The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations
BILL: SB 918
INTRODUCER: Senators Bradley and Jones
SUBJECT: Education
DATE: April 16, 2021 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Westmark Bouck ED Favorable
2. Underhill Elwell AED Recommend: Favorable
3. Underhill Sadberry AP Favorable
I. Summary:
SB 918 provides additional requirements for how the Advanced International Certificate of
Education (AICE) FEFP bonus funds can be expended by school districts, and expands the
expenditure of bonus funding to include school programs administered by the University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate which prepare prospective students to enroll in AICE
courses.
The bill also updates which teachers are eligible for a bonus to include classroom teachers who
teach International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE) courses.
The bill does not require a state appropriation. See Section V.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
II. Present Situation:
Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE)
Successful completion of an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE)
curriculum1 is one option for a student to graduate from high school in Florida with a standard
high school diploma.2 The Cambridge AICE Diploma is a certificate that requires learners to
study a compulsory core subject with specified Cambridge subjects drawn from the three
curriculum areas: mathematics and science (Group 1); languages (Group 2); and arts and
1
Cambridge International AS and A Level qualifications offer a choice of 55 subjects, which schools can offer in almost any
combination. An AS Level course typically lasts one academic year; an A Level course typically takes two years. Cambridge
Assessment International Assessment, Curriculum, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-
qualifications/cambridge-advanced/cambridge-international-as-and-a-levels/curriculum/ (last visited Feb. 23, 2021).
2
Section 1003.4282(1)(a), F.S.
BILL: SB 918 Page 2
humanities (Group 3). There is also the option to study interdisciplinary subjects (Group 4). In
order to achieve the Cambridge AICE Diploma, learners must achieve a minimum of seven
credits, with at least one credit from Groups 1, 2, and 3.3 Prior to enrolling in Cambridge AICE
courses, a student can enroll in Cambridge IGCSE, the International General Certificate of
Secondary Education (pre-AICE).4 Cambridge IGCSE examination sessions occur twice a year
in June and in November.5
Over 700 universities in the United States formally accept Cambridge AS and A Levels and the
Cambridge AICE Diploma.6
AICE in Florida
The AICE program is one of a number of articulated acceleration programs, which are intended
to shorten the time necessary for a student to earn a high school diploma and a postsecondary
degree, broaden the scope of curricular options available, or increase the depth of study available
for a particular subject.7 The law provides the following benefits to schools and students engaged
in the AICE program:
Successful completion of a course examination qualifies for college credit.8
The percentage of a school’s students eligible to earn college credit favorably affects the
school’s grade.9
A grade earned in AICE or pre-AICE is assigned additional weight for determining student
eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship.10
Classroom teachers and school districts receive funding incentives based on the performance
of each student in AICE examinations.11
At least 177 high schools in 31 Florida school districts currently offer the AICE program.12
Almost 40 percent of AICE program participants in Florida are considered eligible for free or
3
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge AICE Diploma qualification,
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-advanced/cambridge-aice-
diploma/qualification/ (last visited Feb. 23, 2021).
4
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge IGCSE, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-
and-qualifications/cambridge-upper-secondary/cambridge-igcse/ (last visited Feb. 23, 2021).
5
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge IGCSE qualification,
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-upper-secondary/cambridge-
igcse/qualification/ (last visited Feb. 23, 2021).
6
Cambridge Assessment International Education, Guidance for schools and students,
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/recognition-and-acceptance/schools-and-students/
(last visited Feb. 23, 2021).
7
Section 1007.27(1), F.S. Accelerated mechanisms include, but are not limited to, dual enrollment and early admission,
advanced placement (AP), credit by examination, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, and the Advanced
International Certificate of Education (AICE) Program. Id.
8
Section 1003.4295, F.S.
9
Section 1008.34(3)(b)2.b., F.S.
10
Section 1009.531(3)(a), F.S.
11
Section 1011.62(1)(m), F.S.
12
Email, Angela Dempsey, PooleMcKinley (Feb. 12, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee on Education).
BILL: SB 918 Page 3
reduced-price meals.13 During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, 63,212 students in Florida participated
in the AICE program.14
In spring 2020, 47,577 students enrolled in pre-AICE courses in Florida.15 In fall 2020, 54,046
students enrolled in pre-AICE courses in Florida.16 In the 2019-2020 school year, 668 end-of-
course pre-AICE exams were taken in Florida, of which 440 scored grade E or above.17
Funds for the Operation of Schools - AICE Incentive Funding
The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) provides a funding incentive for school districts
with students in AICE courses who successfully complete AICE examinations or earn an AICE
diploma.18 A value of 0.16 FTE student membership is calculated for each student enrolled in a
full-credit AICE course who receives a score of E, and 0.08 FTE student membership for each
student enrolled in a half-credit AICE course who receives a score of E or higher on a subject
examination. A value of 0.3 FTE student membership is calculated for each student who receives
an AICE diploma.19
Current law requires each school district to allocate at least 80 percent of the funds received from
the AICE bonus FTE funding to the school program that generated the funds.20
Additionally, classroom teachers receive bonus funds for the performance of their students on
AICE examinations, in the amount of $50 for each student taught by the AICE teacher in each
full-credit AICE course, and $25 for each student taught by the AICE teacher in each half-credit
AICE course, who receives a score of E or higher on the AICE examination. An additional bonus
of $500 is allotted to each AICE teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who
has at least one student scoring E or higher on the full-credit AICE examination, regardless of
the number of classes taught or number of such students, or an additional $250 to each AICE
teacher in such a school who has at least one student scoring E or higher on the half-credit AICE
examination in that class.21
13
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, School Choice Landscape (Feb. 15, 2021), at 39.
14
Id., at 38. Palm Beach County School District accounts for one-third of all AICE students in the state with 20,993 program
participants. Id., at 39.
15
Email, Angela Dempsey, PooleMcKinley (Feb 19, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee on Education).
16
Id. Some IGCSE syllabuses, such as Cambridge pre-AICE Spanish Level 1, 2, or 3 and Cambridge pre-AICE Mathematics
Levels 1, 2, or 3, extends beyond one year, meaning the exam may not be administered until the end of the course sequence.
However, the enrollment data would reflect each of these courses. Additionally, many schools offer the IGCSE curriculum to
develop the skills and content mastery required for future AICE courses without administering the IGCSE exams. In 2019,
668 end-of-course IGCSE exams were taken in Florida, of which 440 obtained a score grade E or higher. Id.
17
Id. Cambridge International A Level and AS Level subjects are graded from A* to E or A to E, respectively, and the
Cambridge AICE Diploma is awarded on a points system, such that each grade is converted to points to award a Cambridge
AICE Diploma at one of three levels based on the overall score. Cambridge Assessment International Education, Cambridge
AICE Diploma qualification, https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-
advanced/cambridge-aice-diploma/qualification/ (last visited Feb. 23, 2021).
18
See 1011.62, F.S. Florida also provides incentive funds for dual enrollment, exploratory career education, the International
Baccalaureate Program, advanced placement courses, and career-themed courses, among others. Section 1011.62(1), F.S.
19
Section 1011.62(1)(m), F.S.
20
Id.
21
Id.
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III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill modifies the requirement in law that each school district allocate at least 80 percent of
the funds received from the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) bonus FTE
funding to the school program that generated the funds to also include school programs
administered by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate that prepare
prospective students to enroll in AICE courses.
The bill adds a restriction that such funds must be expended solely for the payment of costs
associated with the:
Application and registration process;
Program fees and site licenses;
Training, professional development, salaries, benefits, and bonuses for instructional
personnel and program coordinators;
Examination and diploma fees;
Membership fees;
Supplemental books;
Instructional supplies, materials, and equipment; and
Other activities that identify prospective AICE students or prepare prospective students to
enroll in AICE courses.
The bill specifies that the school district is required to distribute bonus funds to each classroom
teacher who provided International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-AICE)
instruction. The bill removes references to full-credit and half-credit courses and exams, to
reflect that Cambridge no longer offers half-credit exams. Accordingly, the bill changes the
designation from half-credit AICE courses to pre-AICE courses for the $25 and $250 bonus
awards a teacher would earn for students who successfully complete examinations.22
Expanding the use of existing FTE bonus funding to school programs administered by the
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate may require school districts to increase
the support of pre-AICE instruction, which prepares prospective students to enroll in AICE
courses. The financial supports for pre-AICE instruction and related activities may increase
opportunities for Florida secondary students to take Cambridge courses and prepare for AICE
courses.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2021.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
22
Florida law does not provide similar funding incentives for pre-IB courses. Section 1011.62(1)(l), F.S. However, a value of
0.16 FTE is calculated for each student enrolled in an IB course who receives a score of 4 or higher on a subject examination,
and a value of 0.3 FTE is calculated for each student who receives an IB diploma, which value is added to the FTE in basic
programs from grades 9 through 12. Id.
BILL: SB 918 Page 5
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill does not require a state appropriation. Expanding the distribution of financial
incentives to apply to International General Certificate of Secondary Education (pre-
AICE) programs may affect how school districts allocate bonus funds related to
Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) and pre-AICE activities.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 1011.62 of the Florida Statutes.
BILL: SB 918 Page 6
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Statutes affected: S 918 Filed: 1011.62