TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP LEGISLATION
Last Thursday afternoon, Senator Bill Galvano withdrew his bill – SB 1620 – that would have significantly expanded the Tax Credit Scholarship Program in terms of both student eligibility and overall cost. This move makes it extremely unlikely that the legislation will pass this year. Senator Galvano’s decision to withdraw the bill was based, primarily, on resistance to requiring that private schools that accept vouchers to give the same state-wide assessment tests that are given to public school students – a requirement that Senate President Gaetz has publicly stated would be a prerequisite for passage of the bill in the Senate. FSBA has been a steadfast opponent of voucher programs for a variety of reasons, including concerns about the academic accountability in this program, and we strongly support Senate President Gaetz’ and Senator Galvano’s efforts to align this voucher program with the state academic accountability system. FSBA urges you to send a message to Senator Gaetz (gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov) and Senator Galvano (galvano.bill.web@flsenate.gov
TODAY’S HAPPENINGS
In the House Education Appropriations Subcommittee:
HB 85 – Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project by L. Lee — PASSED
The bill requires the Office of Early Learning (OEL) to establish a 5-year Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project in St. Lucie County to assist low-income, at-risk children in developing emergent literacy skills. The OEL, in consultation with the Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County, must select one or more municipalities to participate in the project. The OEL must seek partnerships with local nonprofit organizations and the business community to implement the project.
HB 87 – Fine Arts Courses by McBurney –PASSED
The bill requires the Commissioner of Education to prepare an annual report that includes information, based on annual reporting by schools, regarding student access to, and participation in, fine arts courses; the number and certification status of educators providing arts instruction; educational facilities designed and classroom space equipped for fine arts instruction; and the manner in which schools are providing the core curricular content for fine arts established in the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. [NOTE: The Senate companion to this bill — SB 420 – will be considered tomorrow in the Senate Education Committee (see below)]
HB 279 – Public School Instruction by Hill – PASSED
The bill requires public schools to provide instruction on the events surrounding the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the impact of those events on the nation.
HB 355 – Instructional Materials Affordability by Porter – PASSED
The bill requires SBE & BOG to adopt textbook and instructional materials affordability policies, procedures, and guidelines; provides requirements for use of adopted undergraduate textbooks and instructional materials; requires public postsecondary institution to post in course registration system and on website information relating to required and recommended textbooks and instructional materials and prices thereof; requires task force to research affordability issues.
HB 7069 – Early Learning by Education – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill changes terminology relating to school readiness & family day care homes; revises certain requirements and standards relating to child care facilities, VPK program, and school readiness program; revises provisions relating to exemption from certain licensing standards; revises duties of Office of Early Learning and early learning coalitions.
HB 7083 – Charter Schools by Choice & Innovation – PASSED
The bill revises charter school provisions relating to applications and contracts, termination of charter, student enrollment, use of school district facilities, and model forms, contracts, and evaluation instruments; revises provisions relating to high-performing charter schools and high-performing charter school systems; specifies conditions under which virtual instruction provider’s contract is automatically terminated; revises eligibility for receipt of capital outlay funding. [NOTE: FSBA has a number of concerns about this bill. The Senate companion bill — SB 1528 – will be considered tomorrow in the Senate Education Committee (see below). For a more detailed summary of this bill, please see Boarder-Line Issue #2 available on the FSBA website at https://fsba.org/wp-content/
HB 7117 – Education Accountability by Education – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill revises basis for calculation of school grades and school improvement ratings; revises provisions relating to school improvement and education accountability system, local assessments, and personnel evaluation; provides for transition to new statewide, standardized assessments; authorizes certain bonus rewards to school districts. [NOTE: Although this bill includes some desirable elements, FSBA is concerned that it may not provide sufficient time for a comprehensive, integrated, and equitable transition to new state standards, curriculum, and assessments, nor does it adequately address issues relating to technology infrastructure, professional development, and public information.]
In the Senate Criminal Justice Committee:
SB 598 – Juvenile Justice Education Programs by Bean – PASSED WITH A CS
The bill makes changes to the provisions of law governing the accountability, deliverance, and review of juvenile justice education programs that provide educational services to students within the Department of Juvenile Justice.
COMING UP TOMORROW
The Senate Education Committee will meet – 9:00-11:00 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following items and others:
SB 138 – Meetings of District School Boards by Ring
Requiring district school boards to convene at least one regular meeting during the evening hours each quarter during the school year and to establish written criteria for convening such a meeting; providing that a district school board is deemed to be in compliance under certain circumstances; revising requirements for calling a special meeting, etc.
SB 212 – Financial Literacy Education by Hukill
Revising the required credits for high school graduation and a standard high school diploma to include one-half credit for instruction in personal financial literacy and seven and one-half, rather than eight, credits in electives, etc.
SB 396 – Joint Use of Public School Facilities by Bean
Authorizing each district school board to adopt written policies to promote public access to outdoor recreation and sports facilities on school property, to increase the number of joint-use agreements, and to develop and adopt written policies and procedures for an appeal process if negotiations for a joint-use agreement fail; providing immunity from civil liability for a district school board that adopts public access policies or enters into a joint-use agreement except in instances of gross negligence or intentional misconduct, etc.
SB 420 – Fine Arts Courses by Detert
Requiring the Commissioner of Education to prepare an annual report relating to student access to and participation in fine arts courses and information on educators, facilities, and instruction in such courses, etc.
SB 566 – Florida Bright Futures Scholarships by T. Lee
Requiring a student, as a prerequisite for the Florida Academic Scholars award, the Florida Medallion Scholars award, or the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award, to identify a social or civic issue or a professional area of interest and develop a plan for his or her personal involvement in addressing the issue or learning about the area; prohibiting the student from receiving remuneration or academic credit for the volunteer service work performed, etc.
SB 628 – Educational Facilities Financing by Montford
Revising provisions relating to the financing of independent nonprofit higher educational facilities to include financing for private nonprofit elementary, middle, and secondary schools meeting certain criteria, etc.
SB 908 – Education Funding / AVID Classes by Montford
Providing for the calculation of additional full-time equivalent student membership based on enrollment in Advancement Via Individual Determination elective classes and examination scores; providing for the use of funds, etc.
SB 1060 – Code of Student Conduct by Evers
Providing that simulating a firearm or weapon while playing or wearing certain clothing or accessories is not grounds for disciplinary action or referral to the criminal justice or juvenile justice system; providing actions that constitute simulating a firearm or weapon while playing; providing criteria for determining whether certain student conduct warrants disciplinary action, etc.
SB 1202 – Career & Charter Technical Career Centers by Montford
Requiring the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to annually provide to the State Board of Education and the Department of Education information and industry certifications for farm occupations to be placed on industry certification funding lists; defining industry certification as part of career education programs; requiring placement on funding lists to determine annual funding distributions to school districts and postsecondary institutions, etc.
SB 1206 – Agricultural Industry Certifications by Montford
Requiring the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to annually provide to the State Board of Education and the Department of Education information and industry certifications for farm occupations to be placed on industry certification funding lists; defining industry certification as part of career education programs; requiring placement on funding lists to determine annual funding distributions to school districts and postsecondary institutions, etc.
SB 1226 – Education / Repealer by Montford
Requiring the Auditor General to notify the Legislative Auditing Committee if a district school board fails to take corrective action subsequent to an audit; repealing provisions relating to the Learning Gateway program; revising the definition of the term “Next Generation Sunshine State Standards”; revising Department of Education duties relating to the public broadcasting program system; revising course and assessment requirements for the award of a standard high school diploma, etc.
SB 1292 – Postsecondary Education by Legg
Revising the articulated acceleration mechanisms that are available for secondary and postsecondary students attending public educational institutions to include industry certifications, etc.
SB 1394 – Standard Diploma / Merit Designation by Legg
Revising the requirements to earn a Merit designation on a standard high school diploma, etc.
SB 1528 – Charter Schools by Bradley
Revising required contents of charter school applications and charter contracts; specifying that a charter contract provision that is inconsistent with or prohibited by law is void and unenforceable; authorizing the sponsor and applicant to negotiate additional terms after approving the charter; specifying that charter schools established by certain high-performing charter school systems qualify for high-performing charter school status for the first 3 years of operation, etc.
The Committee will also consider two Proposed Committee Bills (PCBs): SB 7112 relating to Postsecondary Education by Education and SB 7114 relating to Early Learning by Education.
The House Higher Education & the Workforce Subcommittee will meet – 9:00-11:00 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider:
HB 1053 – Teacher Education by Castor Dentel
Revises eligibility criteria for receipt of minority teacher education scholarship; revises funding for administration & training program carried out by board of directors of Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.; revises criteria for eligibility & issuance of temporary certificates.
The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet – 9:00-11:00 am; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following items and others:
SB 602 – Residency/Candidates/Public Officers by Latvala Requiring a candidate or public officer required to reside in a specific geographic area to have only one domicile at a time; providing factors that may be considered when determining residency; providing exceptions for active duty military members, etc.
SB 72 – Legislative Session Dates by Flores
Fixing the date for convening the regular session of the Legislature in even-numbered years to occur in January, etc.
The House Governmental Operations Subcommittee will meet – 11:30 am-2:30 pm; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following item and others:
HB 1327 – Government Accountability by Metz
Revises responsibilities of department heads, Supreme Court as it relates to state courts system, Justice Administrative Commission, state attorneys, public defenders, criminal conflict & civil regional counsel, Guardian Ad Litem program, Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, each local governmental entity, and governing body of charter school, to include responsibility of establishing certain internal controls; revises provisions relating to agency inspectors general; revises definition of “state agency” to include Justice Administrative Commission and agencies it administratively supports; revises responsibilities of district school board’s internal auditor to permit certain audits and reviews; requires each Florida College System institution to file certain annual financial statements with State Board of Education; requires each school district, Florida College System institution, and state university to establish certain internal controls.
The House K-12 Subcommittee will meet – 12:30-1:30 pm; Florida Channel webcast – to consider:
HB 1121 – Hazardous Walking Conditions by Metz
Revises criteria that determine hazardous walking condition for public school students; revises procedures for inspection & identification of hazardous conditions; requires district school boards to provide transportation to students who would be subjected to hazardous conditions; requires state or local entities with jurisdiction over road with hazardous condition to correct condition.
The Senate Military & Veterans Affairs, Space, & Domestic Security Committee will meet – 2:00-5:00 pm; Florida Channel webcast – to consider the following item and others:
SB 1120 – Military Affairs by Abruzzo
Prohibiting a public employer from compelling an employee who is the spouse of a military servicemember to work extended work hours during active duty deployment of his or her spouse; prohibiting the imposition of a sanction or penalty upon such employee for failure or refusal to work extended work hours during the period of his or her spouse’s active duty deployment; requiring a public employer to grant a request by such employee for unpaid leave for specified purposes during the active duty deployment, etc.
IN THE NEWS
Tampa Tribune – 3/23/14
Expansion of tax scholarship program debated
http://tbo.com/news/education/
Tampa Bay Times – 3/20/14
Senate sponsor pulls Florida school voucher bill
http://www.tampabay.com/news/
rederinED – 3/21/14
Testing conflict kills scholarship bill in Florida Senate
http://www.redefinedonline.
