Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 754
       
       
        
       By Senator Burton
       
       
       
       
       
       12-00319B-25                                           2025754__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to International Baccalaureate bonus
    3         funding; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising the
    4         requirements for the calculation of additional full
    5         time equivalent membership and certain bonuses based
    6         on International Baccalaureate examination scores of
    7         students to include students who earn equivalent
    8         scores as determined by the Department of Education;
    9         providing an effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Paragraph (l) of subsection (1) of section
   14  1011.62, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
   16  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
   17  district for operation of schools is not determined in the
   18  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
   19  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
   20  follows:
   21         (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
   22  OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
   23  determining the annual allocation to each district for
   24  operation:
   25         (l) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
   26  membership based on International Baccalaureate examination
   27  scores of students.—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student
   28  membership shall be calculated for each student enrolled in an
   29  International Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or
   30  higher, or a “C” or higher, on a subject examination. A value of
   31  0.3 full-time equivalent student membership shall be calculated
   32  for each student who receives an International Baccalaureate
   33  diploma. Such value shall be added to the total full-time
   34  equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades 9
   35  through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each school district
   36  shall allocate 80 percent of the funds received from
   37  International Baccalaureate bonus FTE funding to the school
   38  program whose students generate the funds and to school programs
   39  that prepare prospective students to enroll in International
   40  Baccalaureate courses. Funds shall be expended solely for the
   41  payment of allowable costs associated with the International
   42  Baccalaureate program. Allowable costs include International
   43  Baccalaureate annual school fees; International Baccalaureate
   44  examination fees; salary, benefits, and bonuses for teachers and
   45  program coordinators for the International Baccalaureate program
   46  and teachers and coordinators who prepare prospective students
   47  for the International Baccalaureate program; supplemental books;
   48  instructional supplies; instructional equipment or instructional
   49  materials for International Baccalaureate courses; other
   50  activities that identify prospective International Baccalaureate
   51  students or prepare prospective students to enroll in
   52  International Baccalaureate courses; and training or
   53  professional learning for International Baccalaureate teachers.
   54  School districts shall allocate the remaining 20 percent of the
   55  funds received from International Baccalaureate bonus FTE
   56  funding for programs that assist academically disadvantaged
   57  students to prepare for more rigorous courses. The school
   58  district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who provided
   59  International Baccalaureate instruction:
   60         1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
   61  the International Baccalaureate teacher in each International
   62  Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or higher, or a
   63  “C” or higher, on the International Baccalaureate examination.
   64         2. An additional bonus of $500 to each International
   65  Baccalaureate teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D”
   66  or “F” who has at least one student scoring 4 or higher, or a
   67  “C” or higher, on the International Baccalaureate examination,
   68  regardless of the number of classes taught or of the number of
   69  students scoring a 4 or higher, or a “C” or higher, on the
   70  International Baccalaureate examination.
   71  
   72  Bonuses awarded under this paragraph shall be in addition to any
   73  regular wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled
   74  to receive. For such courses, the teacher shall earn an
   75  additional bonus of $50 for each student who has a qualifying
   76  score.
   77         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.