Florida Senate - 2016 CS for SB 1714
By the Committee on Education Pre-K - 12; and Senator Brandes
581-02362-16 20161714c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the competency-based innovation
3 pilot program; establishing a competency-based
4 innovation pilot program within the Department of
5 Education; defining the term “competency-based
6 education”; authorizing certain schools to apply to
7 the department for approval of a competency-based
8 innovation pilot program; specifying information to be
9 included in the application; authorizing certain
10 waivers; providing reporting and funding requirements
11 for students participating in the pilot program at
12 participating schools; requiring the department to
13 compile certain information and provide access to
14 statewide, standardized assessments; requiring the
15 department to submit an annual report to the Governor
16 and the Legislature by a specified date; specifying
17 the contents of the annual report; providing for
18 expiration of the pilot program; providing an
19 effective date.
20
21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Competency-based innovation pilot program.
24 Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, a competency-based
25 innovation pilot program is established within the Department of
26 Education.
27 (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “competency
28 based education” means a system in which a student may advance
29 to higher levels of learning after demonstrating a mastery of
30 concepts and skills instead of after a specified timeframe.
31 (2) Public schools in Lake and Pinellas Counties, P.K.
32 Yonge Developmental Research School, and school districts or
33 charter schools designated by the Commissioner of Education may
34 submit an application to the department for approval of a
35 competency-based innovation pilot program. The application shall
36 be submitted on a form provided and by a date specified by the
37 department and must include, but need not be limited to, the
38 following:
39 (a) A vision for the pilot program, including a timeline
40 for the program and the timeframe for districtwide
41 implementation of competency-based education.
42 (b) Annual goals and performance outcomes that
43 participating schools must meet, including, but not limited to:
44 1. Student performance, as defined in s. 1008.34, Florida
45 Statutes.
46 2. Promotion and retention rates.
47 3. Graduation rates.
48 4. Indicators of college and career readiness.
49 (c) A communication plan for stakeholders, including
50 businesses and community members.
51 (d) A scope of, and a timeline for, professional
52 development.
53 (e) A plan for student progression based on mastery of
54 concepts and skills, including proposed methods to determine the
55 degree to which a student has attained mastery of concepts and
56 skills.
57 (f) A plan for using technology and digital and blended
58 learning to enhance student achievement and to facilitate
59 competency-based education.
60 (g) A plan for how resources will be allocated for the
61 pilot program at both the district and school levels.
62 (h) The recruitment and selection of participating schools.
63 (i) Rules to be waived, as authorized in subsection (3), as
64 necessary to implement the program.
65 (3) In addition to the waivers provided in s. 1001.10(3),
66 Florida Statutes, the State Board of Education may authorize the
67 Commissioner of Education to grant waivers relating to the
68 awarding of credit and pupil progression.
69 (4) Students participating in the pilot program at
70 participating schools shall be reported and generate funding
71 consistent with the requirements of s. 1011.62, Florida
72 Statutes.
73 (5) The department shall:
74 (a) Compile student and staff schedules before and after
75 implementation of the pilot program.
76 (b) Provide access to statewide, standardized assessments
77 pursuant to s. 1008.22(3), Florida Statutes.
78 (c) By June 1 of each year, provide a report summarizing
79 the activities and accomplishments of the pilot programs and any
80 recommendations for statutory revisions for statewide
81 implementation to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
82 the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
83 (6) This section expires June 30, 2021.
84 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.