5         (3)  All state laws and State Board of Education rules

  6  related to students subject to compulsory school attendance

  7  apply to the district school board if it chooses to

  8  participate in a pilot project. Notwithstanding the provisions

  9  of s. 232.01, the formal declaration of intent to terminate

10  school enrollment does not apply to the district school board

11  if it chooses to participate in a pilot project.

12         (4)  If the district school board chooses to

13  participate in the pilot project, the school board must

14  evaluate the effect of its adopted policy raising the

15  compulsory age of attendance on school attendance and on the

16  school district's dropout rate, as well as on the costs

17  associated with the pilot project. The school district shall

18  report its findings to the President of the Senate, the

19  Speaker of the House of Representatives, the minority leader

20  of each house, the Governor, and the Commissioner of Education

21  not later than August 1 following each year that the pilot

22  project is in operation.

23         Section 6.  Section 232.17, Florida Statutes, 1998

24  Supplement, is amended to read:

25         232.17  Enforcement of school attendance.--The

26  Legislature finds that poor academic performance is associated

27  with nonattendance and that schools must take an active role

28  in enforcing attendance as a means of improving the

29  performance of many students. It is the policy of the state

30  that the superintendent of each school district be responsible

31  for enforcing school attendance of all children and youth

                                  16

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  subject to the compulsory school age in the school district.

  2  The responsibility includes recommending to the school board

  3  policies and procedures to ensure that schools respond in a

  4  timely manner to every unexcused absence or absence for which

  5  the reason is unknown of students enrolled in the schools.

  6  School board policies must require each parent or guardian of

  7  a student to justify each absence of the student, and that

  8  justification will be evaluated based on adopted school board

  9  policies that define excused and unexcused absences. The

10  policies must provide that schools track excused and unexcused

11  absences and contact the home in the case of an unexcused

12  absence from school or an absence from school for which the

13  reason is unknown to prevent the development of patterns of

14  nonattendance. The Legislature finds that early intervention

15  in school attendance matters is the most effective way of

16  producing good attendance habits that will lead to improved

17  student learning and achievement. Each public school shall

18  implement the following steps to enforce regular school

19  attendance:

20         (1)  CONTACT, REFER, AND ENFORCE.--

21         (a)  Upon each unexcused absence or absence for which

22  the reason is unknown, the school principal or his or her

23  designee shall contact the home to determine the reason for

24  the absence. If the absence is an excused absence, as defined

25  by school board policy, the school shall provide opportunities

26  for the student to make up assigned work and not receive an

27  academic penalty unless the work is not made up within a

28  reasonable time.

29         (b)  If a student has had at least five unexcused

30  absences or absences for which the reasons are unknown within

31  a calendar month or ten unexcused absences or absences for

                                  17

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  which the reasons are unknown within a 90-calendar-day period,

  2  the student's primary teacher shall report to the school

  3  principal or his or her designee that the student may be

  4  exhibiting a pattern of nonattendance. The principal shall,

  5  unless there is clear evidence that the absences are not a

  6  pattern of nonattendance, refer the case to the school's child

  7  study team to determine if early patterns of truancy are

  8  developing. If the child study team finds that a pattern of

  9  nonattendance is developing, whether the absences are excused

10  or not, a meeting with the parent must be scheduled to

11  identify potential remedies.

12         (c)  If an initial meeting does not resolve the

13  problem, the child study team shall implement interventions

14  that best address the problem. The interventions may include,

15  but need not be limited to:

16         1.  Frequent communication between the teacher and the

17  family;

18         2.  Changes in the learning environment;

19         3.  Mentoring;

20         4.  Student counseling;

21         5.  Tutoring, including peer tutoring;

22         6.  Placement into different classes;

23         7.  Evaluation for alternative education programs;

24         8.  Attendance contracts;

25         9.  Referral to other agencies for family services; or

26         10.  Other interventions.

27         (d)  The child study team shall be diligent in

28  facilitating intervention services and shall report the case

29  to the superintendent only when all reasonable efforts to

30  resolve the nonattendance behavior are exhausted.

31

                                  18

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (e)  If the parent, guardian, or other person in charge

  2  of the child refuses to participate in the remedial strategies

  3  because he or she believes that those strategies are

  4  unnecessary or inappropriate, the parent, guardian, or other

  5  person in charge of the child may appeal to the school board.

  6  The school board may provide a hearing officer and the hearing

  7  officer shall make a recommendation for final action to the

  8  board. If the board's final determination is that the

  9  strategies of the child study team are appropriate, and the

10  parent, guardian, or other person in charge of the child still

11  refuses to participate or cooperate, the superintendent may

12  seek criminal prosecution for noncompliance with compulsory

13  school attendance.

14         (f)  If the parent, guardian, or other person in charge

15  of the child reports to the child study team or other

16  designated school representative that the child subject to

17  compulsory school attendance is ungovernable and will not

18  comply with attempts to enforce school attendance, the parent

19  or guardian or the superintendent shall file a

20  child-in-need-of-services petition or

21  family-in-need-of-services petition seeking services from the

22  Department of Juvenile Justice and a court order to attend

23  school. The superintendent shall provide evidence to the court

24  that the school system is prepared to provide a learning

25  environment for the student that is responsive to the

26  student's learning needs and that all reasonable efforts to

27  resolve the nonattendance behavior have been exhausted. The

28  court may enforce a contempt of court order if the child

29  refuses to comply. Pursuant to procedures established by the

30  district school board, a designated school representative must

31  complete activities designed to determine the cause and

                                  19

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  attempt the remediation of truant behavior, as provided in

  2  this section.

  3         (1)  INVESTIGATE NONENROLLMENT AND UNEXCUSED

  4  ABSENCES.--A designated school representative shall

  5  investigate cases of nonenrollment and unexcused absences from

  6  school of all children subject to compulsory school

  7  attendance.

  8         (2)  GIVE WRITTEN NOTICE.--

  9         (a)  Under the direction of the superintendent, a

10  designated school representative shall give written notice, in

11  person or by return-receipt mail, to the parent, guardian, or

12  other person having control when no valid reason is found for

13  a child's nonenrollment in school which requires or when the

14  child has a minimum of 3 but fewer than 6 unexcused absences

15  within 90 calendar days, requiring enrollment or attendance

16  within 3 days after the date of notice. If the notice and

17  requirement are ignored, the designated school representative

18  shall report the case to the superintendent, and may refer the

19  case to the case staffing committee, established pursuant to

20  s. 984.12, if the conditions of s. 232.19(3) have been met.

21  the superintendent shall may take such steps as are necessary

22  to bring criminal prosecution against the parent, guardian, or

23  other person having control.

24         (b)  Subsequent to the activities required under

25  subsection (1), the superintendent or his or her designee

26  shall give written notice in person or by return-receipt mail

27  to the parent, guardian, or other person in charge of the

28  child that criminal prosecution is being sought for

29  nonattendance. The superintendent may file a truancy petition,

30  as defined in s. 984.03, following the procedures outlined in

31  s. 984.151.

                                  20

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (3)  RETURN CHILD TO PARENT.--A designated school

  2  representative shall visit the home or place of residence of a

  3  child and any other place in which he or she is likely to find

  4  any child who is required to attend school when such child is

  5  not enrolled or is absent from school during school hours

  6  without an excuse, and, when the child is found, shall return

  7  the child to his or her parent or to the principal or teacher

  8  in charge of the school, or to the private tutor from whom

  9  absent, or to the juvenile assessment center or other location

10  established by the school board to receive students who are

11  absent from school. Upon receipt of the student, the parent

12  shall be immediately notified.

13         (4)  REPORT TO THE DIVISION OF JOBS AND BENEFITS.--A

14  designated school representative shall report to the Division

15  of Jobs and Benefits of the Department of Labor and Employment

16  Security or to any person acting in similar capacity who may

17  be designated by law to receive such notices, all violations

18  of the Child Labor Law that may come to his or her knowledge.

19         (5)  RIGHT TO INSPECT.--A designated school

20  representative shall have the same right of access to, and

21  inspection of, establishments where minors may be employed or

22  detained as is given by law to the Division of Jobs and

23  Benefits only for the purpose of ascertaining whether children

24  of compulsory school age are actually employed there and are

25  actually working there regularly. The designated school

26  representative shall, if he or she finds unsatisfactory

27  working conditions or violations of the Child Labor Law,

28  report his or her findings to the Division of Jobs and

29  Benefits or its agents.

30         (6)  RESUMING SERIES.--If a child repeats a pattern of

31  nonattendance within one school year, the designated school

                                  21

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  representative shall resume the series of escalating

  2  activities at the point at which he or she had previously left

  3  off.

  4         Section 7.  Subsection (3) of section 232.19, Florida

  5  Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:

  6         232.19  Court procedure and penalties.--The court

  7  procedure and penalties for the enforcement of the provisions

  8  of this chapter, relating to compulsory school attendance,

  9  shall be as follows:

10         (3)  HABITUAL TRUANCY CASES.--The superintendent is

11  authorized to file a truancy petition, as defined in s.

12  984.03, following the procedures outlined in s. 984.151. If

13  the superintendent chooses not to file a truancy petition,

14  procedures for filing a child-in-need-of-services petition

15  shall be commenced pursuant to this subsection. In accordance

16  with procedures established by the district school board, the

17  designated school representative shall refer a student who is

18  habitually truant and the student's family to the

19  children-in-need-of-services and families-in-need-of-services

20  provider or the case staffing committee, established pursuant

21  to s. 984.12, as determined by the cooperative agreement

22  required in this section.  The case staffing committee may

23  request the Department of Juvenile Justice or its designee to

24  file a child-in-need-of-services petition based upon the

25  report and efforts of the school district or other community

26  agency or may seek to resolve the truant behavior through the

27  school or community-based organizations or agencies. Prior to

28  and subsequent to the filing of a child-in-need-of-services

29  petition due to habitual truancy, the appropriate governmental

30  agencies must allow a reasonable time to complete actions

31  required by this subsection to remedy the conditions leading

                                  22

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  to the truant behavior. However, a court order requiring

  2  school attendance shall be obtained as a necessary part of

  3  such services. The following criteria must be met and

  4  documented in writing Prior to the filing of a petition, the

  5  school district must have complied with the requirements of s.

  6  232.17, and those efforts must have been unsuccessful.:

  7         (a)  The child must have 15 unexcused absences within

  8  90 calendar days with or without the knowledge or consent of

  9  the child's parent or legal guardian, must be subject to

10  compulsory school attendance, and must not be exempt under s.

11  232.06, s. 232.09, or any other exemption specified by law or

12  the rules of the State Board of Education.

13         (b)  In addition to the actions described in s. 232.17,

14  the school administration must have completed the following

15  activities to determine the cause, and to attempt the

16  remediation, of the child's truant behavior:

17         1.  After a minimum of 3 and prior to 6 unexcused

18  absences within 90 calendar days, one or more meetings must

19  have been held, either in person or by phone, between a

20  designated school representative, the child's parent or

21  guardian, and the child, if necessary, to report and to

22  attempt to solve the truancy problem. However, if the

23  designated school representative has documented the refusal of

24  the parent or guardian to participate in the meetings, this

25  requirement has been met.

26         2.  Educational counseling must have been provided to

27  determine whether curriculum changes would help solve the

28  truancy problem, and, if any changes were indicated, such

29  changes must have been instituted but proved unsuccessful in

30  remedying the truant behavior. Such curriculum changes may

31  include enrollment of the child in a dropout prevention

                                  23

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  program that meets the specific educational and behavioral

  2  needs of the child, including a second chance school, as

  3  provided for in s. 230.2316, designed to resolve truant

  4  behavior.

  5         3.  Educational evaluation, which may include

  6  psychological evaluation, must have been provided to assist in

  7  determining the specific condition, if any, that is

  8  contributing to the child's nonattendance.  The evaluation

  9  must have been supplemented by specific efforts by the school

10  to remedy any diagnosed condition.

11

12  If a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance is

13  responsive to the interventions described in this paragraph

14  and has completed the necessary requirements to pass the

15  current grade as indicated in the district pupil progression

16  plan, the child shall be passed.

17         Section 8.  Subsection (3) of section 232.26, Florida

18  Statutes, is amended to read:

19         232.26  Authority of principal.--

20         (3)  A pupil may be disciplined or expelled for

21  unlawful possession or use of any substance controlled under

22  chapter 893 upon the third violation of this provision.

23         Section 9.  Effective July 1, 1999, paragraph (a) of

24  subsection (1) of section 236.081, Florida Statutes, 1998

25  Supplement, is amended to read:

26         236.081  Funds for operation of schools.--If the annual

27  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each

28  district for operation of schools is not determined in the

29  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing

30  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as

31  follows:

                                  24

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (1)  COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR

  2  OPERATION.--The following procedure shall be followed in

  3  determining the annual allocation to each district for

  4  operation:

  5         (a)  Determination of full-time equivalent

  6  membership.--During each of several school weeks, including

  7  scheduled intersessions of a year-round school program during

  8  the fiscal year, a program membership survey of each school

  9  shall be made by each district by aggregating the full-time

10  equivalent student membership of each program by school and by

11  district.  The department shall establish the number and

12  interval of membership calculations, except that for basic and

13  special programs such calculations shall not exceed nine for

14  any fiscal year.  The district's full-time equivalent

15  membership shall be computed and currently maintained in

16  accordance with regulations of the commissioner. Beginning

17  with school year 1999-2000, each school district shall also

18  document the daily attendance of each student in membership by

19  school and by district. An average daily attendance factor

20  shall be computed by dividing the total daily attendance of

21  all students by the total number of students in membership and

22  then by the number of days in the regular school year.

23  Beginning with school year 2001-2002, the district's full-time

24  equivalent membership shall be adjusted by multiplying by the

25  average daily attendance factor.

26         Section 10.  Subsection (1), paragraph (b) of

27  subsection (4), and paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (5)

28  of section 240.529, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

29         240.529  Public accountability and state approval for

30  teacher preparation programs.--

31

                                  25

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (1)  INTENT.--The Legislature recognizes that skilled

  2  teachers make an the most important contribution to a quality

  3  educational system that allows students to obtain a

  4  high-quality education and that competent teachers are

  5  produced by effective and accountable teacher preparation

  6  programs. The intent of the Legislature is to establish a

  7  system for development and approval of teacher preparation

  8  programs that will free postsecondary teacher preparation

  9  institutions to employ varied and innovative teacher

10  preparation techniques while being held accountable for

11  producing teachers with the competencies and skills for

12  achieving the state education goals of helping students meet

13  high standards for student achievement, providing safe and

14  secure classroom learning environments, and sustaining the

15  state system of school improvement and education

16  accountability established pursuant to ss. 229.591, 229.592,

17  and 229.593.

18         (4)  CONTINUED PROGRAM APPROVAL.--Notwithstanding

19  subsection (3), failure by a public or nonpublic teacher

20  preparation program to meet the criteria for continued program

21  approval shall result in loss of program approval. The

22  Department of Education, in collaboration with the departments

23  and colleges of education, shall develop procedures for

24  continued program approval which document the continuous

25  improvement of program processes and graduates' performance.

26         (b)  Additional criteria for continued program approval

27  for public institutions may be developed by the Education

28  Standards Commission and approved by the State Board of

29  Education. Such criteria must emphasize outcome measures of

30  student performance in the areas of classroom management and

31  improving the performance of students who have traditionally

                                  26

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  failed to meet student achievement goals and have been

  2  overrepresented in school suspensions and other disciplinary

  3  actions, and may include, but need not be limited to, program

  4  graduates' satisfaction with training and the unit's

  5  responsiveness to local school districts. Additional criteria

  6  for continued program approval for nonpublic institutions

  7  shall be developed in the same manner as for public

  8  institutions; however, such criteria must be based upon

  9  significant, objective, and quantifiable graduate performance

10  measures. Responsibility for collecting data on outcome

11  measures through survey instruments and other appropriate

12  means shall be shared by the institutions of higher education,

13  the Board of Regents, the State Board of Independent Colleges

14  and Universities, and the Department of Education. By January

15  1 of each year, the Department of Education, in cooperation

16  with the Board of Regents and the State Board of Independent

17  Colleges and Universities, shall report this information for

18  each postsecondary institution that has state-approved

19  programs of teacher education to the Governor, the

20  Commissioner of Education, the Chancellor of the State

21  University System, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of

22  the House of Representatives, all Florida postsecondary

23  teacher preparation programs, and interested members of the

24  public. This report must analyze the data and make

25  recommendations for improving teacher preparation programs in

26  the state.

27         (5)  PRESERVICE FIELD EXPERIENCE.--All postsecondary

28  instructors, school district personnel and instructional

29  personnel, and school sites preparing instructional personnel

30  through preservice field experience courses and internships

31  shall meet special requirements.

                                  27

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (a)  All instructors in postsecondary teacher

  2  preparation programs who instruct or supervise preservice

  3  field experience courses or internships shall have at least

  4  one of the following: specialized training in clinical

  5  supervision; a valid professional teaching certificate

  6  pursuant to ss. 231.17 and 231.24; or at least 3 years of

  7  successful teaching experience in prekindergarten through

  8  grade 12; or a commitment to spend periods of time specified

  9  by State Board of Education rule teaching in the public

10  schools.

11         (b)  All school district personnel and instructional

12  personnel who supervise or direct teacher preparation students

13  during field experience courses or internships must have

14  evidence of "clinical educator" training, successfully

15  demonstrated effective classroom management strategies, and

16  consistently improved student performance. The Education

17  Standards Commission shall recommend, and the state board

18  shall approve, the training requirements.

19         Section 11.  Subsection (29) of section 984.03, Florida

20  Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended, present subsection (57)

21  of that section is redesignated as subsection (58), and a new

22  subsection (57) is added to that section, to read:

23         984.03  Definitions.--When used in this chapter, the

24  term:

25         (29)  "Habitually truant" means that:

26         (a)  The child has 15 unexcused absences within 90

27  calendar days with or without the knowledge or justifiable

28  consent of the child's parent or legal guardian, is subject to

29  compulsory school attendance under s. 232.01, and is not

30  exempt under s. 232.06, s. 232.09, or any other exemptions

31  specified by law or the rules of the State Board of Education.

                                  28

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (b)  Escalating Activities to determine the cause, and

  2  to attempt the remediation, of the child's truant behavior

  3  under ss. 232.17 and 232.19 have been completed.

  4

  5  If a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance is

  6  responsive to the interventions described in ss. 232.17 and

  7  232.19 and has completed the necessary requirements to pass

  8  the current grade as indicated in the district pupil

  9  progression plan, the child shall not be determined to be

10  habitually truant and shall be passed. If a child within the

11  compulsory school attendance age has 15 unexcused absences

12  within 90 calendar days or fails to enroll in school, the

13  appropriate jurisdictional agency or the State Attorney shall

14  may file a child-in-need-of-services petition unless,. Prior

15  to filing a petition, the child must be referred to the

16  appropriate agency for evaluation. After consulting with the

17  evaluating agency, the State Attorney determines that another

18  alternative placement is preferable may elect to file a

19  child-in-need-of-services petition.

20         (c)  A school representative, designated according to

21  school board policy, and a juvenile probation officer of the

22  Department of Juvenile Justice have jointly investigated the

23  truancy problem or, if that was not feasible, have performed

24  separate investigations to identify conditions that may be

25  contributing to the truant behavior; and if, after a joint

26  staffing of the case to determine the necessity for services,

27  such services were determined to be needed, the persons who

28  performed the investigations met jointly with the family and

29  child to discuss any referral to appropriate community

30  agencies for economic services, family or individual

31

                                  29

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1  counseling, or other services required to remedy the

  2  conditions that are contributing to the truant behavior.

  3         (d)  The failure or refusal of the parent or legal

  4  guardian or the child to participate, or make a good faith

  5  effort to participate, in the activities prescribed to remedy

  6  the truant behavior, or the failure or refusal of the child to

  7  return to school after participation in activities required by

  8  this subsection, or the failure of the child to stop the

  9  truant behavior after the school administration and the

10  Department of Juvenile Justice have worked with the child as

11  described in s. 232.19(3) and (4) shall be handled as

12  prescribed in s. 232.19.

13         (57)  "Truancy petition" means a petition filed by the

14  school superintendent alleging that a student subject to

15  compulsory school attendance has had more than 15 unexcused

16  absences in a 90-calendar-day period. A truancy petition is

17  filed and processed under s. 984.151.

18         Section 12.  Section 984.151, Florida Statutes, is

19  created to read:

20         984.151  Truancy petition; prosecution; disposition.--

21         (1)  If the school determines that a student subject to

22  compulsory school attendance has had more than 15 unexcused

23  absences in a 90-calendar-day period, the superintendent may

24  file a truancy petition.

25         (2)  The petition shall be filed in the circuit where

26  the student is enrolled in school.

27         (3)  Original jurisdiction to hear a truancy petition

28  shall be in the circuit court; however, the circuit court may

29  use a general or special master pursuant to Supreme Court

30  rules.

31

                                  30

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (4)  The petition must contain the following:  the

  2  name, age, and address of the student; the name and address of

  3  the student's parent or guardian; the school where the student

  4  is enrolled; the efforts the school has made to get the

  5  student to attend school; the number of out-of-school contacts

  6  between the school system and student's parent or guardian;

  7  and the number of days and dates of days the student has

  8  missed school.  The petition shall be sworn to by the

  9  superintendent or his or her designee.

10         (5)  Once the petition is filed, the court shall hear

11  the petition within 30 days.

12         (6)  The student and the student's parent or guardian

13  shall attend the hearing.

14         (7)  If the court determines that the student did miss

15  any of the alleged days, the court shall order the student to

16  attend school and the parent to ensure that the student

17  attends school, and may order any of the following:  the

18  student to participate in alternative sanctions to include

19  mandatory attendance at alternative classes to be followed by

20  mandatory community services hours for a period up to 6

21  months; the student and the student's parent or guardian to

22  participate in homemaker or parent aide services; the student

23  or the student's parent or guardian to participate in

24  intensive crisis counseling; the student or the student's

25  parent or guardian to participate in community mental health

26  services if available and applicable; the student and the

27  student's parent or guardian to participate in service

28  provided by voluntary or community agencies as available; and

29  the student or the student's parent or guardian to participate

30  in vocational, job training, or employment services.

31

                                  31

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1         (8)  If the student does not successfully complete the

  2  sanctions ordered in subsection (7), the case shall be

  3  referred to the case staffing committee under s. 984.12 with a

  4  recommendation to file a child-in-need-of-services petition

  5  under s. 984.15.

  6         Section 13.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  7  law.

  8

  9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

                                  32

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 2050
    304-1952-99




  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                              s2050

  3

  4  The committee substitute makes the following changes to the
    original bill:
  5
    Reduces the pilot project on compulsory school attendance to
  6  one county (Manatee County).

  7  Amends s. 232.17, F.S., to specify when schools and principals
    must contact the home about student absences. Specifies when
  8  the primary teacher must report to the school principal about
    student absences.
  9
    Requires the parent or guardian to file a child in need of
10  services petition or a family in need of services petition
    under certain circumstances.
11
    Specifies when the superintendent must give written notice
12  concerning criminal prosecution to the parent, guardian, or
    other person in charge of the child.
13
    Allows the superintendent to file a truancy petition, using
14  procedures established in s. 984.151, F.S.

15  Amends s. 236.081, F.S., to require, for purposes of
    determining the annual allocation to each school district for
16  operations, the computation of an average daily attendance
    factor. Specifies the method for computation and the
17  timeframes for documenting the daily attendance of each
    student by school and district and adjusting the district's
18  FTE membership.

19  Removes the provision in the bill related to initial program
    approval of teacher preparation programs and rewords the
20  legislative intent language related to the contribution of
    teachers.
21
    Adds a definition for a truancy petition to s. 984.03, F.S.
22  Creates s. 984.151, F.S., to establish procedures related to
    truancy in court and requirements and contents for truancy
23  petitions. Provides for referral to the case staffing
    committee under certain circumstances and provides penalties.
24
    Finally, the committee substitute makes a technical change for
25  referral to the evaluation agency.

26

27

28

29

30

31

                                  33