995108
GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL                          Committee       Amendment
SB2500                                                  EDU              157


Senator(s): Horne
moved the following amendment:



Section: 02
EXPLANATION:

On Page: 041             
Creates a $30 million Professional Development

Scholarship Program for teachers from funds provided

Spec App:  110           
for Class Size Reduction







NET IMPACT ON:            Total Funds       General Revenue          Trust Funds
    Recurring -                    0                     0                    0 
Non-Recurring -                    0                     0                    0 
_________________________________________________________________________________

                                                  Positions & Amounts   Positions & Amounts
                                                      DELETE         INSERT

        EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF, AND 
        COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
        Public Schools, Division Of

        In Section 02  On Page 041
110     Aid To Local Governments
        Grants And Aids - Class Size Reduction

        Insert the following new paragraph of proviso 
        following Specific Appropriation 110 on page 42:

        From the funds appropriated in Specific
        Appropriation 110, $30,000,000 shall be distributed
        to school districts on the basis of unweighted FTE,
        with no school district receiving less than $30,000,
        to be used for scholarships for teachers in the
        district to purchase professional development
        opportunities. In determining teacher professional
        scholarships, school districts shall give priority
        to teachers in schools with a grade category of "D"
        or "F" and to teachers with performance deficiencies
        pursuant to S. 231.29, F.S. Each scholarship award
        shall be for no less than $750 and may be used for
        one or more professional development opportunities
        from a list approved by the Commissioner of
        Education. The fund shall be managed by the district
        to ensure that state and local professional
        development priorities are met, that funds are used

     995108  Log:0026  RDH/RDH           03/24/99 10:53:44 PM  Senate  Page: 1
        cost effectively, and that funds are used to enhance
        skills directly needed to perform the assigned
        duties of the educator. Funds may be used to pay the
        cost of college courses from a list approved by the
        Commissioner of Education. Teachers may apply for
        professional development scholarships individually
        or in groups. Each teacher awarded a professional
        development scholarship shall complete a brief
        report on the training and demonstrate skills
        learned in the training to colleagues within three
        months after the training. Schools districts
        receiving funds for this purpose shall establish an
        appeal process for scholarship denials and shall
        submit an annual report to the Department of
        Education on the number of teachers participating in
        the approved professional development opportunities
        and college courses, a summary of skill areas
        addressed, and an assessment of the success of the
        program.

        In Section 02  On Page 033
109     Aid To Local Governments
        Grants And Aids - Florida Educational 
        Finance Program

        In Section 02  On Page 034

        In the third line of the first paragraph of proviso 
        following Specific Appropriation 109 on page 34, 
        strike:

        $3,146.91

        Recalculate the base student allocation to reflect a 
        change in the allocation formula for Class Size 
        Reduction funds

Line item amendments are accepted as part of the amendatory process.  However, due to the necessity of using computerized systems this may entail a different placement
within a budget entity or the renumbering of the specific appropriation items.















     995108  Log:0026  RDH/RDH           03/24/99 10:53:44 PM  Senate  Page: 2