Bill > H7055

This bill revises provisions relating to the Commissioner of Education, the Department of Education, school districts, school district superintendents, statewide standardized assessments, charter schools, educational scholarship programs, the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative, dual enrollment, the Florida Virtual School, and private schools. Key provisions include: - Establishing the Hope Scholarship Program to provide scholarship funding for students who are victims of certain incidents at public schools to attend private schools or other public schools. - Creating reading scholarship accounts for students in grades 3-5 who score below a level 3 on the statewide ELA assessment. - Revising requirements for private schools participating in state scholarship programs. - Expanding the eligibility and authority of high-performing charter schools. - Modifying the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative to make it a permanent program and expand the number of participating school districts. - Revising requirements related to the research-based reading instruction allocation and the supplemental academic instruction allocation. - Providing additional funding and support for the Gardiner Scholarship Program and the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. - Revising provisions related to dual enrollment, including expanding access and removing limitations. This bill aims to expand school choice options and academic supports for struggling students while increasing accountability and oversight of private schools participating in state scholarship programs.

Budget and Finance, Education

Appropriations Committee (H), Education Committee (H)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/7055