HB 1349 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to a residential mathematics, science, and
3	technology high school; creating the Planning Task Force
4	for the Columbia Residential Mathematics, Science, and
5	Technology High School, which will be located in close
6	proximity to Kennedy Space Center; providing task force
7	membership, subcommittees, and duties; providing that the
8	Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA)
9	Education Programs Office shall administer the residential
10	high school; providing for a summer pilot program;
11	providing deadlines; providing requirements for admission
12	to the pilot program; providing an appropriation;
13	providing an effective date.
14
15	WHEREAS, the Governor and the Legislature seek to
16	strengthen and improve the economy of Florida and diversify the
17	tax base to lessen reliance on tourism and agriculture, and
18	WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Governor and the
19	Legislature that high-technology companies locate in Florida,
20	and
21	WHEREAS, the preparation of high school and college
22	graduates directly affects the location of such companies and
23	the future of Florida as a science and technology center, and
24	WHEREAS, research shows that high school students learn
25	mathematics and science more quickly and with a deeper
26	understanding when they can use facilities and equipment to
27	design and conduct experiments that illustrate these concepts,
28	and
29	WHEREAS, Florida has a strong interest in improving the
30	performance of students in the areas of math and science, as
31	measured by standardized testing such as the FCAT, and
32	WHEREAS, Florida has an incomparable resource in scientific
33	and mathematically related activities and facilities located at
34	NASA and the Space Coast, and the Space Experiment Research and
35	Processing Laboratory (SERPL) offers the opportunity for college
36	students and college professors to interact with high school
37	students in the residential program, and
38	WHEREAS, outstanding students in mathematics and science
39	can benefit greatly from intense learning and research
40	experiences led by master teachers working with mathematicians
41	and scientists from our universities and corporate partners, and
42	WHEREAS, in recognition of the contributions and sacrifice
43	of the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia, it is fitting to
44	designate a Florida residential mathematics, science, and
45	technology high school as the Columbia Residential Mathematics,
46	Science, and Technology High School, NOW, THEREFORE,
47
48	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
49
50	Section 1. Columbia Residential Mathematics, Science, and
51	Technology High School.--
52	(1) There is created the Planning Task Force for the
53	Columbia Residential Mathematics, Science, and Technology High
54	School, which school shall be located in close proximity to the
55	John F. Kennedy Space Center. The task force shall consist of 12
56	members, of whom the Governor shall appoint four, the President
57	of the Senate shall appoint four, and the Speaker of the House
58	of Representatives shall appoint four.
59	(2) The subcommittees within the task force are:
60	(a) Facilities subcommittee.--The facilities subcommittee
61	shall:
62	1. Assess the facilities formerly occupied by the space
63	camp;
64	2. Determine the best configuration for student housing;
65	3. Determine whether any modifications are needed to
66	accommodate the school and the projected cost of such
67	modifications; and
68	4. Review the potential for future program expansion and
69	determine the best course for such expansion.
70	(b) Program configuration subcommittee.--The program
71	configuration subcommittee shall:
72	1. Determine the subject content that is to be offered to
73	students, the length of the program, and the number of students
74	to be admitted;
75	2. Investigate methods of delivering instruction, such as
76	a distance-learning component, internships, and mentoring; and
77	3. Explore alternative methods for the delivery of K-12
78	educational opportunities for the children of employees working
79	at Kennedy Space Center.
80	(c) Teacher-training subcommittee.--The teacher-training
81	subcommittee shall:
82	1. Determine the role of the school in providing teacher
83	training, in conjunction with The Endeavour Academy; and
84	2. Devise ways in which the school can contribute to the
85	preparation of teachers for public schools in the areas of
86	mathematics, science, and technology, including delivering
87	teacher training by using the expertise of the teaching staff of
88	the residential school.
89	(3) In order to launch the project properly and determine
90	funding requirements:
91	(a) A comprehensive plan must be created;
92	(b) Preliminary programs must be tested;
93	(c) Private funding efforts must be explored;
94	(d) Facility designs must be developed; and
95	(e) Program costs must be determined.
96	(4) As prerequisites to accomplishing the goals set forth
97	in subsection (3), the planning task force shall determine:
98	(a) The predicted cost of the program.
99	(b) Ways in which the program will interface with the
100	Space Experiment Research and Processing Laboratory (SERPL), the
101	Kennedy Space Center, universities, and other regional and
102	national organizations, and with astronauts and engineers.
103	(c) How students will be selected.
104	(d) To what extent and in what ways business and industry
105	are to be involved.
106	(e) Criteria for the selection of faculty and staff.
107	(f) Timelines.
108	(g) Critical decision points that must be met.
109	(5) The Technological Research and Development Authority
110	(TRDA) Education Programs Office shall administer the program.
111	By March 1, 2004, the office shall hire an experienced
112	administrative team to manage the day-to-day operations of the
113	school and shall hire a sufficient number of highly qualified
114	teachers to conduct a 9-week summer pilot program beginning in
115	June 2004. By May 1, 2004, up to 50 applicants who have
116	completed grade 8 or higher shall be selected as enrollees in
117	the pilot program. The parent or guardian of each enrollee must
118	sign a contract stating that the enrollee intends to complete
119	the summer program, and each parent or guardian must pay a
120	reasonable tuition to cover the cost of the 9-week program.
121	Section 2. The sum of $100,000 is appropriated from the
122	General Revenue Fund to the planning task force for the Columbia
123	Residential Mathematics, Science, and Technology High School, to
124	be used in completing the development phase of the high school,
125	including developing the overall plan; conducting a summer pilot
126	program; creating a development-fundraising program; completing
127	preliminary architectural assessments, costs, and renditions;
128	and administering the task force.
129	Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.