HB 799 The K-8 Virtual School Program
HB 277 -  K-12 Students revises eligibility requirements for driving privileges
HB 1507/ SB 2862 - Tuition Rates at Community Colleges and State Universities
S2746 / CS/H 0967 - Physical Education/Students
HB 1371 / SB 2598 - Governor's School for Science and Technology
PCS/HB 653 - Public K-12 Education revises the organizational structure of the Department of Education,
CS/HB 289 - Textbook Affordability
SB 2200 - High School Athletics by Llorente
SB 2202 - Pub. Rec. & Meetings/Drug Tests by Llorente
SB 660 (CS/HB 561) Human Papillomavirus (HPV)/Schools requires public & private middle schools
S1212 / CS/H 0465 - Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program
S2382    Corporate Income Tax Trust Fund/DOR (No companion bill)
S2380 - Education/Failing Schools (No companion bill)
S162 / H 0663  -  Schools/Human Sexuality
SB 2904 /  HB 1509  School Safety/Weapons

On Calendar for second reading in House

CS/HB 461 High School Athletics by Llorente
CS/HB 463 Pub. Rec. & Meetings/Drug Tests by Llorente

HB 799 The K-8 Virtual School Program is an educational choice program administered by the Department of Education (DOE).  The program delivers academic instruction via on-line and distance learning technology to full-time students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools wishing to participate in the program may be nonprofit or for-profit entities and must be approved by the DOE. 

The bill amends s. 1002.415, F.S., to state that the mission of the K-8 Virtual School Program is to provide students with technology-based educational opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.  The bill requires K-8 virtual schools to serve any student who meets the profile for success in an online learning context.  Priority is to be given to students who need access to virtual courses in order to meet their educational needs and goals in a home environment and to students seeking accelerated access to move at their own pace in their educational progress.  The bill also requires K-8 virtual schools to enroll an eligible student who submits a timely application, unless the number of applications exceeds program capacity.  In such case, all applications are required to have an equal chance of being admitted through a random selection process.

Brenda’s Comment:  The strike-all amendment will not include home education or private school students.  The budget is too tight this year to change this program from a pilot to a regular public school choice program funded in the FEFP which was the purpose of this bill in the beginning.

HB 277 -  K-12 Students revises eligibility requirements for driving privileges; revises age of compulsory school attendance from 16 years to 18 years; requires school district comprehensive programs for student progression to include use of mentors & to encourage career education curriculum for certain students.

Brenda’s Comment:  This bill will die in committee.

HB 1507/ SB 2862 - Tuition Rates at Community Colleges and State Universities provides that it is the intent of the Legislature to discourage undergraduate students from exceeding the number of credit hours required to complete the students’ respective degree programs and that, accordingly, a student will be required to pay 75 percent more than the in-state tuition rate for any credit hours taken in excess of the hours required to complete the degree program in which the student is enrolled.

This bill requires a student enrolled in a community college to pay 75 percent more than the in-state tuition rate for credit hours taken in excess of 120 percent of the credit hours required to earn an associate degree.  This requirement does not apply to a maximum of 24 credit hours taken at a community college that apply to a student’s baccalaureate degree.

 This bill requires an undergraduate student who is enrolled in a state university to pay 75 percent more than the in-state tuition rate for credit hours taken in excess of 120 percent of the credit hours required to complete the degree program in which the student is enrolled, regardless of whether the student took those hours while enrolled at a community college, state university, or at any private postsecondary institution if the student received state funds while enrolled at the private postsecondary institution.

This bill requires a student enrolled in a baccalaureate program at a community college to pay 75 percent more than the in-state tuition rate for credit hours in excess of 120 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete the degree program in which the student is enrolled, regardless of whether the student took those hours while enrolled at a community college, state university, or at any private postsecondary institution if the student received state funds while enrolled at the private postsecondary institution.

Credit hours earned under certain circumstances will not be calculated as hours required to earn a degree.  These  include:  college credit earned through an acceleration mechanism; credit hours earned through an internship program; credit hours required for certification, recertification, or certificate degrees; credit hours in courses from which a student withdrew due to reasons of medical or personal hardship;  credit hours required to achieve a dual major; credit hours in remedial or ESOL courses; credit hours taken by active duty military personnel; and credit hours earned in military science courses.

Brenda’s Comment:  This bill will most likely pass.

An Amendment reduces the additional percent of tuition a student must pay on credit hours taken in excess of 120 percent of graduation requirements from 75 percent to 50 percent.  This amendment applies to students enrolled in both community colleges and state universities.

S2746 / CS/H 0967 - Physical Education/Students requires Commissioner of Education to provide professional development in physical education; defines term "physical education"; requires specified periods of said education for certain students; requires DOE to review & revise Sunshine State Standards re said education. Amends 1001.11, 1003.01,455. 
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon becoming law.

Brenda’s Comment:  This bill will most likely pass.

HB 1371 / SB 2598 - Governor's School for Science and Technology creates the Governor’s School for Science and Technology (school) for students statewide in grades nine through 12 and for teacher summer programming. The school is to be managed and controlled by the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and is to be located in Brevard County in an area where connections with the Kennedy Space Center may be readily established. The bill creates an advisory council consisting of 13 representatives to provide the FLVS with insight, expertise, and recommendations in developing and implementing the school. 

Classes are to begin in the 2009-2010 academic year and students are to reside on the school’s premises. Admission to the school may only be granted to qualified students pursuant to requirements and standards established in rule. The school is to offer: (a) accelerated programs in the areas of math, science, and technology to qualified students in grades nine through 12; and (b) summer programs for elementary, middle, or high school teachers.

Brenda’s Comment:  This bill will most likely pass.

PCS/HB 653 - Public K-12 Education revises the organizational structure of the Department of Education, requiring the establishment of a Division of Workforce Education and a Division of Finance and Operations. 

The bill restores inadvertently deleted language relating to grade forgiveness policies for all incoming ninth graders and provides a new exception for a student in the middle grades who takes a high school course for high school credit. 

The bill reinserts inadvertently omitted waiver options for the physical education course requirement for high school graduation for students that participate in marching band, junior varsity or varsity high school sports, or Junior ROTC and meet certain other requirements.

Department of Education Reorganization

Current law specifies that the following divisions must be established within the Department of Education (DOE): Community Colleges, Public Schools, Colleges and Universities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Blind Services, and Accountability, Research, and Measurement.  The directors of such divisions are appointed by the Commissioner of Education.

PCS/HB 653 revises the organizational structure of the DOE by specifically requiring the establishment of a Division of Workforce Education and a Division of Finance and Operations.  The bill provides that the director of each of the divisions set forth in statute may be designated as “Deputy Commissioner” or “Chancellor”.  The bill also deletes the language requiring a division of colleges and universities within the DOE as the State University System is now governed by the Board of Governors as provided in the state constitution. 

The bill provides the Commissioner of Education with authority to organize and name the structural units of the DOE and with flexibility to do so in a manner that meets legislative intent and promotes efficiency and accountability.

Waiver of physical education requirement for high school graduation

In 2006, the Florida Legislature in HB 7087, Ch. 2006-74, Laws of Florida, revised the high school graduation requirements for all incoming ninth graders.  Included in this revision was a change to the physical education requirement for high school graduation.  The new requirements no longer allow for a waiver of physical education requirements for participating in marching band, junior varsity or varsity high school sports, or Junior ROTC. 

The bill reinserts these waiver options for students that participate in these activities and meet certain other requirements.  For the waiver for participating in JV or Varsity sports, the student must also pass a competency test on personal fitness with a score of “C” or better, and for the waiver for participating in marching band the student must pass that class with or a physical activity class that requires participating in marching band with a grade of “C” or better.

CS/HB 289 - Textbook Affordability  prohibits all employees of community colleges or state universities from receiving any form of compensation for requiring a certain textbook. Exceptions are provided for sample copies, instructional copies, educational materials, or royalties for the instructor’s work;  Requires community colleges and state universities to notify students of the required textbooks 45 days prior to the first day of class or when the instructor or academic department identifies the required or recommended book; Requires the Board of Governors and the State Board of Education to adopt policies, procedures, and guidelines by March 1, 2008 to further efforts to minimize the cost of textbooks. These policies, procedures, and guidelines must include: sufficient time for bookstores to confirm availability, especially with regard to used books; confirmation, as part of the adoption process, that all required bundled materials will be used; confirmation, as part of the adoption process, that the new edition differs  substantially from the earlier editions; and, ways to provide required textbooks to students who could not otherwise afford them.

SB 2200 - High School Athletics by Llorente; Requires Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to facilitate 1-year drug testing program to randomly test certain students for anabolic steroid use; requires participation in program as prerequisite for membership in FHSAA; provides penalties for positive findings; provides for challenge & appeal; provides for repeal of program. Effective Date: July 1, 2007.

SB 2202 - Pub. Rec. & Meetings/Drug Tests by Llorente; Exempts from public records requirements records relating to drug tests & to challenge & appeal proceedings under FHSAA drug testing program; exempts from public meetings requirements  portions of meeting at which records relating to drug tests or to challenge or appeal proceedings will be discussed; provides for future review & repeal; provides statement of public necessity.

Effective Date: on the same date that Committee Substitute for HB 461 or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension thereof and becomes law.

SB 660 (CS/HB 561) Human Papillomavirus (HPV)/Schools requires public & private middle schools in state to provide to certain students & their parents or guardians information re HPV, its vaccine, & cervical cancer; prohibits certain students from admission into school without providing evidence of vaccination for HPV; requires DOE, in consultation with DOH, to prescribe content of information re connection between HPV & cervical cancer & availability of vaccine preventing HPV, etc. 
EFFECTIVE DATE:  07/01/2008.

S1212 / CS/H 0465 - Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program provides legislative findings; revises program purposes; provides definition; provides that specified students who have been in DJJ education programs or who are placed in foster care are eligible for participation in scholarship program; revises income criteria for continuation of scholarship for students placed in foster care. Amends 220.187.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2007.

S2382    Corporate Income Tax Trust Fund/DOR (No companion bill) creates said trust fund within DOR; provides purposes; provides for future review & termination or re-creation of trust fund; specifies uses of funds transferred from said trust fund to General Revenue Fund. Creates 220.7015. 
EFFECTIVE DATE: Contingent. 

S2380 - Education/Failing Schools (No companion bill) expresses intent of Legislature to create program to enhance failing schools; clarifies that tax credit program applies to students in families having limited financial resources; prescribes obligations of school districts to inform parents about failing schools; authorizes students at such schools to attend high-performing school in same district; establishes eligibility for nonpublic school participation, etc. Amends FS. 
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2007. 

S162 / H 0663  -  Schools/Human Sexuality  requires school districts to communicate with parents & others concerning school curriculum re teaching of human sexuality to secondary school students; requires that information describe available procedures that parents may use to review curriculum & methods by which parents may provide comments & offer input to school district. Amends 1003.42. 
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2007. 

SB 2904 /  HB 1509  School Safety/Weapons prohibits possession of common
pocketknives on school property or other specified locations; provides exemption from criminal liability for possession of specified weapons for persons who voluntarily surrender weapon in certain circumstances; provides exemption from zero tolerance policy for possession of specified weapons for persons who voluntarily surrender weapon in certain circumstances, etc. Amends 790.115, 1006.13, 435.04, 921.0022.
EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2007.

Brenda’s Comment:  This bill has a long way to go to get passed. 

On Calendar for second reading in House 

CS/HB 461 High School Athletics by Llorente  ; Requires Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to facilitate 1-year drug testing program to randomly test certain students for anabolic steroid use; requires participation in program as prerequisite for membership in FHSAA; provides penalties for positive findings; provides for challenge & appeal; provides for repeal of program. Effective Date: July 1, 2007. 

CS/HB 463 Pub. Rec. & Meetings/Drug Tests by Llorente Exempts from public records requirements records relating to drug tests & to challenge & appeal proceedings under FHSAA drug testing program; exempts from public meetings requirements  portions of meeting at which records relating to drug tests or to challenge or appeal proceedings will be discussed; provides for future review & repeal; provides statement of public necessity.
Effective Date: on the same date that Committee Substitute for

HB 461 or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension thereof and becomes law.