Florida Senate - 2014 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
Bill No. CS for SB 1512
Ì5328620Î532862
576-03620A-14
Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations
(Appropriations Subcommittee on Education)
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; creating s. 1002.385,
3 F.S.; establishing the Florida Personal Learning
4 Scholarship Accounts; defining terms; specifying
5 criteria for students who are eligible to participate
6 in the program; identifying certain students who are
7 not eligible to participate in the program;
8 authorizing the use of awarded funds for specific
9 purposes; prohibiting specific providers, schools,
10 institutions, school districts, and other entities
11 from sharing, refunding, or rebating program funds;
12 specifying the terms of the program; providing that
13 the school district retains all duties, authority, and
14 responsibilities specified in the Florida K-20
15 Education Code; specifying the duties of the
16 Department of Education relating to the program;
17 providing that the Commissioner of Education retains
18 all current duties, authority, and responsibilities as
19 specified in the Florida K-20 Education Code;
20 requiring the executive director of the Agency for
21 Persons with Disabilities to deny, suspend, or revoke
22 participation in the program or use of program funds
23 under certain circumstances; providing additional
24 factors under which the executive director may deny,
25 suspend, or revoke a participation in the program or
26 program funds; requiring a parent to sign an agreement
27 with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to
28 enroll his or her child in the program which specifies
29 the responsibilities of a parent or student for using
30 funds in a personal learning scholarship account and
31 for submitting a compliance statement to the agency;
32 providing that a parent who fails to comply with the
33 responsibilities of the agreement forfeits the
34 personal learning scholarship account; providing
35 eligibility requirements and obligations for private
36 schools under the program; specifying agency
37 obligations under the program; authorizing the agency
38 to contract for services; providing for funding and
39 payment; providing the Auditor General’s obligations
40 under the program; providing that the state is not
41 liable for the use of awarded funds; providing for the
42 scope of authority; requiring the agency to adopt
43 rules; providing for implementation of the program in
44 a specified school year; providing an appropriation;
45 amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; providing standard high
46 school diploma requirements for certain students with
47 disabilities; authorizing certain students with
48 disabilities to continue to receive certain
49 instructions and services; requiring an independent
50 review and a parent’s approval to waive statewide,
51 standardized assessment requirements by the individual
52 education plan (IEP) team; repealing s. 1003.438,
53 F.S., relating to special high school graduation
54 requirements for certain exceptional students;
55 creating s. 1003.5716, F.S.; providing that certain
56 students with disabilities have a right to free,
57 appropriate public education; requiring an IEP team to
58 begin the process of, and to develop an IEP for,
59 identifying transition services needs for a student
60 with a disability before the student attains a
61 specified age; providing requirements for the process;
62 requiring certain statements to be included and
63 annually updated in the IEP; providing that changes in
64 the goals specified in an IEP are subject to
65 independent review and parental approval; requiring
66 the school district to reconvene the IEP team to
67 identify alternative strategies to meet transition
68 objectives if a participating agency fails to provide
69 transition services specified in the IEP; providing
70 that the agency’s failure does not relieve the agency
71 of the responsibility to provide or pay for the
72 transition services that the agency otherwise would
73 have provided; amending s. 1003.572, F.S.; prohibiting
74 a school district from imposing additional
75 requirements on private instructional personnel or
76 charging fees; creating s. 1008.2121, F.S.; requiring
77 the Commissioner of Education to permanently exempt
78 certain students with disabilities from taking
79 statewide, standardized assessments; requiring the
80 State Board of Education to adopt rules; amending s.
81 1008.25, F.S.; requiring written notification relating
82 to portfolios to a parent of a student with a
83 substantial reading deficiency; requiring a student
84 promoted to a certain grade with a good cause
85 exemption to receive intensive reading instruction and
86 intervention; requiring a school district to assist
87 schools and teachers with the implementation of
88 reading strategies; revising good cause exemptions;
89 amending ss. 120.81, 409.1451, and 1007.263, F.S.;
90 conforming cross-references; providing effective
91 dates.
92
93 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
94
95 Section 1. Section 1002.385, Florida Statutes, is created
96 to read:
97 1002.385 Florida Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts.—
98 (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Florida Personal Learning
99 Scholarship Accounts is established to provide the option for a
100 parent to better meet the individual educational needs of his or
101 her eligible child.
102 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
103 (a) “Agency” means the Agency for Persons with
104 Disabilities.
105 (b) “Approved provider” means a provider approved by the
106 Agency for Persons with Disabilities, a health care practitioner
107 as defined in s. 456.001(4), or a provider approved by the
108 Department of Education pursuant to s. 1002.66.
109 (c) “Curriculum” means a complete course of study for a
110 particular content area or grade level, including any required
111 supplemental materials.
112 (d) “Disability” means, for a student in kindergarten to
113 grade 12, autism, as defined in s. 393.063(3); cerebral palsy,
114 as defined in s. 393.063(4); Down syndrome, as defined in s.
115 393.063(13); an intellectual disability, as defined in s.
116 393.063(21); Prader-Willi syndrome, as defined in s.
117 393.063(25); Spina bifida, as defined in s. 393.063(36); for a
118 student in kindergarten, being a high-risk child, as defined in
119 s. 393.063(20)(a); or Williams syndrome.
120 (e) “Eligible postsecondary educational institution” means
121 a Florida College System institution, a state university, a
122 school district technical center, a school district adult
123 general education center, or an accredited nonpublic
124 postsecondary educational institution, as defined in s. 1005.02,
125 which is licensed to operate in the state pursuant to
126 requirements specified in part III of chapter 1005.
127 (f) “Eligible private school” means a private school, as
128 defined in s. 1002.01, which is located in this state, which
129 offers an education to students in any grade from kindergarten
130 to grade 12, and which meets the requirements of:
131 1. Sections 1002.42 and 1002.421; and
132 2. A scholarship program under s. 1002.39 or s. 1002.395,
133 as applicable, if the private school participates in a
134 scholarship program under s. 1002.39 or s. 1002.395.
135 (g) “ILSP” means an individual learning services plan that
136 is developed for a student who participates in the program.
137 (h) “Parent” means a resident of this state who is a
138 parent, as defined in s. 1000.21.
139 (i) “Program” means the Florida Personal Learning
140 Scholarship Accounts established in this section.
141 (3) PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.—A parent of a student with a
142 disability may request and receive from the state a Florida
143 personal learning scholarship account for the purposes specified
144 in subsection (5) if:
145 (a) The student:
146 1. Is a resident of this state;
147 2. Is eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12
148 in a public school in this state;
149 3. Has a disability as defined in paragraph (2)(d) and
150 meets the agency’s eligibility criteria;
151 4. Has an ILSP developed by the agency in consultation with
152 the parent and written in accordance with rules of the Agency
153 for Persons with Disabilities; and
154 5. Complies with regular school attendance pursuant to s.
155 1003.01(13); and
156 (b) The parent has applied to the agency to participate in
157 the program by February 1 prior to the school year in which the
158 student will participate or an alternate date adopted by the
159 agency in rule for any vacant, funded slots. The request must be
160 communicated directly to the agency in a manner that creates a
161 written or electronic record of the request and the date of
162 receipt of the request. The agency must notify the school
163 district and the Department of Education of the parent’s intent
164 upon receipt of the parent’s request.
165 (4) PROGRAM PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for the
166 program if:
167 (a) The student or student’s parent has accepted any
168 payment, refund, or rebate, in any manner, from a provider of
169 any services received pursuant to subsection (5);
170 (b) The student’s participation in the program has been
171 denied or revoked by the executive director of the Agency for
172 Persons with Disabilities pursuant to subsection (10); or
173 (c) The student’s parent has forfeited participation in the
174 program for failure to comply with requirements pursuant to
175 subsection (11).
176 (5) AUTHORIZED USES OF PROGRAM FUNDS.—Program funds may be
177 spent for the following purposes, according to the goals and
178 objectives identified in the student’s ILSP:
179 (a) Instructional materials, including digital devices,
180 digital periphery devices, and assistive technology devices that
181 allow a student to access instruction or instructional content.
182 (b) Curriculum as defined in paragraph (2)(c).
183 (c) Specialized services by approved providers that are
184 selected by the parent and specified in the student’s ILSP.
185 These specialized services may include, but are not limited to:
186 1. Applied behavior analysis services as provided in ss.
187 627.6686 and 641.31098.
188 2. Services provided by speech-language pathologists as
189 defined in s. 468.1125.
190 3. Occupational therapy services as defined in s. 468.203.
191 4. Services provided by physical therapists as defined in
192 s. 486.021.
193 5. Services provided by listening and spoken language
194 specialists and an appropriate acoustical environment for a
195 child who is deaf or hard of hearing and who has received an
196 implant or assistive hearing device.
197 (d) Enrollment in, or tuition or fees associated with
198 enrollment in, an eligible private school, an eligible
199 postsecondary educational institution, a private tutoring
200 program authorized under s. 1002.43, a virtual program offered
201 by a department-approved private online provider that meets the
202 provider qualifications specified in s. 1002.45(2)(a), or an
203 approved online course offered pursuant to s. 1003.499 or s.
204 1004.0961.
205 (e) Fees for nationally standardized, norm-referenced
206 achievement tests, Advanced Placement examinations, industry
207 certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary
208 education, or other assessments specified in the student’s ILSP.
209 (f) Contributions to a Coverdell education savings
210 established pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s. 530 of the Internal Revenue
211 Code for the benefit of the eligible student.
212 (g) Contributions to the Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid
213 College Program pursuant to s. 1009.98, for the benefit of the
214 eligible student.
215 (h) Contracted services provided by a public school or
216 school district, including classes for the services specified in
217 the ILSP or additional services. A student who receives services
218 under a contract under this paragraph shall not be considered to
219 be enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as
220 specified in subsection (3).
221
222 A specialized service provider, eligible private school,
223 eligible postsecondary educational institution, private tutoring
224 program provider, online or virtual program provider, public
225 school, school district, or other entity receiving payments
226 pursuant to this subsection may not share, refund, or rebate any
227 moneys from a Florida personal learning scholarship account with
228 the parent or participating student in any manner.
229 (6) TERM OF THE PROGRAM.—For purposes of continuity of
230 educational choice, the program payments made under this section
231 shall remain in force until a student participating in the
232 program participates in any of the prohibited activities
233 specified in subsection (4), has funds revoked by the agency
234 pursuant to subsection (10), graduates from high school, or
235 reaches 22 years of age, whichever occurs first.
236 (7) SCHOOL DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS.—The school district
237 retains all current duties, authority, and responsibilities as
238 specified in the Florida K-20 Education Code.
239 (8) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS.—The department
240 shall:
241 (a) Maintain a list of eligible private schools as defined
242 in paragraph (2)(f) and private tutoring programs pursuant to s.
243 1002.43.
244 (b) Compare the list of students participating in the
245 program with the public school enrollment lists before each
246 program payment to avoid duplicate payments.
247
248 The department retains all current duties, authority, and
249 responsibilities as specified in the Florida K-20 Education
250 Code.
251 (9) COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AUTHORITY AND OBLIGATIONS.
252 The Commissioner of Education retains all current duties,
253 authority, and responsibilities as specified in the Florida K-20
254 Education Code.
255 (10) AUTHORITY AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
256 THE AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.—
257 (a) The executive director:
258 1. Shall deny, suspend, or revoke a student’s participation
259 in the program if the health, safety, or welfare of the student
260 is threatened or fraud is suspected.
261 2. Shall deny, suspend, or revoke an authorized use of
262 program funds if the health, safety, or welfare of the student
263 is threatened or fraud is suspected.
264 3. May deny, suspend, or revoke an authorized use of
265 program funds for material failure to comply with this section
266 and applicable agency rules if the noncompliance is correctable
267 within a reasonable period of time. Otherwise, the executive
268 director shall deny, suspend, or revoke an authorized use for
269 failure to materially comply with the law and rules adopted
270 under this section.
271 4. Shall require compliance by the appropriate party by a
272 date certain for all nonmaterial failures to comply with this
273 section and applicable agency rules. The executive director may
274 deny, suspend, or revoke program participation under this
275 section thereafter.
276 (b) In determining whether to deny, suspend, or revoke in
277 accordance with this subsection, the executive director may
278 consider factors that include, but are not limited to, acts or
279 omissions by a participating entity which led to a previous
280 denial or revocation of participation in an education
281 scholarship program under this chapter; failure to reimburse the
282 agency for program funds improperly received or retained by the
283 entity; imposition of a prior criminal sanction related to the
284 entity or its officers or employees; imposition of a civil fine
285 or administrative fine, license revocation or suspension, or
286 program eligibility suspension, termination, or revocation
287 related to an entity’s management or operation; or other types
288 of criminal proceedings in which the entity or its officers or
289 employees were found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or
290 entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, any offense
291 involving fraud, deceit, dishonesty, or moral turpitude.
292 (11) PARENT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROGRAM
293 PARTICIPATION.—A parent who applies for program participation
294 under this section is exercising his or her parental option to
295 determine the appropriate placement or services that best meet
296 the needs of his or her student. To enroll an eligible student
297 in the program, the parent must sign an agreement with the
298 agency and annually submit a notarized, sworn compliance
299 statement to the agency to:
300 (a) Affirm that the student is enrolled in a school or
301 program that meets minimum student attendance requirements as
302 provided in s. 1003.21.
303 (b) Comply with the ILSP and use the program funds only for
304 authorized purposes to meet the student’s goals and objectives
305 in the ILSP as described in subsection (2).
306 (c) Provide for an appropriate assessment that documents
307 the student’s demonstration of educational progress at a level
308 commensurate with her or his ability, in accordance with the
309 requirements for the academic program selected by the parent who
310 enrolls the student in a private school pursuant to paragraph
311 (2)(f), a home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41, or a
312 scholarship program pursuant to s. 1002.39 or s. 1002.395.
313 (d) Affirm that the student takes all appropriate
314 assessments as specified in the student’s ILSP. The parent is
315 responsible for transporting the student to the assessment site
316 designated by the school district if the parent selects a
317 statewide, standardized assessment pursuant to s. 1008.22.
318 (e) Notify the school district that the student is
319 participating in the program if the parent chooses to enroll the
320 student in an eligible private school pursuant to paragraph
321 (2)(f), a home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41, a
322 scholarship program pursuant to this chapter, or a private
323 tutoring program authorized under s. 1002.43.
324 (f) Request participation in the program at least 60 days
325 before the date of the first program payment.
326 (g) Affirm that the student remains in good standing with
327 the provider or school if those options are selected by the
328 parent.
329 (h) Apply for admission of his or her child if the private
330 school option is selected by the parent.
331 (i) Annually renew participation in the program.
332 (j) Be responsible for the payment of all eligible expenses
333 in excess of the amount of the personal learning scholarship
334 account.
335 (k) Affirm that the parent will not transfer any college
336 savings funds to another beneficiary.
337 (l) Affirm that the parent will not take possession of any
338 funding contributed by the state.
339 (m) Maintain a portfolio of records and materials which
340 must be preserved by the parent for 2 years and be made
341 available for inspection by the district school superintendent
342 or the superintendent’s designee upon 15 days’ written notice.
343 This paragraph does not require the superintendent to inspect
344 the portfolio. The portfolio of records and materials consists
345 of:
346 1. A log of educational instruction and services which is
347 made contemporaneously with delivery of the instruction and
348 services and which designates by title any reading materials
349 used; and
350 2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or
351 creative materials used or developed by the student.
352
353 A parent who fails to comply with this subsection forfeits the
354 personal learning scholarship account.
355 (12) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—An
356 eligible private school as defined in paragraph (2)(f) must:
357 (a) Comply with all requirements for private schools in ss.
358 1002.42 and 1002.421. A private school participating in a
359 scholarship program under s. 1002.39 or s. 1002.395 must also
360 comply with the requirements of that scholarship program.
361 (b) Provide to the agency, upon request, all documentation
362 required for the student’s participation, including the private
363 school’s and student’s fee schedules.
364 (c) Be academically accountable to the parent for meeting
365 the educational needs of the student.
366 (d) Employ or contract with teachers who have regular and
367 direct contact with each student receiving a scholarship under
368 this section at the school’s physical location.
369
370 The inability of a private school to meet the requirements of
371 this subsection shall constitute a basis for the ineligibility
372 of the private school to participate in the scholarship program
373 as determined by the Department of Education.
374 (13) AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OBLIGATIONS.—
375 (a) The agency shall:
376 1. Monitor and provide oversight for the program.
377 2. Receive applications and determine student eligibility
378 in accordance with the requirements of this section. The agency
379 must notify the Department of Education of the applicants for
380 the program by February 1 prior to the school year in which the
381 student intends to participate and indicate how the student will
382 comply with regular school attendance pursuant to ss.
383 1003.01(13) and 1003.23.
384 3. Notify parents of their receipt of a scholarship on a
385 first-come, first-served basis based upon the funds provided for
386 this program in the General Appropriations Act.
387 4. Establish a date by which a parent must confirm initial
388 or continuing participation in the program and confirm the
389 establishment or continuance of a personal learning scholarship
390 account.
391 5. Establish a date and process by which students on the
392 wait list or late-filing applicants may be allowed to
393 participate in the program during the school year, within the
394 amount of funds provided for this program in the General
395 Appropriations Act.
396 6. Develop an ILSP, in consultation with the parent, which
397 documents the following:
398 a. That the student has an eligible disability.
399 b. Learning goals and objectives for the student which are
400 linked directly to how program funds will be spent for
401 authorized services.
402 c. How attendance requirements in s. 1003.21 will be met.
403 d. How progress towards meeting the individual learning
404 goals and objectives will be assessed and documented for
405 purposes of continued participation in the program.
406 7. Assign a level of services category for each student
407 that documents the nature and intensity of services that the
408 student will need to meet the learning outcomes specified in his
409 or her ILSP. The level of services determines the amount of the
410 award for the student.
411 8. Receive an administrative fee of up to 10 percent from
412 the appropriation to operate the Florida Personal Learning
413 Scholarship Accounts.
414 9. Establish and maintain a separate account for each
415 eligible student.
416 10. Establish and maintain a list of approved providers
417 pursuant to paragraph (2)(b).
418 11. Verify eligible expenditures prior to the distribution
419 of funds for any expenditures made pursuant to paragraphs (5)(a)
420 and (b). The review of expenditures for services in paragraphs
421 (5)(c) through (h) may be completed after the payment has been
422 made.
423 12. Develop a system for payment of benefits by electronic
424 funds transfer, including, but not limited to, debit cards,
425 electronic payment cards, or any other means of electronic
426 payment that the agency deems to be commercially viable or cost
427 effective. Commodities or services related to the development of
428 such a system shall be procured by competitive solicitation
429 unless they are purchased from a state term contract pursuant to
430 s. 287.056.
431 (b) The agency may contract for services.
432 (14) FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
433 (a) Funding for the Florida Personal Learning Scholarship
434 Accounts shall be provided in the General Appropriations Act
435 which shall specify the annual amount per service level for
436 public school students, private school students, home education
437 students, students receiving a scholarship pursuant to s.
438 1002.39 or s. 1002.395, and students participating in a private
439 tutoring program.
440 (b) Upon an eligible student’s graduation from an eligible
441 postsecondary educational institution or after any period of 4
442 consecutive years after high school graduation in which the
443 student is not enrolled in an eligible postsecondary educational
444 institution, the student’s personal learning scholarship account
445 shall be closed, and any remaining funds shall revert to the
446 state.
447 (c) Moneys received pursuant to this section do not
448 constitute taxable income to the parent of an eligible student.
449 (15) OBLIGATIONS OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL.—The Auditor
450 General shall conduct an annual financial and operational audit
451 of accounts and records of the Florida Personal Learning
452 Scholarship Accounts. As a part of this audit, the Auditor
453 General shall verify, at a minimum, the total amount of students
454 served and eligibility of reimbursement made by the agency and
455 transmit that information to the agency.
456 (16) LIABILITY.—The state is not liable for the award or
457 any use of awarded funds under this section.
458 (17) SCOPE OF AUTHORITY.—This section does not expand the
459 regulatory authority of this state, its officers, or any school
460 district to impose additional regulation on participating
461 private schools, nonpublic postsecondary educational
462 institutions, and private providers beyond those reasonably
463 necessary to enforce requirements expressly set forth in this
464 section.
465 (18) RULES.—The Agency for Persons with Disabilities shall
466 adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer
467 this section.
468 (19) IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL
469 YEAR.—
470 (a) The Agency for Persons with Disabilities shall, in
471 consultation with an advisory work group, develop an ILSP,
472 levels of services requirements, a system for payment of claims
473 and providers, and a system to document and assess progress
474 toward meeting the individual learning goals and objectives in
475 the ILSP. The advisory work group shall make specific
476 recommendations by October 1, 2014, to the agency. The agency
477 shall adopt rules to implement the recommendations of the
478 advisory group by December 31, 2014. The Commissioner of
479 Education, the executive director of the agency, the Chancellor
480 of the State University System, and the director of the Division
481 of Vocational Rehabilitation shall appoint staff to work on the
482 advisory group with representatives from the Center for Autism
483 and Related Disabilities (CARD) and the Florida Diagnostic and
484 Learning Resources System (FDLRS).
485 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section related
486 to notification and eligibility timelines, the agency may enroll
487 parents in a statewide pilot program on a rolling schedule on a
488 first-come, first-served basis, no later than January 31, 2015,
489 within the amount of funds provided in the General
490 Appropriations Act.
491 (c) There is hereby appropriated for the 2014-2015 fiscal
492 year to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities a sum of
493 $18,400,000 from the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund for
494 the implementation of the Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts
495 Program. From these funds, $1,500,000 shall be allocated to the
496 Agency for Persons with Disabilities for startup costs for
497 planning and implementation of the pilot program. For the pilot
498 program in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the agency shall provide
499 awards for eligible students which range from $5,000 to $19,000
500 per recipient and shall be based on service levels established
501 by the agency. Public school students and students who receive a
502 scholarship pursuant to ss. 1002.39 and 1002.395 shall receive
503 50 percent of the designated amount for the student’s service
504 level.
505 Section 2. Present subsection (10) of section 1003.4282,
506 Florida Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (11), and a new
507 subsection (10) is added to that section, to read:
508 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
509 (10) STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.—Beginning with students
510 entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year, this subsection
511 applies to a student with a disability for whom the IEP team has
512 determined that the Florida Alternate Assessment is the most
513 appropriate measure of the student’s skills.
514 (a) A parent of the student with a disability shall, in
515 collaboration with the individual education plan team pursuant
516 to s. 1003.5716, declare an intent for the student to graduate
517 from high school with either a standard high school diploma or a
518 certificate of completion. A student with a disability who does
519 not satisfy the standard high school diploma requirements
520 pursuant to this section shall be awarded a certificate of
521 completion.
522 (b) The following options, in addition to the other options
523 specified in this section, may be used to satisfy the standard
524 high school diploma requirements, as specified in the student’s
525 individual education plan:
526 1. A combination of course substitutions, assessments,
527 industry certifications, and other acceleration options
528 appropriate to the student’s unique skills and abilities that
529 meet the criteria established by State Board of Education rule.
530 2. A portfolio of quantifiable evidence that documents a
531 student’s mastery of academic standards through rigorous metrics
532 established by State Board of Education rule. A portfolio may
533 include, but is not limited to, documentation of work
534 experience, internships, community service, and postsecondary
535 credit.
536 (c) A student with a disability who meets the standard high
537 school diploma requirements in this section may defer the
538 receipt of a standard high school diploma if the student:
539 1. Has an individual education plan that prescribes special
540 education, transition planning, transition services, or related
541 services through age 21; and
542 2. Is enrolled in accelerated college credit instruction
543 pursuant to s. 1007.27, industry certification courses that lead
544 to college credit, a collegiate high school program, courses
545 necessary to satisfy the Scholar designation requirements, or a
546 structured work-study, internship, or preapprenticeship program.
547 (d) A student with a disability who receives a certificate
548 of completion and has an individual education plan that
549 prescribes special education, transition planning, transition
550 services, or related services through 21 years of age may
551 continue to receive the specified instruction and services.
552 (e) Any waiver of the statewide, standardized assessment
553 requirements by the individual education plan team, pursuant to
554 s. 1008.22(3)(c), must be approved by the parent and is subject
555 to verification for appropriateness by an independent reviewer
556 selected by the parent as provided for in s. 1003.572.
557 Section 3. Effective July 1, 2015, section 1003.438,
558 Florida Statutes, is repealed.
559 Section 4. Section 1003.5716, Florida Statutes, is created
560 to read:
561 1003.5716 Transition to postsecondary education and career
562 opportunities.—All students with disabilities who are 3 years of
563 age to 21 years of age have the right to a free, appropriate
564 public education. As used in this section, the term “IEP” means
565 individual education plan.
566 (1) To ensure quality planning for a successful transition
567 of a student with a disability to postsecondary education and
568 career opportunities, an IEP team shall begin the process of,
569 and develop an IEP for, identifying the need for transition
570 services before the student with a disability attains the age of
571 14 years in order for his or her postsecondary goals and career
572 goals to be identified and in place when he or she attains the
573 age of 16 years. This process must include, but is not limited
574 to:
575 (a) Consideration of the student’s need for instruction in
576 the area of self-determination and self-advocacy to assist the
577 student’s active and effective participation in an IEP meeting;
578 and
579 (b) Preparation for the student to graduate from high
580 school with a standard high school diploma pursuant to s.
581 1003.4282 with a Scholar designation unless the parent chooses a
582 Merit designation.
583 (2) Beginning not later than the first IEP to be in effect
584 when the student turns 16, or younger, if determined appropriate
585 by the parent and the IEP team, the IEP must include the
586 following statements that must be updated annually:
587 (a) A statement of intent to pursue a standard high school
588 diploma and a Scholar or Merit designation, pursuant to s.
589 1003.4285, as determined by the parent.
590 (b) A statement of intent to receive a standard high school
591 diploma before the student reaches the age of 22 and a
592 description of how the student will fully meet the requirements
593 in s. 1003.428 or s. 1003.4282, as applicable, including, but
594 not limited to, a portfolio pursuant to s. 1003.4282(10)(b) that
595 meets the criteria specified in State Board of Education rule.
596 The IEP must also specify the outcomes and additional benefits
597 expected by the parent and the IEP team at the time of the
598 student’s graduation.
599 (c) A statement of appropriate measurable long-term
600 postsecondary education and career goals based upon age
601 appropriate transition assessments related to training,
602 education, employment, and, if appropriate, independent living
603 skills and the transition services, including courses of study
604 needed to assist the student in reaching those goals.
605 (3) Any change in the IEP for the goals specified in
606 subsection (2) must be approved by the parent and is subject to
607 verification for appropriateness by an independent reviewer
608 selected by the parent as provided in s. 1003.572.
609 (4) If a participating agency responsible for transition
610 services, other than the school district, fails to provide the
611 transition services described in the IEP, the school district
612 shall reconvene the IEP team to identify alternative strategies
613 to meet the transition objectives for the student that are
614 specified in the IEP. However, this does not relieve any
615 participating agency of the responsibility to provide or pay for
616 any transition service that the agency would otherwise provide
617 to students with disabilities who meet the eligibility criteria
618 of that agency.
619 Section 5. Subsection (3) of section 1003.572, Florida
620 Statutes, is amended to read:
621 1003.572 Collaboration of public and private instructional
622 personnel.—
623 (3) Private instructional personnel who are hired or
624 contracted by parents to collaborate with public instructional
625 personnel must be permitted to observe the student in the
626 educational setting, collaborate with instructional personnel in
627 the educational setting, and provide services in the educational
628 setting according to the following requirements:
629 (a) The student’s public instructional personnel and
630 principal consent to the time and place.
631 (b) The private instructional personnel satisfy the
632 requirements of s. 1012.32 or s. 1012.321.
633
634 For the purpose of implementing this subsection, a school
635 district may not impose any requirements beyond those
636 requirements specified in this subsection or charge any fees.
637 Section 6. Section 1008.2121, Florida Statutes, is created
638 to read:
639 1008.2121 Students with severe cognitive or physical
640 disabilities; permanent exemption.—Based on information that a
641 reasonably prudent person would rely upon, including, but not
642 limited to, facts contained within an individual education plan
643 under s. 1008.212, documentation from an appropriate health care
644 provider, or certification from the district school board
645 superintendent, the Commissioner of Education shall
646 perfunctorily grant a permanent exemption to a student who
647 suffers from such a severe cognitive disability or physical
648 disability that the student permanently lacks the capacity to
649 take statewide, standardized assessments. The State Board of
650 Education shall adopt rules to administer this section,
651 including, but not limited to, expediting the exemption process
652 to demonstrate the utmost compassion and consideration for
653 meeting the parent’s and student’s needs.
654 Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) and paragraph
655 (b) of subsection (6) of section 1008.25, Florida Statutes, are
656 amended to read:
657 1008.25 Public school student progression; remedial
658 instruction; reporting requirements.—
659 (5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.—
660 (c) The parent of any student who exhibits a substantial
661 deficiency in reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be
662 notified in writing of the following:
663 1. That his or her child has been identified as having a
664 substantial deficiency in reading.
665 2. A description of the current services that are provided
666 to the child.
667 3. A description of the proposed supplemental instructional
668 services and supports that will be provided to the child that
669 are designed to remediate the identified area of reading
670 deficiency.
671 4. That if the child’s reading deficiency is not remediated
672 by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained unless he or
673 she is exempt from mandatory retention for good cause.
674 5. Strategies for parents to use in helping their child
675 succeed in reading proficiency.
676 6. That the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) is
677 not the sole determiner of promotion and that additional
678 evaluations, portfolio reviews, and assessments are available to
679 the child to assist parents and the school district in knowing
680 when a child is reading at or above grade level and ready for
681 grade promotion.
682 7. The district’s specific criteria and policies for a
683 portfolio as provided in subparagraph (6)(b)4. and the evidence
684 required for a student to demonstrate mastery of Florida’s
685 academic standards for English Language Arts. A parent of a
686 student in grade 3 who is identified anytime during the year as
687 being at risk of retention may request that the school
688 immediately begin collecting evidence for a portfolio.
689 8.7. The district’s specific criteria and policies for
690 midyear promotion. Midyear promotion means promotion of a
691 retained student at any time during the year of retention once
692 the student has demonstrated ability to read at grade level.
693 (6) ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL PROMOTION.—
694 (b) The district school board may only exempt students from
695 mandatory retention, as provided in paragraph (5)(b), for good
696 cause. A student who is promoted to grade 4 with a good cause
697 exemption shall be provided intensive reading instruction and
698 intervention that include specialized diagnostic information and
699 specific reading strategies to meet the needs of each student so
700 promoted. The school district shall assist schools and teachers
701 with the implementation of reading strategies for students
702 promoted with a good cause exemption which research has shown to
703 be successful in improving reading among students that have
704 reading difficulties. Good cause exemptions shall be limited to
705 the following:
706 1. Limited English proficient students who have had less
707 than 2 years of instruction in an English for Speakers of Other
708 Languages program.
709 2. Students with disabilities whose individual education
710 plan indicates that participation in the statewide assessment
711 program is not appropriate, consistent with the requirements of
712 State Board of Education rule.
713 3. Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of
714 performance on an alternative standardized reading or English
715 Language Arts assessment approved by the State Board of
716 Education.
717 4. A student who demonstrates through a student portfolio
718 that he or she is performing at least at Level 2 on FCAT Reading
719 or the common core English Language Arts assessment, as
720 applicable under s. 1008.22.
721 5. Students with disabilities who participate in FCAT
722 Reading or the common core English Language Arts assessment, as
723 applicable under s. 1008.22, and who have an individual
724 education plan or a Section 504 plan that reflects that the
725 student has received intensive remediation in reading and
726 English Language Arts for more than 2 years but still
727 demonstrates a deficiency and was previously retained in
728 kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3.
729 6. Students who have received intensive reading
730 intervention for 2 or more years but still demonstrate a
731 deficiency in reading and who were previously retained in
732 kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3 for a total of 2
733 years. A student may not be retained more than once in grade 3.
734 7.6. Students who have received intensive remediation in
735 reading and English Language Arts, as applicable under s.
736 1008.22, for 2 or more years but still demonstrate a deficiency
737 and who were previously retained in kindergarten, grade 1, grade
738 2, or grade 3 for a total of 2 years. Intensive instruction for
739 students so promoted must include an altered instructional day
740 that includes specialized diagnostic information and specific
741 reading strategies for each student. The district school board
742 shall assist schools and teachers to implement reading
743 strategies that research has shown to be successful in improving
744 reading among low-performing readers.
745 Section 8. Effective July 1, 2015, paragraph (c) of
746 subsection (1) of section 120.81, Florida Statutes, is amended
747 to read:
748 120.81 Exceptions and special requirements; general areas.—
749 (1) EDUCATIONAL UNITS.—
750 (c) Notwithstanding s. 120.52(16), any tests, test scoring
751 criteria, or testing procedures relating to student assessment
752 which are developed or administered by the Department of
753 Education pursuant to s. 1003.428, s. 1003.429, s. 1003.438, s.
754 1008.22, or s. 1008.25, or any other statewide educational tests
755 required by law, are not rules.
756 Section 9. Effective July 1, 2015, paragraph (a) of
757 subsection (2) of section 409.1451, Florida Statutes, is amended
758 to read:
759 409.1451 The Road-to-Independence Program.—
760 (2) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION SERVICES AND SUPPORT.—
761 (a) A young adult is eligible for services and support
762 under this subsection if he or she:
763 1. Was living in licensed care on his or her 18th birthday
764 or is currently living in licensed care; or was at least 16
765 years of age and was adopted from foster care or placed with a
766 court-approved dependency guardian after spending at least 6
767 months in licensed care within the 12 months immediately
768 preceding such placement or adoption;
769 2. Spent at least 6 months in licensed care before reaching
770 his or her 18th birthday;
771 3. Earned a standard high school diploma or its equivalent
772 pursuant to s. 1003.428, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.429, or s.
773 1003.435, or s. 1003.438;
774 4. Has been admitted for enrollment as a full-time student
775 or its equivalent in an eligible postsecondary educational
776 institution as provided in s. 1009.533. For purposes of this
777 section, the term “full-time” means 9 credit hours or the
778 vocational school equivalent. A student may enroll part-time if
779 he or she has a recognized disability or is faced with another
780 challenge or circumstance that would prevent full-time
781 attendance. A student needing to enroll part-time for any reason
782 other than having a recognized disability must get approval from
783 his or her academic advisor;
784 5. Has reached 18 years of age but is not yet 23 years of
785 age;
786 6. Has applied, with assistance from the young adult’s
787 caregiver and the community-based lead agency, for any other
788 grants and scholarships for which he or she may qualify;
789 7. Submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
790 which is complete and error free; and
791 8. Signed an agreement to allow the department and the
792 community-based care lead agency access to school records.
793 Section 10. Effective July 1, 2015, subsection (4) of
794 section 1007.263, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
795 1007.263 Florida College System institutions; admissions of
796 students.—Each Florida College System institution board of
797 trustees is authorized to adopt rules governing admissions of
798 students subject to this section and rules of the State Board of
799 Education. These rules shall include the following:
800 (4) A student who has been awarded a special diploma as
801 defined in s. 1003.438 or a certificate of completion as defined
802 in s. 1003.428(7)(b) is eligible to enroll in certificate career
803 education programs.
804
805 Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify
806 students about developmental education options for improving
807 their communication or computation skills that are essential to
808 performing college-level work, including tutoring, extended time
809 in gateway courses, free online courses, adult basic education,
810 adult secondary education, or private provider instruction.
811 Section 11. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
812 act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.