Florida Senate - 2014                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 790
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì279372;Î279372                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  02/18/2014           .                                
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    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Subsection (15) is added to section 1011.62,
    6  Florida Statutes, to read:
    7         1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
    8  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
    9  district for operation of schools is not determined in the
   10  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
   11  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
   12  follows:
   13         (15) FLORIDA DIGITAL CLASSROOMS.—
   14         (a)The Florida digital classrooms allocation is created to
   15  support district and school efforts and strategies to improve
   16  outcomes related to student performance by integrating
   17  technology in classroom teaching and learning. The outcomes must
   18  be measurable and may also be unique to the needs of individual
   19  schools and school districts within the general parameters
   20  established by the Department of Education.
   21         (b)Each district school board shall adopt a district
   22  digital classrooms plan that meets the unique needs of students,
   23  schools, and personnel and submit the plan for approval to the
   24  department. In addition, each district school board must, at a
   25  minimum, seek input from the district’s instructional,
   26  curriculum, and information technology staff to develop the
   27  district digital classrooms plan. The district’s plan must be
   28  within the general parameters established in the Florida digital
   29  classrooms plan pursuant to paragraph (c). In addition, if the
   30  district participates in federal technology initiatives and
   31  grant programs, the district digital classrooms plan must
   32  include a plan for meeting requirements of such initiatives and
   33  grant programs. Funds allocated under this subsection must be
   34  used to support implementation of district digital classrooms
   35  plans. By October 1, 2014, and by March 1 of each year
   36  thereafter, on a date determined by the department, each
   37  district school board shall submit to the department, in a
   38  format prescribed by the department, a digital classrooms plan.
   39  At a minimum, such plan must include, and be annually updated to
   40  reflect, the following:
   41         1. Measurable student performance outcomes. Outcomes
   42  related to student performance, including outcomes for students
   43  with disabilities, must be tied to the efforts and strategies to
   44  improve outcomes related to student performance by integrating
   45  technology in classroom teaching and learning. Results of the
   46  outcomes shall be reported at least annually for the current
   47  school year and subsequent 3 years and be accompanied by an
   48  independent evaluation and validation of the reported results.
   49         2.Digital learning and technology infrastructure purchases
   50  and operational activities. Such purchases and activities must
   51  be tied to the measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1.,
   52  including, but not limited to, connectivity, broadband access,
   53  wireless capacity, Internet speed, and data security, all of
   54  which must meet or exceed minimum requirements and protocols
   55  established by the department. For each year that the district
   56  uses funds for infrastructure, a third-party, independent
   57  evaluation of the district’s technology inventory and
   58  infrastructure needs must accompany the district’s plan.
   59         3.Professional development purchases and operational
   60  activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
   61  measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
   62  limited to, using technology in the classroom and improving
   63  digital literacy and competency.
   64         4.Digital tool purchases and operational activities. Such
   65  purchases and activities must be tied to the measurable outcomes
   66  under subparagraph 1., including, but not limited to,
   67  competency-based credentials that measure and demonstrate
   68  digital competency and certifications; third-party assessments
   69  that demonstrate acquired knowledge and use of digital
   70  applications; and devices that meet or exceed minimum
   71  requirements and protocols established by the department.
   72         5.Online assessment-related purchases and operational
   73  activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
   74  measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
   75  limited to, expanding the capacity to administer assessments and
   76  compatibility with minimum assessment protocols and requirements
   77  established by the department.
   78         (c) The State Board of Education shall adopt a Florida
   79  digital classrooms plan that, at a minimum, establishes minimum
   80  protocols, parameters, and requirements for district-level
   81  infrastructure, school-level infrastructure, and digital tools
   82  that accommodate statutory requirements and timelines for
   83  instruction, learning, assessments, and accountability. The
   84  Department of Education may consult with qualified experts to
   85  develop the Florida digital classrooms plan. The Florida digital
   86  classrooms plan shall be prepared for the current school year
   87  and the subsequent 5 years. The plan shall be reviewed and
   88  updated annually and must specify the criteria for the annual
   89  review and approval of the districts’ digital classrooms plans.
   90         (d) The Legislature shall annually provide in the General
   91  Appropriations Act a Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)
   92  allocation for implementation of the digital classrooms plan to
   93  be calculated in an amount up to 1 percent of the base student
   94  allocation multiplied by the total K-12 full-time equivalent
   95  student enrollment included in the FEFP calculations for the
   96  legislative appropriation or as provided in the General
   97  Appropriations Act. Each school district shall be provided a
   98  minimum of $100,000, with the remaining balance of the
   99  allocation to be distributed based on each district’s proportion
  100  of the total K-12 full-time equivalent student enrollment.
  101  Distribution of funds for the Florida digital classrooms
  102  allocation shall begin following submittal of each district’s
  103  digital classrooms plan, which must include formal verification
  104  of the superintendent’s approval of the digital classrooms plan
  105  of each charter school in the district, and approval of the plan
  106  by the department. Prior to the distribution of the Florida
  107  digital classrooms allocation funds, each district school
  108  superintendent shall certify to the Commissioner of Education
  109  that the district school board has approved a comprehensive
  110  district digital classrooms plan that supports the fidelity of
  111  implementation of the Florida digital classrooms allocation.
  112  District allocations shall be recalculated during the fiscal
  113  year consistent with the periodic recalculation of the FEFP.
  114  School districts shall provide a proportionate share of the
  115  digital classrooms allocation to each charter school in the
  116  district, as required for categorical programs in s.
  117  1002.33(17)(b). A school district may use a competitive process
  118  to distribute funds for the Florida digital classrooms
  119  allocation to the schools within the school district.
  120         (e) To facilitate the implementation of the district
  121  digital classrooms plans and charter school digital classrooms
  122  plans, the commissioner shall support statewide, coordinated
  123  partnerships and efforts of this state’s education practitioners
  124  in the field, including, but not limited to, superintendents,
  125  principals, and teachers, to identify and share best practices,
  126  corrective actions, and other identified needs.
  127         (f) Beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year and each year
  128  thereafter, each district school board shall report to the
  129  department its use of funds provided through the Florida digital
  130  classrooms allocation and student performance outcomes in
  131  accordance with the district’s digital classrooms plan. The
  132  Auditor General shall, during scheduled operational audits of
  133  the school districts, verify compliance of the use of Florida
  134  digital classrooms allocation funds in accordance with the
  135  district’s digital classrooms plan. No later than October 1 of
  136  each year, beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the
  137  commissioner shall provide to the Governor, the President of the
  138  Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a
  139  summary of each district’s use of funds, student performance
  140  outcomes, and progress toward meeting statutory requirements and
  141  timelines.
  142         (g) The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant
  143  to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this subsection.
  144         Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (17) of section
  145  1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  146         1002.33 Charter schools.—
  147         (17) FUNDING.—Students enrolled in a charter school,
  148  regardless of the sponsorship, shall be funded as if they are in
  149  a basic program or a special program, the same as students
  150  enrolled in other public schools in the school district. Funding
  151  for a charter lab school shall be as provided in s. 1002.32.
  152         (b) The basis for the agreement for funding students
  153  enrolled in a charter school shall be the sum of the school
  154  district’s operating funds from the Florida Education Finance
  155  Program as provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations
  156  Act, including gross state and local funds, discretionary
  157  lottery funds, and funds from the school district’s current
  158  operating discretionary millage levy; divided by total funded
  159  weighted full-time equivalent students in the school district;
  160  multiplied by the weighted full-time equivalent students for the
  161  charter school. Charter schools whose students or programs meet
  162  the eligibility criteria in law are shall be entitled to their
  163  proportionate share of categorical program funds included in the
  164  total funds available in the Florida Education Finance Program
  165  by the Legislature, including transportation and the Florida
  166  digital classrooms allocation. Total funding for each charter
  167  school shall be recalculated during the year to reflect the
  168  revised calculations under the Florida Education Finance Program
  169  by the state and the actual weighted full-time equivalent
  170  students reported by the charter school during the full-time
  171  equivalent student survey periods designated by the Commissioner
  172  of Education.
  173         Section 3. Section 1007.2616, Florida Statutes, is created
  174  to read:
  175         1007.2616 Computer and technology-related coding,
  176  programming, and rapid prototype printing instruction.—
  177         (1)Public schools may provide students in grades K-12
  178  opportunities for learning computer coding and computer
  179  programming. Such opportunities may include coding instruction
  180  in elementary school and middle school, instruction to develop
  181  students’ computer usage and digital literacy skills in middle
  182  school, and courses in computer coding and computer programming
  183  in high school, including earning related industry
  184  certifications.
  185         (2)Elementary schools and middle schools may establish
  186  digital classrooms in which students are provided opportunities
  187  to improve digital literacy and competency; to learn digital
  188  skills, such as coding, multiple media presentation, and the
  189  manipulation of multiple digital graphic images; and to earn
  190  digital tools, such as recognitions and certifications pursuant
  191  to s. 1003.4203 and grade-appropriate, technology-related
  192  industry certifications.
  193         (3)High schools may provide students with opportunities to
  194  take computer programming courses to satisfy high school
  195  graduation requirements, including, but not limited to, the
  196  following:
  197         (a) High school computer programming courses of sufficient
  198  rigor, as identified by the commissioner, such that one credit
  199  in computer programming language and the earning of related
  200  industry certifications constitute the equivalent of one credit
  201  of mathematics requirement, with the exception of Algebra I, or
  202  science requirement, with the exception of Biology I, for high
  203  school graduation. Computer programming language courses and
  204  technology-related industry certifications which are identified
  205  as eligible for meeting mathematics or science requirements for
  206  high school graduation shall be included in the Course Code
  207  Directory.
  208         (b)High school computer technology courses in 3D rapid
  209  prototype printing of sufficient rigor, as identified by the
  210  commissioner, such that one or more credits in such courses and
  211  related industry certifications earned may satisfy up to two
  212  credits of mathematics required for high school graduation.
  213  Computer technology courses in 3D rapid prototype printing and
  214  related industry certifications which are identified as eligible
  215  for meeting mathematics requirements for high school graduation
  216  shall be included in the Course Code Directory.
  217         (c) Courses in computer programming language, such that one
  218  credit, at the discretion of the local district school board,
  219  may satisfy one credit in physical education which is required
  220  for high school graduation.
  221         (4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules pursuant
  222  to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this section.
  223         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.
  224  
  225  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  226  And the title is amended as follows:
  227         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  228  and insert:
  229                        A bill to be entitled                      
  230         An act relating to education technology; amending s.
  231         1011.62, F.S.; providing the purpose for the Florida
  232         digital classrooms allocation; requiring a school
  233         district to adopt a district digital classrooms plan,
  234         to seek input from the district’s staff, and to submit
  235         the plan to the Department of Education for approval;
  236         including a plan for meeting the requirements of
  237         federal initiatives and programs if the district
  238         participates in such initiatives and programs;
  239         requiring that allocated funds be used for a specified
  240         purpose; requiring a district school board to submit
  241         to the department the district’s digital classrooms
  242         plan by a specified date; providing requirements for
  243         the district’s plan; requiring the State Board of
  244         Education to adopt a Florida digital classrooms plan
  245         that establishes certain protocols, parameters, and
  246         requirements; authorizing the Department of Education
  247         to consult with qualified experts to develop the
  248         Florida digital classrooms plan; providing
  249         requirements for the plan; providing calculations for
  250         funding; requiring the commissioner to support
  251         statewide, coordinated partnerships and efforts of
  252         education practitioners to identify and share best
  253         practices, corrective actions, and other identified
  254         needs; requiring each district school board to report
  255         by a specified date to the department the district’s
  256         use of funds and student performance outcomes;
  257         requiring the Auditor General to verify the use of
  258         Florida digital classrooms allocation funds; requiring
  259         the commissioner to provide by a specified date to the
  260         Governor and the Legislature a summary of each
  261         district’s use of funds, student performance outcomes,
  262         and progress toward meeting statutory requirements and
  263         timelines; authorizing the State Board of Education to
  264         adopt rules; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; conforming
  265         provisions to changes made by the act; creating s.
  266         1007.2616, F.S.; authorizing public schools to provide
  267         students in grades K-12 opportunities for learning
  268         computer coding and programming; authorizing grade
  269         specific instruction in specified areas; authorizing
  270         elementary schools and middle schools to establish
  271         digital classrooms for specified purposes; authorizing
  272         high schools to provide students with opportunities to
  273         take certain computer programming courses to satisfy
  274         requirements for high school graduation; providing
  275         exceptions for certain course requirements for high
  276         school graduation; authorizing the State Board of
  277         Education to adopt rules; providing an effective date.