Florida Senate - 2016 SB 490
By Senator Bullard
39-00418-16 2016490__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student discipline; creating s.
3 1006.01, F.S.; defining terms; amending s. 1006.07,
4 F.S.; revising the duties of the district school
5 boards relating to student discipline and school
6 safety; requiring school districts to adopt standards
7 for intervention, rather than a code of student
8 conduct, which standards include specified
9 requirements; requiring a school district to
10 meaningfully involve the community in creating and
11 applying certain policies; requiring a school district
12 to fund and support the implementation of school-based
13 restorative justice practices; requiring a school
14 district to hire staff members to improve the school
15 climate and safety; requiring a school district to
16 annually survey parents, students, and teachers
17 regarding school safety and discipline issues;
18 amending s. 1006.12, F.S.; revising the qualifications
19 of a school resource officer and a school safety
20 officer; authorizing a school resource officer and a
21 school safety officer to arrest a student only for
22 certain violations of law; requiring a school resource
23 officer and a school safety officer to immediately
24 notify the principal or the principal’s designee if
25 the officer arrests a student in a school-related
26 incident; prohibiting an officer from arresting or
27 referring a student to the criminal justice system or
28 juvenile justice system for petty acts of misconduct;
29 providing an exception; requiring written
30 documentation of an arrest or referral to the criminal
31 justice system or juvenile justice system; requiring
32 each law enforcement agency that serves a school
33 district to enter into a cooperative agreement with
34 the district school board, ensure the training of
35 school resource officers and school safety officers as
36 specified, and develop minimum qualifications for the
37 selection of such officers; amending s. 1006.13, F.S.;
38 requiring each district school board to adopt a policy
39 on referrals to the criminal justice system or the
40 juvenile justice system, rather than a policy of zero
41 tolerance for crime and victimization; revising and
42 providing requirements for a policy on referrals to
43 the criminal justice system or the juvenile justice
44 system; providing that a school’s authority and
45 discretion to use other disciplinary consequences and
46 interventions is not limited by specified provisions;
47 conforming terminology; requiring each district school
48 board, in collaboration with students, educators,
49 parents, and stakeholders, to enter into cooperative
50 agreements with a county sheriff’s office and a local
51 police department for specified purposes; revising the
52 requirements for these agreements; requiring each
53 school district to annually review the cost,
54 effectiveness, and necessity of its school safety
55 programs and to submit findings to the Department of
56 Education; requiring a school district to arrange and
57 pay for transportation for a student in certain
58 circumstances; requiring, rather than encouraging, a
59 school district to use alternatives to expulsion or
60 referral to a law enforcement agency unless the use of
61 such alternatives poses a threat to school safety;
62 requiring each school district to submit to the
63 department its policies and agreements by a specified
64 date each year; requiring the department to develop by
65 a specified date a model policy for referrals to the
66 criminal justice system or the juvenile justice
67 system; requiring the Commissioner of Education to
68 report by a specified date each year to the Governor
69 and the Legislature on the implementation of policies
70 on referrals to the criminal justice system or the
71 juvenile justice system; amending ss. 1002.20,
72 1002.23, 1002.33, 1003.02, 1003.32, 1003.53, 1003.57,
73 1006.09, 1006.10, 1006.147, 1006.15, 1007.271, and
74 1012.98, F.S.; conforming cross-references and
75 provisions to changes made by the act; providing an
76 effective date.
77
78 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
79
80 Section 1. Section 1006.01, Florida Statutes, is created to
81 read:
82 1006.01 Definitions.—As used in part I of this chapter, the
83 term:
84 (1) “Exclusionary consequence” means a consequence of a
85 student’s serious breach of the standards for intervention, as
86 provided in s. 1006.07(2), which results in the student being
87 barred from attending school.
88 (2) “Exclusionary discipline” means a disciplinary,
89 punitive practice that removes a student from instruction time
90 in his or her regular classrooms and may include in-school
91 suspension during class time, out-of-school suspension, transfer
92 to an alternative school, or expulsion. Absences due to
93 exclusionary discipline are considered excused absences.
94 (3) “Restorative circle” means a common space where at
95 least one individual guides a discussion in which each
96 participant has an equal opportunity to speak and in which
97 participants take turns speaking about a topic and using a
98 talking piece, a physical object that is used to assist
99 communication between participants.
100 (4) “Restorative group conferencing” means an intervention
101 in which a facilitator leads the individuals who were involved
102 in an incident, whether they were harmed or caused the harm, as
103 well as their families or other supporters, in a face-to-face
104 process designed to address the harm, resolve any conflict, and
105 prevent recurrence of the harm based on the ideas of restorative
106 justice practices and mutual accountability.
107 (5) “Restorative justice” means an intervening approach to
108 justice which addresses root causes of harm that is a result of
109 unjust behavior and which emphasizes repair of the harm and
110 giving equal attention to accountability, growth, community
111 safety, the harmed student’s needs, and the student offender’s
112 needs.
113 Section 2. Section 1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to
114 read:
115 1006.07 District school board duties relating to student
116 discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall
117 provide for the proper accounting for all students;, for the
118 attendance and control of students at school; for the creation
119 of a safe and effective learning environment, regardless of the
120 student’s race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual
121 orientation, or gender identity;, and for the proper attention
122 to health, safety, and other matters relating to the welfare of
123 students, including the use of:
124 (1) INTERVENTIONS FOR AND DISCIPLINE CONTROL OF STUDENTS.
125 Each school district shall:
126 (a) Adopt rules for the control, discipline, in-school
127 suspension, suspension, and expulsion of students and decide all
128 cases recommended for expulsion. Suspension hearings are exempt
129 exempted from the provisions of chapter 120. Expulsion hearings
130 are shall be governed by ss. 120.569 and 120.57(2) and are
131 exempt from s. 286.011. However, the student’s parent must be
132 given notice of the provisions of s. 286.011 and may elect to
133 have the hearing held in compliance with that section. The
134 district school board may prohibit the use of corporal
135 punishment, if the district school board adopts or has adopted a
136 written program of alternative control or discipline. In order
137 to fulfill the paramount duty of this state to make adequate
138 provisions for the education of all children residing within its
139 borders in accordance with s. 1, Art. IX of the State
140 Constitution, the district school board shall make every effort
141 to reduce exclusionary discipline for minor misbehavior.
142 (b) Require each student at the time of initial
143 registration for school in the school district to note previous
144 school expulsions, arrests resulting in a charge, and juvenile
145 justice actions the student has had, and have the authority as
146 the district school board of a receiving school district to
147 honor the final order of expulsion or dismissal of a student by
148 any in-state or out-of-state public district school board or
149 private school, or lab school, for an act that which would have
150 been grounds for expulsion according to the receiving district
151 school board’s standards for intervention code of student
152 conduct, in accordance with the following procedures:
153 1. A final order of expulsion shall be recorded in the
154 records of the receiving school district.
155 2. The expelled student applying for admission to the
156 receiving school district shall be advised of the final order of
157 expulsion.
158 3. The district school superintendent of the receiving
159 school district may recommend to the district school board that
160 the final order of expulsion be waived and the student be
161 admitted to the school district, or that the final order of
162 expulsion be honored and the student not be admitted to the
163 school district. If the student is admitted by the district
164 school board, with or without the recommendation of the district
165 school superintendent, the student may be placed in an
166 appropriate educational program at the direction of the district
167 school board.
168 (2) STANDARDS FOR INTERVENTION CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT.
169 Each school district shall adopt clear standards for
170 intervention, formerly known as a code of student conduct, which
171 create a safe, supportive, and positive school climate and which
172 address misbehavior with interventions and consequences aimed at
173 understanding and addressing the causes of misbehavior,
174 resolving conflicts, meeting students’ needs, and keeping
175 students in school and teaching them to respond in age
176 appropriate ways a code of student conduct for elementary
177 schools and a code of student conduct for middle and high
178 schools and distribute the appropriate code to all teachers,
179 school personnel, students, and parents, at the beginning of
180 every school year. The process for adopting standards for
181 intervention must include meaningful involvement among parents,
182 students, teachers, and the community. The standards for
183 intervention must be organized and written in language that is
184 understandable to students and parents and translated into all
185 languages represented by the students and their parents;
186 discussed at the beginning of every school year in student
187 classes, school advisory council meetings, and parent and
188 teacher association or organization meetings; made available at
189 the beginning of every school year in the student handbook or
190 similar publication distributed to all teachers, school
191 personnel, students, and parents; and posted on the school
192 district’s website. The standards for intervention must Each
193 code shall be organized and written in language that is
194 understandable to students and parents and shall be discussed at
195 the beginning of every school year in student classes, school
196 advisory council meetings, and parent and teacher association or
197 organization meetings. Each code shall be based on the rules
198 governing student conduct and discipline adopted by the district
199 school board and shall be made available in the student handbook
200 or similar publication. Each code shall include, but need is not
201 be limited to, the following:
202 (a) Consistent policies and specific grounds for
203 disciplinary action, including in-school suspension, out-of
204 school suspension, expulsion, interventions, supports, and any
205 disciplinary action that may be imposed for the possession or
206 use of alcohol on school property or while attending a school
207 function or for the illegal use, sale, or possession of
208 controlled substances as defined in chapter 893.
209 (b) Procedures to be followed for acts requiring
210 discipline, including corporal punishment.
211 (c) A discipline chart or matrix indicating that a student
212 is not subject to exclusionary discipline for unexcused
213 tardiness, lateness, absence, or truancy; for violation of the
214 school dress code or rules regarding school uniforms; or for
215 behavior infractions that do not endanger the physical safety of
216 other students or staff members, including, but not limited to,
217 insubordination, defiance, disobedience, disrespect, or minor
218 classroom disruptions. The discipline chart or matrix must also:
219 1. Provide guidance on appropriate interventions and
220 consequences to be applied to behaviors or behavior categories
221 as provided in subparagraph 2. The school district may define
222 specific interventions and provide a list of interventions that
223 must be used and documented before exclusionary discipline is
224 considered unless a behavior poses a serious threat to school
225 safety. The interventions may include, but are not limited to:
226 a. Having a private conversation with the student about his
227 or her behavior and underlying issues that may have precipitated
228 the behavior.
229 b. Providing an opportunity for the student’s anger, fear,
230 or anxiety to subside.
231 c. Providing restorative justice practices using a
232 schoolwide approach of informal and formal techniques to foster
233 a sense of school community and to manage conflict by repairing
234 harm and restoring positive relationships.
235 d. Providing reflective activities, such as requiring the
236 student to write an essay about his or her behavior.
237 e. Participating in skill building and conflict resolution
238 activities, such as social-emotional cognitive skill building,
239 restorative circles, and restorative group conferencing.
240 f. Revoking student privileges.
241 g. Referring a student to a school counselor or social
242 worker.
243 h. Speaking to a student’s parent.
244 i. Referring a student to intervention outside the school
245 setting.
246 j. Ordering in-school detention or in-school suspension
247 during lunch, after school, or on the weekends.
248 2. Outlining specific behaviors or behavior categories.
249 Each behavior or behavior category must include clear maximum
250 consequences to prevent inappropriate exclusionary consequences
251 for minor misbehavior and petty acts of misconduct and set clear
252 requirements that must be satisfied before the school imposes
253 exclusionary discipline. The chart or matrix must show that
254 exclusionary discipline is a last resort to be used only in
255 cases of serious misconduct when in-school interventions and
256 consequences that do not lead to exclusionary consequences are
257 insufficient. The following behaviors, which must be accompanied
258 by appropriate intervention services, such as substance abuse
259 counseling, anger management counseling, or restorative justice
260 practices, may result in exclusionary discipline and in
261 notification of a law enforcement agency if the behavior is a
262 felony or a serious threat to school safety:
263 a. Illegal sale of a controlled substance, as defined in
264 chapter 893, by a student on school property or in attendance at
265 a school function.
266 b. Violation of the district school board’s sexual
267 harassment policy.
268 c. Possession, display, transmission, use, or sale of a
269 firearm or weapon, as defined in s. 790.001 or 18 U.S.C. s. 921,
270 or an object that is used as, or is intended to function as, a
271 weapon, while on school property or in attendance at a school
272 function.
273 d. Making a threat or intimidation using any pointed or
274 sharp object or the use of any substance or object as a weapon
275 with the threat or intent to inflict bodily harm.
276 e. Making a threat or a false report, as provided in ss.
277 790.162 and 790.163, respectively.
278 f. Homicide.
279 g. Sexual battery.
280 h. Armed robbery.
281 i. Aggravated battery.
282 j. Battery or aggravated battery on a teacher, other school
283 personnel, or district school board personnel.
284 k. Kidnapping.
285 l. Arson.
286 (d) A glossary of clearly defined terms and behaviors.
287 (e) An explanation of the responsibilities, dignity, and
288 rights of and respect for students, including, but not limited
289 to, a student’s right not to be discriminated against based on
290 race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or
291 gender identity; a student’s right to participate in student
292 publications, school programs, and school activities; and a
293 student’s right to exercise free speech, to assemble, and to
294 maintain privacy.
295 (f) An explanation of the school’s dress code or rules
296 regarding school uniforms and notice that students have the
297 right to dress in accordance with their stated gender within the
298 constraints of the school’s dress code.
299 (g) Notice that violation of transportation policies of a
300 district school board by a student, including disruptive
301 behavior on a school bus or at a school bus stop, is grounds for
302 disciplinary action by the school.
303 (h) Notice that a student who is determined to have brought
304 a weapon or firearm, as defined in s. 790.001 or 18 U.S.C. s.
305 921, to school, to a school function, or onto school-sponsored
306 transportation, or to have possessed a weapon or firearm at
307 school, will be expelled from the student’s regular school for
308 at least 1 full year and referred to the criminal justice system
309 or juvenile justice system; and notice that a district school
310 superintendent may consider the requirement of 1-year expulsion
311 on a case-by-case basis and may request the district school
312 board to modify the requirement by assigning the student to a
313 disciplinary program or second chance school if:
314 1. The request for modification is in writing; and
315 2. The modification is determined to be in the best
316 interest of the student and the school district.
317 (i) Notice that a student who is determined to have made a
318 threat or false report, as provided in ss. 790.162 and 790.163,
319 respectively, involving the school’s or school personnel’s
320 property, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity
321 may be expelled from the student’s regular school for at least 1
322 full year, with continuing educational services, and referred to
323 the criminal justice system or juvenile justice system. A
324 district school superintendent may consider the requirement of a
325 1-year expulsion on a case-by-case basis and may request the
326 district school board to modify the requirement by assigning the
327 student to a disciplinary program or second chance school if:
328 1. The request for modification is in writing; and
329 2. The modification is determined to be in the best
330 interest of the student and the school district.
331 (j) A clear and complete explanation of due process rights
332 afforded to a student, including a student with a disability,
333 and the types of exclusionary discipline to which a student may
334 be subjected.
335 (c) An explanation of the responsibilities and rights of
336 students with regard to attendance, respect for persons and
337 property, knowledge and observation of rules of conduct, the
338 right to learn, free speech and student publications, assembly,
339 privacy, and participation in school programs and activities.
340 (d)1. An explanation of the responsibilities of each
341 student with regard to appropriate dress, respect for self and
342 others, and the role that appropriate dress and respect for self
343 and others has on an orderly learning environment. Each district
344 school board shall adopt a dress code policy that prohibits a
345 student, while on the grounds of a public school during the
346 regular school day, from wearing clothing that exposes underwear
347 or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that disrupts
348 the orderly learning environment.
349 2. Any student who violates the dress policy described in
350 subparagraph 1. is subject to the following disciplinary
351 actions:
352 a. For a first offense, a student shall be given a verbal
353 warning and the school principal shall call the student’s parent
354 or guardian.
355 b. For a second offense, the student is ineligible to
356 participate in any extracurricular activity for a period of time
357 not to exceed 5 days and the school principal shall meet with
358 the student’s parent or guardian.
359 c. For a third or subsequent offense, a student shall
360 receive an in-school suspension pursuant to s. 1003.01(5) for a
361 period not to exceed 3 days, the student is ineligible to
362 participate in any extracurricular activity for a period not to
363 exceed 30 days, and the school principal shall call the
364 student’s parent or guardian and send the parent or guardian a
365 written letter regarding the student’s in-school suspension and
366 ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.
367 (e) Notice that illegal use, possession, or sale of
368 controlled substances, as defined in chapter 893, by any student
369 while the student is upon school property or in attendance at a
370 school function is grounds for disciplinary action by the school
371 and may also result in criminal penalties being imposed.
372 (f) Notice that use of a wireless communications device
373 includes the possibility of the imposition of disciplinary
374 action by the school or criminal penalties if the device is used
375 in a criminal act. A student may possess a wireless
376 communications device while the student is on school property or
377 in attendance at a school function. Each district school board
378 shall adopt rules governing the use of a wireless communications
379 device by a student while the student is on school property or
380 in attendance at a school function.
381 (g) Notice that the possession of a firearm or weapon as
382 defined in chapter 790 by any student while the student is on
383 school property or in attendance at a school function is grounds
384 for disciplinary action and may also result in criminal
385 prosecution. Simulating a firearm or weapon while playing or
386 wearing clothing or accessories that depict a firearm or weapon
387 or express an opinion regarding a right guaranteed by the Second
388 Amendment to the United States Constitution is not grounds for
389 disciplinary action or referral to the criminal justice or
390 juvenile justice system under this section or s. 1006.13.
391 Simulating a firearm or weapon while playing includes, but is
392 not limited to:
393 1. Brandishing a partially consumed pastry or other food
394 item to simulate a firearm or weapon.
395 2. Possessing a toy firearm or weapon that is 2 inches or
396 less in overall length.
397 3. Possessing a toy firearm or weapon made of plastic snap
398 together building blocks.
399 4. Using a finger or hand to simulate a firearm or weapon.
400 5. Vocalizing an imaginary firearm or weapon.
401 6. Drawing a picture, or possessing an image, of a firearm
402 or weapon.
403 7. Using a pencil, pen, or other writing or drawing utensil
404 to simulate a firearm or weapon.
405
406 However, a student may be subject to disciplinary action if
407 simulating a firearm or weapon while playing substantially
408 disrupts student learning, causes bodily harm to another person,
409 or places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm. The
410 severity of consequences imposed upon a student, including
411 referral to the criminal justice or juvenile justice system,
412 must be proportionate to the severity of the infraction and
413 consistent with district school board policies for similar
414 infractions. If a student is disciplined for such conduct, the
415 school principal or his or her designee must call the student’s
416 parent. Disciplinary action resulting from a student’s clothing
417 or accessories shall be determined pursuant to paragraph (d)
418 unless the wearing of the clothing or accessory causes a
419 substantial disruption to student learning, in which case the
420 infraction may be addressed in a manner that is consistent with
421 district school board policies for similar infractions. This
422 paragraph does not prohibit a public school from adopting a
423 school uniform policy.
424 (h) Notice that violence against any district school board
425 personnel by a student is grounds for in-school suspension, out
426 of-school suspension, expulsion, or imposition of other
427 disciplinary action by the school and may also result in
428 criminal penalties being imposed.
429 (i) Notice that violation of district school board
430 transportation policies, including disruptive behavior on a
431 school bus or at a school bus stop, by a student is grounds for
432 suspension of the student’s privilege of riding on a school bus
433 and may be grounds for disciplinary action by the school and may
434 also result in criminal penalties being imposed.
435 (j) Notice that violation of the district school board’s
436 sexual harassment policy by a student is grounds for in-school
437 suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or imposition
438 of other disciplinary action by the school and may also result
439 in criminal penalties being imposed.
440 (k) Policies to be followed for the assignment of violent
441 or disruptive students to an alternative educational program.
442 (l) Notice that any student who is determined to have
443 brought a firearm or weapon, as defined in chapter 790, to
444 school, to any school function, or onto any school-sponsored
445 transportation, or to have possessed a firearm at school, will
446 be expelled, with or without continuing educational services,
447 from the student’s regular school for a period of not less than
448 1 full year and referred to the criminal justice or juvenile
449 justice system. District school boards may assign the student to
450 a disciplinary program or second chance school for the purpose
451 of continuing educational services during the period of
452 expulsion. District school superintendents may consider the 1
453 year expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis and request
454 the district school board to modify the requirement by assigning
455 the student to a disciplinary program or second chance school if
456 the request for modification is in writing and it is determined
457 to be in the best interest of the student and the school system.
458 (m) Notice that any student who is determined to have made
459 a threat or false report, as defined by ss. 790.162 and 790.163,
460 respectively, involving school or school personnel’s property,
461 school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity will be
462 expelled, with or without continuing educational services, from
463 the student’s regular school for a period of not less than 1
464 full year and referred for criminal prosecution. District school
465 boards may assign the student to a disciplinary program or
466 second chance school for the purpose of continuing educational
467 services during the period of expulsion. District school
468 superintendents may consider the 1-year expulsion requirement on
469 a case-by-case basis and request the district school board to
470 modify the requirement by assigning the student to a
471 disciplinary program or second chance school if it is determined
472 to be in the best interest of the student and the school system.
473 (3) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN POLICY CREATION STUDENT CRIME
474 WATCH PROGRAM.—Each school district shall ensure the meaningful
475 involvement of parents, students, teachers, and the community in
476 creating and applying policies regarding student discipline and
477 school safety By resolution of the district school board,
478 implement a student crime watch program to promote
479 responsibility among students and to assist in the control of
480 criminal behavior within the schools.
481 (4) EMERGENCY DRILLS AND; EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.—Each school
482 district shall:
483 (a) Formulate and prescribe policies and procedures for
484 emergency drills and for actual emergencies, including, but not
485 limited to, fires, natural disasters, and bomb threats, for all
486 the public schools of the district which comprise grades K-12.
487 District school board policies must shall include commonly used
488 alarm system responses for specific types of emergencies and
489 verification by each school that drills have been provided as
490 required by law and fire protection codes. The emergency
491 response agency that is responsible for notifying the school
492 district for each type of emergency must be listed in the
493 district’s emergency response policy.
494 (b) Establish model emergency management and emergency
495 preparedness procedures, including emergency notification
496 procedures pursuant to paragraph (a), for the following life
497 threatening emergencies:
498 1. Weapon-use and hostage situations.
499 2. Hazardous materials or toxic chemical spills.
500 3. Weather emergencies, including hurricanes, tornadoes,
501 and severe storms.
502 4. Exposure as a result of a manmade emergency.
503 (5) EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN DETENTION FACILITIES.—Each
504 school district shall offer educational services to minors who
505 have not graduated from high school and eligible students with
506 disabilities under the age of 22 who have not graduated with a
507 standard diploma or its equivalent who are detained in a county
508 or municipal detention facility as defined in s. 951.23. These
509 educational services must shall be based upon the estimated
510 length of time the student will be in the facility and the
511 student’s current level of functioning. A county sheriff or
512 chief correctional officer, or his or her designee, shall notify
513 the district school superintendent, superintendents or his or
514 her designee when their designees shall be notified by the
515 county sheriff or chief correctional officer, or his or her
516 designee, upon the assignment of a student under the age of 21
517 is assigned to the facility. A cooperative agreement with the
518 district school board and applicable law enforcement units shall
519 develop a cooperative agreement be developed to address the
520 notification requirement and the provision of educational
521 services to such these students.
522 (6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each school
523 district shall use the Safety and Security Best Practices
524 developed by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
525 Government Accountability to conduct a self-assessment of the
526 school districts’ current safety and security practices. Based
527 on these self-assessment findings, the district school
528 superintendent shall provide recommendations to the district
529 school board which identify strategies and activities that the
530 district school board should implement in order to improve
531 school safety and security. Annually Each district school board
532 must annually receive the self-assessment results at a publicly
533 noticed district school board meeting to provide the public an
534 opportunity to hear the district school board members discuss
535 and take action on the report findings. Each district school
536 superintendent shall report the self-assessment results and
537 school board action to the commissioner within 30 days after the
538 district school board meeting.
539 (7) RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES.—Each school district
540 shall provide funding for, train school staff members on, and
541 support the implementation of school-based restorative justice
542 practices. Schools shall use these practices to foster a sense
543 of school community and to resolve conflict by encouraging the
544 reporting of harm and by restoring positive relationships. There
545 are various ways to use these practices in the schools and in
546 the juvenile justice system where students and educators work
547 together to set academic goals, develop core values for the
548 classroom, and resolve conflicts. Many types of restorative
549 justice practices, such as restorative circles, may be used to
550 promote a positive learning environment and to confront issues
551 as they arise. Some common restorative circles that schools use
552 for discipline may include, but need not be limited to:
553 (a) Discipline circles that address the harm that occurred,
554 repair the harm, and develop solutions to prevent recurrence of
555 the harm among the parties involved.
556 (b) Proactive behavior management circles that use role
557 play to develop positive behavioral models for students.
558 (8) SUPPORT STAFF.—Each school district shall provide
559 funding to hire staff members to improve school climate and
560 safety, such as social workers, counselors, and restorative
561 justice coordinators, at the nationally recommended ratio of 250
562 students to 1 counselor in order to reduce dependency on school
563 safety officers, school resource officers, and other school
564 resources.
565 (9) SURVEYS.—Each school district shall annually survey
566 parents, students, and teachers regarding school safety and
567 disciplinary issues.
568 Section 3. Section 1006.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to
569 read:
570 1006.12 School resource officers and school safety
571 officers.—
572 (1) A district school board boards may establish a school
573 resource officer program programs, through a cooperative
574 agreement with a law enforcement agency agencies or in
575 accordance with subsection (2).
576 (a) Each school resource officer must officers shall be a
577 certified law enforcement officer officers, as defined in s.
578 943.10(1), and have been who are employed for at least 2 years
579 by a law enforcement agency as defined in s. 943.10(4). The
580 powers and duties of a law enforcement officer shall continue
581 throughout the employee’s tenure as a school resource officer.
582 (b) A school resource officer officers shall abide by
583 district school board policies and shall consult with and
584 coordinate activities through the school principal, but is shall
585 be responsible to the law enforcement agency in all matters
586 relating to employment, subject to agreements between the a
587 district school board and the a law enforcement agency. A school
588 resource officer’s activities that conducted by the school
589 resource officer which are part of the regular instructional
590 program of the school are shall be under the direction of the
591 school principal.
592 (c) A school resource officer may arrest a student only for
593 a violation of law which constitutes a serious threat to school
594 safety and only after consultation with the school principal or
595 the principal’s designee, documented attempts at intervention or
596 in-school consequences, and pursuant to the standards for
597 intervention and the cooperative agreement as described in ss.
598 1006.07 and 1006.13, respectively. If a school resource officer
599 arrests a student in a school-related incident, the officer
600 shall immediately notify the principal or the principal’s
601 designee. A school resource officer may not arrest or otherwise
602 refer a student to the criminal justice system or the juvenile
603 justice system for a petty act of misconduct unless it is
604 determined that the failure to do so would endanger the physical
605 safety of other students or staff at the school. Such
606 determination must be documented in a written report to the
607 principal or the principal’s designee which includes a
608 description of the behavior at issue and an explanation of why
609 an arrest or referral was necessary.
610 (2)(a) Each school safety officer must officers shall be a
611 law enforcement officer officers, as defined in s. 943.10(1),
612 certified under the provisions of chapter 943 and have been
613 employed for at least 2 years by either a law enforcement agency
614 or by the district school board. If the officer is employed by
615 the district school board, the district school board is the
616 employing agency for purposes of chapter 943, and must comply
617 with the provisions of that chapter.
618 (b) A district school board may commission one or more
619 school safety officers for the protection and safety of school
620 personnel, property, and students within the school district.
621 The district school superintendent may recommend and the
622 district school board may appoint one or more school safety
623 officers.
624 (c) A school safety officer may has and shall exercise the
625 power to make arrests for violations of law on district school
626 board property and to arrest persons, whether on or off such
627 property, who violate any law on such property under the same
628 conditions that deputy sheriffs are authorized to make arrests.
629 A school safety officer may arrest a student only for a
630 violation of law which constitutes a serious threat to school
631 safety and only after consultation with the school principal or
632 the principal’s designee, documented attempts at intervention or
633 in-school consequences, and pursuant to the standards for
634 intervention and the cooperative agreement as described in ss.
635 1006.07 and 1006.13, respectively. If a school safety officer
636 arrests a student in a school-related incident, the officer
637 shall immediately notify the principal or the principal’s
638 designee. A school safety officer may not arrest or otherwise
639 refer a student to the criminal justice system or the juvenile
640 justice system for a petty act of misconduct unless it is
641 determined that the failure to do so would endanger the physical
642 safety of other students or staff at the school. Such
643 determination must be documented in a written report to the
644 principal or the principal’s designee which includes a
645 description of the behavior at issue and an explanation of why
646 an arrest or referral was necessary A school safety officer has
647 the authority to carry weapons when performing his or her
648 official duties.
649 (d) A district school board may enter into mutual aid
650 agreements with one or more law enforcement agencies as provided
651 in chapter 23. A school safety officer’s salary may be paid
652 jointly by the district school board and the law enforcement
653 agency, as mutually agreed to.
654 (3) Each law enforcement agency serving a school district
655 shall do all of the following:
656 (a) Enter into a cooperative agreement with the district
657 school board pursuant to s. 1006.13.
658 (b) Ensure that each school resource officer and school
659 safety officer is trained to use appropriate and positive
660 interactions with students in different stages of mental,
661 emotional, and physical development and to implement the range
662 of interventions and school-based consequences that should be
663 used to avoid an arrest. Training must include, but is not
664 limited to, the following:
665 1. Child and adolescent development and psychology;
666 2. Teaching students to respond in age-appropriate ways;
667 3. Cultural differences and unconscious bias;
668 4. Restorative justice practices;
669 5. Rights of students with disabilities and appropriate
670 responses to their behaviors;
671 6. Practices that improve the school climate; and
672 7. The creation of safe environments for lesbian, gay,
673 bisexual, and transgender students.
674 (c) Establish the following minimum qualifications for the
675 selection of school resource officers and school safety
676 officers:
677 1. Proficiency in verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
678 that include public speaking;
679 2. Knowledge and experience in matters involving cultural
680 diversity and sensitivity;
681 3. Training in best practices for working with students as
682 specified in paragraph (b);
683 4. Commitment to serving as a positive role model for
684 students;
685 5. Passion for and desire to interact positively with
686 students; and
687 6. An employment record with no history of excessive force
688 or racial bias.
689 Section 4. Section 1006.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to
690 read:
691 1006.13 Policy on referrals to the criminal justice system
692 or the juvenile justice system of zero tolerance for crime and
693 victimization.—
694 (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote a safe
695 and supportive learning environment in schools, to protect
696 students and staff from conduct that poses a serious threat to
697 school safety, and to encourage schools to use alternatives to
698 expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies by addressing
699 disruptive behavior through restitution, civil citation, teen
700 court, neighborhood restorative justice, or similar programs.
701 The Legislature finds that referrals to the criminal justice
702 system or the juvenile justice system zero-tolerance policies
703 are not intended to be rigorously applied to petty acts of
704 misconduct and misdemeanors, including, but not limited to,
705 minor fights or disturbances. The Legislature finds that zero
706 tolerance policies on referrals to the criminal justice system
707 or the juvenile justice system must apply equally to all
708 students regardless of their economic status, race, or
709 disability.
710 (2) Each district school board shall adopt a policy on
711 referrals to the criminal justice system or the juvenile justice
712 system which of zero tolerance that:
713 (a) Clearly limits the role of law enforcement intervention
714 to serious threats to school safety and delineates clear roles
715 in which school principals and their designees, under the
716 constraints of the standards for intervention as described in s.
717 1006.07 and other district policies, are the final decision
718 makers on disciplinary consequences, including referrals to law
719 enforcement agencies.
720 (b) Defines criteria for reporting to a law enforcement
721 agency any act that occurs whenever or wherever students are
722 within the jurisdiction of the district school board and that
723 poses a serious threat to school safety. An act that does not
724 pose a serious threat to school safety must be handled within
725 the school’s disciplinary system.
726 (c)(b) Defines acts that pose a serious threat to school
727 safety, including, but not limited to, those acts or behaviors
728 specified in s. 1006.07(2)(c)2.
729 (d)(c) Defines petty acts of misconduct, including, but not
730 limited to, behavior that could amount to the misdemeanor
731 criminal charge of disorderly conduct, disturbing a school
732 function, loitering, simple assault or battery, affray, theft of
733 less than $300, trespassing, vandalism of less than $1,000,
734 criminal mischief, and other behavior that does not pose a
735 serious threat to school safety.
736 (e) Specifies that students may not be arrested or
737 otherwise referred to the criminal justice system or the
738 juvenile justice system for petty acts of misconduct unless it
739 is determined that the failure to do so would endanger the
740 physical safety of other students or staff at the school. Such
741 determination must be documented in a written report that
742 includes a description of the behavior at issue and an
743 explanation of why an arrest or referral was necessary.
744 (f)(d) Minimizes the victimization of students, staff, or
745 volunteers, including taking all steps necessary to protect the
746 victim of any violent crime from any further victimization.
747 (g)(e) Establishes a procedure that provides each student
748 with the opportunity for a review of the disciplinary action
749 imposed pursuant to s. 1006.07.
750 (h) Establishes data-sharing protocols so that each school
751 district receives, at least twice a year, a report on the number
752 of school-based arrests of students. All data must be
753 disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, school, offense, and
754 the name of the law enforcement officer involved and match the
755 school district’s records on grade, disability, and status as a
756 limited English proficient student.
757 (3) This section does not limit a school’s authority and
758 discretion under law to use other disciplinary consequences and
759 interventions as appropriate to address school-based incidents.
760 (4)(3) The policy on referrals to the criminal justice
761 system or the juvenile justice system Zero-tolerance policies
762 must require a student who is students found to have committed
763 one of the following offenses to be expelled, with or without
764 continuing educational services, from the student’s regular
765 school for a period of not less than 1 full year, and to be
766 referred to the criminal justice system or juvenile justice
767 system:.
768 (a) Bringing a firearm or weapon, as defined in s. 790.001
769 or 18 U.S.C. s. 921 chapter 790, to school, to any school
770 function, or onto any school-sponsored transportation or
771 possessing a firearm at school.
772 (b) Making a threat or false report, as provided in defined
773 by ss. 790.162 and 790.163, respectively, involving school or
774 school personnel’s property, school transportation, or a school
775 sponsored activity.
776
777 A district school board boards may assign the student to a
778 disciplinary program for the purpose of continuing educational
779 services during the period of expulsion. A district school
780 superintendent superintendents may consider the 1-year expulsion
781 requirement on a case-by-case basis and request the district
782 school board to modify the requirement by assigning the student
783 to a disciplinary program or second chance school if the request
784 for modification is in writing and it is determined to be in the
785 best interest of the student and the school system. If a student
786 committing any of the offenses in this subsection is a student
787 who has a disability, the district school board shall comply
788 with applicable State Board of Education rules.
789 (5)(4)(a) Each district school board, in collaboration with
790 students, educators, parents, and stakeholders, shall enter into
791 cooperative agreements with the county sheriff’s office and
792 local police department specifying guidelines for ensuring that
793 acts that pose a serious threat to school safety, whether
794 committed by a student or adult, are reported to a law
795 enforcement agency. Such agreements must:
796 (a)(b) The agreements must Include the role of school
797 safety officers and school resource officers, if applicable, in
798 handling reported incidents that pose a serious threat to school
799 safety and, circumstances in which school officials may handle
800 incidents without filing a report with a law enforcement agency,
801 and a procedure for ensuring that school personnel properly
802 report appropriate delinquent acts and crimes.
803 (b)(c) Clarify that Zero-tolerance policies do not require
804 the reporting of petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors may
805 not be reported to a law enforcement agency, including, but not
806 limited to, disorderly conduct, disturbing disrupting a school
807 function, loitering, simple assault or battery, affray, theft of
808 less than $300, trespassing, and vandalism of less than $1,000,
809 criminal mischief, and other misdemeanors that do not pose a
810 serious threat to school safety.
811 (c)(d) Clarify the role of the school principal in ensuring
812 shall ensure that all school personnel are properly informed of
813 as to their responsibilities regarding crime reporting, that
814 appropriate delinquent acts and crimes are properly reported,
815 and that actions taken in cases with special circumstances are
816 properly taken and documented.
817 (d) Specify training for each school resource officer and
818 school safety officer on school grounds to foster appropriate
819 and positive interactions with students in different stages of
820 mental, emotional, and physical development and to implement the
821 range of interventions and school-based consequences that should
822 be used to avoid an arrest. Training must include, but is not
823 limited to, the following:
824 1. Child and adolescent development and psychology;
825 2. Teaching students to respond in age-appropriate ways;
826 3. Cultural differences and unconscious bias;
827 4. Restorative justice practices;
828 5. Rights of students with disabilities and appropriate
829 responses to their behaviors;
830 6. Practices that improve the school climate; and
831 7. The creation of safe environments for lesbian, gay,
832 bisexual, and transgender students.
833 (e) Include clear guidelines for selecting school resource
834 officers and school safety officers, who must meet the following
835 minimum qualifications:
836 1. Proficiency in verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
837 that include public speaking;
838 2. Knowledge and experience in matters involving cultural
839 diversity and sensitivity;
840 3. Training in best practices for working with students as
841 specified in paragraph (d);
842 4. Commitment to serving as a positive role model for
843 students;
844 5. Passion for and desire to interact positively with
845 students; and
846 6. An employment record with no history of excessive force
847 or racial bias.
848 (f) Require a school district to annually review the cost
849 and effectiveness of its school safety programs, including the
850 use of school safety officers, school resource officers, and
851 other security measures, to report its findings to the
852 Department of Education by August 1 of each school year, and to
853 use these findings to reevaluate and improve school safety
854 programs.
855 (6)(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each
856 district school board shall adopt rules providing that a any
857 student found to have committed an any offense in s. 784.081(1),
858 (2), or (3) shall be expelled or placed in an alternative school
859 setting or other program, as appropriate. Upon being charged
860 with the offense, and pending disposition, the student shall be
861 removed from the classroom immediately and placed in an
862 alternative school setting pending disposition.
863 (7)(a)(6)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law
864 prohibiting the disclosure of the identity of a minor, if a
865 whenever any student who is attending a public school is
866 adjudicated guilty of or delinquent for, or is found to have
867 committed, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld, or
868 pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony violation of:
869 1. Chapter 782, relating to homicide;
870 2. Chapter 784, relating to assault, battery, and culpable
871 negligence;
872 3. Chapter 787, relating to kidnapping, false imprisonment,
873 luring or enticing a child, and custody offenses;
874 4. Chapter 794, relating to sexual battery;
875 5. Chapter 800, relating to lewdness and indecent exposure;
876 6. Chapter 827, relating to abuse of children;
877 7. Section 812.13, relating to robbery;
878 8. Section 812.131, relating to robbery by sudden
879 snatching;
880 9. Section 812.133, relating to carjacking; or
881 10. Section 812.135, relating to home-invasion robbery,
882
883 and, before or at the time of such adjudication, withholding of
884 adjudication, or plea, the student offender was attending a
885 school attended by the victim or a sibling of the victim of the
886 offense, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall notify the
887 appropriate district school board of the adjudication or plea,
888 the requirements of in this paragraph, and whether the student
889 offender is prohibited from attending that school or riding on a
890 school bus if whenever the victim or a sibling of the victim is
891 attending the same school or riding on the same school bus,
892 except as provided pursuant to a written disposition order under
893 s. 985.455(2). Upon receipt of such notice, the district school
894 board shall take appropriate action to effectuate the provisions
895 in paragraph (b).
896 (b) Each district school board shall adopt a cooperative
897 agreement with the Department of Juvenile Justice which
898 establishes guidelines for ensuring that a any no contact order
899 entered by a court is reported and enforced and that all of the
900 necessary steps are taken to protect the victim of the offense.
901 Any student offender described in paragraph (a), who is not
902 exempt exempted as provided in paragraph (a), may not attend the
903 any school attended by the victim or a sibling of the victim of
904 the offense or ride on a school bus on which the victim or a
905 sibling of the victim is riding. The district school board shall
906 allow the student offender shall be permitted by the district
907 school board to attend another school within the district in
908 which the student offender resides, only if the other school is
909 not attended by the victim or sibling of the victim. Another
910 district school board may allow of the offense; or the student
911 offender may be permitted by another district school board to
912 attend a school in that district if the student offender is
913 unable to attend any school in the district in which the student
914 offender resides.
915 (c) If the student offender is unable to attend any other
916 school in the district in which the student offender resides and
917 is prohibited from attending a school in another school
918 district, the district school board in the school district in
919 which the student offender resides shall take every reasonable
920 precaution to keep the student offender separated from the
921 victim while on school grounds or on school transportation. The
922 steps to be taken by a district school board to keep the student
923 offender separated from the victim must include, but are not
924 limited to, in-school suspension of the student offender and the
925 scheduling of classes, lunch, or other school activities of the
926 victim and the student offender so as not to coincide.
927 (d) The student offender, or the parents of the student
928 offender if the student offender is a juvenile, shall arrange
929 and pay for transportation associated with or required by the
930 student’s offender’s attending another school or that would be
931 required as a consequence of the prohibition against riding on a
932 school bus on which the victim or a sibling of the victim is
933 riding. If the student is experiencing homelessness as described
934 in s. 1003.01(12) or belongs to a family whose income does not
935 exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level, the school
936 district shall arrange and pay for the transportation. However,
937 The student offender or the parents of the student offender may
938 not be charged for existing modes of transportation which that
939 can be used by the student offender at no additional cost to the
940 district school board.
941 (8)(7) Any disciplinary or prosecutorial action taken
942 against a student who violates the a zero-tolerance policy on
943 referrals to the criminal justice system or the juvenile justice
944 system must be based on the particular circumstances of the
945 student’s misconduct.
946 (9)(8) A school district shall districts are encouraged to
947 use alternatives to expulsion or referral to a law enforcement
948 agency agencies unless the use of such alternatives will pose a
949 threat to school safety. By August 1 of each year, a school
950 district shall provide to the department all policies and
951 agreements adopted or implemented pursuant to this section.
952 (10) To assist a school district in developing policies
953 that ensure students are not arrested or otherwise referred to
954 the criminal justice system or the juvenile justice system for
955 petty acts of misconduct, the department shall, by March 1,
956 2017, in collaboration with students, educators, parents, and
957 stakeholders, develop and provide to each school district a
958 model policy.
959 (11) On or before January 1 of each year, the Commissioner
960 of Education shall report to the Governor, the President of the
961 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the
962 implementation of this section. The report must include data
963 regarding school-based arrests and referrals of students to law
964 enforcement agencies.
965 Section 5. Subsection (5) of section 1002.20, Florida
966 Statutes, is amended to read:
967 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
968 school students must receive accurate and timely information
969 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
970 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
971 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
972 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
973 (5) SAFETY.—In accordance with the provisions of s.
974 1006.13(7) s. 1006.13(6), students who have been victims of
975 certain felony offenses by other students, as well as the
976 siblings of the student victims, have the right to be kept
977 separated from the student offender both at school and during
978 school transportation.
979 Section 6. Subsection (5) of section 1002.23, Florida
980 Statutes, is amended to read:
981 1002.23 Family and School Partnership for Student
982 Achievement Act.—
983 (5) Each school district shall develop and disseminate a
984 parent guide to successful student achievement, consistent with
985 the guidelines of the Department of Education, which addresses
986 what parents need to know about their child’s educational
987 progress and how parents can help their child to succeed in
988 school. The guide must:
989 (a) Be understandable to students and parents;
990 (b) Be distributed to all parents, students, and school
991 personnel at the beginning of each school year;
992 (c) Be discussed at the beginning of each school year in
993 meetings of students, parents, and teachers;
994 (d) Include information concerning services, opportunities,
995 choices, academic standards, and student assessment; and
996 (e) Provide information on the importance of student health
997 and available immunizations and vaccinations, including, but not
998 limited to:
999 1. A recommended immunization schedule in accordance with
1000 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1001 recommendations.
1002 2. Detailed information regarding the causes, symptoms, and
1003 transmission of meningococcal disease and the availability,
1004 effectiveness, known contraindications, and appropriate age for
1005 the administration of any required or recommended vaccine
1006 against meningococcal disease, in accordance with the
1007 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization
1008 Practices of the United States Centers for Disease Control and
1009 Prevention.
1010
1011 The parent guide described in this subsection may be included as
1012 a part of the standards for intervention under s. 1006.07 code
1013 of student conduct that is required in s. 1006.07(2).
1014 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
1015 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1016 1002.33 Charter schools.—
1017 (7) CHARTER.—The major issues involving the operation of a
1018 charter school shall be considered in advance and written into
1019 the charter. The charter shall be signed by the governing board
1020 of the charter school and the sponsor, following a public
1021 hearing to ensure community input.
1022 (a) The charter shall address and criteria for approval of
1023 the charter shall be based on:
1024 1. The school’s mission, the students to be served, and the
1025 ages and grades to be included.
1026 2. The focus of the curriculum, the instructional methods
1027 to be used, any distinctive instructional techniques to be
1028 employed, and identification and acquisition of appropriate
1029 technologies needed to improve educational and administrative
1030 performance which include a means for promoting safe, ethical,
1031 and appropriate uses of technology which comply with legal and
1032 professional standards.
1033 a. The charter shall ensure that reading is a primary focus
1034 of the curriculum and that resources are provided to identify
1035 and provide specialized instruction for students who are reading
1036 below grade level. The curriculum and instructional strategies
1037 for reading must be consistent with the Next Generation Sunshine
1038 State Standards and grounded in scientifically based reading
1039 research.
1040 b. In order to provide students with access to diverse
1041 instructional delivery models, to facilitate the integration of
1042 technology within traditional classroom instruction, and to
1043 provide students with the skills they need to compete in the
1044 21st century economy, the Legislature encourages instructional
1045 methods for blended learning courses consisting of both
1046 traditional classroom and online instructional techniques.
1047 Charter schools may implement blended learning courses which
1048 combine traditional classroom instruction and virtual
1049 instruction. Students in a blended learning course must be full
1050 time students of the charter school and receive the online
1051 instruction in a classroom setting at the charter school.
1052 Instructional personnel certified pursuant to s. 1012.55 who
1053 provide virtual instruction for blended learning courses may be
1054 employees of the charter school or may be under contract to
1055 provide instructional services to charter school students. At a
1056 minimum, such instructional personnel must hold an active state
1057 or school district adjunct certification under s. 1012.57 for
1058 the subject area of the blended learning course. The funding and
1059 performance accountability requirements for blended learning
1060 courses are the same as those for traditional courses.
1061 3. The current incoming baseline standard of student
1062 academic achievement, the outcomes to be achieved, and the
1063 method of measurement that will be used. The criteria listed in
1064 this subparagraph shall include a detailed description of:
1065 a. How the baseline student academic achievement levels and
1066 prior rates of academic progress will be established.
1067 b. How these baseline rates will be compared to rates of
1068 academic progress achieved by these same students while
1069 attending the charter school.
1070 c. To the extent possible, how these rates of progress will
1071 be evaluated and compared with rates of progress of other
1072 closely comparable student populations.
1073
1074 The district school board is required to provide academic
1075 student performance data to charter schools for each of their
1076 students coming from the district school system, as well as
1077 rates of academic progress of comparable student populations in
1078 the district school system.
1079 4. The methods used to identify the educational strengths
1080 and needs of students and how well educational goals and
1081 performance standards are met by students attending the charter
1082 school. The methods shall provide a means for the charter school
1083 to ensure accountability to its constituents by analyzing
1084 student performance data and by evaluating the effectiveness and
1085 efficiency of its major educational programs. Students in
1086 charter schools shall, at a minimum, participate in the
1087 statewide assessment program created under s. 1008.22.
1088 5. In secondary charter schools, a method for determining
1089 that a student has satisfied the requirements for graduation in
1090 s. 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282.
1091 6. A method for resolving conflicts between the governing
1092 board of the charter school and the sponsor.
1093 7. The admissions procedures and dismissal procedures,
1094 including the school’s standards for intervention code of
1095 student conduct.
1096 8. The ways by which the school will achieve a
1097 racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or
1098 within the racial/ethnic range of other public schools in the
1099 same school district.
1100 9. The financial and administrative management of the
1101 school, including a reasonable demonstration of the professional
1102 experience or competence of those individuals or organizations
1103 applying to operate the charter school or those hired or
1104 retained to perform such professional services and the
1105 description of clearly delineated responsibilities and the
1106 policies and practices needed to effectively manage the charter
1107 school. A description of internal audit procedures and
1108 establishment of controls to ensure that financial resources are
1109 properly managed must be included. Both public sector and
1110 private sector professional experience shall be equally valid in
1111 such a consideration.
1112 10. The asset and liability projections required in the
1113 application which are incorporated into the charter and shall be
1114 compared with information provided in the annual report of the
1115 charter school.
1116 11. A description of procedures that identify various risks
1117 and provide for a comprehensive approach to reduce the impact of
1118 losses; plans to ensure the safety and security of students and
1119 staff; plans to identify, minimize, and protect others from
1120 violent or disruptive student behavior; and the manner in which
1121 the school will be insured, including whether or not the school
1122 will be required to have liability insurance, and, if so, the
1123 terms and conditions thereof and the amounts of coverage.
1124 12. The term of the charter which shall provide for
1125 cancellation of the charter if insufficient progress has been
1126 made in attaining the student achievement objectives of the
1127 charter and if it is not likely that such objectives can be
1128 achieved before expiration of the charter. The initial term of a
1129 charter shall be for 4 or 5 years. In order to facilitate access
1130 to long-term financial resources for charter school
1131 construction, charter schools that are operated by a
1132 municipality or other public entity as provided by law are
1133 eligible for up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by the
1134 district school board. A charter lab school is eligible for a
1135 charter for a term of up to 15 years. In addition, to facilitate
1136 access to long-term financial resources for charter school
1137 construction, charter schools that are operated by a private,
1138 not-for-profit, s. 501(c)(3) status corporation are eligible for
1139 up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by the district
1140 school board. Such long-term charters remain subject to annual
1141 review and may be terminated during the term of the charter, but
1142 only according to the provisions set forth in subsection (8).
1143 13. The facilities to be used and their location. The
1144 sponsor may not require a charter school to have a certificate
1145 of occupancy or a temporary certificate of occupancy for such a
1146 facility earlier than 15 calendar days before the first day of
1147 school.
1148 14. The qualifications to be required of the teachers and
1149 the potential strategies used to recruit, hire, train, and
1150 retain qualified staff to achieve best value.
1151 15. The governance structure of the school, including the
1152 status of the charter school as a public or private employer as
1153 required in paragraph (12)(i).
1154 16. A timetable for implementing the charter which
1155 addresses the implementation of each element thereof and the
1156 date by which the charter shall be awarded in order to meet this
1157 timetable.
1158 17. In the case of an existing public school that is being
1159 converted to charter status, alternative arrangements for
1160 current students who choose not to attend the charter school and
1161 for current teachers who choose not to teach in the charter
1162 school after conversion in accordance with the existing
1163 collective bargaining agreement or district school board rule in
1164 the absence of a collective bargaining agreement. However,
1165 alternative arrangements shall not be required for current
1166 teachers who choose not to teach in a charter lab school, except
1167 as authorized by the employment policies of the state university
1168 which grants the charter to the lab school.
1169 18. Full disclosure of the identity of all relatives
1170 employed by the charter school who are related to the charter
1171 school owner, president, chairperson of the governing board of
1172 directors, superintendent, governing board member, principal,
1173 assistant principal, or any other person employed by the charter
1174 school who has equivalent decisionmaking authority. For the
1175 purpose of this subparagraph, the term “relative” means father,
1176 mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first
1177 cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in
1178 law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,
1179 stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother,
1180 stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
1181 19. Implementation of the activities authorized under s.
1182 1002.331 by the charter school when it satisfies the eligibility
1183 requirements for a high-performing charter school. A high
1184 performing charter school shall notify its sponsor in writing by
1185 March 1 if it intends to increase enrollment or expand grade
1186 levels the following school year. The written notice shall
1187 specify the amount of the enrollment increase and the grade
1188 levels that will be added, as applicable.
1189 Section 8. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
1190 1003.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1191 1003.02 District school board operation and control of
1192 public K-12 education within the school district.—As provided in
1193 part II of chapter 1001, district school boards are
1194 constitutionally and statutorily charged with the operation and
1195 control of public K-12 education within their school district.
1196 The district school boards must establish, organize, and operate
1197 their public K-12 schools and educational programs, employees,
1198 and facilities. Their responsibilities include staff
1199 development, public K-12 school student education including
1200 education for exceptional students and students in juvenile
1201 justice programs, special programs, adult education programs,
1202 and career education programs. Additionally, district school
1203 boards must:
1204 (1) Provide for the proper accounting for all students of
1205 school age, for the attendance and control of students at
1206 school, and for proper attention to health, safety, and other
1207 matters relating to the welfare of students in the following
1208 areas:
1209 (c) Control of students.—
1210 1. Adopt rules for the control, attendance, discipline, in
1211 school suspension, suspension, and expulsion of students and
1212 decide all cases recommended for expulsion.
1213 2. Maintain standards for intervention a code of student
1214 conduct as provided in chapter 1006.
1215 Section 9. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 1003.32,
1216 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1217 1003.32 Authority of teacher; responsibility for control of
1218 students; district school board and principal duties.—Subject to
1219 law and to the rules of the district school board, each teacher
1220 or other member of the staff of any school shall have such
1221 authority for the control and discipline of students as may be
1222 assigned to him or her by the principal or the principal’s
1223 designated representative and shall keep good order in the
1224 classroom and in other places in which he or she is assigned to
1225 be in charge of students.
1226 (1) In accordance with this section and within the
1227 framework of the district school board’s standards for
1228 intervention code of student conduct, teachers and other
1229 instructional personnel shall have the authority to undertake
1230 any of the following actions in managing student behavior and
1231 ensuring the safety of all students in their classes and school
1232 and their opportunity to learn in an orderly and disciplined
1233 classroom:
1234 (a) Establish classroom rules of conduct.
1235 (b) Establish and implement consequences, designed to
1236 change behavior, for infractions of classroom rules.
1237 (c) Have disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive,
1238 uncontrollable, or disruptive students removed from the
1239 classroom for behavior management intervention.
1240 (d) Have violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive
1241 students directed for information or assistance from appropriate
1242 school or district school board personnel.
1243 (e) Assist in enforcing school rules on school property,
1244 during school-sponsored transportation, and during school
1245 sponsored activities.
1246 (f) Request and receive information as to the disposition
1247 of any referrals to the administration for violation of
1248 classroom or school rules.
1249 (g) Request and receive immediate assistance in classroom
1250 management if a student becomes uncontrollable or in case of
1251 emergency.
1252 (h) Request and receive training and other assistance to
1253 improve skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
1254 conflict resolution, and related areas.
1255 (i) Press charges if there is a reason to believe that a
1256 crime has been committed on school property, during school
1257 sponsored transportation, or during school-sponsored activities.
1258 (j) Use reasonable force, according to standards adopted by
1259 the State Board of Education, to protect himself or herself or
1260 others from injury.
1261 (k) Use corporal punishment according to school board
1262 policy and at least the following procedures, if a teacher feels
1263 that corporal punishment is necessary:
1264 1. The use of corporal punishment shall be approved in
1265 principle by the principal before it is used, but approval is
1266 not necessary for each specific instance in which it is used.
1267 The principal shall prepare guidelines for administering such
1268 punishment which identify the types of punishable offenses, the
1269 conditions under which the punishment shall be administered, and
1270 the specific personnel on the school staff authorized to
1271 administer the punishment.
1272 2. A teacher or principal may administer corporal
1273 punishment only in the presence of another adult who is informed
1274 beforehand, and in the student’s presence, of the reason for the
1275 punishment.
1276 3. A teacher or principal who has administered punishment
1277 shall, upon request, provide the student’s parent with a written
1278 explanation of the reason for the punishment and the name of the
1279 other adult who was present.
1280 (3) A teacher may send a student to the principal’s office
1281 to maintain effective discipline in the classroom and may
1282 recommend an appropriate consequence consistent with the
1283 standards for intervention student code of conduct under s.
1284 1006.07. The principal shall respond by employing the teacher’s
1285 recommended consequence or a more serious disciplinary action if
1286 the student’s history of disruptive behavior warrants it. If the
1287 principal determines that a lesser disciplinary action is
1288 appropriate, the principal should consult with the teacher
1289 before prior to taking disciplinary action.
1290 Section 10. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of
1291 section 1003.53, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1292 1003.53 Dropout prevention and academic intervention.—
1293 (1)
1294 (c) A student shall be identified as being eligible to
1295 receive services funded through the dropout prevention and
1296 academic intervention program based upon one of the following
1297 criteria:
1298 1. The student is academically unsuccessful as evidenced by
1299 low test scores, retention, failing grades, low grade point
1300 average, falling behind in earning credits, or not meeting the
1301 state or district proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, or
1302 writing.
1303 2. The student has a pattern of excessive absenteeism or
1304 has been identified as a habitual truant.
1305 3. The student has a history of disruptive behavior in
1306 school or has committed an offense that warrants out-of-school
1307 suspension or expulsion from school according to the district
1308 school board’s standards for intervention code of student
1309 conduct. For the purposes of this program, “disruptive behavior”
1310 is behavior that:
1311 a. Interferes with the student’s own learning or the
1312 educational process of others and requires attention and
1313 assistance beyond that which the traditional program can provide
1314 or results in frequent conflicts of a disruptive nature while
1315 the student is under the jurisdiction of the school either in or
1316 out of the classroom; or
1317 b. Severely threatens the general welfare of students or
1318 others with whom the student comes into contact.
1319 4. The student is identified by a school’s early warning
1320 system pursuant to s. 1001.42(18)(b).
1321 (d)1. “Second chance schools” means district school board
1322 programs provided through cooperative agreements between the
1323 Department of Juvenile Justice, private providers, state or
1324 local law enforcement agencies, or other state agencies for
1325 students who have been disruptive or violent or who have
1326 committed serious offenses. As partnership programs, second
1327 chance schools are eligible for waivers by the Commissioner of
1328 Education from State Board of Education rules that prevent the
1329 provision of appropriate educational services to violent,
1330 severely disruptive, or delinquent students in small
1331 nontraditional settings or in court-adjudicated settings.
1332 2. District school boards seeking to enter into a
1333 partnership with a private entity or public entity to operate a
1334 second chance school for disruptive students may apply to the
1335 Department of Education for startup grants. These grants must be
1336 available for 1 year and must be used to offset the startup
1337 costs for implementing such programs off public school campuses.
1338 General operating funds must be generated through the
1339 appropriate programs of the Florida Education Finance Program.
1340 Grants approved under this program shall be for the full
1341 operation of the school by a private nonprofit or for-profit
1342 provider or the public entity. This program must operate under
1343 rules adopted by the State Board of Education and be implemented
1344 to the extent funded by the Legislature.
1345 3. A student enrolled in a sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth,
1346 or tenth grade class may be assigned to a second chance school
1347 if the student meets the following criteria:
1348 a. The student is a habitual truant as defined in s.
1349 1003.01.
1350 b. The student’s excessive absences have detrimentally
1351 affected the student’s academic progress and the student may
1352 have unique needs that a traditional school setting may not
1353 meet.
1354 c. The student’s high incidences of truancy have been
1355 directly linked to a lack of motivation.
1356 d. The student has been identified as at risk of dropping
1357 out of school.
1358 4. A student who is habitually truant may be assigned to a
1359 second chance school only if the case staffing committee,
1360 established pursuant to s. 984.12, determines that such
1361 placement could be beneficial to the student and the criteria
1362 included in subparagraph 3. are met.
1363 5. A student may be assigned to a second chance school if
1364 the district school board in which the student resides has a
1365 second chance school and if the student meets one of the
1366 following criteria:
1367 a. The student habitually exhibits disruptive behavior in
1368 violation of the standards for intervention code of student
1369 conduct adopted by the district school board.
1370 b. The student interferes with the student’s own learning
1371 or the educational process of others and requires attention and
1372 assistance beyond that which the traditional program can
1373 provide, or, while the student is under the jurisdiction of the
1374 school either in or out of the classroom, frequent conflicts of
1375 a disruptive nature occur.
1376 c. The student has committed a serious offense which
1377 warrants suspension or expulsion from school according to the
1378 district school board’s standards for intervention code of
1379 student conduct. For the purposes of this program, “serious
1380 offense” is behavior which:
1381 (I) Threatens the general welfare of students or others
1382 with whom the student comes into contact;
1383 (II) Includes violence;
1384 (III) Includes possession of weapons or drugs; or
1385 (IV) Is harassment or verbal abuse of school personnel or
1386 other students.
1387 6. Prior to assignment of students to second chance
1388 schools, district school boards are encouraged to use
1389 alternative programs, such as in-school suspension, which
1390 provide instruction and counseling leading to improved student
1391 behavior, a reduction in the incidence of truancy, and the
1392 development of more effective interpersonal skills.
1393 7. Students assigned to second chance schools must be
1394 evaluated by the district school board’s child study team before
1395 placement in a second chance school. The study team shall ensure
1396 that students are not eligible for placement in a program for
1397 emotionally disturbed children.
1398 8. Students who exhibit academic and social progress and
1399 who wish to return to a traditional school shall complete a
1400 character development and law education program and demonstrate
1401 preparedness to reenter the regular school setting prior to
1402 reentering a traditional school.
1403 Section 11. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
1404 1003.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1405 1003.57 Exceptional students instruction.—
1406 (1)
1407 (h) School personnel may consider any unique circumstances
1408 on a case-by-case basis when determining whether a change in
1409 placement is appropriate for a student who has a disability and
1410 violates a district school board’s standards for intervention
1411 code of student conduct. School personnel may remove and place
1412 such student in an interim alternative educational setting for
1413 not more than 45 school days, without regard to whether the
1414 behavior is determined to be a manifestation of the student’s
1415 disability, if the student:
1416 1. Carries a weapon to or possesses a weapon at school, on
1417 school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction
1418 of the school district;
1419 2. Knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs, or sells or
1420 solicits the sale of a controlled substance, while at school, on
1421 school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction
1422 of the school district; or
1423 3. Has inflicted serious bodily injury upon another person
1424 while at school, on school premises, or at a school function
1425 under the jurisdiction of the school district.
1426 Section 12. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsection
1427 (4) of section 1006.09, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1428 1006.09 Duties of school principal relating to student
1429 discipline and school safety.—
1430 (1)
1431 (c) The principal or the principal’s designee may recommend
1432 to the district school superintendent the expulsion of any
1433 student who has committed a serious breach of conduct,
1434 including, but not limited to, willful disobedience, open
1435 defiance of authority of a member of his or her staff, violence
1436 against persons or property, or any other act which
1437 substantially disrupts the orderly conduct of the school. A
1438 recommendation of expulsion or assignment to a second chance
1439 school may also be made for any student found to have
1440 intentionally made false accusations that jeopardize the
1441 professional reputation, employment, or professional
1442 certification of a teacher or other member of the school staff,
1443 according to the district school board’s standards for
1444 intervention board code of student conduct. Any recommendation
1445 of expulsion must shall include a detailed report by the
1446 principal or the principal’s designated representative on the
1447 alternative measures taken prior to the recommendation of
1448 expulsion.
1449 (4) When a student has been the victim of a violent crime
1450 perpetrated by another student who attends the same school, the
1451 school principal shall make full and effective use of the
1452 provisions of subsection (2) and s. 1006.13(7) s. 1006.13(6). A
1453 school principal who fails to comply with this subsection is
1454 shall be ineligible for any portion of the performance pay or
1455 the differentiated pay under s. 1012.22. However, if any party
1456 responsible for notification fails to properly notify the
1457 school, the school principal is shall be eligible for the
1458 performance pay or differentiated pay.
1459 Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 1006.10, Florida
1460 Statutes, is amended to read:
1461 1006.10 Authority of school bus drivers and district school
1462 boards relating to student discipline and student safety on
1463 school buses.—
1464 (2) The district school board shall require a system of
1465 progressive discipline of transported students for actions which
1466 are prohibited by the standards for intervention code of student
1467 conduct. Disciplinary actions, including suspension of students
1468 from riding on district school board owned or contracted school
1469 buses, shall be subject to district school board policies and
1470 procedures and may be imposed by the principal or the
1471 principal’s designee. The principal or the principal’s designee
1472 may delegate any disciplinary authority to school bus drivers
1473 except for suspension of students from riding the bus.
1474 Section 14. Paragraph (n) of subsection (4) of section
1475 1006.147, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1476 1006.147 Bullying and harassment prohibited.—
1477 (4) Each school district shall adopt a policy prohibiting
1478 bullying and harassment of a student or employee of a public K
1479 12 educational institution. Each school district’s policy shall
1480 be in substantial conformity with the Department of Education’s
1481 model policy. The school district bullying and harassment policy
1482 shall afford all students the same protection regardless of
1483 their status under the law. The school district may establish
1484 separate discrimination policies that include categories of
1485 students. The school district shall involve students, parents,
1486 teachers, administrators, school staff, school volunteers,
1487 community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies in
1488 the process of adopting the policy. The school district policy
1489 must be implemented in a manner that is ongoing throughout the
1490 school year and integrated with a school’s curriculum, a
1491 school’s discipline policies, and other violence prevention
1492 efforts. The school district policy must contain, at a minimum,
1493 the following components:
1494 (n) A procedure for publicizing the policy, which must
1495 include its publication in the standards for intervention code
1496 of student conduct required under s. 1006.07 s. 1006.07(2) and
1497 in all employee handbooks.
1498 Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1499 1006.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1500 1006.15 Student standards for participation in
1501 interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular student
1502 activities; regulation.—
1503 (3)(a) To be eligible to participate in interscholastic
1504 extracurricular student activities, a student must:
1505 1. Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0
1506 scale, or its equivalent, in the previous semester or a
1507 cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale,
1508 or its equivalent, in the courses required by s. 1002.3105(5) or
1509 s. 1003.4282.
1510 2. Execute and fulfill the requirements of an academic
1511 performance contract between the student, the district school
1512 board, the appropriate governing association, and the student’s
1513 parents, if the student’s cumulative grade point average falls
1514 below 2.0, or its equivalent, on a 4.0 scale in the courses
1515 required by s. 1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282. At a minimum, the
1516 contract must require that the student attend summer school, or
1517 its graded equivalent, between grades 9 and 10 or grades 10 and
1518 11, as necessary.
1519 3. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on
1520 a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required by s.
1521 1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282 during his or her junior or senior
1522 year.
1523 4. Maintain satisfactory conduct, including adherence to
1524 the school’s appropriate dress code and other standards for
1525 intervention under s. 1006.07 codes of student conduct policies
1526 described in s. 1006.07(2). If a student is convicted of, or is
1527 found to have committed, a felony or a delinquent act that would
1528 have been a felony if committed by an adult, regardless of
1529 whether adjudication is withheld, the student’s participation in
1530 interscholastic extracurricular activities is contingent upon
1531 established and published district school board policy.
1532 Section 16. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
1533 1007.271, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1534 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
1535 (5)
1536 (b) Each president, or designee, of a postsecondary
1537 institution offering a college credit dual enrollment course
1538 must:
1539 1. Provide a copy of the institution’s current faculty or
1540 adjunct faculty handbook to all faculty members teaching a dual
1541 enrollment course.
1542 2. Provide to all faculty members teaching a dual
1543 enrollment course a copy of the institution’s current student
1544 handbook, which may include, but is not limited to, information
1545 on registration policies, the standards for intervention student
1546 code of conduct, grading policies, and critical dates.
1547 3. Designate an individual or individuals to observe all
1548 faculty members teaching a dual enrollment course, regardless of
1549 the location of instruction.
1550 4. Use the same criteria to evaluate faculty members
1551 teaching a dual enrollment course as the criteria used to
1552 evaluate all other faculty members.
1553 5. Provide course plans and objectives to all faculty
1554 members teaching a dual enrollment course.
1555 Section 17. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
1556 1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1557 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
1558 (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
1559 Florida College System institutions, and state universities
1560 share the responsibilities described in this section. These
1561 responsibilities include the following:
1562 (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
1563 development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
1564 shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
1565 educators of Florida College System institutions and state
1566 universities, business and community representatives, and local
1567 education foundations, consortia, and professional
1568 organizations. The professional development system must:
1569 1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
1570 to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
1571 for continued approval.
1572 2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
1573 instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
1574 relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
1575 and districts, in developing and refining the professional
1576 development system, shall also review and monitor school
1577 discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
1578 parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
1579 managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
1580 indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
1581 by improved professional performance.
1582 3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
1583 support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
1584 level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
1585 for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
1586 achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
1587 student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
1588 differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
1589 relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
1590 subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
1591 technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
1592 management, parent involvement, and school safety.
1593 4. Include a master plan for inservice activities, pursuant
1594 to rules of the State Board of Education, for all district
1595 employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall be
1596 updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
1597 teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
1598 use the latest available student achievement data and research
1599 to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
1600 inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
1601 inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
1602 1001.42(18). Each district inservice plan must provide a
1603 description of the training that middle grades instructional
1604 personnel and school administrators receive on the district’s
1605 standards for intervention code of student conduct adopted
1606 pursuant to s. 1006.07; integrated digital instruction and
1607 competency-based instruction and CAPE Digital Tool certificates
1608 and CAPE industry certifications; classroom management; student
1609 behavior and interaction; extended learning opportunities for
1610 students; and instructional leadership. District plans must be
1611 approved by the district school board annually in order to
1612 ensure compliance with subsection (1) and to allow for
1613 dissemination of research-based best practices to other
1614 districts. District school boards must submit verification of
1615 their approval to the Commissioner of Education no later than
1616 October 1, annually. Each school principal may establish and
1617 maintain an individual professional development plan for each
1618 instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless
1619 component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to
1620 s. 1001.42(18). An individual professional development plan must
1621 be related to specific performance data for the students to whom
1622 the teacher is assigned, define the inservice objectives and
1623 specific measurable improvements expected in student performance
1624 as a result of the inservice activity, and include an evaluation
1625 component that determines the effectiveness of the professional
1626 development plan.
1627 5. Include inservice activities for school administrative
1628 personnel that address updated skills necessary for
1629 instructional leadership and effective school management
1630 pursuant to s. 1012.986.
1631 6. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
1632 state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
1633 evaluation of local professional development programs.
1634 7. Provide for delivery of professional development by
1635 distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
1636 reach more educators at lower costs.
1637 8. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality and
1638 effectiveness of professional development programs in order to
1639 eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
1640 effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
1641 activities on the performance of participating educators and
1642 their students’ achievement and behavior.
1643 9. For middle grades, emphasize:
1644 a. Interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and
1645 instruction.
1646 b. Alignment of curriculum and instructional materials to
1647 the state academic standards adopted pursuant to s. 1003.41.
1648 c. Use of small learning communities; problem-solving,
1649 inquiry-driven research and analytical approaches for students;
1650 strategies and tools based on student needs; competency-based
1651 instruction; integrated digital instruction; and project-based
1652 instruction.
1653
1654 Each school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 must include
1655 in its school improvement plan, required under s. 1001.42(18), a
1656 description of the specific strategies used by the school to
1657 implement each item listed in this subparagraph.
1658 Section 18. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.