Bill Text: FL S0806 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Instruction for Homebound and Hospitalized Students
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-03-10 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 585 (Ch. 2016-227) [S0806 Detail]
Download: Florida-2016-S0806-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2016 SB 806 By Senator Legg 17-00160-16 2016806__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to instruction for homebound and 3 hospitalized students; amending s. 1003.57, F.S.; 4 requiring school districts to provide instruction to 5 homebound or hospitalized students; requiring the 6 State Board of Education to adopt rules related to 7 student eligibility, methods of providing instruction 8 to homebound or hospitalized students, and the 9 initiation of services; requiring the department to 10 develop a standard agreement for school districts; 11 requiring each school district to enter into an 12 agreement with certain hospitals within its district 13 by a specified date; providing an effective date. 14 15 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16 17 Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 18 1003.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 19 1003.57 Exceptional students instruction.— 20 (1) 21 (b) Each district school board shall provide for an 22 appropriate program of special instruction, facilities, and 23 services for exceptional students as prescribed by the State 24 Board of Education as acceptable. Each district program must,25including provisions that: 26 1.The district school boardProvide the necessary 27 professional services for diagnosis and evaluation of 28 exceptional students. At least once every 3 years, the district 29 school board shall submit to the department its proposed 30 procedures for the provision of special instruction and services 31 for exceptional students. 32 2.The district school boardProvide the special 33 instruction, classes, and services, either within the district 34 school system, in cooperation with other district school 35 systems, or through contractual arrangements with approved 36 private schools or community facilities that meet standards 37 established by the commissioner. 38 3.The district school boardAnnually provide information 39 describing the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and all 40 other programs and methods of instruction available to the 41 parent of a sensory-impaired student. 42 4. Provide instruction to homebound or hospitalized 43 students in accordance with this section and rules adopted by 44 the state board. 45 a. The rules adopted by the state board must establish, at 46 a minimum, the following: 47 (I) Criteria to be used in determining the eligibility of 48 K-12 homebound or hospitalized students for specially designed 49 instruction. 50 (II) Procedures for determining student eligibility. 51 (III) A list of appropriate methods for providing 52 instruction to homebound or hospitalized students. 53 (IV) Requirements for providing instructional services for 54 a homebound or hospitalized student once the student is 55 determined to be eligible for such services. A school district 56 must provide educational instruction to an eligible student who 57 receives treatment in a children’s specialty hospital that is 58 licensed under part I of chapter 395 and that is located within 59 its district until the district is able to enter into an 60 agreement with the school district where the student resides. 61 The department shall develop a standard agreement for school 62 districts to use in providing seamless educational instruction 63 to a student who transitions between school districts while 64 receiving services from a children’s specialty hospital. 65 b. No later than August 15, 2016, each school district 66 shall enter into an agreement with any children’s specialty 67 hospital licensed under part I of chapter 395 and that is 68 located within its district to establish a process by which the 69 hospital must notify the school district of students who may be 70 eligible for instruction consistent with this subparagraph and 71 to establish the timelines for determining student eligibility 72 and for providing educational instruction to eligible students 73The district school board, once every 3 years, submit to the74department its proposed procedures for the provision of special75instruction and services for exceptional students. 76 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.