Florida Senate - 2013 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 904
Barcode 349806
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/10/2013 .
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The Committee on Rules (Negron) recommended the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Between lines 35 and 36
4 insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
6 1002.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 1002.45 Virtual instruction programs.—
8 (2) PROVIDER QUALIFICATIONS.—
9 (a) The department shall annually publish online a list of
10 providers approved to offer virtual instruction programs. To be
11 approved by the department, a provider must document that it:
12 1. Is nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies,
13 employment practices, and operations;
14 2. Complies with the antidiscrimination provisions of s.
15 1000.05;
16 3. Locates an administrative office or offices in this
17 state, requires its administrative staff to be state residents,
18 Requires all instructional staff to be Florida-certified
19 teachers under chapter 1012 or certified as adjunct educators
20 under s. 1012.57, and conducts background screenings for all
21 employees or contracted personnel, as required by s. 1012.32,
22 using state and national criminal history records;
23 4. Provides to parents and students specific information
24 posted and accessible online which includes, but is not limited
25 to, the following teacher-parent and teacher-student contact
26 information for each course:
27 a. How to contact the instructor via telephone, e-mail, or
28 online messaging tools.
29 b. How to contact technical support via telephone, e-mail,
30 or online messaging tools.
31 c. How to contact the administration office or an
32 individual offering online courses, including, but not limited
33 to, massive open online courses, via telephone, e-mail, or
34 online messaging tools.
35 d. Any requirement for regular contact with the instructor
36 for the course and clear expectations for meeting the
37 requirement.
38 e. A requirement that the instructor in each course, with
39 the exception of individuals offering online courses, including,
40 but not limited to, massive open online courses, must, at a
41 minimum, conduct one contact via telephone with the parent and
42 the student each month;
43 5.4. Possesses prior, successful experience offering online
44 courses to elementary, middle, or high school students as
45 demonstrated by quantified student learning gains in each
46 subject area and grade level provided for consideration as an
47 instructional program option;
48 6.5. Is accredited by a regional accrediting association as
49 defined by State Board of Education rule;
50 7.6. Ensures instructional and curricular quality through a
51 detailed curriculum and student performance accountability plan
52 that addresses every subject and grade level it intends to
53 provide through contract with the school district, including:
54 a. Courses and programs that meet the standards of the
55 International Association for K-12 Online Learning and the
56 Southern Regional Education Board.
57 b. Instructional content and services that align with, and
58 measure student attainment of, student proficiency in the Next
59 Generation Sunshine State Standards.
60 c. Mechanisms that determine and ensure that a student has
61 satisfied requirements for grade level promotion and high school
62 graduation with a standard diploma, as appropriate;
63 8.7. Publishes for the general public, in accordance with
64 disclosure requirements adopted in rule by the State Board of
65 Education, as part of its application as a provider and in all
66 contracts negotiated pursuant to this section:
67 a. Information and data about the curriculum of each full
68 time and part-time program.
69 b. School policies and procedures.
70 c. Certification status and physical location of all
71 administrative and instructional personnel.
72 d. Hours and times of availability of instructional
73 personnel.
74 e. Student-teacher ratios.
75 f. Student completion and promotion rates.
76 g. Student, educator, and school performance accountability
77 outcomes;
78 9.8. If the provider is a Florida College System
79 institution, employs instructors who meet the certification
80 requirements for instructional staff under chapter 1012; and
81 10.9. Performs an annual financial audit of its accounts
82 and records conducted by an independent certified public
83 accountant which is in accordance with rules adopted by the
84 Auditor General, is conducted in compliance with generally
85 accepted auditing standards, and includes a report on financial
86 statements presented in accordance with generally accepted
87 accounting principles.
88
89 A person or organization that seeks to offer online courses
90 pursuant to this paragraph is not subject to sub-subparagraphs
91 8.a. and b., subparagraphs 6., 9., and 10., and paragraphs
92 (8)(c) and (d).
93
94 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
95 And the title is amended as follows:
96 Delete line 2
97 and insert:
98 An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.45,
99 F.S.; allowing individuals or organizations that
100 provide individual online courses, including massive
101 open online courses, which are measured by statewide
102 assessments to apply for approval as state-level
103 providers; creating s. 1007.012,