SB 7036 — Education

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb (3)and HEALTHDrug ISSUES.—Administration (i)(FDA)-approved Epinephrinean useepinephrine delivery device auto-injector and supply.—self-administer 1.epinephrine by FDA- approved delivery device auto-injector while in school, participating in school-sponsored activities, or in transit to or from school or school-sponsored activities if the school has been provided with parental and physician authorization.

A student who has experienced or is at risk for life- threatening allergic reactions may carry a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved an epinephrine delivery device auto-injector and self-administer epinephrine by FDA- approved delivery device auto-injector while in school, participating in school-sponsored activities, or in transit to or from school or school-sponsored activities if the school has been provided with parental and physician authorization.

The PageFDA-approved 6epinephrine ofdelivery 39devices CODING:auto-injectors must be maintained in a secure location on the public school’s premises.

The participating school district shall adopt a protocol developed by a licensed physician for the administration by Page 6 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb FDA-approvedschool epinephrinepersonnel deliverywho devicesare auto-injectorstrained mustto berecognize maintainedan inanaphylactic areaction secureand locationto onadminister thean publicepinephrine school’sby premises.an FDA-approved delivery device auto-injection.

The participating school district shall adopt a protocol developed by a licensed physician for the administration by school personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic reaction and to administer an epinephrine by an FDA-approved delivery device auto-injection.

PageSection 73. of 39 CODING:

Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) and paragraph (e) of subsection (10) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1002.33 Charter schools.— Page 7 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb Section(7) 3.CHARTER.—The terms and conditions for the operation of a charter school, including a virtual charter school, shall be set forth by the sponsor and the applicant in a written contractual agreement, called a charter.

Paragraph (c) of subsection (7) and paragraph (e) of subsection (10) of section 1002.33, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1002.33 Charter schools.— (7) CHARTER.—The terms and conditions for the operation of a charter school, including a virtual charter school, shall be set forth by the sponsor and the applicant in a written contractual agreement, called a charter.

1008.34 in the most recently graded school year Pagemust 8be ofrenewed 39for CODING:no less than a 5-year term except as provided in paragraph (9)(n).

In order to facilitate long-term financing for charter school construction, charter schools operating for a minimum of 3 years and demonstrating exemplary Page 8 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb mustacademic beprogramming, renewedwhich formay noinclude lessacademic thanperformance ameasured 5-yearby termschool exceptimprovement asratings, providedand infiscal paragraphmanagement (9)(n).are eligible for a 15-year charter renewal.

In order to facilitate long-term financing for charter school construction, charter schools operating for a minimum of 3 years and demonstrating exemplary academic programming, which may include academic performance measured by school improvement ratings, and fiscal management are eligible for a 15-year charter renewal.

Such students Pageshall 9be ofsubject 39to CODING:a random lottery and to the racial/ethnic balance provisions described in subparagraph (7)(a)8.

or any federal provisions that require a school to achieve a racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or Page 9 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb shallwithin be subject to a random lottery and to the racial/ethnic balancerange provisionsof describedother innearby subparagraphpublic (7)(a)8.schools.

or any federal provisions that require a school to achieve a racial/ethnic balance reflective of the community it serves or within the racial/ethnic range of other nearby public schools.

Students living in a development, or students whose parent or legal guardian maintains a physical or permanent employment presence within the development, in which a developer, including any affiliated business entity or charitable foundation, contributes to the formation, acquisition, construction, or operation of one or more charter schools or charter school facilities and related property in an Pageamount 10equal to or having a total appraised value of 39at CODING:least $5 million to be used as charter schools to mitigate the educational impact created by the development of new residential dwelling units.

Students living in the development are entitled Page 10 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb amount equal to or50 havingpercent a total appraised value of at least $5 million to be used as charter schools to mitigate the educationalstudent impactstations createdin by the developmentcharter ofschools. new residential dwelling units.

Students living in the development are entitled to 50 percent of the student stations in the charter schools.

The participating private school shall adopt a protocol developed by Pagea 11licensed ofphysician 39for CODING:the administration by private school personnel who are trained to recognize an anaphylactic reaction and to administer epinephrine by an FDA-approved epinephrine delivery device auto-injection.

The supply of FDA-approved Page 11 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb aepinephrine licenseddelivery physiciandevices forauto-injectors themay administrationbe byprovided private school personnel who are trained to recognizeand anused anaphylacticby reactiona andstudent authorized to administerself-administer epinephrine by an FDA-approved epinephrine delivery device auto-injection.auto-injector under s.

The supply of FDA-approved epinephrine delivery devices auto-injectors may be provided to and used by a student authorized to self-administer epinephrine by an FDA-approved delivery device auto-injector under s.

1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program accountability.— (3)(a) For the 2020-2021 program year, the department shall calculate a kindergarten readiness rate for each private Page 12 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb 1002.68 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program accountability.— (3)(a) For the 2020-2021 program year, the department shall calculate a kindergarten readiness rate for each private prekindergarten provider and public school participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program based upon learning gains and the percentage of students assessed as ready for kindergarten.

Any private prekindergarten provider or public school participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program which fails to meet the minimum kindergarten readiness rate for Pagethe 132021-2022 program year is subject to the probation requirements of 39subsection CODING:(5).

(3)(4) (e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall Page 13 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb theprovide 2021-2022for programa yeardifferential ispayment subject to thea probationprivate requirementsprekindergarten ofprovider subsectionand (5).public school based on the provider’s designation.

(3)(4) (e) Subject to an appropriation, the department shall provide for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten provider and public school based on the provider’s designation.

A public school or private prekindergarten provider may request one program assessment per program year in order to requalify for participation in the Voluntary Prekindergarten PageEducation 14Program, ofprovided 39that CODING:the public school or private prekindergarten provider is not excluded from participation under ss.

1002.55(6), 1002.61(10)(b), 1002.63(9)(b), or paragraph (b) (5)(b) of this section.

If a public school or Page 14 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb Educationprivate Program,prekindergarten providedprovider thatwould like an additional program assessment completed within the same program year, the public school or private prekindergarten provider isshall notbe excludedresponsible fromfor participationthe undercost ss.of the program assessment.

1002.55(6), 1002.61(10)(b), 1002.63(9)(b), or paragraph (b) (5)(b) of this section.

If a public school or private prekindergarten provider would like an additional program assessment completed within the same program year, the public school or private prekindergarten provider shall be responsible for the cost of the program assessment.

Commission of a class I violation for which the Department of Children and Families determines that the child care provider is the primary Pagecause 15of the violation shall be grounds for termination of 39the CODING:designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider until the provider has no class I violations for a period of 2 years.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of Page 15 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb causeEducation ofdetermines thethrough violationa shallformal beprocess groundsthat fora terminationprovider ofhas thebeen designationin asbusiness afor Goldat Sealleast Quality5 Careyears providerand until the provider has no other class I violations forrecorded, athe perioddepartment ofmay 2recommend years.to the state board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care status.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the Department of Education determines through a formal process that a provider has been in business for at least 5 years and has no other class I violations recorded, the department may recommend to the state board that the provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care status.

The department, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, shall prepare and offer standards and a curriculum for the instruction required by this paragraph and may seek input Pagefrom 16state ofor 39nationally CODING:recognized agricultural educational organizations.

The department may contract with state or nationally recognized agricultural educational organizations to develop training for instructional personnel and grade- Page 16 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb fromappropriate stateclassroom orresources nationallyto recognizedsupport agriculturalthe educationaldeveloped organizations.curriculum.

The department may contract with state or nationally recognized agricultural educational organizations to develop training for instructional personnel and grade- appropriate classroom resources to support the developed curriculum.

The workgroup shall collaborate to identify the three mathematics pathways and Pagethe 17mathematics ofcourse 39sequence CODING:within each pathway which align to the mathematics skills needed for success in the corresponding academic programs, postsecondary education, and careers.

Page 17 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb the1. mathematics course sequence within each pathway which align to the mathematics skills needed for success in the corresponding academic programs, postsecondary education, and careers.

1.

The mathematics pathways that incorporate applied algebra courses created under Pages. 18 of 39 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7036 602-02836-26 20267036c1 s.

SectionPage 9.18 of 40 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb Section 9.

Page(b) 19Provide students with rigorous, career-relevant mathematical applications that demonstrate the use of 39algebraic CODING:concepts in authentic industry problems, processes, or settings.

(c) Prepare students to take the statewide, standardized Page 19 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb (b)Algebra ProvideI studentsend-of-course withassessment rigorous,required career-relevantunder mathematicals. applications that demonstrate the use of algebraic concepts in authentic industry problems, processes, or settings.

(c) Prepare students to take the statewide, standardized Algebra I end-of-course assessment required under s.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7036 602-02836-26 20267036c1 d.

(b)Page In20 grades 6 through 12, school districts may offer one or more applied algebra courses in lieu of Algebra40 I,CODING: and successful completion of the course will satisfy the Algebra I credit requirement for high school graduation or middle grades promotion.

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb (b) In grades 6 through 12, school districts may offer one or more applied algebra courses in lieu of Algebra I, and successful completion of the course will satisfy the Algebra I credit requirement for high school graduation or middle grades promotion.

Approved programs shall be available for use by other approved educator preparation Pageinstitutes. 21 of 39 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7036 602-02836-26 20267036c1 institutes.

1012.56(1) by obtaining a statement of status of eligibility determiningPage the21 participant is eligible for a certificate in the certification subject area of the40 educationalCODING: plan.

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb determining the participant is eligible for a certificate in the certification subject area of the educational plan.

1012.56(7)(a)3., achieving a passing score on the professional education competency examination, the basic skills examination, and the subject area Pageexamination 22for ofthe 39subject CODING:area certification which is required by state board rule.

Section 11.

Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, are Page 22 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb examinationamended forto theread: subject area certification which is required by state board rule.

Section 11.

Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

Select the adult secondary education program and career Pageeducation 23program of 39his CODING:or her choice at the time of admission to the GATE Program, provided that the career education program is included on the Master Credentials List under s.

445.004(4).

The student is not required to enroll in adult secondary and Page 23 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb education program of his or her choice at the time of admission to the GATE Program, provided that the career education program iscoursework includedsimultaneously. on the Master Credentials List under s.

445.004(4).

The student is not required to enroll in adult secondary and career education program coursework simultaneously.

Paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of section 1006.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1006.07 District school board duties relating to student discipline and school safety.—The district school board shall provide for the proper accounting for all students, for the attendance and control of students at school, and for proper attention to health, safety, and other matters relating to the welfare of students, including:

(6) SAFETY AND SECURITY BEST PRACTICES.—Each district school superintendent shall establish policies and procedures for the prevention of violence on school grounds, including the assessment of and intervention with individuals whose behavior poses a threat to the safety of the school community.

(f) School safety requirements.—Each school district and charter school governing board shall comply with the following school safety requirements, which apply from 30 minutes before the school start time until 30 minutes after the end of the school day:

Page 24 of 40 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb 1.

All gates or other access points that restrict ingress to or egress from the exclusive zone of a school campus shall remain closed and locked when students are on campus.

For the purposes of this section, the term “exclusive zone” means the area within a gate or door allowing access to the interior perimeter of a school campus beyond a single point of entry.

A gate or access point to the exclusive zone may only be open or unlocked if one of the following conditions is met:

a.

It is attended or actively staffed when students are on campus;

b.

The use complies with a shared use agreement pursuant to s.

1013.101;

c.

Another closed and locked gate or access point separates the open or unlocked gate from areas occupied by students;

or d.

The school safety specialist, or his or her designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the gate or other access point is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at the school.

The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant to s.

1001.212(13) to review if such determination is appropriate.

This subparagraph does not apply to the nonexclusive zone of a school campus.

The term “nonexclusive zone” means the area outside of the exclusive zone but contained on school property.

Nonexclusive zones may include, but are not limited to, such spaces as parking lots, athletic fields and stadiums, mechanical buildings, playgrounds, bus ramps, agricultural spaces, and other areas that do not give direct, unimpeded access to the Page 25 of 40 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb exclusive zone.

2.a.

All school classrooms and other instructional spaces must be locked to prevent ingress when occupied by students, except between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces.

If a classroom or other instructional space door must be left unlocked or open for any reason other than between class periods when students are moving between classrooms or other instructional spaces, the door must be actively staffed by a person standing or seated at the door.

All school classrooms and other instructional spaces with a permanently installed door lock may also use temporary door locks during an active assailant incident.

The temporary door lock must be able to be engaged or removed without opening the door;

must be easily removed in a single operation from the egress side of the door without the use of a key and from the ingress side of the door with the use of a key or other credential;

may be installed at any height;

must otherwise be in compliance with the Florida Fire Prevention Code;

and must be integrated into the active assailant response plan.

b.

Instructional spaces for career and technical education which are designed as open areas for which compliance with the requirements of sub-subparagraph a.

affects the health and safety of students may be exempted from compliance with that sub-subparagraph by the school safety specialist.

To be exempt, the school safety specialist, or his or her designee, must document in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the instructional space is exempt from these requirements due to negative impacts to student health and safety and the presence of other safety Page 26 of 40 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb measures at the school that prevent egress from the instructional space to hallways or other classrooms or instructional spaces.

c.

Common areas on a school campus, including, but not limited to, cafeterias, auditoriums, and media centers, which are used for instructional time or student testing must meet the requirements of sub-subparagraph a.

only when such areas are being used for instructional time or student testing.

3.

For schools that do not have a secure exclusive zone, all campus access doors, gates, and other access points that allow ingress to or egress from a school building shall remain closed and locked at all times to prevent ingress, unless:

a.

A person is actively entering or exiting the door, gate, or other access point;

b.

The door, gate, or access point is actively staffed by school personnel to prevent unauthorized entry;

or c.

The school safety specialist, or his or her designee, has documented in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools that the open and unlocked door, gate, or other access point is not subject to this requirement based upon other safety measures at the school.

There must be at least one locked barrier between classrooms and instructional spaces and open school campus.

The office may conduct a compliance visit pursuant to s.

1001.212(13) to review if such determination is appropriate.

All campus access doors, gates, and other access points may be electronically or manually controlled by school personnel to allow access by authorized visitors, students, and school Page 27 of 40 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb personnel.

4.

All school classrooms and other instructional spaces must clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in each classroom or other instructional space where students must shelter in place during an emergency.

Students must be notified of these safe areas within the first 10 days of the school year.

If it is not feasible to clearly and conspicuously mark the safest areas in a classroom or other instructional space, the school safety specialist, or his or her designee, must document such determination in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool portal maintained by the Office of Safe Schools, identifying where affected students must shelter in place.

The office shall assist the school safety specialist with compliance during the inspection required under s.

1001.212(13).

Persons who are aware of a violation of this paragraph must report the violation to the school principal.

The school principal must report the violation to the school safety specialist no later than the next business day after receiving such report.

If the person who violated this paragraph is the school principal or charter school administrator, the report must be made directly to the district school superintendent or charter school governing board, as applicable.

Section 13.

Subsections (1) and (5) of section 1006.39, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

1006.39 Production and dissemination of educational materials and products by department.— (1) Educational materials and products developed by or under the direction of the department, through research and Page 28 of 40 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 7036 581-02232A-26 20267036pb development or other efforts, including those subject to copyright, patent, or trademark, shall be made available for use by school districts, teachers, students, administrators, and other appropriate persons in the state system of education at the earliest practicable date and in the most economical and efficient manner possible.

(5) A school district may purchase instructional materials developed by or under the direction of the department at any time during which the state academic standards for which the materials are aligned are in effect.

Such purchases may be used by a school district to meet the expenditure requirements for instructional materials that must be purchased from the state- adopted list as provided in s.

1006.40 The department shall not enter into the business of producing or publishing instructional materials for general use in classrooms.

Section 14.

The comprehensive computer Page 2429 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb science (K–12) coverage and its examination shall remain available unless amended by rule of the state board.

Section 13.15.

The student’s specific, identified reading or Page 2530 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb mathematics skill deficiency.

ForResources a student with a substantial reading deficiency, resources must include information about the student’s eligibility for the New Worlds Reading Initiative under s.

Treat the screening result as reasonable suspicion that the student may be a student with a disability for purposes of Pages. 26 of 39 CODING:

1003.57 and promptly seek parental consent to conduct an Page 31 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb s.initial evaluation consistent with state board rule and applicable federal law.

1003.57 and promptly seek parental consent to conduct an initial evaluation consistent with State Board of Education rule and applicable federal law.

(d) The parent of any student who exhibits a substantial Page 2732 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb (d) The parent of any student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be immediately notified in writing of the following:

Page7. 28 of 39 CODING:

The district’s specific criteria and policies for a Page 33 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb 7.portfolio as provided in subparagraph (7)(b)4.

The district’s specific criteria and policies for a portfolio as provided in subparagraph (7)(b)4.

The parent may request more frequent notification of the student’s progress, more frequent interventions or supports, and earlier implementation of the Page 2934 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb interventions or supports, and earlier implementation of the additional interventions or supports described in the initial notification.

Any student identified by the system as having characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia Pageshall 30undergo offurther 39screening. CODING:

Any student whose performance Page 35 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb shallin the system meets thresholds established by State Board of Education rule in circumstances in which the system is not capable of identifying characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia must undergo further screening.

Any student whose performance in the system meets thresholds established by State Board of Education rule in circumstances in which the system is not capable of identifying characteristics of dyslexia or dyscalculia must undergo further screening.

The methodology for determining a student’s readiness for kindergarten must be developed by the department Pageand 31aligned ofto 39the CODING:methodology adopted pursuant to s.

1002.68(3) Page 36 of 40 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb and aligned to the methodology adopted pursuant to s.

1002.68(3) s.

Section 14.16.

Identify appropriate personnel, processes, and procedures required for the administration of the coordinated Page 3237 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb procedures required for the administration of the coordinated screening and progress monitoring program.

Section 15.17.

The threshold for identifying eligible schools may not exceed the threshold established by a school district for the 2016-2017 school year or the statewide percentage of economically disadvantaged students, as determined Page 3338 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb percentage of economically disadvantaged students, as determined annually.

Funds may be reserved under this subparagraph only to the extent that all required reservations under federal law have been met and that such reservation does not reduce school-level Page 3439 of 3940 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2026 CS(PROPOSED forBILL) SBSPB 7036 602-02836-26581-02232A-26 20267036c120267036pb been met and that such reservation does not reduce school-level allocations below the levels required under federal law.

Section 16.18.

Section 1011.804, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1011.804 GATE Startup Grant Program.— (1) The GATE Startup Grant Program is established within the Department of Education to fund and support the startup and implementation of the GATE Program, subject to legislative appropriation.

The purpose of the grant program is to increase access to programs that support adult learners earning a high school credential, either a high school diploma or its equivalent, and a workforce credential aligned to statewide or regional demand.

The department shall administer the grants, determine eligibility, and distribute grant awards.

(2) As used in this section, the term “institution” means a school district career center established under s.

1001.44, a charter technical career center established under s.

1002.34, or a Florida College System institution identified in s.

1000.21 which offers the GATE Program pursuant to s.

1004.933.

(3) The department may solicit proposals from institutions without programs that meet the requirements of s.

1004.933.

Such institutions must be located in or serve a rural area of opportunity , as defined in s.

288.0656(2)(d) as designated by the Governor.

For purposes of this subsection, an institution serves a rural area of opportunity if the institution’s service area includes one or more counties or municipalities included within a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.

288.0656(2)(d).

An institution’s principal place of business, main campus, or administrative offices are not required to be Page 35 of 39 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7036 602-02836-26 20267036c1 located within a rural area of opportunity in order to satisfy the service requirement.

(a) The department may award a grant to an institution that, at the time of application, does not offer programs that meet the requirements of s.

1004.933 to support startup and implementation activities.

(b) The department may award a grant to an institution that, at the time of application, offers programs that meet the requirements of s.

1004.933 only for costs authorized in subsection (6), excluding new construction, structural expansion, and major renovation.

(4) The department shall prioritize grant proposals that combine adult basic education, adult secondary education, and career education programs at one location or allow students to complete programs through distance learning.

An applicant may not receive more than 10 percent of the total amount appropriated for the program.

(5) The department shall make the grant application available to potential applicants no later than August 15 of each year in which funds are appropriated for the program, 2024.

A grant proposal must include:

(a) The institution or institutions that will provide the adult basic education, adult secondary education, and career education programs;

(b) The proposed adult basic education and adult secondary education program or programs the institution or institutions will provide, and the projected enrollment for such program or programs;

(c) The proposed career education program or programs the Page 36 of 39 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7036 602-02836-26 20267036c1 institution or institutions will provide and the projected enrollment for such program or programs;

(d) The credential or credentials associated with the career education program or programs.

Such credential or credentials must be included on the Master Credentials List under s.

445.004(4);

(e) The cost of instruction for all programs contemplated in the proposal, including costs for tuition, fees, registration, and laboratory, examination, and instructional materials costs;

(f) Outreach strategies, including collaboration with local workforce development boards;

and (g) A plan or timeline for implementing s.

1004.933 and enrolling students.

(h) Documentation identifying the counties or municipalities within the institution’s service area which are included in a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.

288.0656(2)(d).

(6) Grant funds may be used for planning activities and other expenses associated with the creation and implementation of the GATE Program, such as expenses related to program instruction, instructional equipment, supplies, instructional personnel, and student services, minor facility modifications necessary to install or operate instructional equipment used for the GATE Program, and marketing and outreach activities to recruit and enroll eligible students.

Marketing and outreach activities and minor facility modifications authorized under this subsection are allowable direct costs of program implementation.

Grant funds may not be used for indirect costs.

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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7036 602-02836-26 20267036c1 Grant recipients must submit an annual report in a format prescribed by the department.

The department shall consolidate such annual reports and include the reports in the report required by s.

1004.933(6).

(7) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to administer this section.

Section 17.

Page(2) 38The department shall submit its recommendations to the Governor, the President of 39the CODING:Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1, 2026.

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 7036 602-02836-26 20267036c1 (2) The department shall submit its recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 1, 2026.

Section 18.

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