Bill > H0287

This bill establishes the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative within the Department of Education to grant highly effective principals more control over their schools to improve student achievement and management. Participating school districts, initially limited to Broward, Duval, Jefferson, Madison, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and Seminole Counties, can apply for a three-year authorization to participate by submitting a proposal outlining specific schools with a history of low performance (receiving at least two "D" or "F" grades in the past three years) and identifying highly effective principals to lead them. These proposals must detail how principals will gain increased fiscal and administrative autonomy, how student needs will be addressed, and establish clear performance goals for student achievement, as defined by the state's school grading system (s. 1008.34). While participating schools will be exempt from most state education laws and rules (chapters 1000-1013), they must still adhere to regulations concerning school board elections, public records, student assessment and grading, services for students with disabilities, civil rights, student health and safety, uniform school opening dates, maximum class size (with an average calculation at the school level), and personnel evaluation procedures. The program also mandates professional development for principals and leadership teams in school turnaround strategies, funded by a $100,000 grant per district. Participating districts are required to allocate at least 90 percent of their school-generated funds to each participating school, an increase from the previous 80 percent guarantee. Principals in this program gain additional authority, including the ability to select instructional staff and refuse district-assigned personnel, and to deploy financial resources at their discretion to improve student achievement, with the requirement to submit an annual budget to the district. The bill includes an appropriation of $700,000 in nonrecurring funds and $210,000 in recurring funds for the 2016-2017 fiscal year to implement the program, and it will take effect on July 1, 2016.