Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Florida Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official page appears here in brackets. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
ENROLLED
2025 Legislature SB 2510, 1st Engrossed
20252510er
1
2 An act relating to prekindergarten through grade 12
3 education; amending s. 402.22, F.S.; conforming a
4 cross-reference; amending s. 1001.292, F.S.; requiring
5 a third-party administrator to transfer a specified
6 amount of money from a loan fund to the Schools of
7 Hope program under certain conditions, beginning on a
8 specified date; amending s. 1002.32, F.S.; conforming
9 a cross-reference; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.;
10 conforming cross-references and provisions to changes
11 made by the act; amending s. 1002.333, F.S.; revising
12 definitions; revising requirements for the
13 establishment of a school of hope; requiring that
14 certain students receive an enrollment preference;
15 providing that certain requirements apply to a state
16 university or a Florida College System institution;
17 authorizing a school of hope to colocate with another
18 school in a public school facility; requiring a school
19 district to permit a school of hope to use certain
20 facilities and receive certain services; providing
21 that a hope operator must be able to use certain
22 facilities at no cost; authorizing a school of hope to
23 receive funds after a specified period of operation if
24 certain requirements are met; requiring a school of
25 hope to report specified information to its sponsor;
26 requiring the Department of Education to annually
27 provide specified entities with a report; amending s.
28 1002.37, F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending
29 s. 1002.411, F.S.; deleting eligibility requirements
30 for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts; revising parent
31 and student responsibilities for participation;
32 deleting school district and private prekindergarten
33 provider obligations; revising account funding and
34 payment requirements; amending s. 1002.45, F.S.;
35 conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1003.4201,
36 F.S.; revising components that may be included in a
37 reading instruction plan; amending s. 1003.4203, F.S.;
38 requiring that CAPE digital tool certificates be made
39 available to all public elementary grades students,
40 but not middle grades students; requiring that
41 approved industry certifications be identified in the
42 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List; providing
43 that certain industry certifications are eligible for
44 additional funding; conforming provisions to changes
45 made by the act; amending s. 1003.4935, F.S.; making
46 conforming changes; amending s. 1003.498, F.S.;
47 conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1007.271,
48 F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
49 1008.44, F.S.; revising requirements for the CAPE
50 Industry Certification Funding List; amending s.
51 1010.20, F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending
52 s. 1011.61, F.S.; deleting the definition of “full
53 time equivalent student”; providing that certain
54 calculation methodologies apply to the Florida
55 Education Finance Program rather than the “current
56 operation program”; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.;
57 revising the methodology to determine full-time
58 equivalent student membership; requiring full-time
59 equivalent survey data to include unduplicated counts
60 of school district full-time equivalent students and
61 full-time equivalent Family Empowerment Scholarship
62 students; revising methodology for the calculation of
63 full-time equivalent membership with respect to dual
64 enrollment instruction; deleting requirements for the
65 calculation of certain additional full-time equivalent
66 student memberships; revising requirements for certain
67 funding determinations; requiring that the
68 discretionary millage compression supplement be
69 recalculated based on actual full-time equivalent
70 student membership; requiring that the state-funded
71 discretionary contribution be recalculated based on
72 actual full-time equivalent student membership;
73 revising requirements for the recalculation of the
74 educational enrichment allocation; deleting a
75 requirement for the recalculation of the exceptional
76 student allocation; requiring that the supplemental
77 allocation for juvenile justice education programs be
78 recalculated based on actual full-time equivalent
79 student membership; requiring that the safe schools
80 allocation be recalculated based on actual full-time
81 equivalent student membership; requiring that the
82 mental health assistance allocation be recalculated
83 based on actual full-time equivalent student
84 membership; requiring that the total allocation of
85 state funds to each district be based on the results
86 of full-time equivalent membership surveys; providing
87 that if gross state Florida Education Finance Program
88 funds are not sufficient, state funds must be prorated
89 pursuant to a specified methodology; requiring that
90 the state-funded discretionary supplement be based on
91 actual full-time equivalent student membership;
92 creating the Academic Acceleration Options Supplement;
93 providing the purpose of the supplement; providing for
94 the determination of the allocation of the supplement;
95 requiring a school district to award a bonus from the
96 supplement to certain teachers if specified
97 requirements are met; providing requirements for the
98 use of funds from the supplement; amending s. 1011.65,
99 F.S.; revising requirements for the recalculation of
100 the Florida Education Finance Program allocations;
101 authorizing a school district to receive funding for
102 students who graduate early; requiring the Department
103 of Education to provide the Legislature and the
104 Governor with certain data prior to the recalculation;
105 requiring the Department of Education to recommend to
106 the Legislature a Florida Title I performance
107 incentive program by a specified date; requiring that
108 the recommendations include a methodology to determine
109 student eligibility; requiring the department to
110 consider specified factors in its recommendations;
111 providing an effective date.
112
113 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
114
115 Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 402.22, Florida
116 Statutes, is amended to read:
117 402.22 Education program for students who reside in
118 residential care facilities operated by the Department of
119 Children and Families or the Agency for Persons with
120 Disabilities.—
121 (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 1001.42(4)(m), the
122 educational program at the Marianna Sunland Center in Jackson
123 County shall be operated by the Department of Education, either
124 directly or through grants or contractual agreements with other
125 public educational agencies. The annual state allocation to any
126 such agency shall be computed pursuant to s. 1011.62(1), (2),
127 and (18) [s. 1011.62(1), (2), and (17)] and allocated in the
128 amount that would have been provided the local school district
129 in which the residential facility is located.
130 Section 2. Subsection (6) of section 1001.292, Florida
131 Statutes, is amended to read:
132 1001.292 Schools of Hope Revolving Loan Program.—
133 (6) All repayments of principal and interest shall be
134 returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to other
135 applicants. Beginning July 1, 2027, when the funds of the
136 Schools of Hope program established in s. 1002.333 fall below
137 $25 million, the third-party administrator shall transfer from
138 the loan fund to the program an amount that provides for
139 maintaining a balance of $25 million in the program.
140 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (9) of section
141 1002.32, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
142 1002.32 Developmental research (laboratory) schools.—
143 (9) FUNDING.—Funding for a lab school, including a charter
144 lab school, shall be provided as follows:
145 (a) Each lab school shall receive state funds for operating
146 purposes as provided in the Florida Education Finance Program as
147 defined in s. 1011.61(4) [s. 1011.61(5)] based on the county in
148 which the lab school is located and as specified in the General
149 Appropriations Act.
150 1. The nonvoted required local effort millage established
151 pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) that would otherwise be required for
152 lab schools shall be allocated from state funds.
153 2. An equivalent amount of funds for the operating
154 discretionary millage authorized pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) shall
155 be allocated to each lab school through a state-funded
156 discretionary contribution established pursuant to s.
157 1011.62(6).
158 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (17) of section
159 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
160 1002.33 Charter schools.—
161 (17) FUNDING.—Students enrolled in a charter school,
162 regardless of the sponsorship, shall be funded based upon the
163 applicable program pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c), the same as
164 students enrolled in other public schools in a school district.
165 Funding for a charter lab school shall be as provided in s.
166 1002.32.
167 (b)1. Funding for students enrolled in a charter school
168 sponsored by a school district shall be the sum of the school
169 district’s operating funds from the Florida Education Finance
170 Program as defined in s. 1011.61(4) [s. 1011.61(5)] and the
171 General Appropriations Act, including gross state and local
172 funds, and funds from the school district’s current operating
173 discretionary millage levy; divided by total funded weighted
174 full-time equivalent students in the school district; and
175 multiplied by the weighted full-time equivalent students for the
176 charter school. Charter schools whose students or programs meet
177 the eligibility criteria in law are entitled to their
178 proportionate share of categorical program funds included in the
179 total funds available in the Florida Education Finance Program
180 by the Legislature, including the student transportation
181 allocation and the educational enrichment allocation. Total
182 funding for each charter school shall be recalculated during the
183 year to reflect the revised calculations under the Florida
184 Education Finance Program by the state and the actual weighted
185 full-time equivalent students reported by the charter school
186 during the full-time equivalent student survey periods
187 designated by the Commissioner of Education. For charter schools
188 operated by a not-for-profit or municipal entity, any
189 unrestricted current and capital assets identified in the
190 charter school’s annual financial audit may be used for other
191 charter schools operated by the not-for-profit or municipal
192 entity within the school district. For charter schools operated
193 by a not-for-profit entity, any unrestricted current or capital
194 assets identified in the charter school’s annual audit may be
195 used for other charter schools operated by the not-for-profit
196 entity which are located outside of the originating charter
197 school’s school district, but within the state, through an
198 unforgivable loan that must be repaid within 5 years to the
199 originating charter school by the receiving charter school.
200 Unrestricted current assets shall be used in accordance with s.
201 1011.62, and any unrestricted capital assets shall be used in
202 accordance with s. 1013.62(2).
203 2.a. Funding for students enrolled in a charter school
204 sponsored by a state university or Florida College System
205 institution pursuant to paragraph (5)(a) shall be provided in
206 the Florida Education Finance Program as defined in s.
207 1011.61(4) [s. 1011.61(5)] and as specified in the General
208 Appropriations Act. The calculation to determine the amount of
209 state funds includes the sum of the base Florida Education
210 Finance Program [basic amount for current operations] established
211 in s. 1011.62(1)(n) [s. ][1011.62(1)(s)], the discretionary millage
212 compression supplement established in s. 1011.62(5), and the
213 state-funded discretionary contribution established in s.
214 1011.62(6). Charter schools whose students or programs meet the
215 eligibility criteria in law are entitled to their proportionate
216 share of categorical program funds included in the total funds
217 available in the Florida Education Finance Program. The Florida
218 College System institution or state university sponsoring the
219 charter school shall be the fiscal agent for these funds, and
220 all rules of the institution governing the budgeting and
221 expenditure of state funds shall apply to these funds unless
222 otherwise provided by law or rule of the State Board of
223 Education.
224 (I) The nonvoted required local millage established
225 pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) that would otherwise be required for
226 the charter schools shall be allocated from state funds.
227 (II) An equivalent amount of funds for the operating
228 discretionary millage authorized pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) shall
229 be allocated to each charter school through a state-funded
230 discretionary contribution established pursuant to s.
231 1011.62(6).
232 (III) The comparable wage factor as provided in s.
233 1011.62(2) shall be established as 1.000.
234 b. Total funding for each charter school shall be
235 recalculated during the year to reflect the revised calculations
236 under the Florida Education Finance Program by the state and the
237 actual weighted full-time equivalent students reported by the
238 charter school during the full-time equivalent student survey
239 periods designated by the Commissioner of Education.
240 c. The Department of Education shall develop a tool that
241 each state university or Florida College System institution
242 sponsoring a charter school shall use for purposes of
243 calculating the funding amount for each eligible charter school
244 student. The total amount obtained from the calculation must be
245 appropriated from state funds in the General Appropriations Act
246 to the charter school.
247 d. Capital outlay funding for a charter school sponsored by
248 a state university or Florida College System institution
249 pursuant to paragraph (5)(a) is determined as follows: multiply
250 the maximum allowable nonvoted discretionary millage under s.
251 1011.71(2) by 96 percent of the current year’s taxable value for
252 school purposes for the district in which the charter school is
253 located; divide the result by the total full-time equivalent
254 student membership; and multiply the result by the full-time
255 equivalent student membership of the charter school. The amount
256 obtained shall be the discretionary capital improvement funds
257 and shall be appropriated from state funds in the General
258 Appropriations Act.
259 Section 5. Present paragraph (b) of subsection (10) of
260 section 1002.333, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
261 (c) of that subsection, present subsection (12) of that section
262 is redesignated as subsection (13), a new paragraph (b) is added
263 to subsection (10) of that section, a new subsection (12) is
264 added to that section, and paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection
265 (1), subsection (4), paragraphs (d), (k), (l), and (m) of
266 subsection (5), paragraphs (a) and (h) of subsection (6),
267 paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (7), and paragraph (c) of
268 subsection (11) of that section are amended, to read:
269 1002.333 Persistently low-performing schools.—
270 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
271 (c) “Persistently low-performing school” means a school
272 that meets at least one of the following criteria:
273 1. A school that has earned three grades lower than a “C,”
274 pursuant to s. 1008.34, in at least 3 of the previous 5 years
275 that the school received a grade and has not earned a grade of
276 “B” or higher in the most recent 2 school years;[, and]
277 2. A school that was closed pursuant to s. 1008.33(4)
278 within 2 years after the submission of a notice of intent; or
279 3. A school in the bottom 10 percent in at least 2 of the
280 previous 3 years for student performance on the end-of-year
281 administration of the coordinated screening and progress
282 monitoring system for grade 3 English Language Arts or grade 4
283 mathematics as prescribed in s. 1008.22(3)(a)2.
284 (d) “School of hope” means:
285 1. A charter school operated by a hope operator which:
286 a. Serves students from one or more persistently low
287 performing schools or [and] students who reside in a Florida
288 Opportunity Zone;
289 b. Is located in a Florida Opportunity Zone or in the
290 attendance zone of a persistently low-performing school or
291 within a 5-mile radius of such school, whichever is greater. A
292 school of hope may be located outside of a Florida Opportunity
293 Zone or persistently low-performing school attendance zone if
294 the school district does not have underused, vacant, or surplus
295 property available for the hope operator to use within a Florida
296 Opportunity Zone or persistently low-performing school
297 attendance zone; and
298 c. Is a Title I eligible school; or
299 2. A school operated by a hope operator pursuant to s.
300 1008.33(4)(b)3.
301 (4) ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOLS OF HOPE.—A hope operator
302 seeking to open a school of hope must submit an application to a
303 state university or a Florida College System institution or a
304 notice of intent to a school district to establish a school of
305 hope. If a hope operator seeks to open a school of hope through
306 an agreement with a state university or a Florida College System
307 institution, a notice of intent must be provided to the school
308 district in which a persistently low-performing school has been
309 identified by the State Board of Education pursuant to
310 subsection (10) or in which a Florida Opportunity Zone is
311 located.
312 (a) The notice of intent must include:
313 1. An academic focus and plan.
314 2. A financial plan.
315 3. Goals and objectives for increasing student achievement
316 for the students from low-income families.
317 4. A completed or planned community outreach plan.
318 5. The organizational history of success in working with
319 students with similar demographics.
320 6. The grade levels to be served and enrollment
321 projections.
322 7. The proposed location or geographic area proposed for
323 the school consistent with the requirements of sub-subparagraphs
324 (1)(d)1.a. and b.
325 8. A staffing plan.
326 (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of s. 1002.33, a
327 school district, state university, or Florida College System
328 institution, as applicable, shall enter into a performance-based
329 agreement with a hope operator to open schools to serve students
330 from persistently low-performing schools and students residing
331 in a Florida Opportunity Zone.
332 (5) PERFORMANCE-BASED AGREEMENT.—The following shall
333 comprise the entirety of the performance-based agreement:
334 (d) A plan of action and specific milestones for student
335 recruitment and the enrollment of students from persistently
336 low-performing schools and students residing in a Florida
337 Opportunity Zone, including enrollment preferences and
338 procedures for conducting transparent admissions lotteries that
339 are open to the public. For the entire validity period of the
340 performance agreement, students from persistently low-performing
341 schools and students residing in a Florida Opportunity Zone must
342 receive an enrollment preference and shall be exempt from any
343 enrollment lottery to the extent permitted by federal grant
344 requirements.
345 (k) A requirement that any arrangement entered into to
346 borrow or otherwise secure funds for the school of hope from a
347 source other than the state, a state university, a Florida
348 College System institution, or a school district shall indemnify
349 the state, state university, Florida College System institution,
350 and [the] school district from any and all liability, including,
351 but not limited to, financial responsibility for the payment of
352 the principal or interest.
353 (l) A provision that any loans, bonds, or other financial
354 agreements are not obligations of the state, state university,
355 Florida College System institution, or [the] school district but
356 are obligations of the school of hope and are payable solely
357 from the sources of funds pledged by such agreement.
358 (m) A prohibition on the pledge of credit or taxing power
359 of the state, state university, Florida College System
360 institution, or [the] school district.
361 (6) STATUTORY AUTHORITY.—
362 (a) A school of hope or a nonprofit entity that operates
363 more than one school of hope through a performance-based
364 agreement with a school district, state university, or Florida
365 College System institution, as applicable, may be designated as
366 a local education agency by the department, if requested, for
367 the purposes of receiving federal funds and, in doing so,
368 accepts the full responsibility for all local education agency
369 requirements and the schools for which it will perform local
370 education agency responsibilities.
371 1. A nonprofit entity designated as a local education
372 agency may directly report its students to the department in
373 accordance with the definitions in s. 1011.61 and pursuant to
374 the department’s procedures and timelines.
375 2. Students enrolled in a school established by a hope
376 operator designated as a local educational agency are not
377 eligible students for purposes of calculating the district grade
378 pursuant to s. 1008.34(5).
379 (h)1. A school of hope shall provide the school district,
380 state university, or Florida College System institution, as
381 applicable, with a concise, uniform, quarterly financial
382 statement summary sheet that contains a balance sheet and a
383 statement of revenue, expenditures, and changes in fund balance.
384 The balance sheet and the statement of revenue, expenditures,
385 and changes in fund balance shall be in the governmental fund
386 format prescribed by the Governmental Accounting Standards
387 Board. Additionally, a school of hope shall comply with the
388 annual audit requirement for charter schools in s. 218.39.
389 2. A school of hope is in compliance with subparagraph 1.
390 if it is operated by a nonprofit entity designated as a local
391 education agency and if the nonprofit submits to each school
392 district, state university, or Florida College System
393 institution, as applicable, in which it operates a school of
394 hope:
395 a. A concise, uniform, quarterly financial statement
396 summary sheet that contains a balance sheet summarizing the
397 revenue, expenditures, and changes in fund balance for the
398 entity and for its schools of hope within the school district.
399 b. An annual financial audit of the nonprofit which
400 includes all schools of hope it operates within this state and
401 which complies with s. 218.39 regarding audits of a school
402 board.
403 (7) FACILITIES.—
404 (a) A school of hope shall use facilities that comply with
405 the Florida Building Code, except for the State Requirements for
406 Educational Facilities. A school of hope that uses school
407 district facilities must comply with the State Requirements for
408 Educational Facilities only if the school district and the hope
409 operator have entered into a mutual management plan for the
410 reasonable maintenance of such facilities. The mutual management
411 plan shall contain a provision by which the district school
412 board agrees to maintain the school facilities in the same
413 manner as its other public schools within the district. A school
414 of hope may colocate with another school in a public school
415 facility. The school district must permit any school of hope to
416 use all or part of underused, vacant, or surplus school district
417 facilities, and receive facility-related services, pursuant to
418 State Board of Education rule. Students enrolled in the school
419 of hope shall be included in the district’s total capital outlay
420 full-time equivalent membership for the purpose of s. 1013.62
421 and for calculating the Public Education Capital Outlay
422 maintenance funds or any other maintenance funds for the
423 facility. The local governing authority shall not adopt or
424 impose any local building requirements or site-development
425 restrictions, such as parking and site-size criteria, student
426 enrollment, and occupant load, that are addressed by and more
427 stringent than those found in the State Requirements for
428 Educational Facilities of the Florida Building Code. A local
429 governing authority must treat schools of hope equitably in
430 comparison to similar requirements, restrictions, and site
431 planning processes imposed upon public schools. The agency
432 having jurisdiction for inspection of a facility and issuance of
433 a certificate of occupancy or use shall be the local
434 municipality or, if in an unincorporated area, the county
435 governing authority. If an official or employee of the local
436 governing authority refuses to comply with this paragraph, the
437 aggrieved school or entity has an immediate right to bring an
438 action in circuit court to enforce its rights by injunction. An
439 aggrieved party that receives injunctive relief may be awarded
440 reasonable attorney fees and court costs.
441 (d) No later than January 1, the department shall annually
442 provide to school districts a list of all underused, vacant, or
443 surplus facilities owned or operated by the school district as
444 reported in the Florida Inventory of School Houses. A school
445 district may provide evidence to the department that a facility
446 includes prekindergarten students who are not reported for
447 funding in the Florida Education Finance Program or that the
448 list contains errors or omissions within 30 days after receipt
449 of the list. By each April 1, the department shall update and
450 publish a final list of all underused, vacant, or surplus
451 facilities owned or operated by each school district, based upon
452 updated information provided by each school district. A hope
453 operator establishing a school of hope may use an educational
454 facility identified in this paragraph at no cost [or at a]
455 [mutually agreeable cost not to exceed $600 per student]. A hope
456 operator using a facility pursuant to this paragraph may not
457 sell or dispose of such facility without the written permission
458 of the school district. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
459 “underused, vacant, or surplus facility” means an entire
460 facility or portion thereof which is not fully used or is used
461 irregularly or intermittently by the school district for
462 instructional or program use.
463 (10) SCHOOLS OF HOPE PROGRAM.—The Schools of Hope Program
464 is created within the Department of Education.
465 (b) A school of hope may continue to receive funds after
466 its first 5 years of operation if the school of hope meets
467 performance metrics established pursuant to state board rule.
468 Funds received based upon performance may be used for any
469 operational expenditures.
470 (11) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AUTHORITY AND OBLIGATIONS.
471 Pursuant to Art. IX of the State Constitution, which prescribes
472 the duty of the State Board of Education to supervise the public
473 school system, the State Board of Education shall:
474 (c) Resolve disputes between a hope operator and a school
475 district, state university, or Florida College System
476 institution, as applicable, arising from a performance-based
477 agreement, mutual management plan, or a contract between a
478 charter operator and a school district under the requirements of
479 s. 1008.33. The Commissioner of Education shall appoint a
480 special magistrate who is a member of The Florida Bar in good
481 standing and who has at least 5 years’ experience in
482 administrative law. The special magistrate shall hold hearings
483 to determine facts relating to the dispute and to render a
484 recommended decision for resolution to the State Board of
485 Education. The recommendation may not alter in any way the
486 provisions of the performance-based agreement under subsection
487 (5). The special magistrate may administer oaths and issue
488 subpoenas on behalf of the parties to the dispute or on his or
489 her own behalf. Within 15 calendar days after the close of the
490 final hearing, the special magistrate shall transmit a
491 recommended decision to the State Board of Education and to the
492 representatives of both parties by registered mail, return
493 receipt requested. The State Board of Education must approve or
494 reject the recommended decision at its next regularly scheduled
495 meeting that is more than 7 calendar days and no more than 30
496 days after the date the recommended decision is transmitted. The
497 decision by the State Board of Education is a final agency
498 action that may be appealed to the District Court of Appeal,
499 First District in accordance with s. 120.68. A charter school
500 may recover attorney fees and costs if the State Board of
501 Education determines that the school district unlawfully
502 implemented or otherwise impeded implementation of the
503 performance-based agreement pursuant to this paragraph.
504 (12) SCHOOLS OF HOPE REPORTING.—
505 (a) In addition to the information reported in s.
506 1002.33(9)(k), each school of hope must report to its sponsor:
507 1. The number of students served, and the percentage of
508 overall school enrollment, who reside in the attendance zone of
509 the persistently low-performing school or in a Florida
510 Opportunity Zone.
511 2. Student year-to-year re-enrollment within kindergarten
512 through grade 5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12.
513 (b) The department shall annually provide to the State
514 Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education, the Governor,
515 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
516 Representatives a report on schools of hope which includes the
517 information from paragraph (a) and the performance of school of
518 hope students on statewide assessments under s. 1008.22(3)
519 compared to assessment results of other Title I-eligible schools
520 in the district.
521 Section 6. Paragraphs (a) and (f) of subsection (3) and
522 paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section 1002.37, Florida
523 Statutes, are amended to read:
524 1002.37 The Florida Virtual School.—
525 (3) Funding for the Florida Virtual School shall be
526 provided as follows:
527 (a)1. The calculation of “full-time equivalent student”
528 shall be as prescribed in s. 1011.61(1)(c)1.b.(V) and is subject
529 to s. 1011.61(3) [s. 1011.61(4)].
530 2. For a student in a home education program, funding shall
531 be provided in accordance with this subsection upon course
532 completion if the parent verifies, upon enrollment for each
533 course, that the student is registered with the school district
534 as a home education student pursuant to s. 1002.41(1)(a).
535 (f) The Florida Virtual School shall receive state funds
536 for operating purposes as provided in the General Appropriations
537 Act. The calculation to determine the amount of state funds
538 includes: the sum of the basic amount for current operations
539 established in s. 1011.62(1)(n) [s. 1011.62(1)(s)], the
540 discretionary millage compression supplement established in s.
541 1011.62(5), the state-funded discretionary contribution
542 established in s. 1011.62(6), a per-full-time equivalent share
543 of the exceptional student education guaranteed allocation
544 established in s. 1011.62(8), and the mental health assistance
545 allocation established in s. 1011.62(13).
546 (9)
547 (b) For students receiving part-time instruction in
548 kindergarten through grade 5 and students receiving full-time
549 instruction in kindergarten through grade 12 from the Florida
550 Virtual School, the full-time equivalent student enrollment
551 calculated under this subsection is subject to the requirements
552 in s. 1011.61(3) [s. 1011.61(4)].
553 Section 7. Section 1002.411, Florida Statutes, is amended
554 to read:
555 1002.411 New Worlds Scholarship Accounts.—
556 (1) NEW WORLDS SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS.—New Worlds Scholarship
557 Accounts are established to provide educational options for
558 students.
559 (2) [ELIGIBILITY.—Contingent upon available funds, and on a]
560 [first-come, first-served basis, each student who is enrolled in]
561 [the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s.]
562 [1002.53 or a Florida public school in kindergarten through grade]
563 [5 is eligible for a scholarship account if the student:]
564 [(a) Exhibits a substantial deficiency in early literacy]
565 [skills based upon the results of the most recent progress]
566 [monitoring administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9), has a]
567 [substantial reading deficiency or exhibits characteristics of]
568 [dyslexia as identified under s. 1008.25(5)(a), or scored below a]
569 [Level 3 on the most recent statewide, standardized English]
570 [Language Arts (ELA) assessment. An eligible student who is]
571 [classified as an English Language Learner and is enrolled in a]
572 [program or receiving services that are specifically designed to]
573 [meet the instructional needs of English Language Learner]
574 [students shall receive priority.]
575 [(b) Exhibits a substantial deficiency in early mathematics]
576 [skills based upon the results of the most recent progress]
577 [monitoring administered pursuant to s. 1008.25(9), has a]
578 [substantial deficiency in mathematics or the characteristics of]
579 [dyscalculia as identified under s. 1008.25(6)(a), or scored]
580 [below a Level 3 on the most recent statewide, standardized]
581 [Mathematics assessment.]
582 [(3)] PARENT AND STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PARTICIPATION.—
583 (a) For a [an eligible] student with [to receive] a scholarship
584 account, the student’s parent must[:]
585 [1. Submit an application to an eligible nonprofit]
586 [scholarship-funding organization by the deadline established by]
587 [such organization; and]
588 [2.] If available, utilize the administrator’s system to make
589 direct purchases of qualifying expenditures, which may include:
590 1.[a.] Instructional materials.
591 2.[b.] Curriculum. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term
592 “curriculum” means a complete course of study for a particular
593 content area or grade level, including any required supplemental
594 materials and associated online instruction.
595 3.[c.] Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services
596 provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s
597 certificate pursuant to s. 1012.56, a person who holds a
598 baccalaureate or graduate degree in the subject area, a person
599 who holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s.
600 1012.57, a person who has demonstrated a mastery of subject area
601 knowledge pursuant to s. 1012.56(5), a person who holds a micro
602 credential under s. 1003.485, or, for a prekindergarten student,
603 a person who holds a credential under s. 1002.55(3)(c)1. or an
604 educational credential under s. 1002.55(4)(a) or (b).
605 4.[d.] Fees for summer education programs designed to improve
606 reading, literacy, or mathematics skills.
607 5.[e.] Fees for after-school education programs designed to
608 improve reading, literacy, or mathematics skills.
609
610 A provider of any services receiving payments pursuant to this
611 subparagraph may not share any moneys from the scholarship with,
612 or provide a refund or rebate of any moneys from such
613 scholarship to, the parent or participating student in any
614 manner. A parent, student, or provider of any services may not
615 bill an insurance company, Medicaid, or any other agency for the
616 same services that are paid for using scholarship funds.
617 (b) The parent is responsible for the payment of all
618 eligible expenses in excess of the amount in the account in
619 accordance with the terms agreed to between the parent and any
620 providers and may not receive any refund or rebate of any
621 expenditures made in accordance with paragraph (a).
622 (3)[(4)] ADMINISTRATOR.—An eligible nonprofit scholarship
623 funding organization as defined in s. 1002.395(2) shall be the
624 administrator and may establish scholarship accounts for
625 eligible students in accordance with the requirements of
626 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations under this
627 chapter.
628 (4)[(5)] DEPARTMENT OBLIGATIONS.—The department shall have
629 the same duties imposed by this chapter upon the department
630 regarding oversight of scholarship programs administered by an
631 eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization.
632 [(6) SCHOOL DISTRICT AND PRIVATE PREKINDERGARTEN PROVIDER]
633 [OBLIGATIONS; PARENTAL OPTIONS.—]
634 [(a) Each school district and private prekindergarten]
635 [provider shall notify the parent of each eligible student of the]
636 [process to request and receive a scholarship, subject to]
637 [available funds, when providing results from the standardized]
638 [coordinated screening and progress monitoring pursuant to s.]
639 [1008.25(9)(c).]
640 [(b) A school district may not prohibit instructional]
641 [personnel from providing services pursuant to this section on]
642 [the instructional personnel’s school campus outside regular work]
643 [hours, subject to school district policies for safety and]
644 [security operations to protect students, instructional]
645 [personnel, and educational facilities.]
646 (5)[(7)] ACCOUNT FUNDING AND PAYMENT.—
647 (a) The amount of the scholarship for an eligible student
648 shall be as provided in the General Appropriations Act.
649 (b) One hundred percent of the funds appropriated for the
650 scholarship accounts shall be released to the department at the
651 beginning of the first quarter of each fiscal year.
652 (c) [Upon a student being determined eligible for a]
653 [scholarship, the department shall, within 45 days, release the]
654 [student’s scholarship funds to such organization to be deposited]
655 [into the student’s account.]
656 [(d)] Accrued interest in the student’s account is in
657 addition to, and not part of, the awarded funds. Account funds
658 include both the awarded funds and accrued interest.
659 (d)[(e)] The eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding
660 organization may develop a system that permits eligible students
661 to use program funds to make direct purchases of qualifying
662 expenditures. Commodities or services related to the development
663 of such a system shall be procured by competitive solicitation
664 unless they are purchased from a state term contract pursuant to
665 s. 287.056.
666 (e)[(f)] Moneys received pursuant to this section do not
667 constitute taxable income to the qualified student or his or her
668 parent.
669 (f)[(g)] A student’s scholarship account must be closed and
670 any remaining funds shall revert to the state after:
671 1. Denial or revocation of scholarship eligibility by the
672 commissioner for fraud or abuse, including, but not limited to,
673 the student or student’s parent accepting any payment, refund,
674 or rebate, in any manner, from a provider of any services
675 received pursuant to subsection (2) [(3)]; or
676 2. One [Three] consecutive fiscal year [years] in which an
677 account has been inactive.
678 (6)[(8)] LIABILITY.—No liability shall arise on the part of
679 the state based on the award or use of a scholarship account.
680 Section 8. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (6) of
681 section 1002.45, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
682 1002.45 Virtual instruction programs.—
683 (6) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL
684 FUNDING.—
685 (a) All virtual instruction programs established pursuant
686 to paragraph (1)(b) are subject to the requirements of s.
687 1011.61(1)(c)1.b.(III), (IV), (VI), and (3) [(4)], and the school
688 district providing the virtual instruction program shall report
689 the full-time equivalent students in a manner prescribed by the
690 department. A school district may report a full-time equivalent
691 student for credit earned by a student who is enrolled in a
692 virtual instruction course provided by the district which was
693 completed after the end of the regular school year if the full
694 time equivalent student is reported no later than the deadline
695 for amending the final full-time equivalent student membership
696 report for that year.
697 (b) Students enrolled in a virtual instruction program
698 shall be funded in the Florida Education Finance Program as
699 provided in the General Appropriations Act. The calculation to
700 determine the amount of funds for each student through the
701 Florida Education Finance Program shall include the sum of the
702 basic amount for current operations established in s.
703 1011.62(1)(n) [s. 1011.62(1)(s)] and all categorical programs
704 except for the categorical programs established in ss.
705 1011.62(7), (12), and (16), 1011.68, and 1011.685. Students
706 residing outside of the school district reporting the full-time
707 equivalent virtual student shall be funded from state funds
708 only.
709 Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
710 1003.4201, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter 2025-110,
711 Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
712 1003.4201 Comprehensive system of reading instruction.—Each
713 school district must implement a system of comprehensive reading
714 instruction for students enrolled in prekindergarten through
715 grade 12 and certain students who exhibit a substantial
716 deficiency in early literacy.
717 (2)(a) Components of the reading instruction plan may
718 include the following:
719 1. Additional time per day of evidence-based intensive
720 reading instruction for kindergarten through grade 12 students,
721 which may be delivered during or outside of the regular school
722 day.
723 2. Highly qualified reading coaches, who must be endorsed
724 in reading, to specifically support classroom teachers in making
725 instructional decisions based on progress monitoring data
726 collected pursuant to s. 1008.25(9) and improve classroom
727 teacher delivery of effective reading instruction, reading
728 intervention, and reading in the content areas based on student
729 need.
730 3. Professional learning to help instructional personnel
731 and certified prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida
732 Education Finance Program earn a certification, a credential, an
733 endorsement, or an advanced degree in scientifically researched
734 and evidence-based reading instruction.
735 4. Summer reading camps, using only classroom teachers or
736 other district personnel who possess a micro-credential as
737 specified in s. 1003.485 or are certified or endorsed in reading
738 consistent with s. 1008.25(8)(b)3., for all students in
739 kindergarten through grade 5 exhibiting a reading deficiency as
740 determined by district and state assessments.
741 5. Intensive reading interventions, which must be delivered
742 by instructional personnel who possess a micro-credential as
743 defined in s. 1003.485(1) or are certified or endorsed in
744 reading as provided in s. 1012.586 and must incorporate
745 evidence-based strategies identified by the Just Read, Florida!
746 office pursuant to s. 1001.215(7). Instructional personnel who
747 possess a micro-credential as defined in s. 1003.485(1) and are
748 delivering intensive reading interventions must be supervised by
749 an individual certified or endorsed in reading. For the purposes
750 of this subparagraph, the term “supervised” means that
751 instructional personnel with a micro-credential are able,
752 through telecommunication or in person, to communicate and
753 consult with, and receive direction from, certified or endorsed
754 personnel. Incentives for instructional personnel and certified
755 prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida Education Finance
756 Program who possess a reading certification or endorsement as
757 specified in s. 1012.586 or micro-credential as specified in s.
758 1003.485 and provide educational support to improve student
759 literacy.
760 6. Tutoring in reading.
761 7. A description of how the district prioritizes the
762 assignment of highly effective teachers, as identified in s.
763 1012.34(2)(e), from kindergarten to grade 2.
764 8. Providing resources that support informed parent
765 involvement in decision-making processes for students who have
766 difficulty in reading and for parents of students who are
767 reading below grade level, information about the students’
768 eligibility for the New Worlds Reading Initiative under s.
769 1003.485.
770 Section 10. Section 1003.4203, Florida Statutes, is amended
771 to read:
772 1003.4203 Digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool
773 certificates, CAPE industry certifications, and technical
774 assistance.—
775 (1) DIGITAL MATERIALS.—Each district school board, in
776 consultation with the district school superintendent, shall make
777 available digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and
778 CAPE industry certifications for students in prekindergarten
779 through grade 12 in order to enable students to attain digital
780 skills. The digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates,
781 and CAPE industry certifications may be integrated into subject
782 area curricula, offered as a separate course, made available
783 through open-access options, or deployed through online or
784 digital computer applications.
785 (2) CAPE DIGITAL TOOL CERTIFICATES.—The department shall
786 identify, in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under
787 ss. 1003.492 and 1008.44, CAPE Digital Tool certificates that
788 indicate a student’s digital skills. The department shall notify
789 each school district when the certificates are available. The
790 certificates shall be made available to all public elementary
791 [and middle] grades students.
792 [(a)] Targeted skills to be mastered for the certificate
793 include digital skills that are necessary to the student’s
794 academic work and skills the student may need in future
795 employment. CAPE Digital Tool certificates earned by students
796 are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s. 1011.62(17)
797 [full-time equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.a].
798 [(b) The school district shall notify each middle school]
799 [advisory council of the methods of delivery of the open-access]
800 [content and assessments for the certificates. If there is no]
801 [middle school advisory council, notification must be provided to]
802 [the district advisory council.]
803 [(c) The Legislature intends that, on an annual basis, at]
804 [least 75 percent of public middle grades students earn at least]
805 [one CAPE Digital Tool certificate.]
806 (3) BASIC CAPE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS.—
807 (a) CAPE industry certifications, issued to middle school
808 and high school students, which do not articulate for college
809 credit, are eligible for additional funding [full-time equivalent]
810 [membership] pursuant to s. 1011.62(17) [s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.b]. Each
811 approved industry certification must be specifically identified
812 in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Basic
813 Non-articulated industry certification.
814 (b) CAPE industry certifications, issued to high school
815 students, which articulate for college credit, are eligible for
816 additional funding [full-time equivalent membership] pursuant to
817 s. 1011.62(17) [s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.b]. Each approved industry
818 certification must be specifically identified in the CAPE
819 Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Basic Articulated
820 industry certification.
821 (4) CAPE ACCELERATION.—Industry certifications that
822 articulate for 15 or more college credit hours and, if
823 successfully completed, are eligible for additional funding
824 [full-time equivalent membership under] pursuant to s. 1011.62(17)
825 [s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.d]. Each approved industry certification must
826 be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry Certification
827 Funding List as a CAPE Acceleration industry certification.
828 (5) CAPE PATHWAYS.—Industry certifications issued to high
829 school students who complete at least three courses and an
830 industry certification in a single career and technical
831 education program or program of study and who exit with a
832 standard high school diploma are eligible for additional funding
833 pursuant to s. 1011.62(17). Each approved industry certification
834 must be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry
835 Certification Funding List as a CAPE Pathways industry
836 certification.
837 (6)[(5)] GRADE POINT AVERAGE CALCULATION.—For purposes of
838 calculating grade point average, a grade in a course that is
839 level 3 or above and leads to an industry certification must be
840 weighted the same as a grade in an honors course.
841 (7)[(6)] TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—
842 (a) The Department of Education shall collaborate with
843 Florida educators and school leaders to provide technical
844 assistance to district school boards in the implementation of
845 this section. Technical assistance to districts shall include,
846 but is not limited to, identification of digital resources,
847 primarily open-access resources, including digital curriculum,
848 instructional materials, media assets, and other digital tools
849 and applications; training mechanisms for teachers and others to
850 facilitate integration of digital resources and technologies
851 into instructional strategies; and model policies and procedures
852 that support sustainable implementation practices.
853 (b) Public schools may provide students with access to
854 third-party assessment centers and career and professional
855 academy curricula in a digital format in support of CAPE Digital
856 Tool certificates and CAPE industry certifications, pursuant to
857 this section and s. 1008.44, to assist public schools and school
858 districts to establish Florida Digital Classrooms.
859 (8)[(7)] PARTNERSHIPS.—
860 (a) A district school board may seek partnerships with
861 other school districts, private businesses, postsecondary
862 institutions, or consultants to offer classes and instruction to
863 teachers and students to assist the school district in providing
864 digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and CAPE
865 industry certifications established pursuant to this section.
866 (b) Third-party assessment providers and career and
867 professional academy curricula providers are encouraged to
868 provide annual training to staff of the Department of Education,
869 staff of school district offices, instructional staff of public
870 schools, including charter schools, and other appropriate
871 administrative staff through face-to-face training models;
872 through online, videoconferencing training models; and through
873 state, regional, or conference presentations.
874 (9)[(8)] RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
875 rules to administer this section.
876 Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 1003.4935, Florida
877 Statutes, is amended to read:
878 1003.4935 Middle grades career and professional academy
879 courses and career-themed courses.—
880 (3) [CAPE Digital Tool certificates and] CAPE industry
881 certifications offered in the middle grades that are included on
882 the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List, if earned by
883 students, are eligible for additional funding [full-time]
884 [equivalent membership] pursuant to s. 1011.62(17) [s.]
885 [1011.62(1)(o)1.a. and b].
886 Section 12. Subsection (2) of section 1003.498, Florida
887 Statutes, is amended to read:
888 1003.498 School district virtual course offerings.—
889 (2) School districts may offer virtual courses for students
890 enrolled in the school district. These courses must be
891 identified in the course code directory. Students may
892 participate in these virtual course offerings pursuant to s.
893 1002.455.
894 (a) Any student who is enrolled in a school district may
895 register and enroll in an online course offered by his or her
896 school district.
897 (b)1. Any student who is enrolled in a school district may
898 register and enroll in an online course offered by any other
899 school district in the state. The school district in which the
900 student completes the course shall report the student’s
901 completion of that course for funding pursuant to s.
902 1011.61(1)(c)1.b.(VI), and the home school district may [shall]
903 not report the student for funding for that course.
904 2. The full-time equivalent student membership calculated
905 under this subsection is subject to the requirements in s.
906 1011.61(3) [s. 1011.61(4)]. The Department of Education shall
907 establish procedures to enable interdistrict coordination for
908 the delivery and funding of this online option.
909 3. Funding for virtual courses shall be as provided in s.
910 1002.45(6).
911 Section 13. Subsection (2) of section 1007.271, Florida
912 Statutes, is amended to read:
913 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
914 (2) For the purpose of this section, an eligible secondary
915 student is a student who is enrolled in any of grades 6 through
916 12 in a Florida public school or in a Florida private school
917 that is in compliance with s. 1002.42(2) and provides a
918 secondary curriculum pursuant to s. 1003.4282. Students who are
919 eligible for dual enrollment pursuant to this section may enroll
920 in dual enrollment courses conducted during school hours, after
921 school hours, and during the summer term. However, if the
922 student is projected to graduate from high school before the
923 scheduled completion date of a postsecondary course, the student
924 may not register for that course through dual enrollment. The
925 student may apply to the postsecondary institution and pay the
926 required registration, tuition, and fees if the student meets
927 the postsecondary institution’s admissions requirements under s.
928 1007.263. Instructional time for dual enrollment may vary from
929 900 hours; however, the full-time equivalent student membership
930 value shall be subject to the provisions in s. 1011.61(3) [s.]
931 [1011.61(4)]. A student enrolled as a dual enrollment student is
932 exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory
933 fees. Applied academics for adult education instruction,
934 developmental education, and other forms of precollegiate
935 instruction, as well as physical education courses that focus on
936 the physical execution of a skill rather than the intellectual
937 attributes of the activity, are ineligible for inclusion in the
938 dual enrollment program. Recreation and leisure studies courses
939 shall be evaluated individually in the same manner as physical
940 education courses for potential inclusion in the program.
941 Section 14. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 1008.44,
942 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
943 1008.44 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.—
944 (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt, at least
945 annually, based upon recommendations by the Commissioner of
946 Education, the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List that
947 assigns categories of certificates and certifications as
948 provided for in s. 1003.4203 [additional full-time equivalent]
949 [membership] to certifications identified in the Master
950 Credentials List under s. 445.004(4) which meet [that meets] a
951 statewide, regional, or local demand. Supplemental [Additional]
952 [full-time equivalent membership] funding for regional and local
953 demand certifications may only be earned in those areas with
954 regional or local demand as identified by the Credentials Review
955 Committee. [The CAPE Industry Certification Funding List may]
956 [include the following certificates and certifications:]
957 [(a) CAPE industry certifications identified as credentials]
958 [of value that meet the framework of quality under s. 445.004(4),]
959 [that must be applied in the distribution of funding to school]
960 [districts under s. 1011.62(1)(o). The CAPE Industry]
961 [Certification Funding List shall incorporate by reference the]
962 [industry certifications on the career pathways list approved for]
963 [the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award.]
964 [(b) CAPE Digital Tool certificates selected by the]
965 [department under s. 1003.4203(2) that do not articulate for]
966 [college credit. The certificates must be made available to]
967 [students in elementary school and middle school grades and, if]
968 [earned by a student, must be eligible for additional full-time]
969 [equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1. The department]
970 [shall annually review available assessments that meet the]
971 [requirements for inclusion on the list.]
972 [(c) CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications that]
973 [articulate for 15 or more college credit hours under s.]
974 [1003.4203(4). Such certifications must, if successfully]
975 [completed, be eligible for additional full-time equivalent]
976 [membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.]
977 [(d) The Commissioner of Education shall conduct a review of]
978 [the methodology used to determine additional full-time]
979 [equivalent membership weights assigned in s. 1011.62(1)(o) and,]
980 [if necessary, recommend revised weights. The weights must factor]
981 [in the prioritization of critical shortages of labor market]
982 [demand and middle-level to high-level wage earning outcomes as]
983 [identified by the Credentials Review Committee under s. 445.004.]
984 [The results of the review and the commissioner’s recommendations]
985 [must be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate,]
986 [and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than]
987 [December 1, 2023.]
988 (4)(a) CAPE industry certifications and CAPE Digital Tool
989 certificates placed on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding
990 List must include the version of the certifications and
991 certificates available at the time of the adoption and, without
992 further review and approval, include the subsequent updates to
993 the certifications and certificates on the approved list, unless
994 the certifications and certificates are specifically removed
995 from the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List by the
996 Commissioner of Education.
997 (b) Effective for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the
998 Commissioner of Education shall [may] limit CAPE industry
999 certifications placed on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding
1000 List [and CAPE Digital Tool certificates] to students in certain
1001 grades based upon the alignment of the industry certification to
1002 career and technical education programs and the appropriate
1003 grade level placement within those programs. The eligible grade
1004 levels must be adopted annually on the funding list.
1005 (c) The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall review
1006 statewide articulation agreement proposals for industry
1007 certifications and make recommendations to the State Board of
1008 Education for approval. After an industry certification is
1009 approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc., under s. 445.004(4), the
1010 Chancellor of Career and Adult Education, within 90 days, must
1011 provide to the Articulation Coordinating Committee
1012 recommendations for articulation of postsecondary credit for
1013 related degrees for the approved certifications.
1014 Section 15. Section 1010.20, Florida Statutes, is amended
1015 to read:
1016 1010.20 Cost accounting and reporting for school
1017 districts.—
1018 (1) COST ACCOUNTING.—Each school district shall account for
1019 expenditures of all state, local, and federal funds on a school
1020 by-school and a district-aggregate basis in accordance with the
1021 manual developed by the Department of Education or as provided
1022 by law.
1023 (2) COST REPORTING.—
1024 (a) Each district shall report on a district-aggregate
1025 basis expenditures for inservice training pursuant to s.
1026 1011.62(3) and for categorical programs as provided in s.
1027 1011.62(18) [s. 1011.62(17)].
1028 (b) Each district shall report to the department on a
1029 school-by-school and on an aggregate district basis expenditures
1030 for:
1031 1. Each program funded in s. 1011.62(1)(c).
1032 2. Total operating costs as reported pursuant to s.
1033 1010.215.
1034 3. Expenditures for classroom instruction pursuant to the
1035 calculation in s. 1010.215(4)(b)1. and 2.
1036 (c) The department shall:
1037 1. Categorize all public schools and districts into
1038 appropriate groups based primarily on average full-time
1039 equivalent student enrollment as reported on the most recent
1040 student membership survey under s. 1011.62 and in state board
1041 rule to determine groups of peer schools and districts.
1042 2. Annually calculate for each public school, district, and
1043 for the entire state, the percentage of classroom expenditures
1044 to total operating expenditures reported in subparagraphs (b)2.
1045 and 3. The results shall be categorized pursuant to this
1046 paragraph.
1047 3. Annually calculate for all public schools, districts,
1048 and the state, the average percentage of classroom expenditures
1049 to total operating expenditures reported in subparagraphs (b)2.
1050 and 3. The results shall be categorized pursuant to this
1051 paragraph.
1052 4. Develop a web-based fiscal transparency tool that
1053 identifies public schools and districts that produce high
1054 academic achievement based on the ratio of classroom instruction
1055 expenditures to total expenditures. The fiscal transparency tool
1056 shall combine the data calculated pursuant to this paragraph
1057 with the student performance measurements calculated pursuant to
1058 s. 1012.34(7) to determine the financial efficiency of each
1059 public school and district. The results shall be displayed in an
1060 easy to use format that enables the user to compare performance
1061 among public schools and districts.
1062 (d) The Commissioner of Education shall present to the
1063 Legislature, prior to the opening of the regular session each
1064 year, a district-by-district report of the expenditures reported
1065 pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b). The report shall include
1066 total expenditures, a detailed analysis showing expenditures for
1067 each program, and such other data as may be useful for
1068 management of the education system. The Commissioner of
1069 Education shall also compute cost factors relative to the base
1070 student allocation for each funded program in s. 1011.62(1)(c).
1071 (3) PROGRAM EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS.—
1072 (a) Each district shall expend at least the percent of the
1073 funds generated by each of the programs listed in this section
1074 on the aggregate total school costs for such programs:
1075 1. Kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3, 90 percent.
1076 2. Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, 80 percent.
1077 3. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, 80 percent.
1078 4. Programs for exceptional students, on an aggregate
1079 program basis, 90 percent.
1080 5. Grades 7 through 12 career education programs, on an
1081 aggregate program basis, 80 percent.
1082 6. Students-at-risk programs, on an aggregate program
1083 basis, 80 percent.
1084 7. Juvenile justice programs, on an aggregate program
1085 basis, 95 percent.
1086 8. Any new program established and funded under s.
1087 1011.62(1)(c), that is not included under subparagraphs 1.-7.,
1088 on an aggregate basis as appropriate, 80 percent.
1089 (b) Funds for inservice training established in s.
1090 1011.62(3) and for categorical programs established in s.
1091 1011.62(18) [s. 1011.62(17)] shall be expended for the costs of
1092 the identified programs as provided by law and in accordance
1093 with the rules of the State Board of Education.
1094 Section 16. Section 1011.61, Florida Statutes, is amended
1095 to read:
1096 1011.61 Definitions.—Notwithstanding the provisions of s.
1097 1000.21, the following terms are defined as follows for the
1098 purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program:
1099 (1) A “full-time equivalent student” in each program of the
1100 district is defined in terms of full-time students and part-time
1101 students as follows:
1102 (a) A “full-time student” is one student on the membership
1103 roll of one school program or a combination of school programs
1104 listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) for the school year or the equivalent
1105 for:
1106 1. Instruction in a standard school, comprising not less
1107 than 900 net hours for a student in or at the grade level of 4
1108 through 12, or not less than 720 net hours for a student in or
1109 at the grade level of kindergarten through grade 3 or in an
1110 authorized prekindergarten exceptional program; or
1111 2. Instruction comprising the appropriate number of net
1112 hours set forth in subparagraph 1. for students who, within the
1113 past year, have moved with their parents for the purpose of
1114 engaging in the farm labor or fish industries, if a plan
1115 furnishing such an extended school day or week, or a combination
1116 thereof, has been approved by the commissioner. Such plan may be
1117 approved to accommodate the needs of migrant students only or
1118 may serve all students in schools having a high percentage of
1119 migrant students. The plan described in this subparagraph is
1120 optional for any school district and is not mandated by the
1121 state.
1122 (b) A “part-time student” is a student on the active
1123 membership roll of a school program or combination of school
1124 programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) who is less than a full-time
1125 student. A student who receives instruction in a school that
1126 operates for less than the minimum term shall generate full-time
1127 equivalent student membership proportional to the amount of
1128 instructional hours provided by the school divided by the
1129 minimum term requirement as provided in s. 1011.60(2).
1130 (c)1. A “full-time equivalent student” is:
1131 a. A full-time student in any one of the programs listed in
1132 s. 1011.62(1)(c); or
1133 b. A combination of full-time or part-time students in any
1134 one of the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) which is the
1135 equivalent of one full-time student based on the following
1136 calculations:
1137 (I) A full-time student in a combination of programs listed
1138 in s. 1011.62(1)(c) shall be a fraction of a full-time
1139 equivalent membership in each special program equal to the
1140 number of net hours per school year for which he or she is a
1141 member, divided by the appropriate number of hours set forth in
1142 subparagraph (a)1. The difference between that fraction or sum
1143 of fractions and the maximum value as set forth in subsection
1144 (4) for each full-time student is presumed to be the balance of
1145 the student’s time not spent in a special program and shall be
1146 recorded as time in the appropriate basic program.
1147 (II) A prekindergarten student with a disability shall meet
1148 the requirements specified for kindergarten students.
1149 (III) A full-time equivalent student for students in
1150 kindergarten through grade 12 in a full-time virtual instruction
1151 program under s. 1002.45 or a virtual charter school under s.
1152 1002.33 shall consist of six full-credit completions or the
1153 prescribed level of content that counts toward promotion to the
1154 next grade in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c). Credit
1155 completions may be a combination of full-credit courses or half
1156 credit courses.
1157 (IV) A full-time equivalent student for students in
1158 kindergarten through grade 12 in a part-time virtual instruction
1159 program under s. 1002.45 shall consist of six full-credit
1160 completions in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3.
1161 Credit completions may be a combination of full-credit courses
1162 or half-credit courses.
1163 (V) A Florida Virtual School full-time equivalent student
1164 shall consist of six full-credit completions or the prescribed
1165 level of content that counts toward promotion to the next grade
1166 in the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3. for students
1167 participating in kindergarten through grade 12 part-time virtual
1168 instruction and the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) for
1169 students participating in kindergarten through grade 12 full
1170 time virtual instruction. Credit completions may be a
1171 combination of full-credit courses or half-credit courses.
1172 (VI) Each successfully completed full-credit course earned
1173 through an online course delivered by a district other than the
1174 one in which the student resides shall be calculated as 1/6 FTE.
1175 (VII) A full-time equivalent student for courses requiring
1176 passage of a statewide, standardized end-of-course assessment
1177 under s. 1003.4282 to earn a standard high school diploma shall
1178 be defined and reported based on the number of instructional
1179 hours as provided in this subsection.
1180 (VIII) For students enrolled in a school district as a
1181 full-time student, the district may report 1/6 FTE for each
1182 student who passes a statewide, standardized end-of-course
1183 assessment without being enrolled in the corresponding course.
1184 2. A student in membership in a program scheduled for more
1185 or less than 180 school days or the equivalent on an hourly
1186 basis as specified by rules of the State Board of Education is a
1187 fraction of a full-time equivalent membership equal to the
1188 number of instructional hours in membership divided by the
1189 appropriate number of hours set forth in subparagraph (a)1.;
1190 however, for the purposes of this subparagraph, membership in
1191 programs scheduled for more than 180 days is limited to students
1192 enrolled in:
1193 a. Juvenile justice education programs.
1194 b. The Florida Virtual School.
1195 c. Virtual instruction programs and virtual charter schools
1196 for the purpose of course completion and credit recovery
1197 pursuant to ss. 1002.45 and 1003.498. Course completion applies
1198 only to a student who is reported during the second or third
1199 membership surveys and who does not complete a virtual education
1200 course by the end of the regular school year. The course must be
1201 completed no later than the deadline for amending the final
1202 student enrollment survey for that year. Credit recovery applies
1203 only to a student who has unsuccessfully completed a traditional
1204 or virtual education course during the regular school year and
1205 must retake the course in order to be eligible to graduate with
1206 the student’s class.
1207
1208 The full-time equivalent student enrollment calculated under
1209 this subsection is subject to the requirements in subsection
1210 (3)[(4)].
1211
1212 The department shall determine and implement an equitable method
1213 of equivalent funding for schools operating under emergency
1214 conditions, which schools have been approved by the department
1215 to operate for less than the minimum term as provided in s.
1216 1011.60(2).
1217 [(2) A “full-time equivalent student” is a student in grades]
1218 [4 through 8 who is participating in a student-teacher adviser]
1219 [program conducted during homeroom period, who is a fraction of a]
1220 [full-time equivalent membership based on net hours in the]
1221 [program, with a maximum of 36 net hours in any fiscal year. Each]
1222 [district program shall be approved by the Department of]
1223 [Education.]
1224 (2)[(3)] For the purpose of calculating the Florida Education
1225 Finance Program funds, [“current operation program,”] a student is
1226 in membership until he or she withdraws or until the close of
1227 the 11th consecutive school day of his or her absence, whichever
1228 comes first.
1229 (3)[(4)] The maximum value for funding a student in
1230 kindergarten through grade 12 or in a prekindergarten program
1231 for exceptional children as provided in s. 1003.21(1)(e) shall
1232 be the sum of the calculations in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c)
1233 as calculated by the department.
1234 (a) The sum of the student’s full-time equivalent student
1235 membership value for the school year or the equivalent derived
1236 from paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), subparagraph (1)(c)1., and sub
1237 subparagraphs (1)(c)2.b. and c.[, and subsection (2)][.] If the sum
1238 is greater than 1.0, the full-time equivalent student membership
1239 value for each program or course shall be reduced by an equal
1240 proportion so that the student’s total full-time equivalent
1241 student membership value is equal to 1.0.
1242 (b) If the result in paragraph (a) is less than 1.0 full
1243 time equivalent student and the student has full-time equivalent
1244 student enrollment pursuant to sub-sub-subparagraph
1245 (1)(c)1.b.(VIII), calculate an amount that is the lesser of the
1246 value in sub-sub-subparagraph (1)(c)1.b.(VIII) or the value of
1247 1.0 less the value in paragraph (a).
1248 (c) The full-time equivalent student enrollment value in
1249 sub-subparagraph (1)(c)2.a.
1250 (4)[(5)] The “Florida Education Finance Program” includes all
1251 programs and costs as provided in ss. 1003.03, 1011.62, 1011.68,
1252 and 1011.685.
1253 (5)[(][6)] “Basic programs” include, but are not limited to,
1254 language arts, mathematics, art, music, physical education,
1255 science, and social studies.
1256 Section 17. Present subsections (17) and (18) of section
1257 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsection (18)
1258 and (19), a new subsection (17) is added to that section, and
1259 subsections (1), (2), (3), (5) through (10), (12), (13), (15),
1260 and (16) of that section are amended, to read:
1261 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
1262 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
1263 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
1264 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
1265 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
1266 follows:
1267 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASE FLORIDA EDUCATION FINANCE
1268 PROGRAM [BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR OPERATION].—The following
1269 procedure shall be followed in determining the base Florida
1270 Education Finance Program funds for [annual allocation to] each
1271 district [for operation]:
1272 (a)1. Determination of full-time equivalent membership.
1273 During the fiscal year [each of several school weeks], including
1274 scheduled intersessions of a year-round school program during
1275 the fiscal year, each district shall complete full-time
1276 equivalent surveys [a program membership survey of each school]
1277 [shall be made by each district] by aggregating the full-time
1278 equivalent student membership of each program by school [and by]
1279 [district]. The department shall establish the number and interval
1280 of membership calculations[, except that for basic and special]
1281 [programs such calculations shall not exceed nine for any fiscal]
1282 [year]. The district’s full-time equivalent membership shall be
1283 computed and currently maintained in accordance with regulations
1284 of the commissioner.
1285 2. All final reported full-time equivalent survey data must
1286 include the unduplicated count of both school district full-time
1287 equivalent students and full-time equivalent Family Empowerment
1288 Scholarship students.
1289 (b) Determination of base student allocation.—The base
1290 student allocation for the Florida Education Finance Program for
1291 kindergarten through grade 12 shall be determined annually by
1292 the Legislature and shall be that amount prescribed in the
1293 current year’s General Appropriations Act.
1294 (c) Determination of programs.—Cost factors based on
1295 desired relative cost differences between the following programs
1296 shall be established in the annual General Appropriations Act.
1297 The cost factor for secondary career education programs must be
1298 greater than the cost factor for basic programs grade 9 through
1299 12. The Commissioner of Education shall specify a matrix of
1300 services and intensity levels to be used by districts in the
1301 determination of the two weighted cost factors for exceptional
1302 students with the highest levels of need. For these students,
1303 the funding support level shall fund the exceptional students’
1304 education program, with the exception of extended school year
1305 services for students with disabilities.
1306 1. Basic programs.—
1307 a. Kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3.
1308 b. Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
1309 c. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
1310 2. Programs for exceptional students.—
1311 a. Support Level IV.
1312 b. Support Level V.
1313 3. Secondary career education programs.
1314 4. English for Speakers of Other Languages.
1315 (d) Funding model for exceptional student education
1316 programs.—The funding model for exceptional student education
1317 programs shall include all of the following:
1318 1. For programs for exceptional students in support levels
1319 IV and V as established in paragraph (c), the funding model
1320 shall include program cost factors.
1321 a. Exceptional education cost factors are determined by
1322 using a matrix of services to document the services that each
1323 support level IV and support level V exceptional student will
1324 receive. The nature and intensity of the services indicated on
1325 the matrix shall be consistent with the services described in
1326 each exceptional student’s individual educational plan.
1327 b. In order to generate funds using one of the two weighted
1328 cost factors, a matrix of services must be completed at the time
1329 of the student’s initial placement into an exceptional student
1330 education program and at least once every 3 years by personnel
1331 who have received approved training. Nothing listed in the
1332 matrix shall be construed as limiting the services a school
1333 district must provide in order to ensure that exceptional
1334 students are provided a free, appropriate public education.
1335 2. For students identified as exceptional in accordance
1336 with chapter 6A-6, Florida Administrative Code, who do not have
1337 a matrix of services as specified in subparagraph 1. and for
1338 students who are gifted in grades kindergarten through 8, the
1339 funding model shall include the funds generated on the basis of
1340 full-time equivalent student membership in the Florida Education
1341 Finance Program at the same funding level per student as
1342 provided for a basic student and additional funds provided by
1343 the exceptional student education guaranteed allocation
1344 established pursuant to subsection (8).
1345 (e) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
1346 membership for small school district exceptional student
1347 education.—An additional value per full-time equivalent student
1348 membership is provided to school districts with a full-time
1349 equivalent student membership of fewer than 10,000 and fewer
1350 than three full-time equivalent students in exceptional student
1351 education support levels IV and V. The Department of Education
1352 shall set the amount of the additional value based on documented
1353 evidence of the difference between the cost of the school
1354 district’s exceptional student education support levels IV and V
1355 services and the applicable Florida Education Finance Program
1356 funds appropriated in the General Appropriations Act. The total
1357 statewide value may not exceed a value per weighted full-time
1358 equivalent student as specified in the General Appropriations
1359 Act. The additional value for an eligible school district shall
1360 not exceed three full-time equivalent students for each of the
1361 exceptional student education support levels IV and V.
1362 (f) Small district factor.—An additional value per full
1363 time equivalent student membership is provided to each school
1364 district with a full-time equivalent student membership of fewer
1365 than 20,000 full-time equivalent students which is in a fiscally
1366 constrained county as described in s. 218.67(1). The amount of
1367 the additional value shall be specified in the General
1368 Appropriations Act.
1369 (g) Education for speakers of other languages.—A school
1370 district or a full-time virtual instruction program is eligible
1371 to report full-time equivalent student membership in the ESOL
1372 program in the Florida Education Finance Program provided the
1373 following conditions are met:
1374 1. The school district or the full-time virtual instruction
1375 program has a plan approved by the Department of Education.
1376 2. The eligible student is identified and assessed as
1377 limited English proficient based on assessment criteria.
1378 3.a. An eligible student may be reported for funding in the
1379 ESOL program for a base period of 3 years. However, a student
1380 whose English competency does not meet the criteria for
1381 proficiency after 3 years in the ESOL program may be reported
1382 for a fourth, fifth, and sixth year of funding, provided his or
1383 her limited English proficiency is assessed and properly
1384 documented prior to his or her enrollment in each additional
1385 year beyond the 3-year base period.
1386 b. If a student exits the program and is later reclassified
1387 as limited English proficient, the student may be reported in
1388 the ESOL program for funding for an additional year, or extended
1389 annually for a period not to exceed a total of 6 years pursuant
1390 to this paragraph, based on an annual evaluation of the
1391 student’s status.
1392 4. An eligible student may be reported for funding in the
1393 ESOL program for membership in ESOL instruction in English and
1394 ESOL instruction or home language instruction in the basic
1395 subject areas of mathematics, science, social studies, and
1396 computer literacy.
1397 (h) Small, isolated schools.—Districts that levy the
1398 maximum nonvoted discretionary millage, exclusive of millage for
1399 capital outlay purposes levied pursuant to s. 1011.71(2), may
1400 calculate full-time equivalent students for small, isolated
1401 district-operated schools by multiplying the number of
1402 unweighted full-time equivalent students times 2.75. The
1403 following schools may be considered small, isolated schools
1404 under this paragraph:
1405 1. A high school that is located at least 28 miles by the
1406 shortest route from another high school; has been serving
1407 students primarily in basic studies provided by sub
1408 subparagraphs (c)1.b. and c. and may include subparagraph (c)4.;
1409 and has a membership of at least 28, but no more than 100,
1410 students in grades 9 through 12; or
1411 2. A district elementary school with a grade configuration
1412 of kindergarten through grade 5, but which may also include
1413 prekindergarten, grade 6, grade 7, or grade 8, that is located
1414 at least 35 miles by the shortest route from another elementary
1415 school within the district; has been serving students primarily
1416 in basic studies provided by sub-subparagraphs (c)1.a. and b.
1417 and may include subparagraph (c)4.; has a student population in
1418 which 75 percent or greater of students are eligible for free
1419 and reduced-price school lunch; and has a membership of at least
1420 28, but no more than 100, students.
1421 (i) Calculation of full-time equivalent membership with
1422 respect to dual enrollment instruction.—
1423 [1.] Full-time equivalent students.—Students enrolled in dual
1424 enrollment instruction pursuant to s. 1007.271 may be included
1425 in calculations of full-time equivalent student memberships for
1426 basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a district school
1427 board. Instructional time for dual enrollment may vary from 900
1428 hours; however, the full-time equivalent student membership
1429 value shall be subject to the provisions in s. 1011.61(3) [s.]
1430 [1011.61(4)]. Dual enrollment full-time equivalent student
1431 membership shall be calculated in an amount equal to the hours
1432 of instruction that would be necessary to earn the full-time
1433 equivalent student membership for an equivalent course if it
1434 were taught in the school district. Students in dual enrollment
1435 courses may also be calculated as the proportional shares of
1436 full-time equivalent enrollments they generate for a Florida
1437 College System institution or university conducting the dual
1438 enrollment instruction. Early admission students shall be
1439 considered dual enrollments for funding purposes. Students may
1440 be enrolled in dual enrollment instruction provided by an
1441 eligible independent college or university and may be included
1442 in calculations of full-time equivalent student memberships for
1443 basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a district school
1444 board. However, those provisions of law which exempt dual
1445 enrolled and early admission students from payment of
1446 instructional materials and tuition and fees, including
1447 laboratory fees, shall not apply to students who select the
1448 option of enrolling in an eligible independent institution. An
1449 independent college or university, which is not for profit, is
1450 accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency
1451 recognized by the United States Department of Education, and
1452 confers degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 shall be eligible for
1453 inclusion in the dual enrollment or early admission program.
1454 Students enrolled in dual enrollment instruction shall be exempt
1455 from the payment of tuition and fees, including laboratory fees.
1456 No student enrolled in college credit mathematics or English
1457 dual enrollment instruction shall be funded as a dual enrollment
1458 unless the student has successfully completed the relevant
1459 section of the entry-level examination required pursuant to s.
1460 1008.30.
1461 [2. Additional full-time equivalent student membership.—For]
1462 [students enrolled in an early college program pursuant to s.]
1463 [1007.273, a value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student]
1464 [membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a]
1465 [general education core course through the dual enrollment]
1466 [program with a grade of “A” or better. For students who are not]
1467 [enrolled in an early college program, a value of 0.08 full-time]
1468 [equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each]
1469 [student who completes a general education core course through]
1470 [the dual enrollment program with a grade of “A.” A value of 0.08]
1471 [full-time equivalent student membership must be calculated for]
1472 [each student who completes a career course through the dual]
1473 [enrollment program with a grade of “A” in a pathway that leads]
1474 [to an industry certification that is included on the CAPE]
1475 [Industry Certification Funding List. In addition, a value of 0.3]
1476 [full-time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for]
1477 [any student who receives an associate degree through the dual]
1478 [enrollment program with a 3.0 grade point average or better.]
1479 [This value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent]
1480 [student membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in]
1481 [the subsequent fiscal year. This section shall be effective for]
1482 [credit earned by dually enrolled students for courses taken in]
1483 [the 2020-2021 school year and each school year thereafter. If]
1484 [the associate degree described in this paragraph is earned in]
1485 [2020-2021 following completion of courses taken in the 2020-2021]
1486 [school year, then courses taken toward the degree as part of the]
1487 [dual enrollment program before 2020-2021 may not preclude]
1488 [eligibility for the 0.3 additional full-time equivalent student]
1489 [membership bonus. Each school district shall allocate at least]
1490 [50 percent of the funds received from the dual enrollment bonus]
1491 [FTE funding, in accordance with this paragraph, to the schools]
1492 [that generated the funds to support student academic guidance]
1493 [and postsecondary readiness.]
1494 [3][. Qualifying courses.—For the purposes of this paragraph,]
1495 [general education core courses are those that are identified in]
1496 [rule by the State Board of Education and in regulation by the]
1497 [Board of Governors pursuant to s. 1007.25(3).]
1498 (j) Instruction in exploratory career education.—Students
1499 in grades 7 through 12 who are enrolled for more than four
1500 semesters in exploratory career education may not be counted as
1501 full-time equivalent students for this instruction.
1502 (k) Study hall.—A student who is enrolled in study hall may
1503 not be included in the calculation of full-time equivalent
1504 student membership for funding under this section.
1505 [(l) ][Calculation of additional full-time equivalent]
1506 [membership based on International Baccalaureate examination]
1507 [scores of students.][—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student]
1508 [membership shall be calculated for each student enrolled in an]
1509 [International Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or]
1510 [higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 full-time]
1511 [equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each]
1512 [student who receives an International Baccalaureate diploma.]
1513 [Such value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent]
1514 [student membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in]
1515 [the subsequent fiscal year. Each school district shall allocate]
1516 [80 percent of the funds received from International]
1517 [Baccalaureate bonus FTE funding to the school program whose]
1518 [students generate the funds and to school programs that prepare]
1519 [prospective students to enroll in International Baccalaureate]
1520 [courses. Funds shall be expended solely for the payment of]
1521 [allowable costs associated with the International Baccalaureate]
1522 [program. Allowable costs include International Baccalaureate]
1523 [annual school fees; International Baccalaureate examination]
1524 [fees; salary, benefits, and bonuses for teachers and program]
1525 [coordinators for the International Baccalaureate program and]
1526 [teachers and coordinators who prepare prospective students for]
1527 [the International Baccalaureate program; supplemental books;]
1528 [instructional supplies; instructional equipment or instructional]
1529 [materials for International Baccalaureate courses; other]
1530 [activities that identify prospective International Baccalaureate]
1531 [students or prepare prospective students to enroll in]
1532 [International Baccalaureate courses; and training or]
1533 [professional learning for International Baccalaureate teachers.]
1534 [School districts shall allocate the remaining 20 percent of the]
1535 [funds received from International Baccalaureate bonus FTE]
1536 [funding for programs that assist academically disadvantaged]
1537 [students to prepare for more rigorous courses. The school]
1538 [district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who provided]
1539 [International Baccalaureate instruction:]
1540 [1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by]
1541 [the International Baccalaureate teacher in each International]
1542 [Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or higher on the]
1543 [International Baccalaureate examination.]
1544 [2. An additional bonus of $500 to each International]
1545 [Baccalaureate teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D”]
1546 [or “F” who has at least one student scoring 4 or higher on the]
1547 [International Baccalaureate examination, regardless of the]
1548 [number of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a]
1549 [4 or higher on the International Baccalaureate examination.]
1550
1551 [Bonuses awarded under this paragraph shall be in addition to any]
1552 [regular wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled]
1553 [to receive. For such courses, the teacher shall earn an]
1554 [additional bonus of $50 for each student who has a qualifying]
1555 [score.]
1556 [(m) ][Calculation of additional full-time equivalent]
1557 [membership based on Advanced International Certificate of]
1558 [Education examination scores of students.][—A value of 0.16 full]
1559 [time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each]
1560 [student enrolled in a full-credit Advanced International]
1561 [Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or]
1562 [higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.08 full-time]
1563 [equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each]
1564 [student enrolled in a half-credit Advanced International]
1565 [Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or]
1566 [higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 full-time]
1567 [equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each]
1568 [student who receives an Advanced International Certificate of]
1569 [Education diploma. Such value shall be added to the total full]
1570 [time equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades]
1571 [9 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each school district]
1572 [shall allocate at least 80 percent of the funds received from]
1573 [the Advanced International Certificate of Education bonus FTE]
1574 [funding, in accordance with this paragraph, to the school]
1575 [program that generated the funds and to school programs]
1576 [administered by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations]
1577 [Syndicate that prepare prospective students to enroll in]
1578 [Advanced International Certificate of Education courses. These]
1579 [funds shall be expended solely for the payment of costs]
1580 [associated with the application and registration process;]
1581 [program fees and site licenses; training, professional learning,]
1582 [salaries, benefits, and bonuses for instructional personnel and]
1583 [program coordinators; examination and diploma fees; membership]
1584 [fees; supplemental books; instructional supplies, materials, and]
1585 [equipment; and other activities that identify prospective]
1586 [Advanced International Certificate of Education students or]
1587 [prepare prospective students to enroll in Advanced International]
1588 [Certificate of Education courses. The school district shall]
1589 [distribute to each classroom teacher who provided Advanced]
1590 [International Certificate of Education or International General]
1591 [Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE) instruction:]
1592 [1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by]
1593 [the Advanced International Certificate of Education teacher in]
1594 [each Advanced International Certificate of Education course who]
1595 [receives a score of E or higher on the Advanced International]
1596 [Certificate of Education examination. A bonus in the amount of]
1597 [$25 for each student taught by the pre-AICE teacher in each pre]
1598 [AICE course who receives a score of E or higher on the pre-AICE]
1599 [examination.]
1600 [2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced]
1601 [International Certificate of Education teacher in a school]
1602 [designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who has at least one]
1603 [student scoring E or higher on the Advanced International]
1604 [Certificate of Education examination, regardless of the number]
1605 [of classes taught or of the number of students scoring an E or]
1606 [higher on the Advanced International Certificate of Education]
1607 [examination.]
1608 [3. Additional bonuses of $250 each to teachers of pre-AICE]
1609 [classes in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” which]
1610 [has at least one student scoring an E or higher on the pre-AICE]
1611 [examination in that class. Teachers receiving an award under]
1612 [subparagraph 2. are not eligible for a bonus under this]
1613 [subparagraph.]
1614
1615 [Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall]
1616 [be in addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher]
1617 [received or is scheduled to receive.]
1618 [(n) ][Calculation of additional full-time equivalent]
1619 [membership based on college board advanced placement scores of]
1620 [students and earning college board advanced placement capstone]
1621 [diplomas.][—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student]
1622 [membership shall be calculated for each student in each advanced]
1623 [placement course who receives a score of 3 or higher on the]
1624 [College Board Advanced Placement Examination for the prior year]
1625 [and added to the total full-time equivalent student membership]
1626 [in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in the subsequent]
1627 [fiscal year. A value of 0.3 full-time equivalent student]
1628 [membership shall be calculated for each student who receives a]
1629 [College Board Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma and meets the]
1630 [requirements for a standard high school diploma under s.]
1631 [1003.4282. Such value shall be added to the total full-time]
1632 [equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades 9]
1633 [through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. Each district must]
1634 [allocate at least 80 percent of the funds provided to the]
1635 [district for advanced placement instruction, in accordance with]
1636 [this paragraph, to the high school that generates the funds. The]
1637 [school district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who]
1638 [provided advanced placement instruction:]
1639 [1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by]
1640 [the Advanced Placement teacher in each advanced placement course]
1641 [who receives a score of 3 or higher on the College Board]
1642 [Advanced Placement Examination.]
1643 [2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced Placement]
1644 [teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who]
1645 [has at least one student scoring 3 or higher on the College]
1646 [Board Advanced Placement Examination, regardless of the number]
1647 [of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a 3 or]
1648 [higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination.]
1649
1650 [Bonuses awarded under this paragraph shall be in addition to any]
1651 [regular wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled]
1652 [to receive. For such courses, the teacher shall earn an]
1653 [additional bonus of $50 for each student who has a qualifying]
1654 [score.]
1655 [(o) ][Calculation of additional full-time equivalent]
1656 [membership based on successful completion of a career-themed]
1657 [course pursuant to ss. 1003.491-1003.493, or courses with]
1658 [embedded CAPE industry certifications or CAPE Digital Tool]
1659 [certificates, and issuance of industry certification identified]
1660 [on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to]
1661 [rules adopted by the State Board of Education or CAPE Digital]
1662 [Tool certificates pursuant to s. 1003.4203.][—]
1663 [1.a. A value of 0.025 full-time equivalent student]
1664 [membership shall be calculated for CAPE Digital Tool]
1665 [certificates earned by students in elementary and middle school]
1666 [grades.]
1667 [b. A value of 0.1 or 0.2 full-time equivalent student]
1668 [membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a]
1669 [course as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b) or courses with embedded]
1670 [CAPE industry certifications and who is issued an industry]
1671 [certification identified annually on the CAPE Industry]
1672 [Certification Funding List approved under rules adopted by the]
1673 [State Board of Education. A value of 0.2 full-time equivalent]
1674 [membership shall be calculated for each student who is issued a]
1675 [CAPE industry certification that has a statewide articulation]
1676 [agreement for college credit approved by the State Board of]
1677 [Education. For CAPE industry certifications that do not]
1678 [articulate for college credit, the Department of Education shall]
1679 [assign a full-time equivalent value of 0.1 for each]
1680 [certification. Middle grades students who earn additional FTE]
1681 [membership for a CAPE Digital Tool certificate pursuant to sub]
1682 [subparagraph a. may not rely solely on the previously funded]
1683 [examination to satisfy the requirements for earning an industry]
1684 [certification under this sub-subparagraph. The State Board of]
1685 [Education shall include the assigned values on the CAPE Industry]
1686 [Certification Funding List under rules adopted by the state]
1687 [board. Such value shall be added to the total full-time]
1688 [equivalent student membership for grades 6 through 12 in the]
1689 [subsequent year. CAPE industry certifications earned through]
1690 [dual enrollment must be reported and funded pursuant to s.]
1691 [1011.80. However, if a student earns a certification through a]
1692 [dual enrollment course and the certification is not a fundable]
1693 [certification on the postsecondary certification funding list,]
1694 [or the dual enrollment certification is earned as a result of an]
1695 [agreement between a school district and a nonpublic]
1696 [postsecondary institution, the bonus value shall be funded in]
1697 [the same manner as other nondual enrollment course industry]
1698 [certifications. In such cases, the school district may provide]
1699 [for an agreement between the high school and the technical]
1700 [center, or the school district and the postsecondary institution]
1701 [may enter into an agreement for equitable distribution of the]
1702 [bonus funds.]
1703 [c. A value of 0.3 full-time equivalent student membership]
1704 [shall be calculated for student completion of at least three]
1705 [courses and an industry certification in a single career and]
1706 [technical education program or program of study.]
1707 [d. A value of 0.5 full-time equivalent student membership]
1708 [shall be calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry]
1709 [Certifications that articulate for 15 to 29 college credit]
1710 [hours, and 1.0 full-time equivalent student membership shall be]
1711 [calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications that]
1712 [articulate for 30 or more college credit hours pursuant to CAPE]
1713 [Acceleration Industry Certifications approved by the]
1714 [commissioner pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(4) and 1008.44.]
1715 [2. Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of the]
1716 [funds provided for CAPE industry certification, in accordance]
1717 [with this paragraph, to the program that generated the funds,]
1718 [and any remaining funds provided for CAPE industry certification]
1719 [for school district career and technical education programs.]
1720 [This allocation may not be used to supplant funds provided for]
1721 [basic operation of the program.]
1722 [3. For CAPE industry certifications earned in the 2013-2014]
1723 [school year and in subsequent years, the school district shall]
1724 [distribute to each classroom teacher who provided direct]
1725 [instruction toward the attainment of a CAPE industry]
1726 [certification that qualified for additional full-time equivalent]
1727 [membership under subparagraph 1.:]
1728 [a. A bonus of $25 for each student taught by a teacher who]
1729 [provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a]
1730 [CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification]
1731 [Funding List with a weight of 0.1.]
1732 [b. A bonus of $50 for each student taught by a teacher who]
1733 [provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a]
1734 [CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification]
1735 [Funding List with a weight of 0.2.]
1736 [c. A bonus of $75 for each student taught by a teacher who]
1737 [provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a]
1738 [CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification]
1739 [Funding List with a weight of 0.3.]
1740 [d. A bonus of $100 for each student taught by a teacher who]
1741 [provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a]
1742 [CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification]
1743 [Funding List with a weight of 0.5 or 1.0.]
1744
1745 [Bonuses awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be provided to]
1746 [teachers who are employed by the district in the year in which]
1747 [the additional FTE membership calculation is included in the]
1748 [calculation. Bonuses shall be calculated based upon the]
1749 [associated weight of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE]
1750 [Industry Certification Funding List for the year in which the]
1751 [certification is earned by the student. Any bonus awarded to a]
1752 [teacher pursuant to this paragraph is in addition to any regular]
1753 [wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled to]
1754 [receive. A bonus may not be awarded to a teacher who fails to]
1755 [maintain the security of any CAPE industry certification]
1756 [examination or who otherwise violates the security or]
1757 [administration protocol of any assessment instrument that may]
1758 [result in a bonus being awarded to the teacher under this]
1759 [paragraph.]
1760 [(p)][ ][Calculation of additional full-time equivalent]
1761 [membership based upon early high school graduation.][—Each school]
1762 [district may receive funding for each student who graduates]
1763 [early pursuant to s. 1003.4281. A district may earn 0.25]
1764 [additional FTE for a student who graduates one semester in]
1765 [advance of the student’s cohort and 0.5 additional FTE for a]
1766 [student who graduates 1 year or more in advance of the student’s]
1767 [cohort. If the student was enrolled in the district as a full]
1768 [time high school student for at least 2 years, the district]
1769 [shall report the additional FTE for payment in the subsequent]
1770 [fiscal year. If the student was enrolled in the district for]
1771 [less than 2 years, the district of enrollment shall report the]
1772 [additional FTE and shall transfer a proportionate share of the]
1773 [funds earned for early graduation to the district in which the]
1774 [student was previously enrolled. Additional FTE included in the]
1775 [2014-2015 Florida Education Finance Program for early graduation]
1776 [shall be reported and funded pursuant to this paragraph.]
1777 (l)[(q)] Year-round-school programs.—The Commissioner of
1778 Education is authorized to adjust student eligibility
1779 definitions, funding criteria, and reporting requirements of
1780 statutes and rules in order that year-round-school programs may
1781 achieve equivalent application of funding requirements with non
1782 year-round-school programs.
1783 (m)[(r)] Extended-school-year program.—It is the intent of
1784 the Legislature that students be provided additional instruction
1785 by extending the school year to 210 days or more. Districts may
1786 apply to the Commissioner of Education for funds to be used in
1787 planning and implementing an extended-school-year program.
1788 (n)[(s)] Determination of the base amount for the Florida
1789 Education Finance Program [basic amount for current operation].
1790 The base amount for the [basic amount for current operation to be]
1791 [included in the] Florida Education Finance Program for
1792 kindergarten through grade 12 for each district shall be the
1793 product of the following:
1794 1. The full-time equivalent student membership in each
1795 program, multiplied by
1796 2. The cost factor for each program, as provided in
1797 [adjusted for the maximum as provided by] paragraph (c), added to
1798 [multiplied by]
1799 3. The additional full-time equivalent membership weights
1800 provided in paragraphs (e) and (h), multiplied by
1801 4.[3][.] The comparable wage factor, if applicable, multiplied
1802 by
1803 5.[4][.] The small district factor, if applicable, and
1804 multiplied by
1805 6.[5][.] The base student allocation.
1806 [(t)][ ][Computation for funding through the Florida Education]
1807 [Finance Program.][—The State Board of Education may adopt rules]
1808 [establishing programs, industry certifications, and courses for]
1809 [which the student may earn credit toward high school graduation]
1810 [and the criteria under which a student’s industry certification]
1811 [or grade may be rescinded.]
1812 (2) DETERMINATION OF COMPARABLE WAGE FACTOR.—
1813 (a) The Commissioner of Education shall annually compute
1814 for each district the current year’s comparable wage factor. The
1815 comparable wage factor shall be calculated by adding each
1816 district’s price level index as published in the Florida Price
1817 Level Index for the most recent 3 years and dividing the
1818 resulting sum by 3. The result for each district shall be
1819 multiplied by 0.008 and to the resulting product shall be added
1820 0.200; the sum thus obtained shall be the comparable wage factor
1821 for that district for that year.
1822 (b) The comparable wage factor for each school district is
1823 used in the calculation of the base Florida Education Finance
1824 Program [basic amount for current operation] pursuant to
1825 subsection (1) if the comparable wage factor is greater than
1826 1.000.
1827 (c) The limitation authorized in paragraph (b) applies to
1828 any categorical funding provided in the Florida Education
1829 Finance Program that has a calculation methodology that includes
1830 the comparable wage factor.
1831 (3) INSERVICE EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL TRAINING EXPENDITURE.
1832 Of the amount computed in subsection (1), a percentage of the
1833 base Florida Education Finance Program [basic amount for current]
1834 [operation] or other funds shall be expended for educational
1835 training programs as determined by the district school board as
1836 provided in s. 1012.98.
1837 (5) DISCRETIONARY MILLAGE COMPRESSION SUPPLEMENT.—The
1838 Legislature shall prescribe in the General Appropriations Act,
1839 pursuant to s. 1011.71(1), the rate of nonvoted current
1840 operating discretionary millage that shall be used to calculate
1841 a discretionary millage compression supplement. If the
1842 prescribed millage generates an amount of funds per unweighted
1843 full-time equivalent student for the district that is less than
1844 the state average, the district shall receive an amount per
1845 full-time equivalent student that, when added to the funds per
1846 full-time equivalent student generated by the designated levy,
1847 shall equal the state average. The discretionary millage
1848 compression supplement shall be recalculated during the fiscal
1849 year based on actual full-time equivalent student membership.
1850 (6) STATE-FUNDED DISCRETIONARY CONTRIBUTION.—The state
1851 funded discretionary contribution is created to fund the
1852 nonvoted discretionary millage for operations pursuant to s.
1853 1011.71(1) and (3) for developmental research schools (lab
1854 schools) established in s. 1002.32, charter schools sponsored by
1855 a Florida College System institution or a state university
1856 pursuant to s. 1002.33(5), and the Florida Virtual School
1857 established in s. 1002.37.
1858 (a) To calculate the state-funded discretionary
1859 contribution for lab schools, multiply the maximum allowable
1860 nonvoted discretionary millage for operations pursuant to s.
1861 1011.71(1) and (3) by the value of 96 percent of the current
1862 year’s taxable value for school purposes for the school district
1863 in which the lab school is located; divide the result by the
1864 total full-time equivalent membership of the school district;
1865 and multiply the result by the full-time equivalent membership
1866 of the lab school. The amount obtained shall be appropriated in
1867 the General Appropriations Act.
1868 (b) To calculate the state-funded discretionary
1869 contribution for a charter school sponsored by a Florida College
1870 System institution or a state university and the Florida Virtual
1871 School, multiply the maximum allowable nonvoted discretionary
1872 millage for operations pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) and (3) by the
1873 value of 96 percent of the current year’s taxable value for
1874 school purposes for the state; divide the result by the total
1875 full-time equivalent membership of the state; and multiply the
1876 result by the full-time equivalent membership of the Florida
1877 Virtual School.
1878 (c) The state-funded discretionary contribution shall be
1879 recalculated during the fiscal year based on actual full-time
1880 equivalent student membership.
1881 (7) EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT ALLOCATION.—
1882 (a) The educational enrichment allocation is created to
1883 assist school districts in providing educational enrichment
1884 activities and services that support and increase the academic
1885 achievement of students in grades kindergarten through 12.
1886 Educational enrichment activities and services may be provided
1887 in a manner and at any time during or beyond the regular 180-day
1888 term identified by the school district as being the most
1889 effective and efficient way to best help the student progress
1890 from grade to grade and graduate from high school. For fiscal
1891 year 2023-2024, the educational enrichment allocation shall
1892 consist of a base amount as specified in the General
1893 Appropriations Act. Beginning in fiscal year 2024-2025, the
1894 educational enrichment allocation shall consist of the base
1895 amount that includes a workload adjustment based on changes in
1896 the unweighted full-time equivalent membership. Beginning in
1897 fiscal year 2025-2026, and each year thereafter, the statewide
1898 average base amount as specified in the General Appropriations
1899 Act shall be used for any new educational entity funded in the
1900 Florida Education Finance Program.
1901 (b) For district-managed turnaround schools as identified
1902 in s. 1008.33(4)(a), schools that earn three consecutive grades
1903 below a “C,” as identified in s. 1008.33(4)(b)3., and schools
1904 that have improved to a “C” and are no longer in turnaround
1905 status, as identified in s. 1008.33(4)(c), a supplemental amount
1906 shall be added to their educational enrichment allocation for
1907 purposes of implementing the intervention and support strategies
1908 identified in the turnaround plan submitted pursuant to s.
1909 1008.33.
1910 1. The supplemental amount shall be based on the unweighted
1911 full-time equivalent student enrollment at the eligible schools
1912 and a per full-time equivalent funding amount of $500 or as
1913 provided in the General Appropriations Act.
1914 2. Services funded by the allocation may include, but are
1915 not limited to, tutorial and afterschool programs, student
1916 counseling, nutrition education, parental counseling, and an
1917 extended school day and school year. In addition, services may
1918 include models that develop a culture that encourages students
1919 to complete high school and to attend college or career
1920 training, set high academic expectations, and inspire character
1921 development.
1922 3. A school district may enter into a formal agreement with
1923 a nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status under s.
1924 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to implement an
1925 integrated student support service model that provides students
1926 and families with access to wrap-around services, including, but
1927 not limited to, health services, after-school programs, drug
1928 prevention programs, college and career readiness programs, and
1929 food and clothing banks.
1930 (c) The educational enrichment allocation, to include the
1931 supplemental amount, shall be recalculated during the fiscal
1932 year based on actual full-time equivalent student membership
1933 [pursuant to paragraph (1)(a). If the recalculated amount is]
1934 [greater than the amount provided in the General Appropriations]
1935 [Act, the allocation shall be prorated to the level provided to]
1936 [support the appropriation, based on each school district’s]
1937 [proportionate share of the total allocation].
1938 (d) Funding on the basis of full-time equivalent membership
1939 beyond the 180-day regular term shall be provided in the Florida
1940 Education Finance Program only for students enrolled in juvenile
1941 justice education programs or in education programs for
1942 juveniles placed in secure facilities or programs pursuant to s.
1943 985.19. Funding for instruction beyond the regular 180-day
1944 school year for all other kindergarten through grade 12 students
1945 shall be provided through the educational enrichment allocation
1946 and other state, federal, and local funding sources with
1947 flexibility for schools to provide educational enrichment
1948 activities and services to assist students in grades
1949 kindergarten through 12.
1950 (8) EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION GUARANTEED ALLOCATION.
1951 The exceptional student education guaranteed allocation is
1952 created to fund the additional costs of programs for exceptional
1953 students specified in subparagraph (1)(d)2. and shall be
1954 supplemental to the funds appropriated in the Florida Education
1955 Finance Program for the basic student funding level.
1956 (a) The amount of each school district’s exceptional
1957 student education guaranteed allocation shall be the greater of
1958 either the school district’s prior year exceptional student
1959 education guaranteed allocation funds per eligible full-time
1960 equivalent student or the exceptional student education
1961 guaranteed allocation factor as specified in the General
1962 Appropriations Act multiplied by the school district’s total
1963 number of eligible full-time equivalent students.
1964 (b) The exceptional student education guaranteed allocation
1965 shall be recalculated during the fiscal year based on actual
1966 full-time equivalent student membership. [If the recalculated]
1967 [amount is greater than the amount provided in the General]
1968 [Appropriations Act, the total shall be prorated to the level of]
1969 [the appropriation based on each school district’s share of the]
1970 [total recalculated allocation amount.]
1971 (9) CALCULATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOCATION FOR JUVENILE
1972 JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.—
1973 (a) The total kindergarten through grade 12 weighted full
1974 time equivalent student membership in juvenile justice education
1975 programs in each school district shall be multiplied by the
1976 amount of the state average class-size-reduction factor
1977 multiplied by the comparable wage factor for the school district
1978 established in subsection (2). An amount equal to the sum of
1979 this calculation shall be allocated in the Florida Education
1980 Finance Program to each school district to supplement other
1981 sources of funding for students in juvenile justice education
1982 programs. The supplemental allocation for juvenile justice
1983 education programs shall be recalculated during the fiscal year
1984 based on actual full-time equivalent student membership.
1985 (b) Funds allocated under this subsection shall be used to
1986 provide the juvenile justice education programs pursuant to s.
1987 1003.52 and may be used to pay for the high school equivalency
1988 examination fees for juvenile justice students who pass the high
1989 school equivalency examination in full, or in part, while in a
1990 juvenile justice education program, the industry credentialing
1991 testing fees for such students, and the costs associated with
1992 such juvenile justice students enrolled in career and technical
1993 education courses that lead to industry-recognized
1994 certifications.
1995 (10) FEDERALLY CONNECTED STUDENT SUPPLEMENT.—The federally
1996 connected student supplement is created to provide supplemental
1997 funding for school districts to support the education of
1998 students connected with federally owned military installations,
1999 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) real
2000 property, and Indian lands. To be eligible for this supplement,
2001 the district must be eligible for federal Impact Aid Program
2002 funds under s. 8003 of Title VIII of the Elementary and
2003 Secondary Education Act of 1965. The supplement shall be
2004 allocated annually to each eligible school district in the
2005 General Appropriations Act. The supplement shall be the sum of
2006 the student allocation and an exempt property allocation.
2007 (a) The student allocation shall be calculated based on the
2008 number of students reported for federal Impact Aid Program
2009 funds, including students with disabilities, who meet one of the
2010 following criteria:
2011 1. The student has a parent who is on active duty in the
2012 uniformed services or is an accredited foreign government
2013 official and military officer. Students with disabilities shall
2014 also be reported separately for this category.
2015 2. The student resides on eligible federally owned Indian
2016 land. Students with disabilities shall also be reported
2017 separately for this category.
2018 3. The student resides with a civilian parent who lives or
2019 works on eligible federal property connected with a military
2020 installation or NASA. The number of these students shall be
2021 multiplied by a factor of 0.5.
2022 (b) The total number of federally connected students
2023 calculated under paragraph (a) shall be multiplied by a
2024 percentage of the base student allocation as provided in the
2025 General Appropriations Act. The total of the number of students
2026 with disabilities as reported separately under subparagraphs
2027 (a)1. and 2. shall be multiplied by an additional percentage of
2028 the base student allocation as provided in the General
2029 Appropriations Act. The base amount and the amount for students
2030 with disabilities shall be summed to provide the student
2031 allocation.
2032 (c) The exempt property allocation shall be equal to the
2033 tax-exempt value of federal impact aid lands reserved as
2034 military installations, real property owned by NASA, or eligible
2035 federally owned Indian lands located in the district, multiplied
2036 by the millage authorized and levied under s. 1011.71(2).
2037 (d) The amount allocated for each eligible school district
2038 shall be recalculated during the year based on actual full-time
2039 equivalent [using actual] student membership, as amended, from the
2040 most recent February survey and the tax-exempt valuation from
2041 the most recent assessment roll.
2042 (12) SAFE SCHOOLS ALLOCATION.—A safe schools allocation is
2043 created to provide funding to assist school districts in their
2044 compliance with ss. 1006.07-1006.12, with priority given to
2045 safe-school officers pursuant to s. 1006.12. Each school
2046 district shall receive a minimum safe schools allocation in an
2047 amount provided in the General Appropriations Act. Of the
2048 remaining balance of the safe schools allocation, one-third
2049 shall be allocated to school districts based on the most recent
2050 official Florida Crime Index provided by the Department of Law
2051 Enforcement and two-thirds shall be allocated based on each
2052 school district’s proportionate share of the state’s total
2053 unweighted full-time equivalent student enrollment. If a
2054 district school board is required by s. 1006.12 to assign a
2055 school resource officer or school safety officer to a charter
2056 school, the charter school’s share of costs for such officer may
2057 not exceed the amount of funds allocated to the charter school
2058 under this subsection. The safe schools allocation shall be
2059 recalculated during the fiscal year based on actual full-time
2060 equivalent student membership.
2061 (13) MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE ALLOCATION.—The mental health
2062 assistance allocation is created to provide funding to assist
2063 school districts in implementing their school-based mental
2064 health assistance program pursuant to s. 1006.041. These funds
2065 shall be allocated annually in the General Appropriations Act or
2066 other law to each eligible school district. Each school district
2067 shall receive a minimum of $100,000, with the remaining balance
2068 allocated based on each school district’s proportionate share of
2069 the state’s total unweighted full-time equivalent student
2070 enrollment. The mental health assistance allocation shall be
2071 recalculated during the fiscal year based on actual full-time
2072 equivalent student membership.
2073 (15) TOTAL ALLOCATION OF STATE FUNDS TO EACH DISTRICT [FOR]
2074 [CURRENT OPERATION].—The total annual state allocation to each
2075 district for current operation for the Florida Education Finance
2076 Program shall be distributed to districts pursuant to s. 1011.66
2077 and based on the results of the full-time equivalent membership
2078 surveys established in paragraph (1)(a) [periodically in the]
2079 [manner prescribed in the General Appropriations Act].
2080 (a) When the Florida Education Finance Program allocation
2081 is recalculated, if the gross state Florida Education Finance
2082 Program funds [If the funds appropriated for current operation of]
2083 [the Florida Education Finance Program, including funds]
2084 [appropriated pursuant to subsection (18),] are not sufficient to
2085 pay the state requirement in full, the department shall prorate
2086 the available state funds to each district in the following
2087 manner:
2088 1. To calculate the gross state and local Florida Education
2089 Finance Program funding, add the base Florida Education Finance
2090 Program and the categorical funds, except for the categorical
2091 funding provided in subsection (16) and s. 1011.685.
2092 2. To calculate the gross state Florida Education Finance
2093 Program funding, subtract the required local effort in
2094 subsection (4) from the gross and local Florida Education
2095 Finance Program funding.
2096 3. To determine the amount that must be prorated among all
2097 school districts, subtract the gross state Florida Education
2098 Finance Program and any prior year adjustments pursuant to
2099 paragraph (b) from the corresponding amount of state funds
2100 appropriated in the General Appropriations Act.
2101 4. Each school district’s amount of the proration is
2102 calculated based on its proportionate share of the gross state
2103 and local Florida Education Finance Program funding.
2104 [1. Determine the percentage of proration by dividing the]
2105 [sum of the total amount for current operation, as provided in]
2106 [this paragraph for all districts collectively, and the total]
2107 [district required local effort into the sum of the state funds]
2108 [available for current operation and the total district required]
2109 [local effort.]
2110 [2. Multiply the percentage so determined by the sum of the]
2111 [total amount for current operation as provided in this paragraph]
2112 [and the required local effort for each individual district.]
2113 [3. From the product of such multiplication, subtract the]
2114 [required local effort of each district; and the remainder shall]
2115 [be the amount of state funds allocated to the district for]
2116 [current operation. However, no calculation subsequent to the]
2117 [appropriation shall result in negative state funds for any]
2118 [district.]
2119 (b) The amount thus obtained shall be the net annual
2120 allocation to each school district. However, if it is determined
2121 that any school district received an under allocation or over
2122 allocation for any prior year because of an arithmetical error,
2123 assessment roll change required by final judicial decision,
2124 full-time equivalent student membership error, or any allocation
2125 error revealed in an audit report, the allocation to that
2126 district shall be appropriately adjusted. An under allocation in
2127 a prior year caused by a school district’s error may not be the
2128 basis for a positive allocation adjustment for the current year.
2129 [Beginning with the 2011-2012 fiscal year,] If a special program
2130 cost factor is less than the basic program cost factor, an audit
2131 adjustment may not result in the reclassification of the special
2132 program FTE to the basic program FTE. If the Department of
2133 Education audit adjustment recommendation is based upon
2134 controverted findings of fact, the Commissioner of Education is
2135 authorized to establish the amount of the adjustment based on
2136 the best interests of the state.
2137 [(c) The amount thus obtained shall represent the net annual]
2138 [state allocation to each district; however, notwithstanding any]
2139 [of the provisions herein, each district shall be guaranteed a]
2140 [minimum level of funding in the amount and manner prescribed in]
2141 [the General Appropriations Act.]
2142 (16) STATE-FUNDED DISCRETIONARY SUPPLEMENT.—
2143 (a) The state-funded discretionary supplement is created to
2144 fund the nonvoted discretionary millage for operations pursuant
2145 to s. 1011.71(1) and (3) for students awarded a Family
2146 Empowerment Scholarship in accordance with s. 1002.394. To
2147 calculate the state-funded discretionary supplement for
2148 inclusion in the amount of the scholarship funding:
2149 1. For fiscal year 2023-2024, multiply the maximum
2150 allowable nonvoted discretionary millage for operations pursuant
2151 to s. 1011.71(1) and (3) by the value of 96 percent of the
2152 current year’s taxable value for school purposes for the school
2153 district where the student is reported for purposes of the
2154 Florida Education Finance Program as appropriated in the General
2155 Appropriations Act; divide the result by the school district’s
2156 total unweighted full-time equivalent membership as appropriated
2157 in the General Appropriations Act; and multiply the result by
2158 the total unweighted full-time equivalent membership associated
2159 with the number of Family Empowerment Scholarship students
2160 included in the school district’s total unweighted full-time
2161 equivalent membership. A base amount as specified in the General
2162 Appropriations Act shall be added to this amount for purposes of
2163 calculating the total amount of the supplement.
2164 2. Beginning in fiscal year 2024-2025 and thereafter,
2165 multiply the maximum allowable nonvoted discretionary millage
2166 for operations pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) and (3) by the value of
2167 96 percent of the current year’s taxable value for school
2168 purposes for the school district where the student is reported
2169 for purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program as
2170 appropriated in the General Appropriations Act; divide the
2171 result by the school district’s total unweighted full-time
2172 equivalent membership as appropriated in the General
2173 Appropriations Act; and multiply the result by the total
2174 unweighted full-time equivalent membership associated with the
2175 number of Family Empowerment Scholarship students. The prior
2176 year’s base amount shall be adjusted based on changes in the
2177 eligible number of unweighted full-time equivalent membership
2178 associated with the number of Family Empowerment Scholarship
2179 students.
2180 (b) The state-funded discretionary supplement shall be
2181 recalculated during the fiscal year based on actual full-time
2182 equivalent student membership [pursuant to paragraph (1)(a)]. [If]
2183 [the recalculated amount is greater than the amount provided in]
2184 [the General Appropriations Act, the allocation shall be prorated]
2185 [to the level provided to support the appropriation, based on]
2186 [each school district’s proportionate share of the total]
2187 [allocation.]
2188 (17) ACADEMIC ACCELERATION OPTIONS SUPPLEMENT.—The academic
2189 acceleration options supplement is created to assist school
2190 districts in providing academic acceleration options, career
2191 themed courses, and courses that lead to digital tool
2192 certificates and industry certifications for prekindergarten
2193 through grade 12 students and shall be allocated annually in the
2194 General Appropriations Act.
2195 (a)1. Each school district shall report its total number of
2196 academic acceleration values in a format prescribed by the
2197 Department of Education.
2198 2. The supplement shall be allocated based on each school
2199 district’s proportionate share of the state’s total academic
2200 acceleration values.
2201 3. For purposes of the amount of the supplement
2202 appropriated in the fiscal year 2025-2026 General Appropriations
2203 Act, an adjustment is included which will not be a part of the
2204 supplement when the Florida Education Finance Program is
2205 recalculated pursuant to paragraph (1)(a).
2206 (b)1. A value of 0.16 is assigned to a student enrolled in
2207 an early college program pursuant to s. 1007.273 who completes a
2208 general education core course through the dual enrollment
2209 program with a grade of “A” or better; however, the value is
2210 0.08 if the student is not enrolled in an early college program.
2211 A value of 0.08 shall be assigned to a student who completed a
2212 career course through the dual enrollment program with a grade
2213 of “A” in a pathway that leads to an industry certification that
2214 is included on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List. A
2215 value of 0.3 shall be assigned to a student who receives an
2216 associate degree through the dual enrollment program with a 3.0
2217 grade point average or better.
2218 2. For the purposes of this paragraph, general education
2219 core courses are those that are identified in rule by the State
2220 Board of Education and in regulation by the Board of Governors
2221 pursuant to s. 1007.25(3).
2222 3. Each school district shall use the funds received from
2223 the supplement for expenses associated with the applicable
2224 courses; however, such funds may not be used by the school
2225 district to supplant the district’s base Florida Education
2226 Finance Program funds provided pursuant to paragraph (1)(n).
2227 (c)1. A value of 0.16 is assigned to a student enrolled in
2228 an Advanced Placement course who receives a score of 3 or higher
2229 on the College Board Advanced Placement examination. A value of
2230 0.3 is assigned to a student who receives an Advanced Placement
2231 Capstone diploma.
2232 2. From the funds received from the supplement, each school
2233 district shall award a $50 bonus to each Advanced Placement
2234 teacher for each student who achieves a score of 3 or higher on
2235 the College Board Advanced Placement examination. Each school
2236 district shall award an additional bonus of $500 to each
2237 Advanced Placement teacher in a school designated with a grade
2238 of “D” or “F” who has at least one student scoring 3 or higher
2239 on the College Board Advanced Placement examination. The school
2240 district shall use the remaining balance of funds for expenses
2241 associated with the Advanced Placement courses to include the
2242 cost for the Advanced Placement examination fee and for teacher
2243 professional learning; however, such funds may not be used to
2244 supplant the school district’s base Florida Education Finance
2245 Program funds provided pursuant to paragraph (1)(n).
2246 (d)1. A value of 0.16 is assigned to a student enrolled in
2247 a full-credit Advanced International Certificate of Education
2248 course and who receives a score of “E” or higher on the Advanced
2249 International Certificate of Education examination. A value of
2250 0.08 is assigned for a student enrolled in a half-credit
2251 Advanced International Certificate of Education course and who
2252 receives a score of “E” or higher on the Advanced International
2253 Certificate of Education examination. A value of 0.3 is assigned
2254 to a student who receives an Advanced International Certificate
2255 of Education diploma.
2256 2.a. From the funds received from the supplement, each
2257 school district shall award a $50 bonus to each Advanced
2258 International Certificate of Education teacher for each student
2259 who receives a score of “E” or higher on the Advanced
2260 International Certificate of Education examination or a $25
2261 bonus to a pre-Advanced International Certificate of Education
2262 teacher if the student received a score of “E” or higher on the
2263 pre-Advanced International Certificate of Education examination.
2264 Each school district shall award an additional bonus in the
2265 amount of $500 to each teacher of an Advanced International
2266 Certificate of Education course in a school designated with a
2267 grade of “D” or “F” which has at least one student scoring an
2268 “E” or higher on the applicable examination. Each school
2269 district shall award an additional bonus in the amount of $250
2270 to each teacher of a pre-Advanced International Certificate of
2271 Education course in a school designated with a grade of “D” or
2272 “F” which has at least one student scoring an “E” or higher on
2273 the applicable examination. A teacher receiving a $500 bonus is
2274 not eligible for the $250 bonus.
2275 b. The school district shall use the remaining funds for
2276 expenses associated with the applicable courses to include any
2277 student program and examination fees; however, such funds may
2278 not be used to supplant the district’s base Florida Education
2279 Finance Program funds provided pursuant to paragraph (1)(n).
2280 (e)1. A value of 0.16 is assigned to a student in an
2281 International Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or
2282 higher on a subject examination or a score of “C” or higher on
2283 the Theory of Knowledge course. A value of 0.3 is assigned to a
2284 student who receives an International Baccalaureate diploma.
2285 2. From the funds received from the supplement, each school
2286 district shall award a $50 bonus to each International
2287 Baccalaureate teacher for each student who achieves a score of 4
2288 or higher on an International Baccalaureate examination or a “C”
2289 or higher in the Theory of Knowledge course. Each school
2290 district shall award an additional bonus of $500 if the
2291 International Baccalaureate teacher is in a school designated
2292 with a grade of “D” or “F” and has at least one student scoring
2293 4 or higher on the International Baccalaureate examination or a
2294 “C” or higher in the Theory of Knowledge course. The school
2295 district shall use the remaining funds for expenses associated
2296 with the applicable courses to include the cost of the
2297 assessment fee for the International Baccalaureate diploma;
2298 however, such funds may not be used to supplant the district’s
2299 base Florida Education Finance Program funds provided pursuant
2300 to paragraph (1)(n).
2301 (f)1. A value of 0.025 is assigned to each student who
2302 earns a CAPE Digital Tool certificate in elementary and middle
2303 school grades. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, this
2304 value shall apply only to students in the elementary school
2305 grades. A value of 0.1 is assigned to each student who completes
2306 a career-themed course pursuant to ss. 1003.491–1003.493, or a
2307 course with an embedded CAPE industry certification and is
2308 issued an approved industry certification specifically
2309 identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a
2310 CAPE Basic Non-articulated industry certification. A value of
2311 0.2 is assigned to each student who completes a career-themed
2312 course pursuant to ss. 1003.491–1003.493, or a course with an
2313 embedded CAPE industry certification and is issued an approved
2314 industry certification specifically identified in the CAPE
2315 Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Basic Articulated
2316 industry certification. A value of 0.3 is assigned to a high
2317 school student who completes at least three courses and an
2318 industry certification in a single career and technical
2319 education program or program of study and who exits with a
2320 standard high school diploma. Each industry certification must
2321 be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry Certification
2322 Funding List as a CAPE Pathways industry certification. A value
2323 of 0.5 is assigned to a high school student who completes CAPE
2324 Acceleration industry certifications that articulate for 15 to
2325 29 college credit hours. A value of 1.0 is assigned to a high
2326 school student who completes CAPE Acceleration industry
2327 certifications that articulate for 30 or more college credit
2328 hours.
2329 2. From the funds received from the supplement, each school
2330 district shall award the following bonuses to teachers who
2331 provided instruction that led to the attainment of the assigned
2332 student value:
2333 a. A bonus of $25 for each student with an assigned value
2334 of 0.1.
2335 b. A bonus of $50 for each student with an assigned value
2336 of 0.2.
2337 c. A bonus of $75 for each student with an assigned value
2338 of 0.3.
2339 d. A bonus of $100 for each student with an assigned value
2340 of 0.5 or 1.0.
2341 3. The school district shall use the remaining funds for
2342 expenses associated with the applicable courses; however, such
2343 funds may not be used to supplant the district’s base Florida
2344 Education Finance Program funds provided pursuant to paragraph
2345 (1)(n).
2346 (g) Bonuses awarded under this subsection shall be in
2347 addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher received
2348 or is scheduled to receive. A bonus may not be awarded to a
2349 teacher who fails to maintain the security of any CAPE industry
2350 certification examination or who otherwise violates the security
2351 or administration protocol of any assessment instrument that may
2352 result in a bonus being awarded to the teacher under this
2353 subsection.
2354 (h)1. A value of 0.25 is assigned to each student who
2355 graduates one semester in advance of the student’s cohort and a
2356 value of 0.5 is assigned to each student who graduates 1 year or
2357 more in advance of the student’s cohort pursuant to s.
2358 1003.4281. If the student was enrolled in the district as a
2359 full-time high school student for at least 2 years, the district
2360 must report the student in the subsequent fiscal year. If the
2361 student was enrolled in the district for less than 2 years, the
2362 district of enrollment must report the students and must
2363 transfer a proportionate share of the funds earned for early
2364 graduation to the district in which the student was previously
2365 enrolled.
2366 2. Each school district shall use the funds received from
2367 the supplement for expenses associated with providing students
2368 with early graduation options established pursuant to s.
2369 1003.4281; however, such funds may not be used by the school
2370 district to supplant the district’s base Florida Education
2371 Finance Program funds provided pursuant to paragraph (1)(n).
2372 (i) Beginning September 1, 2026, and each year thereafter,
2373 each school district must report its prior year total
2374 expenditures of its academic acceleration supplement funds to
2375 the Legislature in a format prescribed by the Department of
2376 Education.
2377 Section 18. Section 1011.65, Florida Statutes, is amended
2378 to read:
2379 1011.65 Recalculation of the Florida Education Finance
2380 Program [Appropriation Allocation Conference].—Prior to [the]
2381 [distribution of any funds appropriated in the General]
2382 [Appropriations Act for the K-12 Florida Education Finance]
2383 [Program formula and for the formula-funded categorical programs,]
2384 [the Commissioner of Education shall conduct an allocation]
2385 [conference. Conference principals shall include representatives]
2386 [of the Department of Education, the Executive Office of the]
2387 [Governor, and the appropriations committees of the Senate and]
2388 [the House of Representatives. Conference principals shall]
2389 [discuss and agree to all conventions, including rounding]
2390 [conventions, and methods of computation to be used to calculate]
2391 [Florida Education Finance Program and categorical entitlements]
2392 [of the districts for the fiscal year for which the]
2393 [appropriations are made. These conventions and calculation]
2394 [methods shall remain in effect until further agreements are]
2395 [reached in subsequent allocation conferences called by the]
2396 [commissioner for that purpose.][ ][The commissioner shall also,]
2397 [prior][ to] each recalculation of Florida Education Finance
2398 Program, the Department of Education shall [and categorical]
2399 [allocations of the districts,] provide to the Legislature and the
2400 Executive Office of the Governor [conference principals with] all
2401 data necessary for the Legislature and the Executive Office of
2402 the Governor to replicate the department’s recalculation of the
2403 Florida Education Finance Program. The recalculated Florida
2404 Education Finance Program may not be provided to school
2405 districts until the Legislature and the Executive Office of the
2406 Governor provide written notification to the department that the
2407 recalculated Florida Education Finance Program complies with law
2408 [those allocations precisely. This data shall include a matrix by]
2409 [district by program of all full-time equivalent changes made by]
2410 [the department as part of its administration of state full-time]
2411 [equivalent caps].
2412 Section 19. (1) No later than July 1, 2028, the Department
2413 of Education shall recommend to the Legislature a Florida Title
2414 I performance incentive program to reward Title I schools that
2415 have demonstrated excellence in student achievement and learning
2416 gains.
2417 (2) Recommendations must include, but are not limited to:
2418 (a) A methodology to determine eligibility based on student
2419 achievement, learning gains, or comparisons to other Title I
2420 schools. The Department must consider:
2421 1. Additional weights for student learning gains.
2422 2. The percentage of economically disadvantaged students at
2423 the school and any other school attributes.
2424 (b) Uses of program funds.
2425 (c) Projection of award amounts and overall program costs
2426 based on the recommended methodology.
2427 Section 20. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.