SB 1344 — Computer Science Education

(6) “Computer science” means the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, hardware and software designs, applications, implementation, and impact on society, and includes computer coding, computer programming, computational thinking, robotics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer networking, and physical computing.

(7)(5) “Core-curricula courses” means:

(a) Courses in language arts/reading, mathematics, social studies, and science in prekindergarten through grade 3, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (13) (11);

(b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses required for middle school promotion, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (13) (11);

(c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that are specifically identified by name in statute as required for high school graduation and that are not measured by state assessment, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (13) (11);

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ (d) Exceptional student education courses;

and (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses.

91 The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size requirements established in s.

1, Art.

IX of the State Constitution.

This term does not include courses offered under ss.

1002.321(3)(e), 1002.33(7)(a)2.c., 1002.37, 1002.45, and 1003.499.

Section 2.

Subsection (1) of section 1003.41, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (f) is added to subsection (2) of that section, to read:

1003.41 State academic standards.— (1) The state academic standards establish the core content of the curricula to be taught in the state and specify the core content knowledge and skills that K-12 public school students are expected to acquire.

Standards must be rigorous and relevant and provide for the logical, sequential progression of core curricular content that incrementally increases a student’s core content knowledge and skills over time.

Curricular content for all subjects must integrate critical-thinking, problem-solving, and workforce-literacy skills;

communication, reading, and writing skills;

mathematics skills;

collaboration skills;

contextual and applied-learning skills;

technology-literacy skills;

computer science skills;

information and media-literacy skills;

and civic-engagement skills.

The standards must include distinct grade-level expectations for the core content knowledge and skills that a student is expected to have acquired by each individual grade level from kindergarten through grade 8.

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ standards for grades 9 through 12 may be organized by grade clusters of more than one grade level except as otherwise provided for visual and performing arts, physical education, health, and foreign language standards.

(2) The state academic standards must meet the following requirements:

(f) Computer science standards must establish specific curricular content for, at a minimum, computer coding, computer programming, computational thinking, robotics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer networking, and physical computing.

The standards for kindergarten through grade 8 may be organized by grade clusters of more than one grade level.

The standards for grades 9 through 12 may be organized by grade clusters of more than one grade level.

Section 3.

1003.4202 Computer science and technology instruction.— (1)(1)(a) K-12The publicAI schoolsin shallEducation provideTask computerForce scienceis instructionestablished inwithin conformitythe withDepartment all of theEducation. following:

(a)The Beginningpurpose withof the 2025-2026task schoolforce year,is each:to evaluate the potential applications of artificial intelligence in K-12 and higher education and to develop policy recommendations for responsible and effective uses of artificial intelligence by students and educators, including creating a Page 1 of 5 CODING:

1.

Elementary school shall provide computer science instruction to develop in students a foundation for future computer usage and achieving digital literacy.

2.

Middle school shall provide computer science instruction to develop in students a foundation for future computer usage and achieving digital literacy.

3.

High school or public charter high school shall offer at least one computer science course that satisfies the requirements for a student to obtain a standard high school Page 5 of 46 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 1344 38-00726A-24581-02413-24 20241344__20241344c1 diplomadefinition underfor s.the term “artificial intelligence.” The task force shall also identify workforce needs related to artificial intelligence, computational thinking, and computer science and provide policy recommendations to ensure that the state develops education and workforce training programs that align with changing industry needs.

1003.4282(3).As used in this section, the term “computational thinking” means the thought process involved in expressing solutions as computational steps or algorithms that can be carried out by a computer, and the term “computer science” means the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, hardware and software designs, applications, implementation, and impact on society, and includes computer coding, computer programming, computational thinking, robotics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer networking, and physical computing.

(b) Computer science courses or instruction in computer science offered by a public school or public charter school must:

1.

Be of high quality, as defined by the State Board of Education.

2.

Meet or exceed the standards and curriculum requirements established by the State Board of Education.

3.

At the high school level, be aligned with content required for, or that supports progress toward, computer science-related industry certifications.

(2) The Department of Education shall identify in the Course Code Directory and publish on its website computer science courses identified as eligible for meeting requirements for a standard high school diploma under s.

1003.4282(3).

Additional computer science courses may be subsequently identified and posted on the department’s website.

(3) The department shall publish on its website the computer science industry certification identified as eligible for meeting requirements for a standard high school diploma under s.

1003.4282(3).

Additional computer science industry certifications may be subsequently identified and posted on the department’s website.

(4) The department shall identify in the Course Code Directory and publish on its website the computer science courses that meet the Scholar designation requirements for mathematics, science, and electives as identified in s.

1003.4285(1)(a).

(5) The Florida Virtual School shall offer computer science Page 6 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ courses identified in the Course Code Directory pursuant to subsection (2).

If a school district does not offer an identified course, the district must provide students access to the course through the Florida Virtual School or through other means approved by the department.

(6) The department shall adopt a strategic plan for a statewide computer science education program which must be published by October 31, 2025, and must include, at a minimum, all of the following:

(a) A statement of purpose that describes the objectives or goals the department will accomplish by implementing a computer science education program, the strategies by which those goals will be achieved, and a timeline for achieving those goals.

(b) A summary of the current state landscape for K-12 computer science education, including diversity of students taking these courses.

(c) A plan for expanding flexible options to license computer science teachers, which may include approval codes, technical permits, ancillary licenses, and standard licenses.

(d) A plan for expanding computer science education opportunities to every school in the state by the timelines established in subsection (1).

(e) A plan for defining high-quality professional learning for teachers to begin teaching computer science.

(f) An ongoing evaluation process that is overseen by the department.

(g) Proposed rules that incorporate the principles of the strategic plan into the state’s public education system as a whole.

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ (h) A recommended long-term plan for implementing a requirement that every K-12 public school and public charter school employ at least one certified or endorsed computer science teacher or one career and technical education teacher trained in computer science.

The plan must allow for this requirement to be satisfied through multiple department-approved processes for certification and endorsement, including, but not limited to, endorsing a certified teacher endorsed in another subject area.

(i) A plan to ensure long-term sustainability.

(7) Subject to legislative appropriation, the department may award funding to a school district or a consortium of school districts that applies for funding in a format prescribed by the department.

The funding must be used for training instructional personnel or for fees for examinations of such personnel which lead to a credential or professional development.

The department shall establish a deadline for the submission of applications.

(8) Public elementary schools and public middle schools may establish digital classrooms in which students are provided opportunities to learn digital skills, such as computer science, multiple media presentation, and the manipulation of multiple digital graphic images, and to earn digital tool certificates and certifications pursuant to s.

1003.4203 and grade- appropriate, technology-related industry certifications.

(9) Public high schools must provide students with the opportunity to take computer science courses and earn technology-related industry certifications to satisfy high school graduation requirements as provided in s.

1003.4282(3).

Computer science courses and technology-related industry Page 8 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ certifications that are identified as eligible for meeting mathematics or science requirements for high school graduation must be included in the Course Code Directory.

(10) Subject to legislative appropriation, instructional personnel evaluated as effective or highly effective pursuant to s.

1012.34 in the previous school year or instructional personnel who were newly hired by the district school board and have not been evaluated pursuant to s.

1012.34 must receive a bonus as follows:

(a) If the individual holds an educator certificate in computer science pursuant to s.

1012.56 or has passed the computer science subject area examination and holds an adjunct certificate issued by a school district pursuant to s.

1012.57, he or she must receive a bonus of $1,000 after each year that he or she completes teaching a computer science course identified in the Course Code Directory pursuant to subsection (2) at a public elementary, middle, high, or combination school in this state, for up to 3 years.

(b) If the individual holds an industry certification associated with a course identified in the Course Code Directory pursuant to subsection (2), he or she must receive a bonus of $500 after each year that he or she completes teaching the identified course at a public elementary, middle, high, or combination school in this state, for up to 3 years.

Eligible instructional personnel shall receive the bonus upon completion of the school year in which he or she taught the course but may not receive more than one bonus per year under this subsection.

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ (11) Notwithstanding s.

216.301 and pursuant to s.

216.351, funds allocated for the purpose of this section which are not disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal year in which such funds are allocated may be carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of the original appropriation.

(12)(a) The AI in Education Task Force is established within the department.

The purpose of the task force is to evaluate the potential applications of artificial intelligence in K-12 and higher education and to develop policy recommendations for responsible and effective uses of artificial intelligence by students and educators, including creating a definition for the term “artificial intelligence”.

The task force shall also identify workforce needs related to artificial intelligence and provide policy recommendations to ensure that the state develops education and workforce training programs that align with changing industry needs.

(d) The task force shall include members who possess knowledge or expertise in the fields of education, technology, artificial intelligence, ethics, data privacy, industry demands, state and local policy, and state procurement.

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A representative from the Board of Governors of the Page 2 of 5 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 1344 38-00726A-24581-02413-24 20241344__20241344c1 2.State University System;

A representative from the Board of Governors of the State University System;

(f) The task force shall meet at least four times per year beginning in January of 2025 and shall complete its work within 1 year.

Page(g) 11The task force shall do all of 46the CODING:following:

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Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 1344 38-00726A-24581-02413-24 20241344__20241344c1 (g)1. The task force shall do all of the following:

1.

(13)(2) The Statedepartment Boardshall ofadopt Educationa shallstrategic adoptplan rulesfor toa administerstatewide thiscomputer section.science education program which must be published by February 28, 2026, and must include, at a minimum, all of the following:

Section(a) 4.A statement of purpose that describes the objectives or goals the department will accomplish by implementing a computer science education program, the strategies by which those goals will be achieved, and a timeline for achieving those goals.

Section(b) 1007.2616,A Floridasummary Statutes,of isthe repealed.current state landscape for K-12 computer science education, including diversity of students taking these courses.

Section(c) 5.A plan for expanding flexible options to license computer science teachers, which may include approval codes, technical permits, ancillary licenses, and standard licenses.

Paragraph(d) (k)A ofplan subsectionfor (2)expanding ofcomputer sectionscience 11.45,education Floridaopportunities Statutes,to isevery amendedschool toin read:this state by the timelines established in subsection (1).

11.45(e) Definitions;A plan for defining high-quality professional learning for teachers to begin teaching computer science.

duties;(f) An ongoing evaluation process that is overseen by the department.

authorities;(g) Proposed rules that incorporate the principles of the strategic plan into the state’s public education system as a whole.

reports;Page 4 of 5 CODING:

rules.— (2) DUTIES.—The Auditor General shall:

(k) Contact each district school board, as defined in s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(7), with the findings and recommendations contained within the Auditor General’s previous operational audit report.

The district school board shall provide the Auditor General with evidence of the initiation of corrective action within 45 days after the date it is requested by the Auditor General and evidence of completion of corrective action within 180 days after the date it is requested by the Auditor General.

If the district school board fails to comply with the Auditor General’s request or is unable to take corrective action within the required timeframe, the Auditor General shall notify the Legislative Auditing Committee.

The Auditor General shall perform his or her duties independently but under the general policies established by the Page 12 of 46 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2024 CS for SB 1344 38-00726A-24581-02413-24 20241344__20241344c1 Legislative(h) AuditingA Committee.recommended long-term plan for implementing a requirement that every K-12 public school and public charter school employ at least one certified or endorsed computer science teacher or one career and technical education teacher trained in computer science.

ThisThe subsectionplan doesmust notallow limitfor thethis Auditorrequirement General’sto discretionarybe authoritysatisfied tothrough conductmultiple otherdepartment-approved auditsprocesses orfor engagementscertification ofand governmentalendorsement, entitiesincluding, asbut authorizednot limited to, endorsing a certified teacher endorsed in subsectionanother (3).subject area.

Section(i) 6.A plan to ensure long-term sustainability.

Paragraph(3) (b)The ofState subsectionBoard (3) of sectionEducation 39.0016,shall Floridaadopt Statutes,rules isto amendedadminister tothis read:section.

39.0016Section Education2. of abused, neglected, and abandoned children;

agency agreements;

children having or suspected of having a disability.— (3) CHILDREN HAVING OR SUSPECTED OF HAVING A DISABILITY.— (b)1.

Each district school superintendent or dependency court must appoint a surrogate parent for a child known to the department who has or is suspected of having a disability, as defined in s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(9), when:

a.

After reasonable efforts, no parent can be located;

or b.

A court of competent jurisdiction over a child under this chapter has determined that no person has the authority under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including the parent or parents subject to the dependency action, or that no person has the authority, willingness, or ability to serve as the educational decisionmaker for the child without judicial action.

2.

A surrogate parent appointed by the district school superintendent or the court must be at least 18 years old and have no personal or professional interest that conflicts with the interests of the student to be represented.

Neither the district school superintendent nor the court may appoint an employee of the Department of Education, the local school district, a community-based care provider, the Department of Page 13 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ Children and Families, or any other public or private agency involved in the education or care of the child as appointment of those persons is prohibited by federal law.

This prohibition includes group home staff and therapeutic foster parents.

However, a person who acts in a parental role to a child, such as a foster parent or relative caregiver, is not prohibited from serving as a surrogate parent if he or she is employed by such agency, willing to serve, and knowledgeable about the child and the exceptional student education process.

The surrogate parent may be a court-appointed guardian ad litem or a relative or nonrelative adult who is involved in the child’s life regardless of whether that person has physical custody of the child.

Each person appointed as a surrogate parent must have the knowledge and skills acquired by successfully completing training using materials developed and approved by the Department of Education to ensure adequate representation of the child.

3.

If a guardian ad litem has been appointed for a child, the district school superintendent must first consider the child’s guardian ad litem when appointing a surrogate parent.

The district school superintendent must accept the appointment of the court if he or she has not previously appointed a surrogate parent.

Similarly, the court must accept a surrogate parent duly appointed by a district school superintendent.

4.

A surrogate parent appointed by the district school superintendent or the court must be accepted by any subsequent school or school district without regard to where the child is receiving residential care so that a single surrogate parent can follow the education of the child during his or her entire time in state custody.

Nothing in this paragraph or in rule shall Page 14 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ limit or prohibit the continuance of a surrogate parent appointment when the responsibility for the student’s educational placement moves among and between public and private agencies.

5.

For a child known to the department, the responsibility to appoint a surrogate parent resides with both the district school superintendent and the court with jurisdiction over the child.

If the court elects to appoint a surrogate parent, notice shall be provided as soon as practicable to the child’s school.

At any time the court determines that it is in the best interests of a child to remove a surrogate parent, the court may appoint a new surrogate parent for educational decisionmaking purposes for that child.

6.

The surrogate parent shall continue in the appointed role until one of the following occurs:

a.

The child is determined to no longer be eligible or in need of special programs, except when termination of special programs is being contested.

b.

The child achieves permanency through adoption or legal guardianship and is no longer in the custody of the department.

c.

The parent who was previously unknown becomes known, whose whereabouts were unknown is located, or who was unavailable is determined by the court to be available.

d.

The appointed surrogate no longer wishes to represent the child or is unable to represent the child.

e.

The superintendent of the school district in which the child is attending school, the Department of Education contract designee, or the court that appointed the surrogate determines that the appointed surrogate parent no longer adequately Page 15 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ represents the child.

f.

The child moves to a geographic location that is not reasonably accessible to the appointed surrogate.

7.

The appointment and termination of appointment of a surrogate under this paragraph shall be entered as an order of the court with a copy of the order provided to the child’s school as soon as practicable.

8.

The person appointed as a surrogate parent under this paragraph must:

a.

Be acquainted with the child and become knowledgeable about his or her disability and educational needs.

b.

Represent the child in all matters relating to identification, evaluation, and educational placement and the provision of a free and appropriate education to the child.

c.

Represent the interests and safeguard the rights of the child in educational decisions that affect the child.

9.

The responsibilities of the person appointed as a surrogate parent shall not extend to the care, maintenance, custody, residential placement, or any other area not specifically related to the education of the child, unless the same person is appointed by the court for such other purposes.

10.

A person appointed as a surrogate parent shall enjoy all of the procedural safeguards afforded a parent with respect to the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of a student with a disability or a student who is suspected of having a disability.

11.

A person appointed as a surrogate parent shall not be held liable for actions taken in good faith on behalf of the student in protecting the special education rights of the child.

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ Section 7.

Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 327.371, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

327.371 Human-powered vessels regulated.— (1) A person may operate a human-powered vessel within the boundaries of the marked channel of the Florida Intracoastal Waterway as defined in s.

327.02:

(c) When participating in practices or competitions for interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club rowing teams affiliated with an educational institution identified in s.

1000.21, s.

1002.01(3), s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(17), s.

1005.02(4), or s.

1005.03(1)(d), if the adjacent area outside of the marked channel is not suitable for such practice or competition.

The teams must use their best efforts to make use of the adjacent area outside of the marked channel.

The commission must be notified in writing of the details of any such competition, and the notification must include, but need not be limited to, the date, time, and location of the competition.

Section 8.

Subsection (1) of section 414.1251, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

414.1251 Learnfare program.— (1) The department shall reduce the temporary cash assistance for a participant’s eligible dependent child or for an eligible teenage participant who has not been exempted from education participation requirements, if the eligible dependent child or eligible teenage participant has been identified either as a habitual truant, pursuant to s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(12), or as a dropout, pursuant to s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(8).

For a student who has been identified as a habitual truant, the Page 17 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ temporary cash assistance must be reinstated after a subsequent grading period in which the child’s attendance has substantially improved.

For a student who has been identified as a dropout, the temporary cash assistance must be reinstated after the student enrolls in a public school, receives a high school diploma or its equivalency, enrolls in preparation for the high school equivalency examination, or enrolls in other educational activities approved by the district school board.

Good cause exemptions from the rule of unexcused absences include the following:

(a) The student is expelled from school and alternative schooling is not available.

(b) No licensed day care is available for a child of teen parents subject to Learnfare.

(c) Prohibitive transportation problems exist (e.g., to and from day care).

Within 10 days after sanction notification, the participant parent of a dependent child or the teenage participant may file an internal fair hearings process review procedure appeal, and no sanction shall be imposed until the appeal is resolved.

Section 9.

Paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of section 553.865, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

553.865 Private spaces.— (3) As used in this section, the term:

(g) “K-12 educational institution or facility” means:

1.

A school as defined in s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(17) operated under the control of a district school board as defined in s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(7);

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ 2.

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind as described in ss.

1000.04(4) and 1002.36;

3.

A developmental research (laboratory) school established pursuant to s.

1002.32(2);

4.

A charter school authorized under s.

1002.33;

or 5.

A private school as defined in s.

1002.01(3).

Section 10.

Subsection (7) of section 1001.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1001.11 Commissioner of Education;

other duties.— (7) The commissioner shall make prominently available on the department’s website the following:

links to the Internet- based clearinghouse for professional development regarding physical education;

the school wellness and physical education policies and other resources required under s.

1003.453;

and other Internet sites that provide professional development for elementary teachers of physical education as defined in s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(15).

These links must provide elementary teachers with information concerning current physical education and nutrition philosophy and best practices that result in student participation in physical activities that promote lifelong physical and mental well-being.

Section 11.

Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1002.01 Definitions.— (1) A “home education program” means the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss.

1002.41, 1003.01, and 1003.21(1) ss.

1002.41, 1003.01(16), and 1003.21(1).

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ (2) A “personalized education program” means the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss.

1003.01 and 1003.21(1) ss.

1003.01(16) and 1003.21(1) while registered with an eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organization pursuant to s.

1002.395.

A personalized education student shall be provided the same flexibility and opportunities as provided in s.

1002.41(3)-(12).

(3) A “private school” is a nonpublic school defined as an individual, association, copartnership, or corporation, or department, division, or section of such organizations, that designates itself as an educational center that includes kindergarten or a higher grade or as an elementary, secondary, business, technical, or trade school below college level or any organization that provides instructional services that meet the intent of s.

1003.01(18) s.

1003.01(16) or that gives preemployment or supplementary training in technology or in fields of trade or industry or that offers academic, literary, or career training below college level, or any combination of the above, including an institution that performs the functions of the above schools through correspondence or extension, except those licensed under the provisions of chapter 1005.

A private school may be a parochial, religious, denominational, for- profit, or nonprofit school.

This definition does not include home education programs conducted in accordance with s.

1002.41.

Section 12.

Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public school students must receive accurate and timely information Page 20 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed of ways they can help their child to succeed in school.

K-12 students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory rights including, but not limited to, the following:

(2) ATTENDANCE.— (b) Regular school attendance.—Parents of students who have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year but who have not attained the age of 16 years must comply with the compulsory school attendance laws.

Parents have the option to comply with the school attendance laws by attendance of the student in a public school;

a parochial, religious, or denominational school;

a private school;

a home education program;

or a private tutoring program, in accordance with the provisions of s.

1003.01(18) s.

1003.01(16).

Section 13.

Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 1002.3105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1002.3105 Academically Challenging Curriculum to Enhance Learning (ACCEL) options.— (3) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS.—When establishing student eligibility requirements, principals and school districts must consider, at a minimum:

(d) Recommendations from one or more of the student’s teachers in core-curricula courses as defined in s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(5)(a)-(e).

Section 14.

Paragraph (a) of subsection (20) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1002.33 Charter schools.— (20) SERVICES.— (a)1.

A sponsor shall provide certain administrative and Page 21 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ educational services to charter schools.

These services shall include contract management services;

full-time equivalent and data reporting services;

exceptional student education administration services;

services related to eligibility and reporting duties required to ensure that school lunch services under the National School Lunch Program, consistent with the needs of the charter school, are provided by the sponsor at the request of the charter school, that any funds due to the charter school under the National School Lunch Program be paid to the charter school as soon as the charter school begins serving food under the National School Lunch Program, and that the charter school is paid at the same time and in the same manner under the National School Lunch Program as other public schools serviced by the sponsor or the school district;

test administration services, including payment of the costs of state-required or district-required student assessments;

processing of teacher certificate data services;

and information services, including equal access to the sponsor’s student information systems that are used by public schools in the district in which the charter school is located or by schools in the sponsor’s portfolio of charter schools if the sponsor is not a school district.

Student performance data for each student in a charter school, including, but not limited to, FCAT scores, standardized test scores, previous public school student report cards, and student performance measures, shall be provided by the sponsor to a charter school in the same manner provided to other public schools in the district or by schools in the sponsor’s portfolio of charter schools if the sponsor is not a school district.

2.

A sponsor shall provide training to charter schools on Page 22 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ systems the sponsor will require the charter school to use.

3.

A sponsor may withhold an administrative fee for the provision of such services which shall be a percentage of the available funds defined in paragraph (17)(b) calculated based on weighted full-time equivalent students.

If the charter school serves 75 percent or more exceptional education students as defined in s.

1003.01 s.

1003.01(9), the percentage shall be calculated based on unweighted full-time equivalent students.

The administrative fee shall be calculated as follows:

a.

Up to 5 percent for:

(I) Enrollment of up to and including 250 students in a charter school as defined in this section.

(II) Enrollment of up to and including 500 students within a charter school system which meets all of the following:

(A) Includes conversion charter schools and nonconversion charter schools.

(B) Has all of its schools located in the same county.

(C) Has a total enrollment exceeding the total enrollment of at least one school district in this state.

(D) Has the same governing board for all of its schools.

(E) Does not contract with a for-profit service provider for management of school operations.

(III) Enrollment of up to and including 250 students in a virtual charter school.

b.

Up to 2 percent for enrollment of up to and including 250 students in a high-performing charter school as defined in s.

1002.331.

c.

Up to 2 percent for enrollment of up to and including 250 students in an exceptional student education center that Page 23 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ meets the requirements of the rules adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to s.

1008.3415(3).

4.

A sponsor may not charge charter schools any additional fees or surcharges for administrative and educational services in addition to the maximum percentage of administrative fees withheld pursuant to this paragraph.

A sponsor may not charge or withhold any administrative fee against a charter school for any funds specifically allocated by the Legislature for teacher compensation.

5.

A sponsor shall provide to the department by September 15 of each year the total amount of funding withheld from charter schools pursuant to this subsection for the prior fiscal year.

The department must include the information in the report required under sub-sub-subparagraph (5)(b)1.k.(III).

6.

A sponsor shall annually provide a report to its charter schools on what services are being rendered from the sponsor’s portion of the administrative fee.

The report must include the listed services and be submitted to the department by September 15 of each year.

Section 15.

Subsections (4) and (10) of section 1002.394, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1002.394 The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program.— (4) AUTHORIZED USES OF PROGRAM FUNDS.— (a) Program funds awarded to a student determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(a) may be used for:

1.

Tuition and fees at an eligible private school.

2.

Transportation to a Florida public school in which a student is enrolled and that is different from the school to which the student was assigned or to a lab school as defined in Page 24 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ s.

1002.32.

3.

Instructional materials, including digital materials and Internet resources.

4.

Curriculum as defined in subsection (2).

5.

Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time enrollment in an eligible postsecondary educational institution or a program offered by the postsecondary educational institution, unless the program is subject to s.

1009.25 or reimbursed pursuant to s.

1009.30;

an approved preapprenticeship program as defined in s.

446.021(5) which is not subject to s.

1009.25 and complies with all applicable requirements of the department pursuant to chapter 1005;

a private tutoring program authorized under s.

1002.43;

a virtual program offered by a department-approved private online provider that meets the provider qualifications specified in s.

1002.45(2)(a);

the Florida Virtual School as a private paying student;

or an approved online course offered pursuant to s.

1003.499 or s.

1004.0961.

6.

Fees for nationally standardized, norm-referenced achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary education, or other assessments.

7.

Contracted services provided by a public school or school district, including classes.

A student who receives contracted services under this subparagraph is not considered enrolled in a public school for eligibility purposes as specified in subsection (6) but rather attending a public school on a part-time basis as authorized under s.

1002.44.

8.

Tuition and fees for part-time tutoring services or fees Page 25 of 46 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ for services provided by a choice navigator.

Such services must be provided by a person who holds a valid Florida educator’s certificate pursuant to s.

1012.56, a person who holds an adjunct teaching certificate pursuant to s.

1012.57, a person who has a bachelor’s degree or a graduate degree in the subject area in which instruction is given, a person who has demonstrated a mastery of subject area knowledge pursuant to s.

1012.56(5), or a person certified by a nationally or internationally recognized research-based training program as approved by the department.

As used in this subparagraph, the term “part-time tutoring services” does not qualify as regular school attendance as defined in s.

1003.01(18)(e) s.

1003.01(16)(e).

(b) Program funds awarded to a student with a disability determined eligible pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) may be used for the following purposes:

1.

Instructional materials, including digital devices, digital periphery devices, and assistive technology devices that allow a student to access instruction or instructional content and training on the use of and maintenance agreements for these devices.

2.

Curriculum as defined in subsection (2).

3.

Specialized services by approved providers or by a hospital in this state which are selected by the parent.

These specialized services may include, but are not limited to:

a.

Applied behavior analysis services as provided in ss.

627.6686 and 641.31098.

b.

Services provided by speech-language pathologists as defined in s.

468.1125(8).

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Florida Senate - 2024 SB 1344 38-00726A-24 20241344__ c.

Occupational therapy as defined in s.

468.203.

d.

Services provided by physical therapists as defined in s.

486.021(8).

e.

Services provided by listening and spoken language specialists and an appropriate acoustical environment for a child who has a hearing impairment, including deafness, and who has received an implant or assistive hearing device.

4.

Tuition and fees associated with full-time or part-time enrollment in a home education program;

an eligible private school;

an eligible postsecondary educational institution or a program offered by the postsecondary educational institution, unless the program is subject to s.

1009.25 or reimbursed pursuant to s.

1009.30;

an approved preapprenticeship program as defined in s.

446.021(5) which is not subject to s.

1009.25 and complies with all applicable requirements of the department pursuant to chapter 1005;

a private tutoring program authorized under s.

1002.43;

a virtual program offered by a department- approved private online provider that meets the provider qualifications specified in s.

1002.45(2)(a);

the Florida Virtual School as a private paying student;

or an approved online course offered pursuant to s.

1003.499 or s.