Signed by Governor Rick Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that prohibits students from being assigned to "unsatisfactory" teachers for 2 consecutive years, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a student who is currently assigned to a teacher evaluated as “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” from being assigned to another teacher evaluated as “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” in the same subject the following year (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes a school district to enter into agreements with federal and state agencies, and other governmental entities within the school district, to provide development, construction and operation facilities for charter schools (Sec. 1).

• Requires a sponsor of a charter school to monitor and review the charter school’s progress towards the goals mutually established in the charter and to submit an annual report to the Department of Education which includes, but is not limited to, the following information (Sec. 1):
• The number of charter applications received before or on May 1st;
• The date each application was approved, denied, or withdrawn; and
• The date each final contract was executed.

• Requires the charter school to provide the charter school sponsor with a monthly financial statement summary sheet containing the following requirements (Sec. 2):
• A balance sheet;
• A statement of revenue; and
• A statement of expenditures and changes in fund balance.

• Prohibits a charter school from contracting an employee for a duration greater than that of the contract between the charter school and its sponsor (Sec. 2).

• Requires a sponsor to alter the charter of a high-performing charter school that wants to expand to include a higher maximum enrollment within 90 days of the school’s request to expand (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a district school board to operate an “innovation school of technology” (Sec. 10).

• Defines “innovation school of technology” as a school that uses a blended learning program which includes, but is not limited to, the following elements (Sec. 10):
• The use of online education;
• The use of in-person education;
• The use of differentiated instruction; and
• The use of self-paced learning.

• Requires an innovation school of technology to meet certain requirements including, but not limited to, the following requirements (Sec. 10):
• The school is open to any student in the school district who applies;
• The school uses a random selection process to admit students if the number of applications exceed capacity;
• The school implements “innovative,” technology-based learning methods and assessment tools to improve academic performance; and
• The school measures student performance based on student learning growth or achievement.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits students from being assigned to "unsatisfactory" teachers for 2 consecutive years, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a student who is currently assigned to a teacher evaluated as “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” from being assigned to another teacher evaluated as “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” in the same subject the following year (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes a school district to enter into agreements with federal and state agencies, and other governmental entities within the school district, to provide development, construction and operation facilities for charter schools (Sec. 1).

• Requires a sponsor of a charter school to monitor and review the charter school’s progress towards the goals mutually established in the charter and to submit an annual report to the Department of Education which includes, but is not limited to, the following information (Sec. 1):
• The number of charter applications received before or on May 1st;
• The date each application was approved, denied, or withdrawn; and
• The date each final contract was executed.

• Requires the charter school to provide the charter school sponsor with a monthly financial statement summary sheet containing the following requirements (Sec. 2):
• A balance sheet;
• A statement of revenue; and
• A statement of expenditures and changes in fund balance.

• Prohibits a charter school from contracting an employee for a duration greater than that of the contract between the charter school and its sponsor (Sec. 2).

• Requires a sponsor to alter the charter of a high-performing charter school that wants to expand to include a higher maximum enrollment within 90 days of the school’s request to expand (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes a district school board to operate an “innovation school of technology” (Sec. 10).

• Defines “innovation school of technology” as a school that uses a blended learning program which includes, but is not limited to, the following elements (Sec. 10):
• The use of online education;
• The use of in-person education;
• The use of differentiated instruction; and
• The use of self-paced learning.

• Requires an innovation school of technology to meet certain requirements including, but not limited to, the following requirements (Sec. 10):
• The school is open to any student in the school district who applies;
• The school uses a random selection process to admit students if the number of applications exceed capacity;
• The school implements “innovative,” technology-based learning methods and assessment tools to improve academic performance; and
• The school measures student performance based on student learning growth or achievement.

Full Bill Text