Florida Senate - 2025                   (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 2510
       
       
        
       FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Appropriations
       
       
       
       
       
       576-02768A-25                                         20252510pb
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to prekindergarten through grade 12
    3         education; amending s. 1002.45, F.S.; authorizing a
    4         school district to report a full-time equivalent
    5         student for credit earned by a student who is enrolled
    6         in a virtual instruction course during the summer;
    7         amending s. 1003.4203, F.S.; deleting legislative
    8         intent; amending s. 1003.498, F.S.; authorizing a
    9         school district to report a full-time equivalent
   10         student for credit earned by a student who is enrolled
   11         in a virtual instruction course during the summer;
   12         amending s. 1003.4935, F.S.; deleting language
   13         providing that students who earn certain career and
   14         professional education (CAPE) certificates are
   15         eligible for full-time equivalent membership; amending
   16         s. 1008.36, F.S.; revising language related to the
   17         Florida School Recognition Program to apply to
   18         instructional personnel, rather than faculty and
   19         staff; amending s. 1008.44, F.S.; revising the CAPE
   20         Industry Certification Funding List; deleting a
   21         provision requiring the Commissioner of Education to
   22         conduct a review of methodology used to determine
   23         additional full-time equivalent membership weights;
   24         requiring the commissioner to limit CAPE industry
   25         certifications to certain students based on specified
   26         criteria; amending s. 1011.61, F.S.; revising the
   27         definition of the term “full-time equivalent student”;
   28         amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising the procedure for
   29         the calculation of additional full-time equivalent
   30         membership for certain students; amending s. 1011.66,
   31         F.S; revising the timeframe for the distribution of
   32         Florida Education Finance Program funds; providing an
   33         effective date.
   34          
   35  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   36  
   37         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
   38  1002.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   39         1002.45 Virtual instruction programs.—
   40         (6) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL
   41  FUNDING.—
   42         (a) All virtual instruction programs established pursuant
   43  to paragraph (1)(b) are subject to the requirements of s.
   44  1011.61(1)(c)1.b.(III), (IV), (VI), and (4), and the school
   45  district providing the virtual instruction program shall report
   46  the full-time equivalent students in a manner prescribed by the
   47  department. A school district may report a full-time equivalent
   48  student for credit earned by a student who is enrolled in a
   49  virtual instruction course provided by the district which was
   50  completed after the end of the regular school year if the full
   51  time equivalent student is reported no later than the deadline
   52  for amending the final full-time equivalent student membership
   53  report for that year. A school district may also report a full
   54  time equivalent student for credit earned by a student who is
   55  enrolled in a virtual instruction course provided by the
   56  district during the summer to the Department of Education in a
   57  manner prescribed by the Department of Education and shall be
   58  funded through the Florida Education Finance Program.
   59         Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
   60  1003.4203, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   61         1003.4203 Digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool
   62  certificates, and technical assistance.—
   63         (2) CAPE DIGITAL TOOL CERTIFICATES.—The department shall
   64  identify, in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under
   65  ss. 1003.492 and 1008.44, CAPE Digital Tool certificates that
   66  indicate a student’s digital skills. The department shall notify
   67  each school district when the certificates are available. The
   68  certificates shall be made available to all public elementary
   69  and middle grades students.
   70         (c) The Legislature intends that, on an annual basis, at
   71  least 75 percent of public middle grades students earn at least
   72  one CAPE Digital Tool certificate.
   73         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 1003.498, Florida
   74  Statutes, is amended to read:
   75         1003.498 School district virtual course offerings.—
   76         (2) School districts may offer virtual courses for students
   77  enrolled in the school district. These courses must be
   78  identified in the course code directory. Students may
   79  participate in these virtual course offerings pursuant to s.
   80  1002.455.
   81         (a) Any student who is enrolled in a school district may
   82  register and enroll in an online course offered by his or her
   83  school district.
   84         (b)1. Any student who is enrolled in a school district may
   85  register and enroll in an online course offered by any other
   86  school district in the state. The school district in which the
   87  student completes the course shall report the student’s
   88  completion of that course for funding pursuant to s.
   89  1011.61(1)(c)1.b.(VI), and the home school district may shall
   90  not report the student for funding for that course.
   91         2. The full-time equivalent student membership calculated
   92  under this subsection is subject to the requirements in s.
   93  1011.61(4). The Department of Education shall establish
   94  procedures to enable interdistrict coordination for the delivery
   95  and funding of this online option.
   96         (c)A school district may report a full-time equivalent
   97  student membership for credit earned by a student who is
   98  enrolled in a virtual education course provided by the district
   99  during the summer.
  100         (d)3. Funding for virtual courses shall be as provided in
  101  s. 1002.45(6).
  102         Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 1003.4935, Florida
  103  Statutes, is amended to read:
  104         1003.4935 Middle grades career and professional academy
  105  courses and career-themed courses.—
  106         (3) CAPE Digital Tool certificates and CAPE industry
  107  certifications offered in the middle grades that are included on
  108  the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List, if earned by
  109  students, are eligible for additional full-time equivalent
  110  membership pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.a. and b.
  111         Section 5. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 1008.36,
  112  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  113         1008.36 Florida School Recognition Program.—
  114         (1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a
  115  performance incentive program for outstanding instructional
  116  personnel faculty and staff in highly productive schools. The
  117  Legislature further finds that performance-based incentives are
  118  commonplace in the private sector and should be infused into the
  119  public sector as a reward for productivity.
  120         (5) School recognition awards must be used for the
  121  following:
  122         (a) Nonrecurring bonuses to the instructional personnel as
  123  defined in s. 1012.01 faculty and staff;
  124         (b) Nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or
  125  materials to assist in maintaining and improving student
  126  performance; or
  127         (c) Temporary personnel for the school to assist in
  128  maintaining and improving student performance.
  129  
  130  Notwithstanding statutory provisions to the contrary, incentive
  131  awards are not subject to collective bargaining.
  132         Section 6. Subsection (1) and paragraph (b) of subsection
  133  (4) of section 1008.44, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  134         1008.44 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.—
  135         (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt, at least
  136  annually, based upon recommendations by the Commissioner of
  137  Education, the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List that
  138  assigns additional full-time equivalent membership to
  139  certifications identified in the Master Credentials List under
  140  s. 445.004(4) which meet that meets a statewide, regional, or
  141  local demand, and courses that lead to such certifications in
  142  accordance with s. 1011.62(1)(o). Additional full-time
  143  equivalent membership funding for regional and local demand
  144  certifications may only be earned in those areas with regional
  145  or local demand as identified by the Credentials Review
  146  Committee. The CAPE Industry Certification Funding List may
  147  include the following certificates and certifications:
  148         (a) CAPE industry certifications identified as credentials
  149  of value that meet the framework of quality under s. 445.004(4),
  150  that must be applied in the distribution of funding to school
  151  districts under s. 1011.62(1)(o). The CAPE Industry
  152  Certification Funding List shall incorporate by reference the
  153  industry certifications on the career pathways list approved for
  154  the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award.
  155         (b) CAPE Digital Tool certificates selected by the
  156  department under s. 1003.4203(2) that do not articulate for
  157  college credit. The certificates must be made available to
  158  students in elementary school and middle school grades and, if
  159  earned by a student, must be eligible for additional full-time
  160  equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1. The department
  161  shall annually review available assessments that meet the
  162  requirements for inclusion on the list.
  163         (c) CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications that
  164  articulate for 15 or more college credit hours under s.
  165  1003.4203(4). Such certifications must, if successfully
  166  completed, be eligible for additional full-time equivalent
  167  membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.
  168         (d) The Commissioner of Education shall conduct a review of
  169  the methodology used to determine additional full-time
  170  equivalent membership weights assigned in s. 1011.62(1)(o) and,
  171  if necessary, recommend revised weights. The weights must factor
  172  in the prioritization of critical shortages of labor market
  173  demand and middle-level to high-level wage earning outcomes as
  174  identified by the Credentials Review Committee under s. 445.004.
  175  The results of the review and the commissioner’s recommendations
  176  must be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
  177  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than
  178  December 1, 2023.
  179         (4)
  180         (b) Effective for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the
  181  Commissioner of Education shall may limit CAPE industry
  182  certifications placed on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding
  183  List and CAPE Digital Tool certificates to students in certain
  184  grades based upon the alignment of the industry certification to
  185  career and technical education programs and the appropriate
  186  grade level placement within those programs. The eligible grade
  187  levels must be adopted annually on the funding list.
  188         Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  189  1011.61, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  190         1011.61 Definitions.—Notwithstanding the provisions of s.
  191  1000.21, the following terms are defined as follows for the
  192  purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program:
  193         (1) A “full-time equivalent student” in each program of the
  194  district is defined in terms of full-time students and part-time
  195  students as follows:
  196         (c)1. A “full-time equivalent student” is:
  197         a. A full-time student in any one of the programs listed in
  198  s. 1011.62(1)(c); or
  199         b. A combination of full-time or part-time students in any
  200  one of the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) which is the
  201  equivalent of one full-time student based on the following
  202  calculations:
  203         (I) A full-time student in a combination of programs listed
  204  in s. 1011.62(1)(c) shall be a fraction of a full-time
  205  equivalent membership in each special program equal to the
  206  number of net hours per school year for which he or she is a
  207  member, divided by the appropriate number of hours set forth in
  208  subparagraph (a)1. The difference between that fraction or sum
  209  of fractions and the maximum value as set forth in subsection
  210  (4) for each full-time student is presumed to be the balance of
  211  the student’s time not spent in a special program and shall be
  212  recorded as time in the appropriate basic program.
  213         (II) A prekindergarten student with a disability shall meet
  214  the requirements specified for kindergarten students.
  215         (III) A full-time equivalent student for students in
  216  kindergarten through grade 12 in a full-time virtual instruction
  217  program under s. 1002.45 or a virtual charter school under s.
  218  1002.33 shall consist of six full-credit completions or the
  219  prescribed level of content that counts toward promotion to the
  220  next grade in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c). Credit
  221  completions may be a combination of full-credit courses or half
  222  credit courses.
  223         (IV) A full-time equivalent student for students in
  224  kindergarten through grade 12 in a part-time virtual instruction
  225  program under s. 1002.45 shall consist of six full-credit
  226  completions in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3.
  227  Credit completions may be a combination of full-credit courses
  228  or half-credit courses.
  229         (V) A Florida Virtual School full-time equivalent student
  230  shall consist of six full-credit completions or the prescribed
  231  level of content that counts toward promotion to the next grade
  232  in the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3. for students
  233  participating in kindergarten through grade 12 part-time virtual
  234  instruction and the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) for
  235  students participating in kindergarten through grade 12 full
  236  time virtual instruction. Credit completions may be a
  237  combination of full-credit courses or half-credit courses.
  238         (VI) Each successfully completed full-credit course earned
  239  through an online course delivered by a district other than the
  240  one in which the student resides shall be calculated as 1/6 FTE.
  241         (VII) A full-time equivalent student for courses requiring
  242  passage of a statewide, standardized end-of-course assessment
  243  under s. 1003.4282 to earn a standard high school diploma shall
  244  be defined and reported based on the number of instructional
  245  hours as provided in this subsection.
  246         (VIII) For students enrolled in a school district as a
  247  full-time student, the district may report 1/6 FTE for each
  248  student who passes a statewide, standardized end-of-course
  249  assessment without being enrolled in the corresponding course.
  250         2. A student in membership in a program scheduled for more
  251  or less than 180 school days or the equivalent on an hourly
  252  basis as specified by rules of the State Board of Education is a
  253  fraction of a full-time equivalent membership equal to the
  254  number of instructional hours in membership divided by the
  255  appropriate number of hours set forth in subparagraph (a)1.;
  256  however, for the purposes of this subparagraph, membership in
  257  programs scheduled for more than 180 days is limited to students
  258  enrolled in:
  259         a. Juvenile justice education programs.
  260         b. The Florida Virtual School.
  261         c. Virtual instruction programs and virtual charter schools
  262  for the purpose of course completion, and credit recovery, and
  263  summer enrollment pursuant to ss. 1002.45 and 1003.498. Course
  264  completion applies only to a student who is reported during the
  265  second or third membership surveys and who does not complete a
  266  virtual education course by the end of the regular school year.
  267  The course must be completed no later than the deadline for
  268  amending the final student enrollment survey for that year.
  269  Credit recovery applies only to a student who has unsuccessfully
  270  completed a traditional or virtual education course during the
  271  regular school year and must retake the course in order to be
  272  eligible to graduate with the student’s class.
  273  
  274  The full-time equivalent student enrollment calculated under
  275  this subsection is subject to the requirements in subsection
  276  (4).
  277  
  278  The department shall determine and implement an equitable method
  279  of equivalent funding for schools operating under emergency
  280  conditions, which schools have been approved by the department
  281  to operate for less than the minimum term as provided in s.
  282  1011.60(2).
  283         Section 8. Paragraphs (i) and (l) through (p) of subsection
  284  (1) of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  285         1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
  286  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
  287  district for operation of schools is not determined in the
  288  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
  289  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
  290  follows:
  291         (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
  292  OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
  293  determining the annual allocation to each district for
  294  operation:
  295         (i) Calculation of full-time equivalent membership with
  296  respect to dual enrollment instruction.—
  297         1. Full-time equivalent students.—Students enrolled in dual
  298  enrollment instruction pursuant to s. 1007.271 may be included
  299  in calculations of full-time equivalent student memberships for
  300  basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a district school
  301  board. Instructional time for dual enrollment may vary from 900
  302  hours; however, the full-time equivalent student membership
  303  value shall be subject to the provisions in s. 1011.61(4). Dual
  304  enrollment full-time equivalent student membership shall be
  305  calculated in an amount equal to the hours of instruction that
  306  would be necessary to earn the full-time equivalent student
  307  membership for an equivalent course if it were taught in the
  308  school district. Students in dual enrollment courses may also be
  309  calculated as the proportional shares of full-time equivalent
  310  enrollments they generate for a Florida College System
  311  institution or university conducting the dual enrollment
  312  instruction. Early admission students shall be considered dual
  313  enrollments for funding purposes. Students may be enrolled in
  314  dual enrollment instruction provided by an eligible independent
  315  college or university and may be included in calculations of
  316  full-time equivalent student memberships for basic programs for
  317  grades 9 through 12 by a district school board. However, those
  318  provisions of law which exempt dual enrolled and early admission
  319  students from payment of instructional materials and tuition and
  320  fees, including laboratory fees, do shall not apply to students
  321  who select the option of enrolling in an eligible independent
  322  institution. An independent college or university, which is not
  323  for profit, is accredited by a regional or national accrediting
  324  agency recognized by the United States Department of Education,
  325  and confers degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 shall be eligible
  326  for inclusion in the dual enrollment or early admission program.
  327  Students enrolled in dual enrollment instruction shall be exempt
  328  from the payment of tuition and fees, including laboratory fees.
  329  No student enrolled in college credit mathematics or English
  330  dual enrollment instruction shall be funded as a dual enrollment
  331  unless the student has successfully completed the relevant
  332  section of the entry-level examination required pursuant to s.
  333  1008.30.
  334         2. Additional full-time equivalent student membership.—For
  335  students enrolled in an early college program pursuant to s.
  336  1007.273, a value of 0.08 0.16 full-time equivalent student
  337  membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a
  338  general education core course through the dual enrollment
  339  program with a grade of “A” or better. For students who are not
  340  enrolled in an early college program, a value of 0.04 0.08 full
  341  time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
  342  student who completes a general education core course through
  343  the dual enrollment program with a grade of “A.” A value of 0.04
  344  0.08 full-time equivalent student membership must be calculated
  345  for each student who completes a career course through the dual
  346  enrollment program with a grade of “A” in a pathway that leads
  347  to an industry certification that is included on the CAPE
  348  Industry Certification Funding List. In addition, a value of
  349  0.15 0.3 full-time equivalent student membership shall be
  350  calculated for any student who receives an associate degree
  351  through the dual enrollment program with a 3.0 grade point
  352  average or better. This value shall be added to the total full
  353  time equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades
  354  9 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. This section shall
  355  be effective for credit earned by dually enrolled students for
  356  courses taken in the 2020-2021 school year and each school year
  357  thereafter. If the associate degree described in this paragraph
  358  is earned in 2020-2021 following completion of courses taken in
  359  the 2020-2021 school year, then courses taken toward the degree
  360  as part of the dual enrollment program before 2020-2021 may not
  361  preclude eligibility for the 0.3 additional full-time equivalent
  362  student membership bonus. Each school district shall allocate at
  363  least 50 percent of the funds received from the dual enrollment
  364  bonus FTE funding, in accordance with this paragraph, to the
  365  schools that generated the funds to support student academic
  366  guidance and postsecondary readiness.
  367         3. Qualifying courses.—For the purposes of this paragraph,
  368  general education core courses are those that are identified in
  369  rule by the State Board of Education and in regulation by the
  370  Board of Governors pursuant to s. 1007.25(3).
  371         (l) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
  372  membership based on International Baccalaureate examination
  373  scores of students.—A value of 0.08 0.16 full-time equivalent
  374  student membership shall be calculated for each student enrolled
  375  in an International Baccalaureate course who receives a score of
  376  4 or higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.15 0.3 full
  377  time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
  378  student who receives an International Baccalaureate diploma.
  379  Such value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent
  380  student membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in
  381  the subsequent fiscal year. Each school district shall allocate
  382  80 percent of the funds received from International
  383  Baccalaureate bonus FTE funding to the school program whose
  384  students generate the funds and to school programs that prepare
  385  prospective students to enroll in International Baccalaureate
  386  courses. Funds shall be expended solely for the payment of
  387  allowable costs associated with the International Baccalaureate
  388  program. Allowable costs include International Baccalaureate
  389  annual school fees; International Baccalaureate examination
  390  fees; salary, benefits, and bonuses for teachers and program
  391  coordinators for the International Baccalaureate program and
  392  teachers and coordinators who prepare prospective students for
  393  the International Baccalaureate program; supplemental books;
  394  instructional supplies; instructional equipment or instructional
  395  materials for International Baccalaureate courses; other
  396  activities that identify prospective International Baccalaureate
  397  students or prepare prospective students to enroll in
  398  International Baccalaureate courses; and training or
  399  professional learning for International Baccalaureate teachers.
  400  School districts shall allocate the remaining 20 percent of the
  401  funds received from International Baccalaureate bonus FTE
  402  funding for programs that assist academically disadvantaged
  403  students to prepare for more rigorous courses. The school
  404  district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who provided
  405  International Baccalaureate instruction:
  406         1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
  407  the International Baccalaureate teacher in each International
  408  Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or higher on the
  409  International Baccalaureate examination.
  410         2. An additional bonus of $500 to each International
  411  Baccalaureate teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D”
  412  or “F” who has at least one student scoring 4 or higher on the
  413  International Baccalaureate examination, regardless of the
  414  number of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a
  415  4 or higher on the International Baccalaureate examination.
  416  
  417  Bonuses awarded under this paragraph shall be in addition to any
  418  regular wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled
  419  to receive. For such courses, the teacher shall earn an
  420  additional bonus of $50 for each student who has a qualifying
  421  score.
  422         (m) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
  423  membership based on Advanced International Certificate of
  424  Education examination scores of students.—A value of 0.08 0.16
  425  full-time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for
  426  each student enrolled in a full-credit Advanced International
  427  Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or
  428  higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.04 0.08 full-time
  429  equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
  430  student enrolled in a half-credit Advanced International
  431  Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or
  432  higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.15 0.3 full-time
  433  equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
  434  student who receives an Advanced International Certificate of
  435  Education diploma. Such value shall be added to the total full
  436  time equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades
  437  9 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each school district
  438  shall allocate at least 80 percent of the funds received from
  439  the Advanced International Certificate of Education bonus FTE
  440  funding, in accordance with this paragraph, to the school
  441  program that generated the funds and to school programs
  442  administered by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations
  443  Syndicate that prepare prospective students to enroll in
  444  Advanced International Certificate of Education courses. These
  445  funds shall be expended solely for the payment of costs
  446  associated with the application and registration process;
  447  program fees and site licenses; training, professional learning,
  448  salaries, benefits, and bonuses for instructional personnel and
  449  program coordinators; examination and diploma fees; membership
  450  fees; supplemental books; instructional supplies, materials, and
  451  equipment; and other activities that identify prospective
  452  Advanced International Certificate of Education students or
  453  prepare prospective students to enroll in Advanced International
  454  Certificate of Education courses. The school district shall
  455  distribute to each classroom teacher who provided Advanced
  456  International Certificate of Education or International General
  457  Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE) instruction:
  458         1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
  459  the Advanced International Certificate of Education teacher in
  460  each Advanced International Certificate of Education course who
  461  receives a score of E or higher on the Advanced International
  462  Certificate of Education examination. A bonus in the amount of
  463  $25 for each student taught by the pre-AICE teacher in each pre
  464  AICE course who receives a score of E or higher on the pre-AICE
  465  examination.
  466         2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced
  467  International Certificate of Education teacher in a school
  468  designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who has at least one
  469  student scoring E or higher on the Advanced International
  470  Certificate of Education examination, regardless of the number
  471  of classes taught or of the number of students scoring an E or
  472  higher on the Advanced International Certificate of Education
  473  examination.
  474         3. Additional bonuses of $250 each to teachers of pre-AICE
  475  classes in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” which
  476  has at least one student scoring an E or higher on the pre-AICE
  477  examination in that class. Teachers receiving an award under
  478  subparagraph 2. are not eligible for a bonus under this
  479  subparagraph.
  480  
  481  Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall
  482  be in addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher
  483  received or is scheduled to receive.
  484         (n) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
  485  membership based on college board advanced placement scores of
  486  students and earning college board advanced placement capstone
  487  diplomas.—A value of 0.08 0.16 full-time equivalent student
  488  membership shall be calculated for each student in each advanced
  489  placement course who receives a score of 3 or higher on the
  490  College Board Advanced Placement Examination for the prior year
  491  and added to the total full-time equivalent student membership
  492  in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in the subsequent
  493  fiscal year. A value of 0.15 0.3 full-time equivalent student
  494  membership shall be calculated for each student who receives a
  495  College Board Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma and meets the
  496  requirements for a standard high school diploma under s.
  497  1003.4282. Such value shall be added to the total full-time
  498  equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades 9
  499  through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each district must
  500  allocate at least 80 percent of the funds provided to the
  501  district for advanced placement instruction, in accordance with
  502  this paragraph, to the high school that generates the funds. The
  503  school district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who
  504  provided advanced placement instruction:
  505         1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
  506  the Advanced Placement teacher in each advanced placement course
  507  who receives a score of 3 or higher on the College Board
  508  Advanced Placement Examination.
  509         2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced Placement
  510  teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who
  511  has at least one student scoring 3 or higher on the College
  512  Board Advanced Placement Examination, regardless of the number
  513  of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a 3 or
  514  higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination.
  515  
  516  Bonuses awarded under this paragraph shall be in addition to any
  517  regular wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled
  518  to receive. For such courses, the teacher shall earn an
  519  additional bonus of $50 for each student who has a qualifying
  520  score.
  521         (o) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
  522  membership based on successful completion of a career-themed
  523  course pursuant to ss. 1003.491-1003.493, or courses with
  524  embedded CAPE industry certifications or CAPE Digital Tool
  525  certificates, and issuance of industry certification identified
  526  on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to
  527  rules adopted by the State Board of Education or CAPE Digital
  528  Tool certificates pursuant to s. 1003.4203.—
  529         1.a. Effective for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, a value of
  530  0.025 full-time equivalent student membership shall be
  531  calculated for CAPE Digital Tool certificates earned by students
  532  in elementary and middle school grades.
  533         b. A value of 0.1 or 0.2 full-time equivalent student
  534  membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a
  535  course as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b) or courses with embedded
  536  CAPE industry certifications and who is issued an industry
  537  certification identified annually on the CAPE Industry
  538  Certification Funding List approved under rules adopted by the
  539  State Board of Education. A value of 0.2 full-time equivalent
  540  membership shall be calculated for each student who is issued a
  541  CAPE industry certification that has a statewide articulation
  542  agreement for college credit approved by the State Board of
  543  Education. For CAPE industry certifications that do not
  544  articulate for college credit, the Department of Education shall
  545  assign a full-time equivalent value of 0.1 for each
  546  certification. Elementary Middle grades students who earn
  547  additional FTE membership for a CAPE Digital Tool certificate
  548  pursuant to sub-subparagraph a. may not rely solely on the
  549  previously funded examination to satisfy the requirements for
  550  earning an industry certification under this sub-subparagraph.
  551  The State Board of Education shall include the assigned values
  552  on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under rules
  553  adopted by the state board. Such value shall be added to the
  554  total full-time equivalent student membership for grades 6
  555  through 12 in the subsequent year. CAPE industry certifications
  556  earned through dual enrollment must be reported and funded
  557  pursuant to s. 1011.80. However, if a student earns a
  558  certification through a dual enrollment course and the
  559  certification is not a fundable certification on the
  560  postsecondary certification funding list, or the dual enrollment
  561  certification is earned as a result of an agreement between a
  562  school district and a nonpublic postsecondary institution, the
  563  bonus value shall be funded in the same manner as other nondual
  564  enrollment course industry certifications. In such cases, the
  565  school district may provide for an agreement between the high
  566  school and the technical center, or the school district and the
  567  postsecondary institution may enter into an agreement for
  568  equitable distribution of the bonus funds.
  569         c. Effective for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, a value of 0.3
  570  full-time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for
  571  student completion of at least three courses and an industry
  572  certification in a single career and technical education program
  573  or program of study for students who exit with a standard high
  574  school diploma or certificate of completion. Funding is capped
  575  at a value of 0.3 full-time equivalent student membership.
  576         d. A value of 0.5 full-time equivalent student membership
  577  shall be calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry
  578  Certifications that articulate for 15 or more to 29 college
  579  credit hours, and 1.0 full-time equivalent student membership
  580  shall be calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry
  581  Certifications that articulate for 30 or more college credit
  582  hours pursuant to CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications
  583  approved by the commissioner pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(4) and
  584  1008.44.
  585         2. Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of the
  586  funds provided for CAPE industry certification and CAPE Digital
  587  Tool certificates, in accordance with this paragraph, to the
  588  program that generated the funds, and any remaining funds
  589  provided for CAPE industry certification and CAPE Digital Tool
  590  certificates for school district career and technical education
  591  programs. This allocation may not be used to supplant funds
  592  provided for basic operation of the program.
  593         3. For CAPE industry certifications earned in the 2013-2014
  594  school year and in subsequent years, the school district shall
  595  distribute to each classroom teacher who provided direct
  596  instruction toward the attainment of a CAPE industry
  597  certification that qualified for additional full-time equivalent
  598  membership under subparagraph 1.:
  599         a. A bonus of $25 for each student taught by a teacher who
  600  provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
  601  CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
  602  Funding List with a weight of 0.1.
  603         b. A bonus of $50 for each student taught by a teacher who
  604  provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
  605  CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
  606  Funding List with a weight of 0.2.
  607         c. A bonus of $75 for each student taught by a teacher who
  608  provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
  609  CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
  610  Funding List with a weight of 0.3.
  611         d. A bonus of $100 for each student taught by a teacher who
  612  provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
  613  CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
  614  Funding List with a weight of 0.5 or 1.0.
  615  
  616  Bonuses awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be provided to
  617  teachers who are employed by the district in the year in which
  618  the additional FTE membership calculation is included in the
  619  calculation. Bonuses shall be calculated based upon the
  620  associated weight of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE
  621  Industry Certification Funding List for the year in which the
  622  certification is earned by the student. Any bonus awarded to a
  623  teacher pursuant to this paragraph is in addition to any regular
  624  wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled to
  625  receive. A bonus may not be awarded to a teacher who fails to
  626  maintain the security of any CAPE industry certification
  627  examination or who otherwise violates the security or
  628  administration protocol of any assessment instrument that may
  629  result in a bonus being awarded to the teacher under this
  630  paragraph.
  631         (p) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
  632  membership based upon early high school graduation.—Each school
  633  district may receive funding for each student who graduates
  634  early pursuant to s. 1003.4281. A district may earn 0.125 0.25
  635  additional FTE for a student who graduates one semester in
  636  advance of the student’s cohort and 0.25 0.5 additional FTE for
  637  a student who graduates 1 year or more in advance of the
  638  student’s cohort. If the student was enrolled in the district as
  639  a full-time high school student for at least 2 years, the
  640  district shall report the additional FTE for payment in the
  641  subsequent fiscal year. If the student was enrolled in the
  642  district for less than 2 years, the district of enrollment shall
  643  report the additional FTE and shall transfer a proportionate
  644  share of the funds earned for early graduation to the district
  645  in which the student was previously enrolled. Additional FTE
  646  included in the 2014-2015 Florida Education Finance Program for
  647  early graduation shall be reported and funded pursuant to this
  648  paragraph.
  649         Section 9. Section 1011.66, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  650  read:
  651         1011.66 Distribution of FEFP funds.—The distribution of
  652  FEFP funds shall be made in payments on or about the 1st 10th
  653  and 26th of each month.
  654         Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.