House Bill 963 seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Florida's public education system through a series of amendments to existing statutes. Key provisions include exempting district school boards from certain rule adoption requirements, mandating the Department of Education to inform superintendents about their ability to petition for declaratory statements, and requiring the maintenance of a list of statutory and rule requirements for school districts. The bill also removes the obligation for district school boards to employ an internal auditor under specific circumstances and eliminates the requirement for school financial reports to be included in student handbooks. Additionally, it introduces instructional multiyear contracts for innovation schools of technology and revises attendance policies for Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Programs.

Further amendments focus on enhancing teacher certification and professional development, including the requirement for educators to earn inservice points in evidence-based instruction and interventions, particularly for those teaching students with dyslexia. The bill also modifies the process for reinstating expired professional certificates and emphasizes the need for long-range planning in educational facilities. Notably, it mandates that district school boards publish a second notice of intent to levy additional taxes for capital outlay projects and updates the methodology for distributing capital outlay funding to charter schools. Overall, HB 963 aims to streamline operations, reduce regulatory burdens, and ensure accountability within Florida's educational institutions.

Statutes affected:
H 963 Filed: 120.81, 1001.42, 1002.20, 1002.33, 1002.451, 1002.61, 1002.63, 1006.40, 1011.14, 1011.60, 1011.6202, 1011.69, 1012.39, 1013.19, 1013.35, 1013.45, 163.3180, 200.065, 1002.68, 1003.631, 1004.85, 1012.552, 1012.586, 1012.98, 1013.62