Florida Senate - 2019 PROPOSED COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
Bill No. SB 7070
Ì813072~Î813072
576-03224-19
Proposed Committee Substitute by the Committee on Appropriations
(Appropriations Subcommittee on Education)
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to K-12 education; amending s.
3 1002.333, F.S.; deleting the authorization for a
4 traditional public school to receive funds from the
5 Schools of Hope Program; deleting a requirement for
6 the State Board of Education to provide awards and
7 annually report certain information; creating s.
8 1002.394, F.S.; establishing the Family Empowerment
9 Scholarship Program; providing the purpose of the
10 program; providing scholarship eligibility
11 requirements; providing for the term of such
12 scholarships; prohibiting certain students from
13 scholarship eligibility; requiring school districts to
14 inform specified households within their respective
15 districts of their eligibility to receive a Family
16 Empowerment Scholarship; requiring the Department of
17 Education to provide the form to be used by school
18 districts for that purpose; requiring school districts
19 to notify certain students of specified information
20 relating to statewide assessments; requiring school
21 districts, upon the request of the department, to
22 provide statewide assessments and related materials to
23 certain private schools; providing requirements for
24 the administration of statewide assessments at certain
25 private schools; requiring school districts to publish
26 information relating to the scholarship program on
27 their respective websites; providing requirements for
28 the published information; requiring the department to
29 publish and update information relating to the program
30 on the department website; requiring the department to
31 cross-check specified information; providing
32 requirements for private school participation in the
33 program; providing requirements for participating
34 students and their parents; providing the maximum
35 number of students who may participate in the
36 scholarship program, beginning with a specified school
37 year; providing for subsequent increases in the
38 authorized number of participating students; providing
39 for the calculation of school district funding
40 entitlement under the program; requiring school
41 districts to report all students who attend a private
42 school under the program; providing that such students
43 must be reported separately for certain purposes;
44 requiring the department to transfer funds from the
45 General Revenue Fund to an account for the program;
46 requiring that program funds for students entering a
47 Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program be
48 transferred from the school district in which the
49 student last attended school before commitment;
50 providing that the department must receive specified
51 information relating to such students; requiring the
52 Chief Financial Officer to make scholarship payments
53 to the department; providing requirements for such
54 payments; requiring the department to request from the
55 Department of Financial Services a sample of certain
56 endorsed warrants for a specified purpose; providing
57 immunity of the state from liability; providing a
58 scope of authority with regard to the regulation of
59 private schools; authorizing the state board to adopt
60 rules; providing an implementation schedule for a
61 specified school year; providing additional
62 eligibility requirements; requiring the Department of
63 Education to expedite the publication of specified
64 information on the department’s website; providing a
65 deadline for a specified payment by the Chief
66 Financial Officer; providing for the expiration of
67 provisions related to a specified school year;
68 amending s. 1002.40, F.S.; authorizing certain funds
69 relating to the Hope Scholarship Program to be used to
70 fund the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, under
71 specified conditions; expanding the language required
72 to be included on the contribution election form
73 relating to the Hope Scholarship Program, as of a
74 specified date; creating part VII of ch. 1003, F.S.,
75 entitled “Public School Innovation”; creating s.
76 1003.64, F.S.; providing legislative intent; creating
77 the Community School Grant Program within the
78 department; providing the purpose of the program;
79 defining terms; requiring community schools to
80 designate a community school program director;
81 providing duties of community school program
82 directors; establishing the Center for Community
83 Schools within the University of Central Florida;
84 requiring that the center be headed by a director;
85 providing the duties of the center director; requiring
86 community school program directors to annually submit
87 a report to the center by a specified date; providing
88 requirements for the report; requiring the center
89 director to annually submit, by a specified date, a
90 summary of such report and recommendations to the
91 Commissioner of Education; requiring the commissioner
92 to review the summary and recommendations; requiring
93 the commissioner to annually submit, by a specified
94 date, a report based on such summary and
95 recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature;
96 amending s. 1008.33, F.S.; authorizing a district
97 managed turnaround plan to include a proposal
98 regarding the length and number of planned school
99 days; making a technical change; amending s. 1011.62,
100 F.S.; creating the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher
101 and Principal Allocation; providing the purpose of the
102 allocation; requiring that, subject to the
103 appropriation of funds, each school district receive
104 an allocation based on its proportional share of
105 Florida Education Finance Program base funding;
106 authorizing the Legislature to specify a minimum
107 allocation; requiring school districts to provide
108 specified awards to eligible teachers and principals
109 from allocated funds; requiring school districts to
110 prorate awards under certain circumstances; creating
111 the turnaround school supplemental services
112 allocation; providing a purpose; providing for
113 services that may be funded by the allocation;
114 requiring a school district to submit a plan to its
115 school board before distribution of the allocation;
116 specifying requirements for such plans; requiring each
117 school district to annually submit approved plans to
118 the commissioner by a specified date; specifying the
119 basis for each school district’s funding allocation;
120 providing for a school’s continued eligibility for
121 funding; amending s. 1011.71, F.S.; conforming
122 provisions to changes made by the act; amending s.
123 1012.56, F.S.; deleting obsolete language; requiring
124 school districts to provide test support information
125 to individuals who do not meet passing scores on any
126 subtest of the general knowledge examination; deleting
127 the requirement that an individual who holds a
128 temporary certificate demonstrate mastery of general
129 knowledge within a specified timeframe; removing the
130 prohibition on employment for an individual who has
131 not met specified requirements; amending s. 1012.59,
132 F.S.; revising requirements for rulemaking by the
133 state board relating to certification fees; deleting a
134 requirement that an examination fee be sufficient to
135 cover the actual cost of developing and administering
136 the examination; amending s. 1012.731, F.S.; renaming
137 the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship
138 Program as the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher
139 Program; revising legislative intent relating to the
140 program; deleting authority for the Department of
141 Education to administer the program; specifying the
142 funding source for the program; providing for
143 recruitment, retention, and bonus awards; providing
144 eligibility requirements; deleting a requirement for
145 school districts to submit certain information to the
146 department; deleting a requirement for the department
147 to disburse scholarship funds to certain school
148 districts; deleting a requirement for school districts
149 to award specified scholarships; deleting a
150 definition; amending s. 1012.732, F.S.; renaming the
151 Florida Best and Brightest Principal Scholarship
152 Program as the Florida Best and Brightest Principal
153 Program; revising legislative intent relating to
154 program; deleting authority for the department to
155 administer the program; specifying the funding source
156 for the program; providing eligibility requirements;
157 deleting a requirement for the department to identify
158 eligible school principals and disburse funds;
159 deleting a requirement for school districts to award
160 scholarships to specified school principals; deleting
161 a requirement for school districts to provide certain
162 principals with additional authority and
163 responsibilities; deleting a definition; amending s.
164 1013.31, F.S.; authorizing a school district, in the
165 absence of a survey recommendation, to use funds from
166 a taxpayer-approved bond referendum to fund
167 construction of educational, auxiliary, or ancillary
168 facilities and to use funds from a specified district
169 school tax for certain capital outlay purposes;
170 authorizing the commissioner to direct specified
171 capital outlay funds to be withheld from school
172 districts until a specified time; amending s. 1013.64,
173 F.S.; revising the information required to be included
174 in a school district’s request to receive certain
175 funding; prohibiting a district school board from
176 using funds from state sources for certain new
177 construction of educational plant space; providing
178 exceptions; requiring the department, in conjunction
179 with the Office of Economic and Demographic Research,
180 to review and revise the limits on the cost per
181 student station, based on certain factors; requiring
182 the department to use the adjusted cost per student
183 station for a each instructional level; requiring the
184 department to collaborate with the office to select a
185 certain index by a specified date; deleting a
186 requirement for the department to make final
187 determinations on district compliance; removing a
188 prohibition on the use of funds for certain new
189 construction; revising the costs that may be included
190 and that may not be included in calculating the cost
191 per student station; providing an effective date.
192
193 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
194
195 Section 1. Subsection (10) of section 1002.333, Florida
196 Statutes, is amended to read:
197 1002.333 Persistently low-performing schools.—
198 (10) SCHOOLS OF HOPE PROGRAM.—The Schools of Hope Program
199 is created within the Department of Education.
200 (a) A school of hope is eligible to receive funds from the
201 Schools of Hope Program for the following expenditures:
202 1. Preparing teachers, school leaders, and specialized
203 instructional support personnel, including costs associated
204 with:
205 a. Providing professional development.
206 b. Hiring and compensating teachers, school leaders, and
207 specialized instructional support personnel for services beyond
208 the school day and year.
209 2. Acquiring supplies, training, equipment, and educational
210 materials, including developing and acquiring instructional
211 materials.
212 3. Providing one-time startup costs associated with
213 providing transportation to students to and from the charter
214 school.
215 4. Carrying out community engagement activities, which may
216 include paying the cost of student and staff recruitment.
217 5. Providing funds to cover the nonvoted ad valorem millage
218 that would otherwise be required for schools and the required
219 local effort funds calculated pursuant to s. 1011.62 when the
220 state board enters into an agreement with a hope operator
221 pursuant to subsection (5).
222 (b) A traditional public school that is required to submit
223 a plan for implementation pursuant to s. 1008.33(4) is eligible
224 to receive up to $2,000 per full-time equivalent student from
225 the Schools of Hope Program based upon the strength of the
226 school’s plan for implementation and its focus on evidence-based
227 interventions that lead to student success by providing wrap
228 around services that leverage community assets, improve school
229 and community collaboration, and develop family and community
230 partnerships. Wrap-around services include, but are not limited
231 to, tutorial and after-school programs, student counseling,
232 nutrition education, parental counseling, and adult education.
233 Plans for implementation may also include models that develop a
234 culture of attending college, high academic expectations,
235 character development, dress codes, and an extended school day
236 and school year. At a minimum, a plan for implementation must:
237 1. Establish wrap-around services that develop family and
238 community partnerships.
239 2. Establish clearly defined and measurable high academic
240 and character standards.
241 3. Increase parental involvement and engagement in the
242 child’s education.
243 4. Describe how the school district will identify, recruit,
244 retain, and reward instructional personnel. The state board may
245 waive the requirements of s. 1012.22(1)(c)5., and suspend the
246 requirements of s. 1012.34, to facilitate implementation of the
247 plan.
248 5. Identify a knowledge-rich curriculum that the school
249 will use that focuses on developing a student’s background
250 knowledge.
251 6. Provide professional development that focuses on
252 academic rigor, direct instruction, and creating high academic
253 and character standards.
254 (c) The state board shall:
255 1. Provide awards for up to 25 schools and prioritize
256 awards for plans submitted pursuant to paragraph (b) that are
257 based on whole school transformation and that are developed in
258 consultation with the school’s principal.
259 2. Annually report on the implementation of this subsection
260 in the report required by s. 1008.345(5), and provide summarized
261 academic performance reports of each traditional public school
262 receiving funds.
263 (d) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
264 funds allocated for the purpose of this subsection which are not
265 disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are
266 allocated may be carried forward for up to 5 years after the
267 effective date of the original appropriation.
268 Section 2. Section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, is created
269 to read:
270 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
271 (1) PURPOSE.—The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program is
272 established to provide children of families in this state that
273 have limited financial resources with educational options to
274 achieve success in their education.
275 (2) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—A student is eligible for a
276 Family Empowerment Scholarship under this section if the student
277 meets the following criteria:
278 (a)1. The student is on the direct certification list
279 pursuant to s. 1002.395(2)(c) or the student’s household income
280 level does not exceed 260 percent of the federal poverty level;
281 or
282 2. The student is currently placed, or during the previous
283 state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out-of-home
284 care as defined in s. 39.01.
285
286 A student who initially receives a scholarship based on
287 eligibility under subparagraph 2. remains eligible to
288 participate until the student graduates from high school or
289 attains the age of 21 years, whichever occurs first, regardless
290 of the student’s household income level. A sibling of a student
291 who is participating in the scholarship program under this
292 subsection is eligible for a scholarship if the student resides
293 in the same household as the sibling.
294 (b) The student is eligible to enroll in kindergarten or
295 has spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida
296 public school. For purposes of this paragraph, prior school year
297 in attendance means that the student was enrolled and reported
298 by a school district for funding during the preceding October
299 and February Florida Education Finance Program surveys in
300 kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time spent in a
301 Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if funded
302 under the Florida Education Finance Program.
303
304 However, a dependent child of a member of the United States
305 Armed Forces who transfers to a school in this state from out of
306 state or from a foreign country due to a parent’s permanent
307 change of station orders or a foster child is exempt from the
308 prior public school attendance requirement under this paragraph,
309 but must meet the other eligibility requirements specified under
310 this section to participate in the program.
311 (c) The parent has obtained acceptance for admission of the
312 student to a private school that is eligible for the program
313 under subsection (7) and the parent has requested a scholarship
314 from the Department of Education at least 60 days before the
315 date of the first scholarship payment. The request must be
316 communicated directly to the department in a manner that creates
317 a written or electronic record of the request and the date of
318 receipt of the request. The department must notify the school
319 district of the parent’s intent upon receipt of the parent’s
320 request.
321 (3) TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP.—
322 (a) For purposes of continuity of educational choice, a
323 Family Empowerment Scholarship shall remain in force until the
324 student returns to a public school, graduates from high school,
325 or reaches the age of 21, whichever occurs first. A scholarship
326 student who enrolls in a public school or public school program
327 is considered to have returned to a public school for the
328 purpose of determining the end of the scholarship’s term.
329 However, if a student enters a Department of Juvenile Justice
330 detention center for a period of no more than 21 days, the
331 student is not considered to have returned to a public school
332 for that purpose.
333 (b) Upon reasonable notice to the department and the school
334 district, the student’s parent may remove the student from the
335 private school and place the student in a public school in
336 accordance with this section.
337 (c) Upon reasonable notice to the department, the student’s
338 parent may move the student from one participating private
339 school to another participating private school.
340 (4) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
341 a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
342 (a) Enrolled in a public school, including, but not limited
343 to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind; the College
344 Preparatory Boarding Academy; a developmental research school
345 authorized under s. 1002.32; or a charter school authorized
346 under chapter 1002;
347 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
348 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
349 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
350 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
351 this chapter;
352 (d) Participating in a home education program as defined in
353 s. 1002.01(1);
354 (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
355 s. 1002.43; or
356 (f) Participating in a virtual school, correspondence
357 school, or distance learning program that receives state funding
358 pursuant to the student’s participation.
359 (5) SCHOOL DISTRICT OBLIGATIONS.—
360 (a) By July 15, 2019, and by April 1 of each year
361 thereafter, a school district shall inform all households within
362 the district receiving free or reduced-priced meals under the
363 National School Lunch Act of their eligibility to apply to the
364 department for a Family Empowerment Scholarship. The form of
365 such notice shall be provided by the department, and the school
366 district shall include the provided form in any normal
367 correspondence with eligible households. Such notice is limited
368 to once a year.
369 (b) The school district in which a participating student
370 resides must notify the student and his or her parent about the
371 locations and times to take all statewide assessments under s.
372 1008.22 if the student chooses to participate in such
373 assessments. Upon the request of the department, a school
374 district shall coordinate with the department to provide to a
375 participating private school the statewide assessments
376 administered under s. 1008.22 and any related materials for
377 administering the assessments. For a student who participates in
378 the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program whose parent requests
379 that the student take the statewide assessments under s.
380 1008.22, the district in which the student attends a private
381 school shall provide locations and times to take all statewide
382 assessments. A school district is responsible for implementing
383 test administrations at a participating private school,
384 including the:
385 1. Provision of training for private school staff on test
386 security and assessment administration procedures;
387 2. Distribution of testing materials to a private school;
388 3. Retrieval of testing materials from a private school;
389 4. Provision of the required format for a private school to
390 submit information to the district for test administration and
391 enrollment purposes; and
392 5. Provision of any required assistance, monitoring, or
393 investigation at a private school.
394 (c) Each school district must publish information about the
395 Family Empowerment Scholarship Program on the district’s website
396 homepage. At a minimum, the published information must include a
397 website link to the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
398 published on the Department of Education website as well as a
399 telephone number and e-mail that students and parents may use to
400 contact relevant personnel in the school district to obtain
401 information about the scholarship.
402 (6) DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OBLIGATIONS.—The department
403 shall:
404 (a) Publish and update, as necessary, information on the
405 department website about the Family Empowerment Scholarship
406 Program, including, but not limited to, student eligibility
407 criteria, parental responsibilities, and relevant data.
408 (b) Cross-check the list of participating scholarship
409 students with the public school enrollment lists before each
410 scholarship payment to avoid duplication.
411 (7) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—To be
412 eligible to participate in the Family Empowerment Scholarship
413 Program, a private school may be sectarian or nonsectarian and
414 must:
415 (a) Comply with all requirements for private schools
416 participating in state school choice scholarship programs
417 pursuant to s. 1002.421.
418 (b) Provide to the department all documentation required
419 for a student’s participation, including the private school’s
420 and student’s fee schedules, at least 30 days before any
421 quarterly scholarship payment is made for the student pursuant
422 to paragraph (9)(f). A student is not eligible to receive a
423 quarterly scholarship payment if the private school fails to
424 meet this deadline.
425 (c)1. Annually administer or make provision for students
426 participating in the program in grades 3 through 10 to take one
427 of the nationally norm-referenced tests identified by the
428 department or to take the statewide assessments pursuant to s.
429 1008.22. Students with disabilities for whom standardized
430 testing is not appropriate are exempt from this requirement. A
431 participating private school shall report a student’s scores to
432 his or her parent.
433 2. Administer the statewide assessments pursuant to s.
434 1008.22 if the private school chooses to offer the statewide
435 assessments. A participating private school may choose to offer
436 and administer the statewide assessments to all students who
437 attend the private school in grades 3 through 10 and must submit
438 a request in writing to the department by March 1 of each year
439 in order to administer the statewide assessments in the
440 subsequent school year.
441
442 If a private school fails to meet the requirements of this
443 subsection or s. 1002.421, the commissioner may determine that
444 the private school is ineligible to participate in the
445 scholarship program.
446 (8) PARENT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PROGRAM
447 PARTICIPATION.—A parent who applies for a Family Empowerment
448 Scholarship is exercising his or her parental option to place
449 his or her child in a private school.
450 (a) The parent must select the private school and apply for
451 the admission of his or her student.
452 (b) The parent must request the scholarship at least 60
453 days before the date of the first scholarship payment.
454 (c) The parent must inform the applicable school district
455 when the parent withdraws his or her student from a public
456 school to attend an eligible private school.
457 (d) Any student participating in the program must remain in
458 attendance throughout the school year unless excused by the
459 school for illness or other good cause.
460 (e) Each parent and each student has an obligation to the
461 private school to comply with the private school’s published
462 policies.
463 (f) The parent shall ensure that the student participating
464 in the scholarship program takes the norm-referenced assessment
465 offered by the private school. The parent may also choose to
466 have the student participate in the statewide assessments
467 pursuant to paragraph (5)(b).
468 (g) If the parent requests that the student participating
469 in the program take all statewide assessments required pursuant
470 to s. 1008.22, the parent is responsible for transporting the
471 student to the assessment site designated by the school
472 district.
473 (h) Upon receipt of a scholarship warrant, the parent to
474 whom the warrant is issued must restrictively endorse the
475 warrant to the private school for deposit into the private
476 school’s account. The parent may not designate any entity or
477 individual associated with the participating private school as
478 the parent’s attorney in fact to endorse a scholarship warrant.
479 A participant who fails to comply with this paragraph forfeits
480 the scholarship.
481 (9) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
482 (a) The scholarship is established for up to 15,000
483 students annually on a first-come, first-served basis beginning
484 with the 2019-2020 school year. Beginning in the 2020-2021
485 school year, the number of students participating in the
486 scholarship program under this section may increase in
487 accordance with the percentage increase in the state’s public
488 school student enrollment.
489 (b) The scholarship amount provided to a student for any
490 single school year shall be for tuition and fees for an eligible
491 private school, not to exceed annual limits, which shall be
492 determined in accordance with this paragraph. The calculated
493 amount for a student to attend an eligible private school shall
494 be 95 percent of the unweighted FTE funding amount at the
495 district level for that state fiscal year and shall be adjusted
496 with each FEFP calculation through the calculation based on the
497 October survey.
498 (c) The amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship shall
499 be the calculated amount or the amount of the private school’s
500 tuition and fees, whichever is less. The amount of any
501 assessment fee required by the participating private school may
502 be paid from the total amount of the scholarship.
503 (d) The school district shall report all students who are
504 attending a private school under this program. The students
505 attending private schools on Family Empowerment Scholarships
506 shall be reported separately from other students reported for
507 purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program.
508 (e) Following notification on July 1, September 1, December
509 1, or February 1 of the number of program participants, the
510 department shall transfer, from general revenue funds only, the
511 amount calculated under paragraph (c) from the school district’s
512 total funding entitlement under the Florida Education Finance
513 Program to a separate account for the scholarship program for
514 quarterly disbursement to parents of participating students. For
515 a student exiting a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment
516 program who chooses to participate in the scholarship program,
517 the amount of the Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated
518 pursuant to paragraph (c) must be transferred from the school
519 district in which the student last attended a public school
520 before commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. When a
521 student enters the scholarship program, the department must
522 receive all documentation required for the student’s
523 participation, including the private school’s and the student’s
524 fee schedules, at least 30 days before the first quarterly
525 scholarship payment is made for the student.
526 (f) Upon notification by the department that it has
527 received the documentation required under paragraph (e), the
528 Chief Financial Officer shall make scholarship payments in four
529 equal amounts no later than September 1, November 1, February 1,
530 and April 1 of each school year in which the scholarship is in
531 force. The initial payment shall be made after department
532 verification of admission acceptance, and subsequent payments
533 shall be made upon verification of continued enrollment and
534 attendance at the private school. Payment must be by individual
535 warrant made payable to the student’s parent and mailed by the
536 department to the private school of the parent’s choice, and the
537 parent shall restrictively endorse the warrant to the private
538 school for deposit into the account of the private school.
539 (g) Subsequent to each scholarship payment, the department
540 shall request from the Department of Financial Services a sample
541 of endorsed warrants to review and confirm compliance with
542 endorsement requirements.
543 (10) LIABILITY.—No liability shall arise on the part of the
544 state based on the award or use of a Family Empowerment
545 Scholarship.
546 (11) SCOPE OF AUTHORITY.—The inclusion of eligible private
547 schools within the options available to Florida public school
548 students does not expand the regulatory authority of the state,
549 its officers, or any school district to impose any additional
550 regulation of private schools beyond those reasonably necessary
551 to enforce requirements expressly set forth in this section.
552 (12) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules
553 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this
554 section.
555 (13) IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL
556 YEAR.—Notwithstanding the provisions of this section related to
557 notification requirements and eligibility timelines, for the
558 2019-2020 school year:
559 (a) A student is eligible for a Family Empowerment
560 Scholarship under this section if the student’s parent has
561 obtained acceptance of the student’s admission to a private
562 school that is eligible for the program under subsection (7) and
563 the parent has requested a scholarship from the Department of
564 Education no later than August 15, 2019. The request must be
565 communicated directly to the department in a manner that creates
566 a written or electronic record of the request and the date of
567 receipt of the request.
568 (b) The department shall expedite the publication of
569 information relevant to the Family Empowerment Scholarship
570 Program on the department’s website, including, but not limited
571 to, the eligibility criteria for students to qualify for the
572 scholarship under this section and how parents may request the
573 scholarship. The department must immediately notify the school
574 district of the parent’s intent upon receipt of the parent’s
575 request.
576 (c) Upon notification by the department that it has
577 received the documentation required under paragraph (9)(e), the
578 Chief Financial Officer shall make the first quarter payment of
579 scholarships no later than October 1, 2019.
580
581 This subsection shall expire June 30, 2020.
582 Section 3. Paragraph (i) is added to subsection (11) of
583 section 1002.40, Florida Statutes, and paragraph (a) of
584 subsection (13) of that section is amended, to read:
585 1002.40 The Hope Scholarship Program.—
586 (11) FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
587 (i)1. Beginning in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, up to 50
588 percent of available prior fiscal year contributions received by
589 a scholarship-funding organization under s. 212.1832 which have
590 not been allocated for a scholarship under this section may be
591 used to fund the program established under s. 1002.395.
592 2. The available prior year contributions may be used to
593 fund scholarships for students eligible pursuant to s.
594 1002.395(3)(b)1. or 2. if the eligible contributions received
595 for that program in a state fiscal year are insufficient to fund
596 the students eligible for that program.
597 3. The eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization
598 shall separately account for each eligible student who receives
599 the scholarship under s. 1002.395, which is funded pursuant to
600 this paragraph and s. 1002.395.
601 (13) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING TAX CREDITS.—
602 (a) A tax credit is available under s. 212.1832(1) for use
603 by a person that makes an eligible contribution. Each eligible
604 contribution is limited to a single payment of $105 per motor
605 vehicle purchased at the time of purchase of a motor vehicle or
606 a single payment of $105 per motor vehicle purchased at the time
607 of registration of a motor vehicle that was not purchased from a
608 dealer, except that a contribution may not exceed the state tax
609 imposed under chapter 212 that would otherwise be collected from
610 the purchaser by a dealer, designated agent, or private tag
611 agent. Payments of contributions shall be made to a dealer at
612 the time of purchase of a motor vehicle or to a designated agent
613 or private tag agent at the time of registration of a motor
614 vehicle that was not purchased from a dealer. An eligible
615 contribution shall be accompanied by a contribution election
616 form provided by the Department of Revenue. The form shall
617 include, at a minimum, the following brief description of the
618 Hope Scholarship Program: “THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES
619 A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT WHO WAS SUBJECTED TO AN INCIDENT OF
620 VIOLENCE OR BULLYING AT SCHOOL THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR A
621 SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND AN ELIGIBLE PRIVATE SCHOOL RATHER THAN
622 REMAIN IN AN UNSAFE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.” No later than July 1,
623 2019, the form shall also include the following statement: “IN
624 THE EVENT THAT THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HAS SURPLUS
625 CONTRIBUTIONS AFTER FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE
626 STUDENTS, THE SURPLUS CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE USED FOR FLORIDA TAX
627 CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS.” The form shall also include, at a minimum,
628 a section allowing the consumer to designate, from all
629 participating scholarship funding organizations, which
630 organization will receive his or her donation. For purposes of
631 this subsection, the term “purchase” does not include the lease
632 or rental of a motor vehicle.
633 Section 4. Part VII of chapter 1003, Florida Statutes,
634 consisting of s. 1003.64, Florida Statutes, is created and
635 entitled “Public School Innovation.”
636 1003.64 Community School Grant Program.—It is the intent of
637 the Legislature to improve student success and well-being by
638 engaging and supporting parents and community organizations in
639 their efforts to positively impact student learning and
640 development.
641 (1) PURPOSE.—The Community School Grant Program is
642 established within the Department of Education to fund and
643 support the planning and implementation of community school
644 programs, subject to legislative appropriation.
645 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
646 (a) “Center for Community Schools” means the center
647 established within the University of Central Florida.
648 (b) “Community organization” means a nonprofit organization
649 that has been in existence for at least 3 years and serves
650 individuals within the county in which a community school is
651 located.
652 (3) COMMUNITY SCHOOL.—
653 (a) A community school is a public school that receives a
654 grant under this section and partners with a community
655 organization, a university or college, and a health care
656 provider to implement programs beyond the standard hours of
657 instruction which may include, but are not limited to, student
658 enrichment activities such as job training, internship
659 opportunities, and career counseling services; wellness
660 services; and family engagement programs.
661 (b) Each community school must designate a person of its
662 choosing as the community school program director. A community
663 school program director shall coordinate with the partners
664 specified under paragraph (a) to:
665 1. Facilitate the implementation of a community school
666 program.
667 2. Comply with the reporting requirements under paragraph
668 (5)(a).
669 (4) CENTER FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.—The Center for Community
670 Schools is established within the University of Central Florida.
671 A center director shall head the Center for Community Schools.
672 At a minimum, the center director shall:
673 (a) Disseminate information about community schools to
674 community organizations; district school boards; state
675 universities and Florida College System institutions; and
676 independent, not-for-profit colleges and universities located
677 and chartered in this state which are accredited by the
678 Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges
679 and Schools and are eligible to participate in the William L.
680 Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program.
681 (b) Coordinate, facilitate, and oversee the implementation
682 of community schools that receive a grant under this section,
683 and submit an annual report to the commissioner pursuant to
684 paragraph (5)(b).
685 (c) Publish on the center’s website the application form
686 for:
687 1. Implementing a community school program.
688 2. Certification by the center as a community school.
689 (d) Publish on the center’s website the process and
690 criteria for:
691 1. Approving the application for implementing a community
692 school program under subparagraph (c)1.
693 2. Awarding the certification under subparagraph (c)2.
694 (e) Establish a process to administer grant funds awarded
695 under this section.
696 (f) Promote best practices and provide technical assistance
697 about community schools to community school program directors.
698 (5) REPORTS.—
699 (a) By July 1 of each year, each community school program
700 director shall submit to the center a report that includes, at a
701 minimum, the following information:
702 1. An assessment of the effectiveness of the community
703 school program in improving student success outcomes;
704 2. Any issues encountered in the design and execution of
705 the community school program;
706 3. Recommendations for improving the delivery of services
707 to students, families, and community members under the program;
708 4. The number of students, families, and community members
709 served under the program; and
710 5. Any other information requested by the center director.
711 (b) The center director shall review the reports submitted
712 under paragraph (a) and, by August 15 of each year, shall
713 provide to the commissioner:
714 1. A summary of the information reported by each community
715 school that receives a grant under this section; and
716 2. Recommendations for policy and funding investments to
717 improve the implementation and oversight of community school
718 programs and to remove any barriers to the expansion of
719 community schools.
720 (c) The commissioner shall review the summary and
721 recommendations submitted by the center director under paragraph
722 (b) and, by September 30 of each year, shall submit a report to
723 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
724 the House of Representatives. The annual report submitted by the
725 commissioner must, at a minimum, include information on the
726 status of community schools and his or her recommendations for
727 policy and funding investments to improve and expand community
728 schools.
729 Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1008.33, Florida
730 Statutes, is amended to read:
731 1008.33 Authority to enforce public school improvement.—
732 (4)(a) The state board shall apply intensive intervention
733 and support strategies tailored to the needs of schools earning
734 two consecutive grades of “D” or a grade of “F.” In the first
735 full school year after a school initially earns two consecutive
736 grades of “D” or a grade of “F,” the school district must
737 immediately implement intervention and support strategies
738 prescribed in rule under paragraph (3)(c) and, by September 1,
739 provide the department with the memorandum of understanding
740 negotiated pursuant to s. 1001.42(21) and, by October 1, a
741 district-managed turnaround plan for approval by the state
742 board. The district-managed turnaround plan may include a
743 proposal for the district to implement an extended school day, a
744 summer program, or a combination of an extended school day and a
745 summer program. Upon approval by the state board, the school
746 district must implement the plan for the remainder of the school
747 year and continue the plan for 1 full school year. The state
748 board may allow a school an additional year of implementation
749 before the school must implement a turnaround option required
750 under paragraph (b) if it determines that the school is likely
751 to improve to a grade of “C” or higher after the first full
752 school year of implementation.
753 (b) Unless an additional year of implementation is provided
754 pursuant to paragraph (a), a school that earns three consecutive
755 grades below a “C” must implement one of the following:
756 1. Reassign students to another school and monitor the
757 progress of each reassigned student;
758 2. Close the school and reopen the school as one or more
759 charter schools, each with a governing board that has a
760 demonstrated record of effectiveness; or
761 3. Contract with an outside entity that has a demonstrated
762 record of effectiveness to operate the school. An outside entity
763 may include a district-managed charter school in which all
764 instructional personnel are not employees of the school
765 district, but are employees of an independent governing board
766 composed of members who did not participate in the review or
767 approval of the charter.
768 (c) Implementation of the turnaround option is no longer
769 required if the school improves to a grade of “C” or higher.
770 (d) If a school earning two consecutive grades of “D” or a
771 grade of “F” does not improve to a grade of “C” or higher after
772 2 full school years of implementing the turnaround option
773 selected by the school district under paragraph (b), the school
774 district must implement another turnaround option.
775 Implementation of the turnaround option must begin the school
776 year following the implementation period of the existing
777 turnaround option, unless the state board determines that the
778 school is likely to improve to a grade of “C” or higher if
779 additional time is provided to implement the existing turnaround
780 option.
781 Section 6. Present subsections (18) and (19) of section
782 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (19)
783 and (20), respectively, a new subsection (18) and subsection
784 (21) are added to that section, and paragraph (a) of subsection
785 (4) and subsection (14) of that section are amended, to read:
786 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
787 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
788 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
789 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
790 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
791 follows:
792 (4) COMPUTATION OF DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.—The
793 Legislature shall prescribe the aggregate required local effort
794 for all school districts collectively as an item in the General
795 Appropriations Act for each fiscal year. The amount that each
796 district shall provide annually toward the cost of the Florida
797 Education Finance Program for kindergarten through grade 12
798 programs shall be calculated as follows:
799 (a) Estimated taxable value calculations.—
800 1.a. Not later than 2 working days before July 19, the
801 Department of Revenue shall certify to the Commissioner of
802 Education its most recent estimate of the taxable value for
803 school purposes in each school district and the total for all
804 school districts in the state for the current calendar year
805 based on the latest available data obtained from the local
806 property appraisers. The value certified shall be the taxable
807 value for school purposes for that year, and no further
808 adjustments shall be made, except those made pursuant to
809 paragraphs (c) and (d), or an assessment roll change required by
810 final judicial decisions as specified in paragraph (19)(b)
811 (18)(b). Not later than July 19, the Commissioner of Education
812 shall compute a millage rate, rounded to the next highest one
813 one-thousandth of a mill, which, when applied to 96 percent of
814 the estimated state total taxable value for school purposes,
815 would generate the prescribed aggregate required local effort
816 for that year for all districts. The Commissioner of Education
817 shall certify to each district school board the millage rate,
818 computed as prescribed in this subparagraph, as the minimum
819 millage rate necessary to provide the district required local
820 effort for that year.
821 b. The General Appropriations Act shall direct the
822 computation of the statewide adjusted aggregate amount for
823 required local effort for all school districts collectively from
824 ad valorem taxes to ensure that no school district’s revenue
825 from required local effort millage will produce more than 90
826 percent of the district’s total Florida Education Finance
827 Program calculation as calculated and adopted by the
828 Legislature, and the adjustment of the required local effort
829 millage rate of each district that produces more than 90 percent
830 of its total Florida Education Finance Program entitlement to a
831 level that will produce only 90 percent of its total Florida
832 Education Finance Program entitlement in the July calculation.
833 2. On the same date as the certification in sub
834 subparagraph 1.a., the Department of Revenue shall certify to
835 the Commissioner of Education for each district:
836 a. Each year for which the property appraiser has certified
837 the taxable value pursuant to s. 193.122(2) or (3), if
838 applicable, since the prior certification under sub-subparagraph
839 1.a.
840 b. For each year identified in sub-subparagraph a., the
841 taxable value certified by the appraiser pursuant to s.
842 193.122(2) or (3), if applicable, since the prior certification
843 under sub-subparagraph 1.a. This is the certification that
844 reflects all final administrative actions of the value
845 adjustment board.
846 (14) QUALITY ASSURANCE GUARANTEE.—The Legislature may
847 annually in the General Appropriations Act determine a
848 percentage increase in funds per K-12 unweighted FTE as a
849 minimum guarantee to each school district. The guarantee shall
850 be calculated from prior year base funding per unweighted FTE
851 student which shall include the adjusted FTE dollars as provided
852 in subsection (19) (18), quality guarantee funds, and actual
853 nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. From the base
854 funding per unweighted FTE, the increase shall be calculated for
855 the current year. The current year funds from which the
856 guarantee shall be determined shall include the adjusted FTE
857 dollars as provided in subsection (19) (18) and potential
858 nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. A comparison of
859 current year funds per unweighted FTE to prior year funds per
860 unweighted FTE shall be computed. For those school districts
861 which have less than the legislatively assigned percentage
862 increase, funds shall be provided to guarantee the assigned
863 percentage increase in funds per unweighted FTE student. Should
864 appropriated funds be less than the sum of this calculated
865 amount for all districts, the commissioner shall prorate each
866 district’s allocation. This provision shall be implemented to
867 the extent specifically funded.
868 (18) THE FLORIDA BEST AND BRIGHTEST TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL
869 ALLOCATION.—
870 (a) The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher and Principal
871 Allocation is created to recruit, retain, and recognize
872 classroom teachers who meet the criteria established in s.
873 1012.731 and reward principals who meet the criteria established
874 in s. 1012.732. Subject to annual appropriation, each school
875 district shall receive an allocation based on the district’s
876 proportionate share of FEFP base funding. The Legislature may
877 specify a minimum allocation for all districts in the General
878 Appropriations Act.
879 (b) From the allocation, each district shall provide the
880 following for eligible classroom teachers:
881 1. A one-time recruitment award, as provided in s.
882 1012.731(3)(a);
883 2. A retention award, as provided in s. 1012.731(3)(b); and
884 3. A recognition award, as provided in s. 1012.731(3)(c)
885 from the remaining balance of the appropriation after the
886 payment of all other awards authorized under ss. 1012.731 and
887 1012.732.
888 (c) From the allocation, each district shall provide
889 eligible principals an award as provided in s. 1012.732(3).
890
891 If a district’s calculated awards exceed the allocation, the
892 district may prorate the awards.
893 (21) TURNAROUND SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES ALLOCATION.
894 The turnaround school supplemental services allocation is
895 created to provide district-managed turnaround schools, as
896 identified in s. 1008.33(4)(a), schools that earn three
897 consecutive grades below a “C”, as identified in s.
898 1008.33(4)(b)3., and schools that have improved to a “C” and are
899 no longer in turnaround status, as identified in s.
900 1008.33(4)(c), with funds to offer services designed to improve
901 the overall academic and community welfare of the schools’
902 students and their families.
903 (a) Services funded by the allocation may include, but are
904 not limited to, tutorial and after-school programs, student
905 counseling, nutrition education, parental counseling, and an
906 extended school day and school year. In addition, services may
907 include models that develop a culture that encourages students
908 to complete high school and to attend college or career
909 training, set high academic expectations, and inspire character
910 development.
911 (b) Before distribution of the allocation, the school
912 district shall develop and submit a plan for implementation to
913 its school board for approval no later than August 1 of each
914 fiscal year.
915 (c) At a minimum, the plans required under paragraph (b)
916 must:
917 1. Establish comprehensive support services that develop
918 family and community partnerships;
919 2. Establish clearly defined and measurable high academic
920 and character standards;
921 3. Increase parental involvement and engagement in the
922 child’s education;
923 4. Describe how instructional personnel will be identified,
924 recruited, retained, and rewarded;
925 5. Provide professional development that focuses on
926 academic rigor, direct instruction, and creating high academic
927 and character standards;
928 6. Provide focused instruction to improve student academic
929 proficiency, which may include additional instruction time
930 beyond the normal school day or school year; and
931 7. Include a strategy for continuing to provide services
932 after the school is no longer in turnaround status by virtue of
933 achieving a grade of “C” or higher.
934 (d) Each school district shall submit its approved plans to
935 the commissioner by September 1 of each fiscal year.
936 (e) Subject to legislative appropriation, each school
937 district’s allocation must be based on the unweighted FTE
938 student enrollment at the eligible schools and a per-FTE funding
939 amount of $500 or as provided in the General Appropriations Act.
940 The supplement provided in the General Appropriations Act shall
941 be based on the most recent school grades and shall serve as a
942 proxy for the official calculation. Once school grades are
943 available for the school year immediately preceding the fiscal
944 year coinciding with the appropriation, the supplement shall be
945 recalculated for the official participating schools as part of
946 the subsequent FEFP calculation. The commissioner may prepare a
947 preliminary calculation so that districts may proceed with
948 timely planning and use of the funds. If the calculated funds
949 for the statewide allocation exceed the funds appropriated, the
950 allocation of funds to each school district must be prorated
951 based on each school district’s share of the total unweighted
952 FTE student enrollment for the eligible schools.
953 (f) Subject to legislative appropriation, each school shall
954 remain eligible for the allocation for a maximum of 4 continuous
955 fiscal years while implementing a turnaround option pursuant to
956 s. 1008.33(4). In addition, a school that improves to a grade of
957 “C” or higher shall remain eligible to receive the allocation
958 for a maximum of 2 continuous fiscal years after exiting
959 turnaround status.
960 Section 7. Subsection (1) and paragraph (a) of subsection
961 (2) of section 1011.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
962 1011.71 District school tax.—
963 (1) If the district school tax is not provided in the
964 General Appropriations Act or the substantive bill implementing
965 the General Appropriations Act, each district school board
966 desiring to participate in the state allocation of funds for
967 current operation as prescribed by s. 1011.62(19) s. 1011.62(18)
968 shall levy on the taxable value for school purposes of the
969 district, exclusive of millage voted under s. 9(b) or s. 12,
970 Art. VII of the State Constitution, a millage rate not to exceed
971 the amount certified by the commissioner as the minimum millage
972 rate necessary to provide the district required local effort for
973 the current year, pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1. In addition to
974 the required local effort millage levy, each district school
975 board may levy a nonvoted current operating discretionary
976 millage. The Legislature shall prescribe annually in the
977 appropriations act the maximum amount of millage a district may
978 levy.
979 (2) In addition to the maximum millage levy as provided in
980 subsection (1), each school board may levy not more than 1.5
981 mills against the taxable value for school purposes for charter
982 schools pursuant to s. 1013.62(1) and (3) and for district
983 schools to fund:
984 (a) New construction, and remodeling projects, as set forth
985 in s. 1013.64(6)(b) and included in the district’s educational
986 plant survey pursuant to s. 1013.31, without regard to
987 prioritization, sites and site improvement or expansion to new
988 sites, existing sites, auxiliary facilities, athletic
989 facilities, or ancillary facilities.
990 Section 8. Subsections (3) and (7) of section 1012.56,
991 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
992 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
993 (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
994 demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
995 (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
996 examination required by state board rule;
997 (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
998 certificate issued by another state;
999 (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
1000 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards or a national
1001 educator credentialing board approved by the State Board of
1002 Education;
1003 (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
1004 or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
1005 state university, or private college or university that awards
1006 an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
1007 or an institution of higher education identified by the
1008 Department of Education as having a quality program; or
1009 (e) Effective July 1, 2015, Achievement of passing scores,
1010 identified in state board rule, on national or international
1011 examinations that test comparable content and relevant standards
1012 in verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative reasoning
1013 skills, including, but not limited to, the verbal, analytical
1014 writing, and quantitative reasoning portions of the Graduate
1015 Record Examination. Passing scores identified in state board
1016 rule must be at approximately the same level of rigor as is
1017 required to pass the general knowledge examinations.
1018
1019 A school district that employs an individual who does not
1020 achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
1021 examination must provide information regarding the availability
1022 of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
1023 assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
1024 must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
1025 information guides, school district test preparation resources,
1026 and preparation courses offered by state universities and
1027 Florida College System institutions.
1028 (7) TYPES AND TERMS OF CERTIFICATION.—
1029 (a) The Department of Education shall issue a professional
1030 certificate for a period not to exceed 5 years to any applicant
1031 who fulfills one of the following:
1032 1. Meets all the requirements outlined in subsection (2).
1033 2. For a professional certificate covering grades 6 through
1034 12:
1035 a. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h).
1036 b. Holds a master’s or higher degree in the area of
1037 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
1038 c. Teaches a high school course in the subject of the
1039 advanced degree.
1040 d. Is rated highly effective as determined by the teacher’s
1041 performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, based in part on
1042 student performance as measured by a statewide, standardized
1043 assessment or an Advanced Placement, Advanced International
1044 Certificate of Education, or International Baccalaureate
1045 examination.
1046 e. Achieves a passing score on the Florida professional
1047 education competency examination required by state board rule.
1048 3. Meets the requirements of paragraphs (2)(a)-(h) and
1049 completes a professional preparation and education competence
1050 program approved by the department pursuant to paragraph (8)(c).
1051 An applicant who completes the program and is rated highly
1052 effective as determined by his or her performance evaluation
1053 under s. 1012.34 is not required to take or achieve a passing
1054 score on the professional education competency examination in
1055 order to be awarded a professional certificate.
1056 (b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to
1057 any applicant who completes the requirements outlined in
1058 paragraphs (2)(a)-(f) and completes the subject area content
1059 requirements specified in state board rule or demonstrates
1060 mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to subsection (5) and
1061 holds an accredited degree or a degree approved by the
1062 Department of Education at the level required for the subject
1063 area specialization in state board rule.
1064 (c) The department shall issue one nonrenewable 2-year
1065 temporary certificate and one nonrenewable 5-year professional
1066 certificate to a qualified applicant who holds a bachelor’s
1067 degree in the area of speech-language impairment to allow for
1068 completion of a master’s degree program in speech-language
1069 impairment.
1070
1071 Each temporary certificate is valid for 3 school fiscal years
1072 and is nonrenewable. However, the requirement in paragraph
1073 (2)(g) must be met within 1 calendar year of the date of
1074 employment under the temporary certificate. Individuals who are
1075 employed under contract at the end of the 1 calendar year time
1076 period may continue to be employed through the end of the school
1077 year in which they have been contracted. A school district shall
1078 not employ, or continue the employment of, an individual in a
1079 position for which a temporary certificate is required beyond
1080 this time period if the individual has not met the requirement
1081 of paragraph (2)(g). At least 1 year before an individual’s
1082 temporary certificate is set to expire, the department shall
1083 electronically notify the individual of the date on which his or
1084 her certificate will expire and provide a list of each method by
1085 which the qualifications for a professional certificate can be
1086 completed. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
1087 allow the department to extend the validity period of a
1088 temporary certificate for 2 years when the requirements for the
1089 professional certificate, not including the requirement in
1090 paragraph (2)(g), were not completed due to the serious illness
1091 or injury of the applicant, the military service of an
1092 applicant’s spouse, or other extraordinary extenuating
1093 circumstances. The rules must authorize the department to extend
1094 the validity period of a temporary certificate for 1 year if the
1095 certificateholder is rated effective or highly effective based
1096 solely on a student learning growth formula approved by the
1097 Commissioner of Education pursuant to s. 1012.34(8). The
1098 department shall reissue the temporary certificate for 2
1099 additional years upon approval by the Commissioner of Education.
1100 A written request for reissuance of the certificate shall be
1101 submitted by the district school superintendent, the governing
1102 authority of a university lab school, the governing authority of
1103 a state-supported school, or the governing authority of a
1104 private school.
1105 Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 1012.59, Florida
1106 Statutes, is amended to read:
1107 1012.59 Certification fees.—
1108 (1) The State Board of Education, by rule, shall establish
1109 by rule separate fees for applications, examinations,
1110 certification, certification renewal, late renewal,
1111 recordmaking, and recordkeeping, and may establish procedures
1112 for scheduling and administering an examination upon an
1113 applicant’s request. Unless otherwise specified in this
1114 subsection, each fee shall be based on department estimates of
1115 the revenue required to implement the provisions of law with
1116 respect to certification of school personnel. The application
1117 fee is shall be nonrefundable. The rule must specify an Each
1118 examination fee for the following:
1119 (a) Initial registration for first-time test takers.
1120 (b) Retake of the full battery of subtests of an
1121 examination, if applicable. The retake fee for the full battery
1122 of subtests may not exceed the fee for the initial registration.
1123 (c) Retake for each subtest of an examination. The retake
1124 fee for each subtest must be prorated based on the number of
1125 subtests within the examination shall be sufficient to cover the
1126 actual cost of developing and administering the examination.
1127 Section 10. Section 1012.731, Florida Statutes, is amended
1128 to read:
1129 1012.731 The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship
1130 Program.—
1131 (1) The Legislature recognizes that, second only to
1132 parents, teachers play the most critical role within schools in
1133 preparing students to achieve a high level of academic
1134 performance. The Legislature further recognizes that research
1135 has linked student outcomes to a teacher’s own academic
1136 achievement. Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to
1137 recruit, retain, and recognize designate teachers who meet the
1138 needs of this state and have achieved success in the classroom
1139 high academic standards during their own education as Florida’s
1140 best and brightest teacher scholars.
1141 (2) There is created The Florida Best and Brightest Teacher
1142 Scholarship Program is created to be administered by the
1143 Department of Education. The scholarship program shall provide
1144 categorical funding for scholarships to recruitment, retention,
1145 and recognition awards be awarded to classroom teachers, as
1146 defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), to be funded as provided in s.
1147 1011.62(18) who have demonstrated a high level of academic
1148 achievement.
1149 (3)(a) To be eligible for a one-time recruitment award as
1150 specified in the General Appropriations Act, a newly hired
1151 teacher must be a content expert, based on criteria established
1152 by the department, in mathematics, science, computer science,
1153 reading, or civics scholarship in the amount of $6,000, a
1154 classroom teacher must:
1155 1. Have achieved a composite score at or above the 80th
1156 percentile on either the SAT or the ACT based on the National
1157 Percentile Ranks in effect when the classroom teacher took the
1158 assessment and have been evaluated as highly effective pursuant
1159 to s. 1012.34 in the school year immediately preceding the year
1160 in which the scholarship will be awarded, unless the classroom
1161 teacher is newly hired by the district school board and has not
1162 been evaluated pursuant to s. 1012.34.
1163 2. Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, have achieved
1164 a composite score at or above the 77th percentile or, if the
1165 classroom teacher graduated cum laude or higher with a
1166 baccalaureate degree, the 71st percentile on either the SAT,
1167 ACT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT based on the National Percentile
1168 Ranks in effect when the classroom teacher took the assessment;
1169 and have been evaluated as highly effective pursuant to s.
1170 1012.34, or have been evaluated as highly effective based on a
1171 commissioner-approved student learning growth formula pursuant
1172 to s. 1012.34(8), in the school year immediately preceding the
1173 year in which the scholarship will be awarded, unless the
1174 classroom teacher is newly hired by the district school board
1175 and has not been evaluated pursuant to s. 1012.34.
1176 (b) To be eligible for a retention award as specified in
1177 the General Appropriations Act, a teacher must have been rated
1178 as highly effective or effective the preceding year pursuant to
1179 s. 1012.34, and teach in a school for 2 consecutive school
1180 years, including the current year, that has improved an average
1181 of 3 percentage points or more in the percentage of total
1182 possible points achieved for determining school grades over the
1183 prior 3 years
1184 1. In order to demonstrate eligibility for an award, an
1185 eligible classroom teacher must submit to the school district,
1186 no later than November 1, an official record of his or her
1187 qualifying assessment score and, beginning with the 2020-2021
1188 school year, an official transcript demonstrating that he or she
1189 graduated cum laude or higher with a baccalaureate degree, if
1190 applicable. Once a classroom teacher is deemed eligible by the
1191 school district, the teacher shall remain eligible as long as he
1192 or she remains employed by the school district as a classroom
1193 teacher at the time of the award and receives an annual
1194 performance evaluation rating of highly effective pursuant to s.
1195 1012.34 or is evaluated as highly effective based on a
1196 commissioner-approved student learning growth formula pursuant
1197 to s. 1012.34(8) for the 2019-2020 school year or thereafter.
1198 2. A school district employee who is no longer a classroom
1199 teacher may receive an award if the employee was a classroom
1200 teacher in the prior school year, was rated highly effective,
1201 and met the requirements of this section as a classroom teacher.
1202 (c) To be eligible for a recognition award, a teacher must
1203 be rated as highly effective and be selected by his or her
1204 school principal, based on performance criteria and policies
1205 adopted by the district school board. Recognition awards must be
1206 provided from funds remaining under the allocation provided in
1207 s. 1011.62(18) after the payment of all teacher recruitment and
1208 retention awards and principal awards authorized under this
1209 section and the General Appropriations Act Notwithstanding the
1210 requirements of this subsection, for the 2017-2018, 2018-2019,
1211 and 2019-2020 school years, any classroom teacher who:
1212 1. Was evaluated as highly effective pursuant to s. 1012.34
1213 in the school year immediately preceding the year in which the
1214 scholarship will be awarded shall receive a scholarship of
1215 $1200, including a classroom teacher who received an award
1216 pursuant to paragraph (a).
1217 2. Was evaluated as effective pursuant to s. 1012.34 in the
1218 school year immediately preceding the year in which the
1219 scholarship will be awarded a scholarship of up to $800. If the
1220 number of eligible classroom teachers under this subparagraph
1221 exceeds the total allocation, the department shall prorate the
1222 per-teacher scholarship amount.
1223
1224 This paragraph expires July 1, 2020.
1225 (4) Annually, by December 1, each school district shall
1226 submit to the department:
1227 (a) The number of eligible classroom teachers who qualify
1228 for the scholarship.
1229 (b) The name and master school identification number (MSID)
1230 of each school in the district to which an eligible classroom
1231 teacher is assigned.
1232 (c) The name of the school principal of each eligible
1233 classroom teacher’s school if he or she has served as the
1234 school’s principal for at least 2 consecutive school years
1235 including the current school year.
1236 (5) Annually, by February 1, the department shall disburse
1237 scholarship funds to each school district for each eligible
1238 classroom teacher to receive a scholarship in accordance with
1239 this section.
1240 (6) Annually, by April 1, each school district shall award
1241 the scholarship to each eligible classroom teacher.
1242 (7) For purposes of this section, the term “school
1243 district” includes the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
1244 and charter school governing boards.
1245 Section 11. Section 1012.732, Florida Statutes, is amended
1246 to read:
1247 1012.732 The Florida Best and Brightest Principal
1248 Scholarship Program.—
1249 (1) The Legislature recognizes that the most effective
1250 school principals establish a safe and supportive school
1251 environment for students and faculty. Research shows that these
1252 principals increase student learning by providing opportunities
1253 for the professional growth, collaboration, and autonomy that
1254 classroom teachers need to become and remain highly effective
1255 educational professionals. As a result, these principals are
1256 able to recruit and retain more of the best classroom teachers
1257 and improve student outcomes at their schools, including schools
1258 serving low-income and high-need student populations. Therefore,
1259 it is the intent of the Legislature to designate school
1260 principals whose schools make noticeable academic improvement
1261 school faculty has a high percentage of classroom teachers who
1262 are designated as Florida’s best and brightest teacher scholars
1263 pursuant to s. 1012.731 as Florida’s best and brightest
1264 principals.
1265 (2) There is created The Florida Best and Brightest
1266 Principal Scholarship Program is created to be administered by
1267 the Department of Education. The program shall provide awards to
1268 categorical funding for scholarships to be awarded to school
1269 principals, as defined in s. 1012.01(3)(c)1., to be funded as
1270 provided in s. 1011.62(18) who have recruited and retained a
1271 high percentage of best and brightest teachers.
1272 (3) A school principal identified pursuant to s.
1273 1012.731(4)(c) is eligible to receive an award, as specified in
1274 the General Appropriations Act, a scholarship under this section
1275 if he or she has served as school principal at his or her school
1276 for at least 4 2 consecutive school years including the current
1277 school year and the school has improved an average of 3
1278 percentage points or more in the percentage of total possible
1279 points achieved for determining school grades over the prior 3
1280 years his or her school has a ratio of best and brightest
1281 teachers to other classroom teachers that is at the 80th
1282 percentile or higher for schools within the same grade group,
1283 statewide, including elementary schools, middle schools, high
1284 schools, and schools with a combination of grade levels.
1285 (4) Annually, by February 1, the department shall identify
1286 eligible school principals and disburse funds to each school
1287 district for each eligible school principal to receive a
1288 scholarship. A scholarship of $5,000 must be awarded to every
1289 eligible school principal assigned to a Title I school and a
1290 scholarship of $4,000 to every eligible school principal who is
1291 not assigned to a Title I school.
1292 (5) Annually, by April 1, each school district must award a
1293 scholarship to each eligible school principal.
1294 (6) A school district must provide a best and brightest
1295 principal with the additional authority and responsibilities
1296 provided in s. 1012.28(8) for a minimum of 2 years.
1297 (7) For purposes of this section, the term “school
1298 district” includes the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
1299 and charter school governing boards.
1300 Section 12. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1) of
1301 section 1013.31, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1302 1013.31 Educational plant survey; localized need
1303 assessment; PECO project funding.—
1304 (1) At least every 5 years, each board shall arrange for an
1305 educational plant survey, to aid in formulating plans for
1306 housing the educational program and student population, faculty,
1307 administrators, staff, and auxiliary and ancillary services of
1308 the district or campus, including consideration of the local
1309 comprehensive plan. The Department of Education shall document
1310 the need for additional career and adult education programs and
1311 the continuation of existing programs before facility
1312 construction or renovation related to career or adult education
1313 may be included in the educational plant survey of a school
1314 district or Florida College System institution that delivers
1315 career or adult education programs. Information used by the
1316 Department of Education to establish facility needs must
1317 include, but need not be limited to, labor market data, needs
1318 analysis, and information submitted by the school district or
1319 Florida College System institution.
1320 (a) Educational plant survey and localized need assessment
1321 for capital outlay purposes.—A survey recommendation is not
1322 required when a district uses may only use funds from the
1323 following sources for educational, auxiliary, and ancillary
1324 plant capital outlay purposes without needing a survey
1325 recommendation:
1326 1. The local capital outlay improvement fund, consisting of
1327 funds that come from and are a part of the district’s basic
1328 operating budget;
1329 2. A taxpayer-approved bond referendum, to fund
1330 construction of If a board decides to build an educational,
1331 auxiliary, or ancillary plant facility without a survey
1332 recommendation and the taxpayers approve a bond referendum, the
1333 voted bond referendum;
1334 3. One-half cent sales surtax revenue;
1335 4. One cent local governmental surtax revenue;
1336 5. Impact fees; and
1337 6. Private gifts or donations; and
1338 7. The district school tax levied pursuant to s.
1339 1011.71(2).
1340 (d) Review and validation.—The Department of Education
1341 shall review and validate the surveys of school districts and
1342 Florida College System institutions, and the Chancellor of the
1343 State University System shall review and validate the surveys of
1344 universities, and any amendments thereto for compliance with the
1345 requirements of this chapter and shall recommend those in
1346 compliance for approval by the State Board of Education or the
1347 Board of Governors, as appropriate. Annually, the department
1348 shall perform an in-depth analysis of a representative sample of
1349 each survey of recommended needs for five districts selected by
1350 the commissioner from among districts with the largest need-to
1351 revenue ratio. For the purpose of this subsection, the need-to
1352 revenue ratio is determined by dividing the total 5-year cost of
1353 projects listed on the district survey by the total 5-year fixed
1354 capital outlay revenue projections from state and local sources
1355 as determined by the department. The commissioner may direct
1356 fixed capital outlay funds provided from general revenue or from
1357 state trust funds to be withheld from districts until such time
1358 as the survey accurately projects facilities needs.
1359 Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and paragraphs
1360 (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (6) of section 1013.64, Florida
1361 Statutes, are amended to read:
1362 1013.64 Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs;
1363 construction cost maximums for school district capital
1364 projects.—Allocations from the Public Education Capital Outlay
1365 and Debt Service Trust Fund to the various boards for capital
1366 outlay projects shall be determined as follows:
1367 (2)(a) The department shall establish, as a part of the
1368 Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund, a
1369 separate account, in an amount determined by the Legislature, to
1370 be known as the “Special Facility Construction Account.” The
1371 Special Facility Construction Account shall be used to provide
1372 necessary construction funds to school districts which have
1373 urgent construction needs but which lack sufficient resources at
1374 present, and cannot reasonably anticipate sufficient resources
1375 within the period of the next 3 years, for these purposes from
1376 currently authorized sources of capital outlay revenue. A school
1377 district requesting funding from the Special Facility
1378 Construction Account shall submit one specific construction
1379 project, not to exceed one complete educational plant, to the
1380 Special Facility Construction Committee. A district may not
1381 receive funding for more than one approved project in any 3-year
1382 period or while any portion of the district’s participation
1383 requirement is outstanding. The first year of the 3-year period
1384 shall be the first year a district receives an appropriation.
1385 The department shall encourage a construction program that
1386 reduces the average size of schools in the district. The request
1387 must meet the following criteria to be considered by the
1388 committee:
1389 1. The project must be deemed a critical need and must be
1390 recommended for funding by the Special Facility Construction
1391 Committee. Before developing construction plans for the proposed
1392 facility, the district school board must request a
1393 preapplication review by the Special Facility Construction
1394 Committee or a project review subcommittee convened by the chair
1395 of the committee to include two representatives of the
1396 department and two staff members from school districts not
1397 eligible to participate in the program. A school district may
1398 request a preapplication review at any time; however, if the
1399 district school board seeks inclusion in the department’s next
1400 annual capital outlay legislative budget request, the
1401 preapplication review request must be made before February 1.
1402 Within 90 days after receiving the preapplication review
1403 request, the committee or subcommittee must meet in the school
1404 district to review the project proposal and existing facilities.
1405 To determine whether the proposed project is a critical need,
1406 the committee or subcommittee shall consider, at a minimum, the
1407 capacity of all existing facilities within the district as
1408 determined by the Florida Inventory of School Houses; the
1409 district’s pattern of student growth; the district’s existing
1410 and projected capital outlay full-time equivalent student
1411 enrollment as determined by the demographic, revenue, and
1412 education estimating conferences established in s. 216.136; the
1413 district’s existing satisfactory student stations; the use of
1414 all existing district property and facilities; grade level
1415 configurations; and any other information that may affect the
1416 need for the proposed project.
1417 2. The construction project must be recommended in the most
1418 recent survey or survey amendment cooperatively prepared by the
1419 district and the department, and approved by the department
1420 under the rules of the State Board of Education. If a district
1421 employs a consultant in the preparation of a survey or survey
1422 amendment, the consultant may not be employed by or receive
1423 compensation from a third party that designs or constructs a
1424 project recommended by the survey.
1425 3. The construction project must appear on the district’s
1426 approved project priority list under the rules of the State
1427 Board of Education.
1428 4. The district must have selected and had approved a site
1429 for the construction project in compliance with s. 1013.36 and
1430 the rules of the State Board of Education.
1431 5. The district shall have developed a district school
1432 board adopted list of facilities that do not exceed the norm for
1433 net square feet occupancy requirements under the State
1434 Requirements for Educational Facilities, using all possible
1435 programmatic combinations for multiple use of space to obtain
1436 maximum daily use of all spaces within the facility under
1437 consideration.
1438 6. Upon construction, the total cost per student station,
1439 including change orders, must not exceed the cost per student
1440 station as provided in subsection (6) except for cost overruns
1441 created by a disaster as defined in s. 252.34 or an
1442 unforeseeable circumstance beyond the district’s control as
1443 determined by the Special Facility Construction Committee.
1444 7. There shall be an agreement signed by the district
1445 school board stating that it will advertise for bids within 30
1446 days of receipt of its encumbrance authorization from the
1447 department.
1448 8. For construction projects for which Special Facilities
1449 Construction Account funding is sought before the 2019-2020
1450 fiscal year, the district shall, at the time of the request and
1451 for a continuing period necessary to meet the district’s
1452 participation requirement, levy the maximum millage against its
1453 nonexempt assessed property value as allowed in s. 1011.71(2) or
1454 shall raise an equivalent amount of revenue from the school
1455 capital outlay surtax authorized under s. 212.055(6). Beginning
1456 with construction projects for which Special Facilities
1457 Construction Account funding is sought in the 2019-2020 fiscal
1458 year, the district shall, for a minimum of 3 years before
1459 submitting the request and for a continuing period necessary to
1460 meet its participation requirement, levy the maximum millage
1461 against the district’s nonexempt assessed property value as
1462 authorized under s. 1011.71(2) or shall raise an equivalent
1463 amount of revenue from the school capital outlay surtax
1464 authorized under s. 212.055(6). Any district with a new or
1465 active project, funded under the provisions of this subsection,
1466 shall be required to budget no more than the value of 1 mill per
1467 year to the project until the district’s participation
1468 requirement relating to the local discretionary capital
1469 improvement millage or the equivalent amount of revenue from the
1470 school capital outlay surtax is satisfied.
1471 9. If a contract has not been signed 90 days after the
1472 advertising of bids, the funding for the specific project shall
1473 revert to the Special Facility New Construction Account to be
1474 reallocated to other projects on the list. However, an
1475 additional 90 days may be granted by the commissioner.
1476 10. The department shall certify the inability of the
1477 district to fund the survey-recommended project over a
1478 continuous 3-year period using projected capital outlay revenue
1479 derived from s. 9(d), Art. XII of the State Constitution, as
1480 amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this section, and s. 1011.71(2).
1481 11. The district shall have on file with the department an
1482 adopted resolution acknowledging its commitment to satisfy its
1483 participation requirement, which is equivalent to all
1484 unencumbered and future revenue acquired from s. 9(d), Art. XII
1485 of the State Constitution, as amended, paragraph (3)(a) of this
1486 section, and s. 1011.71(2), in the year of the initial
1487 appropriation and for the 2 years immediately following the
1488 initial appropriation.
1489 12. Phase I Final phase III plans must be approved
1490 certified by the district school board as being complete and in
1491 compliance with the building and life safety codes before June 1
1492 of the year the application is made.
1493 (6)
1494 (b)1. A district school board may not use funds from state
1495 sources the following sources: Public Education Capital Outlay
1496 and Debt Service Trust Fund; School District and Community
1497 College District Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund;
1498 Classrooms First Program funds provided in s. 1013.68; nonvoted
1499 1.5-mill levy of ad valorem property taxes provided in s.
1500 1011.71(2); Classrooms for Kids Program funds provided in s.
1501 1013.735; District Effort Recognition Program funds provided in
1502 s. 1013.736; or High Growth District Capital Outlay Assistance
1503 Grant Program funds provided in s. 1013.738 for any new
1504 construction of educational plant space with a total cost per
1505 student station, including change orders, which exceeds that
1506 equals more than:
1507 a. $17,952 for an elementary school,
1508 b. $19,386 for a middle school, or
1509 c. $25,181 for a high school,
1510
1511 (January 2006) as adjusted annually to reflect increases or
1512 decreases in the Consumer Price Index. These restrictions do not
1513 apply to local funds as specified in s. 1013.31(1)(a). The
1514 department, in conjunction with the Office of Economic and
1515 Demographic Research, shall review and revise the cost per
1516 student station limits to reflect actual construction costs by
1517 December 1, 2019, and every 3 years thereafter. The adjusted
1518 cost per student station shall be used by the department for
1519 computation of the statewide average costs per student station
1520 for each instructional level pursuant to paragraph (d). The
1521 department shall also collaborate with the Office of Economic
1522 and Demographic Research to select an industry-recognized
1523 construction index to replace the Consumer Price Index by
1524 December 1, 2019, adjusted annually to reflect changes in the
1525 construction index.
1526 2. School districts shall maintain accurate documentation
1527 related to the costs of all new construction of educational
1528 plant space reported to the Department of Education pursuant to
1529 paragraph (d). The Auditor General shall review the
1530 documentation maintained by the school districts and verify
1531 compliance with the limits under this paragraph during its
1532 scheduled operational audits of the school district. The
1533 department shall make the final determination on district
1534 compliance based on the recommendation of the Auditor General.
1535 3. Effective July 1, 2017, in addition to the funding
1536 sources listed in subparagraph 1., a district school board may
1537 not use funds from any sources for new construction of
1538 educational plant space with a total cost per student station,
1539 including change orders, which equals more than the current
1540 adjusted amounts provided in sub-subparagraphs 1.a.-c. which
1541 shall subsequently be adjusted annually to reflect increases or
1542 decreases in the Consumer Price Index. However, if a contract
1543 has been executed for architectural and design services or for
1544 construction management services before July 1, 2017, a district
1545 school board may use funds from any source for the new
1546 construction of educational plant space and such funds are
1547 exempt from the total cost per student station requirements.
1548 4. A district school board must not use funds from the
1549 Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund or
1550 the School District and Community College District Capital
1551 Outlay and Debt Service Trust Fund for any new construction of
1552 an ancillary plant that exceeds 70 percent of the average cost
1553 per square foot of new construction for all schools.
1554 (c) Except as otherwise provided, new construction for
1555 which a contract has been executed for architectural and design
1556 services or for construction management services by a district
1557 school board on or after July 1, 2017, may not exceed the cost
1558 per student station as provided in paragraph (b). A school
1559 district that exceeds the cost per student station provided in
1560 paragraph (b), as determined by the Auditor General, shall be
1561 subject to sanctions. If the Auditor General determines that the
1562 cost per student station overage is de minimus or due to
1563 extraordinary circumstances outside the control of the district,
1564 the sanctions shall not apply. The sanctions are as follows:
1565 1. The school district shall be ineligible for allocations
1566 from the Public Education Capital Outlay and Debt Service Trust
1567 Fund for the next 3 years in which the school district would
1568 have received allocations had the violation not occurred.
1569 2. The school district shall be subject to the supervision
1570 of a district capital outlay oversight committee. The oversight
1571 committee is authorized to approve all capital outlay
1572 expenditures of the school district, including new construction,
1573 renovations, and remodeling, for 3 fiscal years following the
1574 violation.
1575 a. Each oversight committee shall be composed of the
1576 following:
1577 (I) One appointee of the Commissioner of Education who has
1578 significant financial management, school facilities
1579 construction, or related experience.
1580 (II) One appointee of the office of the state attorney with
1581 jurisdiction over the district.
1582 (III) One appointee of the Chief Financial Officer who is a
1583 licensed certified public accountant.
1584 b. An appointee to the oversight committee may not be
1585 employed by the school district; be a relative, as defined in s.
1586 1002.33(24)(a)2., of any school district employee; or be an
1587 elected official. Each appointee must sign an affidavit
1588 attesting to these conditions and affirming that no conflict of
1589 interest exists in his or her oversight role.
1590 (d) The department shall:
1591 1. Compute for each calendar year the statewide average
1592 construction costs for facilities serving each instructional
1593 level, for relocatable educational facilities, for
1594 administrative facilities, and for other ancillary and auxiliary
1595 facilities. The department shall compute the statewide average
1596 costs per student station for each instructional level.
1597 2. Annually review the actual completed construction costs
1598 of educational facilities in each school district. For any
1599 school district in which the total actual cost per student
1600 station, including change orders, exceeds the statewide limits
1601 established in paragraph (b), the school district shall report
1602 to the department the actual cost per student station and the
1603 reason for the school district’s inability to adhere to the
1604 limits established in paragraph (b). The department shall
1605 collect all such reports and shall provide these reports to the
1606 Auditor General for verification purposes.
1607
1608 Cost per student station includes contract costs, legal and
1609 administrative costs, fees of architects and engineers,
1610 furniture and equipment, and site improvement costs, related
1611 offsite improvement costs, the cost of complying with public
1612 shelter and hurricane hardening requirements, and the cost of
1613 any security enhancements, including, but not limited to, the
1614 cost for securing entries, checkpoint construction, lighting
1615 specifically designed for entry point security, security
1616 cameras, automatic locks and locking devices, electronic
1617 security systems, fencing designed to prevent intruder entry
1618 into a building, bullet-proof glass, or other capital
1619 construction items approved by the school safety specialist to
1620 ensure building security for new educational, auxiliary, or
1621 ancillary facilities. Cost per student station does not include
1622 the cost of purchasing or leasing the site for the construction
1623 or the cost of related offsite improvements. Cost per student
1624 station also does not include the cost for securing entries,
1625 checkpoint construction, lighting specifically designed for
1626 entry point security, security cameras, automatic locks and
1627 locking devices, electronic security systems, fencing designed
1628 to prevent intruder entry into a building, bullet-proof glass,
1629 or other capital construction items approved by the school
1630 safety specialist to ensure building security for new
1631 educational, auxiliary, or ancillary facilities; costs for these
1632 items must be below 2 percent per student station.
1633 Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.