Florida Senate - 2024 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 7038
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LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
01/31/2024 .
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The Committee on Appropriations (Simon) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Present subsections (4) and (5) of section
6 1002.321, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
7 and (6), respectively, a new subsection (4) is added to that
8 section, and subsection (3) of that section is amended, to read:
9 1002.321 Digital learning.—
10 (3) CUSTOMIZED AND ACCELERATED LEARNING.—The Legislature
11 finds that artificial intelligence provides opportunities to
12 customize and accelerate learning for students and reduce
13 teacher workload. A school district may receive grant funds for
14 subscription fees and professional learning to support and
15 accelerate learning for students in grades 6 through 12 during
16 the school day. Grant recipients must select an artificial
17 intelligence platform that:
18 (a) Uses large language models based on GPT-4, its
19 equivalent, or a successor, and is on a closed system.
20 (b) Provides professional learning to teachers.
21 (c) Provides one-on-one tutoring aligned to the Benchmarks
22 for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for reading
23 and mathematics.
24 (d) Provides standards-aligned lesson plans and provides
25 insights on student progress.
26 (e) Provides district and school-level reporting and
27 parental access to artificial intelligence interactions.
28 (4) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.—A school district must establish
29 multiple opportunities for student participation in part-time
30 and full-time kindergarten through grade 12 virtual instruction.
31 Options include, but are not limited to:
32 (a) School district operated part-time or full-time virtual
33 instruction programs under s. 1002.45(1)(b) for kindergarten
34 through grade 12 students enrolled in the school district. A
35 full-time program shall operate under its own Master School
36 Identification Number.
37 (b) Florida Virtual School instructional services
38 authorized under s. 1002.37.
39 (c) Blended learning instruction provided by charter
40 schools authorized under s. 1002.33.
41 (d) Virtual charter school instruction authorized under s.
42 1002.33.
43 (e) Courses delivered in the traditional school setting by
44 personnel providing direct instruction through virtual
45 instruction or through blended learning courses consisting of
46 both traditional classroom and online instructional techniques
47 pursuant to s. 1003.498.
48 (f) Virtual courses offered in the course code directory to
49 students within the school district or to students in other
50 school districts throughout the state pursuant to s. 1003.498.
51 Section 2. Subsection (2), paragraph (a) of subsection (3),
52 subsections (4) and (6), and paragraphs (c) and (e) through (h)
53 of subsection (7) of section 1002.411, Florida Statutes, are
54 amended to read:
55 1002.411 New Worlds Scholarship accounts.—
56 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—Contingent upon available funds, and on a
57 first-come, first-served basis, each student who is enrolled in
58 the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s.
59 1002.53 or a Florida public school in kindergarten through grade
60 5 is eligible for a scholarship account if the student:
61 (a) Exhibits a substantial deficiency in early literacy
62 skills based upon the results of the most recent progress
63 monitoring administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9), has a
64 substantial reading deficiency or exhibits characteristics of
65 dyslexia as identified under s. 1008.25(5)(a), or scored below a
66 Level 3 on the most recent statewide, standardized English
67 Language Arts (ELA) assessment in the prior school year. An
68 eligible student who is classified as an English Language
69 Learner and is enrolled in a program or receiving services that
70 are specifically designed to meet the instructional needs of
71 English Language Learner students shall receive priority.
72 (b) Exhibits a substantial deficiency in early mathematics
73 skills based upon the results of the most recent progress
74 monitoring administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9), has a
75 substantial deficiency in mathematics or the characteristics of
76 dyscalculia as identified under s. 1008.25(6)(a), or scored
77 below a Level 3 on the most recent statewide, standardized
78 Mathematics assessment in the prior school year.
79 (3) PARENT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PARTICIPATION.—
80 (a) For an eligible student to receive a scholarship
81 account, the student’s parent must:
82 1. Submit an application to an eligible nonprofit
83 scholarship-funding organization by the deadline established by
84 such organization; and
85 2. If available, use the administrator’s system to make
86 direct purchases Submit eligible expenses to the eligible
87 nonprofit scholarship-funding organization for reimbursement of
88 qualifying expenditures, which may include:
89 a. Instructional materials.
90 b. Curriculum. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term
91 “curriculum” means a complete course of study for a particular
92 content area or grade level, including any required supplemental
93 materials and associated online instruction.
94 c. Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services
95 provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s
96 certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who holds a
97 baccalaureate or graduate degree in the subject area, a person
98 who holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s.
99 1012.57, or a person who has demonstrated a mastery of subject
100 area knowledge pursuant to s. 1012.56(5), a person who holds a
101 micro-credential under s. 1003.485, or, for a prekindergarten
102 student, a person who holds a credential under s.
103 1002.55(3)(c)1. or an educational credential under s.
104 1002.55(4)(a) or (b).
105 d. Fees for summer education programs designed to improve
106 reading, literacy, or mathematics skills.
107 e. Fees for after-school education programs designed to
108 improve reading, literacy, or mathematics skills.
109
110 A provider of any services receiving payments pursuant to this
111 subparagraph may not share any moneys from the scholarship with,
112 or provide a refund or rebate of any moneys from such
113 scholarship to, the parent or participating student in any
114 manner. A parent, student, or provider of any services may not
115 bill an insurance company, Medicaid, or any other agency for the
116 same services that are paid for using scholarship funds.
117 (4) ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATION.—An eligible nonprofit
118 scholarship-funding organization as defined in s. 1002.395(2)
119 shall be the administrator and participating in the Florida Tax
120 Credit Scholarship Program established by s. 1002.395 may
121 establish scholarship accounts for eligible students in
122 accordance with the requirements of eligible nonprofit
123 scholarship-funding organizations under this chapter.
124 (6) SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PRIVATE PREKINDERGARTEN PROVIDER
125 OBLIGATIONS; PARENTAL OPTIONS.—
126 (a) Each By September 30, the school district and private
127 prekindergarten provider shall notify the parent of each
128 eligible student of the process to request and receive a
129 scholarship, subject to available funds, when providing results
130 from the standardized coordinated screening and progress
131 monitoring pursuant to s. 1008.25(9)(c).
132 (b) A school district may not prohibit instructional
133 personnel from providing services pursuant to this section on
134 the instructional personnel’s school campus outside regular work
135 hours, subject to school district policies for safety and
136 security operations to protect students, instructional
137 personnel, and educational facilities.
138 (7) ACCOUNT FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
139 (c) Upon notification from the eligible nonprofit
140 scholarship-funding organization that a student being has been
141 determined eligible for a scholarship, the department shall,
142 within 45 days, release the student’s scholarship funds to such
143 organization to be deposited into the student’s account.
144 (e) The eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization
145 may develop a system that permits eligible students to use
146 program funds to make direct purchases of qualifying
147 expenditures for payment of scholarship funds by funds transfer,
148 including, but not limited to, debit cards, electronic payment
149 cards, or any other means of payment that the department deems
150 to be commercially viable or cost-effective. A student’s
151 scholarship award may not be reduced for debit card or
152 electronic payment fees. Commodities or services related to the
153 development of such a system shall be procured by competitive
154 solicitation unless they are purchased from a state term
155 contract pursuant to s. 287.056.
156 (f) Payment of the scholarship shall be made by the
157 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization no less
158 frequently than on a quarterly basis.
159 (g) Moneys received pursuant to this section do not
160 constitute taxable income to the qualified student or his or her
161 parent.
162 (g)(h) A student’s scholarship account must be closed and
163 any remaining funds shall revert to the state after:
164 1. Denial or revocation of scholarship eligibility by the
165 commissioner for fraud or abuse, including, but not limited to,
166 the student or student’s parent accepting any payment, refund,
167 or rebate, in any manner, from a provider of any services
168 received pursuant to subsection (3); or
169 2. Three consecutive fiscal years in which an account has
170 been inactive.
171 Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (g) of subsection (1),
172 paragraph (d) of subsection (2), subsection (3), paragraphs (f),
173 (i), and (j) of subsection (4), and paragraphs (a) and (c) of
174 subsection (6) of section 1003.485, Florida Statutes, are
175 amended to read:
176 1003.485 The New Worlds Reading Initiative.—
177 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
178 (a) “Administrator” means the a state University of Florida
179 Lastinger Center for Learning registered with the department
180 under s. 1002.395(15)(i) and designated to administer the
181 initiative under paragraph (3)(a).
182 (g) “Micro-credential” means evidence-based professional
183 learning development activities grounded in the science of
184 reading which are competency-based, personalized, and on-demand.
185 Educators must demonstrate their competence via evidence
186 submitted and reviewed by trained evaluators.
187 (2) NEW WORLDS READING INITIATIVE; PURPOSE.—The purpose of
188 the New Worlds Reading Initiative established under the
189 department is to instill a love of reading by providing high
190 quality, free books to students in prekindergarten through grade
191 5 who are reading below grade level and to improve the literacy
192 skills of students in prekindergarten through grade 12. The New
193 Worlds Reading Initiative shall consist of:
194 (d) The New Worlds micro-credential program established
195 under this section which emphasizes strong core instruction and
196 a tiered model of reading interventions for struggling readers.
197 (3) DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.—The department shall:
198 (a) Designate an administrator to implement the initiative
199 and to receive funding as provided in this section. The
200 administrator must have an academic innovation institution with
201 extensive experience in:
202 1. Conducting academic research in early literacy
203 instruction.
204 2. Implementing online delivery of early learning and
205 literacy training for educators nationally.
206 3. Developing online support materials that assist parents
207 and caregivers in developing early literacy skills.
208 4. Conducting fundraising and public awareness campaigns to
209 support the development and growth of evidence-based educational
210 initiatives that support learning at home and in schools.
211 (b) Publish information about the initiative and tax
212 credits under subsection (5) on its website, including the
213 process for a taxpayer to select the administrator as the
214 recipient of funding through a tax credit.
215 (b)(c) Beginning September 30, 2022, and Annually
216 thereafter, report on its website the number of students
217 participating in the initiative in each school district,
218 information from the annual financial report under paragraph
219 (4)(j), and the academic achievement and learning gains, as
220 applicable, of participating students based on data provided by
221 school districts as permitted under s. 1002.22. The department
222 shall establish a date by which the administrator and each
223 school district must annually provide the data necessary to
224 complete the report.
225 (c) Provide the administrator with progress monitoring data
226 for eligible prekindergarten through grade 12 students within 30
227 days after the close of each progress monitoring period.
228 (4) ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSIBILITIES.—The administrator
229 shall:
230 (f) Provide professional learning development and resources
231 to teachers that correlate with the books provided through the
232 initiative.
233 (i) Administer the early literacy micro-credential program
234 established under this section, which must include components on
235 content, student learning, pedagogy, and professional learning
236 development and must build on a strong foundation of
237 scientifically researched and evidence-based reading
238 instructional and intervention programs that incorporate
239 explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching
240 phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text
241 comprehension and incorporate decodable or phonetic text
242 instructional strategies, as identified by the Just Read,
243 Florida! Office, pursuant to s. 1001.215(7).
244 1. At a minimum, the micro-credential curriculum must be
245 designed specifically for instructional personnel in
246 prekindergarten through grade 3 based upon the strategies and
247 techniques identified in s. 1002.59 and address foundational
248 literacy skills of students in grades 4 through 12.
249 2. The micro-credential must be competency based and
250 designed for eligible instructional personnel to complete the
251 credentialing process in no more than 60 hours, in an online
252 format. The micro-credential may be delivered in an in-person
253 format. Eligible instructional personnel may receive the micro
254 credential once competency is demonstrated even if it is before
255 prior to the completion of 60 hours.
256 3. The micro-credential must be available by December 31,
257 2022, at no cost, to instructional personnel as defined in s.
258 1012.01(2); prekindergarten instructors as specified in ss.
259 1002.55, 1002.61, and 1002.63; and child care personnel as
260 defined in ss. 402.302(3) and 1002.88(1)(e).
261 (j) Annually submit to the department an annual financial
262 report that includes, at a minimum, the amount of eligible
263 contributions received by the administrator; the amount spent on
264 each activity required by this subsection, including
265 administrative expenses; the number of micro-credentials and
266 reading endorsements earned; and the number of students and
267 households served under each component of the initiative, by
268 school district, including the means by which additional
269 literacy support was provided to students.
270 (6) ELIGIBILITY; NOTIFICATION; SCHOOL DISTRICT
271 OBLIGATIONS.—
272 (a) A student in prekindergarten through grade 5 must be
273 provided books through the initiative if the student is not yet
274 reading on grade level, has a substantial reading deficiency
275 identified under s. 1008.25(5)(a) or (b), has a substantial
276 deficiency in early literacy skills based upon the results of
277 the coordinated screening and progress monitoring under s.
278 1008.25(9), or scored below a Level 3 on the most recent
279 preceding year’s statewide, standardized English Language Arts
280 assessment under s. 1008.22.
281 (c) Once an eligible student is identified, the school
282 district shall coordinate with the administrator to initiate
283 book delivery on a monthly basis during the school year, which
284 must begin no later than October and continue through at least
285 June. However, for the 2021-2022 school year only, delivery may
286 begin no later than December 31, 2021, provided that no fewer
287 than 9 books are delivered to each student before book
288 deliveries begin for the 2022-2023 school year.
289 Section 4. Section 1004.561, Florida Statutes, is created
290 to read:
291 1004.561 University of Florida Lastinger Center for
292 Learning.—There is created at the University of Florida the
293 Lastinger Center for Learning. The center shall:
294 (1) Develop and administer programs to improve student
295 achievement outcomes in early learning, literacy, and
296 mathematics.
297 (2) Provide professional learning for educators to improve
298 the quality of instruction in early learning, literacy, and
299 mathematics. Professional learning includes the development of
300 micro-credentials pursuant to s. 1003.485 and may include the
301 development of other micro-credentials that require educators to
302 demonstrate competency. Micro-credentials must be provided at
303 low or no cost and be personalized, and may be provided online
304 or in person.
305 (3) Provide technical assistance and support to school
306 districts and schools and early learning coalitions in improving
307 student achievement.
308 (4) Conduct and publish research on teaching and learning
309 in early learning, literacy, and mathematics, as well as
310 professional learning for educators.
311 (5) Administer the New Worlds Tutoring Program that
312 supports school districts and schools in improving student
313 achievement in reading and mathematics pursuant to s. 1008.366.
314 Section 5. Paragraph (d) of subsection (5), paragraph (c)
315 of subsection (6), and paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of
316 section 1008.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
317 1008.25 Public school student progression; student support;
318 coordinated screening and progress monitoring; reporting
319 requirements.—
320 (5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.—
321 (d) The parent of any student who exhibits a substantial
322 deficiency in reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be
323 notified in writing of the following:
324 1. That his or her child has been identified as having a
325 substantial deficiency in reading, including a description and
326 explanation, in terms understandable to the parent, of the exact
327 nature of the student’s difficulty in learning and lack of
328 achievement in reading.
329 2. A description of the current services that are provided
330 to the child.
331 3. A description of the proposed intensive interventions
332 and supports that will be provided to the child that are
333 designed to remediate the identified area of reading deficiency.
334 4. That if the child’s reading deficiency is not remediated
335 by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained unless he or
336 she is exempt from mandatory retention for good cause.
337 5. Strategies, including multisensory strategies and
338 programming, through a read-at-home plan the parent can use in
339 helping his or her child succeed in reading. The read-at-home
340 plan must provide access to the resources identified in
341 paragraph (e) (f).
342 6. That the statewide, standardized English Language Arts
343 assessment is not the sole determiner of promotion and that
344 additional evaluations, portfolio reviews, and assessments are
345 available to the child to assist parents and the school district
346 in knowing when a child is reading at or above grade level and
347 ready for grade promotion.
348 7. The district’s specific criteria and policies for a
349 portfolio as provided in subparagraph (7)(b)4. and the evidence
350 required for a student to demonstrate mastery of Florida’s
351 academic standards for English Language Arts. A school must
352 immediately begin collecting evidence for a portfolio when a
353 student in grade 3 is identified as being at risk of retention
354 or upon the request of the parent, whichever occurs first.
355 8. The district’s specific criteria and policies for
356 midyear promotion. Midyear promotion means promotion of a
357 retained student at any time during the year of retention once
358 the student has demonstrated ability to read at grade level.
359 9. Information about the student’s eligibility for the New
360 Worlds Reading Initiative under s. 1003.485 and the New Worlds
361 Scholarship Accounts under s. 1002.411 and information on parent
362 training modules and other reading engagement resources
363 available through the initiative.
364
365 After initial notification, the school shall apprise the parent
366 at least monthly of the student’s progress in response to the
367 intensive interventions and supports. Such communications must
368 be in writing and must explain any additional interventions or
369 supports that will be implemented to accelerate the student’s
370 progress if the interventions and supports already being
371 implemented have not resulted in improvement.
372 (6) MATHEMATICS DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.—
373 (c) The parent of a student who exhibits a substantial
374 deficiency in mathematics, as described in paragraph (a), must
375 be notified in writing of the following:
376 1. That his or her child has been identified as having a
377 substantial deficiency in mathematics, including a description
378 and explanation, in terms understandable to the parent, of the
379 exact nature of the student’s difficulty in learning and lack of
380 achievement in mathematics.
381 2. A description of the current services that are provided
382 to the child.
383 3. A description of the proposed intensive interventions
384 and supports that will be provided to the child that are
385 designed to remediate the identified area of mathematics
386 deficiency.
387 4. Strategies, including multisensory strategies and
388 programming, through a home-based plan the parent can use in
389 helping his or her child succeed in mathematics. The home-based
390 plan must provide access to the resources identified in
391 paragraph (d) (e).
392
393 After the initial notification, the school shall apprise the
394 parent at least monthly of the student’s progress in response to
395 the intensive interventions and supports. Such communications
396 must be in writing and must explain any additional interventions
397 or supports that will be implemented to accelerate the student’s
398 progress if the interventions and supports already being
399 implemented have not resulted in improvement.
400 (9) COORDINATED SCREENING AND PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM.—
401 (c) To facilitate timely interventions and supports
402 pursuant to subsection (4), the system must provide results from
403 the first two administrations of the progress monitoring to a
404 student’s teacher or prekindergarten instructor within 1 week
405 and to the student’s parent within 2 weeks after of the
406 administration of the progress monitoring. Delivery of results
407 from the comprehensive, end-of-year progress monitoring ELA
408 assessment for grades 3 through 10 and Mathematics assessment
409 for grades 3 through 8 must be in accordance with s.
410 1008.22(7)(h).
411 1. A student’s results from the coordinated screening and
412 progress monitoring system must be recorded in a written, easy
413 to-comprehend individual student report. Each school district
414 shall provide a parent secure access to his or her child’s
415 individual student reports through a web-based portal as part of
416 its student information system. Each early learning coalition
417 shall provide parents the individual student report in a format
418 determined by state board rule.
419 2. In addition to the information under subparagraph (a)5.,
420 the report must also include parent resources that explain the
421 purpose of progress monitoring, assist the parent in
422 interpreting progress monitoring results, and support informed
423 parent involvement. Parent resources may include personalized
424 video formats.
425 3. The department shall annually update school districts
426 and early learning coalitions on new system features and
427 functionality and collaboratively identify with school districts
428 and early learning coalitions strategies for meaningfully
429 reporting to parents results from the coordinated screening and
430 progress monitoring system. The department shall develop ways to
431 increase the utilization, by instructional staff and parents, of
432 student assessment data and resources.
433 4. An individual student report must be provided in a
434 printed format upon a parent’s request.
435 Section 6. Section 1008.366, Florida Statutes, is created
436 to read:
437 1008.366 The New Worlds Tutoring Program.—
438 (1) The New Worlds Tutoring Program is created to support
439 school districts and schools in improving student achievement in
440 reading and mathematics by:
441 (a) Providing best practice science of reading guidelines
442 for districts in consultation with the Just Read, Florida!
443 Office.
444 (b) Providing best practice guidelines for mathematics
445 tutoring in alignment with Florida’s Benchmarks for Excellent
446 Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for mathematics.
447 (c) Establishing minimum standards that each school
448 district must meet to participate in the program. The minimum
449 standards must address:
450 1. Appropriate group sizes for tutoring sessions.
451 2. The frequency and duration of tutoring sessions.
452 3. Minimum staffing qualifications for tutors.
453 4. The use of ongoing, informal and formal assessments to
454 target instructional interventions.
455 5. Prioritization strategies for tutoring students.
456 (d) Providing access during the school day to additional
457 literacy or mathematics support through evidence-based automated
458 literacy tutoring software that provides each student with real
459 time interventions that are based in science of reading
460 principles or mathematics instructional best practices and
461 individually tailored to the needs and ability of each student.
462 Access must be provided to students in kindergarten through
463 grade 5 enrolled in a public school who have a substantial
464 deficiency in reading or mathematics in accordance with s.
465 1008.25. The term “evidence-based” has the same meaning as in s.
466 1003.4201(6).
467 (e) Awarding grants to school districts which may be used
468 for stipends for in-person tutoring during the school day,
469 before and after school, or during a summer program. In-person
470 tutoring may be provided to, at a minimum, kindergarten through
471 grade 5 students enrolled in a public school who have a
472 substantial deficiency in reading or mathematics in accordance
473 with s. 1008.25. To identify eligible students, the department
474 shall provide the administrator with mathematics and reading
475 progress monitoring data for eligible kindergarten through grade
476 12 students within 30 days after the close of each progress
477 monitoring period.
478 (f) Providing technical assistance and professional
479 learning to school districts, including:
480 1. Advising district staff on tutoring program design and
481 intervention selection upon request.
482 2. Assisting districts in reviewing tutoring programs,
483 professional learning programs, curriculum, and resources to
484 ensure that they adhere to the science of reading or best
485 practices in mathematics.
486 3. Providing professional learning to district staff to
487 build their knowledge and skills around the science of reading
488 or best practices in mathematics.
489 (2) Annually, by July 1, the administrator of the New
490 Worlds Tutoring Program shall provide to the President of the
491 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
492 Commissioner of Education a report summarizing school district
493 use of program funds and student academic outcomes as a result
494 of the additional literacy or mathematics support provided under
495 this section.
496 Section 7. Subsection (5) of section 1003.01, Florida
497 Statutes, is amended to read:
498 1003.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
499 (5) “Core-curricula courses” means:
500 (a) Courses in language arts/reading, mathematics, social
501 studies, and science in prekindergarten through grade 3,
502 excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (11);
503 (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are
504 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses
505 required for middle school promotion, excluding extracurricular
506 courses pursuant to subsection (11);
507 (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are
508 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that
509 are specifically identified by name in statute as required for
510 high school graduation and that are not measured by state
511 assessment, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to
512 subsection (11);
513 (d) Exceptional student education courses; and
514 (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses.
515
516 The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of
517 designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size
518 requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of the State
519 Constitution. This term does not include courses offered under
520 ss. 1002.321(4)(e) 1002.321(3)(e), 1002.33(7)(a)2.c., 1002.37,
521 1002.45, and 1003.499.
522 Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 1003.499, Florida
523 Statutes, is amended to read:
524 1003.499 Florida Approved Courses and Tests (FACT)
525 Initiative.—
526 (2) FLORIDA APPROVED COURSES.—The Department of Education
527 shall annually publish online a list of providers approved to
528 offer Florida approved courses which shall be listed in the
529 online catalog pursuant to s. 1002.321(6) s. 1002.321(5).
530 (a) As used in this section, the term “Florida approved
531 courses” means online courses provided by individuals which
532 include, but are not limited to, massive open online courses or
533 remedial education associated with the courses that are measured
534 pursuant to s. 1008.22. Massive open online courses may be
535 authorized in the following subject areas: Algebra I, biology,
536 geometry, and civics. Courses may be applied toward requirements
537 for promotion or graduation in whole, in subparts, or in a
538 combination of whole and subparts. A student may not be required
539 to repeat subparts that are satisfactorily completed.
540 (b) A Florida approved course must be annually identified,
541 approved, published, and shared for consideration by interested
542 students and school districts. The Commissioner of Education
543 shall approve each Florida approved course for application in K
544 12 public schools in accordance with rules of the State Board of
545 Education.
546 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
547 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
548 And the title is amended as follows:
549 Delete everything before the enacting clause
550 and insert:
551 A bill to be entitled
552 An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.321,
553 F.S.; providing legislative findings; authorizing a
554 school district to receive grant funds for specified
555 purposes; requiring grant recipients to select an
556 artificial intelligence platform that meets certain
557 requirements; amending s. 1002.411, F.S.; revising
558 eligibility requirements for a New Worlds Scholarship
559 account; requiring a parent to use the administrator’s
560 system to make direct purchases of qualifying
561 expenditures; specifying additional qualifying
562 expenditures; requiring that the administrator of a
563 New Worlds Scholarship account be an eligible
564 nonprofit scholarship-funding organization; requiring
565 each school district and prekindergarten provider to
566 notify the parent of each eligible student of the
567 process to request and receive a scholarship when
568 providing certain screening and progress monitoring
569 results; requiring eligible nonprofit scholarship
570 funding organizations to develop a system that allows
571 eligible students to make direct purchases of
572 qualifying expenditures; deleting a requirement for
573 payments to be made on a quarterly basis; amending s.
574 1003.485, F.S.; revising definitions of the terms
575 “administrator” and “micro-credential”; deleting
576 responsibilities for the Department of Education
577 relating to the New Worlds Reading Initiative;
578 requiring the department to provide the administrator
579 with progress monitoring data for certain students;
580 revising the information that the administrator must
581 include in an annual financial report; making
582 technical changes; creating s. 1004.561, F.S.;
583 creating the Lastinger Center for Learning at the
584 University of Florida; providing the duties of the
585 center; amending s. 1008.25, F.S.; making technical
586 changes; requiring that the progress monitoring system
587 provide prekindergarten instructors with certain
588 results within a specified timeframe; creating s.
589 1008.366, F.S.; creating the New Worlds Tutoring
590 Program; providing the purpose of the program;
591 providing requirements for the program; requiring the
592 administrator of the program to provide a report to
593 specified entities by a specified date annually;
594 amending ss. 1003.01 and 1003.499, F.S.; conforming
595 cross-references; providing an effective date.