Signed by Governor Rick Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies certain education policies and funding.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $413.95 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year to enact the provisions of this bill, which takes effect July 1, 2017 (Secs. 71 & 72).

• Establishes the Florida Best and Brightest Teacher Scholarship Program that will be awarded to school teachers that meet certain requirements, including (Sec. 46):

• Achieving a composite score at or above the 80th percentile on the SAT or ACT, and beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, a composite score at or above the 71st percentile on the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT;

• Graduating cum laude or higher with a baccalaureate degree; and

• Beginning the 2019-2020 school year, being evaluated as highly effective based on a commissioner-approved student learning grow formula.

• Requires scholarships to be awarded to eligible school principals who have recruited and retained a ratio of Best and Brightest teachers at or above the 80th percentile of schools (Sec. 47).

• Authorizes the Auditor General to conduct annual audits of all district school boards (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the 300 lowest-performing schools, per state assessments, may be allocated additional funds for the purpose of addressing academic deficiencies (Sec. 4).

• Amends eligibility requirements for charter schools (Sec. 20).

• Amends the term “eligible student” for the College-Preparatory Boarding Academy Pilot Program to encompass grades 5 through 12 (Sec. 22).

• Authorizes high-performing charter schools to replicate its programs in any school district, provided the applicant specifies objectives for student improvement and annual financial plans (Sec. 24).

• Appropriates funds to certain traditional public schools through the Schools of Hope Program, at a rate of up to $2,000 per full-time student (Sec. 43).

• Authorizes public school students to be absent from school for autism treatment provided by a licensed health care practitioner or behavior analyst (Sec. 53).

• Establishes the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program, and specifies music curriculum requirements and program eligibility criteria  (Sec. 69).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that creates scholarships for teachers and principles and establishes new eligibility criteria.

Highlights:

• Establishes scholarships that will be awarded to eligible school teachers (Sec. 1).

• Requires either of the following for a classroom teacher to be eligible for a scholarship (Sec. 1)
• A composite score of or above the 77th percentile on the SAT, ACT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT, or MCAT; or
• Have been evaluated as highly effective based on a commissioner-approved student learning grow formula in the school year immediately preceding the year in which the scholarship will be rewarded.

• Creates the Florida Best and Brightest Principle Scholarship Program, which is to be administered by the Department of Education (Sec. 2).

• Requires scholarships to be awarded to eligible school principals who have recruited and retained a high percentage of “best and brightest” teachers (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text