Florida Senate - 2023 SB 1564
By Senator Stewart
17-01443-23 20231564__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Year-round School Pilot
3 Program; creating s. 1003.07, F.S.; creating the Year
4 round School Pilot Program for a period of 4 school
5 years beginning with a specified school year;
6 providing the purpose of the program; providing an
7 application process for school districts seeking to
8 participate in the program; requiring the Commissioner
9 of Education to select a certain number of school
10 districts to participate in the program; providing
11 requirements for participating school districts;
12 requiring the commissioner to submit a report to the
13 Governor and Legislature; providing requirements for
14 the report; authorizing the State Board of Education
15 to adopt rules; providing an effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Section 1003.07, Florida Statutes, is created to
20 read:
21 1003.07 Year-round School Pilot Program.—Beginning with the
22 2024-2025 school year, the Year-round School Pilot Program is
23 created for a period of 4 school years. The purpose of the
24 program is for the Department of Education to assist school
25 districts in establishing a year-round school program within at
26 least one elementary school in a district and to study the
27 issues, benefits, and schedule options for instituting year
28 round school programs for all students.
29 (1)(a) School districts shall apply to the Department of
30 Education, in a format and by a date prescribed by the
31 department, to participate in the program. The application must
32 include:
33 1. The number of students enrolled in the elementary school
34 or schools that will implement a year-round school program.
35 2. The academic performance of the students enrolled in
36 such school or schools.
37 3. The rate of absenteeism and tardiness of students
38 enrolled in such school or schools.
39 4. The commitment of such school’s or schools’
40 instructional personnel and students to the year-round school
41 program.
42 5. An explanation of how the implementation of the year
43 round school program will benefit the students.
44 (b) The Commissioner of Education shall select five school
45 districts to participate in the program. To the extent possible,
46 the commissioner shall select school districts that represent a
47 variety of demographics, including, but not limited to, urban,
48 suburban, and rural school districts.
49 (2) A school district selected for a year-round school
50 program shall:
51 (a) Implement a single-track or multi-track schedule.
52 (b) Provide data to the department to allow for:
53 1. An assessment of the academic and safety benefits
54 associated with establishing a year-round school program.
55 2. An evaluation of any potential barriers for the school
56 district upon implementation of a year-round school program,
57 including, but not limited to:
58 a. Issues related to the commitment of instructional
59 personnel and students.
60 b. The provision of services during the summer months.
61 c. School district budgeting.
62 d. Parental engagement and participation.
63 e. Coordination with community services.
64 f. Student assessment and progression practices.
65 g. Student transportation.
66 3. The consideration of strategies for addressing such
67 potential barriers.
68 (3) Upon completion of the program, the commissioner shall
69 provide a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
70 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must
71 include:
72 (a) The number of students enrolled at participating
73 schools.
74 (b) The number of students enrolled at participating
75 schools before and after the implementation of the year-round
76 school program.
77 (c) Any health, academic, and safety benefits for students
78 or instructional personnel from the implementation of the year
79 round school program.
80 (d) An evaluation of any potential barriers for school
81 districts and families associated with a year-round school
82 program.
83 (e) The commissioner’s recommendation on the adoption of
84 year-round school programs for all students.
85 (4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
86 administer the program.
87 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.