Bill > S2508

This bill mandates that state research universities must partner with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to offer college-sponsored merit scholarships to maintain their designation as preeminent state research universities, and it also revises the definition of a "full-time student" for the Florida Education Finance Program, which is a state funding mechanism for public schools. Additionally, it requires school districts with low-performing elementary schools to use specific funds, including supplemental academic instruction and research-based reading instruction funds, for intensive reading instruction during the summer and school year, and it renames the "Florida National Merit Scholar Incentive Program" to the "Benacquisto Scholarship Program" and modifies its award structure. The bill also introduces performance-based incentive programs for both the State University System and the Florida College System, aiming to reward institutions based on metrics like graduation rates, employment, and affordability, and it establishes a new supplement for school districts with students connected to federal installations. Finally, it clarifies requirements for teachers to provide receipts for classroom supply funds and adjusts references to sections within the Florida Education Finance Program.