The "Schools Committed to Outstanding Results and Excellence (SCORE) Act" aims to improve educational accountability and support for students in Florida by amending various sections of the Florida Statutes. Key provisions include the expansion of early warning systems to identify students in grades K-8 who require additional academic support, particularly in reading and mathematics. The bill mandates that K-12 report cards include specific performance metrics, such as school grades and the percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations. It also requires the administrator of the New Worlds Reading Initiative to create a diverse collection of books for classroom libraries and establish a competitive grant program for Title I schools. Additionally, the bill emphasizes timely notification to parents of students with significant deficiencies and the provision of targeted interventions.

The bill also introduces significant changes to the school grading system, progressively increasing the percentage of points required for each grade from A to D by the 2033-2034 school year. It mandates detailed performance metrics on school report cards, including the percentage of students performing at or above grade level in English Language Arts and mathematics. Furthermore, it removes provisions that would impose sanctions on schools receiving the same or lower grades compared to the previous year and ensures that high-performing charter school systems or districts retain their designations. The bill modifies criteria for grade 3 retention and high school graduation, allowing for promotion to grade 4 based on acceptable performance as determined by the school district. The proposed changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1483 Filed: 1003.33
H 1483 c1: 1001.42, 1002.20, 1003.33