Bill > H0949

This bill revises the definition of "full-time equivalent student" and makes changes to provisions relating to the Florida Virtual School, virtual instruction program provider contracts, and required background screenings for personnel. Specifically, the bill: - Expands the mission of the Florida Virtual School to include serving dependent children of active duty military personnel not stationed in the state whose home of record is Florida or whose State of Legal Residence Certificate lists Florida, and allows the Florida Virtual School to use the State of Legal Residence Certificate to verify residency for such students. - Requires industry certification examinations, national assessments, and statewide assessments to be available to all Florida Virtual School students, and requires school districts to provide access to their testing facilities and the dates and times of such examinations and assessments. - Modifies the criteria for terminating a virtual instruction program provider's contract, including allowing the State Board of Education to grant a waiver of termination. - Clarifies that dependent children of active duty military personnel must be given first preference for admission to special academic programs offered through public schools, including the Florida Virtual School. - Changes the calculation of full-time equivalent students for various virtual education programs, including requiring 80% FTE funding for students who do not meet the full credit completion requirements but are still enrolled. - Requires background screenings for instructional and noninstructional personnel hired or contracted to work in virtual instruction programs, and requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide the results of such screenings to the relevant school districts and programs.

Education

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/949