HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/HB 303 Barcode 543621
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
.
.
1 .
.
2 .
.
3 .
.
4 ______________________________________________________________
5 ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW
6
7
8
9
10 ______________________________________________________________
11 Representative(s) Gelber offered the following:
12
13 Amendment
14 On page 3, line 17 to page 6, line 15,
15 remove from the bill: all of said lines
16
17 and insert in lieu thereof:
18 (c) Opt to request, on an annual basis, a S.C.R.I.P.T.
19 grant of $3,000 for the student's attendance at an eligible
20 private school of the parent's choice.
21 (5) SCHOOL DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS.--
22 (a) Each school district shall annually by February
23 22, for each K-12 student eligible under subsection (4) in a
24 school that meets the definition of an overcrowded school
25 pursuant to subsection (3), notify the parent that the school
26 is overcrowded and provide the parent with the parental choice
27 options for the following school year as provided in
28 subsection (4).
29 (b) Notification shall be published on the school
30 district web site, in area newspapers, and by written notice
31 sent home with the student, and must include a listing of the
1
File original & 9 copies 03/19/01
hmo0006 11:54 am 00303-0106-543621
HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/HB 303 Barcode 543621
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
1 public schools, including charter schools, within the district
2 that do not meet the definition of an overcrowded school
3 pursuant to subsection (3).
4 (6) PARENT OBLIGATIONS.--
5 (a) The parent shall notify the school district as to
6 which of the options provided in subsection (4) the parent
7 wishes to choose.
8 1. Failure of the parent to provide notification shall
9 constitute the choice of the option provided by paragraph
10 (4)(a).
11 2. If the parent chooses the option provided by
12 paragraph (4)(b), the parent shall inform the school district
13 by March 31 which public school the parent has selected, and
14 the parent shall agree to provide any necessary transportation
15 for the student to the selected public school.
16 3. If the parent chooses the option provided by
17 paragraph (4)(c), the parent must:
18 a. Obtain acceptance for admission of the student to a
19 private school eligible under subsection (7) as soon as
20 possible, and inform the private school that the student will
21 be using a S.C.R.I.P.T. grant; or, if the parent is unable to
22 obtain acceptance for admission or for any reason decides not
23 to participate in the program, notify the school district as
24 soon as possible, so that the option in paragraph (4)(c) can
25 be made available to another parent.
26 b. Notify the Department of Education by July 1 of the
27 parent's request for a S.C.R.I.P.T. grant and the name and
28 address of the selected private school.
29 c. Agree to provide transportation for the student to
30 the private school if necessary.
31 d. Agree that the education provided by the private
2
File original & 9 copies 03/19/01
hmo0006 11:54 am 00303-0106-543621
HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/HB 303 Barcode 543621
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
1 school selected shall satisfy the student's full need for
2 educational services from the student's school.
3 (b) After the first year of the student's attending a
4 private school under the S.C.R.I.P.T. grants program, the
5 parent must annually notify the Department of Education no
6 later than July 1 if the parent intends to renew the grant
7 according to the provisions of subsection (9) in order for the
8 student to continue in the program, together with the name and
9 address of the private school selected for the student for the
10 following school year.
11 (7) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY.--To be eligible to
12 participate in the S.C.R.I.P.T grant program, a private school
13 must be a Florida private school, may be sectarian or
14 nonsectarian, and must:
15 (a) Demonstrate fiscal soundness by being in operation
16 for one school year or provide the Department of Education
17 with a statement by a certified public accountant confirming
18 that the private school desiring to participate is insured and
19 the owner or owners have sufficient capital or credit to
20 operate the school for the upcoming year serving the number of
21 students anticipated with expected revenues from tuition and
22 other sources that may be reasonably expected. In lieu of such
23 a statement, a surety bond or letter of credit for the amount
24 equal to the S.C.R.I.P.T. grants for any quarter may be filed
25 with the department.
26 (b) Notify the Department of Education and the school
27 district in whose service area the school is located of its
28 intent to participate in the program under this section by May
29 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which it
30 intends to participate. The notice shall specify the grade
31 levels and services that the private school has available for
3
File original & 9 copies 03/19/01
hmo0006 11:54 am 00303-0106-543621
HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/HB 303 Barcode 543621
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
1 the S.C.R.I.P.T. grants program.
2 (c) Be exempt from federal income tax pursuant to s.
3 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and, in the
4 administration of S.C.R.I.P.T. grants, not discriminate upon
5 the basis of religious conviction, race, color, sex, national
6 origin, or physical disability, except that the mere
7 separation of the sexes shall not be considered
8 discrimination.
9 (d) Meet state and local health and safety laws and
10 codes.
11 (e) Accept S.C.R.I.P.T. grant students on an entirely
12 random and religious-neutral basis without regard to the
13 student's past academic history; however, the private school
14 may give preference in accepting applications to siblings of
15 students who have already been accepted on a random and
16 religious-neutral basis.
17 (f) Be subject to the instruction, curriculum, and
18 attendance criteria adopted by an appropriate nonpublic school
19 accrediting body and be academically accountable to the parent
20 or guardian for meeting the educational needs of the student.
21 The private school must furnish a school profile which
22 includes student performance.
23 (g) Employ or contract with teachers who hold a
24 baccalaureate or higher degree, or have at least 3 years of
25 teaching experience in public or private schools, or have
26 special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to
27 provide instruction in subjects taught.
28 (h) Comply with all state statutes relating to private
29 schools.
30 (i) Accept as full tuition and fees the amount
31 provided by the state for each student.
4
File original & 9 copies 03/19/01
hmo0006 11:54 am 00303-0106-543621
HOUSE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/HB 303 Barcode 543621
Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)
1 (j) Agree not to compel any student attending the
2 private school on a S.C.R.I.P.T. grant to profess a specific
3 ideological belief, to pray, or to worship.
4 (k) Adhere to the tenets of its published disciplinary
5 procedures prior to the expulsion of any S.C.R.I.P.T. grant
6 student.
7 (l) Coordinate with the local school district the
8 locations and times for students in the private school who are
9 participating in the S.C.R.I.P.T. grants program to take all
10 statewide assessments pursuant to s. 229.57.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
5
File original & 9 copies 03/19/01
hmo0006 11:54 am 00303-0106-543621