House Bill 1255 proposes significant amendments to Florida's education laws, focusing on enhancing educational standards and support for students and educators. Key changes include renaming "critical teacher shortage areas" to "high-demand teacher needs areas" and repealing the section related to the Florida School for Competitive Academics. The bill revises the definition of "incident" in the Hope Scholarship Program to encompass specific types of harassment and assault. It mandates comprehensive K-12 health education that includes instruction on human embryologic development, requiring the State Board of Education to adopt related rules. Additionally, the bill establishes a comprehensive mathematics instruction framework for students from prekindergarten through grade 12, emphasizing evidence-based practices and timely interventions for those identified with deficiencies.

Furthermore, the bill enhances educator certification processes by aligning reading endorsement and subject area examinations with evidence-based instructional strategies, particularly for conditions like dyslexia and dyscalculia. It introduces the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education Program to promote the teaching profession and support outstanding teachers, expanding eligibility for nominations to include charter school consortia. The bill also revises background screening requirements for private school personnel, expands tutoring hours for community service under the Bright Futures scholarship, and requires schools to keep parents informed about their child's academic progress and eligibility for scholarship programs. Overall, HB 1255 aims to improve educational outcomes through targeted interventions, enhanced support for students, and a more nuanced approach to addressing teacher shortages.

Statutes affected:
H 1255 Filed: 1001.03, 1002.40, 1003.42, 1004.04, 1007.27, 1008.365, 1008.366, 1011.58, 1012.07, 1012.22, 1012.315, 1012.586, 1012.77