Bill Text: FL H1223 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Public School Math/Science Instructional Materials

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on PreK-12 Policy (EPC) [H1223 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-H1223-Introduced.html

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HB 1223

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to public school mathematics and science
3	instructional materials; creating the Florida Center for
4	World Excellence in Mathematics and Science to provide for
5	the review of mathematics and science instructional
6	materials; providing duties of the center to include
7	recommendations to the Commissioner of Education of
8	instructional materials for use in K-12 public schools
9	beginning with the 2011-2012 school year; requiring the
10	Commissioner of Education to adopt instructional materials
11	in mathematics and science according to a schedule
12	developed by the commissioner; requiring the center to
13	form advisory panels for mathematics and science to make
14	recommendations to the center; specifying requirements for
15	recommended instructional materials; authorizing the
16	Commissioner of Education to add curricula to the existing
17	2010-2011 list of adopted instructional materials under
18	certain circumstances; providing for funding; providing an
19	effective date.
20
21	WHEREAS, Florida's citizens need world-class skills to
22	secure a place in the increasingly competitive global economy,
23	and Florida's school children, teachers, and parents need access
24	to the best possible instructional materials and technologies to
25	acquire these basic skills, and
26	WHEREAS, mathematics and science are among the most
27	fundamental of these skills and are among the core subjects
28	which form the basis of Florida's educational standards, and
29	WHEREAS, technology and teaching practices for mathematics
30	and science have evolved significantly during the past 20 years,
31	and the newest versions of Florida's Next Generation Sunshine
32	State Standards reflect best practices, and
33	WHEREAS, Florida's public school classrooms have not always
34	kept pace with changes in these standards, which is due
35	partially to a state instructional materials adoption process
36	that resists many of the changes embodied in the latest
37	standards and is also due to the rapid pace of change in the
38	instructional materials market, and
39	WHEREAS, in order to improve the mathematics and science
40	skills of Florida's students, a 21st Century instructional
41	materials adoption process should be developed and implemented
42	to enable Florida's school children, teachers, and parents to
43	benefit from the best possible instructional materials and
44	technologies, and
45	WHEREAS, the Legislature is considering legislation which
46	will require, as a condition for promotion and graduation, that
47	Florida students pass end-of-course assessments in mathematics
48	and science, thereby increasing the need for effective classroom
49	instruction, and
50	WHEREAS, the Legislature has taken comparable steps in the
51	past to improve the quality of reading instruction in the state
52	by creating the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida
53	State University, and
54	WHEREAS, the current instructional materials adoption
55	process results in the rejection of many of the most effective
56	methods of instruction in mathematics and science, warranting a
57	reconstruction of the entire process, NOW, THEREFORE,
58
59	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
60
61	Section 1. Florida Center for World Excellence in
62	Mathematics and Science.-
63	(1) The Florida Center for World Excellence in Mathematics
64	and Science is created at the University of Florida. The purpose
65	of the Florida Center for World Excellence in Mathematics and
66	Science is to provide for an independent review of mathematics
67	and science instructional materials from around the world to
68	ensure delivery of the best possible instruction in the state's
69	K-12 public schools and to ensure that instructional personnel
70	adopt the most effective teaching strategies. The center shall:
71	(a) Conduct basic and applied research in mathematics and
72	science learning.
73	(b) Recommend the most effective instructional materials
74	and technologies, both core and supplemental, for use in the K-
75	12 public schools, such as those used in the Singapore Math
76	programs.
77	(c) Disseminate best practices in mathematics and science
78	instruction through teacher preparation programs.
79	(d) Monitor educational outcomes to identify effective
80	programs.
81	(e) Recommend measures to ensure fidelity of the
82	implementation of best classroom practices.
83	(2)(a) The center shall form advisory panels to make
84	recommendations to the center for mathematics and science
85	instructional materials for the 2011-2012 school year and for
86	school years thereafter. An advisory panel for mathematics shall
87	be composed of at least three postsecondary education scholars
88	in the field of mathematics and an experienced Florida public
89	school mathematics teacher in each of the grade groups, K
90	through grade 5, grades 6 through 8, and grades 9 through 12. An
91	advisory panel for science shall be composed of at least three
92	postsecondary education scholars in the field of science and an
93	experienced Florida public school science teacher in each of the
94	grade groups, K through grade 5, grades 6 through 8, and grades
95	9 through 12.
96	(b) The advisory panels shall review instructional
97	materials adopted by the Department of Education under the
98	existing adoption process and make recommendations to the center
99	for the addition or deletion of instructional materials to
100	ensure that they include the best possible instructional
101	materials and technologies.
102	(3) Notwithstanding any provision of law or rule to the
103	contrary, beginning in 2011, it shall be the responsibility of
104	the center to evaluate and recommend instructional materials in
105	mathematics and science for adoption by the Commissioner of
106	Education. The center shall recommend to the commissioner
107	instructional materials for mathematics and science for the
108	state's K-12 public schools for the 2011-2012 school year and
109	for school years thereafter, according to a schedule developed
110	by the commissioner in consultation with the center. When making
111	recommendations to the commissioner, the center shall offer
112	solutions that:
113	(a) Provide differentiated instruction to each student.
114	(b) Have a track record of effectiveness when measured in
115	statistically valid controlled third-party studies, with sample
116	sizes of at least 1,000 students.
117	(c) Are research based.
118	(d) Are developed specifically to meet the Next Generation
119	Sunshine State Standards for mathematics and science.
120	(e) Include the ability to continually enhance and improve
121	the instruction based on feedback from the public schools, the
122	center, or the Department of Education during the adoption term.
123	(4) The Commissioner of Education may add curricula to the
124	existing 2010-2011 list of adopted instructional materials if
125	recommended or advised by the center, as a result of any
126	administrative challenge of the 2010-2011 adoption
127	recommendations, or otherwise as the commissioner deems in the
128	best interests of the state's public school students.
129	(5) Funding for the 2010-2011 activities of the advisory
130	panels and the center shall be made through legislative
131	appropriation of general revenue funds or through the
132	redirection of funds appropriated to the Department of Education
133	for its instructional materials adoption process. Funding for
134	the center in subsequent years shall be derived from a variety
135	of sources, including, but not limited to: National Science
136	Foundation grants for basic and applied educational research;
137	United States Department of Education's Institute of Education
138	Sciences research grants to study the effectiveness of adopted
139	mathematics and science curricula in Florida's schools; private
140	foundation grants to expand innovation and best practices in
141	mathematics and science education; federal Race to the Top funds
142	for implementing high academic standards, measuring results,
143	recruiting the best teachers, and turning around struggling
144	schools; and fees charged to public schools and school districts
145	for educator preparation on the best practices in mathematics
146	and science instruction.
147	Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.