Florida Senate - 2021                                    SB 1016
       
       
        
       By Senator Baxley
       
       
       
       
       
       12-00797A-21                                          20211016__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to digital learning; amending s.
    3         1002.321, F.S.; revising legislative findings to
    4         include digital devices and home-based Internet
    5         connectivity in infrastructure as necessary for a
    6         high-quality digital learning environment; requiring
    7         each school district to adopt a digital learning plan;
    8         specifying the requirements for such plan; requiring
    9         school districts to submit plans to the Department of
   10         Education by a certain date in a format prescribed by
   11         the department; requiring the department to develop
   12         one or more state term contracts for a specified
   13         purpose; amending ss. 1003.01 and 1003.499, F.S.;
   14         conforming cross-references; providing an effective
   15         date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Present subsections (3) through (6) of section
   20  1002.321, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4)
   21  through (7), respectively, a new subsection (3) and subsection
   22  (8) are added to that section, and paragraph (i) of subsection
   23  (2) of that section is amended, to read:
   24         1002.321 Digital learning.—
   25         (2) ELEMENTS OF HIGH-QUALITY DIGITAL LEARNING.—The
   26  Legislature finds that each student should have access to a
   27  high-quality digital learning environment that provides:
   28         (i) Infrastructure, including digital devices and home
   29  based Internet connectivity, that supports digital learning.
   30         (3) DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN.—Each school district shall adopt
   31  a digital learning plan.
   32         (a)The plan must include the following:
   33         1. Identification of the number of low-income students
   34  without access to a digital device that meets the specifications
   35  of the district school board.
   36         2. Identification of the number of low-income students
   37  without high-speed broadband Internet connectivity at home.
   38         3. Provision of laptops or tablets and Wi-Fi access points
   39  or other Internet connectivity support to students identified in
   40  subparagraphs 1. and 2.
   41         4. A list of training for teachers and parents of students
   42  who need digital literacy support.
   43         (b) By October 1, 2021, and by March 1 of each year
   44  thereafter, on a date determined by the department, each
   45  district school board shall submit its plan to the department in
   46  a format prescribed by the department.
   47         (8) STATE CONTRACT.—The department shall develop one or
   48  more state term contracts to be used by school districts in
   49  acquiring digital devices.
   50         Section 2. Subsection (14) of section 1003.01, Florida
   51  Statutes, is amended to read:
   52         1003.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   53         (14) “Core-curricula courses” means:
   54         (a) Courses in language arts/reading, mathematics, social
   55  studies, and science in prekindergarten through grade 3,
   56  excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (15);
   57         (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are
   58  measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses
   59  required for middle school promotion, excluding extracurricular
   60  courses pursuant to subsection (15);
   61         (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are
   62  measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that
   63  are specifically identified by name in statute as required for
   64  high school graduation and that are not measured by state
   65  assessment, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to
   66  subsection (15);
   67         (d) Exceptional student education courses; and
   68         (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses.
   69  
   70  The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of
   71  designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size
   72  requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of the State
   73  Constitution. This term does not include courses offered under
   74  ss. 1002.321(5)(e) ss. 1002.321(4)(e), 1002.33(7)(a)2.b.,
   75  1002.37, 1002.45, and 1003.499.
   76         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 1003.499, Florida
   77  Statutes, is amended to read:
   78         1003.499 Florida Approved Courses and Tests (FACT)
   79  Initiative.—
   80         (2) FLORIDA APPROVED COURSES.—The Department of Education
   81  shall annually publish online a list of providers approved to
   82  offer Florida approved courses which shall be listed in the
   83  online catalog pursuant to s. 1002.321(7) s. 1002.321(6).
   84         (a) As used in this section, the term “Florida approved
   85  courses” means online courses provided by individuals which
   86  include, but are not limited to, massive open online courses or
   87  remedial education associated with the courses that are measured
   88  pursuant to s. 1008.22. Massive open online courses may be
   89  authorized in the following subject areas: Algebra I, biology,
   90  geometry, and civics. Courses may be applied toward requirements
   91  for promotion or graduation in whole, in subparts, or in a
   92  combination of whole and subparts. A student may not be required
   93  to repeat subparts that are satisfactorily completed.
   94         (b) A Florida approved course must be annually identified,
   95  approved, published, and shared for consideration by interested
   96  students and school districts. The Commissioner of Education
   97  shall approve each Florida approved course for application in K
   98  12 public schools in accordance with rules of the State Board of
   99  Education.
  100         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.