Bill > S0818

Introduced Session

An act relating to education in the criminal justice system; amending s. 944.275, F.S.; authorizing the Department of Corrections to award gain time for an inmate who completes specified education programs; revising an exception for earning gain time; amending s. 1002.37, F.S.; revising the purpose of the Florida Virtual School to provide for the development and delivery of blended learning; requiring the Florida Virtual School to give priority to students enrolled in the Florida Virtual School Justice Education Program; conforming a reporting requirement to changes made by the act; revising the calculation of a “full time equivalent student” for purposes of determining funding for the Florida Virtual School; requiring that full-time equivalent students enrolled in a certain blended learning program be reported to the Department of Education in a specified manner; specifying conditions under which the Florida Virtual School may be funded through the Florida Education Finance Program; revising the requirements for a report the board of trustees of the Florida Virtual School is required to submit annually to certain entities, beginning with a specified school year; requiring that students enrolled in the Florida Virtual School Justice Education Program take specified examinations and assessments at institutions or facilities operated by, or under the supervision of, the Department of Corrections; providing for the determination of Florida Virtual School performance related to the Justice Education Program; creating s. 1002.371, F.S.; requiring the Florida Virtual School to establish the Florida Virtual School Justice Education Program, beginning with a specified school year; providing the purpose of the program; specifying requirements for courses delivered by the program; requiring that students in blended learning courses be full-time students; providing that the funding, performance, and accountability requirements for such blended learning courses are the same as for traditional classroom courses; requiring the Florida Virtual School to report program students separately from other students for funding purposes; providing for funding of students enrolled in the program; authorizing students who turn 22 years of age while enrolled in the program to remain enrolled under certain circumstances; prohibiting funding for such students from being reported through the Florida Education Finance Program; requiring the Department of Education, with assistance from specified entities, to select a common student assessment instrument and protocol for measuring student learning gains and progression; requiring specified entities to jointly review such assessment instrument and protocol and implement changes as necessary; authorizing students removed from the program to appeal to seek reinstatement, subject to a final determination on the appeal by the Commissioner of Education; requiring the Florida Virtual School to negotiate by a specified date and annually thereafter a cooperative agreement with the Department of Corrections to implement the program; specifying requirements for such agreement; providing construction; requiring the State Board of Education and the Department of Corrections to adopt rules; amending s. 1011.61, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “full-time equivalent student”; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Keith Truenow (R)*, 

Died in Criminal Justice (on 03/13/2026)

Official Document