The bill amends section 1011.62 of the Florida Statutes to revise the calculation of additional full-time equivalent (FTE) membership and bonuses related to International Baccalaureate (IB) examination scores. It introduces new criteria for determining eligibility by including students who earn equivalent scores as defined by the Department of Education. Specifically, the bill establishes that a value of 0.16 FTE will be calculated for each student who scores a 4 or higher, or a "C" or higher, on an IB subject examination, and a value of 0.3 FTE for students who earn an IB diploma.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that 80% of the funds from IB bonus FTE funding must be allocated to the school programs generating the funds and those preparing students for IB courses, while the remaining 20% is designated for programs assisting academically disadvantaged students. It also outlines bonus structures for teachers, including a $50 bonus for each student scoring 4 or higher, or a "C" or higher, and an additional $500 for teachers in schools rated "D" or "F" with at least one qualifying student. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 581 Filed: 1011.62