Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 By the Committee on Appropriations 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 1 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1

An act relating to education; amending s. 1002.394, 2 F.S.; revising the maximum number of students for whom 3 scholarships are established under the Family 4 Empowerment Scholarship Program, beginning in 5 specified school years; repealing s. 1002.411, F.S., 6 relating to reading scholarship accounts; amending s. 7 1002.995, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education 8 to provide incentives to school readiness personnel 9 and prekindergarten instructors who meet specified 10 requirements, subject to the appropriation of fun ds 11 for that purpose; amending s. 1007.271, F.S.; revising 12 requirements for materials assigned for use within 13 dual enrollment courses; deleting a requirement that 14 certain students be responsible for their own 15 instructional materials as a prerequisite to 16 participation in the dual enrollment program; 17 requiring that private school articulation agreements 18 entered into by public postsecondary institutions 19 eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program 20 include a provision specifying the private school’s 21 payment obligation for certain dual enrollment 22 courses; creating s. 1007.36, F.S.; creating the 23 Inclusive Transition and Employment Management 24 Program; providing the purpose of the program; 25 creating s. 1008.3651, F.S.; providing a legislative 26 finding; creating the Seal of Excellence in Advancing 27 Literacy; providing the purpose of the seal; requiring 28 the State Board of Education to adopt rules by a 29

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 2 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. specified date; establishing the criteria for earning 30 the seal; specifying requirements for such criteria; 31 requiring that schools that meet the criteria receive 32 financial awards, subject to the availability of 33 funds; specifying how awards must be distributed; 34 specifying allowable uses of awards; providing that 35 awards are not subject to collective bargaining ; 36 amending s. 1009.30, F.S.; revising the criteria for 37 reimbursement of eligible postsecondary institutions 38 for tuition and related instructional materials costs 39 for dual enrollment courses; revising participating 40 institution reporting requirements under the program ; 41 requiring the department to reimburse each 42 participating institution within a specified 43 timeframe; amending s. 1011.48, F.S.; revising the 44 manner in which certain fees charged by educational 45 research centers for child development are determined; 46 amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising full-time 47 equivalent student membership amounts for purposes 48 related to the sparsity supplement under the Florida 49 Education Finance Program; revising the requirements 50 of the evidence-based reading instruction allocation 51 under the Florida Education Finance Program; defining 52 the term “supervision”; conforming provisions to 53 changes made by the act; creating s. 1012.5861, F.S.; 54 providing a legislative finding; requiring the 55 department to create a statewide early literacy micro -56 credential focused on certain readers; authorizing 57 district school boards and lab school boards of 58

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 3 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. trustees to use certain programs; providing for 59 reciprocity for micro-credentials; requiring that 60 charter schools are provided access to all approved 61 micro-credentials; requiring the department to make 62 the micro-credential available to certain persons by a 63 specified date; specifying the requirements for the 64 micro-credential; requiring the state board to adopt 65 rules; amending s. 1003.621, F.S.; conforming a cross-66 reference; providing an effective date. 67 68 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 69 70

Section 1. Paragraph (

b) of subsection (12) of

section 71 1002.394, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 72 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.— 73

(12) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AND PAYMENT.— 74 (b)1. Scholarships for students determined eligible 75 pursuant to paragraph (3)(

b) are established for up to 26,500 76 20,000 students annually beginning in the 2022-2023 2021-2022 77 school year. Beginning in the 2023-2024 2022-2023 school year, 78 the maximum number of students participating in the scholarship 79 program under this

section shall annually increase by 1.0 80 percent of the state’s total exceptional student education full -81 time equivalent student enrollment, not including gifted 82 students. An eligible student who meets any of the following 83 requirements shall be excluded from the maximum number of 84 students if the student: 85 a. Received specialized instructional services under the 86 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s. 87

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 4 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 1002.66 during the previous school year and the student has a 88 current IEP developed by the local school board in accordance 89 with rules of the State Board of Education; 90 b. Is a dependent child of a member of the United States 91 Armed Forces, a foster child, or an adopted child; 92 c. Spent the prior school year in attendance at a Florida 93 public school or the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind. 94 For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “prior school year 95 in attendance” means that the student was enrolled and reported 96 by: 97 (

I) A school district for funding during either the 98 preceding October or February Florida Education Finance Program 99 surveys in kindergarten through grade 12, which includes time 100 spent in a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program if 101 funded under the Florida Education Finance Program; 102 (II) The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind during 103 the preceding October or February student membership surveys in 104 kindergarten through grade 12; 105 (III) A school district for funding during the preceding 106 October or February Florida Education Finance Program surveys, 107 was at least 4 years of age when enrolled and reported, and was 108 eligible for services under s. 1003.21(1)(e); or 109 (IV) Received a John M.

McKay Scholarship for Students with 110 Disabilities in the 2021-2022 school year. 111 2. For a student who has a Level I to Level III matrix of 112 services or a diagnosis by a physician or psychologist, the 113 calculated scholarship amount for a student participating in the 114 program must be based upon the grade level and school district 115 in which the student would have been enrolled as the total funds 116

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 5 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. per unweighted full-time equivalent in the Florida Education 117 Finance Program for a student in the basic exceptional student 118 education program pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and (e)1.c., 119 plus a per full-time equivalent share of funds for all 120 categorical programs, as funded in the General Appropriations 121 Act, except that for the exceptional student education 122 guaranteed allocation as provided in s. 1011.62 (1)(e)1.c. and 123 2., the funds must be allocated based on the school district’s 124 average exceptional student education guaranteed allocation 125 funds per exceptional student education full-time equivalent 126 student. 127 3.

For a student with a Level IV or Level V matrix of 128 services, the calculated scholarship amount must be based upon 129 the school district to which the student would have been 130 assigned as the total funds per full-time equivalent for the 131 Level IV or Level V exceptional student education program 132 pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(c)2.a. or b., plus a per-full time 133 equivalent share of funds for all categorical programs, as 134 funded in the General Appropriations Act. 135 4.

For a student who received a Gardiner Scholarship 136 pursuant to s. 1002.385 in the 2020-2021 school year, the amount 137 shall be the greater of the amount calculated pursuant to 138 subparagraph 2. or the amount the student received for the 2020 -139 2021 school year. 140 5. For a student who received a John M. McKay Scholarship 141 pursuant to s. 1002.39 in the 2020-2021 school year, the amount 142 shall be the greater of the amount calculated pursuant to 143 subparagraph 2. or the amount the student received for the 2020 -144 2021 school year. 145

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 6 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 6. Upon notification from an organization on July 1, 146 September 1, December 1, and February 1 that an application has 147 been approved for the program, the department shall verify that 148 the student is not prohibited from receiving a scholarship 149 pursuant to subsection (6). The organization must provide the 150 department with the documentation necessary to verify the 151 student’s participation. 152 7.

Upon verification, the department shall release, from 153 state funds only, the student’s scholarship funds to the 154 organization, to be deposited into the student’s account in four 155 equal amounts no later than September 1, November 1, February 1, 156 and April 1 of each school year in which the scholarship is in 157 force. 158 8. Accrued interest in the student’s account is in addition 159 to, and not part of, the awarded funds. Program funds include 160 both the awarded funds and accrued interest. 161 9.

The organization may develop a system for payment of 162 benefits by funds transfer, including, but not limited to, debit 163 cards, electronic payment cards, or any other means of payment 164 which the department deems to be commercially viable or cost -165 effective. A student’s scholarship award may not be reduced for 166 debit card or electronic payment fees. Commodities or services 167 related to the development of such a system must be procured by 168 competitive solicitation unless they are purchased from a state 169 term contract pursuant to s. 287.056. 170 10. Moneys received pursuant to this

section do not 171 constitute taxable income to the qualified student or the parent 172 of the qualified student. 173

Section

Section 1002.411, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 174

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Section 3. Paragraph (

c) is added to subsection (1) of 175

section 1002.995, Florida Statutes, to read: 176 1002.995 Early learning professional development standards 177 and career pathways.— 178

(1) The department shall: 179 (

c) Subject to the appropriation of funds by the 180 Legislature, provide incentives to school readiness personnel 181 who meet the requirements of s. 1002.88(1)(

e) and 182 prekindergarten instructors who meet the requirements specified 183 in s. 1002.55, s. 1002.61, or s. 1002.63 and who possess a 184 reading certification or endorsement or an early literacy micro-185 credential as specified in s. 1012.5861 and teach students in 186 the school readiness program or the voluntary prekindergarten 187 education program. 188

Section 4. Subsections (17) and (24) of

section 1007.271, 189 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 190 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.— 191

(17) Instructional materials assigned for use within dual 192 enrollment courses shall be made available to dual enrollment 193 students from Florida public high schools free of charge. A 194 postsecondary institution may not require payment for 195 instructional materials costs eligible for reimbursement under 196 s. 1009.30 This subsection does not prohibit a Florida College 197 System institution from providing instructional materials at no 198 cost to a home education student or student from a private 199 school.

Instructional materials purchased by a district school 200 board or Florida College System institution board of trustees on 201 behalf of dual enrollment students shall be the property of the 202 board against which the purchase is charged. 203

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 8 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (24)(

a) The dual enrollment program for a private school 204 student consists of the enrollment of an eligible private school 205 student in a postsecondary course creditable toward an associate 206 degree, a career certificate, or a baccalaureate degree. In 207 addition, a private school in which a student, including, but 208 not limited to, students with disabilities, is enrolled must 209 award credit toward high school completion for the postsecondary 210 course under the dual enrollment program. To participate in the 211 dual enrollment program, an eligible private school student 212 must: 213 1.

Provide proof of enrollment in a private school pursuant 214 to subsection (2). 215 2. Be responsible for his or her own instructional 216 materials and transportation unless provided for in the 217 articulation agreement. 218 3. Sign a private school articulation agreement pursuant to 219 paragraph (b). 220 (

b) Each public postsecondary institution eligible to 221 participate in the dual enrollment program pursuant to s. 222 1011.62(1)(

i) must enter into a private school articulation 223 agreement with each eligible private school in its geographic 224 service area seeking to offer dual enrollment courses to its 225 students, including, but not limited to, students with 226 disabilities. By August 1 of each year, the eligible 227 postsecondary institution shall complete and submit the private 228 school articulation agreement to the Department of Education. 229 The private school articulation agreement must include, at a 230 minimum: 231 1. A delineation of courses and programs available to the 232

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 9 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. private school student. The postsecondary institution may add, 233 revise, or delete courses and programs at any time. 234 2. The initial and continued eligibility requirements for 235 private school student participation, not to exceed those 236 required of other dual enrollment students. 237 3. The student’s responsibilities for providing his or her 238 own instructional materials and transportation. 239 4.

A provision clarifying that the private school will 240 award appropriate credit toward high school completion for the 241 postsecondary course under the dual enrollment program. 242 5. A provision relating to payment for dual enrollment 243 courses, which must specify that: 244 a. The private school shall pay an amount specified by the 245 postsecondary institution for dual enrollment courses taken 246 during the scheduled school hours of the private school. The 247 amount charged per credit hour may not exceed the postsecondary 248 institution standard tuition rate per credit hour ; and 249 b.

The private school is not required to pay for dual 250 enrollment courses taken by its students outside of the 251 scheduled school hours of the private school, or during the 252 summer term. 253 6. A provision expressing that costs associated with 254 tuition and fees, including registration, and laboratory fees , 255 will not be passed along to the student. 256

Section

Section 1007.36, Florida Statutes, is created to 257 read: 258 1007.36 Inclusive Transition and Employment Management 259 Program.—As authorized by and consistent with funding 260 appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, the Inclusive 261

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 10 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Transition and Employment Management Program is created for the 262 purpose of providing young adults with disabilities who are 263 between the ages of 16 years and 28 years with transitional 264 skills, education, and on-the-job experience to allow them to 265 acquire and retain permanent employment. 266

Section

Section 1008.3651, Florida Statutes, is created 267 to read: 268 1008.3651 The Seal of Excellence in Advancing Literacy.— 269

(1) The Legislature finds that there is a need for a 270 performance incentive program for outstanding faculty and staff 271 in schools that demonstrate growth in early literacy attainment. 272

(2) The Seal of Excellence in Advancing Literacy is created 273 to provide financial awards to public schools, including charter 274 schools, which demonstrate growth in early literacy. By October 275 1, 2022, the State Board of Education shall adopt rules 276 establishing the criteria for earning the seal. The criteria 277 must include metrics for schools to earn the seal by 278 demonstrating exemplary performance with respect t o reading 279 instruction for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 280 2. The criteria must: 281 (

a) Prioritize advancing the abilities of the lowest 282 performing students at least one grade level in each grade; and 283 (

b) Allow schools to earn the seal by advancing the 284 abilities of students at least one grade level in each grade. 285

(3) All schools that meet the criteria established under 286 subsection (2) shall receive financial awards depending on the 287 availability of funds as appropriated in the General 288 Appropriations Act. Funds must be distributed to the school’s 289 fiscal agent and placed in the school’s account and must be used 290

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 11 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. for the purposes specified in subsection (4), as determined 291 jointly by the school’s staff and the school advisory council. 292 If the school staff and the school advisory council cannot reach 293 agreement regarding the use of the funds by February 1 of the 294 school year for which they are allocated, the awards must be 295 distributed equally to all instructional personnel, as defined 296 in s. 1012.01(2), teaching in the school at that time.

If a 297 school that earned a seal is no longer in existence at the time 298 the award is paid, the district school superintendent must 299 distribute the funds in the form of a bonus to instructional 300 personnel who taught at the school in the previous year. 301

(4) Awards must be used for one or more of the following: 302 (

a) Nonrecurring financial incentives to instructional 303 personnel and staff. 304 (

b) Nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or 305 materials to assist in maintaining and improving student 306 performance. 307 (

c) Other personnel for the school to assist in maintaining 308 and improving student performance. 309 310 Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, 311 incentive awards are not subject to collective bargaining. 312

Section 7. Subsection (2), paragraph (

a) of subsection (3), 313 and subsections (5), (7), (8), and (9) of

section 1009.30, 314 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 315 1009.30 Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program.— 316

(2) The Department of Education shall administer the Dual 317 Enrollment Scholarship Program in accordance with rules adopted 318 by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (8) (9). 319

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 12 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. (3)(

a) Beginning in the 2021 fall term, The program shall 320 reimburse eligible postsecondary institutions for tuition and 321 related instructional materials costs for dual enrollment 322 courses taken during the fall or spring terms by eligible 323 students, consisting of: 324 1. Private school students who take dual enrollment courses 325 pursuant to s. 1007.271(24)(b)5.b.; or 326 2. Home education program secondary students during the 327 fall or spring terms. 328

(5) Annually, by March 15, Each participating institution 329 must report to the department any eligible secondary students 330 from private schools or home education programs who were 331 enrolled during the previous fall or spring terms within 30 days 332 after the end of regular registration. Annually, by July 15, 333 Each participating institution must report to the department any 334 eligible public school, private school, or home education 335 program students who were enrolled during the summer term within 336 30 days after the end of regular registration.

For each dual 337 enrollment course in which the student is enrolled, the report 338 must include a unique student identifier, the postsecondary 339 institution name, the postsecondary course number, and the 340 postsecondary course name. The department shall reimburse each 341 participating institution no later than 30 days after the 342 institution has reported enrollment for that term. 343

(7) For dual enrollment courses taken during the fall and 344 spring terms, the department must reimburse institutions by 345 April 15 of the same year. For dual enrollment courses taken 346 during the summer term, the department must reimburse 347 institutions by August 15 of the same year, before the beginning 348

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 13 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. of the next academic year. 349

(8) Reimbursement for dual enrollment courses is contingent 350 upon an appropriation in the General Appropriations Act each 351 year. If the statewide reimbursement amount is greater than the 352 appropriation, the institutional reimbursement amounts specified 353 in subsection (6) shall be prorated among the institutions that 354 have reported eligible students to the department by the 355 deadlines specified in subsection (5). 356 (8)

(9) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 357 implement this section. 358

Section 8. Subsection (3) of

section 1011.48, Florida 359 Statutes, is amended to read: 360 1011.48 Establishment of educational research centers for 361 child development.— 362

(3) Each center is authorized to charge fees for the care 363 and services it provides, subject to the fees authorized by s. 364 1009.24(14). Such fees must be approved by the Board of 365 Governors and may be imposed on a sliding scale based on ability 366 to pay or any other factors deemed relevant by the board . 367

Section 9. Paragraph (

d) of subsection (6), paragraphs (a) 368 and (

b) of subsection (7), and subsection (8) of

section 369 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 370 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual 371 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each 372 district for operation of schools is not determined in the 373 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing 374 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as 375 follows: 376

(6) CATEGORICAL FUNDS.— 377

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d) If a district school board transfers funds from its 378 evidence-based reading instruction allocation, the board must 379 also submit to the Department of Education an amendment 380 describing the changes that the district is making to its 381 reading plan approved pursuant to paragraph (8)(e) (8)(d). 382

(7) DETERMINATION OF SPARSITY SUPPLEMENT.— 383 (

a) Annually, in an amount to be determined by the 384 Legislature through the General Appropriations Act, there shall 385 be added to the basic amount for current operation of the FEFP 386 qualified districts a sparsity supplement which shall be 387 computed as follows: 388 389 Sparsity Factor = 1101.8918 – 0.1101 390 2700 + district sparsity index 391 except that districts with a sparsity index of 1,000 or less 392 shall be computed as having a sparsity index of 1,000, and 393 districts having a sparsity index of 7,308 and above shall be 394 computed as having a sparsity factor of zero.

A qualified 395 district’s full-time equivalent student membership shall equal 396 or be less than that prescribed annually by the Legislature in 397 the appropriations act. The amount prescribed annually by the 398 Legislature shall be no less than 17,000, but no more than 399 30,000 24,000. 400

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b) The district sparsity index shall be computed by 401 dividing the total number of full-time equivalent students in 402 all programs in the district by the number of senior high school 403 centers in the district, not in excess of three, which centers 404 are approved as permanent centers by a survey made by the 405 Department of Education. For districts with a full -time 406 equivalent student membership of at least 20,000, but no more 407 than 30,000 24,000, the index shall be computed by dividing the 408 total number of full-time equivalent students in all programs by 409 the number of permanent senior high school centers in the 410 district, not in excess of four. 411

(8) EVIDENCE-BASED READING INSTRUCTION ALLOCATION.— 412 (

a) The evidence-based reading instruction allocation is 413 created to provide comprehensive reading instruction to students 414 in prekindergarten kindergarten through grade 12, with priority 415 given to students including certain students who have completed 416 the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and who are at 417 risk of being identified as having a substantial deficiency in 418 early literacy skills under s. 1008.25(8)(c).

Each school 419 district that has one or more of the 300 lowest -performing 420 elementary schools based on a 3-year average of the state 421 reading assessment data must use the school’s po rtion of the 422 allocation to provide an additional hour per day of intensive 423 reading instruction for the students in each school. The 424 additional hour may be provided within the school day.

Students 425 enrolled in these schools who earned a level 4 or level 5 sc ore 426 on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment 427 for the previous school year may participate in the additional 428 hour of instruction. Exceptional student education centers may 429

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 16 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. not be included in the 300 schools. The 430 (

b) Intensive reading instruction for students who have 431 reading deficiencies must delivered in this additional hour 432 shall include: evidence-based reading instruction that has been 433 proven to accelerate progress of students exhibiting a reading 434 deficiency; differentiated instruction based on screening, 435 diagnostic, progress monitoring, or student assessment data to 436 meet students’ specific reading needs; explicit and systematic 437 reading strategies to develop phonemic awareness, phonics, 438 fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, with mo re extensive 439 opportunities for guided practice, error correction, and 440 feedback; and the coordinated integration of civic literacy, 441 science, and mathematics-text reading, text discussion, and 442 writing in response to reading. 443 (c)(

b) Funds for comprehensive, evidence-based reading 444 instruction shall be allocated annually to each school district 445 in the amount provided in the General Appropriations Act. Each 446 eligible school district shall receive the same minimum amount 447 as specified in the General Appropriations Act, and any 448 remaining funds shall be distributed to eligible school 449 districts based on each school district’s proportionate share of 450 K-12 base funding. 451 (d)(

c) Funds allocated under this subsection must be used 452 to provide a system of comprehensive reading instruction to 453 students enrolled in the K-12 programs and certain students who 454 exhibit a substantial deficiency in early literacy and completed 455 the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s. 456 1008.25(5)(b), which may include the following: 457 1. Additional time An additional hour per day of evidence-458

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 17 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. based intensive reading instruction to students , which may be 459 delivered during or outside of the regular school day in the 300 460 lowest-performing elementary schools by teachers and reading 461 specialists who have demonstrated effectiveness in teaching 462 reading as required in paragraph (a). 463 2.

Kindergarten through grade 12 5 evidence-based intensive 464 reading interventions provided by reading intervention teachers 465 during the school day and in the required extra hour for 466 students identified as having a substantial reading deficiency . 467 3. Highly qualified reading coaches, who must be certified 468 or endorsed in reading, to specifically support teachers in 469 making instructional decisions based on student data, and 470 improve teacher delivery of effective reading instruction, 471 intervention, and reading in the content areas based on student 472 need. 473 4.

Professional development for school district teachers in 474 scientifically researched and evidence-based reading 475 instruction, including strategies to teach reading in content 476 areas and with an emphasis on technical and informational text, 477 to help instructional personnel and certified prekindergarten 478 teachers funded in the Florida Education Finance Program school 479 district teachers earn a certification, a credential, or an 480 endorsement, or an advanced degree in scientifically researched 481 and evidence-based reading instruction. 482 5.

Summer reading camps, using only teachers or other 483 district personnel who possess an early literacy micro-484 credential as specified in s. 1012.5861 or are certified or 485 endorsed in reading consistent with s. 1008.25(7)(b)3., for all 486 students in kindergarten through grade 5 2 who demonstrate a 487

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 18 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. reading deficiency as determined by district and state 488 assessments, students in grades 3 through 5 who score at Level 1 489 on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment, 490 and certain students who exhibit a substantial deficiency in 491 early literacy and completed the Voluntary Prekindergarten 492 Education Program under s. 1008.25(5)(b). 493 6.

Scientifically researched and evidence-based 494 supplemental instructional materials as identified by the Just 495 Read, Florida! Office pursuant to s. 1001.215(8). 496 7.

Incentives for instructional personnel and certified 497 prekindergarten teachers funded in the Florida Education Finance 498 Program who possess a reading certification or endorsement or an 499 early literacy micro-credential as specified in s. 1012.5861 and 500 provide educational support to improve student literacy 501 Evidence-based intensive reading interventions for students in 502 kindergarten through grade 12 who have been identified as having 503 a substantial reading deficiency or who are reading below grade 504 level as determined by the statewide, standardized English 505 Language Arts assessment or for certain students who exhibit a 506 substantial deficiency in early literacy and completed the 507 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program under s. 508 1008.25(5)(b). 509 8.

Tutoring in reading. 510 (e)1.(d)1. Annually, by a date determined by the Department 511 of Education but before May 1, school districts shall submit a 512 comprehensive reading plan, approved by the applicable district 513 school board, charter school governing board, or lab school 514 board of trustees, for the specific use of the evidence-based 515 reading instruction allocation in the format prescribed by the 516

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 19 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. department for review and approval by the Just Read, Florida! 517 Office created pursuant to s. 1001.215.

The plan format shall be 518 developed with input from school district personnel, including 519 teachers and principals, and shall provide for intensive reading 520 interventions identified through a root-cause analysis of 521 student performance data and reflection tool developed by the 522 department to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions 523 implemented in the prior year. 524 2.

Intensive reading interventions must be delivered by 525 instructional personnel who possess the early literacy 526 intervention micro-credential as provided in s. 1012.5861 or are 527 certified or endorsed in reading and must incorporate evidence -528 based strategies identified by the Just Read, Florida! Office 529 pursuant to s. 1001.215(8).

Instructional personnel who possess 530 an early literacy micro-credential as specified in s. 1012.5861 531 and are delivering intensive reading interventions must be 532 supervised by an individual certified or endorsed in reading. 533 For the purposes of this subsection, the term “supervision” 534 means the ability to communicate by way of telecommunication 535 with or physical presence of the certified or endorsed personnel 536 for consultation and direction of the actions of the personnel 537 with the micro-credential. 538 3.2.

By July 1 of each year, the department shall release 539 to each school district with an approved plan its allocation of 540 appropriated funds. If a school district and the Just Read, 541 Florida! Office cannot reach agreement on the contents of the 542 plan, the school district may appeal to the State Board of 543 Education for resolution. School districts shall be allowed 544 reasonable flexibility in designing their plans and shall be 545

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 20 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. encouraged to offer reading intervention through innovative 546 methods, including career academies. The department shall 547 withhold funds upon a determination that reading instruction 548 allocation funds are not being used to implement the approved 549 plan.

The department shall evaluate the implementation of each 550 district plan, including conducting site visits and collecting 551 specific data on expenditures and reading improvement results. 552 By February 1 of each year, the department shall report its 553 findings to the Legislature and the State Board of Education, 554 including any recommendations for improving implementation of 555 evidence-based reading and intervention strategies in 556 classrooms. 557 3. Each school district that has a school designated as one 558 of the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools as specified in 559 paragraph (

a) shall specifically delineate in the comprehensive 560 reading plan, or in an addendum to the comprehensive reading 561 plan, the implementation design and reading intervention 562 strategies that will be used for the required additional hour of 563 reading instruction.

The term “reading intervention” includes 564 evidence-based strategies frequently used to remediate reading 565 deficiencies and also includes individual instruction, tutoring, 566 mentoring, or the use of technology that targets specific 567 reading skills and abilities. 568 569 For purposes of this subsection, the term “evidence -based” means 570 demonstrating a statistically significant effect on improving 571 student outcomes or other relevant outcomes as provided in 20 572 U.S.C. s. 8101(21)(A)(i). 573

Section

Section 1012.5861, Florida Statutes, is created 574

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 21 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. to read: 575 1012.5861 Early Literacy Micro-Credential.— 576

(1) The Legislature finds that providing academically 577 rigorous early literacy instruction that prepares all students 578 to be analytical readers, skillful writers, and effective 579 communicators is paramount for student success. Therefore, 580 district school boards and lab school boards of trustees may 581 establish an early literacy micro-credential as an instructional 582 model that emphasizes strong core instruction and a tiered model 583 of reading interventions for struggling prekindergarten through 584 grade 3 readers. 585

(2) The Department of Education shall create a statewide 586 early literacy micro-credential focused on prekindergarten 587 through grade 3 readers. District school boards and lab school 588 boards of trustees may use their own micro-credential or the 589 micro-credential created by another district school board, lab 590 school board of trustees, or the department. Reciprocity for 591 micro-credentials created by district school boards, lab school 592 boards, and the department is required across all 67 districts. 593 Charter schools must be provided access to all approved micro-594 credentials.

By December 31, 2022, the department shall make the 595 micro-credential available, at no cost, to instructional 596 personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2); prekindergarten 597 instructors as specified in ss. 1002.55, 1002.61, and 1002.63; 598 and child care personnel as defined in ss. 1002.88(1)(

e) and 599 402.302(3). 600 (

a) The micro-credential must include components on 601 content, student learning, pedagogy, and professional 602 development and must build on a strong foundation of 603

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 22 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. scientifically researched and evidence-based reading 604 instructional and intervention programs that incorporate 605 explicit, systematic, and sequential approaches to teaching 606 phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text 607 comprehension and incorporate decodable or phonetic text 608 instructional strategies, as identified by the Just Read, 609 Florida! Office, pursuant to s. 1001.215(8). 610 (

b) The micro-credential curriculum must be designed 611 specifically for instructional personnel in prekindergarten 612 through grade 3 and must be transferable through all grades from 613 prekindergarten through grade 3. 614 (

c) The micro-credential must require teachers to 615 demonstrate competency to: 616 1. Diagnose reading difficulties and determine the 617 appropriate range of reading interventions; 618 2. Use evidence-based instructional and intervention 619 practices, including strategies identified by the Just Read, 620 Florida! Office pursuant to s. 1001.215(8); and 621 3. Effectively use progress monitoring and intervention 622 materials. 623 (

d) The credentialing process must employ a professional 624 development model that requires participants to engage in a job -625 embedded credentialing process, which must include: 626 1. A combination of virtual and face-to-face sessions 627 focused on building content knowledge, instructional pedagogy, 628 data analysis, and reflective practice. 629 2. Professional learning modules implemented over multiple 630 cycles, during which participants will engage in planning and 631 implementing instruction based on course content, followed by a 632

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 23 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. period of data collection, data analysis, and reflection. 633 (

e) The micro-credential must be designed for eligible 634 instructional personnel to complete the credentialing process 635 through a maximum of 40 hours in an online format. The 636 department may also provide for the micro-credential to be 637 delivered in an in-person format. 638 (

f) The department must collaborate with, at a minimum, 639 school district reading experts and the early learning 640 coalitions in the development of the micro-credential. The 641 Lastinger Center at the University of Florida and the Florida 642 Center for Reading Research created under s. 1004.645 shall 643 provide technical assistance to the department and district 644 school boards in developing micro-credentials. 645 (

g) Each district school board, lab school board of 646 trustees, charter school, school readiness provider, and 647 voluntary prekindergarten education program provider must 648 annually complete and submit to the department a notarized 649 compliance statement certifying that the micro-credential in use 650 in the district or lab school meets the requirements of this 651

section and specifying the agency that developed and approved 652 the micro-credential. 653

(3) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 654 implement this section. 655

Section 11. Paragraph (

g) of subsection (2) of

section 656 1003.621, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 657 1003.621 Academically high-performing school districts.—It 658 is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and reward school 659 districts that demonstrate the ability to consistently maintain 660 or improve their high-performing status. The purpose of this 661

Florida Senate - 2022 SB 2524 576-02896-22 20222524__ Page 24 of 24 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

section is to provide high-performing school districts with 662 flexibility in meeting the specific requirements in statute and 663 rules of the State Board of Education. 664

(2) COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTES AND RULES.—Each academically 665 high-performing school district shall comply with all of the 666 provisions in chapters 1000-1013, and rules of the State Board 667 of Education which implement these provisions, pertaining to the 668 following: 669 (

g) Those statutes pertaining to planning and budgeting, 670 including

chapter 1011, except s. 1011.62(8)(

e) s. 671 1011.62(8)(d), relating to the requirement for a comprehensive 672 reading plan. A district that is exempt from submitting a 673 comprehensive reading plan shall be deemed approved to receive 674 the evidence-based reading instruction allocation.

Each 675 academically high-performing school district may provide up to 2 676 days of virtual instruction as part of the required 180 actual 677 teaching days or the equivalent on an hourly basis each school 678 year, as specified by rules of the State Board of Education. 679 Virtual instruction that is conducted in accordance with the 680 plan approved by the department, is teacher-developed, and is 681 aligned with the standards for enrolled courses complies with s. 682 1011.60(2). The day or days must be indicated o n the calendar 683 approved by the school board.

The district shall submit a plan 684 for each day of virtual instruction to the department for 685 approval, in a format prescribed by the department, with 686 assurances of alignment to statewide student standards as 687 described in s. 1003.41 before the start of each school year. 688

Section 12. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 689