Florida Senate - 2009 CS for CS for SB 1978
By the Committees on Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations; and
Education Pre-K - 12; and Senators Diaz de la Portilla and
Storms
602-05112-09 20091978c2
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to classroom expenditures; creating s.
3 1010.2155, F.S.; requiring that school districts spend
4 a minimum percentage of the district general fund on
5 expenditures in the classroom; requiring that the
6 Department of Education develop a uniform calculation
7 and a common format for district reporting; requiring
8 that school districts publish information regarding
9 classroom expenditures; requiring that the department
10 analyze the expenditures of school districts that fail
11 to meet required classroom expenditure levels;
12 authorizing the department to provide technical
13 assistance upon request by a school district;
14 requiring that the Commissioner of Education make
15 written recommendations to the superintendent of
16 schools and the school board; authorizing the State
17 Board of Education to adopt rules; providing an
18 effective date.
19
20 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22 Section 1. Section 1010.2155, Florida Statutes, is created
23 to read:
24 1010.2155 Expenditures for classroom instruction.—
25 (1) Effective July 1, 2009, school districts shall spend a
26 minimum of 70 percent of the district general fund on
27 expenditures in the classroom.
28 (2) Expenditures in the classroom shall consist of
29 expenditures for instruction and expenditures for instructional
30 support services.
31 (a) Expenditures for instruction shall include:
32 1. Salaries and benefits for instructional personnel
33 defined in s. 1012.01(2);
34 2. Substitute teachers;
35 3. Textbooks;
36 4. Library books;
37 5. Instruction-related materials and supplies;
38 6. Instruction-related audio-visual materials;
39 7. Instruction-related computer hardware and software; and
40 8. Compensation for persons on temporary appointment in
41 positions defined in s. 1012.01(2) who do not receive employee
42 benefits.
43 (b) Expenditures for instructional support services shall
44 include:
45 1. Salaries and benefits for instructional personnel
46 defined in s. 1012.01(2);
47 2. Pupil personnel services, including guidance counselors,
48 career specialists, and school psychologists;
49 3. Instructional media services, including school libraries
50 and media centers;
51 4. Aid to teachers in developing curriculum and
52 instruction;
53 5. Instructional staff training and professional
54 development services;
55 6. Reimbursement for instructional staff travel to
56 professional development activities outside the district; and
57 7. Compensation for persons on temporary appointment in
58 positions defined in s. 1012.01(2) who do not receive employee
59 benefits.
60 (3) School food services, student transportation, charter
61 schools, and debt service shall not be considered in calculating
62 the percentage of expenditures in the classroom.
63 (4) The Department of Education shall develop a uniform
64 calculation for determining classroom expenditure percentages
65 and shall develop a common format for district reporting. School
66 districts shall publish classroom expenditure information
67 annually in the financial report required in s. 1010.215 and
68 shall post the information on the home page of the school
69 district’s Internet site. Annual expenditure reports shall be
70 published no later than January 1 for the prior school year.
71 Effective May 1, 2012, school districts shall publish in each
72 school report card the most recent 3 years of the district-wide
73 percentage of general funds expended in the classroom.
74 (5) The Department of Education shall analyze the
75 expenditures of any school district that fails to meet required
76 classroom expenditure levels and receives a district grade of
77 “C” or lower and provide technical assistance in budget
78 preparation and analysis to the district. The department may
79 provide technical assistance regarding expenditures in the
80 classroom to any district, upon request. The Commissioner of
81 Education shall make written recommendations to the
82 superintendent of schools and school board regarding expenditure
83 redirections that may result in higher student achievement.
84 Effective July 1, 2011, the superintendent of schools of any
85 district that fails to meet the minimum classroom expenditures
86 and district grade shall appear before the State Board of
87 Education to explain the financial and academic performance
88 status of the district. Such appearance shall occur no later
89 than 60 days after the release of the district expenditure
90 report.
91 (6) The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant
92 to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer the provisions of
93 this section.
94 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.