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Bill > S0182

FL S0182

FL S0182
Education

summary

Introduced
10/14/2025
In Committee
03/10/2026
Crossed Over
03/12/2026
Passed
03/17/2026
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.33, F.S.; providing that students may not be dismissed from certain charter schools based on academic performance; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.; adding a condition for Florida Tax Credit (FTC) scholarship reimbursements; requiring that certain FTC scholarship funds revert to the organization; amending s. 1002.42, F.S.; providing that certain private schools are considered a permitted use in certain zoning districts; authorizing certain private schools to operate in facilities that meet specified requirements; providing exceptions; requiring certain private schools operating in such facilities to meet specified Florida Fire Prevention Code standards; providing that completion of a specified evaluation system with certain ratings by specified persons constitutes evidence of compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code for such private schools; authorizing the State Fire Marshal to adopt rules; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring students in specified grades to receive instruction in cursive writing; providing requirements for such instruction; requiring students to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by the end of a specified grade; defining the term “proficiency in cursive writing”; amending s. 1003.44, F.S.; requiring, subject to legislative appropriation, each district school board to adopt rules to require the display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln at each public school in the district; requiring the Department of Education to select the portraits and make them available to each school district; creating s. 1012.988, F.S.; establishing the School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program within the Department of Education; providing the purpose of the program; authorizing school districts and charter schools to place certain classroom teachers as teacher mentors in specified schools for specified purposes; providing requirements for teacher mentors and mentees; authorizing teacher mentors to receive a stipend; providing the time period for each mentor and mentee relationship through the program; providing limitations on the number of mentees teacher mentors may work with; providing department and teacher mentor responsibilities; authorizing the State Board of Education to adopt rules; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; authorizing specified funds to be used for the School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

This bill makes several changes to Florida's education laws, including prohibiting charter schools from dismissing students solely based on academic performance when the school is implementing improvement plans, and requiring that any remaining funds from Florida Tax Credit (FTC) scholarships that are closed must revert to the scholarship organization to be used for future scholarships. It also allows certain private schools with 150 or fewer students to operate in commercial or mixed-use zoning districts without special permits, provided they meet traffic and pedestrian safety requirements, and establishes specific fire safety standards for these schools. Furthermore, the bill mandates that students in grades 3 through 5 receive instruction in cursive writing and must demonstrate proficiency by the end of 5th grade, defines what "proficiency in cursive writing" means, and requires public schools to display portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, with the Department of Education selecting the portraits. Finally, it creates a School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program within the Department of Education to support struggling teachers and new educators, offering stipends to experienced teachers who serve as mentors, and allows funds from the educational enrichment allocation to be used for this program, with the entire act taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (5)

Other Sponsors (2)

Education Pre-K - 12 (Senate), Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education (Senate)

Last Action

Signed by Officers and presented to Governor (on 04/09/2026)
(10 Companion Bills)

bill text

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182
BillText https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/BillText/er/HTML
BillText https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/BillText/e1/HTML
Adopted 3/12/2026 https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Amendment/899512/HTML
Analysis - https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Analyses/2026s00182.hms.ed.PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Amendment/696291/PDF
Analysis - Fiscal Policy (Post-Meeting) https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Analyses/2026s00182.fp.PDF
Analysis - Fiscal Policy (Pre-Meeting) https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Analyses/2026s00182.pre.fp.PDF
BillText https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/BillText/c2/HTML
Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education (Post-Meeting) https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Analyses/2026s00182.aed.PDF
Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education (Pre-Meeting) https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Analyses/2026s00182.pre.aed.PDF
BillText https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/BillText/c1/HTML
Analysis - Education Pre-K - 12 (Post-Meeting) https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Analyses/2026s00182.ed.PDF
Analysis - Education Pre-K - 12 (Pre-Meeting) https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Analyses/2026s00182.pre.ed.PDF
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/Amendment/779178/HTML
BillText https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/182/BillText/Filed/HTML
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