Legislative UpdateApril 1, 2011

Holly SaguesChief Strategist and

Policy Officer

Florida Legislation

House Education Committee Chair,Bill Proctor

Representative Bill Proctor (R-St. Augustine), chair of the House Education Committee, released the following statement on March 28, 2011 regarding two proposed committee bills (PCBs) that passed the House K-20 Innovation Subcommittee. The bills propose options that expand school choice by encouraging the growth of quality charter schools in Florida and increasing digital learning options for students.

“A one-size-fits-all approach to education is not a viable option for our state’s school system.”

“School choice is an indispensable tool that enables parents to make informed decisions about their children’s academic future and removes barriers to student success. These two committee bills are a step toward increasing school choice options that are currently available to our state’s parents.”

“It is imperative that we provide parents and children with school choice options so they can select a program and learning environment that will foster academic success for the individual student.”

Senate Bill 1620

Senator Flores, R-Miami-Dade, District 38Relating to K-12 Education Instruction

House Bill 7197

Sponsor: K-20 Innovation SubcommitteeRelating to Digital Learning

Legislative BillsSenate Bill 1620

• Requiring at least one course necessary for high school graduation to contain online learning.

• Increasing the quality of virtual instruction providers by establishing new criteria for provider approval.

• Requiring greater transparency through new accountability measures as well as disclosure of school performance and accountability outcomes.

• Requiring all statewide end-of-course assessments to be administered online by the 2014-2015 school year.

House Bill 7197

• Requiring at least one course necessary for high school graduation to contain online learning.

• Increasing the quality of virtual instruction provider by establishing new criteria for provider approval.

• Requiring greater transparency through new accountability measures as well as disclosure of school performance and accountability outcomes.

• Requiring all statewide end-of-course assessments to be administered online by the 2014-2015 school year.

Legislative BillsSenate Bill 1620

• Revising the requirements for issuance of adjunct teaching certificates by school districts to encourage the use of experienced individuals to provide online instruction in Florida.

• Requiring the DOE to issue a report by December 1, 2011, identifying and explaining the best methods for implementing part-time virtual education in kindergarten through grade 5.

• Authorizing school districts to use online instructors who reside outside the district.

• Re-define full-time equivalent student as it applies to FLVS.

House Bill 7197• Revising the requirements for issuance of

adjunct teaching certificates by school districts to encourage the use of experienced individuals to provide online instruction in Florida.

• Requiring the DOE to issue a report by December 1, 2011, identifying and explaining the best methods and strategies for increasing student access to digital learning including implementing part-time virtual education in kindergarten through grade 5.

• Authorizing school districts to use online instructors who reside outside the district.

• Expanding part-time virtual instruction programs.

Legislative BillsSenate Bill 1620

• Adding statewide virtual providers to the list of public school choices.

• Authorizing the creation of a virtual charter school and requiring the virtual charter school to contract with a statewide provider.

• Providing for a blended-learning charter school.

• Providing that home school students may enroll in certain virtual education courses or courses offered in the school district in which they reside.

• Providing that students enrolled in a public school district may register and enroll in an online course offered by another district.

House Bill 7197• Requiring school districts to offer at least

three options for full-time virtual instruction for kindergarten through 9-12, and part-time virtual instruction for grades 9 through 12.

• Authorizing charter schools to offer blended learning courses to full-time students of the charter school who receive online instruction from the physical location of the charter school.

• Clarifying that school districts may fulfill its obligation to offer at least three options for full-time and part-time virtual instruction through agreements with more than one school district or through multi-district contractual arrangements.

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