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.