Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 By the Committee on Appropriations 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 1 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. A bill to be entitled 1

An act relating to education; amending s. 110.123, 2 F.S.; revising

definitions; defining the term 3 “participating college”; creating s. 110.1229, F.S.; 4 defining the term “college”; authorizing the district 5 board of trustees of a college to apply by a specified 6 date for participation in the state group health 7 insurance program and the prescription drug coverage 8 program; requiring the college to agree to specified 9 conditions; providing a timeframe for the enrollment 10 period; providing applicability; creating s. 985.176, 11 F.S.; subject to legislative appropriation, 12 authorizing specified entities to contract with 13 AMIkids, Inc., for specified purposes; amending s. 14 1002.33, F.S.; revising funding methods for students 15 enrolled in certain charter schools; requiring a 16 charter school to receive certain funds; requiring 17 that certain funds be expended; amending s. 1002.391, 18 F.S.; subject to legislative appropriation, creating 19 the Bridge to Speech Program; providing for the use of 20 funds; requiring the Department of Education to award 21 funds by a specified date; amending s. 1002.394, F.S.; 22 revising requirements for the Family Empowerment 23 Scholarship Program; amending s. 1002.395, F.S.; 24 revising requirements for the Florida Tax Credit 25 Scholarship Program; amending s. 1002.71, F.S.; 26 revising the percentage of certain funds that may be 27 expended by an early learning coalition; making 28 technical changes; creating s. 1003.4206, F.S.; 29

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 2 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. subject to legislative appropriation, creating the 30 Charity for Change program; authorizing the program to 31 use third-party providers to deliver specified 32 services; amending s. 1003.435, F.S.; requiring 33 district school boards to notify all candidates for 34 the high school equivalency diploma of adult secondary 35 and postsecondary education options; creating s. 36 1004.933, F.S.; providing legislative intent; defining 37 the terms “career education program” and 38 “institution”; establishing the Graduation Alternative 39 to Traditional Education (GATE) Program within the 40 Department of Education; providing the purposes of the 41 program; providing that students enrolled in the 42 program are exempt from payments for registration, 43 tuition, laboratory, and examination fees; providing 44 eligibility requirements; prohibiting an institution 45 from imposing additional eligibility requirements; 46 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules; 47 amending s. 1008.34, F.S.; providing that students in 48 high school who enroll in the GATE Program may not be 49 included in their school’s graduation rate; creating 50 s. 1009.711, F.S.; creating the GATE Scholarship 51 Program; requiring the department to administer the 52 program; requiring the program to reimburse eligible 53 institutions for student costs; requiring 54 participating institutions to report to the department 55 all students enrolled in the program; requiring the 56 department to reimburse participating institutions 57 within a specified timeframe; providing that 58

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 3 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. reimbursements are contingent on legislative 59 appropriations and may be prorated in the event that 60 total reimbursements owed exceed available funds; 61 requiring the state board to adopt rules; amending s. 62 1011.62, F.S.; creating the juvenile justice education 63 supplement; providing the purpose of the supplemental 64 allocation for juvenile justice education programs; 65 providing for calculation of the supplement as the sum 66 of specified allocations; revising the calculation of 67 the class-size-reduction allocation and specifying the 68 manner for calculating the student allocation; 69 amending s. 1011.80, F.S.; revising the number of 70 courses that certain students may be reported for, 71 relating to funding purposes; providing that such 72 courses do not have to be core curricula courses; 73 deleting a requirement for the department to develop a 74 list of courses to be designated as core curricula 75 courses; creating s. 1011.804, F.S.; creating the GATE 76 Program Student Success Incentive Fund for a specified 77 purpose; defining the term “institution”; providing 78 that, subject to the appropriation of funds by the 79 Legislature, each participating institution must 80 receive specified allocations; providing for proration 81 of funds, as necessary; providing an effective date. 82 83 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 84 85

Section 1. Present paragraphs (

h) through (

r) of subsection 86 (2) of

section 110.123, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 87

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 4 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. paragraphs (

i) through (s), respectively, a new paragraph (

h) is 88 added to that subsection, and paragraphs (

c) and (

e) and present 89 paragraphs (

j) and (

l) of that subsection are amended, to read: 90 110.123 State group insurance program.— 91

(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in ss. 110.123-110.1239, the term: 92 (c) “Enrollee” means all state officers and employees, 93 retired state officers and employees, surviving spouses of 94 deceased state officers and employees, eligible former 95 employees, and terminated employees or individuals with 96 continuation coverage who are enrolled in an insurance plan 97 offered by the state group insurance program.

The term includes 98 all state university officers and employees, retired state 99 university officers and employees, surviving spouses of deceased 100 state university officers and employees, and terminated state 101 university employees or individuals with continuation coverage 102 who are enrolled in an insurance plan offered by the state group 103 insurance program.

The term includes all participating college 104 officers and employees, retired participating college officers 105 and employees, surviving spouses of deceased participating 106 community officers and employees, and terminated participating 107 community employees or individuals with continuation coverage 108 who are enrolled in an insurance plan offered by the state group 109 insurance program.

As used in this paragraph, state employees 110 and retired state employees also include employees and retired 111 employees of the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation. 112 (e) “Full-time state employees” means employees of all 113 branches or agencies of state government holding salaried 114 positions who are paid by state warrant or from agency funds and 115 who work or are expected to work an average of at least 30 hours 116

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 5 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. per week; employees of the Division of Rehabilitation and 117 Liquidation who work or are expected to work an average of at 118 least 30 hours per week; employees paid from regular salary 119 appropriations for 8 months’ employment, including university 120 personnel on academic contracts; and employees paid from other-121 personal-services (OPS) funds as described in subparagraphs 1. 122 and 2.

The term includes all full-time employees of the state 123 universities and the participating colleges. The term does not 124 include seasonal workers who are paid from OPS funds. 125 1. For persons hired before April 1, 2013, the term 126 includes any person paid from OPS funds who: 127 a. Has worked an average of at least 30 hours or more per 128 week during the initial measurement period from April 1, 2013, 129 through September 30, 2013; or 130 b. Has worked an average of at least 30 hours or more per 131 week during a subsequent measurement period. 132 2.

For persons hired after April 1, 2013, the term includes 133 any person paid from OPS funds who: 134 a. Is reasonably expected to work an average of at least 30 135 hours or more per week; or 136 b.

Has worked an average of at least 30 hours or more per 137 week during the person’s measurement period. 138 (h) “Participating college” means a Florida College System 139 institution that enrolls in the state group insurance program 140 pursuant to s. 110.1229. 141 (k)(j) “Retired state officer or employee” or “retiree” 142 means any state or state university or participating college 143 officer or employee, or, beginning with the 2023 plan year, an 144 employee of the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation, who 145

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 6 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. retires under a state retirement system or a state optional 146 annuity or retirement program or is placed on disability 147 retirement, and who was insured under the state group insurance 148 program or the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation’s 149 group insurance program at the time of retirement, and who 150 begins receiving retirement benefits immediately after 151 retirement from state or state university or participating 152 college office or employment.

The term also includes any state 153 officer or state employee who retires under the Florida 154 Retirement System Investment Plan established under

part II of 155

chapter 121 if he or she: 156 1. Meets the age and service requirements to qualify for 157 normal retirement as set forth in s. 121.021(29); or 158 2. Has attained the age specified by s. 72(t)(2)(A)(

i) of 159 the Internal Revenue Code and has 6 years of creditable service. 160 (m)(l) “State agency” or “agency” means any branch, 161 department, or agency of state government. “State agency” or 162 “agency” includes any state university or participating college 163 and the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation for purposes 164 of this

section only. 165

Section

Section 110.1229, Florida Statutes, is created 166 to read: 167 110.1229 Participation by Florida College System 168 institutions.— 169

(1) As used in this section, the term “college” means a 170 Florida College System institution identified in s. 1000.21(5). 171

(2) The district board of trustees of a college may apply 172 by August 1, 2024, for participation in the state group health 173 insurance program authorized by s. 110.123 and the prescription 174

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 7 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. drug coverage program authorized by s. 110.12315 by submitting 175 an application along with a $500 nonrefundable fee to the 176 department. 177

(3) If the department determines that a college is eligible 178 to enroll, the college must agree to the following terms and 179 conditions: 180 (

a) The minimum enrollment or contractual period must be 3 181 years. 182 (

b) Termination of participation of a college requires 183 written notice 1 year before the termination date. 184 (

c) If participation is terminated, a college may not 185 reapply for participation for a period of 2 years. 186 (

d) If a college employer fails to make the payments 187 required by this

section to fully reimburse the state, the 188 Department of Revenue or the Department of Financial Services 189 shall, upon the request of the Department of Management 190 Services, deduct the amount owed by the employer from any funds 191 not pledged to bond debt service satisfaction which are to be 192 distributed by it to the college. The amounts to be deducted 193 must be transferred to the Department of Management Services for 194 further distribution to the trust funds in accordance with this 195 chapter. 196 (

e) The college shall furnish the department any 197 information requested by the department which the department 198 considers necessary to administer the state group health 199 insurance program and the prescription drug coverage program. 200 (

f) The college shall adopt the state’s eligibility rules. 201 (

g) The college shall pay monthly premiums in amounts 202 sufficient to cover claims costs and administrative costs. 203

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 8 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

(4) The enrollment period for colleges determined eligible 204 by the department shall begin before July 31, 2025. 205

(5) The provisions of ss. 624.436-624.446 do not apply to 206 the State Group Insurance Program or to this section. 207

Section

Section 985.176, Florida Statutes, is created to 208 read: 209 985.176 AMIkids, Inc.—As authorized by and consistent with 210 funding appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, the 211 department, the Department of Education, and the Department of 212 Children and Families may contract, in accordance with ss. 213 394.457 and 985.644 and the statutes governing the Department of 214 Education and the Department of Children and Families, with 215 AMIkids, Inc., a nonprofit organization exempt from taxation 216 pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, to 217 provide alternatives to institutionalization or commitment for 218 young men and women by providing services, including, but not 219 limited to, education, behavior modification, skills 220 development, mental health, workforce development, family 221 functioning, and advocacy. 222

Section 4. Paragraph (

b) of subsection (17) of

section 223 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 224 1002.33 Charter schools.— 225

(17) FUNDING.—Students enrolled in a charter school, 226 regardless of the sponsorship, shall be funded as if they are in 227 a basic program or a special program, the same as students 228 enrolled in other public schools in a school district. Funding 229 for a charter lab school shall be as provided in s. 1002.32. 230 (b)1. The basis for the agreement for funding students 231 enrolled in a charter school shall be the sum of the school 232

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 9 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. district’s operating funds from the Florida Education Finance 233 Program as provided in s. 1011.62 and the General Appropriations 234 Act, including gross state and local funds, discretionary 235 lottery funds, and funds from the school district’s current 236 operating discretionary millage levy; divided by total funded 237 weighted full-time equivalent students in the school district; 238 and multiplied by the weighted full-time equivalent students for 239 the charter school.

Charter schools whose students or programs 240 meet the eligibility criteria in law are entitled to their 241 proportionate share of categorical program funds included in the 242 total funds available in the Florida Education Finance Program 243 by the Legislature, including transportation, and the evidence-244 based reading allocation.

Total funding for each charter school 245 shall be recalculated during the year to reflect the revised 246 calculations under the Florida Education Finance Program by the 247 state and the actual weighted full-time equivalent students 248 reported by the charter school during the full-time equivalent 249 student survey periods designated by the Commissioner of 250 Education.

For charter schools operated by a not-for-profit or 251 municipal entity, any unrestricted current and capital assets 252 identified in the charter school’s annual financial audit may be 253 used for other charter schools operated by the not-for-profit or 254 municipal entity within the school district.

For charter schools 255 operated by a not-for-profit entity, any unrestricted current or 256 capital assets identified in the charter school’s annual audit 257 may be used for other charter schools operated by the not-for-258 profit entity which are located outside of the originating 259 charter school’s school district, but within the state, through 260 an unforgivable loan that must be repaid within 5 years to the 261

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 10 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. originating charter school by the receiving charter school. 262 Unrestricted current assets shall be used in accordance with s. 263 1011.62, and any unrestricted capital assets shall be used in 264 accordance with s. 1013.62(2). 265 2.a. Funding for students enrolled in a charter school 266 sponsored by a state university or Florida College System 267 institution pursuant to paragraph (5)(

a) shall be provided as 268 follows: funded as if they are in a basic program or a special 269 program in the school district.

The basis for funding these 270 students is the sum of the total operating funds from the 271 Florida Education Finance Program for the school district in 272 which the school is located as provided in s. 1011.62 and the 273 General Appropriations Act, including gross state and local 274 funds, discretionary lottery funds, and funds from each school 275 district’s current operating discretionary millage levy, divided 276 by total funded weighted full-time equivalent students in the 277 district, and multiplied by the full-time equivalent membership 278 of the charter school.

The Department of Education shall develop 279 a tool that each state university or Florida College System 280 institution sponsoring a charter school shall use for purposes 281 of calculating the funding amount for each eligible charter 282 school student. The total amount obtained from the calculation 283 must be appropriated from state funds in the General 284 Appropriations Act to the charter school. 285 (

I) Each charter school shall receive state funds for 286 operating purposes provided in the Florida Education Finance 287 Program as defined in s. 1011.61(5) and as specified in the 288 General Appropriations Act. 289 (II) The nonvoted required local effort millage established 290

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 11 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) which would otherwise be required for 291 charter schools must be from state funds. 292 (III) An equivalent amount of funds for the operating 293 discretionary millage authorized pursuant to s. 1011.71(1) must 294 be allocated to each charter school through a state-funded 295 discretionary contribution established pursuant to s. 296 1011.62(6). 297 (IV) All operating funds provided under this

section must 298 be expended for the purposes of this section. The college or 299 university sponsoring a charter school is the fiscal agent for 300 such funds, and all rules of the institution governing the 301 budgeting and expenditure of state funds apply to the funds 302 unless otherwise provided by law or rule of the State Board of 303 Education. 304 b. Capital outlay funding for a charter school sponsored by 305 a state university or Florida College System institution 306 pursuant to paragraph (5)(

a) is determined pursuant to s. 307 1013.62 and the General Appropriations Act. 308

Section 5. Subsection (5) is added to

section 1002.391, 309 Florida Statutes, to read: 310 1002.391 Auditory-oral education programs.— 311

(5) As authorized by and consistent with funding 312 appropriated in the General Appropriations Act, the Bridge to 313 Speech Program is created to fund auditory-oral education 314 programs required at schools pursuant to this section. Funds 315 shall be provided at the level of the published tuition rates up 316 to the funds available as provided in the General Appropriations 317 Act. The Department of Education must award these funds to 318 eligible recipients no later than September 1 of each year, with 319

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 12 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. subsequent payments monthly thereafter. 320

Section 6. Paragraph (

a) of subsection (12) of

section 321 1002.394, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 322 1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.— 323

(12) SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING AND PAYMENT.— 324 (a)1. Scholarships for students determined eligible 325 pursuant to paragraph (3)(

a) may be funded once all scholarships 326 have been funded in accordance with s. 1002.395(6)(l)2. The 327 calculated scholarship amount for a participating student 328 determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(

a) shall be based 329 upon the grade level and school district in which the student 330 was assigned as 100 percent of the funds per unweighted full-331 time equivalent in the Florida Education Finance Program for a 332 student in the basic program established pursuant to s. 333 1011.62(1)(c)1., plus a per-full-time equivalent share of funds 334 for the categorical programs established in s. 1011.62(5), 335 (7)(a), and (16), as funded in the General Appropriations Act. 336 2.

A scholarship of $750 or an amount equal to the school 337 district expenditure per student riding a school bus, as 338 determined by the department, whichever is greater, may be 339 awarded to a an eligible student whose household income level 340 does not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level or who 341 is currently placed, or during the previous state fiscal year 342 was placed, in foster care or in out-of-home care as defined in 343 s. 39.01 and who is enrolled in a Florida public school that is 344 different from the school to which the student was assigned or 345 in a lab school as defined in s. 1002.32 if the school district 346 does not provide the student with transportation to the school. 347 Only one scholarship may be awarded pursuant to this 348

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 13 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. subparagraph per household. 349 3. The organization must provide the department with the 350 documentation necessary to verify the student’s participation. 351 Upon receiving the documentation, the department shall transfer, 352 beginning August 1, from state funds only, the amount calculated 353 pursuant to subparagraph 2. to the organization for quarterly 354 disbursement to parents of participating students each school 355 year in which the scholarship is in force.

For a student exiting 356 a Department of Juvenile Justice commitment program who chooses 357 to participate in the scholarship program, the amount of the 358 Family Empowerment Scholarship calculated pursuant to 359 subparagraph 2. must be transferred from the school district in 360 which the student last attended a public school before 361 commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

When a student 362 enters the scholarship program, the organization must receive 363 all documentation required for the student’s participation, 364 including the private school’s and the student’s fee schedules, 365 at least 30 days before the first quarterly scholarship payment 366 is made for the student. 367 4. The initial payment shall be made after the 368 organization’s verification of admission acceptance, and 369 subsequent payments shall be made upon verification of continued 370 enrollment and attendance at the private school.

Payment must be 371 by funds transfer or any other means of payment that the 372 department deems to be commercially viable or cost-effective. An 373 organization shall ensure that the parent has approved a funds 374 transfer before any scholarship funds are deposited. 375 5. An organization may not transfer any funds to an account 376 of a student determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) 377

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 14 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. which has a balance in excess of $24,000. 378

Section 7. Paragraph (

a) of subsection (11) of

section 379 1002.395, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 380 1002.395 Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.— 381

(11) SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT AND PAYMENT.— 382 (

a) The scholarship amount provided to any student for any 383 single school year by an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding 384 organization from eligible contributions shall be for total 385 costs authorized under paragraph (6)(d), not to exceed annual 386 limits, which shall be determined as follows: 387 1.

For a student who received a scholarship in the 2018-388 2019 school year, who remains eligible, and who is enrolled in 389 an eligible private school, the amount shall be the greater 390 amount calculated pursuant to subparagraph 2. or a percentage of 391 the unweighted FTE funding amount for the 2018-2019 state fiscal 392 year and thereafter as follows: 393 a. Eighty-eight percent for a student enrolled in 394 kindergarten through grade 5. 395 b. Ninety-two percent for a student enrolled in grade 6 396 through grade 8. 397 c. Ninety-six percent for a student enrolled in grade 9 398 through grade 12. 399 2.

For students initially eligible in the 2019-2020 school 400 year or thereafter, the calculated amount for a student to 401 attend an eligible private school shall be calculated in 402 accordance with s. 1002.394(12)(a). 403 3. The scholarship amount awarded to a student whose 404 household income level does not exceed 185 percent of the 405 federal poverty level or who is currently placed, or during the 406

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 15 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. previous state fiscal year was placed, in foster care or in out-407 of-home care as defined in s. 39.01 and who is enrolled in a 408 Florida public school that is different from the school to which 409 the student was assigned, or in a lab school as defined in s. 410 1002.32, must be an amount equal to the school district 411 expenditure per student riding a school bus, as determined by 412 the department, or $750, whichever is greater. Only one 413 scholarship may be awarded pursuant to this subparagraph per 414 household. 415

Section 8. Subsection (7) of

section 1002.71, Florida 416 Statutes, is amended to read: 417 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.— 418

(7) The department shall require that administrative 419 expenditures be kept to the minimum necessary for efficient and 420 effective administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten 421 Education Program. Administrative policies and procedures must 422 shall be revised, to the maximum extent practicable, to 423 incorporate the use of automation and electronic submission of 424 forms, including those required for child eligibility and 425 enrollment, provider and class registration, and monthly 426 certification of attendance for payment.

A school district may 427 use its automated daily attendance reporting system for the 428 purpose of transmitting attendance records to the early learning 429 coalition in a mutually agreed-upon format. In addition, actions 430 must shall be taken to reduce paperwork, eliminate the 431 duplication of reports, and eliminate other duplicative 432 activities. Each early learning coalition may retain and expend 433 no more than 5 4.0 percent of the funds paid by the coalition to 434 private prekindergarten providers and public schools under 435

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 16 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. paragraph (5)(b). Funds retained by an early learning coalition 436 under this subsection may be used only for administering the 437 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and may not be used 438 for the school readiness program or other programs. 439

Section

Section 1003.4206, Florida Statutes, is created 440 to read: 441 1003.4206 Charity for Change program.—As authorized by and 442 consistent with funding appropriated in the General 443 Appropriations Act, the Charity for Change program is created to 444 implement the character education standards required pursuant to 445 s. 1003.42(2)(t). The program may use third-party providers to 446 deliver after-school and summer services that empower students 447 with an evidence-based curriculum that integrates character 448 education, service learning, charitable and community 449 engagement, and academics. 450

Section 10. Subsection (3) of

section 1003.435, Florida 451 Statutes, is amended to read: 452 1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.— 453

(3) Each district school board shall: 454 (

a) Offer and administer the high school equivalency 455 diploma examinations and the subject area examinations to all 456 candidates pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education. 457 (

b) Notify each candidate of adult secondary and 458 postsecondary education options available in or near the 459 district. The candidate must also be informed of the eligibility 460 requirements and any minimum academic requirements for each 461 available option. 462

Section

Section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, is created 463 to read: 464

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 17 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 1004.933 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education 465 (GATE) Program.— 466

(1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—It is the intent of the Legislature 467 that each high school student have the opportunity to earn 468 postsecondary course credits at no cost to the student while 469 pursuing the completion of a standard high school diploma or 470 equivalent credential. Furthermore, to help meet this state’s 471 workforce skill needs, it is the intent of the Legislature that 472 high school students have access to high-quality workforce 473 education programs that can help them build their basic 474 education abilities and attain industry-recognized postsecondary 475 credentials. 476

(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 477 (a) “Career education program” means an applied technology 478 diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7) or a career 479 certificate program as defined in s. 1004.02(20). 480 (b) “Institution” means a school district career center 481 under s. 1001.44, a charter technical career center under s. 482 1002.34, or a Florida College System institution under s. 483 1000.21. 484

(3) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Graduation Alternative to 485 Traditional Education (GATE) Program is created within the 486 Department of Education for the following purposes: 487 (

a) Assisting students who may have challenges in 488 completing the requirements for a standard high school diploma 489 in a traditional setting. 490 (

b) Creating an alternative education pathway that supports 491 this state’s commitment to educational accessibility for all 492 students by providing additional opportunities for students 16 493

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 18 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. to 21 years of age who have discontinued enrollment in 494 traditional high school programs. 495 (

c) Increasing the number of students who successfully earn 496 a high school credential in this state. 497 (

d) Increasing the interest and participation of students 498 in career and technical education (CTE) programs. 499

(4) PAYMENT EXEMPTION; ELIGIBILITY.— 500 (

a) Any student enrolled in the GATE Program is exempt from 501 the payment of registration, tuition, laboratory, and 502 examination fees to a participating institution. Instructional 503 materials assigned for use under the GATE Program must be made 504 available to GATE Program students free of charge. An 505 institution may not require payment by students of instructional 506 material costs eligible for reimbursement under s. 1009.711. 507 (

b) To be eligible for participation in the GATE Program, a 508 student may not have earned a standard high school diploma 509 pursuant to s. 1003.4282 or a high school equivalency diploma 510 pursuant to s. 1003.435 before enrolling in the GATE Program and 511 must: 512 1. Be a resident of this state as defined in s. 1009.21; 513 2. Be concurrently enrolled in an adult secondary education 514 program as defined in s. 1004.02(4) and a career education 515 program at a Florida College System institution, a school 516 district career center, or a charter technical career center; 517 3.

Be 16 to 21 years of age at the time of initial 518 enrollment; 519 4. Select the CTE pathway or program of his or her choice 520 at the time of enrollment. The student may not change the 521 requested pathway after enrollment; 522

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 19 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 5. Maintain a 2.0 GPA for CTE coursework; and 523 6. Complete the programs under subparagraph 2. within 3 524 years after initial enrollment unless the institution determines 525 that an extension is warranted due to extenuating circumstances. 526 (

c) An institution may not impose additional criteria to 527 determine a student’s eligibility to receive a waiver under this 528 section. 529

(5) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules 530 to implement this section. 531

Section 12. Paragraph (

b) of subsection (3) of

section 532 1008.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 533 1008.34 School grading system; school report cards; 534 district grade.— 535

(3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.— 536 (b)1. A school’s grade shall be based on the following 537 components, each worth 100 points: 538 a. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 539 standardized assessments in English Language Arts under s. 540 1008.22(3). 541 b. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 542 standardized assessments in mathematics under s. 1008.22(3). 543 c. The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 544 standardized assessments in science under s. 1008.22(3). 545 d.

The percentage of eligible students passing statewide, 546 standardized assessments in social studies under s. 1008.22(3). 547 e. The percentage of eligible students who make Learning 548 Gains in English Language Arts as measured by statewide, 549 standardized assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3). 550 f. The percentage of eligible students who make Learning 551

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 20 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Gains in mathematics as measured by statewide, standardized 552 assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3). 553 g. The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25 554 percent in English Language Arts, as identified by prior year 555 performance on statewide, standardized assessments, who make 556 Learning Gains as measured by statewide, standardized English 557 Language Arts assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3). 558 h.

The percentage of eligible students in the lowest 25 559 percent in mathematics, as identified by prior year performance 560 on statewide, standardized assessments, who make Learning Gains 561 as measured by statewide, standardized Mathematics assessments 562 administered under s. 1008.22(3). 563 i.

For schools comprised of middle grades 6 through 8 or 564 grades 7 and 8, the percentage of eligible students passing high 565 school level statewide, standardized end-of-course assessments 566 or attaining national industry certifications identified in the 567 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to state board 568 rule. 569 j.

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, for schools 570 comprised of grade levels that include grade 3, the percentage 571 of eligible students who score an achievement level 3 or higher 572 on the grade 3 statewide, standardized English Language Arts 573 assessment administered under s. 1008.22(3). 574 575 In calculating Learning Gains for the components listed in sub-576 subparagraphs e.-h., the State Board of Education shall require 577 that learning growth toward achievement levels 3, 4, and 5 is 578 demonstrated by students who scored below each of those levels 579 in the prior year.

In calculating the components in sub-580

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 21 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. subparagraphs a.-d., the state board shall include the 581 performance of English language learners only if they have been 582 enrolled in a school in the United States for more than 2 years. 583 2. For a school comprised of grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or 584 grades 10, 11, and 12, the school’s grade shall also be based on 585 the following components, each worth 100 points: 586 a. The 4-year high school graduation rate of the school as 587 defined by state board rule.

Students enrolled in high school 588 who choose to enroll in the GATE Program pursuant to s. 1004.933 589 may not be included in their school’s graduation rate. 590 b.

The percentage of students who were eligible to earn 591 college and career credit through an assessment identified 592 pursuant to s. 1007.27(2), College Board Advanced Placement 593 examinations, International Baccalaureate examinations, dual 594 enrollment courses, including career dual enrollment courses 595 resulting in the completion of 300 or more clock hours during 596 high school which are approved by the state board as meeting the 597 requirements of s. 1007.271, or Advanced International 598 Certificate of Education examinations; who, at any time during 599 high school, earned national industry certification identified 600 in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List, pursuant to 601 rules adopted by the state board; or who earned an Armed 602 Services Qualification Test score that falls within Category II 603 or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and 604 earned a minimum of two credits in Junior Reserve Officers’ 605 Training Corps courses from the same branch of the United States 606 Armed Forces. 607

Section

Section 1009.711, Florida Statutes, is created 608 to read: 609

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 22 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. 1009.711 GATE Scholarship Program.— 610

(1) The GATE Scholarship Program is created to financially 611 support institutions in providing the GATE Program established 612 pursuant to s. 1004.933. 613

(2) The Department of Education shall administer the GATE 614 Scholarship Program in accordance with rules adopted by the 615 State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (6). 616

(3) The program shall reimburse eligible institutions for 617 registration, tuition, laboratory, and examination fees and 618 related instructional materials costs for students enrolled in 619 the GATE Program. School district career centers and Florida 620 College System institutions must be reimbursed at the in-state 621 resident tuition rate established in s. 1009.22(3)(c). 622

(4) Each participating institution shall report to the 623 department all students enrolled in the GATE Scholarship Program 624 during the fall, spring, or summer terms within 30 days after 625 the end of regular registration. For each eligible student, the 626 institution shall report the total reimbursable expenses by 627 category, which the department must consider in determining an 628 institution’s award under this section. The department shall 629 reimburse each participating institution no later than 30 days 630 after the institution has reported enrollment for that term. 631

(5) Reimbursements from the GATE Scholarship Program are 632 contingent upon an annual appropriation in the General 633 Appropriations Act. If the statewide reimbursement amount is 634 greater than the appropriation, the institutional reimbursement 635 amounts specified in subsection (3) must be prorated among the 636 institutions that have timely reported eligible students to the 637 department. 638

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 23 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

(6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 639 implement this section. 640

Section 14. Subsection (9) of

section 1011.62, Florida 641 Statutes, is amended to read: 642 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual 643 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each 644 district for operation of schools is not determined in the 645 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing 646 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as 647 follows: 648

(9) CALCULATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOCATION FOR JUVENILE 649 JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.—The juvenile justice education 650 supplement is created to provide supplemental funding to support 651 the education of students in juvenile justice education 652 programs. The supplemental allocation must be the sum of the 653 class-size-reduction allocation and the student allocation. 654 (

a) The class-size-reduction allocation shall be calculated 655 by multiplying the total kindergarten through grade 12 weighted 656 full-time equivalent student membership in juvenile justice 657 education programs in each school district shall be multiplied 658 by the amount of the state average class-size-reduction factor 659 multiplied by the comparable wage factor for the school district 660 established in subsection (2). An amount equal to the sum of 661 this calculation shall be allocated in the Florida Education 662 Finance Program to each school district to supplement other 663 sources of funding for students in juvenile justice education 664 programs. 665 (

b) The student allocation shall be calculated based on the 666 number of students reported in a juvenile justice education 667

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 24 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. program. The total kindergarten through grade 12 unweighted 668 full-time equivalent student membership in juvenile justice 669 education programs in each school district, excluding students 670 with disabilities, shall be multiplied by a percentage of the 671 base student allocation as provided in the General 672 Appropriations Act.

The total kindergarten through grade 12 673 unweighted full-time equivalent student membership in juvenile 674 justice education programs in each school district, for students 675 with disabilities, shall be multiplied by an additional 676 percentage of the base student allocation as provided in the 677 General Appropriations Act. The base amount and the amount for 678 students with disabilities shall be summed to provide the 679 student allocation. 680 (

c) Funds allocated under this subsection shall be used to 681 provide the juvenile justice education programs pursuant to s. 682 1003.52 and may be used to pay for the high school equivalency 683 examination fees for juvenile justice students who pass the high 684 school equivalency examination in full, or in part, while in a 685 juvenile justice education program, the industry credentialing 686 testing fees for such students, and the costs associated with 687 such juvenile justice students enrolled in career and technical 688 education courses that lead to industry-recognized 689 certifications. 690

Section 15. Subsection (10) of

section 1011.80, Florida 691 Statutes, is amended to read: 692 1011.80 Funds for operation of workforce education 693 programs.— 694

(10) A high school student dually enrolled under s. 695 1007.271 in a workforce education program operated by a Florida 696

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 25 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. College System institution or school district career center 697 generates the amount calculated for workforce education funding, 698 including any payment of performance funding, and the 699 proportional share of full-time equivalent enrollment generated 700 through the Florida Education Finance Program for the student’s 701 enrollment in a high school.

If a high school student is dually 702 enrolled in a Florida College System institution program, 703 including a program conducted at a high school, the Florida 704 College System institution earns the funds generated for 705 workforce education funding, and the school district earns the 706 proportional share of full-time equivalent funding from the 707 Florida Education Finance Program.

If a student is dually 708 enrolled in a career center operated by the same district as the 709 district in which the student attends high school, that district 710 earns the funds generated for workforce education funding and 711 also earns the proportional share of full-time equivalent 712 funding from the Florida Education Finance Program. If a student 713 is dually enrolled in a workforce education program provided by 714 a career center operated by a different school district, the 715 funds must be divided between the two school districts 716 proportionally from the two funding sources.

A student may not 717 be reported for funding in a dual enrollment workforce education 718 program unless the student has completed the basic skills 719 assessment pursuant to s. 1004.91. A student who is coenrolled 720 in a K-12 education program and an adult education program may 721 be reported for purposes of funding in an adult education 722 program. If a student is coenrolled in core curricula courses 723 for credit recovery or dropout prevention purposes and does not 724 have a pattern of excessive absenteeism or habitual truancy or a 725

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 26 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. history of disruptive behavior in school, the student may be 726 reported for funding for up to four two courses per year. Such a 727 student is exempt from the payment of the block tuition for 728 adult general education programs provided in s. 1009.22(3)(c). 729 The Department of Education shall develop a list of courses to 730 be designated as core curricula courses for the purposes of 731 coenrollment. 732

Section

Section 1011.804, Florida Statutes, is created 733 to read: 734 1011.804 GATE Program Student Success Incentive Fund.— 735

(1) A GATE Program Student Success Incentive Fund is 736 created to reward school districts and Florida College System 737 institutions for the documented success of students 738 participating in the GATE Program established under s. 1004.933. 739

(2) As used in this section, the term “institution” means a 740 school district career center established under s. 1001.44, a 741 charter technical career center established under s. 1002.34, or 742 a Florida College System institution identified in s. 1000.21, 743 which offers the GATE Program pursuant to s. 1004.933. 744

(3) Subject to legislative appropriation, each 745 participating institution must receive an allocation based on 746 the performance of students in its GATE Program according to the 747 following metrics: 748 (

a) The number of students obtaining a standard high school 749 diploma or high school equivalency diploma while participating 750 in the program. 751 (

b) The number of postsecondary industry certifications or 752 other program completion credentials earned by students 753 participating in the program. Eligible industry certifications 754

Florida Senate - 2024 SB 2516 576-02684-24 20242516__ Page 27 of 27 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. must be identified on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding 755 List approved by the State Board of Education under s. 1008.44. 756 (

c) Unless otherwise specified in the General 757 Appropriations Act, each institution must be provided $750 per 758 student described in paragraph (

a) and $1,000 per student 759 earning certificates or credentials as provided in paragraph 760 (b). If funds are insufficient to fully fund the calculated 761 total award, such funds must be prorated among the institutions. 762

Section 17. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 763