Bill > H7069

This bill makes a number of significant changes to education policies and funding in Florida: The bill requires the Auditor General to conduct annual audits of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. It also requires the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools to provide an additional hour of intensive reading instruction each day. The bill creates a new "Schools of Excellence" program that provides administrative flexibilities to high-performing schools. The bill makes changes to the certification process for teachers, including allowing more flexibility for teachers in STEM fields to obtain a professional certificate. It also creates a new professional development certification program that includes a mentorship and induction component. The bill expands eligibility for the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program and creates a new Florida Best and Brightest Principal Scholarship Program. It also makes changes to reading instruction and intervention requirements, including requiring training for teachers on evidence-based reading strategies. Regarding funding, the bill changes the calculation methodology for charter school capital outlay funding and revises the requirement for school districts to use at least 50% of their instructional materials allocation on digital or electronic materials. The bill also creates a new "Schools of Hope" program to provide high-quality school options in persistently low-performing areas. Overall, the bill aims to improve student performance, strengthen the teaching profession, and expand school choice options, with a particular focus on reading instruction and support for struggling schools.

Budget and Finance

Appropriations Committee (House), Education Committee (House)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/7069