House Bill 2141

    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HB 2141

        By the Committee on Education Innovation and
    Representative Melvin





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to deregulated public schools;

  3         amending s. 228.0565, F.S.; providing for the

  4         continuation of the deregulated public schools

  5         pilot project; authorizing additional districts

  6         to participate; revising exemptions from

  7         statute for purposes of the pilot project;

  8         providing an effective date.

  9

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

11

12         Section 1.  Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of

13  subsection (7) of section 228.0565, Florida Statutes, 1998

14  Supplement, are amended to read:

15         228.0565  Deregulated public schools.--

16         (1)  PILOT PROGRAM.--To provide public schools the same

17  flexibility and accountability afforded charter schools, pilot

18  programs for deregulated public schools shall be conducted in

19  two large, two medium-sized, and two small school districts.

20  For the 1998-1999 school year, no more than six schools per

21  district, to include no more than two high schools, two middle

22  schools, and two elementary schools, may participate in the

23  flexibility program. The following districts are authorized to

24  conduct pilot programs program in 1998-1999: Palm Beach,

25  Pinellas, Seminole, Leon, Walton, and Citrus Counties. The

26  schools and school districts which are participating in the

27  pilot program as of January 1, 1999, are authorized to

28  continue the pilot program through the 2003-2004 school year.

29  Lee County and Broward County are authorized to conduct the

30  pilot program beginning in the 1999-2000 school year through

31  the 2003-2004 school year.

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 1999                HB 2141

    603-140A-99






  1         (7)  EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.--

  2         (b)  A deregulated public school may, with appropriate

  3  justification, request a waiver from the certification

  4  requirements of chapter 231. Pursuant to s. 229.592(6), the

  5  commissioner may waive requirements of chapter 231 that relate

  6  to teacher certification to facilitate innovative practices

  7  and to allow local school selection of educational methods.

  8  Teachers employed by or under contract to a deregulated public

  9  school shall be certified as required by chapter 231. A

10  deregulated public school may employ or contract with skilled

11  selected noncertified personnel to provide instructional

12  services or to assist instructional staff members as education

13  paraprofessionals teacher aides in the same manner as defined

14  in chapter 231. A deregulated public school may not employ an

15  individual to provide instructional services or to serve as an

16  education paraprofessional a teacher aide if the individual's

17  certification or licensure as an educator is suspended or

18  revoked by this or any other state. The qualifications of

19  teachers shall be disclosed to parents.

20         Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

21

22            *****************************************

23                          HOUSE SUMMARY

24
      Provides for the continuation of the deregulated public
25    schools pilot project. Authorizes additional districts to
      participate in the pilot project. Revises exemptions from
26    statute.

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