Education

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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to education; creating s. 1001.325, 2
F.S.; prohibiting specified educational institutions 3
from expending funds for certain purposes; providing 4
exceptions; requiring the State Board of Education to 5
adopt rules; amending 1001.42, F.S.; revising the 6
requirements for certain district school board 7
procedures to include information about specified 8
virtual instruction rather than the Florida Virtual 9
School; removing certain schools from specified 10
contract restrictions; revising the conditions 11
considered an educational emergency; requiring school 12
districts to provide access to certain virtual 13
instruction programs; amending s. 1001.452, F.S.; 14
deleting certain requirements for the composition of 15
district and school advisory councils; amending s. 16
1002.20, F.S.; authorizing parents to opt students out 17
of instruction in human embryologic and fetal 18
development; revising provisions relating to the use 19
of epinephrine in K-12 public schools to require the 20
use of a United States Food and Drug Administration 21
(FDA)-approved devices; amending s. 1002.32, F.S.; 22
revising admission requirements for lab schools; 23
amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; providing that students may 24
not be dismissed from certain charter schools based on 25

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academic performance; amending s. 1002.42, F.S.; 26
revising provisions relating to the use of epinephrine 27
in K-12 private schools to require the use of a FDA-28
approved devices; providing that certain private 29
schools are considered a permitted use in certain 30
zoning districts; authorizing certain private schools 31
to operate in facilities that meet specified 32
requirements; requiring certain private schools 33
operating in such facilities to meet specified Florida 34
Fire Prevention Code standards; providing that 35
completion of a specified evaluation system with 36
certain ratings by specified persons constitutes 37
evidence of compliance with the Florida Fire 38
Prevention Code for such private schools; authorizing 39
the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules; amending s. 40
1002.421, F.S.; revising which private schools must 41
maintain a physical location in the state; amending s. 42
1002.55, 1002.61, and 1002.63, F.S.; revising the 43
period of time a prekindergarten provider loses 44
eligibility for participation in the Voluntary 45
Prekindergarten Program; amending s. 1002.68, F.S.; 46
removing obsolete language; removing a requirement 47
that the Department of Education confer with a certain 48
council before adopting a specified methodology; 49
revising the period of time a prekindergarten provider 50

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loses eligibility for participation in the Voluntary 51
Prekindergarten Program; amending s. 1002.82, F.S.; 52
revising the period of time specified providers are 53
excluded from certain state contracts; amending s. 54
1002.88, F.S.; revising the period of a time school 55
readiness program provider loses eligibility for 56
participation in the school readiness program; 57
amending s. 1002.91, F.S.; revising the period of time 58
early learning coalitions must refrain from working 59
with specified program providers; amending s. 60
1002.945, F.S.; revising the period of time an 61
accrediting association loses eligibility to 62
participate in the Gold Seal Quality Program; revising 63
the Gold Seal Quality Care provider criteria relating 64
to class I violations; deleting an exception; amending 65
s. 1003.25, F.S.; requiring schools to notify school 66
resource officers of specified information upon the 67
enrollment of certain students; authorizing such 68
officers to have access to specified records upon 69
request; amending s. 1003.26, F.S.; authorizing school 70
districts to enforce school attendance strategies 71
earlier than prescribed in law; amending s. 1003.42, 72
F.S.; requiring instruction in human embryologic and 73
fetal development; providing requirements for such 74
instruction; requiring students in specified grades to 75

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receive instruction in cursive writing; providing 76
requirements for such instruction; requiring students 77
to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by the 78
end of a specified grade; defining the term 79
"proficiency in cursive writing"; authorizing parents 80
to opt students out of the instruction in human 81
embryologic and fetal development; amending s. 82
1003.4201, F.S.; revising the components of specified 83
reading instruction plans; creating s. 1003.4202, 84
F.S.; requiring school districts and charter schools 85
to implement a system of comprehensive mathematics 86
instruction and develop a mathematics instruction 87
plan; authorizing charter schools to use a school 88
district's plan; providing requirements for such plan; 89
requiring such plan to be approved by school districts 90
and charter schools; defining the term "evidence-91
based"; amending s. 1003.4203, F.S.; requiring certain 92
CAPE Digital Tool certificates to be available to 93
middle grades students; providing a limit on the 94
number of such certificates middle grade students may 95
earn per school year; amending s. 1003.46, F.S.; 96
authorizing parents to opt students out of specified 97
instruction related to health education; amending s. 98
1006.12, F.S.; providing construction relating to the 99
assignment of safe-school officers at public schools; 100

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amending s. 1006.20, F.S.; revising the composition of 101
the Florida High School Athletic Association public 102
liaison advisory committee; amending s. 1006.38, F.S.; 103
requiring the department to provide written notice of 104
specified violations to publishers and manufacturers 105
of specified instructional materials; providing 106
requirements such publisher must meet to rectify such 107
violations; authorizing the State Board of Education 108
to take specified actions if such publisher fails to 109
rectify such violations; providing that a decision of 110
the state board constitutes a final agency action; 111
providing that specified appeal procedures apply to 112
such decisions; providing construction; amending s. 113
1008.2125, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; 114
amending s. 1008.25, F.S.; revising the timeframe for 115
developing an individualized progress monitoring plan 116
for certain students; requiring certain resources to 117
specified students to include information for the New 118
Worlds Reading Initiative; requiring each district 119
school board to annually publish on its website the 120
district's rate of chronic absenteeism for specified 121
grade levels; defining the term "chronic absenteeism"; 122
amending s. 1008.33, F.S.; requiring the department to 123
identify school districts in need of improvement; 124
providing criteria for the determination of a school 125

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district in need of improvement; requiring such school 126
district to submit a certain district improvement plan 127
to the department; requiring such school district to 128
submit specified documents; authorizing the State 129
Board of Education to take certain actions relating to 130
a school district in need of improvement; amending s. 131
1011.69, F.S.; revising the educational services for 132
which a school district is authorized to withhold 133
specified funding; providing criteria for school 134
districts to withhold such funding; amending s. 135
1012.56, F.S.; revising acceptable means of 136
demonstrating mastery of professional preparation and 137
education competence for educator certification; 138
revising requirements for professional education 139
competency programs; requiring the State Board of 140
Education to adopt rules to determine continued 141
approval of such programs; amending s. 1013.03, F.S.; 142
requiring the department to review and revise 143
specified provisions of the State Requirements for 144
Educational Facilities by a certain date; amending s. 145
1014.05, F.S.; providing that parents have a right to 146
opt children out of receiving specified instruction 147
related to health education; providing an effective 148
date. 149
150

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 151
152
Section 1. Section 1001.325, Florida Statutes, is created 153
to read: 154
1001.325 K-12 prohibited expenditures.— 155
(1) A public school, including a charter school, school 156
district, charter school administrator, or direct-support 157
organization for any such school or school district may not 158
expend any funds, regardless of source, to purchase membership 159
in, or goods and services from, any organization that 160
discriminates on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, 161
disability, or religion. 162
(2) A public school, including a charter school, school 163
district, charter school administrator, or direct-support 164
organization for any such school or school district may not 165
expend any state or federal funds to promote, support, or 166
maintain any programs or campus activities that: 167
(a) Violate s. 1000.05; or 168
(b) Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or 169
promote or engage in political or social activism, as defined by 170
the State Board of Education. 171
172
Student fees to support student-led organizations are permitted 173
notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such 174
organization which would otherwise violate this subsection, 175

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provided that the public funds must be allocated to student-led 176
organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of the 177
public school in which the student is enrolled or the school 178
district, as applicable. Use of school or school district 179
facilities by student-led organizations is permitted 180
notwithstanding any speech or expressive activity by such 181
organizations which would otherwise violate this subsection, 182
provided that such use must be granted to student-led 183
organizations pursuant to written policies or regulations of 184
each school or school district, as applicable. 185
(3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus 186
activities, or functions required for compliance with general or 187
federal laws or regulations; for obtaining or retaining 188
accreditation and for continuing to receive state funds with the 189
approval of either the State Board of Education or the 190
Department of Education. 191
(4) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 192
implement this section. 193
Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (17) and 194
subsections (21) and (23) of section 1001.42, Florida Statutes, 195
are amended to read: 196
1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The 197
district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all 198
powers and perform all duties listed below: 199
(17) PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM.— 200

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(a) Adopt procedures whereby the general public can be 201
adequately informed of the educational programs, needs, and 202
objectives of public education within the district, including 203
educational opportunities available through approved virtual 204
instruction program providers under s. 1002.45 or the school 205
district's virtual instruction program the Florida Virtual 206
School. 207
(21) EDUCATIONAL EMERGENCY.—To free schools that have with 208
a school grade of "D" or "F" or are persistently low-performing 209
schools as described in s. 1002.333 from contract restrictions 210
that limit the school district's school's ability to implement 211
programs and strategies needed to improve student performance, a 212
district school board may adopt salary incentives or other 213
strategies that address the selection, placement, compensation, 214
and expectations of instructional personnel and provide 215
principals with the autonomy described in s. 1012.28(8). For 216
purposes of this subsection, an educational emergency exists in 217
a school district if one or more schools in the district have a 218
school grade of "D" or "F" or are persistently low-performing 219
schools as described in s. 1002.333. "F." Notwithstanding 220
chapter 447, relating to collective bargaining, a district 221
school board may: 222
(a) Provide salary incentives that differentiate based on 223
a teacher's certification, subject area taught, or grade level 224
taught. Such incentives are not subject to collective bargaining 225

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requirements. 226
(b) Notwithstanding s. 1012.2315, relating to assignment 227
of teachers, adopt strategies to assign high-quality teachers 228
more equitably across schools in the district to low-performing 229
schools as a management right. Such strategies are not subject 230
to collective bargaining requirements. 231
(23) VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.—Provide students with access to 232
courses available through the school district's a virtual 233
instruction program option or an approved virtual instruction 234
program provider under s. 1002.45, including the Florida Virtual 235
School and other approved providers, and award credit for 236
successful completion of such courses. 237
Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 238
1001.452, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 239
1001.452 District and school advisory councils.— 240
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.— 241
(a) The district school board shall establish an advisory 242
council for each school in the district and shall develop 243
procedures for the election and appointment of advisory council 244
members. Each school advisory council shall include in its name 245
the words "school advisory council." The school advisory council 246
shall be the sole body responsible for final decisionmaking at 247
the school relating to implementation of ss. 1001.42(18) and 248
1008.345. A majority of the members of each school advisory 249
council must be persons who are not employed by the school 250

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district. Each advisory council shall be composed of the 251
principal and an appropriately balanced number of teachers, 252
education support employees, students, parents, and other 253
business and community citizens who are representative of the 254
ethnic, racial, and economic community served by the school. 255
Career center and high school advisory councils shall include 256
students, and middle and junior high school advisory councils 257
may include students. School advisory councils of career centers 258
and adult education centers are not required to include parents 259
as members. Council members representing teachers, education 260
support employees, students, and parents shall be elected by 261
their respective peer groups at the school in a fair and 262
equitable manner as follows: 263
1. Teachers shall be elected by teachers. 264
2. Education support employees shall be elected by 265
education support employees. 266
3. Students shall be elected by students. 267
4. Parents shall be elected by parents. 268
269
The district school board shall establish procedures to be 270
used by schools in selecting business and community members 271
which include means of ensuring wide notice of vacancies and of 272
taking input on possible members from local business, chambers 273
of commerce, community and civic organizations and groups, and 274
the public at large. The district school board shall review the 275

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membership composition of each advisory council. If the district 276
school board determines that the membership elected by the 277
school is not representative of the ethnic, racial, and economic 278
community served by the school, the district school board must 279
appoint additional members to achieve proper representation. 280
Although schools are strongly encouraged to establish school 281
advisory councils, the district school board of any school 282
district that has a student population of 10,000 or less may 283
establish a district advisory council which includes at least 284
one duly elected teacher from each school in the district. For 285
the purposes of school advisory councils and district advisory 286
councils, the term "teacher" includes classroom teachers, 287
certified student services personnel, and media specialists. For 288
purposes of this paragraph, the term "education support 289
employee" means any person employed by a school who is not 290
defined as instructional or administrative personnel pursuant to 291
s. 1012.01 and whose duties require 20 or more hours in each 292
normal working week. 293
Section 4. Paragraphs (d) and (i) of subsection (3) of 294
section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 295
1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public 296
school students must receive accurate and timely information 297
regarding their child's academic progress and must be informed 298
of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12 299
students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory 300

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rights including, but not limited to, the following: 301
(3) HEALTH ISSUES.— 302
(d) Reproductive health and disease education.—A public 303
school student whose parent makes written request to the school 304
principal shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive 305
health, including instruction in human embryologic and fetal 306
development under s. 1003.42(2)(o)6., or any disease, including 307
HIV/AIDS, in accordance with s. 1003.42(5). 308
1. Each school district must shall, on the district's 309
website homepage, notify parents of this right and the process 310
to request an exemption. The homepage must include a link for a 311
student's parent to access and review the instructional 312
materials, as defined in s. 1006.29(2), used to teach the 313
curriculum. 314
2. Each school district shall annually review and confirm 315
that the information provided on the district's website homepage 316
under subparagraph 1. is accurate and up to date and shall 317
notify parents by physical or electronic means any time 318
revisions are made to such information. 319
(i) Epinephrine use and supply.— 320
1. A student who has experienced or is at risk for life-321
threatening allergic reactions may carry a United States Food 322
and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved an epinephrine delivery 323
device auto-injector and self-administer epinephrine by use of 324
the device auto-injector while in school, participating in 325

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school-sponsored activities, or in transit to or from school or 326
school-sponsored activities if the school has been provided with 327
parental and physician authorization. The State Board of 328
Education, in cooperation with the Department of Health, shall 329
adopt rules for such use of FDA-approved epinephrine delivery 330
devices auto-injectors that shall include provisions to protect 331
the safety of all students from the misuse or abuse of FDA-332
approved delivery devices auto-injectors. A school district, 333
county health department, public-private partner, and their 334
employees and volunteers shall be indemnified by the parent of a 335
student authorized to carry an FDA-approved epinephrine delivery 336
device auto-injector for any and all liability with respect to 337
the student's use of an FDA-approve epinephrine delivery device 338
auto-injector pursuant to this paragraph. 339
2. A public school may purchase a supply of FDA-approved 340
epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors from a wholesale 341
distributor as defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an 342
arrangement with a wholesale distributor or manufacturer as 343
defined in s. 499.003 for the FDA-approved epinephrine delivery 344
devices auto-injectors at fair-market, free, or reduced prices 345
for use in the event a student has an anaphylactic reaction. The 346
FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors must be 347
maintained in a secure location on the public school's premises. 348
The participating school district shall adopt a protocol 349
developed by a licensed physician for the administration by 350

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school personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic 351
reaction and to administer an FDA-approved epinephrine delivery 352
device auto-injection. The supply of FDA-approved epinephrine 353
delivery devices auto-injectors may be provided to and used by a 354
student authorized to self-administer epinephrine by such device 355
auto-injector under subparagraph 1. or trained school personnel. 356
3. The school district and its employees, agents, and the 357
physician who provides the standing protocol for school FDA-358
approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors are not 359
liable for any injury arising from the use of an FDA-approved 360
epinephrine delivery device auto-injector administered by 361
trained school personnel who follow the adopted protocol and 362
whose professional opinion is that the student is having an 363
anaphylactic reaction: 364
a. Unless the trained school personnel's action is willful 365
and wanton; 366
b. Notwithstanding that the parents or guardians of the 367
student to whom the epinephrine is administered have not been 368
provided notice or have not signed a statement acknowledging 369
that the school district is not liable; and 370
c. Regardless of whether authorization has been given by 371
the student's parents or guardians or by the student's 372
physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered 373
nurse. 374
Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1002.32, Florida 375

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Statutes, is amended to read: 376
1002.32 Developmental research (laboratory) schools.— 377
(4) STUDENT ADMISSIONS.—Each lab school may establish a 378
primary research objective related to fundamental issues and 379
problems that occur in the public elementary and secondary 380
schools of the state. Admissions criteria should reflect an 381
emphasis on student merit and achievement with no regard to 382
race, sex, creed, color, or national origin. Lab schools may not 383
use racial or sex set-asides, preferences, or quotas in their 384
admissions process. A student population reflective of the 385
student population of the public school environment in which the 386
issues and problems are most prevalent shall be promoted and 387
encouraged through the establishment and implementation of an 388
admission process that is designed to result in a representative 389
sample of public school enrollment based on gender, race, 390
socioeconomic status, and academic ability, notwithstanding the 391
provisions of s. 1000.05. 392
Section 6. Paragraph (e) of subsection (10) of section 393
1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 394
1002.33 Charter schools.— 395
(10) ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.— 396
(e) A charter school may limit the enrollment process only 397
to target the following student populations: 398
1. Students within specific age groups or grade levels. 399
2. Students considered at risk of dropping out of school 400

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or academic failure. Such students shall include exceptional 401
education students. 402
3. Students enrolling in a charter school-in-the-workplace 403
or charter school-in-a-municipality established pursuant to 404
subsection (15). 405
4. Students residing within a reasonable distance of the 406
charter school, as described in paragraph (20)(c). Such students 407
shall be subject to a random lottery and to the racial/ethnic 408
balance provisions described in subparagraph (7)(a)8. or any 409
federal provisions that require a school to achieve a 410
racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or 411
within the racial/ethnic range of other nearby public schools. 412
5. Students who meet reasonable academic, artistic, or 413
other eligibility standards established by the charter school 414
and included in the charter school application and charter or, 415
in the case of existing charter schools, standards that are 416
consistent with the school's mission and purpose. Such standards 417
shall be in accordance with current state law and practice in 418
public schools and may not discriminate against otherwise 419
qualified individuals. A school that limits enrollment for such 420
purposes must place a student on a progress monitoring plan for 421
at least one semester before dismissing such student from the 422
school. A student may not be dismissed based on academic 423
performance while a school is implementing a school improvement 424
plan pursuant to paragraph (9)(n) or corrective action plan 425

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pursuant to s. 1002.345. 426
6. Students articulating from one charter school to 427
another pursuant to an articulation agreement between the 428
charter schools that has been approved by the sponsor. 429
7. Students living in a development, or students whose 430
parent or legal guardian maintains a physical or permanent 431
employment presence within the development, in which a 432
developer, including any affiliated business entity or 433
charitable foundation, contributes to the formation, 434
acquisition, construction, or operation of one or more charter 435
schools or charter school facilities and related property in an 436
amount equal to or having a total appraised value of at least $5 437
million to be used as charter schools to mitigate the 438
educational impact created by the development of new residential 439
dwelling units. Students living in the development are entitled 440
to 50 percent of the student stations in the charter schools. 441
The students who are eligible for enrollment are subject to a 442
random lottery, the racial/ethnic balance provisions, or any 443
federal provisions, as described in subparagraph 4. The 444
remainder of the student stations must be filled in accordance 445
with subparagraph 4. 446
8. Students whose parent or legal guardian is employed 447
within a reasonable distance of the charter school, as described 448
in paragraph (20)(c). The students who are eligible for 449
enrollment are subject to a random lottery. 450

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Section 7. Subsections (17) and (19) of section 1002.42, 451
Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 452
1002.42 Private schools.— 453
(17) EPINEPHRINE SUPPLY.— 454
(a) A private school may purchase a supply of United 455
States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved epinephrine 456
delivery devices auto-injectors from a wholesale distributor as 457
defined in s. 499.003 or may enter into an arrangement with a 458
wholesale distributor or manufacturer as defined in s. 499.003 459
for the FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors 460
at fair-market, free, or reduced prices for use in the event a 461
student has an anaphylactic reaction. The FDA-approved 462
epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors must be maintained 463
in a secure location on the private school's premises. The 464
participating private school shall adopt a protocol developed by 465
a licensed physician for the administration by private school 466
personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic reaction 467
and to administer an FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices 468
auto-injection. The supply of FDA-approved epinephrine delivery 469
devices auto-injectors may be provided to and used by a student 470
authorized to self-administer epinephrine by an FDA-approved 471
delivery device auto-injector under s. 1002.20(3)(i) or trained 472
school personnel. 473
(b) The private school and its employees, agents, and the 474
physician who provides the standing protocol for school FDA-475

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approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors are not 476
liable for any injury arising from the use of an FDA-approved 477
epinephrine delivery device auto-injector administered by 478
trained school personnel who follow the adopted protocol and 479
whose professional opinion is that the student is having an 480
anaphylactic reaction: 481
1. Unless the trained school personnel's action is willful 482
and wanton; 483
2. Notwithstanding that the parents or guardians of the 484
student to whom the epinephrine is administered have not been 485
provided notice or have not signed a statement acknowledging 486
that the school district is not liable; and 487
3. Regardless of whether authorization has been given by 488
the student's parents or guardians or by the student's 489
physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered 490
nurse. 491
(19) FACILITIES AND LAND USE.— 492
(a) A private school may use facilities on property owned 493
or leased by a library, community service organization, museum, 494
performing arts venue, theater, cinema, or church facility under 495
s. 170.201, which is or was actively used as such within 5 years 496
of any executed agreement with a private school to use the 497
facilities; any facility or land owned by a Florida College 498
System institution or university; any similar public 499
institutional facilities; and any facility recently used to 500

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house a school or child care facility licensed under s. 402.305, 501
under any such facility's preexisting zoning and land use 502
designations without rezoning or obtaining a special exception 503
or a land use change, and without complying with any mitigation 504
requirements or conditions. The facility must be located on 505
property used solely for purposes described in this paragraph, 506
and must meet applicable state and local health, safety, and 507
welfare laws, codes, and rules, including firesafety and 508
building safety. 509
(b) A private school may use facilities on property 510
purchased from a library, community service organization, 511
museum, performing arts venue, theater, cinema, or church 512
facility under s. 170.201, which is actively or was actively 513
used as such within 5 years of any executed agreement with a 514
private school to purchase the facilities; any facility or land 515
owned by a Florida College System institution or university; any 516
similar public institutional facilities; and any facility 517
recently used to house a school or child care facility licensed 518
under s. 402.305, under any such facility's preexisting zoning 519
and land use designations without obtaining a special exception, 520
rezoning, or a land use change, and without complying with any 521
mitigation requirements or conditions. The facility must be 522
located on property used solely for purposes described in this 523
paragraph, and must meet applicable state and local health, 524
safety, and welfare laws, codes, and rules, including firesafety 525

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and building safety. 526
(c) A private school located in a county with four 527
incorporated municipalities may construct new facilities, which 528
may be temporary or permanent, on property purchased from or 529
owned or leased by a library, community service organization, 530
museum, performing arts venue, theater, cinema, or church under 531
s. 170.201, which is or was actively used as such within 5 years 532
of any executed agreement with a private school; any land owned 533
by a Florida College System institution or state university; and 534
any land recently used to house a school or child care facility 535
licensed under s. 402.305, under its preexisting zoning and land 536
use designations without rezoning or obtaining a special 537
exception or a land use change, and without complying with any 538
mitigation requirements or conditions. Any new facility must be 539
located on property used solely for purposes described in this 540
paragraph, and must meet applicable state and local health, 541
safety, and welfare laws, codes, and rules, including firesafety 542
and building safety. 543
(d) A private school enrolling 150 or fewer students shall 544
be considered a permitted use in a commercial or mixed-use 545
zoning district within a county or municipality without rezoning 546
or obtaining a special exception or a land use change, and 547
without complying with any mitigation requirements, conditions, 548
performance standards, ordinances, rules, codes, or policies. 549
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a private 550

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school enrolling 150 or fewer students may operate in a facility 551
that is an existing assembly, day care, mercantile, or business 552
occupancy, as defined in the Florida Fire Prevention Code. A 553
private school operating in such a facility must meet the 554
standards for existing educational occupancy requirements under 555
the Florida Fire Prevention Code, adopted by the State Fire 556
Marshal. Completion of the fire safety evaluation system for 557
educational occupancies in NFPA 101A: Guide on Alternative 558
Approaches to Life Safety, adopted by the State Fire Marshal, by 559
a registered design professional licensed under chapter 471 or 560
chapter 481, with a determination of achieving at a minimum an 561
"at least equivalent" conclusion, shall be considered evidence 562
of compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code. The State 563
Fire Marshal may adopt rules to implement this paragraph. 564
Section 8. Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) of section 565
1002.421, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 566
1002.421 State school choice scholarship program 567
accountability and oversight.— 568
(1) PRIVATE SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY AND OBLIGATIONS.—A private 569
school participating in an educational scholarship program 570
established pursuant to this chapter must be a private school as 571
defined in s. 1002.01 in this state, be registered, and be in 572
compliance with all requirements of this section in addition to 573
private school requirements outlined in s. 1002.42, specific 574
requirements identified within respective scholarship program 575

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laws, and other provisions of Florida law that apply to private 576
schools, and must: 577
(i) Maintain a physical location in the state at which 578
each student has regular and direct contact with teachers. 579
Regular and direct contact with teachers may be satisfied for 580
students enrolled in a personalized education program or for 581
students eligible for a scholarship under s. 1002.394(3)(b) if 582
students have regular and direct contact with teachers at the 583
physical location at least 2 school days per week and the 584
student learning plan addresses the remaining instructional 585
time. 586
587
The department shall suspend the payment of funds to a private 588
school that knowingly fails to comply with this subsection, and 589
shall prohibit the school from enrolling new scholarship 590
students, for 1 fiscal year and until the school complies. If a 591
private school fails to meet the requirements of this subsection 592
or has consecutive years of material exceptions listed in the 593
report required under paragraph (q), the commissioner may 594
determine that the private school is ineligible to participate 595
in a scholarship program. 596
Section 9. Subsection (6) of section 1002.55, Florida 597
Statutes, is amended to read: 598
1002.55 School-year prekindergarten program delivered by 599
private prekindergarten providers.— 600

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(6) Each early learning coalition must verify that each 601
private prekindergarten provider delivering the Voluntary 602
Prekindergarten Education Program within the coalition's county 603
or multicounty region complies with this part. If a private 604
prekindergarten provider fails or refuses to comply with this 605
part or engages in misconduct, the department shall require the 606
early learning coalition to remove the provider from eligibility 607
to deliver the program and receive state funds under this part 608
for a period of at least 2 program years but no more than 5 609
years. 610
Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (10) of section 611
1002.61, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 612
1002.61 Summer prekindergarten program delivered by public 613
schools and private prekindergarten providers.— 614
(10) 615
(b) If a private prekindergarten provider or public school 616
fails or refuses to comply with this part or engages in 617
misconduct, the department shall require the early learning 618
coalition to remove the provider and require the school district 619
to remove the school from eligibility to deliver the Voluntary 620
Prekindergarten Education Program and receive state funds under 621
this part for a period of at least 2 program years but no more 622
than 5 years. 623
Section 11. Paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section 624
1002.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 625

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1002.63 School-year prekindergarten program delivered by 626
public schools.— 627
(9) 628
(b) If a public school fails or refuses to comply with 629
this part or engages in misconduct, the department shall require 630
the school district to remove the school from eligibility to 631
deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and 632
receive state funds under this part for a period of at least 2 633
program years but no more than 5 years. 634
Section 12. Subsections (4) through (7) of section 635
1002.68, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (3) 636
through (6), respectively, and subsection (3), paragraph (e) of 637
present subsection (4), present subsection (5), and paragraph 638
(e) of present subsection (6) are amended, to read: 639
1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program 640
accountability.— 641
(3)(a) For the 2020-2021 program year, the department 642
shall calculate a kindergarten readiness rate for each private 643
prekindergarten provider and public school participating in the 644
Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program based upon learning 645
gains and the percentage of students assessed as ready for 646
kindergarten. The department shall require that each school 647
district administer the statewide kindergarten screening in use 648
before the 2021-2022 school year to each kindergarten student in 649
the school district within the first 30 school days of the 2021-650

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2022 school year. Private schools may administer the statewide 651
kindergarten screening to each kindergarten student in a private 652
school who was enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten 653
Education Program. Learning gains shall be determined using a 654
value-added measure based on growth demonstrated by the results 655
of the preassessment and postassessment in use before the 2021-656
2022 program year. However, a provider may not be newly placed 657
on probationary status under this paragraph. A provider 658
currently on probationary status may only be removed from such 659
status if the provider earns the minimum rate, determined 660
pursuant to subsection (5). The methodology for calculating a 661
provider's readiness rate may not include students who are not 662
administered the statewide kindergarten screening. 663
(b) For the 2021-2022 program year, kindergarten screening 664
results may not be used in the calculation of readiness rates. 665
Any private prekindergarten provider or public school 666
participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program 667
which fails to meet the minimum kindergarten readiness rate for 668
the 2021-2022 program year is subject to the probation 669
requirements of subsection (5). 670
(3)(4) 671
(e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall 672
provide for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten 673
provider and public school based on the provider's designation. 674
The maximum differential payment may not exceed a total of 15 675

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percent of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent 676
student under s. 1002.71 attending in the consecutive program 677
year for that program. A private prekindergarten provider or 678
public school may not receive a differential payment if it 679
receives a designation of "proficient" or lower. Before the 680
adoption of the methodology, the department shall confer with 681
the Council for Early Grade Success under s. 1008.2125 before 682
receiving approval from the State Board of Education for the 683
final recommendations on the designation system and differential 684
payments. 685
(4)(a)(5)(a) If a public school's or private 686
prekindergarten provider's program assessment composite score 687
for its prekindergarten classrooms fails to meet the minimum 688
program assessment composite score for contracting adopted in 689
rule by the department, the private prekindergarten provider or 690
public school may not participate in the Voluntary 691
Prekindergarten Education Program beginning in the consecutive 692
program year for a period of 2 program years and thereafter 693
until the public school or private prekindergarten provider 694
meets the minimum composite score for contracting. A public 695
school or private prekindergarten provider may request one 696
program assessment per program year in order to requalify for 697
participation in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education 698
Program, provided that the public school or private 699
prekindergarten provider is not excluded from participation 700

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under ss. 1002.55(6), 1002.61(10)(b), 1002.63(9)(b), or 701
paragraph (b) (5)(b) of this section. If a public school or 702
private prekindergarten provider would like an additional 703
program assessment completed within the same program year, the 704
public school or private prekindergarten provider shall be 705
responsible for the cost of the program assessment. 706
(b) If a private prekindergarten provider's or public 707
school's performance metric or designation falls below the 708
minimum performance metric or designation, the early learning 709
coalition shall: 710
1. Require the provider or school to submit for approval 711
to the early learning coalition an improvement plan and 712
implement the plan. 713
2. Place the provider or school on probation. 714
3. Require the provider or school to take certain 715
corrective actions, including the use of a curriculum approved 716
by the department under s. 1002.67(2)(c) and a staff development 717
plan approved by the department to strengthen instructional 718
practices in emotional support, classroom organization, 719
instructional support, language development, phonological 720
awareness, alphabet knowledge, and mathematical thinking. 721
(c) A private prekindergarten provider or public school 722
that is placed on probation must continue the corrective actions 723
required under paragraph (b) until the provider or school meets 724
the minimum performance metric or designation adopted by the 725

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department. Failure to meet the requirements of subparagraphs 726
(b)1. and 3. shall result in the termination of the provider's 727
or school's contract to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten 728
Education Program for a period of at least 2 program years but 729
no more than 5 years. 730
(d) If a private prekindergarten provider or public school 731
remains on probation for 2 consecutive years and fails to meet 732
the minimum performance metric or designation, or is not granted 733
a good cause exemption by the department, the department shall 734
require the early learning coalition to revoke the provider's 735
eligibility and the school district to revoke the school's 736
eligibility to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education 737
Program and receive state funds for the program for a period of 738
at least 2 program years but no more than 5 years. 739
(5)(6) 740
(e) A private prekindergarten provider or public school 741
granted a good cause exemption shall continue to implement its 742
improvement plan and continue the corrective actions required 743
under paragraph (4)(b) (5)(b) until the provider or school meets 744
the minimum performance metric. 745
Section 13. Paragraph (m) of subsection (2) of section 746
1002.82, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 747
1002.82 Department of Education; powers and duties.— 748
(2) The department shall: 749
(m) Provide technical support to an early learning 750

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coalition to facilitate the use of a standard statewide provider 751
contract adopted by the department to be used with each school 752
readiness program provider, with standardized attachments by 753
provider type. The department shall publish a copy of the 754
standard statewide provider contract on its website. The 755
standard statewide contract shall include, at a minimum, 756
contracted slots, if applicable, in accordance with the Child 757
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, 45 C.F.R. parts 98 758
and 99; quality improvement strategies, if applicable; program 759
assessment requirements; and provisions for provider probation, 760
termination for cause, and emergency termination for those 761
actions or inactions of a provider that pose an immediate and 762
serious danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the 763
children. The standard statewide provider contract shall also 764
include appropriate due process procedures. During the pendency 765
of an appeal of a termination, the provider may not continue to 766
offer its services. Any provision imposed upon a provider that 767
is inconsistent with, or prohibited by, law is void and 768
unenforceable. Provisions for termination for cause must also 769
include failure to meet the minimum quality measures established 770
under paragraph (n) for a period of 2 up to 5 years, unless the 771
coalition determines that the provider is essential to meeting 772
capacity needs based on the assessment under s. 1002.85(2)(i) 773
and the provider has an active improvement plan pursuant to 774
paragraph (n). 775

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Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 776
1002.88, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 777
1002.88 School readiness program provider standards; 778
eligibility to deliver the school readiness program.— 779
(2)(a) If a school readiness program provider fails or 780
refuses to comply with this part or any contractual obligation 781
of the statewide provider contract under s. 1002.82(2)(m), the 782
coalition may revoke the provider's eligibility to deliver the 783
school readiness program or receive state or federal funds under 784
this chapter for a period of 2 5 years. 785
Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 1002.91, Florida 786
Statutes, is amended to read: 787
1002.91 Investigations of fraud or overpayment; 788
penalties.— 789
(5) If a school readiness program provider or a Voluntary 790
Prekindergarten Education Program provider, or an owner, 791
officer, or director thereof, is convicted of, found guilty of, 792
or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of 793
adjudication, public assistance fraud pursuant to s. 414.39, or 794
is acting as the beneficial owner for someone who has been 795
convicted of, found guilty of, or pleads guilty or nolo 796
contendere to, regardless of adjudication, public assistance 797
fraud pursuant to s. 414.39, the early learning coalition shall 798
refrain from contracting with, or using the services of, that 799
provider for a period of 2 fiscal 5 years. In addition, the 800

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coalition shall refrain from contracting with, or using the 801
services of, any provider that shares an officer or director 802
with a provider that is convicted of, found guilty of, or pleads 803
guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, public 804
assistance fraud pursuant to s. 414.39 for a period of 2 5 805
years. 806
Section 16. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraphs 807
(a) and (d) of subsection (4) of section 1002.945, Florida 808
Statutes, are amended to read: 809
1002.945 Gold Seal Quality Care Program.— 810
(3) 811
(b) The Department of Education shall establish a process 812
that verifies that the accrediting association meets the 813
provisions of paragraph (a), which must include an auditing 814
program and any other procedures that may reasonably determine 815
an accrediting association's compliance with this section. If an 816
accrediting association is not in compliance and fails to cure 817
its deficiencies within 30 days, the department shall recommend 818
to the state board termination of the accrediting association's 819
participation as an accrediting association in the program for a 820
period of at least 2 years but no more than 5 years. If an 821
accrediting association is removed from being an approved 822
accrediting association, each child care provider accredited by 823
that association shall have up to 1 year to obtain a new 824
accreditation from a department-approved accreditation 825

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association. 826
(4) In order to obtain and maintain a designation as a 827
Gold Seal Quality Care provider, a child care facility, large 828
family child care home, or family day care home must meet the 829
following additional criteria: 830
(a) The child care provider must not have had any class I 831
violations, as defined by rule of the Department of Children and 832
Families, for which the Department of Children and Families 833
determines that the child care provider is the primary cause of 834
the violation within the 2 years preceding its application for 835
designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider. Commission of 836
a class I violation for which the Department of Children and 837
Families determines that the child care provider is the primary 838
cause of the violation shall be grounds for termination of the 839
designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider until the 840
provider has no class I violations for a period of 2 years. 841
(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of 842
Education determines through a formal process that a provider 843
has been in business for at least 5 years and has no other class 844
I violations recorded, the department may recommend to the state 845
board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care 846
status. The state board's determination regarding such 847
provider's status is final. 848
Section 17. Subsection (2) of section 1003.25, Florida 849
Statutes, is amended to read: 850

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1003.25 Procedures for maintenance and transfer of student 851
records.— 852
(2) The procedure for transferring and maintaining records 853
of students who transfer from school to school is prescribed by 854
rules of the State Board of Education. The transfer of records 855
must occur within 5 school days. The records must include, if 856
applicable: 857
(a) Verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior 858
patterns, including any threat assessment report, all 859
corresponding documentation, and any other information required 860
by the Florida-specific behavioral threat assessment instrument 861
pursuant to s. 1001.212(11) which contains the evaluation, 862
intervention, and management of the threat assessment 863
evaluations and intervention services. Upon enrollment of the 864
student, the school resource officer shall be notified and 865
provided access to such records upon request. 866
(b) Psychological evaluations, including therapeutic 867
treatment plans and therapy or progress notes created or 868
maintained by school district or charter school staff, as 869
appropriate. 870
Section 18. Subsection (6) is added to section 1003.26, 871
Florida Statutes, to read: 872
1003.26 Enforcement of school attendance.—The Legislature 873
finds that poor academic performance is associated with 874
nonattendance and that school districts must take an active role 875

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in promoting and enforcing attendance as a means of improving 876
student performance. It is the policy of the state that each 877
district school superintendent be responsible for enforcing 878
school attendance of all students subject to the compulsory 879
school age in the school district and supporting enforcement of 880
school attendance by local law enforcement agencies. The 881
responsibility includes recommending policies and procedures to 882
the district school board that require public schools to respond 883
in a timely manner to every unexcused absence, and every absence 884
for which the reason is unknown, of students enrolled in the 885
schools. District school board policies shall require the parent 886
of a student to justify each absence of the student, and that 887
justification will be evaluated based on adopted district school 888
board policies that define excused and unexcused absences. The 889
policies must provide that public schools track excused and 890
unexcused absences and contact the home in the case of an 891
unexcused absence from school, or an absence from school for 892
which the reason is unknown, to prevent the development of 893
patterns of nonattendance. The Legislature finds that early 894
intervention in school attendance is the most effective way of 895
producing good attendance habits that will lead to improved 896
student learning and achievement. Each public school is required 897
to implement the following steps to promote and enforce regular 898
school attendance: 899
(6) Nothing in this subsection prohibits a school district 900

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from addressing patterns of nonattendance earlier than 901
prescribed in this section. 902
Section 19. Paragraph (o) of subsection (2) and subsection 903
(5) of section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, are amended, and 904
paragraph (w) is added to subsection (2) of that section, to 905
read: 906
1003.42 Required instruction.— 907
(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public 908
schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education 909
and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and 910
faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the 911
highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy, 912
following the prescribed courses of study, and employing 913
approved methods of instruction, the following: 914
(o) Comprehensive age-appropriate and developmentally 915
appropriate K-12 instruction on: 916
1. Health education that addresses concepts of community 917
health, consumer health, environmental health, and family life, 918
including: 919
a. Injury prevention and safety. 920
b. Internet safety. 921
c. Nutrition. 922
d. Personal health. 923
e. Prevention and control of disease. 924
f. Substance use and abuse. 925

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g. Prevention of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and 926
human trafficking. 927
h. Human embryologic and fetal development. 928
2. For students in grades 7 through 12, teen dating 929
violence and abuse. This component must include, but not be 930
limited to, the definition of dating violence and abuse, the 931
warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior, the 932
characteristics of healthy relationships, measures to prevent 933
and stop dating violence and abuse, and community resources 934
available to victims of dating violence and abuse. 935
3. For students in grades 6 through 12, awareness of the 936
benefits of sexual abstinence as the expected standard and the 937
consequences of teenage pregnancy. 938
4. Life skills that build confidence, support mental and 939
emotional health, and enable students to overcome challenges, 940
including: 941
a. Self-awareness and self-management. 942
b. Responsible decisionmaking. 943
c. Resiliency. 944
d. Relationship skills and conflict resolution. 945
e. Understanding and respecting other viewpoints and 946
backgrounds. 947
f. For grades 9 through 12, developing leadership skills, 948
interpersonal skills, organization skills, and research skills; 949
creating a résumé, including a digital résumé; exploring career 950

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pathways; using state career planning resources; developing and 951
practicing the skills necessary for employment interviews; 952
workplace ethics and workplace law; managing stress and 953
expectations; and self-motivation. 954
5.a. For students in grades 6 through 12, the social, 955
emotional, and physical effects of social media. This component 956
must include, but need not be limited to, the negative effects 957
of social media on mental health, including addiction; the 958
distribution of misinformation on social media; how social media 959
manipulates behavior; the permanency of sharing materials 960
online; how to maintain personal security and identify 961
cyberbullying, predatory behavior, and human trafficking on the 962
Internet; and how to report suspicious behavior encountered on 963
the Internet. 964
b. The Department of Education shall make available online 965
the instructional material being used pursuant to this 966
subparagraph, and each district school board shall notify 967
parents of its availability. 968
6.a. For students in grades 6 through 12, health education 969
addressing human embryologic and fetal development must include 970
all of the following: 971
(I) A high-definition, medically accurate ultrasound 972
video, at least 1 minute in duration, showing the development of 973
the heart and other organs and movement of the limbs and head. 974
(II) A high-quality, medically accurate, computer-975

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generated rendering, animation, video, or other multimedia, at 976
least 3 minutes in duration, showing and describing the process 977
of fertilization and various stages of human development inside 978
the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ 979
development by week from conception until birth. 980
b. The State Board of Education may adopt rules to 981
implement this subparagraph. 982
983
Health education and life skills instruction and materials may 984
not contradict the principles enumerated in subsection (3). 985
(w)1. For students in grades 2 through 5, the study of 986
cursive writing and the development of the skills necessary for 987
legible cursive writing, including: 988
a. Letter formation. 989
b. Proper spacing and alignment. 990
c. Practice in writing complete words and sentences in 991
cursive. 992
2. By the end of grade 5, each student must demonstrate 993
proficiency in cursive writing through an evaluation of written 994
work. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term "proficiency 995
in cursive writing" means all of the following: 996
a. The ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters of 997
the alphabet in cursive writing. 998
b. Writing words and sentences in cursive legibly and 999
maintaining proper spacing and alignment. 1000

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c. The ability to read and apply cursive writing in a 1001
manner that supports literacy development, including writing 1002
essays and assignments in cursive writing in accordance with 1003
state academic standards. 1004
1005
The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards 1006
and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection. 1007
Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the 1008
recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is 1009
offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or 1010
other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness 1011
initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u). 1012
(5) Each school shall provide a notification to parents 1013
relating to a parent's right to make a Any student whose parent 1014
makes written request to the school principal for his or her 1015
student to shall be exempted from the teaching of reproductive 1016
health or any disease, including HIV/AIDS, its symptoms, 1017
development, and treatment or the teaching of human embryologic 1018
and fetal development under subparagraph (o)6. A student so 1019
exempted may not be penalized by reason of that exemption. 1020
Course descriptions for comprehensive health education may shall 1021
not interfere with the local determination of appropriate 1022
curriculum which reflects local values and concerns. Each school 1023
district shall, on the district's website homepage, notify 1024
parents of this right and the process to request an exemption. 1025

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The home page must include a link for a student's parent to 1026
access and review the instructional materials, as defined in s. 1027
1006.29(2), used to teach the curriculum. 1028
Section 20. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 1029
1003.4201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1030
1003.4201 Comprehensive system of reading instruction.—1031
Each school district must implement a system of comprehensive 1032
reading instruction for students enrolled in prekindergarten 1033
through grade 12 and certain students who exhibit a substantial 1034
deficiency in early literacy. 1035
(2)(a) Components of the reading instruction plan may 1036
include the following: 1037
1. Additional time per day of evidence-based intensive 1038
reading instruction for kindergarten through grade 12 students, 1039
which may be delivered during or outside of the regular school 1040
day. 1041
2. A description of how highly qualified reading coaches, 1042
who must be endorsed in reading, will be deployed to 1043
specifically support classroom teachers in making instructional 1044
decisions based on progress monitoring data collected pursuant 1045
to s. 1008.25(9) and improve classroom teacher delivery of 1046
effective reading instruction, reading intervention, and reading 1047
in the content areas based on student need. 1048
3. Professional learning to help instructional personnel 1049
and certified prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida 1050

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Education Finance Program earn a certification, a credential, an 1051
endorsement, or an advanced degree in scientifically researched 1052
and evidence-based reading instruction. 1053
4. Summer reading camps, using only classroom teachers or 1054
other district personnel who possess a micro-credential as 1055
specified in s. 1003.485 or are certified or endorsed in reading 1056
consistent with s. 1008.25(8)(b)3., for all students in 1057
kindergarten through grade 5 exhibiting a reading deficiency as 1058
determined by district and state assessments. 1059
5. Intensive reading interventions, which must be 1060
delivered by instructional personnel who possess a micro-1061
credential as defined in s. 1003.485(1) or are certified or 1062
endorsed in reading as provided in s. 1012.586 and must 1063
incorporate evidence-based strategies identified by the Just 1064
Read, Florida! office pursuant to s. 1001.215(7). Instructional 1065
personnel who possess a micro-credential as defined in s. 1066
1003.485(1) and are delivering intensive reading interventions 1067
must be supervised by an individual certified or endorsed in 1068
reading. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term 1069
"supervised" means that instructional personnel with a micro-1070
credential are able, through telecommunication or in person, to 1071
communicate and consult with, and receive direction from, 1072
certified or endorsed personnel. Incentives for instructional 1073
personnel and certified prekindergarten teachers funded in the 1074
Florida Education Finance Program who possess a reading 1075

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certification or endorsement as specified in s. 1012.586 or 1076
micro-credential as specified in s. 1003.485 and provide 1077
educational support to improve student literacy. 1078
6. Tutoring in reading. 1079
7. A description of how the district prioritizes the 1080
assignment of highly effective teachers, as identified in s. 1081
1012.34(2)(e), from kindergarten to grade 2. 1082
8. Providing resources that support informed parent 1083
involvement in decisionmaking processes for students who have 1084
difficulty in reading and for parents of students who are 1085
reading below grade level, information about the students' 1086
eligibility for the New Worlds Reading Initiative under s. 1087
1003.485. 1088
Section 21. Section 1003.4202, Florida Statutes, is 1089
created to read: 1090
1003.4202 Comprehensive system of mathematics 1091
instruction.—Each school district must implement a system of 1092
comprehensive mathematics instruction for students enrolled in 1093
prekindergarten through grade 12 and certain students who 1094
exhibit a substantial deficiency in early mathematics skills 1095
under s. 1008.25(6). 1096
(1) Each school district must develop, and submit to the 1097
district school board for approval, a detailed mathematics 1098
instruction plan that outlines the components of the district's 1099
comprehensive system of mathematics instruction. The plan must 1100

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include all district schools, including charter schools, unless 1101
a charter school elects to submit a plan independently from the 1102
school district. A charter school plan must comply with all of 1103
the provisions of this section and must be approved by the 1104
charter school's governing body and provided to the charter 1105
school's sponsor. 1106
(2) Components of the mathematics instruction plan may 1107
include the following: 1108
(a) Additional time per day of evidence-based intensive 1109
mathematics instruction for kindergarten through grade 12 1110
students, which may be delivered during or outside of the 1111
regular school day. 1112
(b) Employing highly qualified mathematics coaches to 1113
specifically support classroom teachers in making instructional 1114
decisions based on progress monitoring data collected pursuant 1115
to s. 1008.25(9) and improve classroom teacher delivery of 1116
effective mathematics instruction and mathematics intervention. 1117
The coaches must: 1118
1. Hold either a grades 5 through 9 mathematics 1119
certification or a grades 6 through 12 mathematics certification 1120
that aligns with the certification requirements for the courses 1121
of the teachers they support. 1122
2. Have earned a highly effective rating on the 3 prior 1123
years' performance evaluation under s. 1012.34. 1124
(c) Tutoring in mathematics. 1125

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(3) Each school district shall submit its approved 1126
mathematics instruction plan, including approved mathematics 1127
instruction plans for each charter school in the district, to 1128
the school board and, if applicable, any charter school 1129
governing board by August 1 of each fiscal year. 1130
(4) For purposes of this section, the term "evidence-1131
based" means demonstrating a statistically significant effect on 1132
improving student outcomes or other relevant outcomes as 1133
provided in 20 U.S.C. s. 8101(21)(A)(i). 1134
Section 22. Subsection (2) of section 1003.4203, Florida 1135
Statutes, is amended to read: 1136
1003.4203 Digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool 1137
certificates, CAPE industry certifications, and technical 1138
assistance.— 1139
(2) CAPE DIGITAL TOOL CERTIFICATES.—The department shall 1140
identify, in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under 1141
ss. 1003.492 and 1008.44, CAPE Digital Tool certificates that 1142
indicate a student's digital skills. The department shall notify 1143
each school district when the certificates are available. The 1144
certificates shall be made available to all public elementary 1145
and middle grades students. Targeted skills to be mastered for 1146
the certificate include digital skills that are necessary to the 1147
student's academic work and skills the student may need in 1148
future employment. CAPE Digital Tool certificates earned by 1149
students are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s. 1150

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1011.62(17). Middle grade students may not earn more than two 1151
CAPE Digital Tools certificates per school year. 1152
Section 23. Subsection (1) of section 1003.46, Florida 1153
Statutes, is amended to read: 1154
1003.46 Health education; instruction in acquired immune 1155
deficiency syndrome.— 1156
(1) Each district school board may provide instruction in 1157
acquired immune deficiency syndrome education as a specific area 1158
of health education. Such instruction may include, but is not 1159
limited to, the known modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, 1160
risk factors associated with acquired immune deficiency 1161
syndrome, and means used to control the spread of acquired 1162
immune deficiency syndrome. The instruction shall be appropriate 1163
for the grade and age of the student and shall reflect current 1164
theory, knowledge, and practice regarding acquired immune 1165
deficiency syndrome and its prevention. The parent of a student 1166
may make a written request for his or her student to be exempted 1167
from such instruction. 1168
Section 24. Section 1006.12, Florida Statutes, is amended 1169
to read: 1170
1006.12 Safe-school officers at each public school.—For 1171
the protection and safety of school personnel, property, 1172
students, and visitors, each district school board and school 1173
district superintendent shall partner with law enforcement 1174
agencies or security agencies to establish or assign one or more 1175

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safe-school officers at each school facility within the 1176
district, including charter schools. A district school board 1177
must collaborate with charter school governing boards to 1178
facilitate charter school access to all safe-school officer 1179
options available under this section. Notwithstanding any local 1180
ordinance or development order, the school district or charter 1181
school may implement any combination of the options in 1182
subsections (1)-(4) to best meet the needs of the school 1183
district and charter schools. 1184
(1) SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.—A school district may 1185
establish school resource officer programs through a cooperative 1186
agreement with law enforcement agencies. 1187
(a) School resource officers shall undergo criminal 1188
background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation 1189
and be certified law enforcement officers, as defined in s. 1190
943.10(1), who are employed by a law enforcement agency as 1191
defined in s. 943.10(4). The powers and duties of a law 1192
enforcement officer shall continue throughout the employee's 1193
tenure as a school resource officer. 1194
(b) School resource officers shall abide by district 1195
school board policies and shall consult with and coordinate 1196
activities through the school principal, but shall be 1197
responsible to the law enforcement agency in all matters 1198
relating to employment, subject to agreements between a district 1199
school board and a law enforcement agency. The agreements shall 1200

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identify the entity responsible for maintaining records relating 1201
to training. Activities conducted by the school resource officer 1202
which are part of the regular instructional program of the 1203
school shall be under the direction of the school principal. 1204
(2) SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICER.—A school district may 1205
commission one or more school safety officers for the protection 1206
and safety of school personnel, property, and students within 1207
the school district. The district school superintendent may 1208
recommend, and the district school board may appoint, one or 1209
more school safety officers. 1210
(a) School safety officers shall undergo criminal 1211
background checks, drug testing, and a psychological evaluation 1212
and be law enforcement officers, as defined in s. 943.10(1), 1213
certified under chapter 943 and employed by either a law 1214
enforcement agency or by the district school board. If the 1215
officer is employed by the district school board, the district 1216
school board is the employing agency for purposes of chapter 1217
943, and must comply with that chapter. 1218
(b) A school safety officer has and shall exercise the 1219
power to make arrests for violations of law on district school 1220
board property or on property owned or leased by a charter 1221
school under a charter contract, as applicable, and to arrest 1222
persons, whether on or off such property, who violate any law on 1223
such property under the same conditions that deputy sheriffs are 1224
authorized to make arrests. A school safety officer has the 1225

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authority to carry weapons when performing his or her official 1226
duties. 1227
(c) School safety officers must complete mental health 1228
crisis intervention training using a curriculum developed by a 1229
national organization with expertise in mental health crisis 1230
intervention. The training shall improve officers' knowledge and 1231
skills as first responders to incidents involving students with 1232
emotional disturbance or mental illness, including de-escalation 1233
skills to ensure student and officer safety. 1234
(d) A district school board may enter into mutual aid 1235
agreements with one or more law enforcement agencies as provided 1236
in chapter 23. A school safety officer's salary may be paid 1237
jointly by the district school board and the law enforcement 1238
agency, as mutually agreed to. 1239
(3) SCHOOL GUARDIAN.— 1240
(a) At the school district's or the charter school 1241
governing board's discretion, as applicable, pursuant to s. 1242
30.15, a school district or charter school governing board may 1243
participate in the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach 1244
Scott Beigel Guardian Program to meet the requirement of 1245
establishing a safe-school officer. The following individuals 1246
may serve as a school guardian, in support of school-sanctioned 1247
activities for purposes of s. 790.115, upon satisfactory 1248
completion of the requirements under s. 30.15(1)(k) and 1249
certification by a sheriff: 1250

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1. A school district employee or personnel, as defined 1251
under s. 1012.01, or a charter school employee, as provided 1252
under s. 1002.33(12)(a), who volunteers to serve as a school 1253
guardian in addition to his or her official job duties; or 1254
2. An employee of a school district or a charter school 1255
who is hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school 1256
guardian. 1257
(b) Before appointing an individual as a school guardian, 1258
the school district or charter school shall contact the 1259
Department of Law Enforcement and review all information 1260
maintained under s. 30.15(1)(k)3.c. related to the individual. 1261
(c) The department shall provide to the Department of Law 1262
Enforcement any information relating to a school guardian 1263
received pursuant to subsection (5). 1264
(4) SCHOOL SECURITY GUARD.—A school district or charter 1265
school governing board may contract with a security agency as 1266
defined in s. 493.6101(18) to employ as a school security guard 1267
an individual who holds a Class "D" and Class "G" license 1268
pursuant to chapter 493, provided the following training and 1269
contractual conditions are met: 1270
(a) An individual who serves as a school security guard, 1271
for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this section, 1272
must: 1273
1. Demonstrate completion of 144 hours of required 1274
training conducted by a sheriff pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2. 1275

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2. Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a 1276
psychologist licensed under chapter 490 and designated by the 1277
Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the 1278
evaluation to the sheriff's office and school district, charter 1279
school governing board, or employing security agency, as 1280
applicable. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized to 1281
provide the sheriff's office, school district, charter school 1282
governing board, or employing security agency with mental health 1283
and substance abuse data for compliance with this paragraph. 1284
3. Submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent 1285
random drug tests in accordance with the requirements of s. 1286
112.0455 and the sheriff's office, school district, charter 1287
school governing board, or employing security agency, as 1288
applicable. 1289
4. Be approved to work as a school security guard by the 1290
sheriff of each county in which the school security guard will 1291
be assigned to a school before commencing work at any school in 1292
that county. The sheriff's approval authorizes the security 1293
agency to assign the school security guard to any school in the 1294
county, and the sheriff's approval is not limited to any 1295
particular school. 1296
5. Successfully complete ongoing training, weapon 1297
inspection, and firearm qualification conducted by a sheriff 1298
pursuant to s. 30.15(1)(k)2.e. on at least an annual basis and 1299
provide documentation to the sheriff's office, school district, 1300

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charter school governing board, or employing security agency, as 1301
applicable. 1302
(b) The contract between a security agency and a school 1303
district or a charter school governing board regarding 1304
requirements applicable to school security guards serving in the 1305
capacity of a safe-school officer for purposes of satisfying the 1306
requirements of this section shall define the entity or entities 1307
responsible for maintaining records relating to training, 1308
inspection, and firearm qualification. 1309
(c) School security guards serving in the capacity of a 1310
safe-school officer pursuant to this subsection are in support 1311
of school-sanctioned activities for purposes of s. 790.115, and 1312
must aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant 1313
incidents on school premises. 1314
(d) The Office of Safe Schools shall provide the 1315
Department of Law Enforcement any information related to a 1316
school security guard that the office receives pursuant to 1317
subsection (5). 1318
(5) NOTIFICATION.—The district school superintendent or 1319
charter school administrator, or a respective designee shall 1320
notify the county sheriff and the Office of Safe Schools 1321
immediately after, but no later than 72 hours after: 1322
(a) A safe-school officer is dismissed for misconduct or 1323
is otherwise disciplined. 1324
(b) A safe-school officer discharges his or her firearm in 1325

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the exercise of the safe-school officer's duties, other than for 1326
training purposes. 1327
(6) CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING.—Each safe-school officer 1328
who is also a sworn law enforcement officer shall complete 1329
mental health crisis intervention training using a curriculum 1330
developed by a national organization with expertise in mental 1331
health crisis intervention. The training must improve the 1332
officer's knowledge and skills as a first responder to incidents 1333
involving students with emotional disturbance or mental illness, 1334
including de-escalation skills to ensure student and officer 1335
safety. 1336
(7) LIMITATIONS.—An individual must satisfy the background 1337
screening, psychological evaluation, and drug test requirements 1338
and be approved by the sheriff before participating in any 1339
training required by s. 30.15(1)(k), which may be conducted only 1340
by a sheriff. 1341
(8) EXEMPTION.—Any information that would identify whether 1342
a particular individual has been appointed as a safe-school 1343
officer pursuant to this section held by a law enforcement 1344
agency, school district, or charter school is exempt from s. 1345
119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. 1346
1347
If a district school board, through its adopted policies, 1348
procedures, or actions, denies a charter school access to any 1349
safe-school officer options pursuant to this section, the school 1350

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district must assign a school resource officer or school safety 1351
officer to the charter school. Under such circumstances, the 1352
charter school's share of the costs of the school resource 1353
officer or school safety officer may not exceed the safe school 1354
allocation funds provided to the charter school pursuant to s. 1355
1011.62(12) and shall be retained by the school district. 1356
Section 25. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section 1357
1006.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1358
1006.20 Athletics in public K-12 schools.— 1359
(6) PUBLIC LIAISON ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 1360
(a) The FHSAA shall establish, sustain, fund, and provide 1361
staff support to a public liaison advisory committee composed of 1362
the following: 1363
1. The commissioner or his or her designee. 1364
2. A member public school principal. 1365
3. A member private school principal. 1366
4. A member school principal who is a former high school 1367
athlete or high school coach member of a racial minority. 1368
5. An active athletic director. 1369
6. An active coach, who is employed full time by a member 1370
school. 1371
7. A student athlete. 1372
8. A district school superintendent. 1373
9. A district school board member. 1374
10. A member of the Florida House of Representatives. 1375

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11. A member of the Florida Senate. 1376
12. A parent of a high school student. 1377
13. A member of a home education association. 1378
14. A representative of the business community. 1379
15. A representative of the news media. 1380
Section 26. Subsection (17) of section 1006.38, Florida 1381
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (18), and a new subsection 1382
(17) is added to that section, to read: 1383
1006.38 Duties, responsibilities, and requirements of 1384
instructional materials publishers and manufacturers.—This 1385
section applies to both the state and district approval 1386
processes. Publishers and manufacturers of instructional 1387
materials, or their representatives, shall: 1388
(17) If, after state adoption, the commissioner determines 1389
that a publisher or manufacturer has violated any provision of 1390
general law relating to the content, marketing, sale, 1391
distribution, or furnishing of instructional materials, or any 1392
requirement of this part, the department shall provide written 1393
notice identifying the alleged violation. 1394
(a) The publisher of noncompliant materials shall have at 1395
least 30 calendar days to submit a written response and any 1396
proposed corrective action, which may include providing revised 1397
or replacement materials at no cost to the state or school 1398
districts. 1399

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(b) If the publisher has not rectified the violation 1400
within the timeframe established in this subsection, the 1401
commissioner shall report the violation to the State Board of 1402
Education. The State Board of Education shall have the authority 1403
to: 1404
1. Remove all of the noncompliant materials from the 1405
state-adopted list. 1406
2. Require the publisher to reimburse the total cost of 1407
all purchased materials with the identified noncompliance to 1408
each school district that purchased the materials from the 1409
publisher. 1410
3. Prohibit the publisher from bidding on instructional 1411
materials for the subject area in which the violation occurred 1412
for state adoption for a period not to exceed 5 years. 1413
(c) The decision of the State Board of Education 1414
constitutes final agency action subject to judicial review as 1415
provided by law. A publisher or manufacturer aggrieved by a 1416
final action of the State Board of Education may appeal the 1417
decision pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act within 30 1418
days after issuance of the final action. 1419
(d) Action taken under this subsection is in addition to, 1420
and does not limit, any other remedies available under this 1421
part, including removal of materials under s. 1006.35(3) and 1422
penalties under subsection (18). 1423
Section 27. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 1424

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1008.2125, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1425
1008.2125 The Council for Early Grade Success.— 1426
(1) The Council for Early Grade Success, a council as 1427
defined in s. 20.03(7), is created within the Department of 1428
Education to oversee the coordinated screening and progress 1429
monitoring program under s. 1008.25(9) for students in the 1430
Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program through grade 3 and, 1431
except as otherwise provided in this section, shall operate 1432
consistent with s. 20.052. 1433
(a) The council shall be responsible for reviewing the 1434
implementation of, training for, and outcomes from the 1435
coordinated screening and progress monitoring program to provide 1436
recommendations to the department that support grade 3 students 1437
reading at or above grade level. The council, at a minimum, 1438
shall: 1439
1. Provide recommendations on the implementation of the 1440
coordinated screening and progress monitoring program, including 1441
reviewing any procurement solicitation documents and criteria 1442
before being published. 1443
2. Develop training plans and timelines for such training. 1444
3. Identify appropriate personnel, processes, and 1445
procedures required for the administration of the coordinated 1446
screening and progress monitoring program. 1447
4. Provide input on the methodology for calculating a 1448
provider's or school's performance metric and designations under 1449

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s. 1002.68(3) s. 1002.68(4). 1450
5. Work with the department to review the methodology for 1451
determining a child's kindergarten readiness. 1452
6. Review data on age-appropriate learning gains by grade 1453
level that a student would need to attain in order to 1454
demonstrate proficiency in reading by grade 3. 1455
7. Continually review anonymized data from the results of 1456
the coordinated screening and progress monitoring program for 1457
students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program 1458
through grade 3 to help inform recommendations to the department 1459
that support practices that will enable grade 3 students to read 1460
at or above grade level. 1461
Section 28. Paragraph (c) of subsection (4), paragraphs 1462
(b) and (d) of subsection (5), paragraph (a) of subsection (9), 1463
and paragraph (b) of subsection (10) of section 1008.25, Florida 1464
Statutes, are amended to read: 1465
1008.25 Public school student progression; student 1466
support; coordinated screening and progress monitoring; 1467
reporting requirements.— 1468
(4) ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT.— 1469
(c) A student who has a substantial reading deficiency as 1470
determined in paragraph (5)(a) or a substantial mathematics 1471
deficiency as determined in paragraph (6)(a) must be covered by 1472
a federally required student plan, such as an individual 1473
education plan or an individualized progress monitoring plan, or 1474

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both, as necessary. The individualized progress monitoring plan 1475
must be developed within 30 45 days after the results of the 1476
coordinated screening and progress monitoring system become 1477
available. The plan must, at a minimum, include: 1478
1. The student's specific, identified reading or 1479
mathematics skill deficiency. 1480
2. Goals and benchmarks for student growth in reading or 1481
mathematics. 1482
3. A description of the specific measures that will be 1483
used to evaluate and monitor the student's reading or 1484
mathematics progress. 1485
4. For a substantial reading deficiency, the specific 1486
evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the science of 1487
reading which the student will receive. 1488
5. Strategies, resources, and materials that will be 1489
provided to the student's parent to support the student to make 1490
reading or mathematics progress. Resources must include 1491
information about the student's eligibility for the New Worlds 1492
Reading Initiative under s. 1003.485. 1493
6. Any additional services the student's teacher deems 1494
available and appropriate to accelerate the student's reading or 1495
mathematics skill development. 1496
(5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.— 1497
(b) A Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program student 1498
who exhibits a substantial deficiency in early literacy skills 1499

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based upon the results of the administration of the midyear or 1500
final coordinated screening and progress monitoring under 1501
subsection (9) shall be referred to the local school district 1502
and may be eligible to receive instruction in early literacy 1503
skills before participating in kindergarten. A Voluntary 1504
Prekindergarten Education Program student who scores below the 1505
25th 10th percentile on the final administration of the 1506
coordinated screening and progress monitoring under subsection 1507
(9) shall be referred to the local school district and is 1508
eligible to receive early literacy skill instructional support 1509
through a summer bridge program the summer before participating 1510
in kindergarten. The summer bridge program must meet 1511
requirements adopted by the department and shall consist of 4 1512
hours of instruction per day for a minimum of 100 total hours. A 1513
student with an individual education plan who has been retained 1514
pursuant to paragraph (2)(g) and has demonstrated a substantial 1515
deficiency in early literacy skills must receive instruction in 1516
early literacy skills. 1517
(d) The parent of any student who exhibits a substantial 1518
deficiency in reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be 1519
immediately notified in writing of the following: 1520
1. That his or her child has been identified as having a 1521
substantial deficiency in reading, including a description and 1522
explanation, in terms understandable to the parent, of the exact 1523
nature of the student's difficulty in learning and lack of 1524

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achievement in reading. 1525
2. A description of the current services that are provided 1526
to the child. 1527
3. A description of the proposed intensive interventions 1528
and supports that will be provided to the child that are 1529
designed to remediate the identified area of reading deficiency. 1530
4. The student progression requirements under paragraph 1531
(2)(h) and that if the child's reading deficiency is not 1532
remediated by the end of grade 3, the child must be retained 1533
unless he or she is exempt from mandatory retention for good 1534
cause. 1535
5. Strategies, including multisensory strategies and 1536
programming, through a read-at-home plan the parent can use in 1537
helping his or her child succeed in reading. The read-at-home 1538
plan must provide access to the resources identified in 1539
paragraph (e). 1540
6. That the statewide, standardized English Language Arts 1541
assessment is not the sole determiner of promotion and that 1542
additional evaluations, portfolio reviews, and assessments are 1543
available to the child to assist parents and the school district 1544
in knowing when a child is reading at or above grade level and 1545
ready for grade promotion. 1546
7. The district's specific criteria and policies for a 1547
portfolio as provided in subparagraph (7)(b)4. and the evidence 1548
required for a student to demonstrate mastery of Florida's 1549

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academic standards for English Language Arts. A school must 1550
immediately begin collecting evidence for a portfolio when a 1551
student in grade 3 is identified as being at risk of retention 1552
or upon the request of the parent, whichever occurs first. 1553
8. The district's specific criteria and policies for 1554
midyear promotion. Midyear promotion means promotion of a 1555
retained student at any time during the year of retention once 1556
the student has demonstrated ability to read at grade level. 1557
9. Information about the student's eligibility for the New 1558
Worlds Reading Initiative under s. 1003.485 and the New Worlds 1559
Scholarship Accounts under s. 1002.411 and information on parent 1560
training modules and other reading engagement resources 1561
available through the initiative. 1562
1563
After initial notification, the school shall apprise the parent 1564
at least monthly of the student's progress in response to the 1565
intensive interventions and supports and information about the 1566
student's eligibility for the New Worlds Reading Initiative 1567
under s. 1003.485. Such communications must be in writing and 1568
must explain any additional interventions or supports that will 1569
be implemented to accelerate the student's progress if the 1570
interventions and supports already being implemented have not 1571
resulted in improvement. Upon the request of the parent, the 1572
teacher or school administrator shall meet to discuss the 1573
student's progress. The parent may request more frequent 1574

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notification of the student's progress, more frequent 1575
interventions or supports, and earlier implementation of the 1576
additional interventions or supports described in the initial 1577
notification. 1578
(9) COORDINATED SCREENING AND PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM.— 1579
(a) The Department of Education, in collaboration with the 1580
Office of Early Learning, shall procure and require the use of a 1581
statewide, standardized coordinated screening and progress 1582
monitoring system for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education 1583
Program and public schools. The system must: 1584
1. Measure student progress in meeting the appropriate 1585
expectations in early literacy and mathematics skills and in 1586
English Language Arts and mathematics standards as required by 1587
ss. 1002.67(1)(a) and 1003.41 and identify the educational 1588
strengths and needs of students. 1589
2. For students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education 1590
Program through grade 3, measure student performance in oral 1591
language development, phonological and phonemic awareness, 1592
knowledge of print and letters, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, 1593
and comprehension, as applicable by grade level, and, at a 1594
minimum, provide interval level and norm-referenced data that 1595
measures equivalent levels of growth. 1596
3. Be a valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate 1597
computer-based direct instrument that provides screening and 1598
diagnostic capabilities for monitoring student progress; 1599

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identifies students who have a substantial deficiency in reading 1600
or mathematics, including identifying students with 1601
characteristics of dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning 1602
disorders; and informs instruction. Any student identified by 1603
the system as having characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia 1604
shall undergo further screening. Beginning with the 2023-2024 1605
school year, the coordinated screening and progress monitoring 1606
system must be computer-adaptive. 1607
4. Provide data for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education 1608
Program accountability as required under s. 1002.68. 1609
5. Provide Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program 1610
providers, school districts, schools, teachers, and parents with 1611
data and resources that enhance differentiated instruction and 1612
parent communication. 1613
6. Provide baseline data to the department of each 1614
student's readiness for kindergarten. The determination of 1615
kindergarten readiness must be based on the results of each 1616
student's initial progress monitoring assessment in 1617
kindergarten. The methodology for determining a student's 1618
readiness for kindergarten must be developed by the department 1619
and aligned to the methodology adopted pursuant to s. 1002.68(3) 1620
s. 1002.68(4). 1621
7. Assess how well educational goals and curricular 1622
standards are met at the provider, school, district, and state 1623
levels and provide information to the department to aid in the 1624

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development of educational programs, policies, and supports for 1625
providers, districts, and schools. 1626
(10) ANNUAL REPORT.— 1627
(b) Each district school board must annually publish on 1628
the district website the following information on the prior 1629
school year: 1630
1. The provisions of this section relating to public 1631
school student progression and the district school board's 1632
policies and procedures on student retention and promotion. 1633
2. By grade, the number and percentage of all students in 1634
grades 3 through 10 performing at Levels 1 and 2 on the 1635
statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment. 1636
3. By grade, the number and percentage of all students 1637
retained in kindergarten through grade 10. 1638
4. Information on the total number of students who were 1639
promoted for good cause, by each category of good cause as 1640
specified in paragraph (7)(b). 1641
5. Any revisions to the district school board's policies 1642
and procedures on student retention and promotion from the prior 1643
year. 1644
6. The rate of chronic absenteeism by grade level for 1645
students in kindergarten through grade 5. For purposes of this 1646
subparagraph, the term "chronic absenteeism" means a student who 1647
has been absent for at least 10 percent of school days, or the 1648
same classes required for grade promotion, when enrolled for 1649

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more than 45 days. 1650
Section 29. Subsection (5) of section 1008.33, Florida 1651
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (6), and a new subsection 1652
(5) is added to that section, to read: 1653
1008.33 Authority to enforce public school improvement.— 1654
(5) The Department of Education must annually identify 1655
each school district in need of intervention and support to 1656
improve student academic performance. 1657
(a) A school district is in need of improvement if it has 1658
10 percent or more district-operated schools that earn a grade 1659
of "D" or "F" under s. 1008.34. 1660
(b)1. Each school district in need of improvement must 1661
annually submit a district improvement plan in a format 1662
prescribed by the department. The plan must include provisions 1663
to improve and monitor, at a minimum, all of the following: 1664
a. Instructional staff. 1665
b. Professional learning. 1666
c. Fiscal and staffing resources dedicated to school 1667
improvement. 1668
d. Student scheduling, attendance, and behavior. 1669
e. The use of continuous improvement and monitoring plans 1670
and processes. 1671
2. The plan must be approved by the district school board 1672
and may be reviewed by the State Board of Education for approval 1673
or denial. District school superintendents may be called before 1674

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the state board to provide implementation updates. 1675
(c) A school district must submit, at a minimum, all of 1676
the following documents to the department as part its district 1677
improvement plan: 1678
1. Monthly vacancy reports for instructional personnel in 1679
schools receiving a grade of "D" or "F" under s. 1008.34. 1680
2. Monthly teacher absenteeism rates at schools receiving 1681
a grade of "D" or "F" under s. 1008.34. 1682
3. Monthly student absenteeism rates at schools receiving 1683
a grade of "D" or "F" under s. 1008.34. 1684
4. Monthly professional learning, activities, and 1685
expenditures for instructional staff in schools receiving a 1686
grade of "D" or "F" under s. 1008.34. 1687
5. Monthly professional learning, activities, and 1688
expenditures for school administrators in schools receiving a 1689
grade of "D" or "F" under s. 1008.34. 1690
6. Local progress monitoring results that are not part of 1691
the statewide progress monitoring system. 1692
(d) The state board may require modifications or revoke a 1693
school district's district improvement plan if the school 1694
district does not: 1695
1. Provide evidence of plan implementation or significant 1696
districtwide improvement. 1697
2. Submit deliverables in a format prescribed by the 1698
department or by a timeframe established by the department. 1699

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Section 30. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 1700
1011.69, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1701
1011.69 Equity in School-Level Funding Act.— 1702
(4) After providing Title I, Part A, Basic funds to 1703
schools above the 75 percent poverty threshold, which may 1704
include high schools above the 50 percent threshold as permitted 1705
by federal law, school districts shall provide any remaining 1706
Title I, Part A, Basic funds directly to all eligible schools as 1707
provided in this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, an 1708
eligible school is a school that is eligible to receive Title I 1709
funds, including a charter school. The threshold for identifying 1710
eligible schools may not exceed the threshold established by a 1711
school district for the 2016-2017 school year or the statewide 1712
percentage of economically disadvantaged students, as determined 1713
annually. 1714
(a) Prior to the allocation of Title I funds to eligible 1715
schools, a school district may withhold funds only as follows: 1716
1. One percent for parent involvement, in addition to the 1717
one percent the district must reserve under federal law for 1718
allocations to eligible schools for parent involvement; 1719
2. A necessary and reasonable amount for administration 1720
which includes the district's indirect cost rate, not to exceed 1721
a total of 10 percent; 1722
3. A reasonable and necessary amount to provide: 1723
a. Homeless programs; 1724

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b. Delinquent and neglected programs; 1725
c. Prekindergarten programs and activities; 1726
d. Private school equitable services; and 1727
e. Transportation for foster care children to their school 1728
of origin or choice programs; and 1729
4. A necessary and reasonable amount, not to exceed 1 1730
percent, for eligible schools to provide educational services in 1731
accordance with the approved Title I plan. Such educational 1732
services may include the provision of STEM curricula, 1733
instructional materials, and related learning technologies that 1734
support academic achievement in science, technology, 1735
engineering, and mathematics in Title I schools, including, but 1736
not limited to, technologies related to drones, coding, 1737
animation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, 1738
the engineering design process, mobile development, and 1739
robotics. Funds may be reserved under this subparagraph only to 1740
the extent that all required reservations under federal law have 1741
been met and that such reservation does not reduce school-level 1742
allocations below the levels required under federal law. 1743
Section 31. Paragraphs (g) and (h) of subsection (6) of 1744
section 1012.56, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 1745
paragraphs (f) and (g), respectively, and paragraph (b) of 1746
subsection (1), paragraph (f) of subsection (6), and subsection 1747
(9) of that section are amended, to read: 1748
1012.56 Educator certification requirements.— 1749

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(1) APPLICATION.—Each person seeking certification 1750
pursuant to this chapter shall submit a completed application 1751
containing the applicant's social security number to the 1752
Department of Education and remit the fee required pursuant to 1753
s. 1012.59 and rules of the State Board of Education. Pursuant 1754
to the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity 1755
Reconciliation Act of 1996, each party is required to provide 1756
his or her social security number in accordance with this 1757
section. Disclosure of social security numbers obtained through 1758
this requirement is limited to the purpose of administration of 1759
the Title IV-D program of the Social Security Act for child 1760
support enforcement. 1761
(b) The department shall issue a temporary certificate to 1762
a qualifying applicant within 14 calendar days after receipt of 1763
a request from an employer with a professional education 1764
competence demonstration program pursuant to paragraph (6)(f) 1765
and subsection (9). The temporary certificate must cover the 1766
classification, level, and area for which the applicant is 1767
deemed qualified. The department shall electronically notify the 1768
applicant's employer that the temporary certificate has been 1769
issued and provide the applicant an official statement of status 1770
of eligibility at the time the certificate is issued. 1771
1772
The statement of status of eligibility must be provided 1773
electronically and must advise the applicant of any 1774

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qualifications that must be completed to qualify for 1775
certification. Each method by which an applicant can complete 1776
the qualifications for a professional certificate must be 1777
included in the statement of status of eligibility. Each 1778
statement of status of eligibility is valid for 5 years after 1779
its date of issuance, except as provided in paragraph (2)(d). 1780
(6) MASTERY OF PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND EDUCATION 1781
COMPETENCE.—Acceptable means of demonstrating mastery of 1782
professional preparation and education competence are: 1783
(f) Successful completion of professional preparation 1784
courses as specified in state board rule, successful completion 1785
of a professional education competence program pursuant to 1786
subsection (9), and documentation of 3 years of being rated 1787
effective or highly effective under s. 1012.34 while holding a 1788
temporary certificate; 1789
1790
The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this 1791
subsection, including rules to approve specific teacher 1792
preparation programs that are not identified in this subsection 1793
which may be used to meet requirements for mastery of 1794
professional preparation and education competence. 1795
(9) PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION COMPETENCY PROGRAM.— 1796
(a) Each school district must and a private school or 1797
state-supported public school, including a charter school, may 1798
develop and maintain a system by which members of the 1799

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instructional staff may demonstrate mastery of professional 1800
preparation and education competence as required by law. Each 1801
program must: 1802
1. Be based on classroom application of the Florida 1803
Educator Accomplished Practices and instructional performance 1804
and, for public schools, must be aligned with the district's or 1805
state-supported public school's evaluation system established 1806
under s. 1012.34, as applicable. 1807
2. Include individualized plan tailored to each candidate 1808
to determine the appropriate professional learning plan. 1809
3. Monitor candidate performance to ensure candidates are 1810
meeting program expectations and implement a remediation process 1811
for candidates not meeting program performance expectations. 1812
4. Assign a mentor that meets the requirements of 1813
paragraph (7)(e) to each candidate participating in the program. 1814
(b) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 1815
Commissioner of Education shall determine the continued approval 1816
of programs implemented under this paragraph, based upon the 1817
department's review of performance data. The department shall 1818
review the performance data as a part of the periodic review of 1819
each school district's professional learning system required 1820
under s. 1012.98. 1821
Section 32. Subsection (8) of section 1013.03, Florida 1822
Statutes, is amended to read: 1823
1013.03 Functions of the department and the Board of 1824

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Governors.—The functions of the Department of Education as it 1825
pertains to educational facilities of school districts and 1826
Florida College System institutions and of the Board of 1827
Governors as it pertains to educational facilities of state 1828
universities shall include, but not be limited to, the 1829
following: 1830
(8) Provide minimum criteria, procedures, and training to 1831
boards to conduct educational plant surveys and document the 1832
determination of future needs. No later than December 1, 2026, 1833
the department shall review and revise the Size of Space and 1834
Occupant Design Criteria section of the State Requirements for 1835
Educational Facilities based on input from stakeholders. 1836
Section 33. Paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (1) of 1837
section 1014.05, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1838
1014.05 School district notifications on parental rights.— 1839
(1) Each district school board shall, in consultation with 1840
parents, teachers, and administrators, develop and adopt a 1841
policy to promote parental involvement in the public school 1842
system. Such policy must include: 1843
(d) Procedures, pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(d), for a parent 1844
to withdraw his or her minor child from any portion of the 1845
school district's instruction on reproductive health, including 1846
human embryologic and fetal development under s. 1847
1003.42(2)(o)6., or any disease, including HIV/AIDS 1848
comprehensive health education required under s. 1003.42(2)(o) 1849

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that relates to sex education or instruction in acquired immune 1850
deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding 1851
sexuality if the parent provides a written objection to his or 1852
her minor child's participation. Such procedures must provide 1853
for a parent to be notified in advance of such course content so 1854
that he or she may withdraw his or her minor child from those 1855
portions of the course. 1856
(f) Procedures for a parent to learn about parental rights 1857
and responsibilities under general law, including all of the 1858
following: 1859
1. Pursuant to s. 1002.20(3)(d), the right to be notified 1860
in advance and to opt his or her minor child out of any portion 1861
of the school district's instruction on reproductive health, 1862
including human embryologic and fetal development under s. 1863
1003.42(2)(o)6., or any disease, including HIV/AIDS 1864
comprehensive health education required under s. 1003.42(2)(o) 1865
that relates to sex education instruction in acquired immune 1866
deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding 1867
sexuality. 1868
2. A plan to disseminate information, pursuant to s. 1869
1002.20(6), about school choice options, including open 1870
enrollment. 1871
3. In accordance with s. 1002.20(3)(b), the right of a 1872
parent to exempt his or her minor child from immunizations. 1873
4. In accordance with s. 1008.22, the right of a parent to 1874

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review statewide, standardized assessment results. 1875
5. In accordance with s. 1003.57, the right of a parent to 1876
enroll his or her minor child in gifted or special education 1877
programs. 1878
6. In accordance with s. 1006.28(2)(a)1., the right of a 1879
parent to inspect school district instructional materials. 1880
7. In accordance with s. 1008.25, the right of a parent to 1881
access information relating to the school district's policies 1882
for promotion or retention, including high school graduation 1883
requirements. 1884
8. In accordance with s. 1002.20(14), the right of a 1885
parent to receive a school report card and be informed of his or 1886
her minor child's attendance requirements. 1887
9. In accordance with s. 1002.23, the right of a parent to 1888
access information relating to the state public education 1889
system, state standards, report card requirements, attendance 1890
requirements, and instructional materials requirements. 1891
10. In accordance with s. 1002.23(4), the right of a 1892
parent to participate in parent-teacher associations and 1893
organizations that are sanctioned by a district school board or 1894
the Department of Education. 1895
11. In accordance with s. 1002.222(1)(a), the right of a 1896
parent to opt out of any district-level data collection relating 1897
to his or her minor child not required by law. 1898
Section 34. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 1899