Bill > S0878

This bill aims to enhance Florida's K-20 education performance accountability system by improving data collection, reporting, and access, and by clarifying school grading procedures. Key provisions include requiring the State Board of Education to inform the Legislature of major federal law changes affecting the state's accountability system, ensuring the Board of Governors makes all data from the State University Database System available to the Department of Education for integration into the K-20 data warehouse, and establishing clearer guidelines for assigning school grades, particularly for colocated schools (schools operating at the same facility but with unique identification numbers and educational services). The bill also mandates annual reporting of student-level data by institutions receiving state funds, including retention, transfer, completion, graduation, employment, and earnings rates, and introduces a "Research Engine" for secure, restricted access to student data for authorized researchers and entities, while also creating a public-facing web interface for aggregated, non-personally identifiable data. Additionally, it refines the criteria for school improvement ratings for alternative schools and clarifies reporting requirements for student learning gains and other performance indicators.