Amendment
Bill No. CS/SB 1908

Amendment No. 198529

CHAMBER ACTION
Senate		House
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1	Representatives Pickens, Flores, and Vana offered the following:
2
3	Substitute Amendment for Amendment (115333) to Senate Bill
4	(with title amendment)
5	Remove everything after the enacting clause and insert:
6	Section 1.  Section 1003.41, Florida Statutes, is amended
7	to read:
8	1003.41  Sunshine State Standards.--
9	(1)  Public K-12 educational instruction in Florida is
10	based on the "Sunshine State Standards." The State Board of
11	Education shall review the Sunshine State Standards and replace
12	them with the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards that
13	establish the core content of the curricula to be taught in this
14	state and that specify the core content knowledge and skills
15	that K-12 public school students are expected to acquire. The
16	Next Generation Sunshine State Standards must, at a minimum:
17	(a)  Establish the core curricular content for language
18	arts, science, mathematics, and social studies, as follows:
19	1.  Language arts standards must establish specific
20	curricular content for, at a minimum, the reading process,
21	literary analysis, the writing process, writing applications,
22	communication, and information and media literacy. The standards
23	must include distinct grade-level expectations for the core
24	content knowledge and skills that a student is expected to have
25	acquired by each individual grade level from kindergarten
26	through grade 8. The language arts standards for grades 9
27	through 12 may be organized by grade clusters of more than one
28	grade level. The language arts standards must also identify
29	significant literary genres and authors that encompass a
30	comprehensive range of historical periods, from among which each
31	school district shall select specific works of literature that a
32	student is expected to read before high school graduation. The
33	State Board of Education shall, in accordance with the expedited
34	schedule established under subsection (2), review and replace
35	the language arts standards adopted by the state board in 2007
36	with Next Generation Sunshine State Standards that comply with
37	this subparagraph.
38	2.  Science standards must establish specific curricular
39	content for, at a minimum, the nature of science, earth and
40	space science, physical science, and life science. The standards
41	must include distinct grade-level expectations for the core
42	content knowledge and skills that a student is expected to have
43	acquired by each individual grade level from kindergarten
44	through grade 8. The science standards for grades 9 through 12
45	may be organized by grade clusters of more than one grade level.
46	3.  Mathematics standards must establish specific
47	curricular content for, at a minimum, algebra, geometry,
48	probability, statistics, calculus, discrete mathematics,
49	financial literacy, and trigonometry. The standards must include
50	distinct grade-level expectations for the core content knowledge
51	and skills that a student is expected to have acquired by each
52	individual grade level from kindergarten through grade 8. The
53	mathematics standards for grades 9 through 12 may be organized
54	by grade clusters of more than one grade level.
55	4.  Social studies standards must establish specific
56	curricular content for, at a minimum, geography, United States
57	and world history, government, civics, economics, and
58	humanities. The standards must include distinct grade-level
59	expectations for the core content knowledge and skills that a
60	student is expected to have acquired by each individual grade
61	level from kindergarten through grade 8. The social studies
62	standards for grades 9 through 12 may be organized by grade
63	clusters of more than one grade level.
64	(b)  Establish the core curricular content for visual and
65	performing arts, physical education, health, and foreign
66	languages. Standards for these subjects must establish specific
67	curricular content and include distinct grade-level expectations
68	for the core content knowledge and skills that a student is
69	expected to have acquired by each individual grade level from
70	kindergarten through grade 5. The standards for grades 6 through
71	12 may be organized by grade clusters of more than one grade
72	level.
73	(c)  Identify the core curricular content that a student is
74	expected to learn for each subject at each individual grade
75	level in order to acquire the broad background knowledge needed
76	for reading comprehension.
77	(d)  Be rigorous and relevant and provide for the logical,
78	sequential progression of core curricular content that
79	incrementally increases a student's core content knowledge and
80	skills over time.
81	(e)  Integrate critical-thinking and problem-solving
82	skills; communication, reading, and writing skills; mathematics
83	skills; collaboration skills; contextual and applied-learning
84	skills; technology-literacy skills; information and media-
85	literacy skills; and civic-engagement skills.
86	(f)  Be organized according to a uniform structure and
87	format that is consistent for each subject. The Next Generation
88	Sunshine State Standards shall, for each subject and grade
89	level, use the same alphanumeric coding system.
90	(g)  Be aligned to expectations for success in
91	postsecondary education and high-skill, high-wage employment.
92	(2)  By December 31, 2008, the State Board of Education
93	shall establish an expedited schedule for adoption of the Next
94	Generation Sunshine State Standards and shall establish by rule
95	a schedule for the periodic review and revision of the
96	standards. The state board shall adopt the Next Generation
97	Sunshine State Standards for each subject by December 31, 2011.
98	(3)(a)  The Commissioner of Education shall develop and
99	submit to the State Board of Education proposed Next Generation
100	Sunshine State Standards, and periodically submit proposed
101	revisions to the standards, for adoption by the state board
102	according to the schedules established under subsection (2). The
103	commissioner, in developing the proposed standards, shall
104	consult with renowned experts on K-12 curricular standards and
105	content in each subject listed in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) and
106	shall consider standards that are implemented by other states or
107	nations and regarded as exceptionally rigorous by the curricular
108	and content experts. The commissioner may also consult with
109	curricular and content experts in other subjects.
110	(b)  The commissioner shall submit the proposed standards
111	for review and comment by Florida educators, school
112	administrators, representatives of community colleges and state
113	universities who have expertise in the content knowledge and
114	skills necessary to prepare a student for postsecondary
115	education, and leaders in business and industry. The
116	commissioner, after considering any comments and making any
117	revisions to the proposed standards, shall submit the standards
118	for written evaluation by renowned experts on K-12 curricular
119	standards and content.
120	(c)  The commissioner, upon finalizing the proposed
121	standards, shall submit the standards and evaluations by the
122	curricular and content experts to the Governor, the President of
123	the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives at
124	least 21 days before the State Board of Education considers
125	adoption of the proposed standards.
126	(4)  The State Board of Education may adopt rules under ss.
127	120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this section. These
128	standards have been adopted by the State Board of Education and
129	delineate the academic achievement of students, for which the
130	state will hold schools accountable, in grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8,
131	and 9-12 in the subjects of language arts, mathematics, science,
132	social studies, the arts, health and physical education, and
133	foreign languages. They include standards in reading, writing,
134	history, government, geography, economics, and computer
135	literacy.
136	Section 2.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (9) of section
137	220.187, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
138	220.187  Credits for contributions to nonprofit
139	scholarship-funding organizations.--
140	(9)  DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS.--The Department
141	of Education shall:
142	(i)  In accordance with State Board of Education rule,
143	identify and select the nationally norm-referenced tests, and
144	that are comparable to the norm-referenced provisions of the
145	Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) provided that the
146	FCAT may be one of the tests selected. However, the Department
147	of Education may approve schools to the use of an additional
148	assessments, which meet assessment by the school if the
149	assessment meets industry standards of quality and
150	comparability.
151	Section 3.  Subsection (7) of section 1000.21, Florida
152	Statutes, is amended to read:
153	1000.21  Systemwide definitions.--As used in the Florida K-
154	20 Education Code:
155	(7)  "Sunshine State Standards" or the "Next Generation
156	Sunshine State Standards" means the state's public K-12
157	curricular are standards adopted under s. 1003.41. The term
158	includes the Sunshine State Standards that are in place for a
159	subject until the standards for that subject are replaced under
160	s. 1003.41 by the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. that
161	identify what public school students should know and be able to
162	do. These standards delineate the academic achievement of
163	students for which the state will hold its public schools
164	accountable in grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12, in the subjects
165	of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the
166	arts, health and physical education, foreign languages, reading,
167	writing, history, government, geography, economics, and computer
168	literacy.
169	Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 1001.03, Florida
170	Statutes, is amended to read:
171	1001.03  Specific powers of State Board of Education.--
172	(1)  PUBLIC K-12 CURRICULAR STUDENT PERFORMANCE
173	STANDARDS.--The State Board of Education shall adopt and
174	periodically review and revise approve the student performance
175	standards known as the Sunshine State Standards in accordance
176	with s. 1003.41 key academic subject areas and grade levels. The
177	state board shall establish a schedule to facilitate the
178	periodic review of the standards to ensure adequate rigor,
179	relevance, logical student progression, and integration of
180	reading, writing, and mathematics across all subject areas. The
181	standards review by subject area must include participation of
182	curriculum leaders in other content areas, including the arts,
183	to ensure valid content area integration and to address the
184	instructional requirements of different learning styles. The
185	process for review and proposed revisions must include
186	leadership and input from the state's classroom teachers, school
187	administrators, and community colleges and universities, and
188	from representatives from business and industry who are
189	identified by local education foundations. A report including
190	proposed revisions must be submitted to the Governor, the
191	President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
192	Representatives annually to coincide with the established review
193	schedule. The review schedule and an annual status report must
194	be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
195	the Speaker of the House of Representatives annually not later
196	than January 1.
197	Section 5.  Subsection (3) of section 1001.41, Florida
198	Statutes, is amended to read:
199	1001.41  General powers of district school board.--The
200	district school board, after considering recommendations
201	submitted by the district school superintendent, shall exercise
202	the following general powers:
203	(3)  Prescribe and Adopt standards and policies that to
204	provide each student the opportunity to receive a complete
205	education program, including instruction in the core curricular
206	content established in language arts, mathematics, science,
207	social studies, health, physical education, foreign languages,
208	and the arts, as defined by the Next Generation Sunshine State
209	Standards. The standards and policies must emphasize integration
210	and reinforcement of reading, writing, and mathematics skills
211	across all subjects, including career awareness, career
212	exploration, and Career and technical education standards and
213	policies must integrate with and reinforce the Next Generation
214	Sunshine State Standards.
215	Section 6.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
216	1001.452, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
217	1001.452  District and school advisory councils.--
218	(1)  ESTABLISHMENT.--
219	(a)  The district school board shall establish an advisory
220	council for each school in the district and shall develop
221	procedures for the election and appointment of advisory council
222	members. Each school advisory council shall include in its name
223	the words "school advisory council." The school advisory council
224	shall be the sole body responsible for final decisionmaking at
225	the school relating to implementation of the provisions of ss.
226	1001.42(16) and 1008.345. A majority of the members of each
227	school advisory council must be persons who are not employed by
228	the school district. Each advisory council shall be composed of
229	the principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers,
230	education support employees, students, parents, and other
231	business and community citizens who are representative of the
232	ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school.
233	Career center and high school advisory councils shall include
234	students, and middle and junior high school advisory councils
235	may include students. School advisory councils of career centers
236	and adult education centers are not required to include parents
237	as members. Council members representing teachers, education
238	support employees, students, and parents shall be elected by
239	their respective peer groups at the school in a fair and
240	equitable manner as follows:
241	1.  Teachers shall be elected by teachers.
242	2.  Education support employees shall be elected by
243	education support employees.
244	3.  Students shall be elected by students.
245	4.  Parents shall be elected by parents.
246
247	The district school board shall establish procedures for use by
248	schools in selecting business and community members that include
249	means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and of taking input
250	on possible members from local business, chambers of commerce,
251	community and civic organizations and groups, and the public at
252	large. The district school board shall review the membership
253	composition of each advisory council. If the district school
254	board determines that the membership elected by the school is
255	not representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic community
256	served by the school, the district school board shall appoint
257	additional members to achieve proper representation. The
258	commissioner shall determine if schools have maximized their
259	efforts to include on their advisory councils minority persons
260	and persons of lower socioeconomic status. Although schools are
261	strongly encouraged to establish school advisory councils, the
262	district school board of any school district that has a student
263	population of 10,000 or fewer may establish a district advisory
264	council which shall include at least one duly elected teacher
265	from each school in the district. For the purposes of school
266	advisory councils and district advisory councils, the term
267	"teacher" shall include classroom teachers, certified student
268	services personnel, and media specialists. For purposes of this
269	paragraph, "education support employee" means any person
270	employed by a school who is not defined as instructional or
271	administrative personnel pursuant to s. 1012.01 and whose duties
272	require 20 or more hours in each normal working week.
273	Section 7.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (3) of section
274	1003.413, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
275	1003.413  Florida Secondary School Redesign Act.--
276	(3)  Based on these guiding principles, district school
277	boards shall establish policies to implement the requirements of
278	ss. 1003.4156, 1003.428, and 1003.493. The policies must
279	address:
280	(i)  An annual review of each high school student's
281	electronic personal education plan created pursuant to s.
282	1003.4156 and procedures for high school students who have not
283	prepared an electronic personal education plan pursuant to s.
284	1003.4156 to prepare such plan.
285	Section 8.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2), paragraph (b)
286	of subsection (4), and paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of
287	section 1003.428, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
288	1003.428  General requirements for high school graduation;
289	revised.--
290	(2)  The 24 credits may be earned through applied,
291	integrated, and combined courses approved by the Department of
292	Education and shall be distributed as follows:
293	(a)  Sixteen core curriculum credits:
294	1.  Four credits in English, with major concentration in
295	composition, reading for information, and literature.
296	2.  Four credits in mathematics, one of which must be
297	Algebra I, a series of courses equivalent to Algebra I, or a
298	higher-level mathematics course. School districts are encouraged
299	to set specific goals to increase enrollments in, and successful
300	completion of, geometry and Algebra II.
301	3.  Three credits in science, two of which must have a
302	laboratory component.
303	4.  Three credits in social studies as follows: one credit
304	in American history; one credit in world history; one-half
305	credit in economics; and one-half credit in American government.
306	5.  One credit in fine or performing arts, which may
307	include speech and debate or practical arts.
308	6.  One credit in physical education to include integration
309	of health. Participation in an interscholastic sport at the
310	junior varsity or varsity level for two full seasons shall
311	satisfy the one-credit requirement in physical education if the
312	student passes a competency test on personal fitness with a
313	score of "C" or better. The competency test on personal fitness
314	must be developed by the Department of Education. A district
315	school board may not require that the one credit in physical
316	education be taken during the 9th grade year. Completion of one
317	semester with a grade of "C" or better in a marching band class,
318	in a physical activity class that requires participation in
319	marching band activities as an extracurricular activity, or in a
320	dance class shall satisfy one-half credit in physical education
321	or one-half credit in performing arts. This credit may not be
322	used to satisfy the personal fitness requirement or the
323	requirement for adaptive physical education under an individual
324	education plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Completion of 2 years in a
325	Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) class, a significant
326	component of which is drills, shall satisfy the one-credit
327	requirement in physical education and the one-credit requirement
328	in performing arts. This credit may not be used to satisfy the
329	personal fitness requirement or the requirement for adaptive
330	physical education under an individual education plan (IEP) or
331	504 plan.
332	(4)  Each district school board shall establish standards
333	for graduation from its schools, which must include:
334	(b)  Earning passing scores on the FCAT, as defined in s.
335	1008.22(3)(c), or scores on a standardized test that are
336	concordant with passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.
337	1008.22(10) s. 1008.22(9).
338
339	Each district school board shall adopt policies designed to
340	assist students in meeting the requirements of this subsection.
341	These policies may include, but are not limited to: forgiveness
342	policies, summer school or before or after school attendance,
343	special counseling, volunteers or peer tutors, school-sponsored
344	help sessions, homework hotlines, and study skills classes.
345	Forgiveness policies for required courses shall be limited to
346	replacing a grade of "D" or "F," or the equivalent of a grade of
347	"D" or "F," with a grade of "C" or higher, or the equivalent of
348	a grade of "C" or higher, earned subsequently in the same or
349	comparable course. Forgiveness policies for elective courses
350	shall be limited to replacing a grade of "D" or "F," or the
351	equivalent of a grade of "D" or "F," with a grade of "C" or
352	higher, or the equivalent of a grade of "C" or higher, earned
353	subsequently in another course. The only exception to these
354	forgiveness policies shall be made for a student in the middle
355	grades who takes any high school course for high school credit
356	and earns a grade of "C," "D," or "F" or the equivalent of a
357	grade of "C," "D," or "F." In such case, the district
358	forgiveness policy must allow the replacement of the grade with
359	a grade of "C" or higher, or the equivalent of a grade of "C" or
360	higher, earned subsequently in the same or comparable course. In
361	all cases of grade forgiveness, only the new grade shall be used
362	in the calculation of the student's grade point average. Any
363	course grade not replaced according to a district school board
364	forgiveness policy shall be included in the calculation of the
365	cumulative grade point average required for graduation.
366	(8)(a)  Each district school board must provide instruction
367	to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate proficiency
368	in the core content knowledge and skills and competencies
369	necessary for successful grade-to-grade progression and high
370	school graduation.
371	Section 9.  Section 1003.4285, Florida Statutes, is created
372	to read:
373	1003.4285  Standard high school diploma designations.--By
374	the 2008-2009 school year, each standard high school diploma
375	shall include, as applicable:
376	(1)  A designation of the student's major area of interest
377	pursuant to the student's completion of credits as provided in
378	s. 1003.428.
379	(2)  A designation reflecting completion of four or more
380	accelerated college credit courses if the student is eligible
381	for college credit pursuant to s. 1007.27 or s. 1007.271 in
382	Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced
383	International Certificate of Education, or dual enrollment
384	courses. The Commissioner of Education shall establish
385	guidelines for successful passage of examinations or coursework
386	in each of the accelerated college credit options for purposes
387	of this subsection.
388	(3)  A designation reflecting career education
389	certification in accordance with s. 1003.431.
390	(4)  A designation reflecting a Florida Ready to Work
391	Credential in accordance with s. 1004.99.
392	Section 10.  Section 1003.4287, Florida Statutes, is
393	created to read:
394	1003.4287  Postsecondary education credit courses;
395	comprehensive plan.--
396	(1)  The purpose of this section is to provide each public
397	high school student with access to a substantive and rigorous
398	curriculum that is designed to challenge the student's mind,
399	enhance the student's knowledge and skills, and prepare the
400	student for success in college and work.
401	(2)  For purposes of this section, the term "postsecondary
402	education credit course" means a course through which a high
403	school student may earn postsecondary credit and includes
404	Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses,
405	Advanced International Certificate of Education courses, and
406	dual enrollment courses.
407	(3)  By the 2009-2010 school year, each public high school
408	in the state must provide students access to at least four
409	Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced
410	International Certificate of Education, or dual enrollment
411	courses, one each in English, mathematics, science, and social
412	studies, and at least four courses in career and technical dual
413	enrollment. To fulfill this requirement, schools may utilize
414	course offerings provided by the Florida Virtual School, a
415	career center, a charter technical career center, a community
416	college, a state university, or an independent college or
417	university eligible for inclusion in the dual enrollment program
418	pursuant to s. 1011.62.
419	(4)  To assist with implementation of this section, the
420	State Board of Education shall develop and adopt a comprehensive
421	plan that:
422	(a)  Provides all students with access to a substantive and
423	rigorous curriculum that is designed to challenge their minds
424	and enhance their knowledge and skills and with opportunities to
425	acquire postsecondary education credits while in high school.
426	(b)  Supports school administrators and guidance counselors
427	in the receipt of professional development that enables them to
428	create strong and effective postsecondary opportunities for
429	their students.
430	(c)  Establishes guidelines and timelines for teachers and
431	school leaders in middle schools and high schools to receive
432	training in content knowledge and instructional skills to
433	prepare students for success in a rigorous curriculum that leads
434	to postsecondary education credit.
435	(d)  Creates long-term and annual statewide goals for
436	increasing:
437	1.  The number and percentage of students enrolling in and
438	completing postsecondary education credit courses.
439	2.  The number and percentage of students receiving
440	postsecondary education credits in such courses.
441	3.  The number and percentage of low-income and
442	underrepresented students enrolling in and completing
443	postsecondary education credit courses.
444	4.  The number and percentage of low-income and
445	underrepresented students receiving postsecondary education
446	credit in such courses.
447	(e)  Leverages federal and private funding available for
448	incentives and training.
449	(f)  Focuses state and federal funding to carry out
450	activities that target school districts serving high
451	concentrations of low-income and underrepresented students.
452	(g)  Provides a plan of communication that emphasizes the
453	importance of postsecondary education credit courses to a
454	student's ability to gain access to and succeed in postsecondary
455	education. The plan for such communication should include
456	information to students, teachers, counselors, administrators,
457	school districts, community colleges, and state universities.
458	(h)  Requires annual evaluations of the impact of the
459	implementation of this section on the rates of student
460	enrollment and success in postsecondary education credit
461	courses, on high school graduation rates, and on college
462	enrollment rates. The evaluation must include a review of the
463	progress toward meeting goals established pursuant to paragraph
464	(d).
465	Section 11.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
466	1003.429, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
467	1003.429  Accelerated high school graduation options.--
468	(6)  Students pursuing accelerated 3-year high school
469	graduation options pursuant to paragraph (1)(b) or paragraph
470	(1)(c) are required to:
471	(a)  Earn passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.
472	1008.22(3)(c) or scores on a standardized test that are
473	concordant with passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.
474	1008.22(10) s. 1008.22(9).
475
476	Weighted grades referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), and (d)
477	shall be applied to those courses specifically listed or
478	identified by the department as rigorous pursuant to s.
479	1009.531(3) or weighted by the district school board for class
480	ranking purposes.
481	Section 12.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) and paragraph
482	(a) of subsection (11) of section 1003.43, Florida Statutes, are
483	amended to read:
484	1003.43  General requirements for high school graduation.--
485	(5)  Each district school board shall establish standards
486	for graduation from its schools, and these standards must
487	include:
488	(a)  Earning passing scores on the FCAT, as defined in s.
489	1008.22(3)(c), or scores on a standardized test that are
490	concordant with passing scores on the FCAT as defined in s.
491	1008.22(10) s. 1008.22(9).
492
493	The standards required in this subsection, and any subsequent
494	modifications, shall be reprinted in the Florida Administrative
495	Code even though not defined as "rules."
496	(11)(a)  Each district school board must provide
497	instruction to prepare students with disabilities to demonstrate
498	proficiency in the core content knowledge and skills and
499	competencies necessary for successful grade-to-grade progression
500	and high school graduation.
501	Section 13.  Subsection (1) of section 1003.433, Florida
502	Statutes, is amended to read:
503	1003.433  Learning opportunities for out-of-state and out-
504	of-country transfer students and students needing additional
505	instruction to meet high school graduation requirements.--
506	(1)  Students who enter a Florida public school at the
507	eleventh or twelfth grade from out of state or from a foreign
508	country shall not be required to spend additional time in a
509	Florida public school in order to meet the high school course
510	requirements if the student has met all requirements of the
511	school district, state, or country from which he or she is
512	transferring. Such students who are not proficient in English
513	should receive immediate and intensive instruction in English
514	language acquisition. However, to receive a standard high school
515	diploma, a transfer student must earn a 2.0 grade point average
516	and pass the grade 10 FCAT required in s. 1008.22(3) or an
517	alternate assessment as described in s. 1008.22(10) s.
518	1008.22(9).
519	Section 14.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (6) of section
520	1003.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
521	1003.63  Deregulated public schools pilot program.--
522	(6)  ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL.--The major issues involving
523	the operation of a deregulated public school shall be considered
524	in advance and written into the proposal.
525	(d)  Upon receipt of the annual report required by
526	paragraph (b), the Department of Education shall provide the
527	State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education, the
528	President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
529	Representatives with a copy of each report and an analysis and
530	comparison of the overall performance of students, to include
531	all students in deregulated public schools whose scores are
532	counted as part of the statewide assessment tests, versus
533	comparable public school students in the district as determined
534	by statewide assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3) FCAT
535	and district assessment tests and, as appropriate, the Florida
536	Writes Assessment Test, and other assessments administered
537	pursuant to s. 1008.22(3).
538	Section 15.  Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (3) of
539	section 1004.85, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
540	1004.85  Postsecondary educator preparation institutes.--
541	(3)  Educator preparation institutes approved pursuant to
542	this section may offer alternative certification programs
543	specifically designed for noneducation major baccalaureate
544	degree holders to enable program participants to meet the
545	educator certification requirements of s. 1012.56. Such programs
546	shall be competency-based educator certification preparation
547	programs that prepare educators through an alternative route. An
548	educator preparation institute choosing to offer an alternative
549	certification program pursuant to the provisions of this section
550	must implement a program previously approved by the Department
551	of Education for this purpose or a program developed by the
552	institute and approved by the department for this purpose.
553	Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved
554	educator preparation institutes.
555	(c)  Upon completion of an alternative certification
556	program approved pursuant to this subsection, a participant
557	shall receive a credential from the sponsoring institution
558	signifying satisfaction of the requirements of s. 1012.56(6) s.
559	1012.56(5) relating to mastery of professional preparation and
560	education competence. A participant shall be eligible for
561	educator certification through the Department of Education upon
562	satisfaction of all requirements for certification set forth in
563	s. 1012.56(2), including demonstration of mastery of general
564	knowledge, subject area knowledge, and professional preparation
565	and education competence, through testing or other statutorily
566	authorized means.
567	(d)  If an institution offers an alternative certification
568	program approved pursuant to this subsection, such program may
569	be used by the school district or districts served by that
570	institution in addition to the alternative certification program
571	as required in s. 1012.56(8) s. 1012.56(7).
572	Section 16.  Subsection (3) of section 1004.91, Florida
573	Statutes, is amended to read:
574	1004.91  Career-preparatory instruction.--
575	(3)  An adult student with a disability may be exempted
576	from the provisions of this section. A student who possesses a
577	college degree at the associate in applied science level or
578	higher is exempt from this section. A student who has completed
579	or who is exempt from the college-level communication and
580	computation skills examination pursuant to s. 1008.29, or who is
581	exempt from the college entry-level examination pursuant to s.
582	1008.29, is exempt from the provisions of this section. Students
583	who have passed a state, national, or industry licensure exam
584	are exempt from this section. An adult student who is enrolled
585	in an apprenticeship program that is registered with the
586	Department of Education in accordance with the provisions of
587	chapter 446 is exempt from the provisions of this section.
588	Section 17.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
589	1004.99, Florida Statutes, is amended, present subsection (4) of
590	that section is renumbered as subsection (5), and a new
591	subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
592	1004.99  Florida Ready to Work Certification Program.--
593	(3)  The Florida Ready to Work Certification Program shall
594	be composed of:
595	(d)  A Florida Ready to Work Credential certificate and
596	portfolio awarded to students upon successful completion of the
597	instruction. Each portfolio must delineate the skills
598	demonstrated by the student as evidence of the student's
599	preparation for employment.
600	(4)  A Florida Ready to Work Credential shall be awarded to
601	a student who successfully passes assessments in Reading for
602	Information, Applied Mathematics, and Locating Information or
603	any other assessments of comparable rigor. Each assessment shall
604	be scored on a scale of 3 to 7. The level of the credential each
605	student receives is based on the following:
606	(a)  A bronze-level credential requires a minimum score of
607	3 or above on each of the assessments.
608	(b)  A silver-level credential requires a minimum score of
609	4 or above on each of the assessments.
610	(c)  A gold-level credential requires a minimum score of 5
611	or above on each of the assessments.
612	Section 18.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
613	1007.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
614	1007.21  Readiness for postsecondary education and the
615	workplace.--
616	(2)
617	(c)  The common placement test authorized in ss.
618	1001.03(10) and 1008.30 or a similar test may be administered to
619	all high school students second semester sophomores who have
620	chosen one of the four destinations. The results of the
621	placement test shall be used to target additional instructional
622	needs in reading, writing, and mathematics prior to graduation.
623	Section 19.  Section 1007.212, Florida Statutes, is created
624	to read:
625	1007.212  Remediation Reform Pilot Project.--
626	(1)  The Legislature finds that the cost to the state and
627	to students for remedial education has exceeded $100 million in
628	recent years. The Legislature further finds that it is in the
629	public's best interest to identify policies and best practices
630	that reduce the need for and the cost of remediation for recent
631	high school graduates who enter postsecondary education.
632	(2)  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, there is
633	created the Remediation Reform Pilot Project with the goal of
634	reducing the need for and the cost of remediation for recent
635	high school graduates who enter postsecondary education.
636	(3)  The Department of Education shall develop by August 1,
637	2008, an application process for community colleges and school
638	districts to participate in the pilot project. Each application
639	must represent a collaborative effort between one or more
640	community colleges and one or more school districts in each
641	community college's service area.
642	(4)  Each application shall:
643	(a)  Identify the specific area or areas of remediation to
644	be addressed as part of the pilot project.
645	(b)  Provide the most recent data available from the
646	postsecondary feedback reports produced pursuant to s. 1008.37
647	for each community college and school district that will
648	participate in the pilot project for the area or areas of
649	remediation that will be addressed during the course of the
650	project.
651	(c)  Describe the strategies currently used by the
652	participating institutions to address remediation needs,
653	including mechanisms used to identify students who need
654	remediation, corrective actions employed to address identified
655	needs, and methods used to evaluate the effectiveness of these
656	strategies.
657	(d)  Describe any proposed changes to current strategies
658	that have been designed to reduce the need for postsecondary
659	remediation, including, but not limited to:
660	1.  Specific intervention efforts that will be employed to
661	address identified deficiencies.
662	2.  The process the community college and the school
663	district will use to determine the effectiveness of the changes.
664	3.  A projected timeline for implementation of the changes.
665	(e)  Describe specific professional development activities
666	that will be provided for secondary education faculty.
667	(f)  Provide itemized estimates of the costs to each
668	participating community college and school district of
669	implementing the proposal.
670	(g)  Identify any local, federal, or private funding that
671	may be available to support the project.
672	(h)  Project any reductions in the need for and the cost of
673	remediation that are anticipated following implementation and
674	describe the method used to develop the projections.
675	(5)  By October 1, 2008, the Commissioner of Education
676	shall evaluate the applications and recommend no more than four
677	proposals to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
678	House of Representatives for consideration and final approval.
679	To the extent possible, the proposals recommended by the
680	commissioner shall be representative of the geographic regions
681	of the state and representative of large, medium, and small
682	school districts.
683	(6)  Each community college and school district
684	participating in the pilot project shall submit an annual status
685	report, including a description of the strategies implemented,
686	any costs incurred, and the effectiveness of the strategies used
687	in reducing the need for and the cost of postsecondary
688	remediation to students and the state. This report shall be
689	submitted to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President
690	of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
691	Commissioner of Education, and the Office of Program Policy
692	Analysis and Government Accountability by September 1. The
693	Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
694	shall analyze the reports submitted pursuant to this subsection
695	to identify the policies and practices that are most effective
696	in reducing the need for and the cost of remediation, including
697	any cost savings realized as a result of implementation.
698	(7)  The pilot project shall be funded as provided in the
699	General Appropriations Act. The Department of Education, school
700	districts, and community colleges may redirect existing
701	resources for purposes of the pilot project and are encouraged
702	to seek and accept grants from additional public and private
703	sources to implement the pilot project.
704	Section 20.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
705	1007.235, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
706	1007.235  District interinstitutional articulation
707	agreements.--
708	(2)  The district interinstitutional articulation agreement
709	for each school year must be completed before high school
710	registration for the fall term of the following school year. The
711	agreement must include, but is not limited to, the following
712	components:
713	(b)1.  A delineation of courses and programs available to
714	students eligible to participate in dual enrollment. This
715	delineation must include a plan for the community college to
716	provide guidance services to participating students on the
717	selection of courses in the dual enrollment program. The process
718	of community college guidance should make maximum use of the
719	automated advisement system for community colleges. The plan
720	must assure that each dual enrollment student is encouraged to
721	identify a postsecondary education objective with which to guide
722	the course selection. At a minimum, each student's plan should
723	include a list of courses that will result in an Applied
724	Technology Diploma, an Associate in Science degree, or an
725	Associate in Arts degree. If the student identifies a
726	baccalaureate degree as the objective, the plan must include
727	courses that will meet the general education requirements and
728	any prerequisite requirements for entrance into a selected
729	baccalaureate degree program.
730	2.  A delineation of the process by which students and
731	their parents are informed about opportunities to participate in
732	articulated acceleration programs.
733	3.  A delineation of the process by which students and
734	their parents exercise their option to participate in an
735	articulated acceleration program.
736	4.  A delineation of high school credits earned for
737	completion of each dual enrollment course.
738	5.  Provision for postsecondary courses that meet the
739	criteria for inclusion in a district articulated acceleration
740	program to be counted toward meeting the graduation requirements
741	of s. 1003.43.
742	6.  An identification of eligibility criteria for student
743	participation in dual enrollment courses and programs.
744	7.  A delineation of institutional responsibilities
745	regarding student screening prior to enrollment and monitoring
746	student performance subsequent to enrollment in dual enrollment
747	courses and programs.
748	8.  An identification of the criteria by which the quality
749	of dual enrollment courses and programs are to be judged and a
750	delineation of institutional responsibilities for the
751	maintenance of instructional quality.
752	9.  A delineation of institutional responsibilities for
753	assuming the cost of dual enrollment courses and programs that
754	includes such responsibilities for student instructional
755	materials.
756	10.  An identification of responsibility for providing
757	student transportation if the dual enrollment instruction is
758	conducted at a facility other than the high school campus.
759	11.  A delineation of the process for converting college
760	credit hours earned through dual enrollment and early admission
761	programs to high school credit based on mastery of course
762	outcomes as determined by the Department of Education in
763	accordance with s. 1007.271(6).
764	12.  An identification of the responsibility of the
765	postsecondary educational institution for assigning letter
766	grades for dual enrollment courses and the responsibility of
767	school districts for posting dual enrollment course grades to
768	the high school transcript as assigned by the postsecondary
769	institution awarding the credit.
770	Section 21.  Subsection (16) of section 1007.271, Florida
771	Statutes, is amended to read:
772	1007.271  Dual enrollment programs.--
773	(16)  Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2006-
774	2007 school year, school districts and community colleges must
775	weigh dual enrollment courses the same as advanced placement,
776	International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International
777	Certificate of Education courses when grade point averages are
778	calculated. Alternative grade calculation or weighting systems
779	that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are
780	prohibited. Beginning with students applying for admission to a
781	state university for the 2009-2010 academic year, state
782	universities must weigh dual enrollment courses the same as
783	comparable Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and
784	Advanced International Certificate of Education courses when
785	calculating grade point averages for purposes of making
786	admissions decisions.
787	Section 22.  Section 1008.22, Florida Statutes, is amended
788	to read:
789	1008.22  Student assessment program for public schools.--
790	(1)  PURPOSE.--The primary purposes of the student
791	assessment program are to provide information needed to improve
792	the public schools by enhancing the learning gains of all
793	students and to inform parents of the educational progress of
794	their public school children. The program must be designed to:
795	(a)  Assess the annual learning gains of each student
796	toward achieving the Sunshine State Standards appropriate for
797	the student's grade level.
798	(b)  Provide data for making decisions regarding school
799	accountability and recognition.
800	(c)  Identify the educational strengths and needs of
801	students and the readiness of students to be promoted to the
802	next grade level or to graduate from high school with a standard
803	or special high school diploma.
804	(d)  Assess how well educational goals and curricular
805	performance standards are met at the school, district, and state
806	levels.
807	(e)  Provide information to aid in the evaluation and
808	development of educational programs and policies.
809	(f)  Provide information on the performance of Florida
810	students compared with that of other students across the United
811	States.
812	(2)  NATIONAL EDUCATION COMPARISONS.--It is Florida's
813	intent to participate in the measurement of national educational
814	goals. The Commissioner of Education shall direct Florida school
815	districts to participate in the administration of the National
816	Assessment of Educational Progress, or a similar national
817	assessment program, both for the national sample and for any
818	state-by-state comparison programs which may be initiated. The
819	Such assessments must be conducted using the data collection
820	procedures, the student surveys, the educator surveys, and other
821	instruments included in the National Assessment of Educational
822	Progress or similar program being administered in Florida. The
823	results of these assessments shall be included in the annual
824	report of the Commissioner of Education specified in this
825	section. The administration of the National Assessment of
826	Educational Progress or similar program shall be in addition to
827	and separate from the administration of the statewide assessment
828	program.
829	(3)  STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner shall
830	design and implement a statewide program of educational
831	assessment that provides information for the improvement of the
832	operation and management of the public schools, including
833	schools operating for the purpose of providing educational
834	services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.
835	The commissioner may enter into contracts for the continued
836	administration of the assessment, testing, and evaluation
837	programs authorized and funded by the Legislature. Contracts may
838	be initiated in 1 fiscal year and continue into the next and may
839	be paid from the appropriations of either or both fiscal years.
840	The commissioner is authorized to negotiate for the sale or
841	lease of tests, scoring protocols, test scoring services, and
842	related materials developed pursuant to law. Pursuant to the
843	statewide assessment program, the commissioner shall:
844	(a)  Submit proposed Next Generation Sunshine State
845	Standards to the State Board of Education for adoption and
846	periodic review and revision under s. 1003.41 a list that
847	specifies student skills and competencies to which the goals for
848	education specified in the state plan apply, including, but not
849	limited to, reading, writing, science, and mathematics. The
850	skills and competencies must include problem-solving and higher-
851	order skills as appropriate and shall be known as the Sunshine
852	State Standards as defined in s. 1000.21. The commissioner shall
853	select such skills and competencies after receiving
854	recommendations from educators, citizens, and members of the
855	business community. The commissioner shall submit to the State
856	Board of Education revisions to the list of student skills and
857	competencies in order to maintain continuous progress toward
858	improvements in student proficiency.
859	(b)  Develop and implement a uniform system of indicators
860	to describe the performance of public school students and the
861	characteristics of the public school districts and the public
862	schools. These indicators must include, without limitation,
863	information gathered by the comprehensive management information
864	system created pursuant to s. 1008.385 and student achievement
865	information obtained pursuant to this section.
866	(c)  Develop and implement a student achievement testing
867	program known as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
868	(FCAT) as part of the statewide assessment program to measure a
869	student's content knowledge and skills in reading, writing,
870	science, and mathematics. Other content areas may be included as
871	directed by the commissioner. Comprehensive assessments The
872	assessment of reading and mathematics shall be administered
873	annually in grades 3 through 10. Comprehensive assessments The
874	assessment of writing and science shall be administered at least
875	once at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. End-of-
876	course assessments for a subject may be administered in addition
877	to the comprehensive assessments required for that subject under
878	this paragraph. An end-of-course assessment must be rigorous,
879	standardized, approved by the department, and administered
880	districtwide in any school district that administers the
881	assessment. The content knowledge and skills assessed by
882	comprehensive and end-of-course assessments must be aligned to
883	the core curricular content established in the Sunshine State
884	Standards. The commissioner may select one or more nationally
885	developed comprehensive examinations, which may include, but
886	need not be limited to, examinations for a College Board
887	Advanced Placement course, International Baccalaureate course,
888	or Advanced International Certificate of Education course or
889	industry-approved examinations to earn national industry
890	certifications as defined in s. 1003.492, for use as end-of-
891	course assessments under this paragraph, if the commissioner
892	determines that the content knowledge and skills assessed by the
893	examinations meet or exceed the grade-level expectations for the
894	core curricular content established for the course in the Next
895	Generation Sunshine State Standards. The commissioner may
896	collaborate with the American Diploma Project in the adoption or
897	development of rigorous end-of-course assessments that are
898	aligned to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards The
899	commissioner must document the procedures used to ensure that
900	the versions of the FCAT which are taken by students retaking
901	the grade 10 FCAT are equally as challenging and difficult as
902	the tests taken by students in grade 10 which contain
903	performance tasks. The testing program must be designed as
904	follows so that:
905	1.  The tests shall measure student skills and competencies
906	adopted by the State Board of Education as specified in
907	paragraph (a). The tests must measure and report student
908	proficiency levels of all students assessed in reading, writing,
909	mathematics, and science. The commissioner shall provide for the
910	tests to be developed or obtained, as appropriate, through
911	contracts and project agreements with private vendors, public
912	vendors, public agencies, postsecondary educational
913	institutions, or school districts. The commissioner shall obtain
914	input with respect to the design and implementation of the
915	testing program from state educators, assistive technology
916	experts, and the public.
917	2.  The testing program shall be composed will include a
918	combination of norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests
919	that shall and include, to the extent determined by the
920	commissioner, include test items questions that require the
921	student to produce information or perform tasks in such a way
922	that the core content knowledge and skills and competencies he
923	or she uses can be measured.
924	3.  Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the
925	commissioner shall discontinue administration of the selected-
926	response test items on the comprehensive assessments of writing.
927	Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, the comprehensive
928	assessments of writing shall be composed of a combination of
929	selected-response test items, short-response performance tasks,
930	and extended-response performance tasks, which shall measure a
931	student's content knowledge of writing, including, but not
932	limited to, paragraph and sentence structure, sentence
933	construction, grammar and usage, punctuation, capitalization,
934	spelling, parts of speech, verb tense, irregular verbs, subject-
935	verb agreement, and noun-pronoun agreement. Each testing
936	program, whether at the elementary, middle, or high school
937	level, includes a test of writing in which students are required
938	to produce writings that are then scored by appropriate and
939	timely methods.
940	4.  A score shall be is designated for each subject area
941	tested, below which score a student's performance is deemed
942	inadequate. The school districts shall provide appropriate
943	remedial instruction to students who score below these levels.
944	5.  Except as provided in s. 1003.428(8)(b) or s.
945	1003.43(11)(b), students must earn a passing score on the grade
946	10 assessment test described in this paragraph or attain
947	concordant scores as described in subsection (9) in reading,
948	writing, and mathematics to qualify for a standard high school
949	diploma. The State Board of Education shall designate a passing
950	score for each part of the grade 10 assessment test. In
951	establishing passing scores, the state board shall consider any
952	possible negative impact of the test on minority students. The
953	State Board of Education shall adopt rules which specify the
954	passing scores for the grade 10 FCAT. Any such rules, which have
955	the effect of raising the required passing scores, shall only
956	apply only to students taking the grade 10 FCAT for the first
957	time after such rules are adopted by the State Board of
958	Education.
959	6.  Participation in the testing program is mandatory for
960	all students attending public school, including students served
961	in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise
962	prescribed by the commissioner. If a student does not
963	participate in the statewide assessment, the district must
964	notify the student's parent and provide the parent with
965	information regarding the implications of such nonparticipation.
966	A parent must provide signed consent for a student to receive
967	classroom instructional accommodations that would not be
968	available or permitted on the statewide assessments and must
969	acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the
970	implications of such instructional accommodations. The State
971	Board of Education shall adopt rules, based upon recommendations
972	of the commissioner, for the provision of test accommodations
973	for students in exceptional education programs and for students
974	who have limited English proficiency. Accommodations that negate
975	the validity of a statewide assessment are not allowable in the
976	administration of the FCAT. However, instructional
977	accommodations are allowable in the classroom if included in a
978	student's individual education plan. Students using
979	instructional accommodations in the classroom that are not
980	allowable as accommodations on the FCAT may have the FCAT
981	requirement waived pursuant to the requirements of s.
982	1003.428(8)(b) or s. 1003.43(11)(b).
983	7.  A student seeking an adult high school diploma must
984	meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school
985	student must meet.
986	8.  District school boards must provide instruction to
987	prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the core
988	curricular content established in the Next Generation Sunshine
989	State Standards adopted under s. 1003.41, including the core
990	content knowledge and skills and competencies necessary for
991	successful grade-to-grade progression and high school
992	graduation. If a student is provided with instructional
993	accommodations in the classroom that are not allowable as
994	accommodations in the statewide assessment program, as described
995	in the test manuals, the district must inform the parent in
996	writing and must provide the parent with information regarding
997	the impact on the student's ability to meet expected proficiency
998	levels in reading, writing, and mathematics math. The
999	commissioner shall conduct studies as necessary to verify that
1000	the required core curricular content is skills and competencies
1001	are part of the district instructional programs.
1002	9.  District school boards must provide opportunities for
1003	students to demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on an
1004	alternative standardized assessment approved by the State Board
1005	of Education following enrollment in summer academies.
1006	10.  The Department of Education must develop, or select,
1007	and implement a common battery of assessment tools that will be
1008	used in all juvenile justice programs in the state. These tools
1009	must accurately measure the core curricular content skills and
1010	competencies established in the Sunshine State Standards.
1011	11.  For students seeking a special diploma pursuant to s.
1012	1003.438, the Department of Education must develop or select and
1013	implement an alternate assessment tool that accurately measures
1014	the core curricular content skills and competencies established
1015	in the Sunshine State Standards for students with disabilities
1016	under s. 1003.438.
1017	12.  The Commissioner of Education shall establish
1018	schedules for the administration of statewide assessments and
1019	the reporting of student test results. The commissioner shall,
1020	by August 1 of each year, notify each school district in writing
1021	and publish on the department's Internet website the testing and
1022	reporting schedules for, at a minimum, the school year following
1023	the upcoming school year. The testing and reporting schedules
1024	shall require that:
1025	a.  There is the latest possible administration of
1026	statewide assessments and the earliest possible reporting to the
1027	school districts of student test results which is feasible
1028	within available technology and specific appropriations;
1029	however, test results must be made available no later than the
1030	final day of the regular school year for students.
1031	b.  Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, a
1032	comprehensive statewide assessment of writing is not
1033	administered earlier than the week of March 1 and a
1034	comprehensive statewide assessment of any other subject is not
1035	administered earlier than the week of April 15.
1036	c.  The department-approved end-of-course assessment is
1037	administered within the last 2 weeks of the course.
1038
1039	The commissioner may, based on collaboration and input from
1040	school districts, design and implement student testing programs,
1041	for any grade level and subject area, necessary to effectively
1042	monitor educational achievement in the state, including the
1043	measurement of educational achievement of the Sunshine State
1044	Standards for students with disabilities. Development and
1045	refinement of assessments shall include universal design
1046	principles and accessibility standards that will prevent any
1047	unintended obstacles for students with disabilities while
1048	ensuring the validity and reliability of the test. These
1049	principles should be applicable to all technology platforms and
1050	assistive devices available for the assessments. The field
1051	testing process and psychometric analyses for the statewide
1052	assessment program must include an appropriate percentage of
1053	students with disabilities and an evaluation or determination of
1054	the effect of test items on such students.
1055	(d)  Conduct ongoing research to develop improved methods
1056	of assessing student performance, including, without limitation,
1057	the use of technology to administer tests, score, or report the
1058	results of, the use of electronic transfer of data, the
1059	development of work-product assessments, and the development of
1060	process assessments.
1061	(e)  Conduct ongoing research and analysis of student
1062	achievement data, including, without limitation, monitoring
1063	trends in student achievement by grade level and overall student
1064	achievement, identifying school programs that are successful,
1065	and analyzing correlates of school achievement.
1066	(f)  Provide technical assistance to school districts in
1067	the implementation of state and district testing programs and
1068	the use of the data produced pursuant to such programs.
1069	(g)  Study the cost and student achievement impact of
1070	secondary end-of-course assessments, including web-based and
1071	performance formats, and report to the Legislature prior to
1072	implementation.
1073	(4)  STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PREPARATION; PROHIBITED
1074	ACTIVITIES.--Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, a
1075	district school board shall prohibit each public school from
1076	suspending a regular program of curricula for purposes of
1077	administering practice tests or engaging in other test-
1078	preparation activities for a statewide assessment. However, a
1079	district school board may authorize a public school to engage in
1080	the following test-preparation activities for a statewide
1081	assessment:
1082	(a)  Distributing to students the sample test books and
1083	answer keys published by the Department of Education.
1084	(b)  Providing individualized instruction in test-taking
1085	strategies, without suspending the school's regular program of
1086	curricula, for a student who scores at Level 1 or Level 2 on a
1087	prior administration of the statewide assessment.
1088	(c)  Providing individualized instruction in the content
1089	knowledge and skills assessed, without suspending the school's
1090	regular program of curricula, for a student who scores at Level
1091	1 or Level 2 on a prior administration of the statewide
1092	assessment or a student who, through a diagnostic assessment
1093	administered by the school district, is identified as having a
1094	deficiency in the content knowledge and skills assessed.
1095	(d)   Incorporating test-taking exercises and strategies
1096	into curricula for intensive reading and mathematics
1097	intervention courses.
1098	(e)  Administering a practice test or engaging in other
1099	test-preparation activities for the statewide assessment which
1100	are determined necessary to familiarize students with the
1101	organization of the assessment, the format of the test items,
1102	and the test directions, or which are otherwise necessary for
1103	the valid and reliable administration of the assessment, as set
1104	forth in rules adopted by the State Board of Education with
1105	specific reference to this paragraph.
1106	(5)(4)  DISTRICT TESTING PROGRAMS.--Each district school
1107	board shall periodically assess student performance and
1108	achievement within each school of the district. The assessment
1109	programs must be based on the core curricular content
1110	established in the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and
1111	any upon local goals and objectives that are compatible with the
1112	state plan for education and that supplement the core content
1113	knowledge and skills necessary for successful grade-to-grade
1114	progression and high school graduation and competencies adopted
1115	by the State Board of Education. All school districts must
1116	participate in the statewide assessment program designed to
1117	measure annual student learning and school performance. All
1118	district school boards shall report assessment results as
1119	required by the state management information system.
1120	(6)(5)  SCHOOL TESTING PROGRAMS.--Each public school shall
1121	participate in the statewide assessment program in accordance
1122	with the testing and reporting schedules published by the
1123	Commissioner of Education under subparagraph (3)(c)12., unless
1124	specifically exempted by state board rule based on serving a
1125	specialized population for which standardized testing is not
1126	appropriate. Student performance data shall be analyzed and
1127	reported to parents, the community, and the state. Student
1128	performance data shall be used in developing objectives of the
1129	school improvement plan, evaluation of instructional personnel,
1130	evaluation of administrative personnel, assignment of staff,
1131	allocation of resources, acquisition of instructional materials
1132	and technology, performance-based budgeting, and promotion and
1133	assignment of students into educational programs. The analysis
1134	of student performance data also must identify strengths and
1135	needs in the educational program and trends over time. The
1136	analysis must be used in conjunction with the budgetary planning
1137	processes developed pursuant to s. 1008.385 and the development
1138	of the programs of remediation.
1139	(7)(6)  REQUIRED ANALYSES.--The commissioner shall provide,
1140	at a minimum, for the following analyses of data produced by the
1141	student achievement testing program:
1142	(a)  The statistical system for the annual assessments
1143	shall use measures of student learning, such as the FCAT, to
1144	determine teacher, school, and school district statistical
1145	distributions, which shall be determined using available data
1146	from the FCAT, and other data collection as deemed appropriate
1147	by the Department of Education, to measure the differences in
1148	student prior year achievement compared to the current year
1149	achievement for the purposes of accountability and recognition.
1150	(b)  The statistical system shall provide the best
1151	estimates of teacher, school, and school district effects on
1152	student progress. The approach used by the department shall be
1153	approved by the commissioner before implementation.
1154	(c)  The annual testing program shall be administered to
1155	provide for valid statewide comparisons of learning gains to be
1156	made for purposes of accountability and recognition. The
1157	commissioner shall establish a schedule for the administration
1158	of the statewide assessments. In establishing such schedule, the
1159	commissioner is charged with the duty to accomplish the latest
1160	possible administration of the statewide assessments and the
1161	earliest possible provision of the results to the school
1162	districts feasible within available technology and specific
1163	appropriation. District school boards shall not establish school
1164	calendars that jeopardize or limit the valid testing and
1165	comparison of student learning gains.
1166	(8)(7)  LOCAL ASSESSMENTS.--Measurement of the learning
1167	gains of students in all subjects and grade levels other than
1168	subjects and grade levels required for the state student
1169	achievement testing program is the responsibility of the school
1170	districts.
1171	(9)(8)  APPLICABILITY OF TESTING STANDARDS.--
1172	(a)  If the Commissioner of Education revises a statewide
1173	assessment and the revisions require the State Board of
1174	Education to modify the assessment's proficiency levels or
1175	modify the passing scores required for a standard high school
1176	diploma, until the state board adopts the modifications by rule,
1177	the commissioner shall use calculations for scoring the
1178	assessment which adjust student scores on the revised assessment
1179	for statistical equivalence to student scores on the former
1180	assessment.
1181	(b)  A student must attain meet the passing scores on the
1182	statewide assessment required testing requirements for a
1183	standard high school diploma which are graduation that were in
1184	effect at the time the student enters entered 9th grade 9 if,
1185	provided the student's enrollment is was continuous.
1186	(c)  If the commissioner revises a statewide assessment and
1187	the revisions require the State Board of Education to modify the
1188	passing scores required for a standard high school diploma, the
1189	commissioner may, with approval of the state board, discontinue
1190	administration of the former assessment upon the graduation,
1191	based on normal student progression, of students participating
1192	in the final regular administration of the former assessment.
1193	The state board shall adopt by rule passing scores for the
1194	revised assessment which are statistically equivalent to passing
1195	scores on the discontinued assessment for a student required
1196	under paragraph (b) to attain passing scores on the discontinued
1197	assessment.
1198	(10)(9)  CONCORDANT SCORES FOR THE FCAT.--
1199	(a)  The State Board of Education shall analyze the content
1200	and concordant data sets for widely used high school achievement
1201	tests, including, but not limited to, the PSAT, PLAN, SAT, ACT,
1202	and College Placement Test, to assess if concordant scores for
1203	FCAT scores can be determined for high school graduation,
1204	college placement, and scholarship awards. In cases where
1205	content alignment and concordant scores can be determined, the
1206	Commissioner of Education shall adopt those scores as meeting
1207	the graduation requirement in lieu of achieving the FCAT passing
1208	score and may adopt those scores as being sufficient to achieve
1209	additional purposes as determined by rule. Each time that test
1210	content or scoring procedures change are changed for the FCAT or
1211	for a high school achievement test for which a concordant score
1212	is determined one of the identified tests, new concordant scores
1213	must be determined.
1214	(b)  In order to use a concordant subject area score
1215	pursuant to this subsection to satisfy the assessment
1216	requirement for a standard high school diploma as provided in s.
1217	1003.429(6)(a), s. 1003.43(5)(a), or s. 1003.428, a student must
1218	take each subject area of the grade 10 FCAT a total of three
1219	times without earning a passing score. The requirements of this
1220	paragraph shall not apply to a new student who enters the
1221	Florida public school system in grade 12, who may either achieve
1222	a passing score on the FCAT or use an approved subject area
1223	concordant score to fulfill the graduation requirement.
1224	(c)  The State Board of Education may define by rule the
1225	allowable uses, other than to satisfy the high school graduation
1226	requirement, for concordant scores as described in this
1227	subsection. Such uses may include, but need not be limited to,
1228	achieving appropriate standardized test scores required for the
1229	awarding of Florida Bright Futures Scholarships and college
1230	placement.
1231	(11)(10)  REPORTS.--The Department of Education shall
1232	annually provide a report to the Governor, the President of the
1233	Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the
1234	following:
1235	(a)  Longitudinal performance of students in mathematics
1236	and reading.
1237	(b)  Longitudinal performance of students by grade level in
1238	mathematics and reading.
1239	(c)  Longitudinal performance regarding efforts to close
1240	the achievement gap.
1241	(d)  Longitudinal performance of students on the norm-
1242	referenced component of the FCAT.
1243	(d)(e)  Other student performance data based on national
1244	norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests, when available,
1245	and numbers of students who after 8th grade enroll in adult
1246	education rather than other secondary education.
1247	(12)(11)  RULES.--The State Board of Education shall adopt
1248	rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the
1249	provisions of this section.
1250	Section 23.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section
1251	1008.30, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1252	1008.30  Common placement testing for public postsecondary
1253	education.--
1254	(1)  The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the
1255	Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common
1256	placement test for the purpose of assessing the basic
1257	computation and communication skills students need to continue
1258	their education at the postsecondary level or enter the
1259	workforce of students who intend to enter a degree program at
1260	any public postsecondary educational institution. Public
1261	postsecondary educational institutions shall provide appropriate
1262	modifications of the test instruments or test procedures for
1263	students with disabilities.
1264	(2)  The common placement testing program shall include at
1265	a minimum the following: the capacity to diagnose basic
1266	competencies in the areas of English, reading, and mathematics
1267	which are essential to perform at the postsecondary level or
1268	enter the workforce college-level work; prerequisite skills that
1269	relate to progressively advanced instruction in mathematics,
1270	such as algebra and geometry; prerequisite skills that relate to
1271	progressively advanced instruction in language arts, such as
1272	English composition and literature; prerequisite skills which
1273	relate to the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST); and
1274	provision of test information to students on the specific
1275	deficiencies.
1276	(3)  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that
1277	would require high schools to evaluate prior to the beginning of
1278	grade 12 the college or career readiness of each student scoring
1279	at Level 2 or Level 3 on the reading portion of the grade 10
1280	FCAT or Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 on the mathematics portion
1281	of the grade 10 FCAT. High schools shall perform this evaluation
1282	using results from give the corresponding component of the
1283	common placement test prescribed in this section, or an
1284	equivalent test identified by the State Board of Education. The
1285	State Board of Education shall establish in rule the minimum
1286	test scores a student must achieve to demonstrate readiness.
1287	Students who demonstrate readiness by achieving the minimum test
1288	scores established by the State Board of Education shall not be
1289	required to enroll in remediation courses as a condition of
1290	acceptance to any community college. The high school shall use
1291	the results of the test to advise the students of any identified
1292	deficiencies and provide students any necessary remedial
1293	instruction prior to, or the summer immediately following, high
1294	school graduation. The remedial instruction provided pursuant to
1295	this subsection shall be developed as a collaborative effort
1296	between secondary and postsecondary educational institutions.
1297	Contingent upon appropriation of funds in the General
1298	Appropriations Act, the Florida Virtual School shall partner
1299	with one or more community colleges to develop remedial content
1300	that may be offered online, at the beginning of the tenth grade
1301	year before enrollment in the eleventh grade year in public high
1302	school for the purpose of obtaining remedial instruction prior
1303	to entering public postsecondary education.
1304	Section 24.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
1305	1008.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1306	1008.31  Florida's K-20 education performance
1307	accountability system; legislative intent; mission, goals, and
1308	systemwide measures; data quality improvements.--
1309	(1)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--It is the intent of the
1310	Legislature that:
1311	(c)  The K-20 education performance accountability system
1312	comply with the accountability requirements of the "No Child
1313	Left Behind Act of 2001," Pub. L. No. 107-110, and the
1314	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
1315	Section 25.  Subsection (3) of section 1008.34, Florida
1316	Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to that
1317	section, to read:
1318	1008.34  School grading system; school report cards;
1319	district grade.--
1320	(3)  DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.--
1321	(a)  Each school that has students who are tested and
1322	included in the school grading system, except an alternative
1323	school that receives a school improvement rating pursuant to s.
1324	1008.341, shall receive a school grade, except as follows:
1325	1.  A school shall not receive a school grade if the number
1326	of its students tested and included in the school grading system
1327	are fewer than the minimum sample size necessary, based on
1328	accepted professional practice, for statistical reliability and
1329	prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable
1330	student data under s. 1002.22 or 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g.; however,
1331	2.  An alternative school may choose to receive a school
1332	grade under this section or in lieu of a school improvement
1333	rating under s. 1008.341.
1334	3.  Additionally, A school that serves any combination of
1335	students in kindergarten through grade 3 which does not receive
1336	a school grade because its students are not tested and included
1337	in the school grading system shall receive the school grade
1338	designation of a K-3 feeder pattern school identified by the
1339	Department of Education and verified by the school district. A
1340	school feeder pattern exists if at least 60 percent of the
1341	students in the school serving a combination of students in
1342	kindergarten through grade 3 are scheduled to be assigned to the
1343	graded school. School grades itemized in subsection (2) shall be
1344	based on the following:
1345	(b)1.(a)  Criteria.--A school's grade shall be based on a
1346	combination of:
1347	a.1.  Student achievement scores, including achievement
1348	scores for students seeking a special diploma.
1349	b.2.  Student learning gains as measured by annual FCAT
1350	assessments in grades 3 through 10; learning gains for students
1351	seeking a special diploma, as measured by an alternate
1352	assessment tool, shall be included not later than the 2009-2010
1353	school year.
1354	c.3.  Improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students
1355	in the school in reading, mathematics math, or writing on the
1356	FCAT, unless these students are exhibiting satisfactory
1357	performance.
1358	2.  Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
1359	comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
1360	11, and 12, 50 percent of the school grade shall be based on a
1361	combination of the factors listed in sub-subparagraphs 1.a.-c.
1362	and the remaining 50 percent on the following factors:
1363	a.  The high school graduation rate of the school;
1364	b.  As valid data becomes available, the performance and
1365	participation of the school's students in College Board Advanced
1366	Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, dual
1367	enrollment courses, and Advanced International Certificate of
1368	Education courses; the students' achievement of industry
1369	certification, as determined by the Agency for Workforce
1370	Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a career and professional
1371	academy, as described in s. 1003.493; and the students'
1372	achievement of the Florida Ready to Work Credential under s.
1373	1004.99;
1374	c.  Postsecondary readiness of the school's students as
1375	measured by the SAT, ACT, or the common placement test;
1376	d.  The high school graduation rate of at-risk students who
1377	scored at Level 2 or lower on the grade 8 FCAT Reading and
1378	Mathematics examinations;
1379	e.  As valid data becomes available, the performance of the
1380	school's students on statewide standardized end-of-course
1381	assessments approved by the Department of Education; and
1382	f.  The growth or decline in the components listed in sub-
1383	subparagraphs a.-e. from year to year.
1384	(c)(b)  Student assessment data.--Student assessment data
1385	used in determining school grades shall include:
1386	1.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1387	in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT.
1388	2.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1389	in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT, including
1390	Florida Writes, and who have scored at or in the lowest 25th
1391	percentile of students in the school in reading, mathematics
1392	math, or writing, unless these students are exhibiting
1393	satisfactory performance.
1394	3.  Effective with the 2005-2006 school year, the
1395	achievement scores and learning gains of eligible students
1396	attending alternative schools that provide dropout prevention
1397	and academic intervention services pursuant to s. 1003.53. The
1398	term "eligible students" in this subparagraph does not include
1399	students attending an alternative school who are subject to
1400	district school board policies for expulsion for repeated or
1401	serious offenses, who are in dropout retrieval programs serving
1402	students who have officially been designated as dropouts, or who
1403	are in programs operated or contracted by the Department of
1404	Juvenile Justice. The student performance data for eligible
1405	students identified in this subparagraph shall be included in
1406	the calculation of the home school's grade. As used in For
1407	purposes of this section and s. 1008.341, the term "home school"
1408	means the school to which the student would be assigned if the
1409	student were not was attending when assigned to an alternative
1410	school. If an alternative school chooses to be graded under
1411	pursuant to this section, student performance data for eligible
1412	students identified in this subparagraph shall not be included
1413	in the home school's grade but shall be included only in the
1414	calculation of the alternative school's grade. A school district
1415	that fails to assign the FCAT scores of each of its students to
1416	his or her home school or to the alternative school that
1417	receives a grade shall forfeit Florida School Recognition
1418	Program funds for 1 fiscal year. School districts must require
1419	collaboration between the home school and the alternative school
1420	in order to promote student success. This collaboration must
1421	include an annual discussion between the principal of the
1422	alternative school and the principal of each student's home
1423	school concerning the most appropriate school assignment of the
1424	student.
1425	4.  Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
1426	comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
1427	11, and 12, the data listed in subparagraphs 1.-3. and the
1428	following data as the Department of Education determines such
1429	data are valid and available:
1430	a.  The high school graduation rate of the school as
1431	calculated by the Department of Education;
1432	b.  The participation rate of all eligible students
1433	enrolled in the school and enrolled in College Board Advanced
1434	Placement courses; International Baccalaureate courses; dual
1435	enrollment courses; Advanced International Certificate of
1436	Education courses; and courses or sequence of courses leading to
1437	industry certification, as determined by the Agency for
1438	Workforce Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a career and
1439	professional academy, as described in s. 1003.493;
1440	c.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1441	in the school in College Board Advanced Placement courses,
1442	International Baccalaureate courses, and Advanced International
1443	Certificate of Education courses;
1444	d.  Earning of college credit by all eligible students
1445	enrolled in the school in dual enrollment programs under s.
1446	1007.271;
1447	e.  Earning of an industry certification, as determined by
1448	the Agency for Workforce Innovation under s. 1003.492(2) in a
1449	career and professional academy, as described in s. 1003.493;
1450	f.  Earning of the Florida Ready to Work Credential under
1451	s. 1004.99;
1452	g.  The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1453	in the school in reading, mathematics, and other subjects as
1454	measured by the SAT, the ACT, and the common placement test for
1455	postsecondary readiness;
1456	h.  The high school graduation rate of all eligible at-risk
1457	students enrolled in the school who scored at Level 2 or lower
1458	on the grade 8 FCAT Reading and Mathematics examinations;
1459	i.  The performance of the school's students on statewide
1460	standardized end-of-course assessments approved by the
1461	Department of Education; and
1462	j.  The growth or decline in the data components listed in
1463	sub-subparagraphs a.-i. from year to year.
1464
1465	The State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate criteria
1466	for each school grade. The criteria must also give added weight
1467	to student achievement in reading. Schools designated with a
1468	grade of "C," making satisfactory progress, shall be required to
1469	demonstrate that adequate progress has been made by students in
1470	the school who are in the lowest 25th percentile in reading,
1471	mathematics math, or writing on the FCAT, including Florida
1472	Writes, unless these students are exhibiting satisfactory
1473	performance. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for
1474	schools comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or
1475	grades 10, 11, and 12, the criteria for school grades must also
1476	give added weight to the graduation rate of all eligible at-risk
1477	students, as defined in this paragraph. Beginning in the 2009-
1478	2010 school year, in order for a high school to be designated as
1479	having a grade of "A," making excellent progress, the school
1480	must demonstrate that at-risk students, as defined in this
1481	paragraph, in the school are making adequate progress.
1482	(8)  RULES.--The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
1483	under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this section.
1484	Section 26.  Subsection (2) and paragraph (b) of subsection
1485	(3) of section 1008.341, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
1486	subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
1487	1008.341  School improvement rating for alternative
1488	schools.--
1489	(2)  SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RATING.--An alternative school
1490	schools that provides provide dropout prevention and academic
1491	intervention services pursuant to s. 1003.53 shall receive a
1492	school improvement rating pursuant to this section. However, an
1493	alternative school shall not receive a school improvement rating
1494	if the number of its students for whom student performance data
1495	is available for the current year and previous year are fewer
1496	than the minimum sample size necessary, based on accepted
1497	professional practice, for statistical reliability and
1498	prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable
1499	student data under s. 1002.22 or 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g. The school
1500	improvement rating shall identify an alternative school schools
1501	as having one of the following ratings defined according to
1502	rules of the State Board of Education:
1503	(a)  "Improving" means the schools with students attending
1504	the school are making more academic progress than when the
1505	students were served in their home schools.
1506	(b)  "Maintaining" means the schools with students
1507	attending the school are making progress equivalent to the
1508	progress made when the students were served in their home
1509	schools.
1510	(c)  "Declining" means the schools with students attending
1511	the school are making less academic progress than when the
1512	students were served in their home schools.
1513
1514	The school improvement rating shall be based on a comparison of
1515	student performance data for the current year and previous year.
1516	Schools that improve at least one level or maintain an
1517	"improving" rating pursuant to this section are eligible for
1518	school recognition awards pursuant to s. 1008.36.
1519	(3)  DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT RATING.--Student
1520	data used in determining an alternative school's school
1521	improvement rating shall include:
1522	(b)  The aggregate scores of all eligible students who were
1523	assigned to and enrolled in the school during the October or
1524	February FTE count, who have been assessed on the FCAT,
1525	including Florida Writes, and who have scored in the lowest 25th
1526	percentile of students in the state on FCAT Reading.
1527
1528	The assessment scores of students who are subject to district
1529	school board policies for expulsion for repeated or serious
1530	offenses, who are in dropout retrieval programs serving students
1531	who have officially been designated as dropouts, or who are in
1532	programs operated or contracted by the Department of Juvenile
1533	Justice may not be included in an alternative school's school
1534	improvement rating.
1535	(6)  RULES.--The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
1536	under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this section.
1537	Section 27.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section
1538	1008.345, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1539	1008.345  Implementation of state system of school
1540	improvement and education accountability.--
1541	(8)  As a part of the system of educational accountability,
1542	the Department of Education shall:
1543	(a)  Develop minimum performance standards for various
1544	grades and subject areas, as required in ss. 1001.03, 1008.22,
1545	and 1008.34.
1546	Section 28.  Subsection (2) of section 1008.36, Florida
1547	Statutes, is amended to read:
1548	1008.36  Florida School Recognition Program.--
1549	(2)  The Florida School Recognition Program is created to
1550	provide financial awards to public schools that:
1551	(a)  Sustain high performance by receiving a school grade
1552	of "A," making excellent progress; or
1553	(b)  Demonstrate exemplary improvement due to innovation
1554	and effort by improving at least one a letter grade or by
1555	improving more than one letter grade and sustaining the
1556	improvement the following school year.
1557
1558	Notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary, incentive
1559	awards are not subject to collective bargaining.
1560	Section 29.  Subsections (4) through (16) of section
1561	1012.56, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5)
1562	through (17), respectively, and a new subsection (4) is added to
1563	that section to read:
1564	1012.56  Educator certification requirements.--
1565	(4)  ALIGNMENT OF SUBJECT AREAS.--As the Sunshine State
1566	Standards are replaced by the Next Generation Sunshine State
1567	Standards under s. 1003.41, the State Board of Education shall
1568	align the subject area examinations to the Next Generation
1569	Sunshine State Standards.
1570	Section 30.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.57, Florida
1571	Statutes, is amended to read:
1572	1012.57  Certification of adjunct educators.--
1573	(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 1012.32,
1574	1012.55, and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to
1575	the contrary, district school boards shall adopt rules to allow
1576	for the issuance of an adjunct teaching certificate to any
1577	applicant who fulfills the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f)
1578	and (10) (9) and who has expertise in the subject area to be
1579	taught. An applicant shall be considered to have expertise in
1580	the subject area to be taught if the applicant demonstrates
1581	sufficient subject area mastery through passage of a subject
1582	area test. The adjunct teaching certificate shall be used for
1583	part-time teaching positions. The intent of this provision is to
1584	allow school districts to tap the wealth of talent and expertise
1585	represented in Florida's citizens who may wish to teach part-
1586	time in a Florida public school by permitting school districts
1587	to issue adjunct certificates to qualified applicants. Adjunct
1588	certificateholders should be used as a strategy to reduce the
1589	teacher shortage; thus, adjunct certificateholders should
1590	supplement a school's instructional staff, not supplant it. Each
1591	school principal shall assign an experienced peer mentor to
1592	assist the adjunct teaching certificateholder during the
1593	certificateholder's first year of teaching, and an adjunct
1594	certificateholder may participate in a district's new teacher
1595	training program. District school boards shall provide the
1596	adjunct teaching certificateholder an orientation in classroom
1597	management prior to assigning the certificateholder to a school.
1598	Each adjunct teaching certificate is valid for 5 school years
1599	and is renewable if the applicant has received satisfactory
1600	performance evaluations during each year of teaching under
1601	adjunct teaching certification.
1602	Section 31.  Subsection (1) of section 1012.586, Florida
1603	Statutes, is amended to read:
1604	1012.586  Additions or changes to certificates; duplicate
1605	certificates.--A school district may process via a Department of
1606	Education website certificates for the following applications of
1607	public school employees:
1608	(1)  Addition of a subject coverage or endorsement to a
1609	valid Florida certificate on the basis of the completion of the
1610	appropriate subject area testing requirements of s.
1611	1012.56(5)(a) s. 1012.56(4)(a) or the completion of the
1612	requirements of an approved school district program or the
1613	inservice components for an endorsement.
1614
1615	The employing school district shall charge the employee a fee
1616	not to exceed the amount charged by the Department of Education
1617	for such services. Each district school board shall retain a
1618	portion of the fee as defined in the rules of the State Board of
1619	Education. The portion sent to the department shall be used for
1620	maintenance of the technology system, the web application, and
1621	posting and mailing of the certificate.
1622	Section 32.  Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of
1623	section 1013.12, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
1624	paragraphs (c) and (d), respectively, and a new paragraph (b) is
1625	added to that subsection to read:
1626	1013.12  Casualty, safety, sanitation, and firesafety
1627	standards and inspection of property.--
1628	(2)  PERIODIC INSPECTION OF PROPERTY BY DISTRICT SCHOOL
1629	BOARDS.--
1630	(b)  Each school cafeteria must post in a visible location
1631	and on the school website the school's semiannual sanitation
1632	certificate and a copy of its most recent sanitation inspection
1633	report.
1634	Section 33.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.
1635
1636
1637	-----------------------------------------------------
1638	T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T
1639	Remove the entire title and insert:
1640	A bill to be entitled
1641	An act relating to education; amending s. 1003.41, F.S.;
1642	requiring that the State Board of Education replace the Sunshine
1643	State Standards with the Next Generation Sunshine State
1644	Standards; providing requirements for the content and
1645	organization of the standards; requiring that the standards
1646	establish core curricular content in specified areas for certain
1647	grades or grade clusters; requiring that the state board
1648	establish schedules for the adoption and revision of the Next
1649	Generation Sunshine State Standards; requiring that the state
1650	board adopt the standards by a specified date; requiring the
1651	Commissioner of Education to provide proposed Next Generation
1652	Sunshine State Standards or proposed revisions of such standards
1653	to the state board; providing requirements for the
1654	commissioner's development of the proposed standards or
1655	revisions; requiring consultation with certain experts;
1656	requiring distribution of a proposal developed by the
1657	commissioner for review and comment by certain experts;
1658	requiring a written evaluation of the proposal developed by the
1659	commissioner by certain experts; requiring provision of the
1660	commissioner's proposed standards and the written evaluation and
1661	comments to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
1662	Speaker of the House of Representatives; authorizing rulemaking
1663	by the State Board of Education; amending s. 220.187, F.S.;
1664	revising requirements for the selection of norm-referenced tests
1665	administered by private schools for purposes of the Corporate
1666	Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program; amending s. 1000.21,
1667	F.S.; providing and revising definitions; providing for
1668	application of the Sunshine State Standards pending adoption of
1669	the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards; amending s.
1670	1001.03, F.S.; requiring the State Board of Education to
1671	periodically review and revise state curriculum standards;
1672	eliminating provisions requiring that the state board report
1673	proposed revisions to the Governor and the Legislature; amending
1674	s. 1001.41, F.S.; conforming provisions relating to district
1675	school board adoption of standards and policies; amending s.
1676	1001.452, F.S.; revising provisions relating to membership of
1677	school advisory councils; amending s. 1003.413, F.S.; requiring
1678	policies of each district school board to address an annual
1679	review of student education plans; amending s. 1003.428, F.S.;
1680	revising courses that are acceptable for high school graduation;
1681	conforming provisions and a cross-reference; creating s.
1682	1003.4285, F.S.; providing for high school diploma designations;
1683	creating s. 1003.4287, F.S.; providing for access to
1684	postsecondary education credit courses in public high schools;
1685	specifying courses that may be accessed; requiring the State
1686	Board of Education to develop a comprehensive plan; amending ss.
1687	1003.429, 1003.43, and 1003.433, F.S.; conforming provisions and
1688	cross-references; amending s. 1003.63, F.S.; revising the type
1689	of assessment tests reported to the Governor and the Legislature
1690	relating to the deregulated public schools pilot program;
1691	amending s. 1004.85, F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending
1692	s. 1004.91, F.S.; providing an exemption relating to career-
1693	preparatory instruction; amending s. 1004.99, F.S.; providing
1694	designations of Florida Ready to Work credentials; amending s.
1695	1007.21, F.S., relating to postsecondary placement tests for
1696	high school students; authorizing the common placement test to
1697	be administered to high school students meeting certain
1698	criteria; creating s. 1007.212, F.S.; creating the Remediation
1699	Reform Pilot Project with participation by community colleges
1700	and school districts; requiring the Department of Education to
1701	develop an application process; specifying contents of the
1702	application; requiring the Commissioner of Education to evaluate
1703	applications and recommend proposals to the Legislature for
1704	final approval; requiring annual status reports by participants
1705	and analysis by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
1706	Government Accountability; providing for funding; amending s.
1707	1007.235, F.S.; requiring district interinstitutional
1708	articulation agreements to include responsibility for assignment
1709	of grades for dual enrollment courses; amending s. 1007.271,
1710	F.S.; providing requirements for state universities to weigh
1711	dual enrollment courses; amending s. 1008.22, F.S.; revising
1712	provisions governing application of testing requirements for
1713	high school graduation; providing criteria concerning the
1714	testing and scores required for a continuously enrolled student
1715	to earn a standard high school diploma; authorizing the
1716	commissioner to administer comprehensive end-of-course
1717	assessments; providing requirements for comprehensive and end-
1718	of-course assessments; authorizing the commissioner to select a
1719	nationally developed comprehensive examination for use as an
1720	end-of-course assessment; revising the design of the testing
1721	program; authorizing the commissioner to collaborate with the
1722	American Diploma Project to develop end-of-course assessments;
1723	deleting requirements for norm-referenced tests; revising
1724	assessments of writing; requiring the commissioner to establish
1725	schedules for the administration of statewide assessments and
1726	the reporting of student test results; providing requirements
1727	for the testing and reporting schedules; requiring district
1728	school boards to prohibit public schools from suspending a
1729	program of curricula for the administration of practice tests or
1730	certain test-preparation activities; authorizing a district
1731	school board to permit a school to engage in certain test-
1732	preparation activities; requiring public schools to comply with
1733	statewide assessment and reporting schedules; revising the
1734	applicability of testing standards under certain conditions;
1735	establishing requirements for calculating student scores on
1736	revised statewide assessments; authorizing the commissioner to
1737	discontinue administration of an outdated assessment under
1738	certain circumstances; requiring the state board to adopt rules
1739	establishing passing scores on revised assessments required for
1740	a standard high school diploma; clarifying determination of
1741	concordant scores for the FCAT; revising the requirements
1742	contained in the annual report by the department to the Governor
1743	and the Legislature; amending s. 1008.30, F.S.; revising
1744	provisions relating to administration and use of the results of
1745	the common placement test; requiring the State Board of
1746	Education to adopt rules requiring high school evaluation of
1747	student college or career readiness and establishing minimum
1748	test scores for such readiness; providing for remedial
1749	instruction; providing for development of remedial content to be
1750	offered online; amending s. 1008.31, F.S.; declaring the
1751	legislative intent that the K-20 education system comply with
1752	the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; amending s.
1753	1008.34, F.S.; revising the exceptions for a school to receive a
1754	school grade; providing for a revised high school grading system
1755	beginning with the 2009-2010 school year which includes the
1756	statewide standardized assessment, graduation rates, performance
1757	and participation in certain courses, postsecondary readiness as
1758	measured by certain examinations, and the change in these
1759	factors from year to year; specifying the data components to be
1760	used in determining the revised high school grading system;
1761	requiring that the criteria for school grades give added weight
1762	to the graduation rate of all eligible at-risk students;
1763	revising the student assessment data used in determining school
1764	grades; requiring a school district that fails to assign FCAT
1765	scores to students' schools to forfeit Florida School
1766	Recognition Program funds for a specified time; requiring the
1767	collaboration between a home school and alternative school to be
1768	between the principals of each school in order to promote
1769	student success; authorizing the state board to adopt rules;
1770	amending s. 1008.341, F.S.; revising provisions for a school
1771	improvement rating for an alternative school; authorizing the
1772	state board to adopt rules; amending s. 1008.345, F.S.;
1773	conforming provisions; amending s. 1008.36, F.S.; revising
1774	criteria for financial awards under the Florida School
1775	Recognition Program; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.; requiring
1776	teacher certification examinations to be aligned to the Next
1777	Generation Sunshine State Standards; amending ss. 1012.57 and
1778	1012.586, F.S.; conforming cross-reference; amending s. 1013.12,
1779	F.S.; requiring that a school cafeteria post certain information
1780	concerning its sanitation certificate and inspection; providing
1781	an effective date.

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