Lawmakers Deliver New and Expanded Options for Students

Friday, March 11, 2016 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The 2016 Florida Legislative Session came to a close today, with lawmakers once again demonstrating their commitment to continuing to improve education and expand opportunities for Sunshine State students.

“More Florida children will get a better education – that is the takeaway from this year’s legislative session,” said Patricia Levesque, executive director of the Foundation for Florida’s Future (@AFloridaPromise).  “Lawmakers have continued a tradition in which each new generation of leaders adds to a reform effort that has changed the face of American education. This year’s generation has championed students with disabilities, broken down barriers preventing children from going to great public schools and stepped into the future with legislation that eventually will lead to a personalized education for every child.”

“Because of such vision, Florida schools and Florida students are achieving at an all-time high by any measure. It has been an honor to work with so many passionate advocates for children and parents.”

Levesque remarked further…

On Public School Choice:

“The best educational fit for a child may be a public school less than a mile down the road. But if a district boundary line intersects that road, the school might as well be in China. It is time to tear down invisible barriers that block students from attending schools that best meet their needs, even when there is available space. I want to thank Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto and Representative Chris Sprowls for their leadership in helping to get this issue to the finish line.”

On Competency-Based Education:

“The right ‘fit’ can look very different for each child. Competency-Based Education breaks the mold of a one-size-fits-all education model by building a foundation where instruction can be personalized for every student. Creating an infrastructure designed to meet students where they are will allow for flexibility in path and pace. This is what helps meet the real goal – students demonstrating mastery of material. This is the future of education. I applaud Senator Jeff Brandes and Representative Ray Rodrigues for passing this innovative legislation.”

More on these and other 2016 Student-Centered Bills:

Public School Choice, House Bill 7029 – PASSED
Originally championed by Senator Benacquisto and Representative Sprowls, this policy will empower parents with the ability to choose the best educational path for their child by allowing them to choose any public school in the state, as long as it has space available. It will also give parents the ability to request a classroom change when it is not a good fit, and increase transparency by requiring districts to inform parents annually about the amount of total funding spent on their child.

Competency-Based Education, House Bill 1365 – PASSED
Championed by Senator Brandes and Representative Rodrigues, this policy will support pilot programs in select Florida schools for the implementation of a new education model better designed to meet the individual needs of students. These competency-based education pilot programs would include public schools in Lake, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Seminole Counties and the P.K Yonge Developmental Research School at the University of Florida. In this new model, students advance to higher levels of learning when they demonstrate mastery of concepts and skills regardless of time, place or pace.

Gardiner Scholarship Program Expansion, Senate Bill 672 – SIGNED INTO LAW
Championed by President Andy Gardiner, Speaker Steve Crisafulli, Senator Don Gaetz and Representative Erik Fresen, this policy will expand educational opportunities for students with disabilities. It renames the Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts to the Gardiner Scholarship Program, increases funding from $55 million to $71.2 million and expands the services and supports that can be funded.

John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, House Bill 837 – PASSED
Originally championed by Senator Kelli Stargel and Representative Michael Bileca, this policy continued an historic session for students with disabilities. Under this bill, schools in the McKay Scholarship Program also would be authorized to establish transition-to-work programs.

Charter School Accountability, House Bill 7029 – PASSED
Originally championed by Senator Stargel and Representative Bob Cortes, this policy increases accountability and student access to charter schools. It specifies the timelines for district payments to charter schools and prohibits any delays, and it revises the funding formula for charter schools’ capital outlay to be based on their student populations.

Home Education, House Bill 837 – PASSED
Originally championed by Senator Stargel and Representative Eric Eisnaugle, this policy allows school districts to provide exceptional student education services to eligible home education students. It also addressed inconsistences in dual enrollment programs for both home education and private school students.

Home Education/Bright Futures, House Bill 793 – PASSED
Sponsored by Senator Tom Lee and Representative Marleen O’Toole, this bill provides that test score requirements for the Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship are the same for home education students as they are for all other high school students. (Previously, home education students were held to a higher SAT/ACT score requirement).

Teacher Liability Insurance Protection, House Bill 719 – SIGNED INTO LAW
Championed by Senator Gaetz and Representative Ross Spano, this legislation provides each teacher $2 million in liability protection at a cost to the state of only $1.2 million. That is a minimal but meaningful investment, and certainly one well deserved by the educators who have such a positive and profound impact on our children. Teachers are on the front lines of our education system, and as such deserve the peace of mind that comes from liability insurance.

K-12 Education Budget, House Bill 5001 and House Bill 5003 – PASSED
The Legislature this year renewed its commitment to funding policies that work and approved $20.2 billion for K-12 education under the leadership of Senate Appropriations Chair ­­­­­­­­­Tom Lee, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education Chair Don Gaetz, House Appropriations Chair Richard Corcoran and House Education Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Erik Fresen.

2016-17 Budget Highlights:

To learn more about student-centered policies in Florida and how to get involved, visit aFloridaPromise.org.