Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 1618
By the Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; and
Senator Calatayud
602-02771-25 20251618c1
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. 1002.42, F.S.; authorizing certain private
53 schools to construct new facilities on property that
54 meets specified criteria; amending s. 1002.68, F.S.;
55 deleting a provision requiring the department to
56 confer with the Council for Early Grade Success before
57 receiving a certain approval; amending s. 1002.71,
58 F.S.; revising the conditions under which a student
59 may withdraw from a prekindergarten program and
60 reenroll in another program; amending s. 1002.945,
61 F.S.; revising the criteria required for a child care
62 facility, large family child care home, or family day
63 care home to obtain and maintain a designation as a
64 Gold Seal Quality Care provider; amending s. 1003.41,
65 F.S.; requiring that certain standards documents
66 contain only academic standards and benchmarks;
67 requiring the Commissioner of Education to revise
68 currently approved standards documents and submit them
69 to the state board by a specified date; amending s.
70 1003.42, F.S.; revising required instruction on the
71 principles of agriculture; requiring the department to
72 collaborate with specified entities to develop
73 associated standards and a curriculum; authorizing the
74 department to contract with certain agricultural
75 education organizations; amending s. 1003.4201, F.S.;
76 authorizing the inclusion of intensive reading
77 interventions in a school district comprehensive
78 reading instruction plan; requiring that intensive
79 reading interventions be delivered by instructional
80 personnel who possess a micro-credential or are
81 certified or endorsed in reading; requiring that such
82 interventions incorporate certain strategies;
83 requiring that instructional personnel with a micro
84 credential be supervised by an individual certified or
85 endorsed in reading; defining the term “supervised”;
86 authorizing the inclusion in the reading instruction
87 plans of a description of how school districts
88 prioritize the assignment of highly effective
89 teachers; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; adding
90 components to required instruction on financial
91 literacy; amending s. 1007.27, F.S.; requiring the
92 state board to identify national consortia to develop
93 certain courses; authorizing the department to join or
94 establish a national consortium as an additional
95 alternative method to develop and implement advanced
96 placement courses; repealing s. 1008.2125, F.S.,
97 relating to the Council for Early Grade Success;
98 amending s. 1008.36, F.S.; specifying the recipients
99 of school recognition bonus funds; amending s.
100 1008.365, F.S.; revising the types of tutoring hours
101 that may be counted toward meeting the community
102 service requirements for the Bright Futures
103 Scholarship Program; repealing s. 1011.58, F.S.,
104 relating to legislative budget requests of the Florida
105 School for Competitive Academics; repealing s.
106 1011.59, F.S., relating to funds for the Florida
107 School for Competitive Academics; amending s.
108 1012.315, F.S.; revising educator certification and
109 certain employment screening standards; making
110 technical changes; amending s. 1012.56, F.S.;
111 authorizing individuals to demonstrate mastery of
112 general knowledge, subject area knowledge, or
113 professional preparation and education competence by
114 providing a school district with documentation of a
115 valid certificate issued by the American Board for
116 Certification of Teacher Excellence; amending s.
117 1012.77, F.S.; conforming a provision to a change made
118 by the act; specifying entities eligible to submit
119 nominees for the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador
120 for Education awards; providing effective dates.
121
122 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
123
124 Section 1. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (2) of
125 section 11.45, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
126 11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.—
127 (2) DUTIES.—The Auditor General shall:
128 (d) Annually conduct financial audits of the accounts and
129 records of all district school boards in counties with
130 populations of less fewer than 150,000, according to the most
131 recent federal decennial statewide census; and the Florida
132 School for the Deaf and the Blind; and the Florida School for
133 Competitive Academics.
134 (f) At least every 3 years, conduct operational audits of
135 the accounts and records of state agencies, state universities,
136 state colleges, district school boards, the Florida Clerks of
137 Court Operations Corporation, water management districts, and
138 the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Florida
139 School for Competitive Academics.
140
141 The Auditor General shall perform his or her duties
142 independently but under the general policies established by the
143 Legislative Auditing Committee. This subsection does not limit
144 the Auditor General’s discretionary authority to conduct other
145 audits or engagements of governmental entities as authorized in
146 subsection (3).
147 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
148 216.251, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
149 216.251 Salary appropriations; limitations.—
150 (2)(a) The salary for each position not specifically
151 indicated in the appropriations acts shall be as provided in one
152 of the following subparagraphs:
153 1. Within the classification and pay plans provided for in
154 chapter 110.
155 2. Within the classification and pay plans established by
156 the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and
157 the Blind of the Department of Education and approved by the
158 State Board of Education for academic and academic
159 administrative personnel.
160 3. Within the classification and pay plan approved and
161 administered by the Board of Governors or the designee of the
162 board for those positions in the State University System.
163 4. Within the classification and pay plan approved by the
164 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
165 Representatives, as the case may be, for employees of the
166 Legislature.
167 5. Within the approved classification and pay plan for the
168 judicial branch.
169 6. Within the classification and pay plans established by
170 the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for Competitive
171 Academics of the Department of Education and approved by the
172 State Board of Education for academic and academic
173 administrative personnel.
174 Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 447.203, Florida
175 Statutes, is amended to read:
176 447.203 Definitions.—As used in this part:
177 (2) “Public employer” or “employer” means the state or any
178 county, municipality, or special district or any subdivision or
179 agency thereof which the commission determines has sufficient
180 legal distinctiveness properly to carry out the functions of a
181 public employer. With respect to all public employees determined
182 by the commission as properly belonging to a statewide
183 bargaining unit composed of State Career Service System
184 employees or Selected Professional Service employees, the
185 Governor is deemed to be the public employer; and the Board of
186 Governors of the State University System, or the board’s
187 designee, is deemed to be the public employer with respect to
188 all public employees of each constituent state university. The
189 board of trustees of a community college is deemed to be the
190 public employer with respect to all employees of the community
191 college. The district school board is deemed to be the public
192 employer with respect to all employees of the school district.
193 The Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the
194 Blind is deemed to be the public employer with respect to the
195 academic and academic administrative personnel of the Florida
196 School for the Deaf and the Blind. The Board of Trustees of the
197 Florida School for Competitive Academics is deemed to be the
198 public employer with respect to the academic and academic
199 administrative personnel of the Florida School for Competitive
200 Academics. The Governor is deemed to be the public employer with
201 respect to all employees in the Correctional Education Program
202 of the Department of Corrections established pursuant to s.
203 944.801.
204 Section 4. Subsection (7) of section 1000.04, Florida
205 Statutes, is amended to read:
206 1000.04 Components for the delivery of public education
207 within the Florida Early Learning-20 education system.—Florida’s
208 Early Learning-20 education system provides for the delivery of
209 early learning and public education through publicly supported
210 and controlled K-12 schools, Florida College System
211 institutions, state universities and other postsecondary
212 educational institutions, other educational institutions, and
213 other educational services as provided or authorized by the
214 Constitution and laws of the state.
215 (7) THE FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR COMPETITIVE ACADEMICS.—The
216 Florida School for Competitive Academics is a component of the
217 delivery of public education within Florida’s Early Learning-20
218 education system.
219 Section 5. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
220 1001.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
221 1001.20 Department under direction of state board.—
222 (4) The Department of Education shall establish the
223 following offices within the Office of the Commissioner of
224 Education which shall coordinate their activities with all other
225 divisions and offices:
226 (e) Office of Inspector General.—Organized using existing
227 resources and funds and responsible for promoting
228 accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and detecting
229 fraud and abuse within school districts, the Florida School for
230 the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida School for Competitive
231 Academics, and Florida College System institutions in Florida.
232 If the Commissioner of Education determines that a district
233 school board, the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for
234 the Deaf and the Blind, the Board of Trustees for the Florida
235 School for Competitive Academics, or a Florida College System
236 institution board of trustees is unwilling or unable to address
237 substantiated allegations made by any person relating to waste,
238 fraud, or financial mismanagement within the school district,
239 the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, the Florida
240 School for Competitive Academics, or the Florida College System
241 institution, the office must conduct, coordinate, or request
242 investigations into such substantiated allegations. The office
243 shall investigate allegations or reports of possible fraud or
244 abuse against a district school board made by any member of the
245 Cabinet; the presiding officer of either house of the
246 Legislature; a chair of a substantive or appropriations
247 committee with jurisdiction; or a member of the board for which
248 an investigation is sought. The office may investigate
249 allegations or reports of suspected violations of a student’s,
250 parent’s, or teacher’s rights. The office shall have access to
251 all information and personnel necessary to perform its duties
252 and shall have all of its current powers, duties, and
253 responsibilities authorized in s. 20.055.
254 Section 6. Section 1001.325, Florida Statutes, is created
255 to read:
256 1001.325 Prohibited expenditures.—
257 (1) A public school, charter school, school district,
258 charter school administrator, or direct-support organization may
259 not expend any funds, regardless of source, to purchase
260 membership in, or goods and services from, any organization that
261 discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
262 disability, or religion.
263 (2) A public school, charter school, school district,
264 charter school administrator, or direct-support organization may
265 not expend any state or federal funds to promote, support, or
266 maintain any programs or campus activities that:
267 (a) Violate s. 1000.05; or
268 (b) Advocate, promote, or engage in political or social
269 activism, as defined by the State Board of Education.
270
271 Student fees to support student-led organizations are permitted
272 notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such
273 organizations which would otherwise violate this subsection,
274 provided that public funds are allocated to student-led
275 organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of the
276 school or district in which the student is enrolled, as
277 applicable. Use of school or district facilities by student-led
278 organizations is permitted notwithstanding any speech or
279 expressive activity by such organizations which would otherwise
280 violate this subsection, provided that such use is granted to
281 student-led organizations pursuant to written policies or
282 regulations of the school or school district, as applicable.
283 (3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus
284 activities, or functions required for compliance with general or
285 federal laws or regulations, for obtaining or retaining
286 accreditation, or for continuing to receive state funds with the
287 approval of either the State Board of Education or the
288 department.
289 (4) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
290 implement this section.
291 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
292 1001.452, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
293 1001.452 District and school advisory councils.—
294 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—
295 (a) The district school board shall establish an advisory
296 council for each school in the district and shall develop
297 procedures for the election and appointment of advisory council
298 members. Each school advisory council shall include in its name
299 the words “school advisory council.” The school advisory council
300 shall be the sole body responsible for final decisionmaking at
301 the school relating to implementation of ss. 1001.42(18) and
302 1008.345. A majority of the members of each school advisory
303 council must be persons who are not employed by the school
304 district. Each advisory council shall be composed of the
305 principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers,
306 education support employees, students, parents, and other
307 business and community citizens who are representative of the
308 ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school.
309 Career center and high school advisory councils shall include
310 students, and middle and junior high school advisory councils
311 may include students. School advisory councils of career centers
312 and adult education centers are not required to include parents
313 as members. Council members representing teachers, education
314 support employees, students, and parents shall be elected by
315 their respective peer groups at the school in a fair and
316 equitable manner as follows:
317 1. Teachers shall be elected by teachers.
318 2. Education support employees shall be elected by
319 education support employees.
320 3. Students shall be elected by students.
321 4. Parents shall be elected by parents.
322
323 The district school board shall establish procedures to be used
324 by schools in selecting business and community members which
325 that include means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and of
326 taking input on possible members from local business, chambers
327 of commerce, community and civic organizations and groups, and
328 the public at large. The district school board shall review the
329 membership composition of each advisory council. If the district
330 school board determines that the membership elected by the
331 school is not representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic
332 community served by the school, the district school board must
333 shall appoint additional members to achieve proper
334 representation. The commissioner shall determine if schools have
335 maximized their efforts to include on their advisory councils
336 minority persons and persons of lower socioeconomic status.
337 Although schools are strongly encouraged to establish school
338 advisory councils, the district school board of any school
339 district that has a student population of 10,000 or less fewer
340 may establish a district advisory council which includes at
341 least one duly elected teacher from each school in the district.
342 For the purposes of school advisory councils and district
343 advisory councils, the term “teacher” includes classroom
344 teachers, certified student services personnel, and media
345 specialists. For purposes of this paragraph, “education support
346 employee” means any person employed by a school who is not
347 defined as instructional or administrative personnel pursuant to
348 s. 1012.01 and whose duties require 20 or more hours in each
349 normal working week.
350 Section 8. Paragraph (o) of subsection (3) and paragraph
351 (c) of subsection (4) of section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, are
352 amended to read:
353 1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
354 school students must receive accurate and timely information
355 regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
356 of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
357 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
358 rights including, but not limited to, the following:
359 (3) HEALTH ISSUES.—
360 (o) Emergency opioid antagonist Naloxone use and supply.—
361 1. A public school may purchase a supply of an emergency
362 the opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and
363 Drug Administration (FDA) naloxone from a wholesale distributor
364 as defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an arrangement with a
365 wholesale distributor or manufacturer as defined in s. 499.003
366 for an FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonist naloxone at
367 fair-market, free, or reduced prices for use in the event that a
368 student has an opioid overdose. The FDA-approved emergency
369 opioid antagonist naloxone must be maintained in a secure
370 location on the public school’s premises.
371 2. A school district employee who administers an approved
372 emergency opioid antagonist to a student in compliance with ss.
373 381.887 and 768.13 is immune from civil liability under s.
374 768.13.
375 (4) DISCIPLINE.—
376 (c) Corporal punishment.—
377 1. In accordance with the provisions of s. 1003.32,
378 corporal punishment of a public school student may only be
379 administered by a teacher or school principal within guidelines
380 of the school principal and according to district school board
381 policy. Another adult must be present and must be informed in
382 the student’s presence of the reason for the punishment. Upon
383 request, the teacher or school principal must provide the parent
384 with a written explanation of the reason for the punishment and
385 the name of the other adult who was present.
386 2. A district school board having a policy authorizing the
387 use of corporal punishment as a form of discipline shall include
388 in such policy a requirement that a parent provide consent for
389 the school to administer corporal punishment. The district
390 school board policy may require such consent for the school
391 year, or before each administration. The district school board
392 shall review its policy on corporal punishment once every 3
393 years during a district school board meeting held pursuant to s.
394 1001.372. The district school board shall take public testimony
395 at the board meeting. If such board meeting is not held in
396 accordance with this subparagraph, the portion of the district
397 school board’s policy authorizing corporal punishment expires.
398 Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (16) of section
399 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
400 1002.33 Charter schools.—
401 (16) EXEMPTION FROM STATUTES.—
402 (b) Additionally, a charter school shall be in compliance
403 with the following statutes:
404 1. Section 286.011, relating to public meetings and
405 records, public inspection, and criminal and civil penalties.
406 2. Chapter 119, relating to public records.
407 3. Section 1003.03, relating to the maximum class size,
408 except that the calculation for compliance pursuant to s.
409 1003.03 shall be the average at the school level.
410 4. Section 1012.22(1)(c), relating to compensation and
411 salary schedules.
412 5. Section 1012.33(5), relating to workforce reductions.
413 6. Section 1012.335, relating to contracts with
414 instructional personnel hired on or after July 1, 2011.
415 7. Section 1012.34, relating to the substantive
416 requirements for performance evaluations for instructional
417 personnel and school administrators.
418 8. Section 1006.12, relating to safe-school officers.
419 9. Section 1006.07(7), relating to threat management teams.
420 10. Section 1006.07(9), relating to School Environmental
421 Safety Incident Reporting.
422 11. Section 1006.07(10), relating to reporting of
423 involuntary examinations.
424 12. Section 1006.1493, relating to the Florida Safe Schools
425 Assessment Tool.
426 13. Section 1006.07(6)(d), relating to adopting an active
427 assailant response plan.
428 14. Section 943.082(4)(b), relating to the mobile
429 suspicious activity reporting tool.
430 15. Section 1012.584, relating to youth mental health
431 awareness and assistance training.
432 16. Section 1001.42(4)(f)2., relating to middle school and
433 high school start times. A charter school-in-the-workplace is
434 exempt from this requirement.
435 17. Section 1002.20(4)(c), relating to school corporal
436 punishment.
437 Section 10. Section 1002.351, Florida Statutes, is
438 repealed.
439 Section 11. Subsection (6) of section 1002.394, Florida
440 Statutes, is amended to read:
441 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.—
442 (6) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
443 a Family Empowerment Scholarship while he or she is:
444 (a) Enrolled full time in a public school, including, but
445 not limited to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
446 the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for
447 Competitive Academics, the Florida Virtual School, the Florida
448 Scholars Academy, a developmental research school authorized
449 under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized under this
450 chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, a 3- or 4-year-old
451 child who receives services funded through the Florida Education
452 Finance Program is considered to be a student enrolled in a
453 public school;
454 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
455 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
456 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
457 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
458 this chapter. However, an eligible public school student
459 receiving a scholarship under s. 1002.411 may receive a
460 scholarship for transportation pursuant to subparagraph
461 (4)(a)2.;
462 (d) Not having regular and direct contact with his or her
463 private school teachers pursuant to s. 1002.421(1)(i), unless he
464 or she is eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) and enrolled in
465 the participating private school’s transition-to-work program
466 pursuant to subsection (16) or a home education program pursuant
467 to s. 1002.41;
468 (e) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
469 s. 1002.43 unless he or she is determined eligible pursuant to
470 paragraph (3)(b); or
471 (f) Participating in virtual instruction pursuant to s.
472 1002.455 that receives state funding pursuant to the student’s
473 participation.
474 Section 12. Subsection (4) of section 1002.395, Florida
475 Statutes, is amended to read:
476 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.—
477 (4) SCHOLARSHIP PROHIBITIONS.—A student is not eligible for
478 a scholarship while he or she is:
479 (a) Enrolled full time in a public school, including, but
480 not limited to, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind,
481 the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy, the Florida School for
482 Competitive Academics, the Florida Virtual School, the Florida
483 Scholars Academy, a developmental research school authorized
484 under s. 1002.32, or a charter school authorized under this
485 chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, a 3- or 4-year-old
486 child who receives services funded through the Florida Education
487 Finance Program is considered a student enrolled full time in a
488 public school;
489 (b) Enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of
490 providing educational services to youth in a Department of
491 Juvenile Justice commitment program;
492 (c) Receiving any other educational scholarship pursuant to
493 this chapter. However, an eligible public school student
494 receiving a scholarship under s. 1002.411 may receive a
495 scholarship for transportation pursuant to subparagraph
496 (6)(d)4.;
497 (d) Not having regular and direct contact with his or her
498 private school teachers pursuant to s. 1002.421(1)(i) unless he
499 or she is enrolled in a personalized education program;
500 (e) Participating in a home education program as defined in
501 s. 1002.01(1);
502 (f) Participating in a private tutoring program pursuant to
503 s. 1002.43 unless he or she is enrolled in a personalized
504 education program; or
505 (g) Participating in virtual instruction pursuant to s.
506 1002.455 that receives state funding pursuant to the student’s
507 participation.
508 Section 13. Paragraph (c) is added to subsection (19) of
509 section 1002.42, Florida Statutes, to read:
510 1002.42 Private schools.—
511 (19) FACILITIES.—
512 (c) A private school located in a county with four
513 incorporated municipalities may construct new facilities, which
514 may be temporary or permanent, on property purchased from or
515 owned or leased by a library, community service organization,
516 museum, performing arts venue, theater, cinema, or church under
517 s. 170.201, which is or was actively used as such within 5 years
518 of any executed agreement with a private school; any land owned
519 by a Florida College System institution or state university; and
520 any land recently used to house a school or child care facility
521 licensed under s. 402.305 under its preexisting zoning and land
522 use designations without rezoning or obtaining a special
523 exception or a land use change and without complying with any
524 mitigation requirements or conditions. The new facility must be
525 located on property used solely for purposes described in this
526 paragraph and must meet applicable state and local health,
527 safety, and welfare laws, codes, and rules, including firesafety
528 and building safety.
529 Section 14. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section
530 1002.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
531 1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
532 accountability.—
533 (4)
534 (e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall
535 provide for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten
536 provider and public school based on the provider’s designation.
537 The maximum differential payment may not exceed a total of 15
538 percent of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent
539 student under s. 1002.71 attending in the consecutive program
540 year for that program. A private prekindergarten provider or
541 public school may not receive a differential payment if it
542 receives a designation of “proficient” or lower. Before the
543 adoption of the methodology, the department shall confer with
544 the Council for Early Grade Success under s. 1008.2125 before
545 receiving approval from the State Board of Education for the
546 final recommendations on the designation system and differential
547 payments.
548 Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 1002.71, Florida
549 Statutes, is amended to read:
550 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
551 (4) Notwithstanding s. 1002.53(3) and subsection (2):
552 (a) A child who, for any of the prekindergarten programs
553 listed in s. 1002.53(3), has not completed any of the
554 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) more than 70
555 percent of the hours authorized to be reported for funding under
556 subsection (2), or has not expended more than 70 percent of the
557 funds authorized for the child under s. 1002.66, may withdraw
558 from the program for good cause and reenroll in one of the
559 programs. The total funding for a child who reenrolls in one of
560 the programs for good cause may not exceed one full-time
561 equivalent student. Funding for a child who withdraws and
562 reenrolls in one of the programs for good cause must shall be
563 issued in accordance with the department’s uniform attendance
564 policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (6)(d).
565 (b) A child who has not substantially completed any of the
566 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) may withdraw
567 from the program due to an extreme hardship that is beyond the
568 child’s or parent’s control, reenroll in one of the summer
569 programs, and be reported for funding purposes as a full-time
570 equivalent student in the summer program for which the child is
571 reenrolled.
572
573 A child may reenroll only once in a prekindergarten program
574 under this section. A child who reenrolls in a prekindergarten
575 program under this subsection may not subsequently withdraw from
576 the program and reenroll, unless the child is granted a good
577 cause exemption under this subsection. The department shall
578 establish criteria specifying whether a good cause exists for a
579 child to withdraw from a program under paragraph (a), whether a
580 child has substantially completed a program under paragraph (b),
581 and whether an extreme hardship exists which is beyond the
582 child’s or parent’s control under paragraph (b).
583 Section 16. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
584 1002.945, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
585 1002.945 Gold Seal Quality Care Program.—
586 (4) In order to obtain and maintain a designation as a Gold
587 Seal Quality Care provider, a child care facility, large family
588 child care home, or family day care home must meet the following
589 additional criteria:
590 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of
591 Education determines through a formal process that a provider
592 has been in business for at least 5 years and has no other class
593 I violations recorded, the department may recommend to the state
594 board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care
595 status. The state board’s determination regarding such
596 provider’s status is final.
597 Section 17. Subsection (3) of section 1003.41, Florida
598 Statutes, is amended to read:
599 1003.41 State academic standards.—
600 (3) The Commissioner of Education shall, as deemed
601 necessary, develop and submit proposed revisions to the
602 standards for review and comment by Florida educators, school
603 administrators, representatives of the Florida College System
604 institutions and state universities who have expertise in the
605 content knowledge and skills necessary to prepare a student for
606 postsecondary education and careers, a representative from the
607 Department of Commerce, business and industry leaders for in
608 demand careers, and the public. The commissioner, after
609 considering reviews and comments, shall submit the proposed
610 revisions to the State Board of Education for adoption. New and
611 revised standards documents submitted for approval to the state
612 board must consist only of academic standards and benchmarks.
613 The commissioner shall revise all currently approved standards
614 documents based on the requirements of this subsection and
615 submit all revised standards documents to the state board for
616 approval no later than July 1, 2026.
617 Section 18. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section
618 1003.42, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
619 1003.42 Required instruction.—
620 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
621 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
622 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
623 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
624 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
625 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
626 approved methods of instruction, the following:
627 (j) The elementary principles of agriculture. This
628 component must include, but need not be limited to, the history
629 of agriculture both nationally and specifically to this state,
630 the economic and societal impact of agriculture, and the various
631 agricultural industry sectors. The department, in collaboration
632 with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the
633 University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural
634 Sciences, shall prepare and offer standards and a curriculum for
635 the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input
636 from state or nationally recognized agricultural educational
637 organizations. The department may contract with state or
638 nationally recognized agricultural educational organizations to
639 develop training for instructional personnel and grade
640 appropriate classroom resources to support the developed
641 curriculum.
642
643 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
644 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
645 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
646 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
647 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
648 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
649 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
650 Section 19. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
651 1003.4201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
652 1003.4201 Comprehensive system of reading instruction.—Each
653 school district must implement a system of comprehensive reading
654 instruction for students enrolled in prekindergarten through
655 grade 12 and certain students who exhibit a substantial
656 deficiency in early literacy.
657 (2)(a) Components of the reading instruction plan may
658 include the following:
659 1. Additional time per day of evidence-based intensive
660 reading instruction for kindergarten through grade 12 students,
661 which may be delivered during or outside of the regular school
662 day.
663 2. Highly qualified reading coaches, who must be endorsed
664 in reading, to specifically support classroom teachers in making
665 instructional decisions based on progress monitoring data
666 collected pursuant to s. 1008.25(9) and improve classroom
667 teacher delivery of effective reading instruction, reading
668 intervention, and reading in the content areas based on student
669 need.
670 3. Professional learning to help instructional personnel
671 and certified prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida
672 Education Finance Program earn a certification, a credential, an
673 endorsement, or an advanced degree in scientifically researched
674 and evidence-based reading instruction.
675 4. Summer reading camps, using only classroom teachers or
676 other district personnel who possess a micro-credential as
677 specified in s. 1003.485 or are certified or endorsed in reading
678 consistent with s. 1008.25(8)(b)3., for all students in
679 kindergarten through grade 5 exhibiting a reading deficiency as
680 determined by district and state assessments.
681 5. Intensive reading interventions, which must be delivered
682 by instructional personnel who possess a micro-credential as
683 provided in s. 1003.485 or are certified or endorsed in reading
684 as provided in s. 1012.586 and must incorporate evidence-based
685 strategies identified by the Just Read, Florida! office pursuant
686 to s. 1001.215(7). Instructional personnel who possess a micro
687 credential as specified in s. 1003.485 and are delivering
688 intensive reading interventions must be supervised by an
689 individual certified or endorsed in reading. For the purposes of
690 this subparagraph, the term “supervised” means that
691 instructional personnel with a micro-credential are able,
692 through telecommunication or in person, to communicate and
693 consult with, and receive direction from, certified or endorsed
694 personnel. Incentives for instructional personnel and certified
695 prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida Education Finance
696 Program who possess a reading certification or endorsement as
697 specified in s. 1012.586 or micro-credential as specified in s.
698 1003.485 and provide educational support to improve student
699 literacy.
700 6. Tutoring in reading.
701 7. A description of how the district prioritizes the
702 assignment of highly effective teachers, as identified in s.
703 1012.34(2)(e), from kindergarten to grade 2.
704 Section 20. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
705 1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
706 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
707 (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
708 REQUIREMENTS.—
709 (h) One-half credit in personal financial literacy.
710 Beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2023-2024 school
711 year, each student must earn one-half credit in personal
712 financial literacy and money management. This instruction must
713 include discussion of or instruction in all of the following:
714 1. Types of bank accounts offered, opening and managing a
715 bank account, and assessing the quality of a depository
716 institution’s services.
717 2. Balancing a checkbook.
718 3. Basic principles of money management, such as spending,
719 credit, credit scores, and managing debt, including retail and
720 credit card debt.
721 4. Completing a loan application.
722 5. Receiving an inheritance and related implications.
723 6. Basic principles of personal insurance policies.
724 7. Computing federal income taxes.
725 8. Local tax assessments.
726 9. Computing interest rates by various mechanisms.
727 10. Simple contracts.
728 11. Contesting an incorrect billing statement.
729 12. Types of savings and investments.
730 13. State and federal laws concerning finance.
731 14. Costs of postsecondary education, including cost of
732 attendance, completion of the Free Application for Federal
733 Student Aid, scholarships and grants, and student loans.
734 Section 21. Effective upon becoming a law, paragraph (b) of
735 subsection (1) of section 1007.27, Florida Statutes, is amended,
736 and paragraph (d) is added to subsection (2) of that section, to
737 read:
738 1007.27 Articulated acceleration mechanisms.—
739 (1)
740 (b) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors
741 shall identify Florida College System institutions, and state
742 universities, and national consortia to develop courses that
743 align with s. 1007.25 for students in secondary education and
744 provide the training required under s. 1007.35(6).
745 (2)
746 (d) The department may join or establish a national
747 consortium as an alternative method to develop and implement
748 advanced placement courses that align with s. 1007.25.
749 Section 22. Section 1008.2125, Florida Statutes, is
750 repealed.
751 Section 23. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 1008.36,
752 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
753 1008.36 Florida School Recognition Program.—
754 (1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a
755 performance incentive program for outstanding instructional
756 personnel faculty and staff in highly productive schools. The
757 Legislature further finds that performance-based incentives are
758 commonplace in the private sector and should be infused into the
759 public sector as a reward for productivity.
760 (5) School recognition awards must be used for the
761 following:
762 (a) Nonrecurring bonuses to the instructional personnel as
763 defined in s. 1012.01(2) faculty and staff;
764 (b) Nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or
765 materials to assist in maintaining and improving student
766 performance; or
767 (c) Temporary personnel for the school to assist in
768 maintaining and improving student performance.
769
770 Notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary, incentive
771 awards are not subject to collective bargaining.
772 Section 24. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
773 1008.365, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
774 1008.365 Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic
775 Excellence Act.—
776 (8) As part of the RAISE Program, the department shall
777 establish a tutoring program and develop training in effective
778 reading tutoring practices and content, based on evidence-based
779 practices grounded in the science of reading and aligned to the
780 English Language Arts standards under s. 1003.41, which prepares
781 eligible high school students to tutor students in kindergarten
782 through grade 3 in schools identified under this section,
783 instilling in those students a love of reading and improving
784 their literacy skills.
785 (c) Tutoring may be part of a service-learning course
786 adopted pursuant to s. 1003.497. Students may earn up to three
787 elective credits for high school graduation based on the
788 verified number of hours the student spends tutoring under the
789 program. The hours of volunteer service must be documented in
790 writing, and the document must be signed by the student, the
791 student’s parent or guardian, and an administrator or designee
792 of the school in which the tutoring occurred. The Unpaid hours
793 that a high school student devotes to tutoring may be counted
794 toward meeting community service requirements for high school
795 graduation and community service requirements for participation
796 in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program as provided in
797 s. 1003.497(3)(b). The department shall designate a high school
798 student who provides at least 75 verified hours of tutoring
799 under the program as a New Worlds Scholar and award the student
800 with a pin indicating such designation.
801 Section 25. Section 1011.58, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
802 Section 26. Section 1011.59, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
803 Section 27. Section 1012.315, Florida Statutes, is amended
804 to read:
805 1012.315 Screening standards.—
806 (1) A person is ineligible for educator certification or
807 employment in any position that requires direct contact with
808 students in a district school system, a charter school, or a
809 private school that participates in a state scholarship program
810 under chapter 1002 if the person:
811 (a)(1) Is on the disqualification list maintained by the
812 department under s. 1001.10(4)(b);
813 (b)(2) Is registered as a sex offender as described in 42
814 U.S.C. s. 9858f(c)(1)(C);
815 (c)(3) Is ineligible based on a security background
816 investigation under s. 435.04(2). Beginning January 1, 2025, or
817 a later date as determined by the Agency for Health Care
818 Administration, the Agency for Health Care Administration shall
819 determine the eligibility of employees in any position that
820 requires direct contact with students in a district school
821 system, a charter school, or a private school that participates
822 in a state scholarship program under chapter 1002;
823 (d)(4) Would be ineligible for an exemption under s.
824 435.07(4)(c); or
825 (e)(5) Has been convicted or found guilty of, has had
826 adjudication withheld for, or has pled guilty or nolo contendere
827 to:
828 1.(a) Any criminal act committed in another state or under
829 federal law which, if committed in this state, constitutes a
830 disqualifying offense under s. 435.04(2).
831 2.(b) Any delinquent act committed in this state or any
832 delinquent or criminal act committed in another state or under
833 federal law which, if committed in this state, qualifies an
834 individual for inclusion on the Registered Juvenile Sex Offender
835 List under s. 943.0435(1)(h)1.d.
836 (2) Notwithstanding ss. 435.01 and 435.07, a person who
837 undergoes screening pursuant to this chapter or s. 1002.421 may
838 not seek an exemption.
839 (3) Persons who apply for certification or employment are
840 governed by the law and rules in effect at the time of
841 application for issuance of the initial certificate or
842 employment, provided that continuity of certificates or
843 employment is maintained.
844 Section 28. Subsections (3), (5), and (6) of section
845 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
846 1012.56 Educator certification requirements.—
847 (3) MASTERY OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
848 demonstrating mastery of general knowledge are:
849 (a) Achievement of passing scores on the general knowledge
850 examination required by state board rule;
851 (b) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
852 certificate issued by another state;
853 (c) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
854 National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), the
855 American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE),
856 or a national educator credentialing board approved by the State
857 Board of Education;
858 (d) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
859 or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
860 state university, or private college or university that awards
861 an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
862 or an institution of higher education identified by the
863 Department of Education as having a quality program;
864 (e) Achievement of passing scores, identified in state
865 board rule, on national or international examinations that test
866 comparable content and relevant standards in verbal, analytical
867 writing, and quantitative reasoning skills, including, but not
868 limited to, the verbal, analytical writing, and quantitative
869 reasoning portions of the Graduate Record Examination and the
870 SAT, ACT, and Classic Learning Test. Passing scores identified
871 in state board rule must be at approximately the same level of
872 rigor as is required to pass the general knowledge examinations;
873 or
874 (f) Documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree
875 from an accredited postsecondary educational institution that
876 the Department of Education has identified as having a quality
877 program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher.
878
879 A school district that employs an individual who does not
880 achieve passing scores on any subtest of the general knowledge
881 examination must provide information regarding the availability
882 of state-level and district-level supports and instruction to
883 assist him or her in achieving a passing score. Such information
884 must include, but need not be limited to, state-level test
885 information guides, school district test preparation resources,
886 and preparation courses offered by state universities and
887 Florida College System institutions. The requirement of mastery
888 of general knowledge must shall be waived for an individual who
889 has been provided 3 years of supports and instruction and who
890 has been rated effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34
891 for each of the last 3 years.
892 (5) MASTERY OF SUBJECT AREA KNOWLEDGE.—Acceptable means of
893 demonstrating mastery of subject area knowledge are:
894 (a) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree for
895 which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
896 achievement of a passing score on the Florida-developed subject
897 area examination specified in state board rule;
898 (b) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
899 examination has not been developed, achievement of a passing
900 score on a standardized examination specified in state board
901 rule, including, but not limited to, passing scores on both the
902 oral proficiency and written proficiency examinations
903 administered by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
904 Languages;
905 (c) For a subject for which a Florida subject area
906 examination has not been developed or a standardized examination
907 has not been specified in state board rule, completion of the
908 subject area specialization requirements specified in state
909 board rule and verification of the attainment of the essential
910 subject matter competencies by the district school
911 superintendent of the employing school district or chief
912 administrative officer of the employing state-supported or
913 private school;
914 (d) For a subject requiring a master’s or higher degree,
915 completion of the subject area specialization requirements
916 specified in state board rule and achievement of a passing score
917 on the Florida-developed subject area examination or a
918 standardized examination that is directly related to the subject
919 specified in state board rule;
920 (e) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
921 certificate issued by another state;
922 (f) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
923 NBPTS, ABCTE, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
924 or a national educator credentialing board approved by the State
925 Board of Education;
926 (g) Documentation of successful completion of a United
927 States Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
928 program;
929 (h) Documentation of a passing score on the Defense
930 Language Proficiency Test (DLPT); or
931 (i) For a subject requiring only a baccalaureate degree for
932 which a Florida subject area examination has been developed,
933 documentation of receipt of a master’s or higher degree from an
934 accredited postsecondary educational institution that the
935 Department of Education has identified as having a quality
936 program resulting in a baccalaureate degree or higher in the
937 certificate subject area as identified by state board rule.
938
939 School districts are encouraged to provide mechanisms for middle
940 grades teachers holding only a K-6 teaching certificate to
941 obtain a subject area coverage for middle grades through
942 postsecondary coursework or district add-on certification.
943 (6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION
944 COMPETENCE.—Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of
945 professional preparation and education competence are:
946 (a) Successful completion of an approved teacher
947 preparation program at a postsecondary educational institution
948 within this state and achievement of a passing score on the
949 professional education competency examination required by state
950 board rule;
951 (b) Successful completion of a teacher preparation program
952 at a postsecondary educational institution outside Florida and
953 achievement of a passing score on the professional education
954 competency examination required by state board rule;
955 (c) Documentation of a valid professional standard teaching
956 certificate issued by another state;
957 (d) Documentation of a valid certificate issued by the
958 NBPTS, ABCTE, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
959 or a national educator credentialing board approved by the State
960 Board of Education;
961 (e) Documentation of two semesters of successful, full-time
962 or part-time teaching in a Florida College System institution,
963 state university, or private college or university that awards
964 an associate or higher degree and is an accredited institution
965 or an institution of higher education identified by the
966 Department of Education as having a quality program and
967 achievement of a passing score on the professional education
968 competency examination required by state board rule;
969 (f) Successful completion of professional preparation
970 courses as specified in state board rule, successful completion
971 of a professional education competence program pursuant to
972 subsection (9), and documentation of 3 years of being rated
973 effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34 while holding a
974 temporary certificate;
975 (g) Successful completion of a professional learning
976 certification program, outlined in subsection (8); or
977 (h) Successful completion of a competency-based
978 certification program pursuant to s. 1004.85 and achievement of
979 a passing score on the professional education competency
980 examination required by rule of the State Board of Education.
981
982 The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this
983 subsection, including rules to approve specific teacher
984 preparation programs that are not identified in this subsection
985 which may be used to meet requirements for mastery of
986 professional preparation and education competence.
987 Section 29. Present subsection (4) of section 1012.77,
988 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), a new
989 subsection (4) is added to that section, and subsection (3) of
990 that section is amended, to read:
991 1012.77 Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education
992 Program.—
993 (3) The Teacher of the Year shall serve as the Ambassador
994 for Education. If the Teacher of the Year is unable to serve as
995 the Ambassador for Education, the first runner-up must shall
996 serve in his or her place. The Department of Education shall
997 establish application and selection procedures for determining
998 an annual teacher of the year. Applications and selection
999 criteria must shall be developed and distributed annually by the
1000 Department of Education to all eligible entities identified in
1001 subsection (4) school districts. The Commissioner of Education
1002 shall establish a selection committee which assures
1003 representation from teacher organizations, administrators, and
1004 parents to select the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador for
1005 Education from among the nominated district teachers of the
1006 year.
1007 (4) Eligible entities to submit to the Department of
1008 Education a nominee for the Teacher of the Year and Ambassador
1009 for Education awards include:
1010 (a) Florida school districts, including lab schools as
1011 defined in s. 1002.32.
1012 (b) Charter school consortia with at least 30 member
1013 schools and an approved professional learning system on file
1014 with the department.
1015 Section 30. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
1016 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
1017 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
1018 2025.