Florida Senate - 2012                                     SB 318
       
       
       
       By Senator Fasano
       
       
       
       
       11-00249-12                                            2012318__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Statewide K-12 Education
    3         Commission; creating the Statewide K-12 Education
    4         Commission within the Department of Education;
    5         providing purposes; providing for terms, membership,
    6         and meetings; providing that members are entitled to
    7         reimbursement for travel expenses, subject to
    8         appropriations provided in the General Appropriations
    9         Act; providing duties; requiring that the commission
   10         submit a report to the Governor, Legislature, and
   11         State Board of Education by a specified date each
   12         year; providing an effective date.
   13  
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. (1) The Statewide K-12 Education Commission is
   17  created within the Department of Education for the purposes of
   18  streamlining the various processes within and improving the
   19  efficiency of the state’s education system, as well as carrying
   20  out the intent of Article IX of the State Constitution.
   21         (2)(a) The Statewide K-12 Education Commission shall
   22  consist of 21 members who shall be appointed to 4-year terms as
   23  follows:
   24         1. Four members appointed by the Governor;
   25         2. Four members appointed by the President of the Senate;
   26         3. Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
   27  Representatives; and
   28         4. Nine members appointed by the State Board of Education.
   29         (b) At least 11 members of the commission must consist of
   30  individuals currently employed by public school districts and
   31  must be distributed proportionately between small, medium, and
   32  large school districts. Members who are instructors in academic
   33  and vocational areas must represent elementary schools, middle
   34  schools, high schools, and institutions of higher education. The
   35  remaining 10 members of the commission must consist of retired
   36  educators, parents, employees of nonpublic schools and charter
   37  schools, community advocates of educational programs,
   38  administrators, and school board members.
   39         (3) Members of the commission shall elect a chair and vice
   40  chair at the first meeting. The commission shall meet at least
   41  four times per year. Subject to appropriations provided in the
   42  General Appropriations Act, members of the commission are
   43  entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses as provided in s.
   44  112.061, Florida Statutes.
   45         (4) The commission shall review all aspects of the delivery
   46  of education in the state, including, but not limited to,
   47  administration, assessment, budget, community support, parental
   48  involvement, curriculum, English for speakers of other
   49  languages, exceptional student education, facilities,
   50  noninstructional personnel, scheduling, student education and
   51  involvement, and teacher or instructional support.
   52         (5) Beginning June 1, 2013, and each year thereafter, the
   53  commission shall submit a report to the Governor, the President
   54  of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
   55  the State Board of Education which includes recommendations for
   56  improvement based on the commission’s review of the state
   57  education system.
   58         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.