This 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. The changes include the inclusion of students who earn a minimum grade of C or higher in the Theory of Knowledge course, alongside those who score 4 or higher on subject examinations. Specifically, a value of 0.16 FTE will be calculated for each student meeting these criteria, and a value of 0.3 FTE will be assigned to students who earn an IB diploma. The bill also 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.

Additionally, the bill outlines the bonus structure for teachers providing IB instruction. Teachers will receive a $50 bonus for each student who scores 4 or higher on the IB exam or earns a grade of C or higher in Theory of Knowledge. Furthermore, teachers in schools rated D or F will receive an additional $500 bonus if they have at least one student meeting the qualifying criteria, regardless of the number of classes taught. These bonuses are intended to supplement the teachers' regular wages and are aimed at incentivizing the teaching of IB courses. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 754 Filed: 1011.62
S 754 c1: 1011.62