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.