1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to education; amending s. 121.021, F.S.; |
3 | deleting salary supplements for National Board for |
4 | Professional Teaching Standards certification from the |
5 | definition of "compensation" under the Florida Retirement |
6 | System; amending s. 220.187, F.S.; revising provisions |
7 | relating to norm-referenced tests for purposes of the |
8 | Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program; amending |
9 | s. 1001.451, F.S., relating to regional consortium service |
10 | organizations; authorizing the Department of Education to |
11 | appropriate a lesser amount of an incentive grant per |
12 | school district and eligible member for a specified fiscal |
13 | year; providing for the future expiration of such |
14 | provisions; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; excluding charter |
15 | school Merit Award Program funds from the calculation of |
16 | school district administrative fees; amending s. 1003.03, |
17 | F.S.; revising provisions relating to implementation of |
18 | maximum class size requirements; amending s. 1007.271, |
19 | F.S.; deleting certain dual enrollment funding provisions; |
20 | amending s. 1008.22, F.S.; deleting norm-referenced test |
21 | requirements under the statewide assessment program; |
22 | amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising provisions relating to |
23 | the calculation of full-time equivalent membership for |
24 | dual enrollment instruction; decreasing the value of full- |
25 | time equivalent membership calculated for students |
26 | enrolled in an International Baccalaureate course, an |
27 | Advanced International Certificate of Education course, or |
28 | an Advanced Placement course who meet certain |
29 | requirements; deleting provisions relating to the |
30 | calculation of additional full-time equivalent membership |
31 | based on completion of high school level algebra courses; |
32 | revising provisions relating to the calculation of |
33 | additional full-time equivalent membership based on |
34 | certification of successful completion of industry- |
35 | certified career and professional academy programs; |
36 | revising provisions relating to the final calculation of |
37 | district required local effort; authorizing a district |
38 | school board to transfer certain categorical funds for |
39 | academic classroom instruction; requiring the department |
40 | to report to the Legislature the amounts transferred and |
41 | the activities for which the funds were expended; |
42 | requiring a district school board to submit an amendment |
43 | to the department if the school board transfers funds from |
44 | its research-based reading instruction allocation; |
45 | revising provisions relating to the calculation of |
46 | declining unweighted full-time equivalent students; |
47 | including the supplemental allocation for juvenile justice |
48 | education programs in the calculation for allocations to |
49 | districts for current operation; providing for the future |
50 | expiration of certain provisions governing the transfer of |
51 | categorical funds; amending s. 1011.71, F.S.; decreasing |
52 | the maximum millage a school district may levy against the |
53 | taxable value for school purposes; authorizing a school |
54 | district to redirect up to a specified amount of millage |
55 | if revenues are insufficient to cover payments due under a |
56 | lease-purchase agreement; revising certain requirements |
57 | for a school district with respect to expenditure of |
58 | revenue generated by the district school tax millage; |
59 | providing for future expiration of such provisions; |
60 | amending s. 1011.73, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; |
61 | amending s. 1012.225, F.S.; providing a deadline for |
62 | submission of Merit Award Program plans by certain |
63 | districts; amending s. 1012.72, F.S., relating to the Dale |
64 | Hickam Excellent Teaching Program; providing that bonuses |
65 | be provided for up to a certain period; eliminating as |
66 | authorized expenditures the fee subsidy for National Board |
67 | for Professional Teaching Standards certification, the |
68 | portfolio preparation incentive, and the employer's share |
69 | of Florida Retirement System contributions; deleting |
70 | provisions to conform; revising provisions for the |
71 | proration of funds; authorizing a school district to pay a |
72 | certain percentage of bonuses when insufficient funds are |
73 | available; amending s. 1013.45, F.S.; requiring a district |
74 | school board to reuse existing construction documents or |
75 | design criteria packages if feasible and practical; |
76 | requiring the use of prototype design and construction |
77 | under certain circumstances; providing an effective date. |
78 |
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79 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
80 |
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81 | Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (22) of section |
82 | 121.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
83 | 121.021 Definitions.--The following words and phrases as |
84 | used in this chapter have the respective meanings set forth |
85 | unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context: |
86 | (22) "Compensation" means the monthly salary paid a member |
87 | by his or her employer for work performed arising from that |
88 | employment. |
89 | (a) Compensation shall include: |
90 | 1. Overtime payments paid from a salary fund. |
91 | 2. Accumulated annual leave payments. |
92 | 3. Payments in addition to the employee's base rate of pay |
93 | if all the following apply: |
94 | a. The payments are paid according to a formal written |
95 | policy that applies to all eligible employees equally; |
96 | b. The policy provides that payments shall commence no |
97 | later than the 11th year of employment; |
98 | c. The payments are paid for as long as the employee |
99 | continues his or her employment; and |
100 | d. The payments are paid at least annually. |
101 | 4. Amounts withheld for tax sheltered annuities or |
102 | deferred compensation programs, or any other type of salary |
103 | reduction plan authorized under the Internal Revenue Code. |
104 | 5. Payments made in lieu of a permanent increase in the |
105 | base rate of pay, whether made annually or in 12 or 26 equal |
106 | payments within a 12-month period, when the member's base pay is |
107 | at the maximum of his or her pay range. When a portion of a |
108 | member's annual increase raises his or her pay range and the |
109 | excess is paid as a lump sum payment, such lump sum payment |
110 | shall be compensation for retirement purposes. |
111 | 6. Effective July 1, 2002, salary supplements made |
112 | pursuant to s. 1012.72 requiring a valid National Board for |
113 | Professional Standards certificate, notwithstanding the |
114 | provisions of subparagraph 3. |
115 | Section 2. Paragraph (i) of subsection (9) of section |
116 | 220.187, Florida Statutes is amended to read: |
117 | 220.187 Credits for contributions to nonprofit |
118 | scholarship-funding organizations.-- |
119 | (9) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS.--The Department |
120 | of Education shall: |
121 | (i) Maintain a list of In accordance with State Board of |
122 | Education rule, identify and select the nationally norm- |
123 | referenced tests identified for purposes of satisfying the |
124 | testing requirement in subparagraph (8)(c)2. The tests must meet |
125 | that are comparable to the norm-referenced provisions of the |
126 | Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) provided that the |
127 | FCAT may be one of the tests selected. However, the Department |
128 | of Education may approve the use of an additional assessment by |
129 | the school if the assessment meets industry standards of quality |
130 | in accordance with State Board of Education rule and |
131 | comparability. |
132 | Section 3. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (2) of |
133 | section 1001.451, Florida Statutes, to read: |
134 | 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.--In |
135 | order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of |
136 | students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the |
137 | development of new programs and services: |
138 | (2) |
139 | (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the appropriation for |
140 | the 2008-2009 fiscal year may be less than $50,000 per school |
141 | district and eligible member. If the amount appropriated is |
142 | insufficient to provide $50,000, the funds available must be |
143 | prorated among all eligible districts and members. This |
144 | paragraph expires July 1, 2009. |
145 | Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (20) of section |
146 | 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
147 | 1002.33 Charter schools.-- |
148 | (20) SERVICES.-- |
149 | (a) A sponsor shall provide certain administrative and |
150 | educational services to charter schools. These services shall |
151 | include contract management services; full-time equivalent and |
152 | data reporting services; exceptional student education |
153 | administration services; services related to eligibility and |
154 | reporting duties required to ensure that school lunch services |
155 | under the federal lunch program, consistent with the needs of |
156 | the charter school, are provided by the school district at the |
157 | request of the charter school; test administration services, |
158 | including payment of the costs of state-required or district- |
159 | required student assessments; processing of teacher certificate |
160 | data services; and information services, including equal access |
161 | to student information systems that are used by public schools |
162 | in the district in which the charter school is located. Student |
163 | performance data for each student in a charter school, |
164 | including, but not limited to, FCAT scores, standardized test |
165 | scores, previous public school student report cards, and student |
166 | performance measures, shall be provided by the sponsor to a |
167 | charter school in the same manner provided to other public |
168 | schools in the district. A total administrative fee for the |
169 | provision of such services shall be calculated based upon up to |
170 | 5 percent of the available funds defined in paragraph (17)(b) |
171 | for all students. However, a sponsor may only withhold up to a |
172 | 5-percent administrative fee for enrollment for up to and |
173 | including 500 students. For charter schools with a population of |
174 | 501 or more students, the difference between the total |
175 | administrative fee calculation and the amount of the |
176 | administrative fee withheld may only be used for capital outlay |
177 | purposes specified in s. 1013.62(2). Each charter school shall |
178 | receive 100 percent of the funds awarded to that school pursuant |
179 | to s. 1012.225. Sponsors shall not charge charter schools any |
180 | additional fees or surcharges for administrative and educational |
181 | services in addition to the maximum 5-percent administrative fee |
182 | withheld pursuant to this paragraph. |
183 | Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section |
184 | 1003.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
185 | 1003.03 Maximum class size.-- |
186 | (2) IMPLEMENTATION.-- |
187 | (b) Determination of the number of students per classroom |
188 | in paragraph (a) shall be calculated as follows: |
189 | 1. For fiscal years 2003-2004 through 2005-2006, the |
190 | calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings |
191 | shall be the average at the district level. |
192 | 2. For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2008-2009 2007-2008, |
193 | the calculation for compliance for each of the 3 grade groupings |
194 | shall be the average at the school level. |
195 | 3. For fiscal year years 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and |
196 | thereafter, the calculation for compliance shall be at the |
197 | individual classroom level. |
198 | 4. For fiscal years 2006-2007 through 2009-2010 and |
199 | thereafter, each teacher assigned to any classroom shall be |
200 | included in the calculation for compliance. |
201 | Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 1007.271, Florida |
202 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
203 | 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.-- |
204 | (2) For the purpose of this section, an eligible secondary |
205 | student is a student who is enrolled in a Florida public |
206 | secondary school or in a Florida private secondary school which |
207 | is in compliance with s. 1002.42(2) and conducts a secondary |
208 | curriculum pursuant to s. 1003.43. Students enrolled in |
209 | postsecondary instruction that is not creditable toward the high |
210 | school diploma shall not be classified as dual enrollments. |
211 | Students who are eligible for dual enrollment pursuant to this |
212 | section shall be permitted to enroll in dual enrollment courses |
213 | conducted during school hours, after school hours, and during |
214 | the summer term. Instructional time for such enrollment may vary |
215 | from 900 hours; however, the school district may only report the |
216 | student for a maximum of 1.0 FTE, as provided in s. 1011.61(4). |
217 | Each semester of instruction that is eligible for high school |
218 | and postsecondary credit shall be reported by school districts |
219 | as 75 membership hours for purposes of FTE calculation. Any |
220 | student so enrolled is exempt from the payment of registration, |
221 | tuition, and laboratory fees. Vocational-preparatory |
222 | instruction, college-preparatory instruction, and other forms of |
223 | precollegiate instruction, as well as physical education courses |
224 | that focus on the physical execution of a skill rather than the |
225 | intellectual attributes of the activity, are ineligible for |
226 | inclusion in the dual enrollment program. Recreation and leisure |
227 | studies courses shall be evaluated individually in the same |
228 | manner as physical education courses for potential inclusion in |
229 | the program. |
230 | Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) and subsection |
231 | (10) of section 1008.22, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
232 | 1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.-- |
233 | (3) STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.--The commissioner shall |
234 | design and implement a statewide program of educational |
235 | assessment that provides information for the improvement of the |
236 | operation and management of the public schools, including |
237 | schools operating for the purpose of providing educational |
238 | services to youth in Department of Juvenile Justice programs. |
239 | The commissioner may enter into contracts for the continued |
240 | administration of the assessment, testing, and evaluation |
241 | programs authorized and funded by the Legislature. Contracts may |
242 | be initiated in 1 fiscal year and continue into the next and may |
243 | be paid from the appropriations of either or both fiscal years. |
244 | The commissioner is authorized to negotiate for the sale or |
245 | lease of tests, scoring protocols, test scoring services, and |
246 | related materials developed pursuant to law. Pursuant to the |
247 | statewide assessment program, the commissioner shall: |
248 | (c) Develop and implement a student achievement testing |
249 | program known as the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test |
250 | (FCAT) as part of the statewide assessment program to measure |
251 | reading, writing, science, and mathematics. Other content areas |
252 | may be included as directed by the commissioner. The assessment |
253 | of reading and mathematics shall be administered annually in |
254 | grades 3 through 10. The assessment of writing and science shall |
255 | be administered at least once at the elementary, middle, and |
256 | high school levels. The commissioner must document the |
257 | procedures used to ensure that the versions of the FCAT which |
258 | are taken by students retaking the grade 10 FCAT are equally as |
259 | challenging and difficult as the tests taken by students in |
260 | grade 10 which contain performance tasks. The testing program |
261 | must be designed so that: |
262 | 1. The tests measure student skills and competencies |
263 | adopted by the State Board of Education as specified in |
264 | paragraph (a). The tests must measure and report student |
265 | proficiency levels of all students assessed in reading, writing, |
266 | mathematics, and science. The commissioner shall provide for the |
267 | tests to be developed or obtained, as appropriate, through |
268 | contracts and project agreements with private vendors, public |
269 | vendors, public agencies, postsecondary educational |
270 | institutions, or school districts. The commissioner shall obtain |
271 | input with respect to the design and implementation of the |
272 | testing program from state educators, assistive technology |
273 | experts, and the public. |
274 | 2. The testing program shall be composed will include a |
275 | combination of norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests |
276 | that shall and include, to the extent determined by the |
277 | commissioner, include test items questions that require the |
278 | student to produce information or perform tasks in such a way |
279 | that the skills and competencies he or she uses can be measured. |
280 | 3. Each testing program, whether at the elementary, |
281 | middle, or high school level, includes a test of writing in |
282 | which students are required to produce writings that are then |
283 | scored by appropriate and timely methods. |
284 | 4. A score is designated for each subject area tested, |
285 | below which score a student's performance is deemed inadequate. |
286 | The school districts shall provide appropriate remedial |
287 | instruction to students who score below these levels. |
288 | 5. Except as provided in s. 1003.428(8)(b) or s. |
289 | 1003.43(11)(b), students must earn a passing score on the grade |
290 | 10 assessment test described in this paragraph or attain |
291 | concordant scores as described in subsection (9) in reading, |
292 | writing, and mathematics to qualify for a standard high school |
293 | diploma. The State Board of Education shall designate a passing |
294 | score for each part of the grade 10 assessment test. In |
295 | establishing passing scores, the state board shall consider any |
296 | possible negative impact of the test on minority students. The |
297 | State Board of Education shall adopt rules which specify the |
298 | passing scores for the grade 10 FCAT. Any such rules, which have |
299 | the effect of raising the required passing scores, shall only |
300 | apply to students taking the grade 10 FCAT for the first time |
301 | after such rules are adopted by the State Board of Education. |
302 | 6. Participation in the testing program is mandatory for |
303 | all students attending public school, including students served |
304 | in Department of Juvenile Justice programs, except as otherwise |
305 | prescribed by the commissioner. If a student does not |
306 | participate in the statewide assessment, the district must |
307 | notify the student's parent and provide the parent with |
308 | information regarding the implications of such nonparticipation. |
309 | A parent must provide signed consent for a student to receive |
310 | classroom instructional accommodations that would not be |
311 | available or permitted on the statewide assessments and must |
312 | acknowledge in writing that he or she understands the |
313 | implications of such instructional accommodations. The State |
314 | Board of Education shall adopt rules, based upon recommendations |
315 | of the commissioner, for the provision of test accommodations |
316 | for students in exceptional education programs and for students |
317 | who have limited English proficiency. Accommodations that negate |
318 | the validity of a statewide assessment are not allowable in the |
319 | administration of the FCAT. However, instructional |
320 | accommodations are allowable in the classroom if included in a |
321 | student's individual education plan. Students using |
322 | instructional accommodations in the classroom that are not |
323 | allowable as accommodations on the FCAT may have the FCAT |
324 | requirement waived pursuant to the requirements of s. |
325 | 1003.428(8)(b) or s. 1003.43(11)(b). |
326 | 7. A student seeking an adult high school diploma must |
327 | meet the same testing requirements that a regular high school |
328 | student must meet. |
329 | 8. District school boards must provide instruction to |
330 | prepare students to demonstrate proficiency in the skills and |
331 | competencies necessary for successful grade-to-grade progression |
332 | and high school graduation. If a student is provided with |
333 | instructional accommodations in the classroom that are not |
334 | allowable as accommodations in the statewide assessment program, |
335 | as described in the test manuals, the district must inform the |
336 | parent in writing and must provide the parent with information |
337 | regarding the impact on the student's ability to meet expected |
338 | proficiency levels in reading, writing, and math. The |
339 | commissioner shall conduct studies as necessary to verify that |
340 | the required skills and competencies are part of the district |
341 | instructional programs. |
342 | 9. District school boards must provide opportunities for |
343 | students to demonstrate an acceptable level of performance on an |
344 | alternative standardized assessment approved by the State Board |
345 | of Education following enrollment in summer academies. |
346 | 10. The Department of Education must develop, or select, |
347 | and implement a common battery of assessment tools that will be |
348 | used in all juvenile justice programs in the state. These tools |
349 | must accurately measure the skills and competencies established |
350 | in the Sunshine State Standards. |
351 | 11. For students seeking a special diploma pursuant to s. |
352 | 1003.438, the Department of Education must develop or select and |
353 | implement an alternate assessment tool that accurately measures |
354 | the skills and competencies established in the Sunshine State |
355 | Standards for students with disabilities under s. 1003.438. |
356 |
|
357 | The commissioner may, based on collaboration and input from |
358 | school districts, design and implement student testing programs, |
359 | for any grade level and subject area, necessary to effectively |
360 | monitor educational achievement in the state, including the |
361 | measurement of educational achievement of the Sunshine State |
362 | Standards for students with disabilities. Development and |
363 | refinement of assessments shall include universal design |
364 | principles and accessibility standards that will prevent any |
365 | unintended obstacles for students with disabilities while |
366 | ensuring the validity and reliability of the test. These |
367 | principles should be applicable to all technology platforms and |
368 | assistive devices available for the assessments. The field |
369 | testing process and psychometric analyses for the statewide |
370 | assessment program must include an appropriate percentage of |
371 | students with disabilities and an evaluation or determination of |
372 | the effect of test items on such students. |
373 | (10) REPORTS.--The Department of Education shall annually |
374 | provide a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, |
375 | and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the |
376 | following: |
377 | (a) Longitudinal performance of students in mathematics |
378 | and reading. |
379 | (b) Longitudinal performance of students by grade level in |
380 | mathematics and reading. |
381 | (c) Longitudinal performance regarding efforts to close |
382 | the achievement gap. |
383 | (d) Longitudinal performance of students on the norm- |
384 | referenced component of the FCAT. |
385 | (d)(e) Other student performance data based on national |
386 | norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests, when available, |
387 | and numbers of students who after 8th grade enroll in adult |
388 | education rather than other secondary education. |
389 | Section 8. Paragraphs (i) and (l) through (v) of |
390 | subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection (4), and subsections |
391 | (6) and (8) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, as amended by |
392 | chapter 2007-328, Laws of Florida, are amended, subsections (10) |
393 | and (11) of that section are amended and renumbered as |
394 | subsections (11) and (12), respectively, and a new subsection |
395 | (10) is added to that section, to read: |
396 | 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.--If the annual |
397 | allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each |
398 | district for operation of schools is not determined in the |
399 | annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing |
400 | the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as |
401 | follows: |
402 | (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR |
403 | OPERATION.--The following procedure shall be followed in |
404 | determining the annual allocation to each district for |
405 | operation: |
406 | (i) Calculation of full-time equivalent membership with |
407 | respect to dual enrollment instruction.--Students enrolled in |
408 | dual enrollment instruction pursuant to s. 1007.271 may be |
409 | included in calculations of full-time equivalent student |
410 | memberships for basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a |
411 | district school board. Instructional time for dual enrollment |
412 | may vary from 900 hours; however, the school district may only |
413 | report the student for a maximum of 1.0 full-time equivalent |
414 | student membership, as provided in s. 1011.61(4). Dual |
415 | enrollment full-time equivalent student membership shall be |
416 | calculated in an amount equal to the hours of instruction that |
417 | would be necessary to earn the full-time equivalent student |
418 | membership for an equivalent course if it were taught in the |
419 | school district. Each semester of instruction that is eligible |
420 | for high school and postsecondary credit shall be reported by |
421 | school districts as 75 membership hours for purposes of FTE |
422 | calculation. Such Students in dual enrollment courses may also |
423 | be calculated as the proportional shares of full-time equivalent |
424 | enrollments they generate for a community college or university |
425 | conducting the dual enrollment instruction. Early admission |
426 | students shall be considered dual enrollments for funding |
427 | purposes. Students may be enrolled in dual enrollment |
428 | instruction provided by an eligible independent college or |
429 | university and may be included in calculations of full-time |
430 | equivalent student memberships for basic programs for grades 9 |
431 | through 12 by a district school board. However, those provisions |
432 | of law which exempt dual enrolled and early admission students |
433 | from payment of instructional materials and tuition and fees, |
434 | including laboratory fees, shall not apply to students who |
435 | select the option of enrolling in an eligible independent |
436 | institution. An independent college or university which is |
437 | located and chartered in Florida, is not for profit, is |
438 | accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern |
439 | Association of Colleges and Schools or the Accrediting Council |
440 | for Independent Colleges and Schools, and which confers degrees |
441 | as defined in s. 1005.02 shall be eligible for inclusion in the |
442 | dual enrollment or early admission program. Students enrolled in |
443 | dual enrollment instruction shall be exempt from the payment of |
444 | tuition and fees, including laboratory fees. No student enrolled |
445 | in college credit mathematics or English dual enrollment |
446 | instruction shall be funded as a dual enrollment unless the |
447 | student has successfully completed the relevant section of the |
448 | entry-level examination required pursuant to s. 1008.30. |
449 | (l) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
450 | membership based on international baccalaureate examination |
451 | scores of students.--A value of 0.16 0.24 full-time equivalent |
452 | student membership shall be calculated for each student enrolled |
453 | in an international baccalaureate course who receives a score of |
454 | 4 or higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 full-time |
455 | equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each |
456 | student who receives an international baccalaureate diploma. |
457 | Such value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent |
458 | student membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in |
459 | the subsequent fiscal year. The school district shall distribute |
460 | to each classroom teacher who provided international |
461 | baccalaureate instruction: |
462 | 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by |
463 | the International Baccalaureate teacher in each international |
464 | baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or higher on the |
465 | international baccalaureate examination. |
466 | 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each International |
467 | Baccalaureate teacher in a school designated with a grade of "D" |
468 | or "F" who has at least one student scoring 4 or higher on the |
469 | international baccalaureate examination, regardless of the |
470 | number of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a |
471 | 4 or higher on the international baccalaureate examination. |
472 | Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall |
473 | not exceed $2,000 in any given school year and shall be in |
474 | addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher received |
475 | or is scheduled to receive. |
476 | (m) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
477 | membership based on Advanced International Certificate of |
478 | Education examination scores of students.--A value of 0.16 0.24 |
479 | full-time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for |
480 | each student enrolled in a full-credit Advanced International |
481 | Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or |
482 | higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.08 0.12 full-time |
483 | equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each |
484 | student enrolled in a half-credit Advanced International |
485 | Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or |
486 | higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 full-time |
487 | equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each |
488 | student who receives an Advanced International Certificate of |
489 | Education diploma. Such value shall be added to the total full- |
490 | time equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades |
491 | 9 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. The school district |
492 | shall distribute to each classroom teacher who provided Advanced |
493 | International Certificate of Education instruction: |
494 | 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by |
495 | the Advanced International Certificate of Education teacher in |
496 | each full-credit Advanced International Certificate of Education |
497 | course who receives a score of E or higher on the Advanced |
498 | International Certificate of Education examination. A bonus in |
499 | the amount of $25 for each student taught by the Advanced |
500 | International Certificate of Education teacher in each half- |
501 | credit Advanced International Certificate of Education course |
502 | who receives a score of E or higher on the Advanced |
503 | International Certificate of Education examination. |
504 | 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced |
505 | International Certificate of Education teacher in a school |
506 | designated with a grade of "D" or "F" who has at least one |
507 | student scoring E or higher on the full-credit Advanced |
508 | International Certificate of Education examination, regardless |
509 | of the number of classes taught or of the number of students |
510 | scoring an E or higher on the full-credit Advanced International |
511 | Certificate of Education examination. |
512 | 3. Additional bonuses of $250 each to teachers of half- |
513 | credit Advanced International Certificate of Education classes |
514 | in a school designated with a grade of "D" or "F" which has at |
515 | least one student scoring an E or higher on the half-credit |
516 | Advanced International Certificate of Education examination in |
517 | that class. The maximum additional bonus for a teacher awarded |
518 | in accordance with this subparagraph shall not exceed $500 in |
519 | any given school year. Teachers receiving an award under |
520 | subparagraph 2. are not eligible for a bonus under this |
521 | subparagraph. |
522 |
|
523 | Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall |
524 | not exceed $2,000 in any given school year and shall be in |
525 | addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher received |
526 | or is scheduled to receive. |
527 | (n) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
528 | membership based on college board advanced placement scores of |
529 | students.--A value of 0.16 0.24 full-time equivalent student |
530 | membership shall be calculated for each student in each advanced |
531 | placement course who receives a score of 3 or higher on the |
532 | College Board Advanced Placement Examination for the prior year |
533 | and added to the total full-time equivalent student membership |
534 | in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in the subsequent |
535 | fiscal year. Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of |
536 | the funds provided to the district for advanced placement |
537 | instruction, in accordance with this paragraph, to the high |
538 | school that generates the funds. The school district shall |
539 | distribute to each classroom teacher who provided advanced |
540 | placement instruction: |
541 | 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by |
542 | the Advanced Placement teacher in each advanced placement course |
543 | who receives a score of 3 or higher on the College Board |
544 | Advanced Placement Examination. |
545 | 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced Placement |
546 | teacher in a school designated with a grade of "D" or "F" who |
547 | has at least one student scoring 3 or higher on the College |
548 | Board Advanced Placement Examination, regardless of the number |
549 | of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a 3 or |
550 | higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination. |
551 | Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall |
552 | not exceed $2,000 in any given school year and shall be in |
553 | addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher received |
554 | or is scheduled to receive. |
555 | (o) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
556 | membership based on completion of high school level algebra |
557 | courses by students in grades 6 through 8.--A value of 0.088 |
558 | full-time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for |
559 | each student in grades 6 through 8 who completes a high school |
560 | level algebra course and receives a grade of C or better. Such |
561 | value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent student |
562 | membership in basic programs for grades 6 through 8. Each |
563 | district must allocate the funds provided to the district for |
564 | students in grades 6 through 8 who complete a high school level |
565 | algebra course and receive a grade of C or better to the school |
566 | that generated the funds. |
567 | (p) Calculation of supplemental allocation for juvenile |
568 | justice education programs.--Beginning with the 2007-2008 |
569 | General Appropriations Act, the total K-12 weighted full-time |
570 | equivalent student membership in juvenile justice education |
571 | programs in each school district shall be multiplied by the |
572 | amount of the state average class-size-reduction factor |
573 | multiplied by the district's cost differential. An amount equal |
574 | to the sum of this calculation shall be allocated in the FEFP to |
575 | each school district to supplement other sources of funding for |
576 | students in juvenile justice education programs. |
577 | (o)(q) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
578 | membership based on certification of successful completion of |
579 | industry-certified career and professional academy programs |
580 | pursuant to s. 1003.492.--A value of 0.3 full-time equivalent |
581 | student membership shall be calculated for each student who |
582 | completes an industry-certified career and professional academy |
583 | program under s. 1003.492 and who is issued the highest level of |
584 | an industry certification and a high school diploma certificate. |
585 | Such value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent |
586 | student membership in secondary career education programs for |
587 | grades 9 through 12 in the subsequent year for courses that were |
588 | not funded through dual enrollment. The additional full-time |
589 | equivalent membership authorized under this paragraph may not |
590 | exceed 0.3 per student. Unless a different amount is specified |
591 | in the General Appropriations Act, the appropriation for this |
592 | calculation is limited to $15 $30 million annually. If the |
593 | appropriation is insufficient to fully fund the total |
594 | calculation, the appropriation shall be prorated. |
595 | (p)(r) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent |
596 | membership for the Florida Virtual School.--The total reported |
597 | full-time equivalent student membership for the Florida Virtual |
598 | School shall be multiplied by 0.114, and such value shall be |
599 | added to the total full-time equivalent student membership. |
600 | (q)(s) Year-round-school programs.--The Commissioner of |
601 | Education is authorized to adjust student eligibility |
602 | definitions, funding criteria, and reporting requirements of |
603 | statutes and rules in order that year-round-school programs may |
604 | achieve equivalent application of funding requirements with non- |
605 | year-round-school programs. |
606 | (r)(t) Extended-school-year program.--It is the intent of |
607 | the Legislature that students be provided additional instruction |
608 | by extending the school year to 210 days or more. Districts may |
609 | apply to the Commissioner of Education for funds to be used in |
610 | planning and implementing an extended-school-year program. The |
611 | Department of Education shall recommend to the Legislature the |
612 | policies necessary for full implementation of an extended school |
613 | year. |
614 | (s)(u) Determination of the basic amount for current |
615 | operation.--The basic amount for current operation to be |
616 | included in the Florida Education Finance Program for |
617 | kindergarten through grade 12 for each district shall be the |
618 | product of the following: |
619 | 1. The full-time equivalent student membership in each |
620 | program, multiplied by |
621 | 2. The cost factor for each program, adjusted for the |
622 | maximum as provided by paragraph (c), multiplied by |
623 | 3. The base student allocation. |
624 | (t)(v) Computation for funding through the Florida |
625 | Education Finance Program.--The State Board of Education may |
626 | adopt rules establishing programs and courses for which the |
627 | student may earn credit toward high school graduation. |
628 | (4) COMPUTATION OF DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.--The |
629 | Legislature shall prescribe the aggregate required local effort |
630 | for all school districts collectively as an item in the General |
631 | Appropriations Act for each fiscal year. The amount that each |
632 | district shall provide annually toward the cost of the Florida |
633 | Education Finance Program for kindergarten through grade 12 |
634 | programs shall be calculated as follows: |
635 | (b) Final calculation.-- |
636 | 1. The taxable value for school purposes certified by the |
637 | Department of Revenue which is used in the fourth calculation |
638 | with the annualized full-time student membership from the |
639 | February student survey shall be the final taxable value used in |
640 | the final calculation. On September 1 of each year, the |
641 | Department of Revenue shall certify to the Commissioner of |
642 | Education the total of the prior year final taxable value for |
643 | school purposes in each school district and the total for all |
644 | school districts in the state. The commissioner shall use the |
645 | final taxable value certified on September 1 for school purposes |
646 | for each school district in the final calculation of the annual |
647 | Florida Education Finance Program allocations. |
648 | 2. For purposes of this paragraph, the final taxable value |
649 | for school purposes shall be the taxable value for school |
650 | purposes on which the tax bills are computed and mailed to the |
651 | taxpayers, adjusted to reflect final administrative actions of |
652 | value adjustment boards and judicial decisions pursuant to |
653 | chapter 194. For each county that has not submitted a revised |
654 | tax roll reflecting final value adjustment board actions and |
655 | final judicial decisions, the Department of Revenue shall |
656 | certify the most recent revision of the taxable value for school |
657 | purposes. The value certified under subparagraph 1. on September |
658 | 1 shall be the final taxable value for school purposes for that |
659 | year, and no further adjustments shall be made, except those |
660 | made pursuant to paragraph (12)(11)(b). |
661 | (6) CATEGORICAL FUNDS.-- |
662 | (a) In addition to the basic amount for current operations |
663 | for the FEFP as determined in subsection (1), the Legislature |
664 | may appropriate categorical funding for specified programs, |
665 | activities, or purposes. |
666 | (b) If a district school board finds and declares in a |
667 | resolution adopted at a regular meeting of the school board that |
668 | the funds received for any of the following categorical |
669 | appropriations are urgently needed to maintain school board |
670 | specified academic classroom instruction, the school board may |
671 | consider and approve an amendment to the school district |
672 | operating budget transferring the identified amount of the |
673 | categorical funds to the appropriate account for expenditure: |
674 | 1. Funds for student transportation. |
675 | 2. Funds for safe schools. |
676 | 3. Funds for supplemental academic instruction. |
677 | 4. Funds for research-based reading instruction. |
678 | 5. Funds for instructional materials if all instructional |
679 | material purchases have been completed for that fiscal year, but |
680 | no sooner than March 1, 2009. |
681 | (c) Each district school board shall include in its annual |
682 | financial report to the Department of Education the amount of |
683 | funds the school board transferred from each of the categorical |
684 | funds identified in this subsection and the specific academic |
685 | classroom instruction for which the transferred funds were |
686 | expended. The Department of Education shall provide instructions |
687 | and specify the format to be used in submitting this required |
688 | information as a part of the district annual financial report. |
689 | The Department of Education shall submit a report to the |
690 | Legislature that identifies by district and by categorical fund |
691 | the amount transferred and the specific academic classroom |
692 | activity for which the funds were expended. |
693 | (d) If a district school board transfers funds from its |
694 | research-based reading instruction allocation, the board must |
695 | also submit to the Department of Education an amendment |
696 | describing the changes that the district is making to its |
697 | reading plan approved pursuant to paragraph (9)(d). |
698 | (8) DECLINE IN FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS.--In those |
699 | districts where there is a decline between prior year and |
700 | current year unweighted FTE students, a percentage 50 percent of |
701 | the decline in the unweighted FTE students as determined by the |
702 | Legislature shall be multiplied by the prior year calculated |
703 | FEFP per unweighted FTE student and shall be added to the |
704 | allocation for that district. For this purpose, the calculated |
705 | FEFP shall be computed by multiplying the weighted FTE students |
706 | by the base student allocation and then by the district cost |
707 | differential. If a district transfers a program to another |
708 | institution not under the authority of the district's school |
709 | board, including a charter technical career center, the decline |
710 | is to be multiplied by a factor of 0.15. However, if the funds |
711 | provided for the Florida Education Finance Program in the |
712 | General Appropriations Act for any fiscal year are reduced by a |
713 | subsequent appropriation for that fiscal year, the percent of |
714 | the decline in the unweighted FTE students to be funded shall be |
715 | determined by the Legislature and designated in the subsequent |
716 | appropriation. |
717 | (10) CALCULATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOCATION FOR JUVENILE |
718 | JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.--The total K-12 weighted full-time |
719 | equivalent student membership in juvenile justice education |
720 | programs in each school district shall be multiplied by the |
721 | amount of the state average class-size-reduction factor |
722 | multiplied by the district's cost differential. An amount equal |
723 | to the sum of this calculation shall be allocated in the FEFP to |
724 | each school district to supplement other sources of funding for |
725 | students in juvenile justice education programs. |
726 | (11)(10) QUALITY ASSURANCE GUARANTEE.--The Legislature may |
727 | annually in the General Appropriations Act determine a |
728 | percentage increase in funds per K-12 unweighted FTE as a |
729 | minimum guarantee to each school district. The guarantee shall |
730 | be calculated from prior year base funding per unweighted FTE |
731 | student which shall include the adjusted FTE dollars as provided |
732 | in subsection (12) (11), quality guarantee funds, and actual |
733 | nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. From the base |
734 | funding per unweighted FTE, the increase shall be calculated for |
735 | the current year. The current year funds from which the |
736 | guarantee shall be determined shall include the adjusted FTE |
737 | dollars as provided in subsection (12) (11) and potential |
738 | nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. A comparison of |
739 | current year funds per unweighted FTE to prior year funds per |
740 | unweighted FTE shall be computed. For those school districts |
741 | which have less than the legislatively assigned percentage |
742 | increase, funds shall be provided to guarantee the assigned |
743 | percentage increase in funds per unweighted FTE student. Should |
744 | appropriated funds be less than the sum of this calculated |
745 | amount for all districts, the commissioner shall prorate each |
746 | district's allocation. This provision shall be implemented to |
747 | the extent specifically funded. |
748 | (12)(11) TOTAL ALLOCATION OF STATE FUNDS TO EACH DISTRICT |
749 | FOR CURRENT OPERATION.--The total annual state allocation to |
750 | each district for current operation for the FEFP shall be |
751 | distributed periodically in the manner prescribed in the General |
752 | Appropriations Act. |
753 | (a) The basic amount for current operation for the FEFP as |
754 | determined in subsection (1), multiplied by the district cost |
755 | differential factor as determined in subsection (2), plus the |
756 | amounts provided for categorical components within the FEFP, |
757 | plus the discretionary millage compression supplement as |
758 | determined in subsection (5), the amount for the sparsity |
759 | supplement as determined in subsection (7), the decline in full- |
760 | time equivalent students as determined in subsection (8), the |
761 | research-based reading instruction allocation as determined in |
762 | subsection (9), the allocation for juvenile justice education |
763 | programs as determined in subsection (10), and the quality |
764 | assurance guarantee as determined in subsection (11) (10), less |
765 | the required local effort as determined in subsection (4). If |
766 | the funds appropriated for the purpose of funding the total |
767 | amount for current operation as provided in this paragraph are |
768 | not sufficient to pay the state requirement in full, the |
769 | department shall prorate the available state funds to each |
770 | district in the following manner: |
771 | 1. Determine the percentage of proration by dividing the |
772 | sum of the total amount for current operation, as provided in |
773 | this paragraph for all districts collectively, and the total |
774 | district required local effort into the sum of the state funds |
775 | available for current operation and the total district required |
776 | local effort. |
777 | 2. Multiply the percentage so determined by the sum of the |
778 | total amount for current operation as provided in this paragraph |
779 | and the required local effort for each individual district. |
780 | 3. From the product of such multiplication, subtract the |
781 | required local effort of each district; and the remainder shall |
782 | be the amount of state funds allocated to the district for |
783 | current operation. |
784 | (b) The amount thus obtained shall be the net annual |
785 | allocation to each school district. However, if it is determined |
786 | that any school district received an underallocation or |
787 | overallocation for any prior year because of an arithmetical |
788 | error, assessment roll change required by final judicial |
789 | decision, full-time equivalent student membership error, or any |
790 | allocation error revealed in an audit report, the allocation to |
791 | that district shall be appropriately adjusted. Beginning with |
792 | audits for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, if the adjustment is the |
793 | result of an audit finding in which group 2 FTE are reclassified |
794 | to the basic program and the district weighted FTE are over the |
795 | weighted enrollment ceiling for group 2 programs, the adjustment |
796 | shall not result in a gain of state funds to the district. If |
797 | the Department of Education audit adjustment recommendation is |
798 | based upon controverted findings of fact, the Commissioner of |
799 | Education is authorized to establish the amount of the |
800 | adjustment based on the best interests of the state. |
801 | (c) The amount thus obtained shall represent the net |
802 | annual state allocation to each district; however, |
803 | notwithstanding any of the provisions herein, each district |
804 | shall be guaranteed a minimum level of funding in the amount and |
805 | manner prescribed in the General Appropriations Act. |
806 | Section 9. The amendments to s. 1011.62(6), Florida |
807 | Statutes, made by this act shall expire July 1, 2009, and the |
808 | text of that subsection shall revert to that in existence on the |
809 | day before the effective date of chapter 2007-328, Laws of |
810 | Florida, except that any amendments to such text enacted other |
811 | than by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to |
812 | the extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the |
813 | portions of such text that expire pursuant to this section. |
814 | Section 10. Section 1011.71, Florida Statutes, as amended |
815 | by chapters 2007-328 and 2008-2, Laws of Florida, is amended to |
816 | read: |
817 | 1011.71 District school tax.-- |
818 | (1) If the district school tax is not provided in the |
819 | General Appropriations Act or the substantive bill implementing |
820 | the General Appropriations Act, each district school board |
821 | desiring to participate in the state allocation of funds for |
822 | current operation as prescribed by s. 1011.62(12)(11) shall levy |
823 | on the taxable value for school purposes of the district, |
824 | exclusive of millage voted under the provisions of s. 9(b) or s. |
825 | 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution, a millage rate not to |
826 | exceed the amount certified by the commissioner as the minimum |
827 | millage rate necessary to provide the district required local |
828 | effort for the current year, pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1. In |
829 | addition to the required local effort millage levy, each |
830 | district school board may levy a nonvoted current operating |
831 | discretionary millage. The Legislature shall prescribe annually |
832 | in the appropriations act the maximum amount of millage a |
833 | district may levy. |
834 | (2) In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in |
835 | subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 1.75 |
836 | mills 2 mills against the taxable value for school purposes for |
837 | district schools, including charter schools at the discretion of |
838 | the school board, to fund: |
839 | (a) New construction and remodeling projects, as set forth |
840 | in s. 1013.64(3)(b) and (6)(b) and included in the district's |
841 | educational plant survey pursuant to s. 1013.31, without regard |
842 | to prioritization, sites and site improvement or expansion to |
843 | new sites, existing sites, auxiliary facilities, athletic |
844 | facilities, or ancillary facilities. |
845 | (b) Maintenance, renovation, and repair of existing school |
846 | plants or of leased facilities to correct deficiencies pursuant |
847 | to s. 1013.15(2). |
848 | (c) The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of school |
849 | buses. |
850 | (d) The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of new and |
851 | replacement equipment. |
852 | (e) Payments for educational facilities and sites due |
853 | under a lease-purchase agreement entered into by a district |
854 | school board pursuant to s. 1003.02(1)(f) or s. 1013.15(2), not |
855 | exceeding, in the aggregate, an amount equal to three-fourths of |
856 | the proceeds from the millage levied by a district school board |
857 | pursuant to this subsection. |
858 | (f) Payment of loans approved pursuant to ss. 1011.14 and |
859 | 1011.15. |
860 | (g) Payment of costs directly related to complying with |
861 | state and federal environmental statutes, rules, and regulations |
862 | governing school facilities. |
863 | (h) Payment of costs of leasing relocatable educational |
864 | facilities, of renting or leasing educational facilities and |
865 | sites pursuant to s. 1013.15(2), or of renting or leasing |
866 | buildings or space within existing buildings pursuant to s. |
867 | 1013.15(4). |
868 | (i) Payment of the cost of school buses when a school |
869 | district contracts with a private entity to provide student |
870 | transportation services if the district meets the requirements |
871 | of this paragraph. |
872 | 1. The district's contract must require that the private |
873 | entity purchase, lease-purchase, or lease, and operate and |
874 | maintain, one or more school buses of a specific type and size |
875 | that meet the requirements of s. 1006.25. |
876 | 2. Each such school bus must be used for the daily |
877 | transportation of public school students in the manner required |
878 | by the school district. |
879 | 3. Annual payment for each such school bus may not exceed |
880 | 10 percent of the purchase price of the state pool bid. |
881 | 4. The proposed expenditure of the funds for this purpose |
882 | must have been included in the district school board's notice of |
883 | proposed tax for school capital outlay as provided in s. |
884 | 200.065(10). |
885 | (j) Payment of the cost of the opening day collection for |
886 | the library media center of a new school. |
887 | (3) If the revenue from the millage authorized in |
888 | subsection (2) is insufficient to make payments due under a |
889 | lease-purchase agreement entered into prior to June 30, 2008, by |
890 | a district school board pursuant to paragraph (2)(e), an amount |
891 | up to 0.25 mills of the taxable value for school purposes within |
892 | the school district shall be legally available for such |
893 | payments, notwithstanding other restrictions on the use of such |
894 | revenues imposed by law. |
895 | (4)(3) A school district that has met the reduction |
896 | requirements regarding class size for the 2008-2009 fiscal |
897 | current year pursuant to s. 1003.03 for K-12 students for whom |
898 | the school district provides the educational facilities, has |
899 | received an unqualified opinion on its financial statements for |
900 | the preceding 3 years, has no material weaknesses or instances |
901 | of material noncompliance noted in an audit for the preceding 3 |
902 | years, and certifies to the Commissioner of Education that the |
903 | district does not need all of its discretionary 1.75-mill |
904 | capital improvement revenue for capital outlay purposes and all |
905 | of the district's instructional space needs for the next 5 years |
906 | can be met from capital outlay sources that the district |
907 | reasonably expects to receive during the next 5 years from local |
908 | revenues and from currently appropriated state facilities |
909 | funding or from alternative scheduling or construction, leasing, |
910 | rezoning, or technological methodologies that exhibit sound |
911 | management may expend, subject to the provisions of s. 200.065, |
912 | up to $65 per unweighted full-time equivalent student from the |
913 | revenue generated by the 2008-2009 millage levy authorized by |
914 | subsection (2) to fund, in addition to expenditures authorized |
915 | in paragraphs (2)(a)-(j), 2008-2009 expenses for the following: |
916 | (a) The purchase, lease-purchase, or lease of driver's |
917 | education vehicles; motor vehicles used for the maintenance or |
918 | operation of plants and equipment; security vehicles; or |
919 | vehicles used in storing or distributing materials and |
920 | equipment. |
921 | (b) Payment of the cost of premiums for property and |
922 | casualty insurance necessary to insure school district |
923 | educational and ancillary plants. Operating revenues that are |
924 | made available through the payment of property and casualty |
925 | insurance premiums from revenues generated under this subsection |
926 | may be expended only for nonrecurring operational expenditures |
927 | of the school district. |
928 | (5)(4) Violations of the expenditure provisions in |
929 | subsection (2) or subsection (4) (3) shall result in an equal |
930 | dollar reduction in the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) |
931 | funds for the violating district in the fiscal year following |
932 | the audit citation. |
933 | (6)(5) These taxes shall be certified, assessed, and |
934 | collected as prescribed in s. 1011.04 and shall be expended as |
935 | provided by law. |
936 | (7)(6) Nothing in s. 1011.62(4)(a)1. shall in any way be |
937 | construed to increase the maximum school millage levies as |
938 | provided for in subsection (1). |
939 | (8)(7) In addition to the maximum millage levied under |
940 | this section and the General Appropriations Act, a school |
941 | district may levy, by local referendum or in a general election, |
942 | additional millage for school operational purposes up to an |
943 | amount that, when combined with nonvoted millage levied under |
944 | this section, does not exceed the 10-mill limit established in |
945 | s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution. Any such levy shall |
946 | be for a maximum of 4 years and shall be counted as part of the |
947 | 10-mill limit established in s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State |
948 | Constitution. Millage elections conducted under the authority |
949 | granted pursuant to this section are subject to s. 1011.73. |
950 | Funds generated by such additional millage do not become a part |
951 | of the calculation of the Florida Education Finance Program |
952 | total potential funds in 2001-2002 or any subsequent year and |
953 | must not be incorporated in the calculation of any hold-harmless |
954 | or other component of the Florida Education Finance Program |
955 | formula in any year. If an increase in required local effort, |
956 | when added to existing millage levied under the 10-mill limit, |
957 | would result in a combined millage in excess of the 10-mill |
958 | limit, any millage levied pursuant to this subsection shall be |
959 | considered to be required local effort to the extent that the |
960 | district millage would otherwise exceed the 10-mill limit. |
961 | Section 11. The amendments to subsection (3) of s. |
962 | 1011.71, Florida Statutes, renumbered as subsection (4) by this |
963 | act, shall expire July 1, 2009, and the text of that subsection |
964 | shall revert to that in existence on the day before the |
965 | effective date of chapter 2007-328, Laws of Florida, except that |
966 | any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall |
967 | be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such |
968 | amendments are not dependent upon the portions of such text that |
969 | expire pursuant to this section. |
970 | Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 1011.73, Florida |
971 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
972 | 1011.73 District millage elections.-- |
973 | (2) MILLAGE AUTHORIZED NOT TO EXCEED 4 YEARS.--The |
974 | district school board, pursuant to resolution adopted at a |
975 | regular meeting, shall direct the county commissioners to call |
976 | an election at which the electors within the school district may |
977 | approve an ad valorem tax millage as authorized under s. |
978 | 1011.71(8)(7). Such election may be held at any time, except |
979 | that not more than one such election shall be held during any |
980 | 12-month period. Any millage so authorized shall be levied for a |
981 | period not in excess of 4 years or until changed by another |
982 | millage election, whichever is earlier. If any such election is |
983 | invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, such |
984 | invalidated election shall be considered not to have been held. |
985 | Section 13. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (5) of |
986 | section 1012.225, Florida Statutes, to read: |
987 | 1012.225 Merit Award Program for Instructional Personnel |
988 | and School-Based Administrators.-- |
989 | (5) REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE-BASED PAY PLANS.-- |
990 | (e) Districts that do not have an approved plan for the |
991 | 2008-2009 school year may submit a plan for the 2008-2009 school |
992 | year by October 1, 2008. |
993 | Section 14. Section 1012.72, Florida Statutes, as amended |
994 | by chapter 2007-328, Laws of Florida, is amended to read: |
995 | 1012.72 Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program.-- |
996 | (1) The Legislature recognizes that teachers play a |
997 | critical role in preparing students to achieve the high levels |
998 | of academic performance expected by the Sunshine State |
999 | Standards. The Legislature further recognizes the importance of |
1000 | identifying and rewarding teaching excellence and of encouraging |
1001 | good teachers to become excellent teachers. The Legislature |
1002 | finds that the National Board for of Professional Teaching |
1003 | Standards (NBPTS) has established high and rigorous standards |
1004 | for accomplished teaching and has developed a national voluntary |
1005 | system for assessing and certifying teachers who demonstrate |
1006 | teaching excellence by meeting those standards. It is therefore |
1007 | the Legislature's intent to provide incentives for teachers to |
1008 | seek NBPTS certification and to reward teachers who demonstrate |
1009 | teaching excellence by attaining NBPTS certification and sharing |
1010 | their expertise with other teachers. |
1011 | (2) The Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program is created |
1012 | to provide categorical funding for monetary incentives and |
1013 | bonuses for teaching excellence. The bonuses may be provided for |
1014 | initial certification for up to one 10-year period. The |
1015 | Department of Education shall distribute to each school district |
1016 | or to the NBPTS an amount as prescribed annually by the |
1017 | Legislature for the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program. For |
1018 | purposes of this section, the Florida School for the Deaf and |
1019 | the Blind shall be considered a school district. Unless |
1020 | otherwise provided in the General Appropriations Act, each |
1021 | distribution shall be the sum of the amounts earned for the |
1022 | following incentives and bonuses: |
1023 | (a) A fee subsidy to be paid by the Department of |
1024 | Education to the NBPTS on behalf of each individual who is an |
1025 | employee of a district school board or a public school within |
1026 | the school district, who is certified by the district to have |
1027 | demonstrated satisfactory teaching performance pursuant to s. |
1028 | 1012.34 and who satisfies the prerequisites for participating in |
1029 | the NBPTS certification program, and who agrees, in writing, to |
1030 | pay 10 percent of the NBPTS participation fee and to participate |
1031 | in the NBPTS certification program during the school year for |
1032 | which the fee subsidy is provided. The fee subsidy for each |
1033 | eligible participant shall be an amount equal to 90 percent of |
1034 | the fee charged for participating in the NBPTS certification |
1035 | program. The fee subsidy is a one-time award and may not be |
1036 | duplicated for any individual. |
1037 | (b) A portfolio-preparation incentive of $150 paid by the |
1038 | Department of Education to each teacher employed by a district |
1039 | school board or a public school within a school district who is |
1040 | participating in the NBPTS certification program. The portfolio- |
1041 | preparation incentive is a one-time award paid during the school |
1042 | year for which the NBPTS fee subsidy is provided. |
1043 | (a)(c) An annual bonus equal to 10 percent of the prior |
1044 | fiscal year's statewide average salary for classroom teachers to |
1045 | be distributed to the school district to be paid to each |
1046 | individual who holds NBPTS certification and is employed by the |
1047 | district school board or by a public school within the school |
1048 | district. The district school board shall distribute the annual |
1049 | bonus to each individual who meets the requirements of this |
1050 | paragraph and who is certified annually by the district to have |
1051 | demonstrated satisfactory teaching performance pursuant to s. |
1052 | 1012.34. The annual bonus may be paid as a single payment or |
1053 | divided into not more than three payments. |
1054 | (b)(d) An annual bonus equal to 10 percent of the prior |
1055 | fiscal year's statewide average salary for classroom teachers to |
1056 | be distributed to the school district to be paid to each |
1057 | individual who meets the requirements of paragraph (a) (c) and |
1058 | agrees, in writing, to provide the equivalent of 12 workdays of |
1059 | mentoring and related services to public school teachers within |
1060 | the state who do not hold NBPTS certification. Related services |
1061 | must include instruction in helping teachers work more |
1062 | effectively with the families of their students. The district |
1063 | school board shall distribute the annual bonus in a single |
1064 | payment following the completion of all required mentoring and |
1065 | related services for the year. It is not the intent of the |
1066 | Legislature to remove excellent teachers from their assigned |
1067 | classrooms; therefore, credit may not be granted by a school |
1068 | district or public school for mentoring or related services |
1069 | provided during student contact time during the 196 days of |
1070 | required service for the school year. |
1071 | (c)(e) The employer's share of social security and |
1072 | Medicare taxes and Florida Retirement System contributions for |
1073 | those teachers who qualify for NBPTS certification and receive |
1074 | bonus amounts under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b). |
1075 |
|
1076 | A teacher for whom the state pays the certification fee and who |
1077 | does not complete the certification program or does not teach in |
1078 | a public school of this state for at least 1 year after |
1079 | completing the certification program must repay the amount of |
1080 | the certification fee to the state. However, a teacher who |
1081 | completes the certification program but fails to be awarded |
1082 | NBPTS certification is not required to repay the amount of the |
1083 | certification fee if the teacher meets the 1-year teaching |
1084 | requirement. Repayment is not required of a teacher who does not |
1085 | complete the certification program or fails to fulfill the |
1086 | teaching requirement because of the teacher's death or |
1087 | disability or because of other extenuating circumstances as |
1088 | determined by the State Board of Education. |
1089 | (3)(a) In addition to any other remedy available under the |
1090 | law, any person who is a recipient of a certification fee |
1091 | subsidy paid to the NBPTS and who is an employee of the state or |
1092 | any of its political subdivisions is considered to have |
1093 | consented, as a condition of employment, to the voluntary or |
1094 | involuntary withholding of wages to repay to the state the |
1095 | amount of such a certification fee subsidy awarded under this |
1096 | section. Any such employee who defaults on the repayment of such |
1097 | a certification fee subsidy must, within 60 days after service |
1098 | of a notice of default by the Department of Education to the |
1099 | employee, establish a repayment schedule which must be agreed to |
1100 | by the department and the employee, for repaying the defaulted |
1101 | sum through payroll deductions. The department may not require |
1102 | the employee to pay more than 10 percent of the employee's pay |
1103 | per pay period under such a repayment schedule or plan. If the |
1104 | employee fails to establish a repayment schedule within the |
1105 | specified period of time or fails to meet the terms and |
1106 | conditions of the agreed upon or approved repayment schedule as |
1107 | authorized by this subsection, the employee has breached an |
1108 | essential condition of employment and is considered to have |
1109 | consented to the involuntary withholding of wages or salary for |
1110 | the repayment of the certification fee subsidy. |
1111 | (b) A person who is employed by the state, or any of its |
1112 | political subdivisions, may not be dismissed for having |
1113 | defaulted on the repayment of the certification fee subsidy to |
1114 | the state. |
1115 | (4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant |
1116 | to ss. 120.536 and 120.54 as necessary to administer the |
1117 | provisions for payment of the fee subsidies, incentives, and |
1118 | bonuses and for the repayment of defaulted certification fee |
1119 | subsidies under this section. |
1120 | (3)(5) If the funds available in any fiscal year are |
1121 | insufficient to pay in full the annual bonuses for certification |
1122 | and for providing mentoring and related services, payments for |
1123 | providing mentoring and related services shall be prorated among |
1124 | the eligible recipients. If the mentoring and related services |
1125 | are prorated, school districts may pay a portion or all of the |
1126 | balance. If funds are insufficient to pay in full the annual |
1127 | bonuses for certification, payments of bonuses for certification |
1128 | shall be prorated among the eligible recipients. |
1129 | Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 1013.45, Florida |
1130 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1131 | 1013.45 Educational facilities contracting and |
1132 | construction techniques.-- |
1133 | (4) Except as otherwise provided in this section and s. |
1134 | 481.229, the services of a registered architect must be used for |
1135 | the development of plans for the erection, enlargement, or |
1136 | alteration of any educational facility. The services of a |
1137 | registered architect are not required for a minor renovation |
1138 | project for which the construction cost is less than $50,000 or |
1139 | for the placement or hookup of relocatable educational |
1140 | facilities that conform with standards adopted under s. 1013.37. |
1141 | However, boards must provide compliance with building code |
1142 | requirements and ensure that these structures are adequately |
1143 | anchored for wind resistance as required by law. A district |
1144 | school board shall Boards are encouraged to consider the reuse |
1145 | of existing construction documents or design criteria packages |
1146 | if where such reuse is feasible and practical. If a school |
1147 | district's 5-year educational facilities work plan includes the |
1148 | construction of two or more new schools for students in the same |
1149 | grade group and program, such as elementary, middle, or high |
1150 | school, the district school board shall require that prototype |
1151 | design and construction be used for the construction of these |
1152 | schools. Notwithstanding s. 287.055, a board may purchase the |
1153 | architectural services for the design of educational or |
1154 | ancillary facilities under an existing contract agreement for |
1155 | professional services held by a district school board in the |
1156 | State of Florida, provided that the purchase is to the economic |
1157 | advantage of the purchasing board, the services conform to the |
1158 | standards prescribed by rules of the State Board of Education, |
1159 | and such reuse is not without notice to, and permission from, |
1160 | the architect of record whose plans or design criteria are being |
1161 | reused. Plans shall be reviewed for compliance with the state |
1162 | requirements for educational facilities. Rules adopted under |
1163 | this section must establish uniform prequalification, selection, |
1164 | bidding, and negotiation procedures applicable to construction |
1165 | management contracts and the design-build process. This section |
1166 | does not supersede any small, woman-owned or minority-owned |
1167 | business enterprise preference program adopted by a board. |
1168 | Except as otherwise provided in this section, the negotiation |
1169 | procedures applicable to construction management contracts and |
1170 | the design-build process must conform to the requirements of s. |
1171 | 287.055. A board may not modify any rules regarding construction |
1172 | management contracts or the design-build process. |
1173 | Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2008. |