Florida Senate - 2019 SB 1724
By Senator Powell
30-00994A-19 20191724__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student discipline; creating s.
3 1006.01, F.S.; providing definitions; amending s.
4 1006.07, F.S.; revising the duties of the district
5 school boards relating to student discipline and
6 school safety; requiring school districts to adopt
7 standards for intervention, rather than a code of
8 student conduct, which include specified requirements;
9 requiring a school district to meaningfully involve
10 parents, students, teachers, and the community in
11 creating and applying certain policies; requiring a
12 school district to fund and support the implementation
13 of school-based restorative justice practices;
14 requiring a school district to provide funding to hire
15 staff members to improve the school climate and
16 safety; requiring a school district to annually survey
17 parents, students, and teachers regarding school
18 safety and disciplinary issues; making technical
19 changes; amending s. 1006.12, F.S.; revising the
20 qualifications of a school resource officer and a
21 school safety officer; authorizing such officers to
22 arrest a student only for certain violations of law;
23 requiring such officers to immediately notify the
24 principal or the principal’s designee if the officer
25 arrests a student in a school-related incident;
26 prohibiting such officers from arresting or referring
27 a student to the criminal justice system or juvenile
28 justice system for petty acts of misconduct; providing
29 an exception; requiring written documentation of an
30 arrest or referral to the criminal justice system or
31 juvenile justice system; requiring each law
32 enforcement agency that serves a school district to
33 enter into a cooperative agreement with the district
34 school board, ensure the training of school resource
35 officers and school safety officers as specified, and
36 develop minimum qualifications for the selection of
37 such officers; amending s. 1006.13, F.S.; requiring
38 each district school board to adopt a policy on
39 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 such 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 annually to the
56 Department of Education by a specified date; requiring
57 a school district to arrange and pay for
58 transportation for a student in certain circumstances;
59 requiring, rather than encouraging, a school district
60 to use alternatives to expulsion or referral to a law
61 enforcement agency unless the use of such alternatives
62 poses a threat to school safety; requiring each school
63 district to submit to the department its policies and
64 agreements by a specified date each year; requiring
65 the department to develop by a specified date a model
66 policy for referrals to the criminal justice system or
67 the juvenile justice system; requiring the
68 Commissioner of Education to report by a specified
69 date each year to the Governor and the Legislature on
70 the implementation of policies on referrals to law
71 enforcement agencies; amending ss. 16.555, 1001.42,
72 1002.20, 1002.23, 1002.33, 1002.40, 1003.02, 1003.32,
73 1003.53, 1003.57, 1006.08, 1006.09, 1006.10, 1006.147,
74 1006.15, 1006.195, 1007.271, and 1012.98, F.S.;
75 conforming cross-references and provisions to changes
76 made by the act; providing an 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 using a talking
98 piece. As used in this subsection, the term “talking piece”
99 means a physical object that is used to assist communication
100 between participants.
101 (4) “Restorative group conferencing” means an intervention
102 in which a facilitator leads the individuals who were involved
103 in an incident, whether they were harmed or caused the harm, as
104 well as their families or other supporters, in a face-to-face
105 process designed to address the harm, resolve any conflict, and
106 prevent recurrence of the harm based on the ideas of restorative
107 justice practices and mutual accountability.
108 (5) “Restorative justice” means an intervening approach to
109 justice which addresses root causes of harm that is a result of
110 unjust behavior; emphasizes repair of the harm; and gives equal
111 attention to accountability, growth, community safety, the
112 harmed student’s needs, and the student offender’s 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, juvenile
145 justice actions, and referrals to mental health services the
146 student has had, and have the authority as the district school
147 board of a receiving school district to honor the final order of
148 expulsion or dismissal of a student by any in-state or out-of
149 state public district school board or private school, or lab
150 school, for an act that which would have been grounds for
151 expulsion according to the receiving district school board’s
152 standards for intervention code of student conduct, in
153 accordance with the following procedures:
154 1. A final order of expulsion shall be recorded in the
155 records of the receiving school district.
156 2. The expelled student applying for admission to the
157 receiving school district shall be advised of the final order of
158 expulsion.
159 3. The district school superintendent of the receiving
160 school district may recommend to the district school board that
161 the final order of expulsion be waived and the student be
162 admitted to the school district, or that the final order of
163 expulsion be honored and the student not be admitted to the
164 school district. If the student is admitted by the district
165 school board, with or without the recommendation of the district
166 school superintendent, the student may be placed in an
167 appropriate educational program and referred to mental health
168 services identified by the school district pursuant to s.
169 1012.584(4), when appropriate, at the direction of the district
170 school board.
171 (2) STANDARDS FOR INTERVENTION CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT.
172 Each school district shall adopt clear standards for
173 intervention, formerly known as a code of student conduct, which
174 create a safe, supportive, and positive school climate and
175 address misbehavior with interventions and consequences aimed at
176 understanding and addressing the causes of misbehavior,
177 resolving conflicts, meeting students’ needs, keeping students
178 in school, and teaching students to respond in age-appropriate
179 ways a code of student conduct for elementary schools and a code
180 of student conduct for middle and high schools and distribute
181 the appropriate code to all teachers, school personnel,
182 students, and parents, at the beginning of every school year.
183 The process for adopting standards for intervention must include
184 meaningful involvement among parents, students, teachers, and
185 the community. The standards for intervention must be organized
186 and written in language that is understandable to students and
187 parents and translated into all languages represented by the
188 students and their parents; discussed at the beginning of every
189 school year in student classes, school advisory council
190 meetings, and parent and teacher association or organization
191 meetings; made available at the beginning of every school year
192 in the student handbook or similar publication distributed to
193 all teachers, school personnel, students, and parents; and
194 posted on the school district’s website. The standards for
195 intervention must Each code shall be organized and written in
196 language that is understandable to students and parents and
197 shall be discussed at the beginning of every school year in
198 student classes, school advisory council meetings, and parent
199 and teacher association or organization meetings. Each code
200 shall be based on the rules governing student conduct and
201 discipline adopted by the district school board and shall be
202 made available in the student handbook or similar publication.
203 Each code shall include, but need is not be limited to, the
204 following:
205 (a) Consistent policies and specific grounds for
206 disciplinary action, including in-school suspension, out-of
207 school suspension, expulsion, intervention, support, and any
208 disciplinary action that may be imposed for the possession or
209 use of alcohol on school property or while attending a school
210 function or for the illegal use, sale, or possession of
211 controlled substances as defined in chapter 893.
212 (b) Procedures to be followed for acts requiring
213 discipline, including corporal punishment.
214 (c) A discipline chart or matrix indicating that a student
215 is not subject to exclusionary discipline for unexcused
216 tardiness, lateness, absence, or truancy; for violation of the
217 school dress code or rules regarding school uniforms; or for
218 behavior infractions that do not endanger the physical safety of
219 other students or staff members, including, but not limited to,
220 insubordination, defiance, disobedience, disrespect, or minor
221 classroom disruptions. The discipline chart or matrix must also:
222 1. Provide guidance on appropriate interventions and
223 consequences to be applied to behaviors or behavior categories
224 as provided in subparagraph 2. The school district may define
225 specific interventions and provide a list of interventions that
226 must be used and documented before exclusionary discipline is
227 considered unless a behavior poses a serious threat to school
228 safety. The interventions may include, but need not be limited
229 to:
230 a. Having a private conversation with the student about his
231 or her behavior and underlying issues that may have precipitated
232 the behavior.
233 b. Providing an opportunity for the student’s anger, fear,
234 or anxiety to subside.
235 c. Providing restorative justice practices using a
236 schoolwide approach of informal and formal techniques to foster
237 a sense of school community and to manage conflict by repairing
238 harm and restoring positive relationships.
239 d. Providing reflective activities, such as requiring the
240 student to write an essay about his or her behavior.
241 e. Participating in skill building and conflict resolution
242 activities, such as social-emotional cognitive skill building,
243 restorative circles, and restorative group conferencing.
244 f. Revoking student privileges.
245 g. Referring the student to a school counselor or social
246 worker.
247 h. Speaking to the student’s parent.
248 i. Referring the student to intervention outside the school
249 setting.
250 j. Ordering in-school detention or in-school suspension
251 during lunch, after school, or on the weekends.
252 2. Outline specific behaviors or behavior categories. Each
253 behavior or behavior category must include clear maximum
254 consequences to prevent inappropriate exclusionary consequences
255 for minor misbehavior and petty acts of misconduct and set clear
256 requirements that must be satisfied before the school imposes
257 exclusionary discipline. The chart or matrix must show that
258 exclusionary discipline is a last resort to be used only in
259 cases of serious misconduct when in-school interventions and
260 consequences that do not lead to exclusionary consequences are
261 insufficient. The following behaviors, which must be accompanied
262 by appropriate intervention services, such as substance abuse
263 counseling, anger management counseling, or restorative justice
264 practices, may result in exclusionary discipline and in
265 notification of a law enforcement agency if the behavior is a
266 felony or a serious threat to school safety:
267 a. Illegal sale of a controlled substance, as defined in
268 chapter 893, by a student on school property or in attendance at
269 a school function.
270 b. Violation of the district school board’s sexual
271 harassment policy.
272 c. Possession, display, transmission, use, or sale of a
273 firearm or weapon, as defined in s. 790.001 or 18 U.S.C. s. 921,
274 or an object that is used as, or is intended to function as, a
275 weapon, while on school property or in attendance at a school
276 function.
277 d. Making a threat or intimidation using any pointed or
278 sharp object or the use of any substance or object as a weapon
279 with the threat or intent to inflict bodily harm.
280 e. Making a threat or a false report, as provided in ss.
281 790.162 and 790.163, respectively.
282 f. Homicide.
283 g. Sexual battery.
284 h. Armed robbery.
285 i. Aggravated battery.
286 j. Battery or aggravated battery on a teacher, other school
287 personnel, or district school board personnel.
288 k. Kidnapping.
289 l. Arson.
290 (d) A glossary of clearly defined terms and behaviors.
291 (e) An explanation of the responsibilities, dignity, and
292 rights of and respect for students, including, but not limited
293 to, a student’s right not to be discriminated against based on
294 race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or
295 gender identity; a student’s right to participate in student
296 publications, school programs, and school activities; and a
297 student’s right to exercise free speech, to assemble, and to
298 maintain privacy.
299 (f) An explanation of the school’s dress code or rules
300 regarding school uniforms and notice that students have the
301 right to dress in accordance with their stated gender within the
302 constraints of the school’s dress code.
303 (g) Notice that violation of transportation policies of a
304 district school board by a student, including disruptive
305 behavior on a school bus or at a school bus stop, is grounds for
306 disciplinary action by the school.
307 (h) Notice that a student who is determined to have brought
308 a firearm or weapon, as defined in s. 790.001 or 18 U.S.C. s.
309 921, to school, to a school function, or onto school-sponsored
310 transportation, or to have possessed a firearm or weapon at
311 school, will be expelled from the student’s regular school for
312 at least 1 full year and referred to the criminal justice system
313 or juvenile justice system. A district school superintendent may
314 consider the requirement of 1-year expulsion on a case-by-case
315 basis and may request the district school board to modify the
316 requirement by assigning the student to a disciplinary program
317 or second chance school if:
318 1. The request for modification is in writing; and
319 2. The modification is determined to be in the best
320 interest of the student and the school district.
321 (i) Notice that a student who is determined to have made a
322 threat or false report, as provided in ss. 790.162 and 790.163,
323 respectively, involving the school’s or school personnel’s
324 property, school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity
325 may be expelled from the student’s regular school for at least 1
326 full year, with continuing educational services, and referred to
327 the criminal justice system or juvenile justice system. A
328 district school superintendent may consider the requirement of a
329 1-year expulsion on a case-by-case basis and may request the
330 district school board to modify the requirement by assigning the
331 student to a disciplinary program or second chance school if:
332 1. The request for modification is in writing; and
333 2. The modification is determined to be in the best
334 interest of the student and the school district.
335 (j) A clear and complete explanation of due process rights
336 afforded to a student, including a student with a disability,
337 and the types of exclusionary discipline to which a student may
338 be subjected.
339 (c) An explanation of the responsibilities and rights of
340 students with regard to attendance, respect for persons and
341 property, knowledge and observation of rules of conduct, the
342 right to learn, free speech and student publications, assembly,
343 privacy, and participation in school programs and activities.
344 (d)1. An explanation of the responsibilities of each
345 student with regard to appropriate dress, respect for self and
346 others, and the role that appropriate dress and respect for self
347 and others has on an orderly learning environment. Each district
348 school board shall adopt a dress code policy that prohibits a
349 student, while on the grounds of a public school during the
350 regular school day, from wearing clothing that exposes underwear
351 or body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner or that disrupts
352 the orderly learning environment.
353 2. Any student who violates the dress policy described in
354 subparagraph 1. is subject to the following disciplinary
355 actions:
356 a. For a first offense, a student shall be given a verbal
357 warning and the school principal shall call the student’s parent
358 or guardian.
359 b. For a second offense, the student is ineligible to
360 participate in any extracurricular activity for a period of time
361 not to exceed 5 days and the school principal shall meet with
362 the student’s parent or guardian.
363 c. For a third or subsequent offense, a student shall
364 receive an in-school suspension pursuant to s. 1003.01(5) for a
365 period not to exceed 3 days, the student is ineligible to
366 participate in any extracurricular activity for a period not to
367 exceed 30 days, and the school principal shall call the
368 student’s parent or guardian and send the parent or guardian a
369 written letter regarding the student’s in-school suspension and
370 ineligibility to participate in extracurricular activities.
371 (e) Notice that illegal use, possession, or sale of
372 controlled substances, as defined in chapter 893, by any student
373 while the student is upon school property or in attendance at a
374 school function is grounds for disciplinary action by the school
375 and may also result in criminal penalties being imposed.
376 (k)(f) Notice that use of a wireless communications device
377 includes the possibility of the imposition of disciplinary
378 action by the school or criminal penalties if the device is used
379 in a criminal act. A student may possess a wireless
380 communications device while the student is on school property or
381 in attendance at a school function. Each district school board
382 shall adopt rules governing the use of a wireless communications
383 device by a student while the student is on school property or
384 in attendance at a school function.
385 (g) Notice that the possession of a firearm or weapon as
386 defined in chapter 790 by any student while the student is on
387 school property or in attendance at a school function is grounds
388 for disciplinary action and may also result in criminal
389 prosecution. Simulating a firearm or weapon while playing or
390 wearing clothing or accessories that depict a firearm or weapon
391 or express an opinion regarding a right guaranteed by the Second
392 Amendment to the United States Constitution is not grounds for
393 disciplinary action or referral to the criminal justice or
394 juvenile justice system under this section or s. 1006.13.
395 Simulating a firearm or weapon while playing includes, but is
396 not limited to:
397 1. Brandishing a partially consumed pastry or other food
398 item to simulate a firearm or weapon.
399 2. Possessing a toy firearm or weapon that is 2 inches or
400 less in overall length.
401 3. Possessing a toy firearm or weapon made of plastic snap
402 together building blocks.
403 4. Using a finger or hand to simulate a firearm or weapon.
404 5. Vocalizing an imaginary firearm or weapon.
405 6. Drawing a picture, or possessing an image, of a firearm
406 or weapon.
407 7. Using a pencil, pen, or other writing or drawing utensil
408 to simulate a firearm or weapon.
409
410 However, a student may be subject to disciplinary action if
411 simulating a firearm or weapon while playing substantially
412 disrupts student learning, causes bodily harm to another person,
413 or places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm. The
414 severity of consequences imposed upon a student, including
415 referral to the criminal justice or juvenile justice system,
416 must be proportionate to the severity of the infraction and
417 consistent with district school board policies for similar
418 infractions. If a student is disciplined for such conduct, the
419 school principal or his or her designee must call the student’s
420 parent. Disciplinary action resulting from a student’s clothing
421 or accessories shall be determined pursuant to paragraph (d)
422 unless the wearing of the clothing or accessory causes a
423 substantial disruption to student learning, in which case the
424 infraction may be addressed in a manner that is consistent with
425 district school board policies for similar infractions. This
426 paragraph does not prohibit a public school from adopting a
427 school uniform policy.
428 (h) Notice that violence against any district school board
429 personnel by a student is grounds for in-school suspension, out
430 of-school suspension, expulsion, or imposition of other
431 disciplinary action by the school and may also result in
432 criminal penalties being imposed.
433 (i) Notice that violation of district school board
434 transportation policies, including disruptive behavior on a
435 school bus or at a school bus stop, by a student is grounds for
436 suspension of the student’s privilege of riding on a school bus
437 and may be grounds for disciplinary action by the school and may
438 also result in criminal penalties being imposed.
439 (j) Notice that violation of the district school board’s
440 sexual harassment policy by a student is grounds for in-school
441 suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or imposition
442 of other disciplinary action by the school and may also result
443 in criminal penalties being imposed.
444 (k) Policies to be followed for the assignment of violent
445 or disruptive students to an alternative educational program or
446 referral of such students to mental health services identified
447 by the school district pursuant to s. 1012.584(4).
448 (l) Notice that any student who is determined to have
449 brought a firearm or weapon, as defined in chapter 790, to
450 school, to any school function, or onto any school-sponsored
451 transportation, or to have possessed a firearm at school, will
452 be expelled, with or without continuing educational services,
453 from the student’s regular school for a period of not less than
454 1 full year and referred to mental health services identified by
455 the school district pursuant to s. 1012.584(4) and the criminal
456 justice or juvenile justice system. District school boards may
457 assign the student to a disciplinary program or second chance
458 school for the purpose of continuing educational services during
459 the period of expulsion. District school superintendents may
460 consider the 1-year expulsion requirement on a case-by-case
461 basis and request the district school board to modify the
462 requirement by assigning the student to a disciplinary program
463 or second chance school if the request for modification is in
464 writing and it is determined to be in the best interest of the
465 student and the school system.
466 (m) Notice that any student who is determined to have made
467 a threat or false report, as defined by ss. 790.162 and 790.163,
468 respectively, involving school or school personnel’s property,
469 school transportation, or a school-sponsored activity will be
470 expelled, with or without continuing educational services, from
471 the student’s regular school for a period of not less than 1
472 full year and referred for criminal prosecution and mental
473 health services identified by the school district pursuant to s.
474 1012.584(4) for evaluation or treatment, when appropriate.
475 District school boards may assign the student to a disciplinary
476 program or second chance school for the purpose of continuing
477 educational services during the period of expulsion. District
478 school superintendents may consider the 1-year expulsion
479 requirement on a case-by-case basis and request the district
480 school board to modify the requirement by assigning the student
481 to a disciplinary program or second chance school if it is
482 determined to be in the best interest of the student and the
483 school system.
484 (3) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN POLICY CREATION STUDENT CRIME
485 WATCH PROGRAM.—Each school district shall ensure the meaningful
486 involvement of parents, students, teachers, and the community in
487 creating and applying policies regarding student discipline and
488 school safety By resolution of the district school board,
489 implement a student crime watch program to promote
490 responsibility among students and improve school safety. The
491 student crime watch program shall allow students and the
492 community to anonymously relay information concerning unsafe and
493 potentially harmful, dangerous, violent, or criminal activities,
494 or the threat of these activities, to appropriate public safety
495 agencies and school officials.
496 (4) EMERGENCY DRILLS AND; EMERGENCY PROCEDURES.—Each school
497 district shall:
498 (a) Formulate and prescribe policies and procedures, in
499 consultation with the appropriate public safety agencies, for
500 emergency drills and for actual emergencies, including, but not
501 limited to, fires, natural disasters, active shooter and hostage
502 situations, and bomb threats, for all students and faculty at
503 all public schools of the district comprised of grades K-12.
504 Drills for active shooter and hostage situations shall be
505 conducted at least as often as other emergency drills. District
506 school board policies must shall include commonly used alarm
507 system responses for specific types of emergencies and
508 verification by each school that drills have been provided as
509 required by law and fire protection codes. The emergency
510 response policy shall identify the individuals responsible for
511 contacting the primary emergency response agency and the
512 emergency response agency that is responsible for notifying the
513 school district for each type of emergency.
514 (b) Establish model emergency management and emergency
515 preparedness procedures, including emergency notification
516 procedures pursuant to paragraph (a), for the following life
517 threatening emergencies:
518 1. Weapon-use, hostage, and active shooter situations. The
519 active shooter situation training for each school must engage
520 the participation of the district school safety specialist,
521 threat assessment team members, faculty, staff, and students and
522 must be conducted by the law enforcement agency or agencies that
523 are designated as first responders to the school’s campus.
524 2. Hazardous materials or toxic chemical spills.
525 3. Weather emergencies, including hurricanes, tornadoes,
526 and severe storms.
527 4. Exposure as a result of a manmade emergency.
528 (c) Establish a schedule to test the functionality and
529 coverage capacity of all emergency communication systems and
530 determine if adequate signal strength is available in all areas
531 of the school’s campus.
532 (5) EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN DETENTION FACILITIES.—Each
533 school district shall offer educational services to minors who
534 have not graduated from high school and eligible students with
535 disabilities under the age of 22 who have not graduated with a
536 standard diploma or its equivalent who are detained in a county
537 or municipal detention facility as defined in s. 951.23. These
538 educational services must shall be based upon the estimated
539 length of time the student will be in the facility and the
540 student’s current level of functioning. A county sheriff or
541 chief correctional officer, or his or her designee, shall notify
542 the district school superintendent, superintendents or his or
543 her designee, when their designees shall be notified by the
544 county sheriff or chief correctional officer, or his or her
545 designee, upon the assignment of a student under the age of 21
546 is assigned to the facility. A cooperative agreement with the
547 district school board and applicable law enforcement units shall
548 develop a cooperative agreement be developed to address the
549 notification requirement and the provision of educational
550 services to such these students.
551 (6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district
552 school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures
553 for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the
554 assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior
555 poses a threat to the safety of the school community.
556 (a) Each district school superintendent shall designate a
557 school administrator as a school safety specialist for the
558 district. The school safety specialist must earn a certificate
559 of completion of the school safety specialist training provided
560 by the Office of Safe Schools within 1 year after appointment
561 and is responsible for the supervision and oversight for all
562 school safety and security personnel, policies, and procedures
563 in the school district. The school safety specialist shall:
564 1. Review policies and procedures for compliance with state
565 law and rules.
566 2. Provide the necessary training and resources to students
567 and school district staff in matters relating to youth mental
568 health awareness and assistance; emergency procedures, including
569 active shooter training; and school safety and security.
570 3. Serve as the school district liaison with local public
571 safety agencies and national, state, and community agencies and
572 organizations in matters of school safety and security.
573 4. Conduct a school security risk assessment in accordance
574 with s. 1006.1493 at each public school using the school
575 security risk assessment tool developed by the Office of Safe
576 Schools. Based on the assessment findings, the district’s school
577 safety specialist shall provide recommendations to the district
578 school board which identify strategies and activities that the
579 district school board should implement in order to improve
580 school safety and security. Annually, each district school board
581 must receive such findings and the school safety specialist’s
582 recommendations at a publicly noticed district school board
583 meeting to provide the public an opportunity to hear the
584 district school board members discuss and take action on the
585 findings and recommendations. Each school safety specialist
586 shall report such findings and school board action to the Office
587 of Safe Schools within 30 days after the district school board
588 meeting.
589 (b) Each school safety specialist shall coordinate with the
590 appropriate public safety agencies, as defined in s. 365.171,
591 that are designated as first responders to a school’s campus to
592 conduct a tour of such campus once every 3 years and provide
593 recommendations related to school safety. The recommendations by
594 the public safety agencies must be considered as part of the
595 recommendations by the school safety specialist pursuant to
596 paragraph (a).
597 (7) THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS.—Each district school board
598 shall adopt policies for the establishment of threat assessment
599 teams at each school whose duties include the coordination of
600 resources and assessment and intervention with individuals whose
601 behavior may pose a threat to the safety of school staff or
602 students consistent with the model policies developed by the
603 Office of Safe Schools. Such policies shall include procedures
604 for referrals to mental health services identified by the school
605 district pursuant to s. 1012.584(4), when appropriate.
606 (a) A threat assessment team shall include persons with
607 expertise in counseling, instruction, school administration, and
608 law enforcement. The threat assessment teams shall identify
609 members of the school community to whom threatening behavior
610 should be reported and provide guidance to students, faculty,
611 and staff regarding recognition of threatening or aberrant
612 behavior that may represent a threat to the community, school,
613 or self.
614 (b) Upon a preliminary determination that a student poses a
615 threat of violence or physical harm to himself or herself or
616 others, a threat assessment team shall immediately report its
617 determination to the superintendent or his or her designee. The
618 superintendent or his or her designee shall immediately attempt
619 to notify the student’s parent or legal guardian. Nothing in
620 this subsection shall preclude school district personnel from
621 acting immediately to address an imminent threat.
622 (c) Upon a preliminary determination by the threat
623 assessment team that a student poses a threat of violence to
624 himself or herself or others or exhibits significantly
625 disruptive behavior or need for assistance, the threat
626 assessment team may obtain criminal history record information,
627 as provided in s. 985.047. A member of a threat assessment team
628 may not disclose any criminal history record information
629 obtained pursuant to this section or otherwise use any record of
630 an individual beyond the purpose for which such disclosure was
631 made to the threat assessment team.
632 (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all state
633 and local agencies and programs that provide services to
634 students experiencing or at risk of an emotional disturbance or
635 a mental illness, including the school districts, school
636 personnel, state and local law enforcement agencies, the
637 Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Children and
638 Families, the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care
639 Administration, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the
640 Department of Education, the Statewide Guardian Ad Litem Office,
641 and any service or support provider contracting with such
642 agencies, may share with each other records or information that
643 are confidential or exempt from disclosure under chapter 119 if
644 the records or information are reasonably necessary to ensure
645 access to appropriate services for the student or to ensure the
646 safety of the student or others. All such state and local
647 agencies and programs shall communicate, collaborate, and
648 coordinate efforts to serve such students.
649 (e) If an immediate mental health or substance abuse crisis
650 is suspected, school personnel shall follow policies established
651 by the threat assessment team to engage behavioral health crisis
652 resources. Behavioral health crisis resources, including, but
653 not limited to, mobile crisis teams and school resource officers
654 trained in crisis intervention, shall provide emergency
655 intervention and assessment, make recommendations, and refer the
656 student for appropriate services. Onsite school personnel shall
657 report all such situations and actions taken to the threat
658 assessment team, which shall contact the other agencies involved
659 with the student and any known service providers to share
660 information and coordinate any necessary followup actions.
661 (f) Each threat assessment team established pursuant to
662 this subsection shall report quantitative data on its activities
663 to the Office of Safe Schools in accordance with guidance from
664 the office.
665 (8) SAFETY IN CONSTRUCTION PLANNING.—A district school
666 board must allow the law enforcement agency or agencies that are
667 designated as first responders to the district’s campus and
668 school’s campuses to tour such campuses once every 3 years. Any
669 changes related to school safety and emergency issues
670 recommended by a law enforcement agency based on a campus tour
671 must be documented by the district school board.
672 (9) RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES.—Each school district
673 shall provide funding for, train school staff members on, and
674 support the implementation of school-based restorative justice
675 practices. Schools shall use these practices to foster a sense
676 of school community and to resolve conflict by encouraging the
677 reporting of harm and by restoring positive relationships. There
678 are various ways to use these practices in the schools and in
679 the juvenile justice system where students and educators work
680 together to set academic goals, develop core values for the
681 classroom, and resolve conflicts. Many types of restorative
682 justice practices, such as restorative circles, may be used to
683 promote a positive learning environment and to confront issues
684 as they arise. Some common restorative circles that schools use
685 for discipline may include, but need not be limited to:
686 (a) Discipline circles that address the harm that occurred,
687 repair the harm, and develop solutions to prevent recurrence of
688 the harm among the parties involved.
689 (b) Proactive behavior management circles that use role
690 play to develop positive behavioral models for students.
691 (10) SUPPORT STAFF.—Each school district shall provide
692 funding to hire staff members to improve school climate and
693 safety, such as social workers, counselors, and restorative
694 justice coordinators, at the nationally recommended ratio of 250
695 students to 1 counselor in order to reduce dependency on school
696 safety officers, school resource officers, and other school
697 resources.
698 (11) SURVEYS.—Each school district shall annually survey
699 parents, students, and teachers regarding school safety and
700 disciplinary issues.
701 Section 3. Section 1006.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to
702 read:
703 1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For the
704 protection and safety of school personnel, property, students,
705 and visitors, each district school board and school district
706 superintendent shall partner with law enforcement agencies to
707 establish or assign one or more safe-school officers at each
708 school facility within the district by implementing any
709 combination of the following options which best meets the needs
710 of the school district:
711 (1) Establish school resource officer programs, through a
712 cooperative agreement with law enforcement agencies.
713 (a) School resource officers shall undergo criminal
714 background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation
715 and be certified law enforcement officers, as defined in s.
716 943.10(1), who have been are employed for at least 2 years by a
717 law enforcement agency as defined in s. 943.10(4). The powers
718 and duties of a law enforcement officer shall continue
719 throughout the employee’s tenure as a school resource officer.
720 (b) School resource officers shall abide by district school
721 board policies and shall consult with and coordinate activities
722 through the school principal, but shall be responsible to the
723 law enforcement agency in all matters relating to employment,
724 subject to agreements between a district school board and a law
725 enforcement agency. Activities conducted by the school resource
726 officer which are part of the regular instructional program of
727 the school shall be under the direction of the school principal.
728 (c) School resource officers shall complete mental health
729 crisis intervention training using a curriculum developed by a
730 national organization with expertise in mental health crisis
731 intervention. The training shall improve officers’ knowledge and
732 skills as first responders to incidents involving students with
733 emotional disturbance or mental illness, including de-escalation
734 skills to ensure student and officer safety.
735 (d) School resource officers may arrest a student only for
736 a violation of law which constitutes a serious threat to school
737 safety and only after consultation with the school principal or
738 the principal’s designee, documented attempts at intervention or
739 in-school consequences, and pursuant to the standards for
740 intervention and the cooperative agreement as described in ss.
741 1006.07 and 1006.13, respectively. If a school resource officer
742 arrests a student in a school-related incident, the officer
743 shall immediately notify the principal or the principal’s
744 designee. School resource officers may not arrest or otherwise
745 refer a student to the criminal justice system or the juvenile
746 justice system for a petty act of misconduct unless it is
747 determined that the failure to do so would endanger the physical
748 safety of other students or staff at the school. Such
749 determination must be documented in a written report to the
750 principal or the principal’s designee which includes a
751 description of the behavior at issue and an explanation of why
752 an arrest or referral was necessary.
753 (2) Commission one or more school safety officers for the
754 protection and safety of school personnel, property, and
755 students within the school district. The district school
756 superintendent may recommend, and the district school board may
757 appoint, one or more school safety officers.
758 (a) School safety officers shall undergo criminal
759 background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation
760 and be law enforcement officers, as defined in s. 943.10(1),
761 certified under the provisions of chapter 943 and have been
762 employed for at least 2 years by either a law enforcement agency
763 or by the district school board. If the officer is employed by
764 the district school board, the district school board is the
765 employing agency for purposes of chapter 943, and must comply
766 with the provisions of that chapter.
767 (b) A school safety officer may has and shall exercise the
768 power to make arrests for violations of law on district school
769 board property and to arrest persons, whether on or off such
770 property, who violate any law on such property under the same
771 conditions that deputy sheriffs are authorized to make arrests.
772 A school safety officer may arrest a student only for a
773 violation of law which constitutes a serious threat to school
774 safety and only after consultation with the school principal or
775 the principal’s designee, documented attempts at intervention or
776 in-school consequences, and pursuant to the standards for
777 intervention and the cooperative agreement as described in ss.
778 1006.07 and 1006.13, respectively. If a school safety officer
779 arrests a student in a school-related incident, the officer
780 shall immediately notify the principal or the principal’s
781 designee. A school safety officer may not arrest or otherwise
782 refer a student to the criminal justice system or the juvenile
783 justice system for a petty act of misconduct unless it is
784 determined that the failure to do so would endanger the physical
785 safety of other students or staff at the school. Such
786 determination must be documented in a written report to the
787 principal or the principal’s designee which includes a
788 description of the behavior at issue and an explanation of why
789 an arrest or referral was necessary. A school safety officer has
790 the authority to carry weapons when performing his or her
791 official duties.
792 (c) A district school board may enter into mutual aid
793 agreements with one or more law enforcement agencies as provided
794 in chapter 23. A school safety officer’s salary may be paid
795 jointly by the district school board and the law enforcement
796 agency, as mutually agreed to.
797 (3) At the school district’s discretion, participate in the
798 Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program if such program is established
799 pursuant to s. 30.15, to meet the requirement of establishing a
800 safe-school officer.
801 (4) Any information that would identify whether a
802 particular individual has been appointed as a safe-school
803 officer pursuant to this section held by a law enforcement
804 agency, school district, or charter school is exempt from s.
805 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This
806 subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act
807 in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October
808 2, 2023, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through
809 reenactment by the Legislature.
810 (5) Each law enforcement agency serving a school district
811 shall do the following:
812 (a) Enter into a cooperative agreement with the district
813 school board pursuant to s. 1006.13.
814 (b) Ensure that each school resource officer and school
815 safety officer is trained to use appropriate and positive
816 interactions with students in different stages of mental,
817 emotional, and physical development, and to implement the range
818 of interventions and school-based consequences that should be
819 used to avoid an arrest. Training must include, but is not
820 limited to, the following:
821 1. Child and adolescent development and psychology;
822 2. Teaching students to respond in age-appropriate ways;
823 3. Cultural differences and unconscious bias;
824 4. Restorative justice practices;
825 5. Rights of students with disabilities and appropriate
826 responses to their behaviors;
827 6. Practices that improve the school climate; and
828 7. The creation of safe environments for lesbian, gay,
829 bisexual, and transgender students.
830 (c) Establish the following minimum qualifications for the
831 selection of school resource officers and school safety
832 officers:
833 1. Proficiency in verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
834 that include public speaking;
835 2. Knowledge and experience in matters involving cultural
836 diversity and sensitivity;
837 3. Training in best practices for working with students as
838 specified in paragraph (b);
839 4. Commitment to serving as a positive role model for
840 students;
841 5. Passion for and desire to interact positively with
842 students; and
843 6. An employment record with no history of excessive force
844 or racial bias.
845 Section 4. Section 1006.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to
846 read:
847 1006.13 Policy on referrals to the criminal justice system
848 or the juvenile justice system of zero tolerance for crime and
849 victimization.—
850 (1) District school boards shall promote a safe and
851 supportive learning environment in schools by protecting
852 students and staff from conduct that poses a serious threat to
853 school safety. A threat assessment team may use alternatives to
854 expulsion or referral to law enforcement agencies to address
855 disruptive behavior through restitution, civil citation, teen
856 court, neighborhood restorative justice, or similar programs.
857 Referrals to the criminal justice system or the juvenile justice
858 system Zero-tolerance policies may not be rigorously applied to
859 petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors, including, but not
860 limited to, minor fights or disturbances. Zero-tolerance
861 Policies on referrals to the criminal justice system or juvenile
862 justice system must apply equally to all students regardless of
863 their economic status, race, or disability.
864 (2) Each district school board shall adopt a policy on
865 referrals to the criminal justice system or the juvenile justice
866 system of zero tolerance that:
867 (a) Clearly limits the role of law enforcement intervention
868 to serious threats to school safety and delineates clear roles
869 in which school principals or their designees, under the
870 constraints of the standards for intervention as described in s.
871 1006.07 and other district policies, are the final
872 decisionmakers on disciplinary consequences, including referrals
873 to law enforcement agencies.
874 (b)(a) Defines criteria for reporting to a law enforcement
875 agency any act that occurs whenever or wherever students are
876 within the jurisdiction of the district school board and that
877 poses a serious threat to school safety. An act that does not
878 pose a serious threat to school safety must be handled within
879 the school’s disciplinary system.
880 (c)(b) Defines acts that pose a serious threat to school
881 safety, including, but not limited to, those acts or behaviors
882 specified in s. 1006.07(2)(c)2.
883 (d)(c) Defines petty acts of misconduct, including, but not
884 limited to, behavior that could amount to the misdemeanor
885 criminal charge of disorderly conduct, disturbing a school
886 function, loitering, simple assault or battery, affray, theft of
887 less than $300, trespassing, vandalism of less than $1,000,
888 criminal mischief, and other behavior that does not pose a
889 serious threat to school safety.
890 (e) Specifies that students may not be arrested or
891 otherwise referred to the criminal justice system or the
892 juvenile justice system for petty acts of misconduct unless it
893 is determined that the failure to do so would endanger the
894 physical safety of other students or staff at the school. Such
895 determination must be documented in a written report that
896 includes a description of the behavior at issue and an
897 explanation of why an arrest or referral was necessary.
898 (f)(d) Minimizes the victimization of students, staff, or
899 volunteers, including taking all steps necessary to protect the
900 victim of any violent crime from any further victimization.
901 (g)(e) Establishes a procedure that provides each student
902 with the opportunity for a review of the disciplinary action
903 imposed pursuant to s. 1006.07.
904 (h)(f) Requires the threat assessment team to consult with
905 law enforcement when a student exhibits a pattern of behavior,
906 based upon previous acts or the severity of an act, that would
907 pose a threat to school safety.
908 (i) Establishes data-sharing protocols so that each school
909 district receives, at least twice a year, a report on the number
910 of school-based arrests of students. All data must be
911 disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, school, offense, and
912 the name of the law enforcement officer involved, and match the
913 school district’s records on grade, disability, and status as a
914 limited English proficient student.
915 (3) This section does not limit a school’s authority and
916 discretion under law to use other disciplinary consequences and
917 interventions as appropriate to address school-based incidents.
918 (4)(3) The policy on referrals to the criminal justice
919 system or the juvenile justice system Zero-tolerance policies
920 must require a student who is students found to have committed
921 one of the following offenses to be expelled, with or without
922 continuing educational services, from the student’s regular
923 school for a period of not less than 1 full year, and to be
924 referred to the criminal justice system or juvenile justice
925 system.
926 (a) Bringing a firearm or weapon, as defined in s. 790.001
927 or 18 U.S.C. s. 921 chapter 790, to school, to any school
928 function, or onto any school-sponsored transportation or
929 possessing a firearm at school.
930 (b) Making a threat or false report, as provided in defined
931 by ss. 790.162 and 790.163, respectively, involving school or
932 school personnel’s property, school transportation, or a school
933 sponsored activity.
934
935 A district school board boards may assign the student to a
936 disciplinary program for the purpose of continuing educational
937 services during the period of expulsion. A district school
938 superintendent superintendents may consider the 1-year expulsion
939 requirement on a case-by-case basis and request the district
940 school board to modify the requirement by assigning the student
941 to a disciplinary program or second chance school if the request
942 for modification is in writing and it is determined to be in the
943 best interest of the student and the school system. If a student
944 committing any of the offenses in this subsection is a student
945 who has a disability, the district school board shall comply
946 with applicable State Board of Education rules.
947 (5)(4)(a) Each district school board, in collaboration with
948 students, educators, parents, and stakeholders, shall enter into
949 cooperative agreements with the county sheriff’s office and
950 local police department specifying guidelines for ensuring that
951 acts that pose a serious threat to school safety, whether
952 committed by a student or adult, are reported to a law
953 enforcement agency. Such agreements must:
954 (a)(b) The agreements must Include the role of school
955 safety officers and school resource officers, if applicable, in
956 handling reported incidents that pose a serious threat to school
957 safety and, circumstances in which school officials may handle
958 incidents without filing a report with a law enforcement agency,
959 and a procedure for ensuring that school personnel properly
960 report appropriate delinquent acts and crimes.
961 (b)(c) Clarifying that Zero-tolerance policies do not
962 require the reporting of petty acts of misconduct and
963 misdemeanors may not be reported to a law enforcement agency,
964 including, but not limited to, disorderly conduct, loitering,
965 simple assault or battery, affray, theft of less than $300,
966 trespassing, and vandalism of less than $1,000, criminal
967 mischief, and other misdemeanors that do not pose a serious
968 threat to school safety. However, if a student commits more than
969 one misdemeanor, the threat assessment team must consult with
970 law enforcement to determine if the act should be reported to
971 law enforcement.
972 (c)(d) Clarify the role of the school principal in ensuring
973 shall ensure that all school personnel are properly informed of
974 as to their responsibilities regarding crime reporting, that
975 appropriate delinquent acts and crimes are properly reported,
976 and that actions taken in cases with special circumstances are
977 properly taken and documented.
978 (d) Specify training for each school resource officer and
979 school safety officer on school grounds to foster appropriate
980 and positive interactions with students in different stages of
981 mental, emotional, and physical development, and to implement
982 the range of interventions and school-based consequences that
983 should be used to avoid an arrest. Training must include, but is
984 not limited to, all the following:
985 1. Child and adolescent development and psychology.
986 2. Teaching students to respond in age-appropriate ways.
987 3. Cultural differences and unconscious bias.
988 4. Restorative justice practices.
989 5. Rights of students with disabilities and appropriate
990 responses to their behaviors.
991 6. Practices that improve the school climate.
992 7. The creation of safe environments for lesbian, gay,
993 bisexual, and transgender students.
994 (e) Include clear guidelines for selecting school resource
995 officers and school safety officers, who must meet all of the
996 following minimum qualifications:
997 1. Proficiency in verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
998 that include public speaking.
999 2. Knowledge and experience in matters involving cultural
1000 diversity and sensitivity.
1001 3. Training in best practices for working with students as
1002 specified in paragraph (d).
1003 4. Commitment to serving as a positive role model for
1004 students.
1005 5. Passion for and desire to interact positively with
1006 students.
1007 6. An employment record with no history of excessive force
1008 or racial bias.
1009 (f) Require a school district to annually review the cost
1010 and effectiveness of its school safety programs, including the
1011 use of school safety officers, school resource officers, and
1012 other security measures, to report its findings to the
1013 Department of Education by August 1 of each school year, and to
1014 use these findings to reevaluate and improve school safety
1015 programs.
1016 (6)(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each
1017 district school board shall adopt rules providing that a any
1018 student found to have committed an any offense in s. 784.081(1),
1019 (2), or (3) shall be expelled or placed in an alternative school
1020 setting or other program, as appropriate. Upon being charged
1021 with the offense, and pending disposition, the student shall be
1022 removed from the classroom immediately and placed in an
1023 alternative school setting pending disposition.
1024 (7)(a)(6)(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law
1025 prohibiting the disclosure of the identity of a minor, if a
1026 whenever any student who is attending a public school is
1027 adjudicated guilty of or delinquent for, or is found to have
1028 committed, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld, or
1029 pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony violation of:
1030 1. Chapter 782, relating to homicide;
1031 2. Chapter 784, relating to assault, battery, and culpable
1032 negligence;
1033 3. Chapter 787, relating to kidnapping, false imprisonment,
1034 luring or enticing a child, and custody offenses;
1035 4. Chapter 794, relating to sexual battery;
1036 5. Chapter 800, relating to lewdness and indecent exposure;
1037 6. Chapter 827, relating to abuse of children;
1038 7. Section 812.13, relating to robbery;
1039 8. Section 812.131, relating to robbery by sudden
1040 snatching;
1041 9. Section 812.133, relating to carjacking; or
1042 10. Section 812.135, relating to home-invasion robbery,
1043
1044 and, before or at the time of such adjudication, withholding of
1045 adjudication, or plea, the student offender was attending a
1046 school attended by the victim or a sibling of the victim of the
1047 offense, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall notify the
1048 appropriate district school board of the adjudication or plea,
1049 the requirements of in this paragraph, and whether the student
1050 offender is prohibited from attending that school or riding on a
1051 school bus if whenever the victim or a sibling of the victim is
1052 attending the same school or riding on the same school bus,
1053 except as provided pursuant to a written disposition order under
1054 s. 985.455(2). Upon receipt of such notice, the district school
1055 board shall take appropriate action to effectuate the provisions
1056 in paragraph (b).
1057 (b) Each district school board shall adopt a cooperative
1058 agreement with the Department of Juvenile Justice which
1059 establishes guidelines for ensuring that a any no contact order
1060 entered by a court is reported and enforced and that all of the
1061 necessary steps are taken to protect the victim of the offense.
1062 Any student offender described in paragraph (a), who is not
1063 exempt exempted as provided in paragraph (a), may not attend the
1064 any school attended by the victim or a sibling of the victim of
1065 the offense or ride on a school bus on which the victim or a
1066 sibling of the victim is riding. The offender shall be permitted
1067 by the district school board shall allow the student to attend
1068 another school within the district in which the student offender
1069 resides, only if the other school is not attended by the victim
1070 or a sibling of the victim. Another district school board may
1071 allow of the offense; or the student offender may be permitted
1072 by another district school board to attend a school in that
1073 district if the student offender is unable to attend any school
1074 in the district in which the student offender resides.
1075 (c) If the student offender is unable to attend any other
1076 school in the district in which the student offender resides and
1077 is prohibited from attending a school in another school
1078 district, the district school board in the school district in
1079 which the student offender resides shall take every reasonable
1080 precaution to keep the student offender separated from the
1081 victim while on school grounds or on school transportation. The
1082 steps to be taken by a district school board to keep the student
1083 offender separated from the victim must include, but are not
1084 limited to, in-school suspension of the student offender and the
1085 scheduling of classes, lunch, or other school activities of the
1086 victim and the student offender so as not to coincide.
1087 (d) The student offender, or the parents of the student
1088 offender if the student offender is a juvenile, shall arrange
1089 and pay for transportation associated with or required by the
1090 student offender’s attending another school or that would be
1091 required as a consequence of the prohibition against riding on a
1092 school bus on which the victim or a sibling of the victim is
1093 riding. If the student is experiencing homelessness as described
1094 in s. 1003.01(12) or belongs to a family whose income does not
1095 exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level, the school
1096 district shall arrange and pay for the transportation. However,
1097 The student offender or the parents of the student offender may
1098 not be charged for existing modes of transportation that can be
1099 used by the student offender at no additional cost to the
1100 district school board.
1101 (8)(7) Any disciplinary or prosecutorial action taken
1102 against a student who violates the a zero-tolerance policy on
1103 referrals to the criminal justice or juvenile justice system
1104 must be based on the particular circumstances of the student’s
1105 misconduct.
1106 (9)(8) A threat assessment team shall may use alternatives
1107 to expulsion or referral to a law enforcement agency agencies
1108 unless the use of such alternatives will pose a threat to school
1109 safety. By August 1 of each year, a school district shall
1110 provide to the department all policies and agreements adopted or
1111 implemented pursuant to this section.
1112 (10) To assist a school district in developing policies
1113 that ensure students are not arrested or otherwise referred to
1114 the criminal justice system or the juvenile justice system for
1115 petty acts of misconduct, the department shall, by March 1,
1116 2020, in collaboration with students, educators, parents, and
1117 stakeholders, develop and provide to each school district a
1118 model policy.
1119 (11) On or before January 1 of each year, the Commissioner
1120 of Education shall report to the Governor, the President of the
1121 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the
1122 implementation of this section. The report must include data
1123 regarding school-based arrests and referrals of students to law
1124 enforcement agencies.
1125 Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5) of section
1126 16.555, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1127 16.555 Crime Stoppers Trust Fund; rulemaking.—
1128 (5)
1129 (d) Grants may be awarded to fund student crime watch
1130 programs pursuant to s. 1006.07(3).
1131 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section
1132 1001.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1133 1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
1134 district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
1135 powers and perform all duties listed below:
1136 (8) STUDENT WELFARE.—
1137 (a) In accordance with the provisions of chapters 1003 and
1138 1006, provide for the proper accounting for all students of
1139 school age, for the attendance and discipline control of
1140 students at school, and for proper attention to health, safety,
1141 and other matters relating to the welfare of students.
1142 Section 7. Subsection (5) of section 1002.20, Florida
1143 Statutes, is amended to read:
1144 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
1145 school students must receive accurate and timely information
1146 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
1147 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
1148 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
1149 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
1150 (5) SAFETY.—In accordance with s. 1006.13(7) the provisions
1151 of s. 1006.13(6), students who have been victims of certain
1152 felony offenses by other students, as well as the siblings of
1153 the student victims, have the right to be kept separated from
1154 the student offender both at school and during school
1155 transportation.
1156 Section 8. Subsection (5) of section 1002.23, Florida
1157 Statutes, is amended to read:
1158 1002.23 Family and School Partnership for Student
1159 Achievement Act.—
1160 (5) Each school district shall develop and disseminate a
1161 parent guide to successful student achievement, consistent with
1162 the guidelines of the Department of Education, which addresses
1163 what parents need to know about their child’s educational
1164 progress and how parents can help their child to succeed in
1165 school. The guide must:
1166 (a) Be understandable to students and parents;
1167 (b) Be distributed to all parents, students, and school
1168 personnel at the beginning of each school year;
1169 (c) Be discussed at the beginning of each school year in
1170 meetings of students, parents, and teachers;
1171 (d) Include information concerning services, opportunities,
1172 choices, academic standards, and student assessment; and
1173 (e) Provide information on the importance of student health
1174 and available immunizations and vaccinations, including, but not
1175 limited to:
1176 1. A recommended immunization schedule in accordance with
1177 United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1178 recommendations.
1179 2. Detailed information regarding the causes, symptoms, and
1180 transmission of meningococcal disease and the availability,
1181 effectiveness, known contraindications, and appropriate age for
1182 the administration of any required or recommended vaccine
1183 against meningococcal disease, in accordance with the
1184 recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization
1185 Practices of the United States Centers for Disease Control and
1186 Prevention.
1187
1188 The parent guide described in this subsection may be included as
1189 a part of the standards for intervention under s. 1006.07 code
1190 of student conduct that is required in s. 1006.07(2).
1191 Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
1192 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1193 1002.33 Charter schools.—
1194 (7) CHARTER.—The terms and conditions for the operation of
1195 a charter school shall be set forth by the sponsor and the
1196 applicant in a written contractual agreement, called a charter.
1197 The sponsor and the governing board of the charter school shall
1198 use the standard charter contract pursuant to subsection (21),
1199 which shall incorporate the approved application and any addenda
1200 approved with the application. Any term or condition of a
1201 proposed charter contract that differs from the standard charter
1202 contract adopted by rule of the State Board of Education shall
1203 be presumed a limitation on charter school flexibility. The
1204 sponsor may not impose unreasonable rules or regulations that
1205 violate the intent of giving charter schools greater flexibility
1206 to meet educational goals. The charter shall be signed by the
1207 governing board of the charter school and the sponsor, following
1208 a public hearing to ensure community input.
1209 (a) The charter shall address and criteria for approval of
1210 the charter shall be based on:
1211 1. The school’s mission, the students to be served, and the
1212 ages and grades to be included.
1213 2. The focus of the curriculum, the instructional methods
1214 to be used, any distinctive instructional techniques to be
1215 employed, and identification and acquisition of appropriate
1216 technologies needed to improve educational and administrative
1217 performance which include a means for promoting safe, ethical,
1218 and appropriate uses of technology which comply with legal and
1219 professional standards.
1220 a. The charter shall ensure that reading is a primary focus
1221 of the curriculum and that resources are provided to identify
1222 and provide specialized instruction for students who are reading
1223 below grade level. The curriculum and instructional strategies
1224 for reading must be consistent with the Next Generation Sunshine
1225 State Standards and grounded in scientifically based reading
1226 research.
1227 b. In order to provide students with access to diverse
1228 instructional delivery models, to facilitate the integration of
1229 technology within traditional classroom instruction, and to
1230 provide students with the skills they need to compete in the
1231 21st century economy, the Legislature encourages instructional
1232 methods for blended learning courses consisting of both
1233 traditional classroom and online instructional techniques.
1234 Charter schools may implement blended learning courses which
1235 combine traditional classroom instruction and virtual
1236 instruction. Students in a blended learning course must be full
1237 time students of the charter school pursuant to s.
1238 1011.61(1)(a)1. Instructional personnel certified pursuant to s.
1239 1012.55 who provide virtual instruction for blended learning
1240 courses may be employees of the charter school or may be under
1241 contract to provide instructional services to charter school
1242 students. At a minimum, such instructional personnel must hold
1243 an active state or school district adjunct certification under
1244 s. 1012.57 for the subject area of the blended learning course.
1245 The funding and performance accountability requirements for
1246 blended learning courses are the same as those for traditional
1247 courses.
1248 3. The current incoming baseline standard of student
1249 academic achievement, the outcomes to be achieved, and the
1250 method of measurement that will be used. The criteria listed in
1251 this subparagraph shall include a detailed description of:
1252 a. How the baseline student academic achievement levels and
1253 prior rates of academic progress will be established.
1254 b. How these baseline rates will be compared to rates of
1255 academic progress achieved by these same students while
1256 attending the charter school.
1257 c. To the extent possible, how these rates of progress will
1258 be evaluated and compared with rates of progress of other
1259 closely comparable student populations.
1260
1261 The district school board is required to provide academic
1262 student performance data to charter schools for each of their
1263 students coming from the district school system, as well as
1264 rates of academic progress of comparable student populations in
1265 the district school system.
1266 4. The methods used to identify the educational strengths
1267 and needs of students and how well educational goals and
1268 performance standards are met by students attending the charter
1269 school. The methods shall provide a means for the charter school
1270 to ensure accountability to its constituents by analyzing
1271 student performance data and by evaluating the effectiveness and
1272 efficiency of its major educational programs. Students in
1273 charter schools shall, at a minimum, participate in the
1274 statewide assessment program created under s. 1008.22.
1275 5. In secondary charter schools, a method for determining
1276 that a student has satisfied the requirements for graduation in
1277 s. 1002.3105(5), s. 1003.4281, or s. 1003.4282.
1278 6. A method for resolving conflicts between the governing
1279 board of the charter school and the sponsor.
1280 7. The admissions procedures and dismissal procedures,
1281 including the school’s standards of intervention code of student
1282 conduct. Admission or dismissal must not be based on a student’s
1283 academic performance.
1284 8. The ways by which the school will achieve a
1285 racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or
1286 within the racial/ethnic range of other public schools in the
1287 same school district.
1288 9. The financial and administrative management of the
1289 school, including a reasonable demonstration of the professional
1290 experience or competence of those individuals or organizations
1291 applying to operate the charter school or those hired or
1292 retained to perform such professional services and the
1293 description of clearly delineated responsibilities and the
1294 policies and practices needed to effectively manage the charter
1295 school. A description of internal audit procedures and
1296 establishment of controls to ensure that financial resources are
1297 properly managed must be included. Both public sector and
1298 private sector professional experience shall be equally valid in
1299 such a consideration.
1300 10. The asset and liability projections required in the
1301 application which are incorporated into the charter and shall be
1302 compared with information provided in the annual report of the
1303 charter school.
1304 11. A description of procedures that identify various risks
1305 and provide for a comprehensive approach to reduce the impact of
1306 losses; plans to ensure the safety and security of students and
1307 staff; plans to identify, minimize, and protect others from
1308 violent or disruptive student behavior; and the manner in which
1309 the school will be insured, including whether or not the school
1310 will be required to have liability insurance, and, if so, the
1311 terms and conditions thereof and the amounts of coverage.
1312 12. The term of the charter which shall provide for
1313 cancellation of the charter if insufficient progress has been
1314 made in attaining the student achievement objectives of the
1315 charter and if it is not likely that such objectives can be
1316 achieved before expiration of the charter. The initial term of a
1317 charter shall be for 5 years, excluding 2 planning years. In
1318 order to facilitate access to long-term financial resources for
1319 charter school construction, charter schools that are operated
1320 by a municipality or other public entity as provided by law are
1321 eligible for up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by the
1322 district school board. A charter lab school is eligible for a
1323 charter for a term of up to 15 years. In addition, to facilitate
1324 access to long-term financial resources for charter school
1325 construction, charter schools that are operated by a private,
1326 not-for-profit, s. 501(c)(3) status corporation are eligible for
1327 up to a 15-year charter, subject to approval by the district
1328 school board. Such long-term charters remain subject to annual
1329 review and may be terminated during the term of the charter, but
1330 only according to the provisions set forth in subsection (8).
1331 13. The facilities to be used and their location. The
1332 sponsor may not require a charter school to have a certificate
1333 of occupancy or a temporary certificate of occupancy for such a
1334 facility earlier than 15 calendar days before the first day of
1335 school.
1336 14. The qualifications to be required of the teachers and
1337 the potential strategies used to recruit, hire, train, and
1338 retain qualified staff to achieve best value.
1339 15. The governance structure of the school, including the
1340 status of the charter school as a public or private employer as
1341 required in paragraph (12)(i).
1342 16. A timetable for implementing the charter which
1343 addresses the implementation of each element thereof and the
1344 date by which the charter shall be awarded in order to meet this
1345 timetable.
1346 17. In the case of an existing public school that is being
1347 converted to charter status, alternative arrangements for
1348 current students who choose not to attend the charter school and
1349 for current teachers who choose not to teach in the charter
1350 school after conversion in accordance with the existing
1351 collective bargaining agreement or district school board rule in
1352 the absence of a collective bargaining agreement. However,
1353 alternative arrangements shall not be required for current
1354 teachers who choose not to teach in a charter lab school, except
1355 as authorized by the employment policies of the state university
1356 which grants the charter to the lab school.
1357 18. Full disclosure of the identity of all relatives
1358 employed by the charter school who are related to the charter
1359 school owner, president, chairperson of the governing board of
1360 directors, superintendent, governing board member, principal,
1361 assistant principal, or any other person employed by the charter
1362 school who has equivalent decisionmaking authority. For the
1363 purpose of this subparagraph, the term “relative” means father,
1364 mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first
1365 cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in
1366 law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,
1367 stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother,
1368 stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
1369 19. Implementation of the activities authorized under s.
1370 1002.331 by the charter school when it satisfies the eligibility
1371 requirements for a high-performing charter school. A high
1372 performing charter school shall notify its sponsor in writing by
1373 March 1 if it intends to increase enrollment or expand grade
1374 levels the following school year. The written notice shall
1375 specify the amount of the enrollment increase and the grade
1376 levels that will be added, as applicable.
1377 Section 10. Paragraph (d) of subsection (8) of section
1378 1002.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1379 1002.40 The Hope Scholarship Program.—
1380 (8) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS.—The department
1381 shall:
1382 (d) Contract with an independent entity to provide an
1383 annual evaluation of the program by:
1384 1. Reviewing the school bullying prevention education
1385 program, climate, and standards for intervention code of student
1386 conduct of each public school from which 10 or more students
1387 transferred to another public school or private school using the
1388 Hope scholarship to determine areas in the school or school
1389 district procedures involving reporting, investigating, and
1390 communicating a parent’s and student’s rights that are in need
1391 of improvement. At a minimum, the review must include:
1392 a. An assessment of the investigation time and quality of
1393 the response of the school and the school district.
1394 b. An assessment of the effectiveness of communication
1395 procedures with the students involved in an incident, the
1396 students’ parents, and the school and school district personnel.
1397 c. An analysis of school incident and discipline data.
1398 d. The challenges and obstacles relating to implementing
1399 recommendations from the review.
1400 2. Reviewing the school bullying prevention education
1401 program, climate, and standards for intervention code of student
1402 conduct of each public school to which a student transferred if
1403 the student was from a school identified in subparagraph 1. in
1404 order to identify best practices and make recommendations to a
1405 public school at which the incidents occurred.
1406 3. Reviewing the performance of participating students
1407 enrolled in a private school in which at least 51 percent of the
1408 total enrolled students in the prior school year participated in
1409 the program and in which there are at least 10 participating
1410 students who have scores for tests administered.
1411 4. Surveying the parents of participating students to
1412 determine academic, safety, and school climate satisfaction and
1413 to identify any challenges to or obstacles in addressing the
1414 incident or relating to the use of the scholarship.
1415 Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 1003.02, Florida
1416 Statutes, is amended to read:
1417 1003.02 District school board operation and control of
1418 public K-12 education within the school district.—As provided in
1419 part II of chapter 1001, district school boards are
1420 constitutionally and statutorily charged with the operation and
1421 control of public K-12 education within their school district.
1422 The district school boards must establish, organize, and operate
1423 their public K-12 schools and educational programs, employees,
1424 and facilities. Their responsibilities include staff
1425 development, public K-12 school student education including
1426 education for exceptional students and students in juvenile
1427 justice programs, special programs, adult education programs,
1428 and career education programs. Additionally, district school
1429 boards must:
1430 (1) Provide for the proper accounting for all students of
1431 school age, for the attendance and discipline control of
1432 students at school, and for proper attention to health, safety,
1433 and other matters relating to the welfare of students in the
1434 following areas:
1435 (a) Admission, classification, promotion, and graduation of
1436 students.—Adopt rules for admitting, classifying, promoting, and
1437 graduating students to or from the various schools of the
1438 district.
1439 (b) Enforcement of attendance laws.—Provide for the
1440 enforcement of all laws and rules relating to the attendance of
1441 students at school. District school boards are authorized to
1442 establish policies that allow accumulated unexcused tardies,
1443 regardless of when they occur during the school day, and early
1444 departures from school to be recorded as unexcused absences.
1445 District school boards are also authorized to establish policies
1446 that require referral to a school’s child study team for
1447 students who have fewer absences than the number required by s.
1448 1003.26(1)(b).
1449 (c) Discipline Control of students.—
1450 1. Adopt rules for the control, attendance, discipline, in
1451 school suspension, suspension, and expulsion of students and
1452 decide all cases recommended for expulsion.
1453 2. Maintain standards for intervention a code of student
1454 conduct as provided in chapter 1006.
1455 (d) Courses of study and instructional materials.—
1456 1. Provide adequate instructional materials for all
1457 students as follows and in accordance with the requirements of
1458 chapter 1006, in the core courses of mathematics, language arts,
1459 social studies, science, reading, and literature, except for
1460 instruction for which the school advisory council approves the
1461 use of a program that does not include a textbook as a major
1462 tool of instruction.
1463 2. Adopt courses of study for use in the schools of the
1464 district.
1465 3. Provide for proper requisitioning, distribution,
1466 accounting, storage, care, and use of all instructional
1467 materials as may be needed, and ensure that instructional
1468 materials used in the district are consistent with the district
1469 goals and objectives and the course descriptions approved by the
1470 State Board of Education, as well as with the state and school
1471 district performance standards required by law and state board
1472 rule.
1473 (e) Transportation.—Make provision for the transportation
1474 of students to the public schools or school activities they are
1475 required or expected to attend, efficiently and economically, in
1476 accordance with the requirements of chapter 1006, which function
1477 may be accomplished, in whole or part, by means of an interlocal
1478 agreement under s. 163.01.
1479 (f) Facilities and school plant.—
1480 1. Approve and adopt a districtwide school facilities
1481 program, in accordance with the requirements of chapter 1013.
1482 2. Approve plans for locating, planning, constructing,
1483 sanitating, insuring, maintaining, protecting, and condemning
1484 school property as prescribed in chapter 1013.
1485 3. Approve and adopt a districtwide school building
1486 program.
1487 4. Select and purchase school sites, playgrounds, and
1488 recreational areas located at centers at which schools are to be
1489 constructed, of adequate size to meet the needs of projected
1490 students to be accommodated.
1491 5. Approve the proposed purchase of any site, playground,
1492 or recreational area for which school district funds are to be
1493 used.
1494 6. Expand existing sites.
1495 7. Rent buildings when necessary, which function may be
1496 accomplished, in whole or part, by means of an interlocal
1497 agreement under s. 163.01.
1498 8. Enter into leases or lease-purchase arrangements, in
1499 accordance with the requirements and conditions provided in s.
1500 1013.15(2).
1501 9. Provide for the proper supervision of construction.
1502 10. Make or contract for additions, alterations, and
1503 repairs on buildings and other school properties.
1504 11. Ensure that all plans and specifications for buildings
1505 provide adequately for the safety and well-being of students, as
1506 well as for economy of construction.
1507 12. Provide adequately for the proper maintenance and
1508 upkeep of school plants, which function may be accomplished, in
1509 whole or part, by means of an interlocal agreement under s.
1510 163.01.
1511 13. Carry insurance on every school building in all school
1512 plants including contents, boilers, and machinery, except
1513 buildings of three classrooms or less which are of frame
1514 construction and located in a tenth class public protection zone
1515 as defined by the Florida Inspection and Rating Bureau, and on
1516 all school buses and other property under the control of the
1517 district school board or title to which is vested in the
1518 district school board, except as exceptions may be authorized
1519 under rules of the State Board of Education.
1520 14. Condemn and prohibit the use for public school purposes
1521 of any building under the control of the district school board.
1522 (g) School operation.—
1523 1. Provide for the operation of all public schools as free
1524 schools for a term of 180 days or the equivalent on an hourly
1525 basis as specified by rules of the State Board of Education;
1526 determine district school funds necessary in addition to state
1527 funds to operate all schools for the minimum term; and arrange
1528 for the levying of district school taxes necessary to provide
1529 the amount needed from district sources.
1530 2. Prepare, adopt, and timely submit to the Department of
1531 Education, as required by law and by rules of the State Board of
1532 Education, the annual school budget, so as to promote the
1533 improvement of the district school system.
1534 (h) Records and reports.—
1535 1. Keep all necessary records and make all needed and
1536 required reports, as required by law or by rules of the State
1537 Board of Education.
1538 2. At regular intervals require reports to be made by
1539 principals or teachers in all public schools to the parents of
1540 the students enrolled and in attendance at their schools,
1541 apprising them of the academic and other progress being made by
1542 the student and giving other useful information.
1543 (i) Parental notification of acceleration options.—At the
1544 beginning of each school year, notify parents of students in or
1545 entering high school of the opportunity and benefits of advanced
1546 placement, International Baccalaureate, Advanced International
1547 Certificate of Education, dual enrollment, and Florida Virtual
1548 School courses and options for early graduation under s.
1549 1003.4281.
1550 (j) Return on investment.—Notify the parent of a student
1551 who earns an industry certification that articulates for
1552 postsecondary credit of the estimated cost savings to the parent
1553 before the student’s high school graduation versus the cost of
1554 acquiring such certification after high school graduation, which
1555 would include the tuition and fees associated with available
1556 postsecondary credits. Also, the student and the parent must be
1557 informed of any additional industry certifications available to
1558 the student.
1559 Section 12. Section 1003.32, Florida Statutes, is amended
1560 to read:
1561 1003.32 Authority of teacher; responsibility for discipline
1562 control of students; district school board and principal
1563 duties.—Subject to law and to the rules of the district school
1564 board, each teacher or other member of the staff of any school
1565 shall have such authority for the control and discipline of
1566 students as may be assigned to him or her by the principal or
1567 the principal’s designated representative and shall keep good
1568 order in the classroom and in other places in which he or she is
1569 assigned to be in charge of students.
1570 (1) In accordance with this section and within the
1571 framework of the district school board’s standards for
1572 intervention code of student conduct, teachers and other
1573 instructional personnel shall have the authority to undertake
1574 any of the following actions in managing student behavior and
1575 ensuring the safety of all students in their classes and school
1576 and their opportunity to learn in an orderly and disciplined
1577 classroom:
1578 (a) Establish classroom rules of conduct.
1579 (b) Establish and implement consequences, designed to
1580 change behavior, for infractions of classroom rules.
1581 (c) Have disobedient, disrespectful, violent, abusive,
1582 uncontrollable, or disruptive students removed from the
1583 classroom for behavior management intervention.
1584 (d) Have violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive
1585 students directed for information or assistance from appropriate
1586 school or district school board personnel.
1587 (e) Assist in enforcing school rules on school property,
1588 during school-sponsored transportation, and during school
1589 sponsored activities.
1590 (f) Request and receive information as to the disposition
1591 of any referrals to the administration for violation of
1592 classroom or school rules.
1593 (g) Request and receive immediate assistance in classroom
1594 management if a student becomes uncontrollable or in case of
1595 emergency.
1596 (h) Request and receive training and other assistance to
1597 improve skills in classroom management, violence prevention,
1598 conflict resolution, and related areas.
1599 (i) Press charges if there is a reason to believe that a
1600 crime has been committed on school property, during school
1601 sponsored transportation, or during school-sponsored activities.
1602 (j) Use reasonable force, according to standards adopted by
1603 the State Board of Education, to protect himself or herself or
1604 others from injury.
1605 (k) Use corporal punishment according to school board
1606 policy and at least the following procedures, if a teacher feels
1607 that corporal punishment is necessary:
1608 1. The use of corporal punishment shall be approved in
1609 principle by the principal before it is used, but approval is
1610 not necessary for each specific instance in which it is used.
1611 The principal shall prepare guidelines for administering such
1612 punishment which identify the types of punishable offenses, the
1613 conditions under which the punishment shall be administered, and
1614 the specific personnel on the school staff authorized to
1615 administer the punishment.
1616 2. A teacher or principal may administer corporal
1617 punishment only in the presence of another adult who is informed
1618 beforehand, and in the student’s presence, of the reason for the
1619 punishment.
1620 3. A teacher or principal who has administered punishment
1621 shall, upon request, provide the student’s parent with a written
1622 explanation of the reason for the punishment and the name of the
1623 other adult who was present.
1624 (2) Teachers and other instructional personnel shall:
1625 (a) Set and enforce reasonable classroom rules that treat
1626 all students equitably.
1627 (b) Seek professional development to improve classroom
1628 management skills when data show that they are not effective in
1629 handling minor classroom disruptions.
1630 (c) Maintain an orderly and disciplined classroom with a
1631 positive and effective learning environment that maximizes
1632 learning and minimizes disruption.
1633 (d) Work with parents and other school personnel to solve
1634 discipline problems in their classrooms.
1635 (3) A teacher may send a student to the principal’s office
1636 to maintain effective discipline in the classroom and may
1637 recommend an appropriate consequence consistent with the
1638 standards for intervention student code of conduct under s.
1639 1006.07. The principal shall respond by employing the teacher’s
1640 recommended consequence or a more serious disciplinary action if
1641 the student’s history of disruptive behavior warrants it. If the
1642 principal determines that a lesser disciplinary action is
1643 appropriate, the principal should consult with the teacher
1644 before prior to taking disciplinary action.
1645 (4) A teacher may remove from class a student whose
1646 behavior the teacher determines interferes with the teacher’s
1647 ability to communicate effectively with the students in the
1648 class or with the ability of the student’s classmates to learn.
1649 Each district school board, each district school superintendent,
1650 and each school principal shall support the authority of
1651 teachers to remove disobedient, violent, abusive,
1652 uncontrollable, or disruptive students from the classroom.
1653 (5) If a teacher removes a student from class under
1654 subsection (4), the principal may place the student in another
1655 appropriate classroom, in in-school suspension, or in a dropout
1656 prevention and academic intervention program as provided by s.
1657 1003.53; or the principal may recommend the student for out-of
1658 school suspension or expulsion, as appropriate. The student may
1659 be prohibited from attending or participating in school
1660 sponsored or school-related activities. The principal may not
1661 return the student to that teacher’s class without the teacher’s
1662 consent unless the committee established under subsection (6)
1663 determines that such placement is the best or only available
1664 alternative. The teacher and the placement review committee must
1665 render decisions within 5 days after of the removal of the
1666 student from the classroom.
1667 (6)(a) Each school shall establish a placement review
1668 committee to determine placement of a student when a teacher
1669 withholds consent to the return of a student to the teacher’s
1670 class. A school principal must notify each teacher in that
1671 school about the availability, the procedures, and the criteria
1672 for the placement review committee as outlined in this section.
1673 (b) The principal must report on a quarterly basis to the
1674 district school superintendent and district school board each
1675 incidence of a teacher’s withholding consent for a removed
1676 student to return to the teacher’s class and the disposition of
1677 the incident, and the superintendent must annually report these
1678 data to the department.
1679 (c) The Commissioner of Education shall annually review
1680 each school district’s compliance with this section, and success
1681 in achieving orderly classrooms, and shall use all appropriate
1682 enforcement actions up to and including the withholding of
1683 disbursements from the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund until
1684 full compliance is verified.
1685 (d) Placement review committee membership must include at
1686 least the following:
1687 1. Two teachers, one selected by the school’s faculty and
1688 one selected by the teacher who has removed the student.
1689 2. One member from the school’s staff who is selected by
1690 the principal.
1691
1692 The teacher who withheld consent to readmitting the student may
1693 not serve on the committee. The teacher and the placement review
1694 committee must render decisions within 5 days after the removal
1695 of the student from the classroom. If the placement review
1696 committee’s decision is contrary to the decision of the teacher
1697 to withhold consent to the return of the removed student to the
1698 teacher’s class, the teacher may appeal the committee’s decision
1699 to the district school superintendent.
1700 (7) Any teacher who removes 25 percent of his or her total
1701 class enrollment shall be required to complete professional
1702 development to improve classroom management skills.
1703 (8) Each teacher or other member of the staff of any school
1704 who knows or has reason to suspect that any person has
1705 committed, or has made a credible threat to commit, a crime of
1706 violence on school property shall report such knowledge or
1707 suspicion in accordance with the provisions of s. 1006.13. Each
1708 district school superintendent and each school principal shall
1709 fully support good faith reporting in accordance with the
1710 provisions of this subsection and s. 1006.13. Any person who
1711 makes a report required by this subsection in good faith shall
1712 be immune from civil or criminal liability for making the
1713 report.
1714 (9) When knowledgeable of the likely risk of physical
1715 violence in the schools, the district school board shall take
1716 reasonable steps to ensure that teachers, other school staff,
1717 and students are not at undue risk of violence or harm.
1718 Section 13. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of
1719 section 1003.53, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1720 1003.53 Dropout prevention and academic intervention.—
1721 (1)
1722 (c) A student shall be identified as being eligible to
1723 receive services funded through the dropout prevention and
1724 academic intervention program based upon one of the following
1725 criteria:
1726 1. The student is academically unsuccessful as evidenced by
1727 low test scores, retention, failing grades, low grade point
1728 average, falling behind in earning credits, or not meeting the
1729 state or district proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, or
1730 writing.
1731 2. The student has a pattern of excessive absenteeism or
1732 has been identified as a habitual truant.
1733 3. The student has a history of disruptive behavior in
1734 school or has committed an offense that warrants out-of-school
1735 suspension or expulsion from school according to the district
1736 school board’s standards for intervention code of student
1737 conduct. For the purposes of this program, the term “disruptive
1738 behavior” means is behavior that:
1739 a. Interferes with the student’s own learning or the
1740 educational process of others and requires attention and
1741 assistance beyond that which the traditional program can provide
1742 or results in frequent conflicts of a disruptive nature while
1743 the student is under the jurisdiction of the school either in or
1744 out of the classroom; or
1745 b. Severely threatens the general welfare of students or
1746 others with whom the student comes into contact.
1747 4. The student is identified by a school’s early warning
1748 system pursuant to s. 1001.42(18)(b).
1749 (d)1. “Second chance schools” means district school board
1750 programs provided through cooperative agreements between the
1751 Department of Juvenile Justice, private providers, state or
1752 local law enforcement agencies, or other state agencies for
1753 students who have been disruptive or violent or who have
1754 committed serious offenses. As partnership programs, second
1755 chance schools are eligible for waivers by the Commissioner of
1756 Education from State Board of Education rules that prevent the
1757 provision of appropriate educational services to violent,
1758 severely disruptive, or delinquent students in small
1759 nontraditional settings or in court-adjudicated settings.
1760 2. District school boards seeking to enter into a
1761 partnership with a private entity or public entity to operate a
1762 second chance school for disruptive students may apply to the
1763 Department of Education for startup grants. These grants must be
1764 available for 1 year and must be used to offset the startup
1765 costs for implementing such programs off public school campuses.
1766 General operating funds must be generated through the
1767 appropriate programs of the Florida Education Finance Program.
1768 Grants approved under this program shall be for the full
1769 operation of the school by a private nonprofit or for-profit
1770 provider or the public entity. This program must operate under
1771 rules adopted by the State Board of Education and be implemented
1772 to the extent funded by the Legislature.
1773 3. A student enrolled in a sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth,
1774 or tenth grade class may be assigned to a second chance school
1775 if the student meets the following criteria:
1776 a. The student is a habitual truant as defined in s.
1777 1003.01.
1778 b. The student’s excessive absences have detrimentally
1779 affected the student’s academic progress and the student may
1780 have unique needs that a traditional school setting may not
1781 meet.
1782 c. The student’s high incidences of truancy have been
1783 directly linked to a lack of motivation.
1784 d. The student has been identified as at risk of dropping
1785 out of school.
1786 4. A student who is habitually truant may be assigned to a
1787 second chance school only if the case staffing committee,
1788 established pursuant to s. 984.12, determines that such
1789 placement could be beneficial to the student and the criteria
1790 included in subparagraph 3. are met.
1791 5. A student may be assigned to a second chance school if
1792 the district school board in which the student resides has a
1793 second chance school and if the student meets one of the
1794 following criteria:
1795 a. The student habitually exhibits disruptive behavior in
1796 violation of the standards for intervention code of student
1797 conduct adopted by the district school board.
1798 b. The student interferes with the student’s own learning
1799 or the educational process of others and requires attention and
1800 assistance beyond that which the traditional program can
1801 provide, or, while the student is under the jurisdiction of the
1802 school either in or out of the classroom, frequent conflicts of
1803 a disruptive nature occur.
1804 c. The student has committed a serious offense which
1805 warrants suspension or expulsion from school according to the
1806 district school board’s standards for intervention code of
1807 student conduct. For the purposes of this program, the term
1808 “serious offense” means is behavior that which:
1809 (I) Threatens the general welfare of students or others
1810 with whom the student comes into contact;
1811 (II) Includes violence;
1812 (III) Includes possession of weapons or drugs; or
1813 (IV) Is harassment or verbal abuse of school personnel or
1814 other students.
1815 6. Before prior to assignment of students to second chance
1816 schools, district school boards are encouraged to use
1817 alternative programs, such as in-school suspension, which
1818 provide instruction and counseling leading to improved student
1819 behavior, a reduction in the incidence of truancy, and the
1820 development of more effective interpersonal skills.
1821 7. Students assigned to second chance schools must be
1822 evaluated by the district school board’s child study team before
1823 placement in a second chance school. The study team shall ensure
1824 that students are not eligible for placement in a program for
1825 emotionally disturbed children.
1826 8. Students who exhibit academic and social progress and
1827 who wish to return to a traditional school shall complete a
1828 character development and law education program and demonstrate
1829 preparedness to reenter the regular school setting before prior
1830 to reentering a traditional school.
1831 Section 14. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
1832 1003.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1833 1003.57 Exceptional students instruction.—
1834 (1)
1835 (h) School personnel may consider any unique circumstances
1836 on a case-by-case basis when determining whether a change in
1837 placement is appropriate for a student who has a disability and
1838 violates a district school board’s standards for intervention
1839 code of student conduct. School personnel may remove and place
1840 such student in an interim alternative educational setting for
1841 not more than 45 school days, without regard to whether the
1842 behavior is determined to be a manifestation of the student’s
1843 disability, if the student:
1844 1. Carries a weapon to or possesses a weapon at school, on
1845 school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction
1846 of the school district;
1847 2. Knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs, or sells or
1848 solicits the sale of a controlled substance, while at school, on
1849 school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction
1850 of the school district; or
1851 3. Has inflicted serious bodily injury upon another person
1852 while at school, on school premises, or at a school function
1853 under the jurisdiction of the school district.
1854 Section 15. Subsection (1) of section 1006.08, Florida
1855 Statutes, is amended to read:
1856 1006.08 District school superintendent duties relating to
1857 student discipline and school safety.—
1858 (1) The district school superintendent shall recommend
1859 plans to the district school board for the proper accounting for
1860 all students of school age, for the attendance and discipline
1861 control of students at school, and for the proper attention to
1862 health, safety, and other matters which will best promote the
1863 welfare of students. Each district school superintendent shall
1864 fully support the authority of his or her principals, teachers,
1865 and school bus drivers to remove disobedient, disrespectful,
1866 violent, abusive, uncontrollable, or disruptive students from
1867 the classroom and the school bus and, when appropriate and
1868 available, to place such students in an alternative educational
1869 setting. When the district school superintendent makes a
1870 recommendation for expulsion to the district school board, he or
1871 she shall give written notice to the student and the student’s
1872 parent of the recommendation, setting forth the charges against
1873 the student and advising the student and his or her parent of
1874 the student’s right to due process as prescribed by ss. 120.569
1875 and 120.57(2). When district school board action on a
1876 recommendation for the expulsion of a student is pending, the
1877 district school superintendent may extend the suspension
1878 assigned by the principal beyond 10 school days if such
1879 suspension period expires before the next regular or special
1880 meeting of the district school board.
1881 Section 16. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsection
1882 (4) of section 1006.09, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1883 1006.09 Duties of school principal relating to student
1884 discipline and school safety.—
1885 (1)
1886 (c) The principal or the principal’s designee may recommend
1887 to the district school superintendent the expulsion of any
1888 student who has committed a serious breach of conduct,
1889 including, but not limited to, willful disobedience, open
1890 defiance of authority of a member of his or her staff, violence
1891 against persons or property, or any other act which
1892 substantially disrupts the orderly conduct of the school. A
1893 recommendation of expulsion or assignment to a second chance
1894 school may also be made for any student found to have
1895 intentionally made false accusations that jeopardize the
1896 professional reputation, employment, or professional
1897 certification of a teacher or other member of the school staff,
1898 according to the district school board’s standards for
1899 intervention board code of student conduct. Any recommendation
1900 of expulsion must shall include a detailed report by the
1901 principal or the principal’s designated representative on the
1902 alternative measures taken before prior to the recommendation of
1903 expulsion.
1904 (4) When a student has been the victim of a violent crime
1905 perpetrated by another student who attends the same school, the
1906 school principal shall make full and effective use of the
1907 provisions of subsection (2) and s. 1006.13(7) s. 1006.13(6). A
1908 school principal who fails to comply with this subsection is
1909 shall be ineligible for any portion of the performance pay or
1910 the differentiated pay under s. 1012.22. However, if any party
1911 responsible for notification fails to properly notify the
1912 school, the school principal is shall be eligible for the
1913 performance pay or differentiated pay.
1914 Section 17. Subsection (2) of section 1006.10, Florida
1915 Statutes, is amended to read:
1916 1006.10 Authority of school bus drivers and district school
1917 boards relating to student discipline and student safety on
1918 school buses.—
1919 (2) The district school board shall require a system of
1920 progressive discipline of transported students for actions which
1921 are prohibited by the standards for intervention code of student
1922 conduct. Disciplinary actions, including suspension of students
1923 from riding on district school board owned or contracted school
1924 buses, shall be subject to district school board policies and
1925 procedures and may be imposed by the principal or the
1926 principal’s designee. The principal or the principal’s designee
1927 may delegate any disciplinary authority to school bus drivers
1928 except for suspension of students from riding the bus.
1929 Section 18. Paragraph (n) of subsection (4) of section
1930 1006.147, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1931 1006.147 Bullying and harassment prohibited.—
1932 (4) Each school district shall adopt and review at least
1933 every 3 years a policy prohibiting bullying and harassment of a
1934 student or employee of a public K-12 educational institution.
1935 Each school district’s policy shall be in substantial conformity
1936 with the Department of Education’s model policy. The school
1937 district bullying and harassment policy shall afford all
1938 students the same protection regardless of their status under
1939 the law. The school district may establish separate
1940 discrimination policies that include categories of students. The
1941 school district shall involve students, parents, teachers,
1942 administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community
1943 representatives, and local law enforcement agencies in the
1944 process of adopting and reviewing the policy. The school
1945 district policy must be implemented by each school principal in
1946 a manner that is ongoing throughout the school year and
1947 integrated with the school’s curriculum, bullying prevention and
1948 intervention program, discipline policies, and other violence
1949 prevention efforts. The school district policy must contain, at
1950 a minimum, the following components:
1951 (n) A procedure for publicizing the policy, which must
1952 include its publication in the standards for intervention code
1953 of student conduct required under s. 1006.07 s. 1006.07(2) and
1954 in all employee handbooks.
1955 Section 19. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1956 1006.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1957 1006.15 Student standards for participation in
1958 interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular student
1959 activities; regulation.—
1960 (3)(a) As used in this section and s. 1006.20, the term
1961 “eligible to participate” includes, but is not limited to, a
1962 student participating in tryouts, off-season conditioning,
1963 summer workouts, preseason conditioning, in-season practice, or
1964 contests. The term does not mean that a student must be placed
1965 on any specific team for interscholastic or intrascholastic
1966 extracurricular activities. To be eligible to participate in
1967 interscholastic extracurricular student activities, a student
1968 must:
1969 1. Maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0
1970 scale, or its equivalent, in the previous semester or a
1971 cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on a 4.0 scale,
1972 or its equivalent, in the courses required by s. 1002.3105(5) or
1973 s. 1003.4282.
1974 2. Execute and fulfill the requirements of an academic
1975 performance contract between the student, the district school
1976 board, the appropriate governing association, and the student’s
1977 parents, if the student’s cumulative grade point average falls
1978 below 2.0, or its equivalent, on a 4.0 scale in the courses
1979 required by s. 1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282. At a minimum, the
1980 contract must require that the student attend summer school, or
1981 its graded equivalent, between grades 9 and 10 or grades 10 and
1982 11, as necessary.
1983 3. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above on
1984 a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent, in the courses required by s.
1985 1002.3105(5) or s. 1003.4282 during his or her junior or senior
1986 year.
1987 4. Maintain satisfactory conduct, including adherence to
1988 the school’s appropriate dress code and other standards for
1989 intervention under s. 1006.07 codes of student conduct policies
1990 described in s. 1006.07(2). If a student is convicted of, or is
1991 found to have committed, a felony or a delinquent act that would
1992 have been a felony if committed by an adult, regardless of
1993 whether adjudication is withheld, the student’s participation in
1994 interscholastic extracurricular activities is contingent upon
1995 established and published district school board policy.
1996 Section 20. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
1997 section 1006.195, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1998 1006.195 District school board, charter school authority
1999 and responsibility to establish student eligibility regarding
2000 participation in interscholastic and intrascholastic
2001 extracurricular activities.—Notwithstanding any provision to the
2002 contrary in ss. 1006.15, 1006.18, and 1006.20, regarding student
2003 eligibility to participate in interscholastic and
2004 intrascholastic extracurricular activities:
2005 (1)(a) A district school board must establish, through its
2006 standards for intervention code of student conduct, student
2007 eligibility standards and related student disciplinary actions
2008 regarding student participation in interscholastic and
2009 intrascholastic extracurricular activities. The standards for
2010 intervention code of student conduct must provide that:
2011 1. A student not currently suspended from interscholastic
2012 or intrascholastic extracurricular activities, or suspended or
2013 expelled from school, pursuant to a district school board’s
2014 suspension or expulsion powers provided in law, including ss.
2015 1006.07, 1006.08, and 1006.09, is eligible to participate in
2016 interscholastic and intrascholastic extracurricular activities.
2017 2. A student may not participate in a sport if the student
2018 participated in that same sport at another school during that
2019 school year, unless the student meets the criteria in s.
2020 1006.15(3)(h).
2021 3. A student’s eligibility to participate in any
2022 interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activity may
2023 not be affected by any alleged recruiting violation until final
2024 disposition of the allegation pursuant to s. 1006.20(2)(b).
2025 (b) Students who participate in interscholastic and
2026 intrascholastic extracurricular activities for, but are not
2027 enrolled in, a public school pursuant to s. 1006.15(3)(c)-(e)
2028 and (8), are subject to the district school board’s standards
2029 for intervention code of student conduct for the limited purpose
2030 of establishing and maintaining the student’s eligibility to
2031 participate at the school.
2032 Section 21. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
2033 1007.271, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2034 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
2035 (5)
2036 (b) Each president, or designee, of a postsecondary
2037 institution offering a college credit dual enrollment course
2038 must:
2039 1. Provide a copy of the institution’s current faculty or
2040 adjunct faculty handbook to all faculty members teaching a dual
2041 enrollment course.
2042 2. Provide to all faculty members teaching a dual
2043 enrollment course a copy of the institution’s current student
2044 handbook, which may include, but is not limited to, information
2045 on registration policies, the standards for intervention student
2046 code of conduct, grading policies, and critical dates.
2047 3. Designate an individual or individuals to observe all
2048 faculty members teaching a dual enrollment course, regardless of
2049 the location of instruction.
2050 4. Use the same criteria to evaluate faculty members
2051 teaching a dual enrollment course as the criteria used to
2052 evaluate all other faculty members.
2053 5. Provide course plans and objectives to all faculty
2054 members teaching a dual enrollment course.
2055 Section 22. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
2056 1012.98, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2057 1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
2058 (4) The Department of Education, school districts, schools,
2059 Florida College System institutions, and state universities
2060 share the responsibilities described in this section. These
2061 responsibilities include the following:
2062 (b) Each school district shall develop a professional
2063 development system as specified in subsection (3). The system
2064 shall be developed in consultation with teachers, teacher
2065 educators of Florida College System institutions and state
2066 universities, business and community representatives, and local
2067 education foundations, consortia, and professional
2068 organizations. The professional development system must:
2069 1. Be approved by the department. All substantial revisions
2070 to the system shall be submitted to the department for review
2071 for continued approval.
2072 2. Be based on analyses of student achievement data and
2073 instructional strategies and methods that support rigorous,
2074 relevant, and challenging curricula for all students. Schools
2075 and districts, in developing and refining the professional
2076 development system, shall also review and monitor school
2077 discipline data; school environment surveys; assessments of
2078 parental satisfaction; performance appraisal data of teachers,
2079 managers, and administrative personnel; and other performance
2080 indicators to identify school and student needs that can be met
2081 by improved professional performance.
2082 3. Provide inservice activities coupled with followup
2083 support appropriate to accomplish district-level and school
2084 level improvement goals and standards. The inservice activities
2085 for instructional personnel shall focus on analysis of student
2086 achievement data, ongoing formal and informal assessments of
2087 student achievement, identification and use of enhanced and
2088 differentiated instructional strategies that emphasize rigor,
2089 relevance, and reading in the content areas, enhancement of
2090 subject content expertise, integrated use of classroom
2091 technology that enhances teaching and learning, classroom
2092 management, parent involvement, and school safety.
2093 4. Provide inservice activities and support targeted to the
2094 individual needs of new teachers participating in the
2095 professional development certification and education competency
2096 program under s. 1012.56(8)(a).
2097 5. Include a master plan for inservice activities, pursuant
2098 to rules of the State Board of Education, for all district
2099 employees from all fund sources. The master plan shall be
2100 updated annually by September 1, must be based on input from
2101 teachers and district and school instructional leaders, and must
2102 use the latest available student achievement data and research
2103 to enhance rigor and relevance in the classroom. Each district
2104 inservice plan must be aligned to and support the school-based
2105 inservice plans and school improvement plans pursuant to s.
2106 1001.42(18). Each district inservice plan must provide a
2107 description of the training that middle grades instructional
2108 personnel and school administrators receive on the district’s
2109 standards for intervention code of student conduct adopted
2110 pursuant to s. 1006.07; integrated digital instruction and
2111 competency-based instruction and CAPE Digital Tool certificates
2112 and CAPE industry certifications; classroom management; student
2113 behavior and interaction; extended learning opportunities for
2114 students; and instructional leadership. District plans must be
2115 approved by the district school board annually in order to
2116 ensure compliance with subsection (1) and to allow for
2117 dissemination of research-based best practices to other
2118 districts. District school boards must submit verification of
2119 their approval to the Commissioner of Education no later than
2120 October 1, annually. Each school principal may establish and
2121 maintain an individual professional development plan for each
2122 instructional employee assigned to the school as a seamless
2123 component to the school improvement plans developed pursuant to
2124 s. 1001.42(18). An individual professional development plan must
2125 be related to specific performance data for the students to whom
2126 the teacher is assigned, define the inservice objectives and
2127 specific measurable improvements expected in student performance
2128 as a result of the inservice activity, and include an evaluation
2129 component that determines the effectiveness of the professional
2130 development plan.
2131 6. Include inservice activities for school administrative
2132 personnel that address updated skills necessary for
2133 instructional leadership and effective school management
2134 pursuant to s. 1012.986.
2135 7. Provide for systematic consultation with regional and
2136 state personnel designated to provide technical assistance and
2137 evaluation of local professional development programs.
2138 8. Provide for delivery of professional development by
2139 distance learning and other technology-based delivery systems to
2140 reach more educators at lower costs.
2141 9. Provide for the continuous evaluation of the quality and
2142 effectiveness of professional development programs in order to
2143 eliminate ineffective programs and strategies and to expand
2144 effective ones. Evaluations must consider the impact of such
2145 activities on the performance of participating educators and
2146 their students’ achievement and behavior.
2147 10. For middle grades, emphasize:
2148 a. Interdisciplinary planning, collaboration, and
2149 instruction.
2150 b. Alignment of curriculum and instructional materials to
2151 the state academic standards adopted pursuant to s. 1003.41.
2152 c. Use of small learning communities; problem-solving,
2153 inquiry-driven research and analytical approaches for students;
2154 strategies and tools based on student needs; competency-based
2155 instruction; integrated digital instruction; and project-based
2156 instruction.
2157
2158 Each school that includes any of grades 6, 7, or 8 must include
2159 in its school improvement plan, required under s. 1001.42(18), a
2160 description of the specific strategies used by the school to
2161 implement each item listed in this subparagraph.
2162 11. Provide training to reading coaches, classroom
2163 teachers, and school administrators in effective methods of
2164 identifying characteristics of conditions such as dyslexia and
2165 other causes of diminished phonological processing skills;
2166 incorporating instructional techniques into the general
2167 education setting which are proven to improve reading
2168 performance for all students; and using predictive and other
2169 data to make instructional decisions based on individual student
2170 needs. The training must help teachers integrate phonemic
2171 awareness; phonics, word study, and spelling; reading fluency;
2172 vocabulary, including academic vocabulary; and text
2173 comprehension strategies into an explicit, systematic, and
2174 sequential approach to reading instruction, including
2175 multisensory intervention strategies. Each district must provide
2176 all elementary grades instructional personnel access to training
2177 sufficient to meet the requirements of s. 1012.585(3)(f).
2178 Section 23. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.