This bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning education, with a strong emphasis on school safety, charter school operations, and student participation in extracurricular activities. It defines "school bus" and clarifies that sufficient notice for trespassing on school grounds can be given through a posted sign or verbal warning from authorized personnel. Law enforcement officers are empowered to arrest individuals for trespassing without a warrant if probable cause exists. Additionally, the bill allows private schools in certain counties to build new facilities without adhering to specific zoning or land use conditions, as long as they comply with health and safety standards.

Moreover, the bill introduces new monitoring requirements for charter school sponsors and mandates that school districts provide public charter schools with detailed information about shared revenues. It allows students enrolled in full-time virtual programs to participate in interscholastic athletics at public or private schools and specifies that participation in marching band can count towards physical education or performing arts credit for high school diplomas. The legislation also includes provisions for the Commissioner of Education to implement a policy restricting the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during school hours, with a report on its impact due by December 1, 2026. The Department of Education is tasked with establishing competencies for a mathematics endorsement by August 1, 2026, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1702 Filed: 1002.33
S 1702 c1: 810.097, 1002.33, 1002.84, 1003.4282, 1011.71
S 1702 c2: 810.097, 1002.33, 1002.84, 1003.4282, 1011.71
S 1702 c3: 810.097, 1002.33, 1003.4282, 1006.195, 1011.71