HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/HB 1285 Education
SPONSOR(S): Education & Employment Committee, Choice & Innovation Subcommittee, Canady
TIED BILLS: None. IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/SB 996
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Choice & Innovation Subcommittee 16 Y, 1 N, As CS Blalock Sleap
2) Education & Employment Committee 12 Y, 3 N, As CS Blalock Hassell
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The bill makes a number of changes to Florida’s K-12 public schools, specifically the bill:
requires virtual instruction providers and virtual charter schools to provide a list of students to be administered statewide
assessments and progress monitoring to the school district, and specifies that unless an alternative testing site is mutually
agreed upon, all assessments and progress monitoring must be taken at the school to which the student would be assigned
according to district s chool board attendance policies;
requires district school boards to make reasonable efforts to enter into dual enrollment articulation agreements with a Flori da
College System (FCS) institution which offers online dual enrollment courses;
requires each school district and charter school to offer students in grades 11 and 12 the opportunity to take the Armed
Services Vocational Aptitude Battery and consult with a military recruiter if the student chooses;
expands Florida’s support of military families by creating the Purple Star School District Program which recognizes school
districts with at least 75 percent of schools designated as Purple Star Campuses;
requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt rules for the issuance of a classical education teaching certificate;
authorizes the Commissioner of Education to appoint and remove an executive director for the Education Practices
Commission;
revises district dropout prevention and academic intervention programs by requiring teachers assigned to such schools to be
certified, revising the parental notification prior to student enrollment in the program, and requiring students in the progr am to
have individualized student goals and progress monitoring;
revises the deadlines for submission of turnaround plans and requirements under a turnaround option available to low
performing schools, specifying the responsibilities of a school district and charter school who are implementing a turnaround
plan for a public school which is reopening as a charter sch ool, prohibiting a district from charging rental or leasing fees for the
existing facility or withholding an administrative fee, and requiring the SBE to develop a standard charter school turnaround
contract, facility lease, and mutual management agreement;
requires that any changes made by the SBE to components in the school grades model or the school grading scale must go
into effect, at the earliest, in the following school year;
allows a classical charter school to provide an enrollment preference to s tudents who transfer from another classical school;
exempts an owner or lessee of a property used to house a charter school from having to make an annual ad valorem tax
exemption application, and provides penalties under certain circumstances related to the exemption.
At the postsecondary level, the bill:
requires that for each adoption cycle, publishers and manufacturers must make sample copies of all state -adopted
instructional materials available electronically for use by Florida’s Educator Preparatio n Institutes;
prohibits a public postsecondary institution from implicitly or explicitly prohibiting applicants or currently enrolled stude nts from
being employed, either full time or part time, as a condition of admission to or enrollment in any of the in stitution’s schools,
colleges, or programs;
provides a single-document method for a student to prove residency for tuition purposes;
transitions and extends the effective period for the amount paid by the Florida Prepaid College Board to state universitie s on
behalf of qualified beneficiaries of advance payment contracts within the Florida Prepaid Program;
authorizes an Associate in Arts (AA) specialized transfer degree for FCS institution students who need supplemental lower -
level coursework above the 60 credit hours of the traditional AA degree in preparation for transfer to a baccalaureate degree
program; and
repeals the FCS Institution Employment Equity Accountability Program.
The bill does not appear to have a fiscal impact.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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DATE: 2/9/2024
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Virtual Instruction Programs
Present Situation
A virtual instruction program provides an interactive, technology-based learning environment in which
students are separated from their teachers by time or space, or both.1 Each school district must provide
at least one option for part-time and full-time virtual instruction for students residing within the school
district, and provide timely written notification to parents of at least one open enrollment period for full-
time students.2
A school district virtual instruction program must consist of the following:
Full-time and part-time virtual instruction for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12.
Full-time or part-time virtual instruction for students enrolled in dropout prevention and academic
intervention programs, Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) education programs, core-curricula
courses to meet class size requirements, or Florida College System (FCS) institutions.3
Each school district must provide information to parents and students about students’ right to
participate in a virtual instruction program and in courses offered by the Florida Virtual School (FLVS). 4
All students, including home education and private school students, are eligible to participate in district
virtual instruction programs.5 In order to provide students residing within the school district with the
opportunity to participate in virtual instruction programs, a school district may:
contract with the FLVS6 or establish a franchise of the FLVS;
contract with a provider approved by the Department of Education (DOE) for the provision of a
full-time or part-time school district virtual instruction program;
enter into an agreement with another school district to allow its students to participate in a virtual
instruction program provided by the other school district;
establish school district operated part-time or full-time kindergarten through grade 12 virtual
instruction programs; and
enter into an agreement with a virtual charter school authorized by the school district. 7
Contracts with the FLVS or other providers may include multidistrict contractual arrangements that may
be executed by a regional consortium service organization8 on behalf of its member school districts.9
Additionally, a virtual charter school may enter into an agreement with a school district to allow
participation of the virtual charter school’s students in the school district’s virtual instruction program. 10
1 Section 1002.45(1)(a)3., F.S.
2 Section 1002.45(1)(b), F.S.
3 Section 1002.45(1)(b)1., F.S.
4 Sections 1002.37(1) and (9)(a) and 1002.45(9), F.S.
5 Section 1002.455, F.S.
6 The Florida Virtual School is established for the development and delivery of online and distance learning education full-time and
part-time to students enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12. The Commissioner of Education is required to monitor the sc hool’s
performance and report the school’s performance to the State Board of Education (SBE) and the Legislature. Section 1002.37(1) (a)
and (9)(a), F.S., s. 1002.45(9), F.S.
7 Section 1002.45(1)(c)1.-5., F.S.
8 See s. 1001.451, F.S. School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full-time equivalent students, lab schools, and the Florida
School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
9 Section 1002.45(1)(c), F.S. (flush left provision at the end of the subsection).
10 Section 1002.45(1)(d)3., F.S.
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Participating students must comply with the compulsory school attendance requirements as verified by
the district. Students must also participate in the state assessment program and the coordinated
screening and progress monitoring system.11
Statewide assessments and progress monitoring may be administered within the school district in
which the student resides, or as specified in a contract between the school district and a qualified
contractor, if applicable.12 If requested by the approved virtual instruction program provider13 or virtual
charter school,14 the district of residence must provide the student with access to the district’s testing
facilities.15
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill requires virtual instruction providers and virtual charter schools to provide a list of students to
be administered statewide assessments and progress monitoring to the school district, including the
students’ names, Florida Education Identifiers, grade levels, assessments and progress monitoring to
be administered, and contact information.
The bill specifies that unless an alternative testing site is mutually agreed upon by the virtual provider
and the school district, or specified in a contract between the school district and a qualified contractor,
all assessments and progress monitoring must be taken at the school to which the student would be
assigned according to district school board attendance policies. The school district must provide the
student with access to the school’s or district’s testing facilities and provide the student with the date
and time of the administration of each assessment and progress monitoring.
Dual Enrollment
Present Situation
Overview
The dual enrollment program is an acceleration mechanism that allows an eligible secondary student or
home education student to enroll and earn credit in a postsecondary course that is creditable toward
both a high school diploma and an associate or baccalaureate degree or career certificate.16 An eligible
secondary student is a student who is enrolled in grades 6 through 12 in a Florida public school or
eligible private school that provides a secondary curriculum. 17 Upon successful completion of a dual
enrollment course, the student simultaneously receives high school and college, university, or career
certificate credit. Students may also participate in dual enrollment for courses that will lead to an
industry certification. Eligible students are permitted to enroll in dual enrollment courses conducted
during and after school hours and during the summer term. Dual enrollment students are exempt from
the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory fees.18
Articulation Agreements Between Public Postsecondary Institutions and School Distric ts
As used in the Florida K-20 Education Code, “articulation” is the systematic coordination that provides
the means by which students proceed toward their educational objectives in as rapid and student-
friendly manner as their circumstances permit, from grade level to grade level, from elementary to
middle to high school, to and through postsecondary education, and when transferring from one
11 Section 1002.45(5), F.S.
12 Sections 1002.45(5)(b) and 1008.24(3), F.S.
13 Section 1002.45(2), F.S.
14 Section 1002.45(1)(d), F.S.
15 Section 1002.45(5)(b), F.S.
16 Section 1007.271(1), F.S.
17 Section 1007.271(2), F.S.
18 Id.
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educational institution or program to another.19 “Service area” refers to the county or counties served by
each FCS institution.20
Each public postsecondary institution and school district in its service area must jointly develop and
implement a comprehensive dual enrollment articulation agreement. 21 The dual enrollment articulation
agreement must be submitted annually to the DOE on or before August 1 and must include, but is not
limited to, the following components:
The available dual enrollment courses and programs. 22
A description of the processes by which students and parents are informed about and exercise
options to participate in dual enrollment, including registration. 23
The type of high school credit earned for completion of a dual enrollment course. 24
A listing of any additional student eligibility criteria. 25
Each institution's responsibilities for student screening and performance monitoring,
transmission of grades, program costs including instructional materials, and student
transportation.26
District school boards may not refuse to enter into a dual enrollment articulation agreement with a local
FCS institution that has the capacity to offer dual enrollment courses. 27
Effect of Proposed Changes
The bill requires district school boards to make reasonable efforts to enter into dual enrollment
articulation agreements with a FCS institution which offers online dual enrollment courses.
The Purple Star Campus Program
Present Situation
The Purple Star Campus program was established by the Florida legislature in 202128 and further
defined in State Board of Education (SBE) rule as the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation.29
The purpose of the Purple Star School of Distinction Designation is to recognize schools that support
the unique needs of military families, help military-connected students navigate critical challenges, and
provide resources for military-connected students when transitioning to a new school environment. 30 As
of November 2023, 197 Florida schools have earned the Purple Star School of Distinction
Designation.31
For the purpose of this program, a “military student” means a student who is:
19 Section 1000.21(1), F.S.
20 Section 1000.21(5)(a)-(bb), F.S.
21 Section 1007.271(21), F.S.; see also Florida Department of Education (DOE), Public School Dual Enrollment Articulation
Agreements, https://www.fldoe.org/policy/articulation/public-school-dual-enrollment.stml (last visited Jan. 26, 2024).
22 Section 1007.271(21)(c), F.S.
23 Section 1007.271(21)(b), (d), and (i), F.S. Career centers, FCS institutions, and state universities must also delineate courses and
programs for dually enrolled home education students. Courses and programs may be added, revised, or deleted at any time. Sec tion
1007.271(13)(b)1., F.S.
24 Section 1007.271(21)(f), F.S.
25 Section 1007.271(21)(e), F.S. Career centers, FCS institutions, and state universities must also identify eligibility criteria for home
education student participation, not to exceed those required of other dually enrolled students. Sec tion 1007.271(13)(b)2., F.S.
Exceptions to the required grade point average may be granted on an individual student basis. Section 1007.271(21)(h), F.S.
26 Section 1007.271(21)(l), (m), (n), and (o), F.S.
27 Section 1007.271(4), F.S.
28 Section 1, ch. 2021-65, L.O.F., codified at s. 1003.051, F.S.
29 Rule 6A-1.0999, F.A.C.
30 Florida Department of Education (DOE), Purple Star School of Distinction Designation, https://www.fldoe.org/schools/family-
community/activities-programs/parental-involvement/purple-star.stml (last visited Jan. 21, 2024).
31 DOE, Governor Ron DeSantis Announces 73 New Purple Star Schools to Provide Additional Resour ces for Military Families,
https://www.fldoe.org/newsroom/latest-news/icymi-governor-ron-desantis-announces-73-new-purple-star-schools-to-provide-
additional-resources-for-military-families.stml (last visited Jan. 21, 2024).
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enrolled in a school district, charter school, or any school or educational institution participating
in an educational choice scholarship program;32 and
a dependent of a current member of the United States military serving on active duty in, or a
former member of, the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard; a
reserve component of any branch of the United States military; or the Florida National Guard. 33
At a minimum, the program requires a participating school to:
Designate a staff member as a military liaison.
Maintain a web page on the school’s website which includes resources for military students and
their families.
Maintain a student-led transition program that assists military students in transitioning into the
school.