Florida Senate - 2025 SB 1618
By Senator Calatayud
38-00773A-25 20251618__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to prekindergarten through grade 12
3 education; amending s. 11.45, F.S.; removing the
4 Florida School for Competitive Academics from audit
5 requirements; amending s. 216.251, F.S.; removing the
6 Florida School for Competitive Academics from
7 specified classification and pay plans; amending s.
8 447.203, F.S.; removing the Florida School for
9 Competitive Academics from the definition of a public
10 employer; amending s. 1000.04, F.S.; removing the
11 Florida School for Competitive Academics from the
12 components of Florida’s Early Learning-20 education
13 system; amending s. 1001.20, F.S.; removing the
14 Florida School for Competitive Academics from the
15 duties of the Office of Inspector General within the
16 Department of Education; creating s. 1001.325, F.S.;
17 prohibiting the expenditure of funds by public
18 schools, charter schools, school districts, charter
19 school administrators, or direct-support organizations
20 to purchase membership in, or goods or services from,
21 any organization that discriminates on the basis of
22 race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or
23 religion; prohibiting the expenditure of funds by
24 public schools, charter schools, school districts,
25 charter school administrators, or direct-support
26 organizations to promote, support, or maintain certain
27 programs or activities; authorizing the use of student
28 fees and school or district facilities by student-led
29 organizations under certain circumstances; providing
30 construction; requiring the State Board of Education
31 to adopt rules; amending s. 1001.452, F.S.; deleting a
32 provision requiring the Commissioner of Education to
33 determine whether school districts have maximized
34 efforts to include minority persons and persons of
35 lower socioeconomic status on their school advisory
36 councils; amending s. 1002.20, F.S.; authorizing
37 public schools to purchase or enter into arrangements
38 for certain emergency opioid antagonists, rather than
39 only for naloxone; requiring that district school
40 board policies authorizing corporal punishment include
41 a requirement that parental consent be provided before
42 the administration of corporal punishment; amending s.
43 1002.33, F.S.; requiring a charter school to comply
44 with statute relating to corporal punishment;
45 repealing s. 1002.351, F.S., relating to the Florida
46 School for Competitive Academics; amending s.
47 1002.394, F.S.; removing the Florida School for
48 Competitive Academics from Family Empowerment
49 Scholarship prohibitions; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.;
50 removing the Florida School for Competitive Academics
51 from Florida Tax Credit Scholarship prohibitions;
52 amending s. 1002.68, F.S.; deleting a provision
53 requiring the department to confer with the Council
54 for Early Grade Success before receiving a certain
55 approval; amending s. 1002.71, F.S.; revising the
56 conditions under which a student may withdraw from a
57 prekindergarten program and reenroll in another
58 program; amending s. 1002.945, F.S.; revising the
59 criteria required for a child care facility, large
60 family child care home, or family day care home to
61 obtain and maintain a designation as a Gold Seal
62 Quality Care provider; amending s. 1003.41, F.S.;
63 requiring that certain standards documents contain
64 only academic standards and benchmarks; requiring the
65 Commissioner of Education to revise currently approved
66 standards documents and submit them to the state board
67 by a specified date; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.;
68 revising required instruction on the principles of
69 agriculture; requiring the department to collaborate
70 with specified entities to develop associated
71 standards and a curriculum; authorizing the department
72 to contract with certain agricultural education
73 organizations; amending s. 1003.4201, F.S.;
74 authorizing the inclusion of intensive reading
75 interventions in a school district comprehensive
76 reading instruction plan; requiring that intensive
77 reading interventions be delivered by instructional
78 personnel who possess a micro-credential or are
79 certified or endorsed in reading; requiring that such
80 interventions incorporate certain strategies;
81 requiring that instructional personnel with a micro
82 credential be supervised by an individual certified or
83 endorsed in reading; defining the term “supervised”;
84 authorizing the inclusion in the reading instruction
85 plans of a description of how school districts
86 prioritize the assignment of highly effective
87 teachers; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; adding
88 components to required instruction on financial
89 literacy; amending s. 1007.27, F.S.; requiring the
90 state board to identify national consortia to develop
91 certain courses; authorizing the department to join or
92 establish a national consortium as an additional
93 alternative method to develop and implement advanced
94 placement courses; repealing s. 1008.2125, F.S.,
95 relating to the Council for Early Grade Success;
96 amending s. 1008.36, F.S.; specifying the recipients
97 of school recognition bonus funds; amending s.
98 1008.365, F.S.; revising the types of tutoring hours
99 that may be counted toward meeting the community
100 service requirements for the Bright Futures
101 Scholarship Program; repealing s. 1011.58, F.S.,
102 relating to legislative budget requests of the Florida
103 School for Competitive Academics; repealing s.
104 1011.59, F.S., relating to funds for the Florida
105 School for Competitive Academics; amending s.
106 1012.315, F.S.; revising educator certification and
107 certain employment screening standards; making
108 technical changes; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;
109 authorizing individuals to demonstrate mastery of
110 general knowledge, subject area knowledge, or
111 professional preparation and education competence by
112 providing a school district with documentation of a
113 valid certificate issued by the American Board for
114 Certification of Teacher Excellence; amending s.
115 1012.77, F.S.; conforming a provision to a change made
116 by the act; specifying entities eligible to submit
117 nominees for the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador
118 for Education awards; providing effective dates.
119
120 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
121
122 Section 1. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (2) of
123 section 11.45, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
124 11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.—
125 (2) DUTIES.—The Auditor General shall:
126 (d) Annually conduct financial audits of the accounts and
127 records of all district school boards in counties with
128 populations of less fewer than 150,000, according to the most
129 recent federal decennial statewide census; and the Florida
130 School for the Deaf and the Blind; and the Florida School for
131 Competitive Academics.
132 (f) At least every 3 years, conduct operational audits of
133 the accounts and records of state agencies, state universities,
134 state colleges, district school boards, the Florida Clerks of
135 Court Operations Corporation, water management districts, and
136 the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Florida
137 School for Competitive Academics.
138
139 The Auditor General shall perform his or her duties
140 independently but under the general policies established by the
141 Legislative Auditing Committee. This subsection does not limit
142 the Auditor General’s discretionary authority to conduct other
143 audits or engagements of governmental entities as authorized in
144 subsection (3).
145 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
146 216.251, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
147 216.251 Salary appropriations; limitations.—
148 (2)(a) The salary for each position not specifically
149 indicated in the appropriations acts shall be as provided in one
150 of the following subparagraphs:
151 1. Within the classification and pay plans provided for in
152 chapter 110.
153 2. Within the classification and pay plans established by
154 the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and
155 the Blind of the Department of Education and approved by the
156 State Board of Education for academic and academic
157 administrative personnel.
158 3. Within the classification and pay plan approved and
159 administered by the Board of Governors or the designee of the
160 board for those positions in the State University System.
161 4. Within the classification and pay plan approved by the
162 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
163 Representatives, as the case may be, for employees of the
164 Legislature.
165 5. Within the approved classification and pay plan for the
166 judicial branch.
167 6. Within the classification and pay plans established by
168 the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for Competitive
169 Academics of the Department of Education and approved by the
170 State Board of Education for academic and academic
171 administrative personnel.
172 Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 447.203, Florida
173 Statutes, is amended to read:
174 447.203 Definitions.—As used in this part:
175 (2) “Public employer” or “employer” means the state or any
176 county, municipality, or special district or any subdivision or
177 agency thereof which the commission determines has sufficient
178 legal distinctiveness properly to carry out the functions of a
179 public employer. With respect to all public employees determined
180 by the commission as properly belonging to a statewide
181 bargaining unit composed of State Career Service System
182 employees or Selected Professional Service employees, the
183 Governor is deemed to be the public employer; and the Board of
184 Governors of the State University System, or the board’s
185 designee, is deemed to be the public employer with respect to
186 all public employees of each constituent state university. The
187 board of trustees of a community college is deemed to be the
188 public employer with respect to all employees of the community
189 college. The district school board is deemed to be the public
190 employer with respect to all employees of the school district.
191 The Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the
192 Blind is deemed to be the public employer with respect to the
193 academic and academic administrative personnel of the Florida
194 School for the Deaf and the Blind. The Board of Trustees of the
195 Florida School for Competitive Academics is deemed to be the
196 public employer with respect to the academic and academic
197 administrative personnel of the Florida School for Competitive
198 Academics. The Governor is deemed to be the public employer with
199 respect to all employees in the Correctional Education Program
200 of the Department of Corrections established pursuant to s.
201 944.801.
202 Section 4. Subsection (7) of section 1000.04, Florida
203 Statutes, is amended to read:
204 1000.04 Components for the delivery of public education
205 within the Florida Early Learning-20 education system.—Florida’s
206 Early Learning-20 education system provides for the delivery of
207 early learning and public education through publicly supported
208 and controlled K-12 schools, Florida College System
209 institutions, state universities and other postsecondary
210 educational institutions, other educational institutions, and
211 other educational services as provided or authorized by the
212 Constitution and laws of the state.
213 (7) THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR COMPETITIVE ACADEMICS.—The
214 Florida School for Competitive Academics is a component of the
215 delivery of public education within Florida’s Early Learning-20
216 education system.
217 Section 5. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
218 1001.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
219 1001.20 Department under direction of state board.—
220 (4) The Department of Education shall establish the
221 following offices within the Office of the Commissioner of
222 Education which shall coordinate their activities with all other
223 divisions and offices:
224 (e) Office of Inspector General.—Organized using existing
225 resources and funds and responsible for promoting
226 accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and detecting
227 fraud and abuse within school districts, the Florida School for
228 the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida School for Competitive
229 Academics, and Florida College System institutions in Florida.
230 If the Commissioner of Education determines that a district
231 school board, the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for
232 the Deaf and the Blind, the Board of Trustees for the Florida
233 School for Competitive Academics, or a Florida College System
234 institution board of trustees is unwilling or unable to address
235 substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste,
236 fraud, or financial mismanagement within the school district,
237 the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida
238 School for Competitive Academics, or the Florida College System
239 institution, the office must conduct, coordinate, or request
240 investigations into such substantiated allegations. The office
241 shall investigate allegations or reports of possible fraud or
242 abuse against a district school board made by any member of the
243 Cabinet; the presiding officer of either house of the
244 Legislature; a chair of a substantive or appropriations
245 committee with jurisdiction; or a member of the board for which
246 an investigation is sought. The office may investigate
247 allegations or reports of suspected violations of a student’s,
248 parent’s, or teacher’s rights. The office shall have access to
249 all information and personnel necessary to perform its duties
250 and shall have all of its current powers, duties, and
251 responsibilities authorized in s. 20.055.
252 Section 6. Section 1001.325, Florida Statutes, is created
253 to read:
254 1001.325 Prohibited expenditures.—
255 (1) A public school, charter school, school district,
256 charter school administrator, or direct-support organization may
257 not expend any funds, regardless of source, to purchase
258 membership in, or goods and services from, any organization that
259 discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
260 disability, or religion.
261 (2) A public school, charter school, school district,
262 charter school administrator, or direct-support organization may
263 not expend any state or federal funds to promote, support, or
264 maintain any programs or campus activities that:
265 (a) Violate s. 1000.05; or
266 (b) Advocate, promote, or engage in political or social
267 activism, as defined by the State Board of Education.
268
269 Student fees to support student-led organizations are permitted
270 notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such
271 organizations which would otherwise violate this subsection,
272 provided that public funds are allocated to student-led
273 organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of the
274 school or district in which the student is enrolled, as
275 applicable. Use of school or district facilities by student-led
276 organizations is permitted notwithstanding any speech or
277 expressive activity by such organizations which would otherwise
278 violate this subsection, provided that such use is granted to
279 student-led organizations pursuant to written policies or
280 regulations of the school or school district, as applicable.
281 (3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus
282 activities, or functions required for compliance with general or
283 federal laws or regulations, for obtaining or retaining
284 accreditation, or for continuing to receive state funds with the
285 approval of either the State Board of Education or the
286 department.
287 (4) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
288 implement this section.
289 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
290 1001.452, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
291 1001.452 District and school advisory councils.—
292 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—
293 (a) The district school board shall establish an advisory
294 council for each school in the district and shall develop
295 procedures for the election and appointment of advisory council
296 members. Each school advisory council shall include in its name
297 the words “school advisory council.” The school advisory council
298 shall be the sole body responsible for final decisionmaking at
299 the school relating to implementation of ss. 1001.42(18) and
300 1008.345. A majority of the members of each school advisory
301 council must be persons who are not employed by the school
302 district. Each advisory council shall be composed of the
303 principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers,
304 education support employees, students, parents, and other
305 business and community citizens who are representative of the
306 ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school.
307 Career center and high school advisory councils shall include
308 students, and middle and junior high school advisory councils
309 may include students. School advisory councils of career centers
310 and adult education centers are not required to include parents
311 as members. Council members representing teachers, education
312 support employees, students, and parents shall be elected by
313 their respective peer groups at the school in a fair and
314 equitable manner as follows:
315 1. Teachers shall be elected by teachers.
316 2. Education support employees shall be elected by
317 education support employees.
318 3. Students shall be elected by students.
319 4. Parents shall be elected by parents.
320
321 The district school board shall establish procedures to be used
322 by schools in selecting business and community members which
323 that include means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and of
324 taking input on possible members from local business, chambers
325 of commerce, community and civic organizations and groups, and
326 the public at large. The district school board shall review the
327 membership composition of each advisory council. If the district
328 school board determines that the membership elected by the
329 school is not representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic
330 community served by the school, the district school board must
331 shall appoint additional members to achieve proper
332 representation. The commissioner shall determine if schools have
333 maximized their efforts to include on their advisory councils
334 minority persons and persons of lower socioeconomic status.
335 Although schools are strongly encouraged to establish school
336 advisory councils, the district school board of any school
337 district that has a student population of 10,000 or less fewer
338 may establish a district advisory council which includes at
339 least one duly elected teacher from each school in the district.
340 For the purposes of school advisory councils and district
341 advisory councils, the term “teacher” includes classroom
342 teachers, certified student services personnel, and media
343 specialists. For purposes of this paragraph, “education support
344 employee” means any person employed by a school who is not
345 defined as instructional or administrative personnel pursuant to
346 s. 1012.01 and whose duties require 20 or more hours in each
347 normal working week.
348 Section 8. Paragraph (o) of subsection (3) and paragraph
349 (c) of subsection (4) of section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, are
350 amended to read:
351 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
352 school students must receive accurate and timely information
353 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
354 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
355 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
356 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
357 (3) HEALTH ISSUES.—
358 (o) Emergency opioid antagonist Naloxone use and supply.—
359 1. A public school may purchase a supply of an emergency
360 the opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and
361 Drug Administration (FDA) naloxone from a wholesale distributor
362 as defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an arrangement with a
363 wholesale distributor or manufacturer as defined in s. 499.003
364 for an FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonist naloxone at
365 fair-market, free, or reduced prices for use in the event that a
366 student has an opioid overdose. The FDA-approved emergency
367 opioid antagonist naloxone must be maintained in a secure
368 location on the public school’s premises.
369 2. A school district employee who administers an approved
370 emergency opioid antagonist to a student in compliance with ss.
371 381.887 and 768.13 is immune from civil liability under s.
372 768.13.
373 (4) DISCIPLINE.—
374 (c) Corporal punishment.—
375 1. In accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.32,
376 corporal punishment of a public school student may only be
377 administered by a teacher or school principal within guidelines
378 of the school principal and according to district school board
379 policy. Another adult must be present and must be informed in
380 the student’s presence of the reason for the punishment. Upon
381 request, the teacher or school principal must provide the parent
382 with a written explanation of the reason for the punishment and
383 the name of the other adult who was present.
384 2. A district school board having a policy authorizing the
385 use of corporal punishment as a form of discipline shall include
386 in such policy a requirement that a parent provide consent for
387 the school to administer corporal punishment. The district
388 school board policy may require such consent for the school
389 year, or before each administration. The district school board
390 shall review its policy on corporal punishment once every 3
391 years during a district school board meeting held pursuant to s.
392 1001.372. The district school board shall take public testimony
393 at the board meeting. If such board meeting is not held in
394 accordance with this subparagraph, the portion of the district
395 school board’s policy authorizing corporal punishment expires.
396 Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (16) of section
397 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
398 1002.33 Charter schools.—
399 (16) EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.—
400 (b) Additionally, a charter school shall be in compliance
401 with the following statutes:
402 1. Section 286.011, relating to public meetings and
403 records, public inspection, and criminal and civil penalties.
404 2. Chapter 119, relating to public records.
405 3. Section 1003.03, relating to the maximum class size,
406 except that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s.
407 1003.03 shall be the average at the school level.
408 4. Section 1012.22(1)(c), relating to compensation and
409 salary schedules.
410 5. Section 1012.33(5), relating to workforce reductions.
411 6. Section 1012.335, relating to contracts with
412 instructional personnel hired on or after July 1, 2011.
413 7. Section 1012.34, relating to the substantive
414 requirements for performance evaluations for instructional
415 personnel and school administrators.
416 8. Section 1006.12, relating to safe-school officers.
417 9. Section 1006.07(7), relating to threat management teams.
418 10. Section 1006.07(9), relating to School Environmental
419 Safety Incident Reporting.
420 11. Section 1006.07(10), relating to reporting of
421 involuntary examinations.
422 12. Section 1006.1493, relating to the Florida Safe Schools
423 Assessment Tool.
424 13. Section 1006.07(6)(d), relating to adopting an active
425 assailant response plan.
426 14. Section 943.082(4)(b), relating to the mobile
427 suspicious activity reporting tool.
428 15. Section 1012.584, relating to youth mental health
429 awareness and assistance training.
430 16. Section 1001.42(4)(f)2., relating to middle school and
431 high school start times. A charter school-in-the-workplace is
432 exempt from this requirement.
433 17. Section 1002.20(4)(c), relating to school corporal
434 punishment.
435 Section 10. Section 1002.351, Florida Statutes, is
436 repealed.
437 Section 11. Subsection (6) of section 1002.394, Florida
438 Statutes, is amended to read:
439 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
440 (6) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
441 a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
442 (a) Enrolled full time in a public school, including, but
443 not limited to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
444 the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for
445 Competitive Academics, the Florida Virtual School, the Florida
446 Scholars Academy, a developmental research school authorized
447 under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized under this
448 chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, a 3- or 4-year-old
449 child who receives services funded through the Florida Education
450 Finance Program is considered to be a student enrolled in a
451 public school;
452 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
453 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
454 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
455 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
456 this chapter. However, an eligible public school student
457 receiving a scholarship under s. 1002.411 may receive a
458 scholarship for transportation pursuant to subparagraph
459 (4)(a)2.;
460 (d) Not having regular and direct contact with his or her
461 private school teachers pursuant to s. 1002.421(1)(i), unless he
462 or she is eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) and enrolled in
463 the participating private school’s transition-to-work program
464 pursuant to subsection (16) or a home education program pursuant
465 to s. 1002.41;
466 (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
467 s. 1002.43 unless he or she is determined eligible pursuant to
468 paragraph (3)(b); or
469 (f) Participating in virtual instruction pursuant to s.
470 1002.455 that receives state funding pursuant to the student’s
471 participation.
472 Section 12. Subsection (4) of section 1002.395, Florida
473 Statutes, is amended to read:
474 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.—
475 (4) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
476 a scholarship while he or she is:
477 (a) Enrolled full time in a public school, including, but
478 not limited to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
479 the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for
480 Competitive Academics, the Florida Virtual School, the Florida
481 Scholars Academy, a developmental research school authorized
482 under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized under this
483 chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, a 3- or 4-year-old
484 child who receives services funded through the Florida Education
485 Finance Program is considered a student enrolled full time in a
486 public school;
487 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
488 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
489 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
490 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
491 this chapter. However, an eligible public school student
492 receiving a scholarship under s. 1002.411 may receive a
493 scholarship for transportation pursuant to subparagraph
494 (6)(d)4.;
495 (d) Not having regular and direct contact with his or her
496 private school teachers pursuant to s. 1002.421(1)(i) unless he
497 or she is enrolled in a personalized education program;
498 (e) Participating in a home education program as defined in
499 s. 1002.01(1);
500 (f) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
501 s. 1002.43 unless he or she is enrolled in a personalized
502 education program; or
503 (g) Participating in virtual instruction pursuant to s.
504 1002.455 that receives state funding pursuant to the student’s
505 participation.
506 Section 13. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
507 1002.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
508 1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
509 accountability.—
510 (4)
511 (e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall
512 provide for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten
513 provider and public school based on the provider’s designation.
514 The maximum differential payment may not exceed a total of 15
515 percent of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent
516 student under s. 1002.71 attending in the consecutive program
517 year for that program. A private prekindergarten provider or
518 public school may not receive a differential payment if it
519 receives a designation of “proficient” or lower. Before the
520 adoption of the methodology, the department shall confer with
521 the Council for Early Grade Success under s. 1008.2125 before
522 receiving approval from the State Board of Education for the
523 final recommendations on the designation system and differential
524 payments.
525 Section 14. Subsection (4) of section 1002.71, Florida
526 Statutes, is amended to read:
527 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
528 (4) Notwithstanding s. 1002.53(3) and subsection (2):
529 (a) A child who, for any of the prekindergarten programs
530 listed in s. 1002.53(3), has not completed any of the
531 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) more than 70
532 percent of the hours authorized to be reported for funding under
533 subsection (2), or has not expended more than 70 percent of the
534 funds authorized for the child under s. 1002.66, may withdraw
535 from the program for good cause and reenroll in one of the
536 programs. The total funding for a child who reenrolls in one of
537 the programs for good cause may not exceed one full-time
538 equivalent student. Funding for a child who withdraws and
539 reenrolls in one of the programs for good cause must shall be
540 issued in accordance with the department’s uniform attendance
541 policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (6)(d).
542 (b) A child who has not substantially completed any of the
543 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) may withdraw
544 from the program due to an extreme hardship that is beyond the
545 child’s or parent’s control, reenroll in one of the summer
546 programs, and be reported for funding purposes as a full-time
547 equivalent student in the summer program for which the child is
548 reenrolled.
549
550 A child may reenroll only once in a prekindergarten program
551 under this section. A child who reenrolls in a prekindergarten
552 program under this subsection may not subsequently withdraw from
553 the program and reenroll, unless the child is granted a good
554 cause exemption under this subsection. The department shall
555 establish criteria specifying whether a good cause exists for a
556 child to withdraw from a program under paragraph (a), whether a
557 child has substantially completed a program under paragraph (b),
558 and whether an extreme hardship exists which is beyond the
559 child’s or parent’s control under paragraph (b).
560 Section 15. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
561 1002.945, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
562 1002.945 Gold Seal Quality Care Program.—
563 (4) In order to obtain and maintain a designation as a Gold
564 Seal Quality Care provider, a child care facility, large family
565 child care home, or family day care home must meet the following
566 additional criteria:
567 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of
568 Education determines through a formal process that a provider
569 has been in business for at least 5 years and has no other class
570 I violations recorded, the department may recommend to the state
571 board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care
572 status. The state board’s determination regarding such
573 provider’s status is final.
574 Section 16. Subsection (3) of section 1003.41, Florida
575 Statutes, is amended to read:
576 1003.41 State academic standards.—
577 (3) The Commissioner of Education shall, as deemed
578 necessary, develop and submit proposed revisions to the
579 standards for review and comment by Florida educators, school
580 administrators, representatives of the Florida College System
581 institutions and state universities who have expertise in the
582 content knowledge and skills necessary to prepare a student for
583 postsecondary education and careers, a representative from the
584 Department of Commerce, business and industry leaders for in
585 demand careers, and the public. The commissioner, after
586 considering reviews and comments, shall submit the proposed
587 revisions to the State Board of Education for adoption. New and
588 revised standards documents submitted for approval to the state
589 board must consist only of academic standards and benchmarks.
590 The commissioner shall revise all currently approved standards
591 documents based on the requirements of this subsection and
592 submit all revised standards documents to the state board for
593 approval no later than July 1, 2026.
594 Section 17. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section
595 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
596 1003.42 Required instruction.—
597 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
598 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
599 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
600 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
601 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
602 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
603 approved methods of instruction, the following:
604 (j) The elementary principles of agriculture. This
605 component must include, but need not be limited to, the history
606 of agriculture both nationally and specifically to this state,
607 the economic and societal impact of agriculture, and the various
608 agricultural industry sectors. The department, in collaboration
609 with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the
610 University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural
611 Sciences, shall prepare and offer standards and a curriculum for
612 the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input
613 from state or nationally recognized agricultural educational
614 organizations. The department may contract with state or
615 nationally recognized agricultural educational organizations to
616 develop training for instructional personnel and grade
617 appropriate classroom resources to support the developed
618 curriculum.
619
620 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
621 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
622 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
623 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
624 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
625 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
626 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
627 Section 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
628 1003.4201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
629 1003.4201 Comprehensive system of reading instruction.—Each
630 school district must implement a system of comprehensive reading
631 instruction for students enrolled in prekindergarten through
632 grade 12 and certain students who exhibit a substantial
633 deficiency in early literacy.
634 (2)(a) Components of the reading instruction plan may
635 include the following:
636 1. Additional time per day of evidence-based intensive
637 reading instruction for kindergarten through grade 12 students,
638 which may be delivered during or outside of the regular school
639 day.
640 2. Highly qualified reading coaches, who must be endorsed
641 in reading, to specifically support classroom teachers in making
642 instructional decisions based on progress monitoring data
643 collected pursuant to s. 1008.25(9) and improve classroom
644 teacher delivery of effective reading instruction, reading
645 intervention, and reading in the content areas based on student
646 need.
647 3. Professional learning to help instructional personnel
648 and certified prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida
649 Education Finance Program earn a certification, a credential, an
650 endorsement, or an advanced degree in scientifically researched
651 and evidence-based reading instruction.
652 4. Summer reading camps, using only classroom teachers or
653 other district personnel who possess a micro-credential as
654 specified in s. 1003.485 or are certified or endorsed in reading
655 consistent with s. 1008.25(8)(b)3., for all students in
656 kindergarten through grade 5 exhibiting a reading deficiency as
657 determined by district and state assessments.
658 5. Intensive reading interventions, which must be delivered
659 by instructional personnel who possess a micro-credential as
660 provided in s. 1003.485 or are certified or endorsed in reading
661 as provided in s. 1012.586 and must incorporate evidence-based
662 strategies identified by the Just Read, Florida! office pursuant
663 to s. 1001.215(7). Instructional personnel who possess a micro
664 credential as specified in s. 1003.485 and are delivering
665 intensive reading interventions must be supervised by an
666 individual certified or endorsed in reading. For the purposes of
667 this subparagraph, the term “supervised” means that
668 instructional personnel with a micro-credential are able,
669 through telecommunication or in person, to communicate and
670 consult with, and receive direction from, certified or endorsed
671 personnel. Incentives for instructional personnel and certified
672 prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida Education Finance
673 Program who possess a reading certification or endorsement as
674 specified in s. 1012.586 or micro-credential as specified in s.
675 1003.485 and provide educational support to improve student
676 literacy.
677 6. Tutoring in reading.
678 7. A description of how the district prioritizes the
679 assignment of highly effective teachers, as identified in s.
680 1012.34(2)(e), from kindergarten to grade 2.
681 Section 19. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
682 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
683 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
684 (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
685 REQUIREMENTS.—
686 (h) One-half credit in personal financial literacy.
687 Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2023-2024 school
688 year, each student must earn one-half credit in personal
689 financial literacy and money management. This instruction must
690 include discussion of or instruction in all of the following:
691 1. Types of bank accounts offered, opening and managing a
692 bank account, and assessing the quality of a depository
693 institution’s services.
694 2. Balancing a checkbook.
695 3. Basic principles of money management, such as spending,
696 credit, credit scores, and managing debt, including retail and
697 credit card debt.
698 4. Completing a loan application.
699 5. Receiving an inheritance and related implications.
700 6. Basic principles of personal insurance policies.
701 7. Computing federal income taxes.
702 8. Local tax assessments.
703 9. Computing interest rates by various mechanisms.
704 10. Simple contracts.
705 11. Contesting an incorrect billing statement.
706 12. Types of savings and investments.
707 13. State and federal laws concerning finance.
708 14. Costs of postsecondary education, including cost of
709 attendance, completion of the Free Application for Federal
710 Student Aid, scholarships and grants, and student loans.
711 Section 20. Effective upon becoming a law, paragraph (b) of
712 subsection (1) of section 1007.27, Florida Statutes, is amended,
713 and paragraph (d) is added to subsection (2) of that section, to
714 read:
715 1007.27 Articulated acceleration mechanisms.—
716 (1)
717 (b) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
718 shall identify Florida College System institutions, and state
719 universities, and national consortia to develop courses that
720 align with s. 1007.25 for students in secondary education and
721 provide the training required under s. 1007.35(6).
722 (2)
723 (d) The department may join or establish a national
724 consortium as an alternative method to develop and implement
725 advanced placement courses that align with s. 1007.25.
726 Section 21. Section 1008.2125, Florida Statutes, is
727 repealed.
728 Section 22. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 1008.36,
729 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
730 1008.36 Florida School Recognition Program.—
731 (1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a
732 performance incentive program for outstanding instructional
733 personnel faculty and staff in highly productive schools. The
734 Legislature further finds that performance-based incentives are
735 commonplace in the private sector and should be infused into the
736 public sector as a reward for productivity.
737 (5) School recognition awards must be used for the
738 following:
739 (a) Nonrecurring bonuses to the instructional personnel as
740 defined in s. 1012.01(2) faculty and staff;
741 (b) Nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or
742 materials to assist in maintaining and improving student
743 performance; or
744 (c) Temporary personnel for the school to assist in
745 maintaining and improving student performance.
746
747 Notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary, incentive
748 awards are not subject to collective bargaining.
749 Section 23. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
750 1008.365, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
751 1008.365 Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic
752 Excellence Act.—
753 (8) As part of the RAISE Program, the department shall
754 establish a tutoring program and develop training in effective
755 reading tutoring practices and content, based on evidence-based
756 practices grounded in the science of reading and aligned to the
757 English Language Arts standards under s. 1003.41, which prepares
758 eligible high school students to tutor students in kindergarten
759 through grade 3 in schools identified under this section,
760 instilling in those students a love of reading and improving
761 their literacy skills.
762 (c) Tutoring may be part of a service-learning course
763 adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497. Students may earn up to three
764 elective credits for high school graduation based on the
765 verified number of hours the student spends tutoring under the
766 program. The hours of volunteer service must be documented in
767 writing, and the document must be signed by the student, the
768 student’s parent or guardian, and an administrator or designee
769 of the school in which the tutoring occurred. The Unpaid hours
770 that a high school student devotes to tutoring may be counted
771 toward meeting community service requirements for high school
772 graduation and community service requirements for participation
773 in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program as provided in
774 s. 1003.497(3)(b). The department shall designate a high school
775 student who provides at least 75 verified hours of tutoring
776 under the program as a New Worlds Scholar and award the student
777 with a pin indicating such designation.
778 Section 24. Section 1011.58, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
779 Section 25. Section 1011.59, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
780 Section 26. Section 1012.315, Florida Statutes, is amended
781 to read:
782 1012.315 Screening standards.—
783 (1) A person is ineligible for educator certification or
784 employment in any position that requires direct contact with
785 students in a district school system, a charter school, or a
786 private school that participates in a state scholarship program
787 under chapter 1002 if the person:
788 (a)(1) Is on the disqualification list maintained by the
789 department under s. 1001.10(4)(b);
790 (b)(2) Is registered as a sex offender as described in 42
791 U.S.C. s. 9858f(c)(1)(C);
792 (c)(3) Is ineligible based on a security background
793 investigation under s. 435.04(2). Beginning January 1, 2025, or
794 a later date as determined by the Agency for Health Care
795 Administration, the Agency for Health Care Administration shall
796 determine the eligibility of employees in any position that
797 requires direct contact with students in a district school
798 system, a charter school, or a private school that participates
799 in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002;
800 (d)(4) Would be ineligible for an exemption under s.
801 435.07(4)(c); or
802 (e)(5) Has been convicted or found guilty of, has had
803 adjudication withheld for, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere
804 to:
805 1.(a) Any criminal act committed in another state or under
806 federal law which, if committed in this state, constitutes a
807 disqualifying offense under s. 435.04(2).
808 2.(b) Any delinquent act committed in this state or any
809 delinquent or criminal act committed in another state or under
810 federal law which, if committed in this state, qualifies an
811 individual for inclusion on the Registered Juvenile Sex Offender
812 List under s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.d.
813 (2) Notwithstanding ss. 435.01 and 435.07, a person who
814 undergoes screening pursuant to this chapter or s. 1002.421 may
815 not seek an exemption.
816 (3) Persons who apply for certification or employment are
817 governed by the law and rules in effect at the time of
818 application for issuance of the initial certificate or
819 employment, provided that continuity of certificates or
820 employment is maintained.
821 Section 27. Subsections (3), (5), and (6) of section
822 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
823 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
824 (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
825 demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
826 (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
827 examination required by state board rule;
828 (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
829 certificate issued by another state;
830 (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
831 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), the
832 American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE),
833 or a national educator credentialing board approved by the State
834 Board of Education;
835 (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
836 or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
837 state university, or private college or university that awards
838 an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
839 or an institution of higher education identified by the
840 Department of Education as having a quality program;
841 (e) Achievement of passing scores, identified in state
842 board rule, on national or international examinations that test
843 comparable content and relevant standards in verbal, analytical
844 writing, and quantitative reasoning skills, including, but not
845 limited to, the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative
846 reasoning portions of the Graduate Record Examination and the
847 SAT, ACT, and Classic Learning Test. Passing scores identified
848 in state board rule must be at approximately the same level of
849 rigor as is required to pass the general knowledge examinations;
850 or
851 (f) Documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree
852 from an accredited postsecondary educational institution that
853 the Department of Education has identified as having a quality
854 program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher.
855
856 A school district that employs an individual who does not
857 achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
858 examination must provide information regarding the availability
859 of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
860 assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
861 must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
862 information guides, school district test preparation resources,
863 and preparation courses offered by state universities and
864 Florida College System institutions. The requirement of mastery
865 of general knowledge must shall be waived for an individual who
866 has been provided 3 years of supports and instruction and who
867 has been rated effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34
868 for each of the last 3 years.
869 (5) MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
870 demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:
871 (a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree for
872 which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
873 achievement of a passing score on the Florida-developed subject
874 area examination specified in state board rule;
875 (b) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
876 examination has not been developed, achievement of a passing
877 score on a standardized examination specified in state board
878 rule, including, but not limited to, passing scores on both the
879 oral proficiency and written proficiency examinations
880 administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
881 Languages;
882 (c) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
883 examination has not been developed or a standardized examination
884 has not been specified in state board rule, completion of the
885 subject area specialization requirements specified in state
886 board rule and verification of the attainment of the essential
887 subject matter competencies by the district school
888 superintendent of the employing school district or chief
889 administrative officer of the employing state-supported or
890 private school;
891 (d) For a subject requiring a master’s or higher degree,
892 completion of the subject area specialization requirements
893 specified in state board rule and achievement of a passing score
894 on the Florida-developed subject area examination or a
895 standardized examination that is directly related to the subject
896 specified in state board rule;
897 (e) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
898 certificate issued by another state;
899 (f) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
900 NBPTS, ABCTE, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
901 or a national educator credentialing board approved by the State
902 Board of Education;
903 (g) Documentation of successful completion of a United
904 States Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
905 program;
906 (h) Documentation of a passing score on the Defense
907 Language Proficiency Test (DLPT); or
908 (i) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree for
909 which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
910 documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree from an
911 accredited postsecondary educational institution that the
912 Department of Education has identified as having a quality
913 program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher in the
914 certificate subject area as identified by state board rule.
915
916 School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for middle
917 grades teachers holding only a K-6 teaching certificate to
918 obtain a subject area coverage for middle grades through
919 postsecondary coursework or district add-on certification.
920 (6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION
921 COMPETENCE.—Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of
922 professional preparation and education competence are:
923 (a) Successful completion of an approved teacher
924 preparation program at a postsecondary educational institution
925 within this state and achievement of a passing score on the
926 professional education competency examination required by state
927 board rule;
928 (b) Successful completion of a teacher preparation program
929 at a postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and
930 achievement of a passing score on the professional education
931 competency examination required by state board rule;
932 (c) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
933 certificate issued by another state;
934 (d) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
935 NBPTS, ABCTE, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
936 or a national educator credentialing board approved by the State
937 Board of Education;
938 (e) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
939 or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
940 state university, or private college or university that awards
941 an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
942 or an institution of higher education identified by the
943 Department of Education as having a quality program and
944 achievement of a passing score on the professional education
945 competency examination required by state board rule;
946 (f) Successful completion of professional preparation
947 courses as specified in state board rule, successful completion
948 of a professional education competence program pursuant to
949 subsection (9), and documentation of 3 years of being rated
950 effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34 while holding a
951 temporary certificate;
952 (g) Successful completion of a professional learning
953 certification program, outlined in subsection (8); or
954 (h) Successful completion of a competency-based
955 certification program pursuant to s. 1004.85 and achievement of
956 a passing score on the professional education competency
957 examination required by rule of the State Board of Education.
958
959 The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this
960 subsection, including rules to approve specific teacher
961 preparation programs that are not identified in this subsection
962 which may be used to meet requirements for mastery of
963 professional preparation and education competence.
964 Section 28. Present subsection (4) of section 1012.77,
965 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), a new
966 subsection (4) is added to that section, and subsection (3) of
967 that section is amended, to read:
968 1012.77 Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education
969 Program.—
970 (3) The Teacher of the Year shall serve as the Ambassador
971 for Education. If the Teacher of the Year is unable to serve as
972 the Ambassador for Education, the first runner-up must shall
973 serve in his or her place. The Department of Education shall
974 establish application and selection procedures for determining
975 an annual teacher of the year. Applications and selection
976 criteria must shall be developed and distributed annually by the
977 Department of Education to all eligible entities identified in
978 subsection (4) school districts. The Commissioner of Education
979 shall establish a selection committee which assures
980 representation from teacher organizations, administrators, and
981 parents to select the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador for
982 Education from among the nominated district teachers of the
983 year.
984 (4) Eligible entities to submit to the Department of
985 Education a nominee for the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador
986 for Education awards include:
987 (a) Florida school districts, including lab schools as
988 defined in s. 1002.32.
989 (b) Charter school consortia with at least 30 member
990 schools and an approved professional learning system on file
991 with the department.
992 Section 29. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
993 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
994 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
995 2025.