PART I GENERAL PROVISIONS

PART II SYSTEMWIDE

DEFINITIONS

PART III EDUCATIONAL COMPACTS

CHAPTER 1000

1000.01 The Florida K-20 education system; technical provisions.

(1) NAME. —

(2) LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION. —

(3) PURPOSE. —

(4) UNIFORM SYSTEM OF PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS INCLUDED. —

History. — s. 3, ch. 2002-387; s. 113, ch. 2003-1; s. 64, ch. 2007-217; s. 1, ch. 2011-5; s. 37, ch. 2011-34; s. 8, ch. 2014-39.

1000.02 Policy and guiding principles for the Florida K-20 education system.

(1) It is the policy of the Legislature:

(2) The guiding principles for Florida’s K-20 education system are:

History. — s. 4, ch. 2002-387; s. 2, ch. 2011-5.

1000.03 Function, mission, and goals of the Florida K-20 education system.

(1) Florida’s K-20 education system shall be a decentralized system without excess layers of bureaucracy. Florida’s K-20 education system shall maintain a systemwide technology plan based on a common set of data

definitions.

(2)(

a) The Legislature shall establish education policy, enact education laws, and appropriate and allocate education resources.

(3) Public education is a cooperative function of the state and local educational authorities. The state retains responsibility for establishing a system of public education through laws, standards, and rules to assure efficient operation of a K-20 system of public education and adequate educational opportunities for all individuals. Local educational authorities have a duty to fully and faithfully comply with state laws, standards, and rules and to efficiently use the resources available to them to assist the state in allowing adequate educational opportunities.

(4) The mission of Florida’s K-20 education system is to allow its students to increase their proficiency by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through rigorous and relevant learning opportunities, in accordance with the mission statement and accountability requirements of s. 1008.31.

(5) The priorities of Florida’s K-20 education system include:

History. — s. 5, ch. 2002-387; s. 4, ch. 2006-74; s. 65, ch. 2007-217; s. 1, ch. 2013-27; s. 15, ch. 2017-116.

1000.04 Components for the delivery of public education within the Florida K-20 education system.

(1) PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS. —

(2) PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. —

(3) FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND. —

(4) THE FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL. —

History. — s. 6, ch. 2002-387; s. 23, ch. 2004-41; s. 69, ch. 2004-357; s. 1, ch. 2008-147; s. 3, ch. 2011-5; s. 11, ch. 2011-137.

1000.05 Discrimination against students and employees in the Florida K-20 public education system prohibited; equality of access required.

(1) This

section may be cited as the “Florida Educational Equity Act.”

(2)(

a) Discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, religion, or marital status against a student or an employee in the state system of public K-20 education is prohibited. No person in this state shall, on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, religion, or marital status, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any public K-20 education program or activity, or in any employment conditions or practices, conducted by a public educational institution that receives or benefits from federal or state financial assistance.

(3)(

a) No person shall, on the basis of gender, be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be treated differently from another person or otherwise be discriminated against in any interscholastic, intercollegiate, club, or intramural athletics offered by a public K-20 educational institution; and no public K-20 educational institution shall provide athletics separately on such basis.

(4) Public schools and Florida College System institutions shall develop and implement methods and strategies to increase the participation of students of a particular race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status in programs and courses in which students of that particular race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status have been traditionally underrepresented, including, but not limited to, mathematics, science, computer technology, electronics, communications technology, engineering, and career education.

(5)(

a) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this

section as it relates to school districts and Florida College System institutions.

(6) The functions of the Office of Equal Educational Opportunity of the Department of Education shall include, but are not limited to:

(7) A public K-20 educational institution must treat discrimination by students or employees or resulting from institutional policies motivated by anti-Semitic intent in an identical manner to discrimination motivated by race. For purposes of this section, the term “anti-Semitism” includes a certain perception of the Jewish people, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jewish people, rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism directed toward a person, his or her property, or toward Jewish community institutions or religious facilities.

(8) A person aggrieved by a violation of this

section or a violation of a rule adopted under this

section has a right of action for such equitable relief as the court may determine. The court may also award reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs to a prevailing party.

History. — s. 7, ch. 2002-387; s. 1942, ch. 2003-261; s. 70, ch. 2004-357; s. 66, ch. 2007-217; s. 1, ch. 2008-26; s. 9, ch. 2010-78; s. 4, ch. 2011-5; s. 1, ch. 2019-59.

1000.06 Display of flags.

(1) Every public K-20 educational institution that is provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of Florida shall display daily the flag of the United States and the official flag of Florida when the weather permits upon one building or on a suitable flagstaff upon the grounds of each public postsecondary educational institution and upon every district school board building or grounds except when the institution or school is closed for vacation, provided that, if two or more buildings are located on the same or on adjacent sites, one flag may be displayed for the entire group of buildings.

(2) Each public K-20 educational institution that is provided or authorized by the Constitution and laws of Florida shall display daily in each classroom the flag of the United States. The flag must be made in the United States, must be at least 2 feet by 3 feet, and must be properly displayed in accordance with Title 4 U.S.C. Each educational institution shall acquire the necessary number of flags to implement the provisions of this subsection.

The principal, director, or president of each educational institution shall attempt to acquire the flags through donations or fundraising for 1 year prior to securing other funding sources or allocating funds for the purchase of flags. The president of each state university or Florida College System institution must present to the governing board of the institution the results of donations and fundraising activities relating to the acquisition of flags prior to requesting the governing board to approve a funding source for the purchase of flags.

History. — s. 8, ch. 2002-387; s. 2, ch. 2004-238; s. 5, ch. 2011-5; s. 98, ch. 2018-110.

1000.08 Environmental conservation awards program.

History. — s. 116, ch. 2008-227.

1000.21 Systemwide

definitions.

(1) “Articulation” is the systematic coordination that provides the means by which students proceed toward their educational objectives in as rapid and student-friendly manner as their circumstances permit, from grade level to grade level, from elementary to middle to high school, to and through postsecondary education, and when transferring from one educational institution or program to another.

(2) “Commissioner” is the Commissioner of Education.

(3) “Florida College System institution” except as otherwise specifically provided, includes all of the following public postsecondary educational institutions in the Florida College System and any branch campuses, centers, or other affiliates of the institution:

(4) “Department” is the Department of Education.

(5) “Parent” is either or both parents of a student, any guardian of a student, any person in a parental relationship to a student, or any person exercising supervisory authority over a student in place of the parent.

(6) “State university,” except as otherwise specifically provided, includes the following institutions and any branch campuses, centers, or other affiliates of the institution:

(7) “Next Generation Sunshine State Standards” means the state’s public K-12 curricular standards adopted under s. 1003.41.

(8) “Board of Governors” is the Board of Governors of the State University System.

History. — s. 10, ch. 2002-387; s. 3, ch. 2004-271; s. 67, ch. 2007-217; s. 1, ch. 2008-52; s. 5, ch. 2008-163; s. 3, ch. 2008-235; s. 2, ch. 2009-228; s. 2, ch. 2010-23; s. 7, ch. 2011-5; s. 1, ch. 2011-102; s. 9, ch. 2012-129; s. 3, ch. 2012-134; s. 2, ch. 2013-24; s. 2, ch. 2013-27; s. 2, ch. 2013-45; s. 1, ch. 2014-8; s. 9, ch. 2014-39; s. 1, ch. 2019-78.

1000.31 Regional education; state policy.

History. — s. 12, ch. 2002-387.

1000.32 Regional compact.

History. — s. 13, ch. 2002-387.

1000.34 Member jurisdictions.

History. — s. 15, ch. 2002-387.

1000.35 Reciprocity agreement.

(1) The purpose of this

section is to authorize this state to participate in a reciprocity agreement with other states for the delivery of postsecondary distance education. Each member state or institution participating in a reciprocity agreement must accept each other’s authorization of accredited institutions to operate in their state to offer distance educational services beyond state boundaries.

(2) For purposes of this section, the term:

(3) The council is created within the department for the purpose of administering a reciprocity agreement. The council shall consist of the following persons or their designees: the Chancellor of the State University System, the Chancellor of the Florida College System, the Commissioner of Education, the executive director of the commission, and the president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. The commission shall provide administrative support for the council. The council shall:

(4) The Governor may request that the council convene for the purpose of reconsidering this state’s participation in a reciprocity agreement. The council shall provide a recommendation to the Governor within 14 days. Regardless of the council’s recommendation, or lack thereof, the Governor may withdraw this state from participation in a reciprocity agreement. Such withdrawal shall take effect 90 days after the Governor’s decision or by the end of the current academic term of each participating Florida institution, whichever occurs later.

For purposes of this subsection, the term “current academic term” means the academic term in which a participating Florida institution has enrolled students at the time of the Governor’s decision to withdraw. If the Governor decides to withdraw this state from participation in a reciprocity agreement, each participating Florida institution must provide the end date of its current academic term to the council.

(5) The council shall collect an annual fee from each Florida institution participating in a reciprocity agreement. The fee shall be based on the Florida institution’s total full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment as shown in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and shall be assessed as follows:

(6) The council may revoke a Florida institution’s approval to participate in a reciprocity agreement if the council determines that such institution is not in compliance with the terms and provisions of the reciprocity agreement.

(7) A Florida institution participating in a reciprocity agreement may withdraw from participation in the reciprocity agreement by submitting notice of its intent to withdraw to the council, which shall become effective at the beginning of the next academic term after receipt of such notice.

(8) Decisions of the council are not subject to

chapter 120.

(9) This

section does not supersede the requirements in

chapter 1005 relating to postsecondary educational institutions under the jurisdiction of the commission.

(10) The state board shall adopt rules to implement this section.

History. — ss. 1, 6, ch. 2017-87.

1000.36 Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

History. — ss. 1, 5, ch. 2008-225; s. 94, ch. 2009-21; ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 2010-52; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2013-20; s. 2, ch. 2016-34; s. 1, ch. 2019-7.

1000.361 Dues for the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2016-34; s. 1, ch. 2019-7.

1000.38 Compact Commissioner and Military Family Education Liaison; Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

(1) In furtherance of Articles VIII and IX of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, the Governor shall designate a:

(2) The Compact Commissioner and the Military Family Education Liaison shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

History. — ss. 3, 5, ch. 2008-225; ss. 1, 3, ch. 2010-52; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2013-20; s. 2, ch. 2016-34; s. 1, ch. 2019-7.

1000.39 State council; Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

(1) Pursuant to

Article VIII of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, the State Council on Interstate Educational Opportunity for Military Children is created.

(2)(

a) The purpose of the council is to provide advice and recommendations regarding this state’s participation in and compliance with the compact and Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children activities.

(3) The council shall consist of the following seven members:

(4) Council members shall serve without compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.

(5) The provisions of s. 24, Art. I of the State Constitution and of

chapter 119 and s. 286.011 apply to proceedings and records of the council. Minutes, including a record of all votes cast, must be maintained for all meetings.

(6) The Department of Education shall provide administrative support to the council.

(7) If the council is abolished, its records must be appropriately stored, within 30 days after the effective date of its abolition, by the department or its successor agency. Any property assigned to the council must be reclaimed by the department or its successor agency. The council may not perform any activities after the effective date of its abolition.

History. — ss. 4, 5, ch. 2008-225; ss. 1, 3, ch. 2010-52; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2013-20; s. 2, ch. 2016-34; s. 1, ch. 2019-7.

1000.40 Future repeal of the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

History. — s. 2, ch. 2016-34; s. 1, ch. 2019-7.