This bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning education, with a strong emphasis on school safety, charter school operations, and student engagement in extracurricular activities. It introduces a definition for "school bus" and clarifies that sufficient notice for trespassing includes posted signs or verbal warnings from authorized personnel. Law enforcement is empowered to arrest individuals for trespassing on school grounds without a warrant if probable cause exists. Additionally, private schools in certain counties are permitted to construct new facilities without adhering to specific zoning or land use conditions, as long as they comply with health and safety standards.

The bill also requires charter school sponsors to use a standardized monitoring tool for oversight and mandates that school districts provide public charter schools with detailed information on shared revenues from various tax sources. It allows participation in marching band to count towards physical education or performing arts credit for high school diplomas. Furthermore, students enrolled in full-time virtual instruction programs are authorized to participate in interscholastic athletics at public schools. The bill also directs the Commissioner of Education to develop a policy prohibiting cell phone use during school hours, with a report on its impact due by December 1, 2026, and establishes competencies for a mathematics endorsement by August 1, 2026. 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