The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Fiscal Policy
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1386
INTRODUCER: Fiscal Policy Committee; Appropriations Committee on Education; Senator Perry; and
others
SUBJECT: Florida School for Competitive Academics
DATE: April 21, 2023 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Bouck Bouck ED Favorable
2. Gray Elwell AED Fav/CS
3. Bouck Yeatman FP Fav/CS
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/CS/SB 1386 establishes the Florida School for Competitive Academics (FSCA) as a public
school in Alachua County for students in grades 6-12, to be admitted starting in the 2024-2025
school year. The school is intended to provide a rigorous academic curriculum, and to prepare
students for regional, state, and national academic competitions in all areas of study, including,
but not limited to, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The bill establishes a board of trustees to govern the FSCA, appointed by the Governor and
confirmed by the Senate. The board of trustees is authorized to manage, maintain, support, and
control the FSCA. Specific authority includes, but is not limited to, admissions, personnel,
purchasing, school safety, budgets, and records.
The FSCA is exempted from Florida Statutes in the same manner as charter schools, and is
subject to financial and operational audits by the Auditor General in the same manner as other
public educational institutions.
Funding for the FSCA will be as specified in the General Appropriations Act.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2023.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1386 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Buchholz High School (BHS) in Alachua County has won 14 national championship in 15 years
at the National Mu Alpha Theta Competition. The Mu Alpha Theta currently has more than
100,000 members across 2,420 schools in the United States and in 23 Foreign Countries. 1 The
BHS team broke records by winning a total of 304 trophies, with many of the team members
earning first-place awards. The team has taken first place in 32 out of 39 national competitions.2
Walt Frazer, the coach of the BHS team, believes in competition. He refuses to call the Buchholz
math students a club because he wants them to think of themselves as a team. “A club is a social
organization,” he said. “A team comes together to win.” And he was out to win. He believes the
pipeline for the high school’s math team must begin long before students reach high school, so
Mr. Frazer searches for prospects in elementary school and steers them to accelerated math
classes in middle school. The mathletes who try out for the team and make the cut are combined
into one class section and fly through competitive algebra, geometry and calculus during the
school day. “I cover everything the state wants me to cover,” he said. “But there is no restriction
on covering extra material.” 3
Advanced Academic Public Schools
Florida offers a number of public school options for academically talented students, for example:
The Pine View School, established in 1969 in Sarasota County, serves intellectually gifted
students in grades 2-12. Its mission is to provide a qualitatively different learning
environment that nurtures a passion for intellectual curiosity, encourages risk taking,
independence and innovation, and is committed to a tradition of academic excellence and
social responsibility. Children are admitted based on a series of tests, recommendations and
other pertinent admissions data. These are reviewed by a committee of teachers and other
personnel. The basic curriculum conforms to local and state requirements as expressed in
accreditation standards and the officially approved programs of studies.4
Stanton College Preparatory School opened in 1981 in Duval County as the district’s first
magnet school. The school serves grades 9-12, with a mission to provide a rigorous academic
program of all advanced academic courses supplemented by philanthropic, artistic, and
forensic activities. Stanton consistently ranks first in the county and in the top three in the
state for the number of National Merit Semi-Finalists.5
The School for Advanced Studies (SAS) is a nationally recognized collegiate high school
of excellence, a combined effort between Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami
1
Mu Alpha Theta, the National High School and Two-Year College Mathematics Honor Society is dedicated to inspiring a
keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics 2
Mu Alpha Theta, About Us, https://mualphatheta.org/about-us (last visited Mar. 16, 2023).
2
The Gainesville Sun, Buchholz High School takes home 14th national math championship win in 15-year span,
https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2022/07/19/buchholz-high-school-wins-14th-national-championship/10089688002/
(last visited Mar. 22 2023).
3
The Wall Street Journal, How a Public School in Florida Built America’s Greatest Math Team,
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-secrets-of-americas-greatest-high-school-math-team-11657791000 (last visited Mar. 16,
2023).
4
Pine View School, About Pine View School, https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/domain/1447 (last visited Mar. 16,
2023).
5
Stanton College Preparatory School, About Us, https://dcps.duvalschools.org/Page/10562 (last visited March 22, 2023).
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1386 Page 3
Dade College. Students attending SAS complete their last two years of high school while
they obtain a two-year Associate in Arts degree from Miami Dade College. The opportunity
for acceleration and enrichment attracts motivated and academically talented students. SAS
provides its students with a rich and rigorous liberal arts education with many of its students
specializing in STEM. SAS was recently recognized by U.S. News and World Report and the
"Best High School in Florida" and the "Fifth Best High School in the United States."6
Admissions is based on a variety of factors including GPA, attendance record, and college
placement test scores.7
The Present Situation is presented in the Effect of Proposed Changes section of the analysis.
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Florida’s Early Learning-20 Education System
Present Situation
Early Learning-20 Education System
Florida’s Early Learning-20 education system includes publicly supported and controlled K-12
schools, Florida College System institutions, state universities and other postsecondary
educational institutions, other educational institutions, and other educational services as provided
or authorized by the Constitution and laws of the state. These include:
The Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and the school readiness program.
Public K-12 schools, which include charter schools and consist of kindergarten classes;
elementary, middle, and high school grades and special classes; virtual instruction programs;
workforce education; career centers; adult, part-time, and evening schools, courses, or
classes, as authorized by law to be operated under the control of district school boards; and
lab schools operated under the control of state universities.
Public postsecondary educational institutions, which include workforce education; Florida
College System institutions; state universities; and all other state-supported postsecondary
educational institutions that are authorized and established by law.
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind.
The Florida Virtual School. 8
Commissioner of Education Duties
In 2023,9 due to the range of school choice options and the variety of ways students learn, the
Commissioner of Education was directed to develop an online portal that enables parents to
choose the best educational options for their student. At a minimum, the portal must:10
Recommend educational options based on questions about the student, including the needs
and interests of the student.
6
School for Advanced Studies, About Us, https://sasdreamfactory.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=473938&type=d (last
visited Mar. 22, 2023).
7
School for Advanced Studies, Eligibility, https://sasdreamfactory.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=473950&type=d
(last visited Mar. 22, 2023).
8
Section 1000.04, F.S.
9
Ch. 2023-16, s. 12, Laws of Fla.
10
Section 1001.10(10), F.S.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1386 Page 4
Advise parents on the recommended educational options for their student.
Enable schools to develop a school profile and connect directly with families who express
interest in the school.
Allow parents to complete the school enrollment process.
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill modifies s. 1000.04, F.S., to create the Florida School for Competitive Academics
(FSCA) as an additional component of Florida’s Early Learning-20 public education system.
The bill creates s. 1002.351, F.S., to establish the FSCA in Alachua County as a state-supported
public school for Florida residents in grades 6-12. The primary purpose of the school is to
provide a rigorous academic curriculum, and the secondary purpose is to prepare students for
regional, state, and national academic competitions in all areas of study, including, but not
limited to, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The school may admit students in
grades 6-12 beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.
The bill also establishes the mission of the FSCA to provide students who meet selective
admissions requirements an environment that will foster high academic engagement and
advanced understanding of subject areas, develop productive work habits, build resiliency,
connect students with industry leaders, and promote civic leadership.
To assist in the recruitment of students, the FSCA must be included in the school choice online
portal established in s. 1001.10(10), F.S. The portal must include information about the
opportunity for parents to submit their child’s educational records to the FSCA for consideration
for admission.
Board of Trustees
The governance of the FSCA is very similar to that of the Florida School for the Deaf and the
Blind,11 which is governed by a seven-member board of trustees.
The bill establishes the FSCA board of trustees composed of seven members appointed by the
Governor to 4-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. For purposes of staggering terms, four
members, including the chair as designated by the Governor, will be appointed to 4-year terms
beginning July 1, 2023, and three members will be appointed to 2-year terms beginning July 1,
2023. After the initial 4-year term, the chair will be elected by the board. The bill specifies that
no more than one employee of the school may serve on the board of trustees as a member or as
chairman. The members of the board of trustees serve without compensation, but may be
reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses.
The board of trustees is established as a public agency entitled to sovereign immunity, and the
members as public officers who bear fiduciary responsibility for the FSCA. As a corporation, the
board of trustees is authorized by the bill to operate and manage the FSCA. Gifts, donations, or
bequests to the FSCA are under the jurisdiction of the board of trustees; all other property and
assets are under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education (SBE).
11
Section 1002.36, F.S.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1386 Page 5
The bill establishes the powers and authority of the board of trustees that include:
Adopting rules that comply with state law, which must be submitted to the SBE for approval.
Appointing and removing a principal, administrators, teachers, and other employees.
Determining eligibility of students and procedures for admission.
Providing for the proper keeping of accounts and records and for budgeting of funds.
Receiving gifts, donations, and bequests of money or property, real or personal, tangible or
intangible, from any person, firm, corporation, or other legal entity for the use and benefit of
the school.
Recommending to the Legislature for the school to become a residential public school.
Performing every other matter or thing requisite to the proper management, maintenance,
support, and control of the school at the highest efficiency economically possible.
The bill also requires the board of trustees to:
Prepare and submit legislative budget requests for operations and fixed capital outlay to the
Department of Education (DOE) for review and approval. The DOE will analyze the request
to determine if the request is consistent with the school’s campus master plan, educational
plant survey, and facilities master plan.
Approve and administer an annual operating budget in accordance with law.
Require all purchases to be in accordance requirements in law, except for purchases made
with funds received as gifts, donations, or bequests or funds raised by or belonging to student
clubs or student organizations.
Administer and maintain personnel programs for all employees of the board of trustees and
the FSCA, who shall be school employees, including the personnel.
Ensure that the FSCA complies with laws concerning the coordination of planning between
the FSCA and local governing bodies.
Ensure that the FSCA complies with laws concerning per diem and travel expenses.
Adopt a master plan that specifies the objectives of the FSCA. The plan must be for a period
of 5 years and must be reviewed for needed modifications every 2 years. The board of
trustees must submit the initial plan and subsequent modifications to the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Student and Employee Records
The bill requires the board of trustees to provide for the content and custody of student records
subject to the law regarding education records in accordance with the Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA).12 The board of trustees must maintain employee records subject to the
law regarding public school personnel files, which include all records, information, data, or
materials uniquely applicable to that employee whether maintained in one or more locations.13
Personnel
The FSCA board of trustees and all employees and applicants for employment must undergo a
Level 2 background screening14 similar to the requirement for all public school personnel who
seek an educator certificate. The bill specifies that an individual may not be employed as an
12
Section 1002.22, F.S.
13
Section 1012.31, F.S.
14
Section 435.04(1)(a), F.S.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 1386 Page 6
employee or contract personnel of the FSCA or serve as a member of the board of trustees if the
individual is on the disqualification list maintained by the Department of Education.
The bill requires the FSCA board of trustees to administer and maintain personnel programs for
all employees, which must include:
Rules, policies, and procedures related to the appointment, employment, and removal of
personnel.
Compensation, including salaries and fringe benefits, and other conditions of employment for
such personnel.
A requirement that classroom teachers employed by the school must be certified.
A requirement that each person employed by the board of trustees in an academic
administrative or instructional capacity with the FSCA is entitled to a contract as provided by
rules of the board of trustees.
A requirement that all employees except temporary, seasonal, and student employees may be
provided Florida Retirement System benefits from the school through operational costs.
The bill makes the following conforming changes to other statutes regarding personnel authority
by the FSCA board of trustees.
The bill modifies s.