summary
Introduced
02/18/2025
02/18/2025
In Committee
02/28/2025
02/28/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.32, F.S.; providing that a lab school may use the lab school’s discretionary capital improvement funds for specified purposes; requiring that an expenditure be at or below appraised value; defining the term “appraised value”; requiring that certain documentation be provided to the Department of Education upon request; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; providing requirements for specified deadlines for charter schools; authorizing a charter school governing board to adopt its own code of student conduct; providing requirements for the code of student conduct; providing that charter schools are not exempt from a specified statute; authorizing a charter school to increase its student enrollment beyond the capacity identified in the charter under certain conditions; requiring a charter school to notify its sponsor in writing by a specified date, and to include specified information, if it plans to increase enrollment; revising services a sponsor must provide to a charter school; requiring the department to provide student performance data to a charter school and its contractor; providing an exception; prohibiting specified individuals from being on a charter school governing board; providing an exception; amending s. 1002.331, F.S.; authorizing a high-performing charter school to assume the charter of an existing charter school within the same school district; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill makes several significant changes to Florida's education laws, specifically focusing on lab schools and charter schools. For lab schools, the bill allows their governing bodies to use discretionary capital improvement funds for various purposes such as purchasing real property, constructing or renovating school facilities, buying vehicles, purchasing technology, and paying for insurance and library media center costs. Any such purchases must be at or below the appraised value, which is defined as the fair market value determined by an independent, state-licensed appraiser. For charter schools, the bill introduces several new provisions: it allows charter school governing boards to create their own student conduct codes (which must meet or exceed the sponsor's standards), permits high-performing charter schools to increase enrollment and expand grade levels under certain conditions, requires sponsors to provide student performance data, and prohibits certain individuals (like landlords or their spouses) from serving on charter school governing boards. The bill also modifies sponsor responsibilities, including restrictions on imposing administrative deadlines and requirements for reporting and evaluation. These changes aim to provide more flexibility and autonomy to lab schools and charter schools while maintaining accountability and performance standards.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (2)
Education Pre-K - 12 (Senate), Rules (Senate)
Last Action
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 443 (Ch. 2025-106) (on 04/29/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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