Bill Text: FL S2502 | 2017 | Special Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Implementing SB 2500-A, an Act Making Supplemental Appropriations to Fund the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-06-09 - Died on Calendar, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 3-A (Ch. 2017-234) [S2502 Detail]
Download: Florida-2017-S2502-Engrossed.html
SB 2502-A First Engrossed
20172502Ae1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act implementing SB 2500-A, an act making
3 supplemental appropriations to fund the Florida
4 Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal
5 year; amending ss. 24.121, 1011.62, 1011.67, 1011.685,
6 1011.71, and 1012.71, F.S.; authorizing the
7 distribution of funds for the Florida Education
8 Finance Program pursuant to any law providing funding
9 for the 2017-2018 fiscal year; providing for
10 construction of the act in pari materia with laws
11 enacted during the 2017 Regular Session of the
12 Legislature; providing effective dates.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
17 24.121, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
18 24.121 Allocation of revenues and expenditure of funds for
19 public education.—
20 (5)
21 (c) A portion of such net revenues, as determined annually
22 by the Legislature, shall be distributed to each school district
23 and shall be made available to each public school in the
24 district for enhancing school performance through development
25 and implementation of a school improvement plan pursuant to s.
26 1001.42(18). A portion of these moneys, as determined annually
27 in the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing
28 funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017
29 2018 fiscal year, must be allocated to each school in an equal
30 amount for each student enrolled. These moneys may be expended
31 only on programs or projects selected by the school advisory
32 council or by a parent advisory committee created pursuant to
33 this paragraph. If a school does not have a school advisory
34 council, the district advisory council must appoint a parent
35 advisory committee composed of parents of students enrolled in
36 that school, which is representative of the ethnic, racial, and
37 economic community served by the school, to advise the school’s
38 principal on the programs or projects to be funded. Neither
39 school district staff nor principals may override the
40 recommendations of the school advisory council or the parent
41 advisory committee. These moneys may not be used for capital
42 improvements or for any project or program that has a duration
43 of more than 1 year; however, a school advisory council or
44 parent advisory committee may independently determine that a
45 program or project formerly funded under this paragraph should
46 receive funds in a subsequent year.
47 Section 2. Upon the expiration and reversion of the
48 amendments to section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, pursuant to
49 section 23 of chapter 2016-62, Laws of Florida, section 1011.62,
50 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
51 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
52 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
53 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
54 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
55 the annual appropriations act or in any law providing funding
56 for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018
57 fiscal year, it shall be determined as follows:
58 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
59 OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
60 determining the annual allocation to each district for
61 operation:
62 (a) Determination of full-time equivalent membership.
63 During each of several school weeks, including scheduled
64 intersessions of a year-round school program during the fiscal
65 year, a program membership survey of each school shall be made
66 by each district by aggregating the full-time equivalent student
67 membership of each program by school and by district. The
68 department shall establish the number and interval of membership
69 calculations, except that for basic and special programs such
70 calculations shall not exceed nine for any fiscal year. The
71 district’s full-time equivalent membership shall be computed and
72 currently maintained in accordance with regulations of the
73 commissioner.
74 (b) Determination of base student allocation.—The base
75 student allocation for the Florida Education Finance Program for
76 kindergarten through grade 12 shall be determined annually by
77 the Legislature and shall be that amount prescribed in the
78 current year’s General Appropriations Act or in any law
79 providing funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for
80 the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
81 (c) Determination of programs.—Cost factors based on
82 desired relative cost differences between the following programs
83 shall be established in the annual General Appropriations Act or
84 in any law providing funding for the Florida Education Finance
85 Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The cost factor for
86 secondary career education programs and basic programs grade 9
87 through 12 shall be equal. The Commissioner of Education shall
88 specify a matrix of services and intensity levels to be used by
89 districts in the determination of the two weighted cost factors
90 for exceptional students with the highest levels of need. For
91 these students, the funding support level shall fund the
92 exceptional students’ education program, with the exception of
93 extended school year services for students with disabilities.
94 1. Basic programs.—
95 a. Kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3.
96 b. Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
97 c. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
98 2. Programs for exceptional students.—
99 a. Support Level IV.
100 b. Support Level V.
101 3. Secondary career education programs.
102 4. English for Speakers of Other Languages.
103 (d) Annual allocation calculation.—
104 1. The Department of Education is authorized and directed
105 to review all district programs and enrollment projections and
106 calculate a maximum total weighted full-time equivalent student
107 enrollment for each district for the K-12 FEFP.
108 2. Maximum enrollments calculated by the department shall
109 be derived from enrollment estimates used by the Legislature to
110 calculate the FEFP. If two or more districts enter into an
111 agreement under the provisions of s. 1001.42(4)(d), after the
112 final enrollment estimate is agreed upon, the amount of FTE
113 specified in the agreement, not to exceed the estimate for the
114 specific program as identified in paragraph (c), may be
115 transferred from the participating districts to the district
116 providing the program.
117 3. As part of its calculation of each district’s maximum
118 total weighted full-time equivalent student enrollment, the
119 department shall establish separate enrollment ceilings for each
120 of two program groups. Group 1 shall be composed of basic
121 programs for grades K-3, grades 4-8, and grades 9-12. Group 2
122 shall be composed of students in exceptional student education
123 programs support levels IV and V, English for Speakers of Other
124 Languages programs, and all career programs in grades 9-12.
125 a. For any calculation of the FEFP, the enrollment ceiling
126 for group 1 shall be calculated by multiplying the actual
127 enrollment for each program in the program group by its
128 appropriate program weight.
129 b. The weighted enrollment ceiling for group 2 programs
130 shall be calculated by multiplying the enrollment for each
131 program by the appropriate program weight as provided in the
132 General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding for
133 the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal
134 year. The weighted enrollment ceiling for program group 2 shall
135 be the sum of the weighted enrollment ceilings for each program
136 in the program group, plus the increase in weighted full-time
137 equivalent student membership from the prior year for clients of
138 the Department of Children and Families and the Department of
139 Juvenile Justice.
140 c. If, for any calculation of the FEFP, the weighted
141 enrollment for program group 2, derived by multiplying actual
142 enrollments by appropriate program weights, exceeds the
143 enrollment ceiling for that group, the following procedure shall
144 be followed to reduce the weighted enrollment for that group to
145 equal the enrollment ceiling:
146 (I) The weighted enrollment ceiling for each program in the
147 program group shall be subtracted from the weighted enrollment
148 for that program derived from actual enrollments.
149 (II) If the difference calculated under sub-sub
150 subparagraph (I) is greater than zero for any program, a
151 reduction proportion shall be computed for the program by
152 dividing the absolute value of the difference by the total
153 amount by which the weighted enrollment for the program group
154 exceeds the weighted enrollment ceiling for the program group.
155 (III) The reduction proportion calculated under sub-sub
156 subparagraph (II) shall be multiplied by the total amount of the
157 program group’s enrollment over the ceiling as calculated under
158 sub-sub-subparagraph (I).
159 (IV) The prorated reduction amount calculated under sub
160 sub-subparagraph (III) shall be subtracted from the program’s
161 weighted enrollment to produce a revised program weighted
162 enrollment.
163 (V) The prorated reduction amount calculated under sub-sub
164 subparagraph (III) shall be divided by the appropriate program
165 weight, and the result shall be added to the revised program
166 weighted enrollment computed in sub-sub-subparagraph (IV).
167 (e) Funding model for exceptional student education
168 programs.—
169 1.a. The funding model uses basic, at-risk, support levels
170 IV and V for exceptional students and career Florida Education
171 Finance Program cost factors, and a guaranteed allocation for
172 exceptional student education programs. Exceptional education
173 cost factors are determined by using a matrix of services to
174 document the services that each exceptional student will
175 receive. The nature and intensity of the services indicated on
176 the matrix shall be consistent with the services described in
177 each exceptional student’s individual educational plan. The
178 Department of Education shall review and revise the descriptions
179 of the services and supports included in the matrix of services
180 for exceptional students and shall implement those revisions
181 before the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.
182 b. In order to generate funds using one of the two weighted
183 cost factors, a matrix of services must be completed at the time
184 of the student’s initial placement into an exceptional student
185 education program and at least once every 3 years by personnel
186 who have received approved training. Nothing listed in the
187 matrix shall be construed as limiting the services a school
188 district must provide in order to ensure that exceptional
189 students are provided a free, appropriate public education.
190 c. Students identified as exceptional, in accordance with
191 chapter 6A-6, Florida Administrative Code, who do not have a
192 matrix of services as specified in sub-subparagraph b. shall
193 generate funds on the basis of full-time-equivalent student
194 membership in the Florida Education Finance Program at the same
195 funding level per student as provided for basic students.
196 Additional funds for these exceptional students will be provided
197 through the guaranteed allocation designated in subparagraph 2.
198 2. For students identified as exceptional who do not have a
199 matrix of services and students who are gifted in grades K
200 through 8, there is created a guaranteed allocation to provide
201 these students with a free appropriate public education, in
202 accordance with s. 1001.42(4)(l) and rules of the State Board of
203 Education, which shall be allocated initially to each school
204 district in the amount provided in the General Appropriations
205 Act or in any law providing funding for the Florida Education
206 Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. These funds shall
207 be supplemental to the funds appropriated for the basic funding
208 level, and the amount allocated for each school district shall
209 be recalculated once during the year, based on actual student
210 membership from the October FTE survey. Upon recalculation, if
211 the generated allocation is greater than the amount provided in
212 the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding
213 for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018
214 fiscal year, the total shall be prorated to the level of the
215 appropriation based on each district’s share of the total
216 recalculated amount. These funds shall be used to provide
217 special education and related services for exceptional students
218 and students who are gifted in grades K through 8. A district’s
219 expenditure of funds from the guaranteed allocation for students
220 in grades 9 through 12 who are gifted may not be greater than
221 the amount expended during the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year for gifted
222 students in grades 9 through 12.
223 (f) Supplemental academic instruction; categorical fund.—
224 1. There is created a categorical fund to provide
225 supplemental academic instruction to students in kindergarten
226 through grade 12. This paragraph may be cited as the
227 “Supplemental Academic Instruction Categorical Fund.”
228 2. Categorical funds for supplemental academic instruction
229 shall be allocated annually to each school district in the
230 amount provided in the General Appropriations Act or in any law
231 providing funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for
232 the 2017-2018 fiscal year. These funds shall be in addition to
233 the funds appropriated on the basis of FTE student membership in
234 the Florida Education Finance Program and shall be included in
235 the total potential funds of each district. These funds shall be
236 used to provide supplemental academic instruction to students
237 enrolled in the K-12 program. For the 2014-2015 fiscal year,
238 each school district that has one or more of the 300 lowest
239 performing elementary schools based on the state reading
240 assessment shall use these funds, together with the funds
241 provided in the district’s research-based reading instruction
242 allocation and other available funds, to provide an additional
243 hour of instruction beyond the normal school day for each day of
244 the entire school year for intensive reading instruction for the
245 students in each of these schools. This additional hour of
246 instruction must be provided by teachers or reading specialists
247 who are effective in teaching reading or by a K-5 mentoring
248 reading program that is supervised by a teacher who is effective
249 at teaching reading. Students enrolled in these schools who have
250 level 5 assessment scores may participate in the additional hour
251 of instruction on an optional basis. Exceptional student
252 education centers shall not be included in the 300 schools.
253 After this requirement has been met, supplemental instruction
254 strategies may include, but are not limited to: modified
255 curriculum, reading instruction, after-school instruction,
256 tutoring, mentoring, class size reduction, extended school year,
257 intensive skills development in summer school, and other methods
258 for improving student achievement. Supplemental instruction may
259 be provided to a student in any manner and at any time during or
260 beyond the regular 180-day term identified by the school as
261 being the most effective and efficient way to best help that
262 student progress from grade to grade and to graduate.
263 3. Effective with the 1999-2000 fiscal year, funding on the
264 basis of FTE membership beyond the 180-day regular term shall be
265 provided in the FEFP only for students enrolled in juvenile
266 justice education programs or in education programs for
267 juveniles placed in secure facilities or programs under s.
268 985.19. Funding for instruction beyond the regular 180-day
269 school year for all other K-12 students shall be provided
270 through the supplemental academic instruction categorical fund
271 and other state, federal, and local fund sources with ample
272 flexibility for schools to provide supplemental instruction to
273 assist students in progressing from grade to grade and
274 graduating.
275 4. The Florida State University School, as a lab school, is
276 authorized to expend from its FEFP or Lottery Enhancement Trust
277 Fund allocation the cost to the student of remediation in
278 reading, writing, or mathematics for any graduate who requires
279 remediation at a postsecondary educational institution.
280 5. Beginning in the 1999-2000 school year, dropout
281 prevention programs as defined in ss. 1003.52, 1003.53(1)(a),
282 (b), and (c), and 1003.54 shall be included in group 1 programs
283 under subparagraph (d)3.
284 (g) Education for speakers of other languages.—A school
285 district or a full-time virtual instruction program is eligible
286 to report full-time equivalent student membership in the ESOL
287 program in the Florida Education Finance Program provided the
288 following conditions are met:
289 1. The school district or the full-time virtual instruction
290 program has a plan approved by the Department of Education.
291 2. The eligible student is identified and assessed as
292 limited English proficient based on assessment criteria.
293 3.a. An eligible student may be reported for funding in the
294 ESOL program for a base period of 3 years. However, a student
295 whose English competency does not meet the criteria for
296 proficiency after 3 years in the ESOL program may be reported
297 for a fourth, fifth, and sixth year of funding, provided his or
298 her limited English proficiency is assessed and properly
299 documented prior to his or her enrollment in each additional
300 year beyond the 3-year base period.
301 b. If a student exits the program and is later reclassified
302 as limited English proficient, the student may be reported in
303 the ESOL program for funding for an additional year, or extended
304 annually for a period not to exceed a total of 6 years pursuant
305 to this paragraph, based on an annual evaluation of the
306 student’s status.
307 4. An eligible student may be reported for funding in the
308 ESOL program for membership in ESOL instruction in English and
309 ESOL instruction or home language instruction in the basic
310 subject areas of mathematics, science, social studies, and
311 computer literacy.
312 (h) Small, isolated high schools.—Districts which levy the
313 maximum nonvoted discretionary millage, exclusive of millage for
314 capital outlay purposes levied pursuant to s. 1011.71(2), may
315 calculate full-time equivalent students for small, isolated high
316 schools by multiplying the number of unweighted full-time
317 equivalent students times 2.75; provided the school has attained
318 a grade of “C” or better, pursuant to s. 1008.34, for the
319 previous school year. For the purpose of this section, the term
320 “small, isolated high school” means any high school which is
321 located no less than 28 miles by the shortest route from another
322 high school; which has been serving students primarily in basic
323 studies provided by sub-subparagraphs (c)1.b. and c. and may
324 include subparagraph (c)4.; and which has a membership of no
325 more than 100 students, but no fewer than 28 students, in grades
326 9 through 12.
327 (i) Calculation of full-time equivalent membership with
328 respect to dual enrollment instruction.—Students enrolled in
329 dual enrollment instruction pursuant to s. 1007.271 may be
330 included in calculations of full-time equivalent student
331 memberships for basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a
332 district school board. Instructional time for dual enrollment
333 may vary from 900 hours; however, the full-time equivalent
334 student membership value shall be subject to the provisions in
335 s. 1011.61(4). Dual enrollment full-time equivalent student
336 membership shall be calculated in an amount equal to the hours
337 of instruction that would be necessary to earn the full-time
338 equivalent student membership for an equivalent course if it
339 were taught in the school district. Students in dual enrollment
340 courses may also be calculated as the proportional shares of
341 full-time equivalent enrollments they generate for a Florida
342 College System institution or university conducting the dual
343 enrollment instruction. Early admission students shall be
344 considered dual enrollments for funding purposes. Students may
345 be enrolled in dual enrollment instruction provided by an
346 eligible independent college or university and may be included
347 in calculations of full-time equivalent student memberships for
348 basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a district school
349 board. However, those provisions of law which exempt dual
350 enrolled and early admission students from payment of
351 instructional materials and tuition and fees, including
352 laboratory fees, shall not apply to students who select the
353 option of enrolling in an eligible independent institution. An
354 independent college or university which is located and chartered
355 in Florida, is not for profit, is accredited by the Commission
356 on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
357 or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools,
358 and confers degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 shall be eligible
359 for inclusion in the dual enrollment or early admission program.
360 Students enrolled in dual enrollment instruction shall be exempt
361 from the payment of tuition and fees, including laboratory fees.
362 No student enrolled in college credit mathematics or English
363 dual enrollment instruction shall be funded as a dual enrollment
364 unless the student has successfully completed the relevant
365 section of the entry-level examination required pursuant to s.
366 1008.30.
367 (j) Instruction in exploratory career education.—Students
368 in grades 7 through 12 who are enrolled for more than four
369 semesters in exploratory career education may not be counted as
370 full-time equivalent students for this instruction.
371 (k) Study hall.—A student who is enrolled in study hall may
372 not be included in the calculation of full-time equivalent
373 student membership for funding under this section.
374 (l) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
375 membership based on International Baccalaureate examination
376 scores of students.—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student
377 membership shall be calculated for each student enrolled in an
378 International Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or
379 higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 full-time
380 equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
381 student who receives an International Baccalaureate diploma.
382 Such value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent
383 student membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in
384 the subsequent fiscal year. Each school district shall allocate
385 80 percent of the funds received from International
386 Baccalaureate bonus FTE funding to the school program whose
387 students generate the funds and to school programs that prepare
388 prospective students to enroll in International Baccalaureate
389 courses. Funds shall be expended solely for the payment of
390 allowable costs associated with the International Baccalaureate
391 program. Allowable costs include International Baccalaureate
392 annual school fees; International Baccalaureate examination
393 fees; salary, benefits, and bonuses for teachers and program
394 coordinators for the International Baccalaureate program and
395 teachers and coordinators who prepare prospective students for
396 the International Baccalaureate program; supplemental books;
397 instructional supplies; instructional equipment or instructional
398 materials for International Baccalaureate courses; other
399 activities that identify prospective International Baccalaureate
400 students or prepare prospective students to enroll in
401 International Baccalaureate courses; and training or
402 professional development for International Baccalaureate
403 teachers. School districts shall allocate the remaining 20
404 percent of the funds received from International Baccalaureate
405 bonus FTE funding for programs that assist academically
406 disadvantaged students to prepare for more rigorous courses. The
407 school district shall distribute to each classroom teacher who
408 provided International Baccalaureate instruction:
409 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
410 the International Baccalaureate teacher in each International
411 Baccalaureate course who receives a score of 4 or higher on the
412 International Baccalaureate examination.
413 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each International
414 Baccalaureate teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D”
415 or “F” who has at least one student scoring 4 or higher on the
416 International Baccalaureate examination, regardless of the
417 number of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a
418 4 or higher on the International Baccalaureate examination.
419
420 Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph may not
421 exceed $2,000 in any given school year. However, the maximum
422 bonus shall be $3,000 if at least 50 percent of the students
423 enrolled in a teacher’s course earn a score of 4 or higher on
424 the examination in a school designated with a grade of “A,” “B,”
425 or “C”; or if at least 25 percent of the students enrolled in a
426 teacher’s course earn a score of 4 or higher on the examination
427 in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F.” Bonuses
428 awarded under this paragraph shall be in addition to any regular
429 wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled to
430 receive. For such courses, the teacher shall earn an additional
431 bonus of $50 for each student who has a qualifying score up to
432 the maximum of $3,000 in any given school year.
433 (m) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
434 membership based on Advanced International Certificate of
435 Education examination scores of students.—A value of 0.16 full
436 time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
437 student enrolled in a full-credit Advanced International
438 Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or
439 higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.08 full-time
440 equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
441 student enrolled in a half-credit Advanced International
442 Certificate of Education course who receives a score of E or
443 higher on a subject examination. A value of 0.3 full-time
444 equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
445 student who receives an Advanced International Certificate of
446 Education diploma. Such value shall be added to the total full
447 time equivalent student membership in basic programs for grades
448 9 through 12 in the subsequent fiscal year. The school district
449 shall distribute to each classroom teacher who provided Advanced
450 International Certificate of Education instruction:
451 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
452 the Advanced International Certificate of Education teacher in
453 each full-credit Advanced International Certificate of Education
454 course who receives a score of E or higher on the Advanced
455 International Certificate of Education examination. A bonus in
456 the amount of $25 for each student taught by the Advanced
457 International Certificate of Education teacher in each half
458 credit Advanced International Certificate of Education course
459 who receives a score of E or higher on the Advanced
460 International Certificate of Education examination.
461 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced
462 International Certificate of Education teacher in a school
463 designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who has at least one
464 student scoring E or higher on the full-credit Advanced
465 International Certificate of Education examination, regardless
466 of the number of classes taught or of the number of students
467 scoring an E or higher on the full-credit Advanced International
468 Certificate of Education examination.
469 3. Additional bonuses of $250 each to teachers of half
470 credit Advanced International Certificate of Education classes
471 in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” which has at
472 least one student scoring an E or higher on the half-credit
473 Advanced International Certificate of Education examination in
474 that class. The maximum additional bonus for a teacher awarded
475 in accordance with this subparagraph shall not exceed $500 in
476 any given school year. Teachers receiving an award under
477 subparagraph 2. are not eligible for a bonus under this
478 subparagraph.
479
480 Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall
481 not exceed $2,000 in any given school year and shall be in
482 addition to any regular wage or other bonus the teacher received
483 or is scheduled to receive.
484 (n) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
485 membership based on college board advanced placement scores of
486 students.—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student
487 membership shall be calculated for each student in each advanced
488 placement course who receives a score of 3 or higher on the
489 College Board Advanced Placement Examination for the prior year
490 and added to the total full-time equivalent student membership
491 in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in the subsequent
492 fiscal year. Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of
493 the funds provided to the district for advanced placement
494 instruction, in accordance with this paragraph, to the high
495 school that generates the funds. The school district shall
496 distribute to each classroom teacher who provided advanced
497 placement instruction:
498 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
499 the Advanced Placement teacher in each advanced placement course
500 who receives a score of 3 or higher on the College Board
501 Advanced Placement Examination.
502 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Advanced Placement
503 teacher in a school designated with a grade of “D” or “F” who
504 has at least one student scoring 3 or higher on the College
505 Board Advanced Placement Examination, regardless of the number
506 of classes taught or of the number of students scoring a 3 or
507 higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination.
508
509 Bonuses awarded to a teacher according to this paragraph shall
510 not exceed $2,000 in any given school year. However, the maximum
511 bonus shall be $3,000 if at least 50 percent of the students
512 enrolled in a teacher’s course earn a score of 3 or higher on
513 the examination in a school with a grade of “A,” “B,” or “C” or
514 if at least 25 percent of the students enrolled in a teacher’s
515 course earn a score of 3 or higher on the examination in a
516 school with a grade of “D” or “F.” Bonuses awarded under this
517 paragraph shall be in addition to any regular wage or other
518 bonus the teacher received or is scheduled to receive. For such
519 courses, the teacher shall earn an additional bonus of $50 for
520 each student who has a qualifying score up to the maximum of
521 $3,000 in any given school year.
522 (o) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
523 membership based on successful completion of a career-themed
524 course pursuant to ss. 1003.491, 1003.492, and 1003.493, or
525 courses with embedded CAPE industry certifications or CAPE
526 Digital Tool certificates, and issuance of industry
527 certification identified on the CAPE Industry Certification
528 Funding List pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of
529 Education or CAPE Digital Tool certificates pursuant to s.
530 1003.4203.—
531 1.a. A value of 0.025 full-time equivalent student
532 membership shall be calculated for CAPE Digital Tool
533 certificates earned by students in elementary and middle school
534 grades.
535 b. A value of 0.1 or 0.2 full-time equivalent student
536 membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a
537 course as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b) or courses with embedded
538 CAPE industry certifications and who is issued an industry
539 certification identified annually on the CAPE Industry
540 Certification Funding List approved under rules adopted by the
541 State Board of Education. A value of 0.2 full-time equivalent
542 membership shall be calculated for each student who is issued a
543 CAPE industry certification that has a statewide articulation
544 agreement for college credit approved by the State Board of
545 Education. For CAPE industry certifications that do not
546 articulate for college credit, the Department of Education shall
547 assign a full-time equivalent value of 0.1 for each
548 certification. Middle grades students who earn additional FTE
549 membership for a CAPE Digital Tool certificate pursuant to sub
550 subparagraph a. may not use the previously funded examination to
551 satisfy the requirements for earning an industry certification
552 under this sub-subparagraph. Additional FTE membership for an
553 elementary or middle grades student may not exceed 0.1 for
554 certificates or certifications earned within the same fiscal
555 year. The State Board of Education shall include the assigned
556 values on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under
557 rules adopted by the state board. Such value shall be added to
558 the total full-time equivalent student membership for grades 6
559 through 12 in the subsequent year. CAPE industry certifications
560 earned through dual enrollment must be reported and funded
561 pursuant to s. 1011.80. However, if a student earns a
562 certification through a dual enrollment course and the
563 certification is not a fundable certification on the
564 postsecondary certification funding list, or the dual enrollment
565 certification is earned as a result of an agreement between a
566 school district and a nonpublic postsecondary institution, the
567 bonus value shall be funded in the same manner as other nondual
568 enrollment course industry certifications. In such cases, the
569 school district may provide for an agreement between the high
570 school and the technical center, or the school district and the
571 postsecondary institution may enter into an agreement for
572 equitable distribution of the bonus funds.
573 c. A value of 0.3 full-time equivalent student membership
574 shall be calculated for student completion of the courses and
575 the embedded certifications identified on the CAPE Industry
576 Certification Funding List and approved by the commissioner
577 pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(5)(a) and 1008.44.
578 d. A value of 0.5 full-time equivalent student membership
579 shall be calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry
580 Certifications that articulate for 15 to 29 college credit
581 hours, and 1.0 full-time equivalent student membership shall be
582 calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications that
583 articulate for 30 or more college credit hours pursuant to CAPE
584 Acceleration Industry Certifications approved by the
585 commissioner pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(5)(b) and 1008.44.
586 2. Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of the
587 funds provided for CAPE industry certification, in accordance
588 with this paragraph, to the program that generated the funds.
589 This allocation may not be used to supplant funds provided for
590 basic operation of the program.
591 3. For CAPE industry certifications earned in the 2013-2014
592 school year and in subsequent years, the school district shall
593 distribute to each classroom teacher who provided direct
594 instruction toward the attainment of a CAPE industry
595 certification that qualified for additional full-time equivalent
596 membership under subparagraph 1.:
597 a. A bonus of $25 for each student taught by a teacher who
598 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
599 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
600 Funding List with a weight of 0.1.
601 b. A bonus of $50 for each student taught by a teacher who
602 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
603 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
604 Funding List with a weight of 0.2.
605 c. A bonus of $75 for each student taught by a teacher who
606 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
607 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
608 Funding List with a weight of 0.3.
609 d. A bonus of $100 for each student taught by a teacher who
610 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
611 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
612 Funding List with a weight of 0.5 or 1.0.
613
614 Bonuses awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be provided to
615 teachers who are employed by the district in the year in which
616 the additional FTE membership calculation is included in the
617 calculation. Bonuses shall be calculated based upon the
618 associated weight of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE
619 Industry Certification Funding List for the year in which the
620 certification is earned by the student. Any bonus awarded to a
621 teacher under this paragraph may not exceed $3,000 in any given
622 school year and is in addition to any regular wage or other
623 bonus the teacher received or is scheduled to receive.
624 (p) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
625 membership based upon early high school graduation.— Each school
626 district may receive funding for each student who graduates
627 early pursuant to s. 1003.4281. A district may earn 0.25
628 additional FTE for a student who graduates one semester in
629 advance of the student’s cohort and 0.5 additional FTE for a
630 student who graduates 1 year or more in advance of the student’s
631 cohort. If the student was enrolled in the district as a full
632 time high school student for at least 2 years, the district
633 shall report the additional FTE for payment in the subsequent
634 fiscal year. If the student was enrolled in the district for
635 less than 2 years, the district of enrollment shall report the
636 additional FTE and shall transfer a proportionate share of the
637 funds earned for early graduation to the district in which the
638 student was previously enrolled. Additional FTE included in the
639 2014-2015 Florida Education Finance Program for early graduation
640 shall be reported and funded pursuant to this paragraph.
641 (q) Year-round-school programs.—The Commissioner of
642 Education is authorized to adjust student eligibility
643 definitions, funding criteria, and reporting requirements of
644 statutes and rules in order that year-round-school programs may
645 achieve equivalent application of funding requirements with non
646 year-round-school programs.
647 (r) Extended-school-year program.—It is the intent of the
648 Legislature that students be provided additional instruction by
649 extending the school year to 210 days or more. Districts may
650 apply to the Commissioner of Education for funds to be used in
651 planning and implementing an extended-school-year program.
652 (s) Determination of the basic amount for current
653 operation.—The basic amount for current operation to be included
654 in the Florida Education Finance Program for kindergarten
655 through grade 12 for each district shall be the product of the
656 following:
657 1. The full-time equivalent student membership in each
658 program, multiplied by
659 2. The cost factor for each program, adjusted for the
660 maximum as provided by paragraph (c), multiplied by
661 3. The base student allocation.
662 (t) Computation for funding through the Florida Education
663 Finance Program.—The State Board of Education may adopt rules
664 establishing programs, industry certifications, and courses for
665 which the student may earn credit toward high school graduation.
666 (2) DETERMINATION OF DISTRICT COST DIFFERENTIALS.—The
667 Commissioner of Education shall annually compute for each
668 district the current year’s district cost differential. The
669 district cost differential shall be calculated by adding each
670 district’s price level index as published in the Florida Price
671 Level Index for the most recent 3 years and dividing the
672 resulting sum by 3. The result for each district shall be
673 multiplied by 0.008 and to the resulting product shall be added
674 0.200; the sum thus obtained shall be the cost differential for
675 that district for that year.
676 (3) INSERVICE EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL TRAINING EXPENDITURE.
677 Of the amount computed in subsections (1) and (2), a percentage
678 of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent student
679 or other funds shall be expended for educational training
680 programs as determined by the district school board as provided
681 in s. 1012.98.
682 (4) COMPUTATION OF DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL EFFORT.—The
683 Legislature shall prescribe the aggregate required local effort
684 for all school districts collectively as an item in the General
685 Appropriations Act for each fiscal year or in any law providing
686 funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017
687 2018 fiscal year. The amount that each district shall provide
688 annually toward the cost of the Florida Education Finance
689 Program for kindergarten through grade 12 programs shall be
690 calculated as follows:
691 (a) Estimated taxable value calculations.—
692 1.a. Not later than 2 working days before July 19, the
693 Department of Revenue shall certify to the Commissioner of
694 Education its most recent estimate of the taxable value for
695 school purposes in each school district and the total for all
696 school districts in the state for the current calendar year
697 based on the latest available data obtained from the local
698 property appraisers. The value certified shall be the taxable
699 value for school purposes for that year, and no further
700 adjustments shall be made, except those made pursuant to
701 paragraphs (c) and (d), or an assessment roll change required by
702 final judicial decisions as specified in paragraph (15)(b). Not
703 later than July 19, the Commissioner of Education shall compute
704 a millage rate, rounded to the next highest one one-thousandth
705 of a mill, which, when applied to 96 percent of the estimated
706 state total taxable value for school purposes, would generate
707 the prescribed aggregate required local effort for that year for
708 all districts. The Commissioner of Education shall certify to
709 each district school board the millage rate, computed as
710 prescribed in this subparagraph, as the minimum millage rate
711 necessary to provide the district required local effort for that
712 year.
713 b. The General Appropriations Act or any law providing
714 funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017
715 2018 fiscal year, shall direct the computation of the statewide
716 adjusted aggregate amount for required local effort for all
717 school districts collectively from ad valorem taxes to ensure
718 that no school district’s revenue from required local effort
719 millage will produce more than 90 percent of the district’s
720 total Florida Education Finance Program calculation as
721 calculated and adopted by the Legislature, and the adjustment of
722 the required local effort millage rate of each district that
723 produces more than 90 percent of its total Florida Education
724 Finance Program entitlement to a level that will produce only 90
725 percent of its total Florida Education Finance Program
726 entitlement in the July calculation.
727 2. On the same date as the certification in sub
728 subparagraph 1.a., the Department of Revenue shall certify to
729 the Commissioner of Education for each district:
730 a. Each year for which the property appraiser has certified
731 the taxable value pursuant to s. 193.122(2) or (3), if
732 applicable, since the prior certification under sub-subparagraph
733 1.a.
734 b. For each year identified in sub-subparagraph a., the
735 taxable value certified by the appraiser pursuant to s.
736 193.122(2) or (3), if applicable, since the prior certification
737 under sub-subparagraph 1.a. This is the certification that
738 reflects all final administrative actions of the value
739 adjustment board.
740 (b) Equalization of required local effort.—
741 1. The Department of Revenue shall include with its
742 certifications provided pursuant to paragraph (a) its most
743 recent determination of the assessment level of the prior year’s
744 assessment roll for each county and for the state as a whole.
745 2. The Commissioner of Education shall adjust the required
746 local effort millage of each district for the current year,
747 computed pursuant to paragraph (a), as follows:
748 a. The equalization factor for the prior year’s assessment
749 roll of each district shall be multiplied by 96 percent of the
750 taxable value for school purposes shown on that roll and by the
751 prior year’s required local-effort millage, exclusive of any
752 equalization adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph. The
753 dollar amount so computed shall be the additional required local
754 effort for equalization for the current year.
755 b. Such equalization factor shall be computed as the
756 quotient of the prior year’s assessment level of the state as a
757 whole divided by the prior year’s assessment level of the
758 county, from which quotient shall be subtracted 1.
759 c. The dollar amount of additional required local effort
760 for equalization for each district shall be converted to a
761 millage rate, based on 96 percent of the current year’s taxable
762 value for that district, and added to the required local effort
763 millage determined pursuant to paragraph (a).
764 3. Notwithstanding the limitations imposed pursuant to s.
765 1011.71(1), the total required local-effort millage, including
766 additional required local effort for equalization, shall be an
767 amount not to exceed 10 minus the maximum millage allowed as
768 nonvoted discretionary millage, exclusive of millage authorized
769 pursuant to s. 1011.71(2). Nothing herein shall be construed to
770 allow a millage in excess of that authorized in s. 9, Art. VII
771 of the State Constitution.
772 4. For the purposes of this chapter, the term “assessment
773 level” means the value-weighted mean assessment ratio for the
774 county or state as a whole, as determined pursuant to s.
775 195.096, or as subsequently adjusted. However, for those parcels
776 studied pursuant to s. 195.096(3)(a)1. which are receiving the
777 assessment limitation set forth in s. 193.155, and for which the
778 assessed value is less than the just value, the department shall
779 use the assessed value in the numerator and the denominator of
780 such assessment ratio. In the event a court has adjudicated that
781 the department failed to establish an accurate estimate of an
782 assessment level of a county and recomputation resulting in an
783 accurate estimate based upon the evidence before the court was
784 not possible, that county shall be presumed to have an
785 assessment level equal to that of the state as a whole.
786 5. If, in the prior year, taxes were levied against an
787 interim assessment roll pursuant to s. 193.1145, the assessment
788 level and prior year’s nonexempt assessed valuation used for the
789 purposes of this paragraph shall be those of the interim
790 assessment roll.
791 (c) Exclusion.—
792 1. In those instances in which:
793 a. There is litigation either attacking the authority of
794 the property appraiser to include certain property on the tax
795 assessment roll as taxable property or contesting the assessed
796 value of certain property on the tax assessment roll, and
797 b. The assessed value of the property in contest involves
798 more than 6 percent of the total nonexempt assessment roll, the
799 plaintiff shall provide to the district school board of the
800 county in which the property is located and to the Department of
801 Education a certified copy of the petition and receipt for the
802 good faith payment at the time they are filed with the court.
803 2. For purposes of computing the required local effort for
804 each district affected by such petition, the Department of
805 Education shall exclude from the district’s total nonexempt
806 assessment roll the assessed value of the property in contest
807 and shall add the amount of the good faith payment to the
808 district’s required local effort.
809 (d) Recomputation.—Following final adjudication of any
810 litigation on the basis of which an adjustment in taxable value
811 was made pursuant to paragraph (c), the department shall
812 recompute the required local effort for each district for each
813 year affected by such adjustments, utilizing taxable values
814 approved by the court, and shall adjust subsequent allocations
815 to such districts accordingly.
816 (e) Prior period funding adjustment millage.—
817 1. An additional millage to be known as the Prior Period
818 Funding Adjustment Millage shall be levied by a school district
819 if the prior period unrealized required local effort funds are
820 greater than zero. The Commissioner of Education shall calculate
821 the amount of the prior period unrealized required local effort
822 funds as specified in subparagraph 2. and the millage required
823 to generate that amount as specified in this subparagraph. The
824 Prior Period Funding Adjustment Millage shall be the quotient of
825 the prior period unrealized required local effort funds divided
826 by the current year taxable value certified to the Commissioner
827 of Education pursuant to sub-subparagraph (a)1.a. This levy
828 shall be in addition to the required local effort millage
829 certified pursuant to this subsection. Such millage shall not
830 affect the calculation of the current year’s required local
831 effort, and the funds generated by such levy shall not be
832 included in the district’s Florida Education Finance Program
833 allocation for that fiscal year. For purposes of the millage to
834 be included on the Notice of Proposed Taxes, the Commissioner of
835 Education shall adjust the required local effort millage
836 computed pursuant to paragraph (a) as adjusted by paragraph (b)
837 for the current year for any district that levies a Prior Period
838 Funding Adjustment Millage to include all Prior Period Funding
839 Adjustment Millage. For the purpose of this paragraph, a Prior
840 Period Funding Adjustment Millage shall be levied for each year
841 certified by the Department of Revenue pursuant to sub
842 subparagraph (a)2.a. since the previous year certification and
843 for which the calculation in sub-subparagraph 2.b. is greater
844 than zero.
845 2.a. As used in this subparagraph, the term:
846 (I) “Prior year” means a year certified under sub
847 subparagraph (a)2.a.
848 (II) “Preliminary taxable value” means:
849 (A) If the prior year is the 2009-2010 fiscal year or
850 later, the taxable value certified to the Commissioner of
851 Education pursuant to sub-subparagraph (a)1.a.
852 (B) If the prior year is the 2008-2009 fiscal year or
853 earlier, the taxable value certified pursuant to the final
854 calculation as specified in former paragraph (b) as that
855 paragraph existed in the prior year.
856 (III) “Final taxable value” means the district’s taxable
857 value as certified by the property appraiser pursuant to s.
858 193.122(2) or (3), if applicable. This is the certification that
859 reflects all final administrative actions of the value
860 adjustment board.
861 b. For purposes of this subsection and with respect to each
862 year certified pursuant to sub-subparagraph (a)2.a., if the
863 district’s prior year preliminary taxable value is greater than
864 the district’s prior year final taxable value, the prior period
865 unrealized required local effort funds are the difference
866 between the district’s prior year preliminary taxable value and
867 the district’s prior year final taxable value, multiplied by the
868 prior year district required local effort millage. If the
869 district’s prior year preliminary taxable value is less than the
870 district’s prior year final taxable value, the prior period
871 unrealized required local effort funds are zero.
872 c. If a district’s prior period unrealized required local
873 effort funds and prior period district required local effort
874 millage cannot be determined because such district’s final
875 taxable value has not yet been certified pursuant to s.
876 193.122(2) or (3), the Prior Period Funding Adjustment Millage
877 for such fiscal year shall be levied, if not previously levied,
878 in an amount equal to 75 percent of such district’s most recent
879 unrealized required local effort for which a Prior Period
880 Funding Adjustment Millage was determined as provided in this
881 section. Upon certification of the final taxable value in
882 accordance with s. 193.122(2) or (3) for a tax roll for which a
883 75 percent Prior Period Funding Adjustment Millage was levied,
884 the next Prior Period Funding Adjustment Millage shall be
885 adjusted to include any shortfall or surplus in the prior period
886 unrealized required local effort funds that would have been
887 levied, had the district’s final taxable value been certified
888 pursuant to s. 193.122(2) or (3). If this adjustment is made for
889 a surplus, the reduction in prior period millage may not exceed
890 the prior period funding adjustment millage calculated pursuant
891 to subparagraph 1. and sub-subparagraphs a. and b., or pursuant
892 to this sub-subparagraph, whichever is applicable, and any
893 additional reduction shall be carried forward to the subsequent
894 fiscal year.
895 (5) DISCRETIONARY MILLAGE COMPRESSION SUPPLEMENT.—The
896 Legislature shall prescribe in the General Appropriations Act,
897 pursuant to s. 1011.71(1), or in any law providing funding for
898 the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal
899 year, the rate of nonvoted current operating discretionary
900 millage that shall be used to calculate a discretionary millage
901 compression supplement. If the prescribed millage generates an
902 amount of funds per unweighted FTE for the district that is less
903 than the state average, the district shall receive an amount per
904 FTE that, when added to the funds per FTE generated by the
905 designated levy, shall equal the state average.
906 (6) CATEGORICAL FUNDS.—
907 (a) In addition to the basic amount for current operations
908 for the FEFP as determined in subsection (1), the Legislature
909 may appropriate categorical funding for specified programs,
910 activities, or purposes.
911 (b) If a district school board finds and declares in a
912 resolution adopted at a regular meeting of the school board that
913 the funds received for any of the following categorical
914 appropriations are urgently needed to maintain school board
915 specified academic classroom instruction, the school board may
916 consider and approve an amendment to the school district
917 operating budget transferring the identified amount of the
918 categorical funds to the appropriate account for expenditure:
919 1. Funds for student transportation.
920 2. Funds for safe schools.
921 3. Funds for supplemental academic instruction if the
922 required additional hour of instruction beyond the normal school
923 day for each day of the entire school year has been provided for
924 the students in each low-performing elementary school in the
925 district pursuant to paragraph (1)(f).
926 4. Funds for research-based reading instruction if the
927 required additional hour of instruction beyond the normal school
928 day for each day of the entire school year has been provided for
929 the students in each low-performing elementary school in the
930 district pursuant to paragraph (9)(a).
931 5. Funds for instructional materials if all instructional
932 material purchases necessary to provide updated materials that
933 are aligned with applicable state standards and course
934 descriptions and that meet statutory requirements of content and
935 learning have been completed for that fiscal year, but no sooner
936 than March 1. Funds available after March 1 may be used to
937 purchase hardware for student instruction.
938 (c) Each district school board shall include in its annual
939 financial report to the Department of Education the amount of
940 funds the school board transferred from each of the categorical
941 funds identified in this subsection and the specific academic
942 classroom instruction for which the transferred funds were
943 expended. The Department of Education shall provide instructions
944 and specify the format to be used in submitting this required
945 information as a part of the district annual financial report.
946 The Department of Education shall submit a report to the
947 Legislature that identifies by district and by categorical fund
948 the amount transferred and the specific academic classroom
949 activity for which the funds were expended.
950 (d) If a district school board transfers funds from its
951 research-based reading instruction allocation, the board must
952 also submit to the Department of Education an amendment
953 describing the changes that the district is making to its
954 reading plan approved pursuant to paragraph (9)(d).
955 (7) DETERMINATION OF SPARSITY SUPPLEMENT.—
956 (a) Annually, in an amount to be determined by the
957 Legislature through the General Appropriations Act or through
958 any law providing funding for the Florida Education Finance
959 Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, there shall be added to
960 the basic amount for current operation of the FEFP qualified
961 districts a sparsity supplement which shall be computed as
962 follows:
963
964 Sparsity Factor = 1101.8918 -0.1101
965 2700 + districtsparsityIndex
966 except that districts with a sparsity index of 1,000 or less
967 shall be computed as having a sparsity index of 1,000, and
968 districts having a sparsity index of 7,308 and above shall be
969 computed as having a sparsity factor of zero. A qualified
970 district’s full-time equivalent student membership shall equal
971 or be less than that prescribed annually by the Legislature in
972 the appropriations act or in any law providing funding for the
973 Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
974 The amount prescribed annually by the Legislature shall be no
975 less than 17,000, but no more than 24,000.
976 (b) The district sparsity index shall be computed by
977 dividing the total number of full-time equivalent students in
978 all programs in the district by the number of senior high school
979 centers in the district, not in excess of three, which centers
980 are approved as permanent centers by a survey made by the
981 Department of Education.
982 (c) If the sparsity supplement calculated in paragraphs (a)
983 and (b) for an eligible district is less than $100 per full-time
984 equivalent student, the district’s supplement shall be increased
985 to $100 per FTE or to the minimum amount per FTE designated in
986 the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding
987 for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018
988 fiscal year.
989 (d) Each district’s allocation of sparsity supplement funds
990 shall be adjusted in the following manner:
991 1. A maximum discretionary levy per FTE value for each
992 district shall be calculated by dividing the value of each
993 district’s maximum discretionary levy by its FTE student count.
994 2. A state average discretionary levy value per FTE shall
995 be calculated by dividing the total maximum discretionary levy
996 value for all districts by the state total FTE student count.
997 3. A total potential funds per FTE for each district shall
998 be calculated by dividing the total potential funds, not
999 including Florida School Recognition Program funds and the
1000 minimum guarantee funds, for each district by its FTE student
1001 count.
1002 4. A state average total potential funds per FTE shall be
1003 calculated by dividing the total potential funds, not including
1004 Florida School Recognition Program funds and the minimum
1005 guarantee funds, for all districts by the state total FTE
1006 student count.
1007 5. For districts that have a levy value per FTE as
1008 calculated in subparagraph 1. higher than the state average
1009 calculated in subparagraph 2., a sparsity wealth adjustment
1010 shall be calculated as the product of the difference between the
1011 state average levy value per FTE calculated in subparagraph 2.
1012 and the district’s levy value per FTE calculated in subparagraph
1013 1. and the district’s FTE student count and -1. However, no
1014 district shall have a sparsity wealth adjustment that, when
1015 applied to the total potential funds calculated in subparagraph
1016 3., would cause the district’s total potential funds per FTE to
1017 be less than the state average calculated in subparagraph 4.
1018 6. Each district’s sparsity supplement allocation shall be
1019 calculated by adding the amount calculated as specified in
1020 paragraphs (a) and (b) and the wealth adjustment amount
1021 calculated in this paragraph.
1022 (8) DECLINE IN FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS.—In those
1023 districts where there is a decline between prior year and
1024 current year unweighted FTE students, a percentage of the
1025 decline in the unweighted FTE students as determined by the
1026 Legislature shall be multiplied by the prior year calculated
1027 FEFP per unweighted FTE student and shall be added to the
1028 allocation for that district. For this purpose, the calculated
1029 FEFP shall be computed by multiplying the weighted FTE students
1030 by the base student allocation and then by the district cost
1031 differential. If a district transfers a program to another
1032 institution not under the authority of the district’s school
1033 board, including a charter technical career center, the decline
1034 is to be multiplied by a factor of 0.15. However, if the funds
1035 provided for the Florida Education Finance Program in the
1036 General Appropriations Act for any fiscal year or in any law
1037 providing funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for
1038 the 2017-2018 fiscal year are reduced by a subsequent
1039 appropriation for that fiscal year, the percent of the decline
1040 in the unweighted FTE students to be funded shall be determined
1041 by the Legislature and designated in the subsequent
1042 appropriation.
1043 (9) RESEARCH-BASED READING INSTRUCTION ALLOCATION.—
1044 (a) The research-based reading instruction allocation is
1045 created to provide comprehensive reading instruction to students
1046 in kindergarten through grade 12. For the 2014-2015 fiscal year,
1047 in each school district that has one or more of the 300 lowest
1048 performing elementary schools based on the state reading
1049 assessment, priority shall be given to providing an additional
1050 hour per day of intensive reading instruction beyond the normal
1051 school day for each day of the entire school year for the
1052 students in each school. Students enrolled in these schools who
1053 have level 5 assessment scores may participate in the additional
1054 hour of instruction on an optional basis. Exceptional student
1055 education centers shall not be included in the 300 schools. The
1056 intensive reading instruction delivered in this additional hour
1057 and for other students shall include: research-based reading
1058 instruction that has been proven to accelerate progress of
1059 students exhibiting a reading deficiency; differentiated
1060 instruction based on student assessment data to meet students’
1061 specific reading needs; explicit and systematic reading
1062 development in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary,
1063 and comprehension, with more extensive opportunities for guided
1064 practice, error correction, and feedback; and the integration of
1065 social studies, science, and mathematics-text reading, text
1066 discussion, and writing in response to reading. For the 2012
1067 2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal years, a school district may not hire
1068 more reading coaches than were hired during the 2011-2012 fiscal
1069 year unless all students in kindergarten through grade 5 who
1070 demonstrate a reading deficiency, as determined by district and
1071 state assessments, including students scoring Level 1 or Level 2
1072 on the statewide, standardized reading assessment or, upon
1073 implementation, the English Language Arts assessment, are
1074 provided an additional hour per day of intensive reading
1075 instruction beyond the normal school day for each day of the
1076 entire school year.
1077 (b) Funds for comprehensive, research-based reading
1078 instruction shall be allocated annually to each school district
1079 in the amount provided in the General Appropriations Act or in
1080 any law providing funding for the Florida Education Finance
1081 Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Each eligible school
1082 district shall receive the same minimum amount as specified in
1083 the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding
1084 for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018
1085 fiscal year, and any remaining funds shall be distributed to
1086 eligible school districts based on each school district’s
1087 proportionate share of K-12 base funding.
1088 (c) Funds allocated under this subsection must be used to
1089 provide a system of comprehensive reading instruction to
1090 students enrolled in the K-12 programs, which may include the
1091 following:
1092 1. The provision of an additional hour per day of intensive
1093 reading instruction to students in the 300 lowest-performing
1094 elementary schools by teachers and reading specialists who are
1095 effective in teaching reading.
1096 2. Kindergarten through grade 5 reading intervention
1097 teachers to provide intensive intervention during the school day
1098 and in the required extra hour for students identified as having
1099 a reading deficiency.
1100 3. The provision of highly qualified reading coaches to
1101 specifically support teachers in making instructional decisions
1102 based on student data, and improve teacher delivery of effective
1103 reading instruction, intervention, and reading in the content
1104 areas based on student need.
1105 4. Professional development for school district teachers in
1106 scientifically based reading instruction, including strategies
1107 to teach reading in content areas and with an emphasis on
1108 technical and informational text.
1109 5. The provision of summer reading camps for all students
1110 in kindergarten through grade 2 who demonstrate a reading
1111 deficiency as determined by district and state assessments, and
1112 students in grades 3 through 5 who score at Level 1 on the
1113 statewide, standardized reading assessment or, upon
1114 implementation, the English Language Arts assessment.
1115 6. The provision of supplemental instructional materials
1116 that are grounded in scientifically based reading research.
1117 7. The provision of intensive interventions for students in
1118 kindergarten through grade 12 who have been identified as having
1119 a reading deficiency or who are reading below grade level as
1120 determined by the statewide, standardized assessment.
1121 (d) Annually, by a date determined by the Department of
1122 Education but before May 1, school districts shall submit a K-12
1123 comprehensive reading plan for the specific use of the research
1124 based reading instruction allocation in the format prescribed by
1125 the department for review and approval by the Just Read,
1126 Florida! Office created pursuant to s. 1001.215. The plan
1127 annually submitted by school districts shall be deemed approved
1128 unless the department rejects the plan on or before June 1. If a
1129 school district and the Just Read, Florida! Office cannot reach
1130 agreement on the contents of the plan, the school district may
1131 appeal to the State Board of Education for resolution. School
1132 districts shall be allowed reasonable flexibility in designing
1133 their plans and shall be encouraged to offer reading
1134 intervention through innovative methods, including career
1135 academies. The plan format shall be developed with input from
1136 school district personnel, including teachers and principals,
1137 and shall allow courses in core, career, and alternative
1138 programs that deliver intensive reading remediation through
1139 integrated curricula, provided that the teacher is deemed highly
1140 qualified to teach reading or working toward that status. No
1141 later than July 1 annually, the department shall release the
1142 school district’s allocation of appropriated funds to those
1143 districts having approved plans. A school district that spends
1144 100 percent of this allocation on its approved plan shall be
1145 deemed to have been in compliance with the plan. The department
1146 may withhold funds upon a determination that reading instruction
1147 allocation funds are not being used to implement the approved
1148 plan. The department shall monitor and track the implementation
1149 of each district plan, including conducting site visits and
1150 collecting specific data on expenditures and reading improvement
1151 results. By February 1 of each year, the department shall report
1152 its findings to the Legislature.
1153 (10) CALCULATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOCATION FOR JUVENILE
1154 JUSTICE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.—The total K-12 weighted full-time
1155 equivalent student membership in juvenile justice education
1156 programs in each school district shall be multiplied by the
1157 amount of the state average class-size-reduction factor
1158 multiplied by the district’s cost differential. An amount equal
1159 to the sum of this calculation shall be allocated in the FEFP to
1160 each school district to supplement other sources of funding for
1161 students in juvenile justice education programs.
1162 (11) VIRTUAL EDUCATION CONTRIBUTION.—The Legislature may
1163 annually provide in the Florida Education Finance Program a
1164 virtual education contribution. The amount of the virtual
1165 education contribution shall be the difference between the
1166 amount per FTE established in the General Appropriations Act or
1167 in any law providing funding for the Florida Education Finance
1168 Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year for virtual education and
1169 the amount per FTE for each district and the Florida Virtual
1170 School, which may be calculated by taking the sum of the base
1171 FEFP allocation, the discretionary local effort, the state
1172 funded discretionary contribution, the discretionary millage
1173 compression supplement, the research-based reading instruction
1174 allocation, and the instructional materials allocation, and then
1175 dividing by the total unweighted FTE. This difference shall be
1176 multiplied by the virtual education unweighted FTE for programs
1177 and options identified in s. 1002.455(3) and the Florida Virtual
1178 School and its franchises to equal the virtual education
1179 contribution and shall be included as a separate allocation in
1180 the funding formula.
1181 (12) FLORIDA DIGITAL CLASSROOMS ALLOCATION.—
1182 (a) The Florida digital classrooms allocation is created to
1183 support school district and school efforts and strategies to
1184 improve outcomes related to student performance by integrating
1185 technology in classroom teaching and learning. The outcomes must
1186 be measurable and may also be unique to the needs of individual
1187 schools and school districts within the general parameters
1188 established by the Department of Education.
1189 (b) Each district school board shall adopt a district
1190 digital classrooms plan that meets the unique needs of students,
1191 schools, and personnel and submit the plan for approval to the
1192 Department of Education. In addition, each district school board
1193 must, at a minimum, seek input from the district’s
1194 instructional, curriculum, and information technology staff to
1195 develop the district digital classrooms plan. The district’s
1196 plan must be within the general parameters established in the
1197 Florida digital classrooms plan pursuant to s. 1001.20. In
1198 addition, if the district participates in federal technology
1199 initiatives and grant programs, the district digital classrooms
1200 plan must include a plan for meeting requirements of such
1201 initiatives and grant programs. Funds allocated under this
1202 subsection must be used to support implementation of district
1203 digital classrooms plans. By October 1, 2014, and by March 1 of
1204 each year thereafter, on a date determined by the department,
1205 each district school board shall submit to the department, in a
1206 format prescribed by the department, a digital classrooms plan.
1207 At a minimum, such plan must include, and be annually updated to
1208 reflect, the following:
1209 1. Measurable student performance outcomes. Outcomes
1210 related to student performance, including outcomes for students
1211 with disabilities, must be tied to the efforts and strategies to
1212 improve outcomes related to student performance by integrating
1213 technology in classroom teaching and learning. Results of the
1214 outcomes shall be reported at least annually for the current
1215 school year and subsequent 3 years and be accompanied by an
1216 independent evaluation and validation of the reported results.
1217 2. Digital learning and technology infrastructure purchases
1218 and operational activities. Such purchases and activities must
1219 be tied to the measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1.,
1220 including, but not limited to, connectivity, broadband access,
1221 wireless capacity, Internet speed, and data security, all of
1222 which must meet or exceed minimum requirements and protocols
1223 established by the department. For each year that the district
1224 uses funds for infrastructure, a third-party, independent
1225 evaluation of the district’s technology inventory and
1226 infrastructure needs must accompany the district’s plan.
1227 3. Professional development purchases and operational
1228 activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
1229 measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
1230 limited to, using technology in the classroom and improving
1231 digital literacy and competency.
1232 4. Digital tool purchases and operational activities. Such
1233 purchases and activities must be tied to the measurable outcomes
1234 under subparagraph 1., including, but not limited to,
1235 competency-based credentials that measure and demonstrate
1236 digital competency and certifications; third-party assessments
1237 that demonstrate acquired knowledge and use of digital
1238 applications; and devices that meet or exceed minimum
1239 requirements and protocols established by the department.
1240 5. Online assessment-related purchases and operational
1241 activities. Such purchases and activities must be tied to the
1242 measurable outcomes under subparagraph 1., including, but not
1243 limited to, expanding the capacity to administer assessments and
1244 compatibility with minimum assessment protocols and requirements
1245 established by the department.
1246 (c) The Legislature shall annually provide in the General
1247 Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding for the
1248 Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year
1249 the FEFP allocation for implementation of the Florida digital
1250 classrooms plan to be calculated in an amount up to 1 percent of
1251 the base student allocation multiplied by the total K-12 full
1252 time equivalent student enrollment included in the FEFP
1253 calculations for the legislative appropriation or as provided in
1254 the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding
1255 for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018
1256 fiscal year. Each school district shall be provided a minimum of
1257 $250,000, with the remaining balance of the allocation to be
1258 distributed based on each district’s proportion of the total K
1259 12 full-time equivalent student enrollment. Distribution of
1260 funds for the Florida digital classrooms allocation shall begin
1261 following submittal of each district’s digital classrooms plan,
1262 which must include formal verification of the superintendent’s
1263 approval of the digital classrooms plan of each charter school
1264 in the district, and approval of the plan by the department.
1265 Prior to the distribution of the Florida digital classrooms
1266 allocation funds, each district school superintendent shall
1267 certify to the Commissioner of Education that the district
1268 school board has approved a comprehensive district digital
1269 classrooms plan that supports the fidelity of implementation of
1270 the Florida digital classrooms allocation. District allocations
1271 shall be recalculated during the fiscal year consistent with the
1272 periodic recalculation of the FEFP. School districts shall
1273 provide a proportionate share of the digital classrooms
1274 allocation to each charter school in the district, as required
1275 for categorical programs in s. 1002.33(17)(b). A school district
1276 may use a competitive process to distribute funds for the
1277 Florida digital classrooms allocation to the schools within the
1278 school district.
1279 (d) To facilitate the implementation of the district
1280 digital classrooms plans and charter school digital classrooms
1281 plans, the commissioner shall support statewide, coordinated
1282 partnerships and efforts of this state’s education practitioners
1283 in the field, including, but not limited to, superintendents,
1284 principals, and teachers, to identify and share best practices,
1285 corrective actions, and other identified needs.
1286 (e) Beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year and each year
1287 thereafter, each district school board shall report to the
1288 department its use of funds provided through the Florida digital
1289 classrooms allocation and student performance outcomes in
1290 accordance with the district’s digital classrooms plan. The
1291 department may contract with an independent third-party entity
1292 to conduct an annual independent verification of the district’s
1293 use of Florida digital classrooms allocation funds in accordance
1294 with the district’s digital classrooms plan. In the event an
1295 independent third-party verification is not conducted, the
1296 Auditor General shall, during scheduled operational audits of
1297 the school districts, verify compliance of the use of Florida
1298 digital classrooms allocation funds in accordance with the
1299 district’s digital classrooms plan. No later than October 1 of
1300 each year, beginning in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, the
1301 commissioner shall provide to the Governor, the President of the
1302 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a
1303 summary of each district’s use of funds, student performance
1304 outcomes, and progress toward meeting statutory requirements and
1305 timelines.
1306 (f) Each school district shall provide teachers,
1307 administrators, students, and parents with access to:
1308 1. Instructional materials in digital or electronic format,
1309 as defined in s. 1006.29.
1310 2. Digital materials, including those digital materials
1311 that enable students to earn certificates and industry
1312 certifications pursuant to ss. 1003.4203 and 1008.44.
1313 3. Teaching and learning tools and resources, including the
1314 ability for teachers and administrators to manage, assess, and
1315 monitor student performance data.
1316 (13) FEDERALLY CONNECTED STUDENT SUPPLEMENT.—The federally
1317 connected student supplement is created to provide supplemental
1318 funding for school districts to support the education of
1319 students connected with federally owned military installations,
1320 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) real
1321 property, and Indian lands. To be eligible for this supplement,
1322 the district must be eligible for federal Impact Aid Program
1323 funds under s. 8003 of Title VIII of the Elementary and
1324 Secondary Education Act of 1965. The supplement shall be
1325 allocated annually to each eligible school district in the
1326 amount provided in the General Appropriations Act or in any law
1327 providing funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for
1328 the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The supplement shall be the sum of
1329 the student allocation and an exempt property allocation.
1330 (a) The student allocation shall be calculated based on the
1331 number of students reported for federal Impact Aid Program
1332 funds, including students with disabilities, who meet one of the
1333 following criteria:
1334 1. The student has a parent who is on active duty in the
1335 uniformed services or is an accredited foreign government
1336 official and military officer. Students with disabilities shall
1337 also be reported separately for this category.
1338 2. The student resides on eligible federally owned Indian
1339 land. Students with disabilities shall also be reported
1340 separately for this category.
1341 3. The student resides with a civilian parent who lives or
1342 works on eligible federal property connected with a military
1343 installation or NASA. The number of these students shall be
1344 multiplied by a factor of 0.5.
1345 (b) The total number of federally connected students
1346 calculated under paragraph (a) shall be multiplied by a
1347 percentage of the base student allocation as provided in the
1348 General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding for
1349 the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal
1350 year. The total of the number of students with disabilities as
1351 reported separately under subparagraphs (a)1. and 2. shall be
1352 multiplied by an additional percentage of the base student
1353 allocation as provided in the General Appropriations Act or in
1354 any law providing funding for the Florida Education Finance
1355 Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The base amount and the
1356 amount for students with disabilities shall be summed to provide
1357 the student allocation.
1358 (c) The exempt property allocation shall be equal to the
1359 tax-exempt value of federal impact aid lands reserved as
1360 military installations, real property owned by NASA, or eligible
1361 federally owned Indian lands located in the district, as of
1362 January 1 of the previous year, multiplied by the millage
1363 authorized and levied under s. 1011.71(2).
1364 (14) QUALITY ASSURANCE GUARANTEE.—The Legislature may
1365 annually in the General Appropriations Act or in any law
1366 providing funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for
1367 the 2017-2018 fiscal year determine a percentage increase in
1368 funds per K-12 unweighted FTE as a minimum guarantee to each
1369 school district. The guarantee shall be calculated from prior
1370 year base funding per unweighted FTE student which shall include
1371 the adjusted FTE dollars as provided in subsection (15), quality
1372 guarantee funds, and actual nonvoted discretionary local effort
1373 from taxes. From the base funding per unweighted FTE, the
1374 increase shall be calculated for the current year. The current
1375 year funds from which the guarantee shall be determined shall
1376 include the adjusted FTE dollars as provided in subsection (15)
1377 and potential nonvoted discretionary local effort from taxes. A
1378 comparison of current year funds per unweighted FTE to prior
1379 year funds per unweighted FTE shall be computed. For those
1380 school districts which have less than the legislatively assigned
1381 percentage increase, funds shall be provided to guarantee the
1382 assigned percentage increase in funds per unweighted FTE
1383 student. Should appropriated funds be less than the sum of this
1384 calculated amount for all districts, the commissioner shall
1385 prorate each district’s allocation. This provision shall be
1386 implemented to the extent specifically funded.
1387 (15) TOTAL ALLOCATION OF STATE FUNDS TO EACH DISTRICT FOR
1388 CURRENT OPERATION.—The total annual state allocation to each
1389 district for current operation for the FEFP shall be distributed
1390 periodically in the manner prescribed in the General
1391 Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding for the
1392 Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
1393 (a) If the funds appropriated for current operation of the
1394 FEFP are not sufficient to pay the state requirement in full,
1395 the department shall prorate the available state funds to each
1396 district in the following manner:
1397 1. Determine the percentage of proration by dividing the
1398 sum of the total amount for current operation, as provided in
1399 this paragraph for all districts collectively, and the total
1400 district required local effort into the sum of the state funds
1401 available for current operation and the total district required
1402 local effort.
1403 2. Multiply the percentage so determined by the sum of the
1404 total amount for current operation as provided in this paragraph
1405 and the required local effort for each individual district.
1406 3. From the product of such multiplication, subtract the
1407 required local effort of each district; and the remainder shall
1408 be the amount of state funds allocated to the district for
1409 current operation. However, no calculation subsequent to the
1410 appropriation shall result in negative state funds for any
1411 district.
1412 (b) The amount thus obtained shall be the net annual
1413 allocation to each school district. However, if it is determined
1414 that any school district received an underallocation or
1415 overallocation for any prior year because of an arithmetical
1416 error, assessment roll change required by final judicial
1417 decision, full-time equivalent student membership error, or any
1418 allocation error revealed in an audit report, the allocation to
1419 that district shall be appropriately adjusted. Beginning with
1420 the 2011-2012 fiscal year, if a special program cost factor is
1421 less than the basic program cost factor, an audit adjustment may
1422 not result in the reclassification of the special program FTE to
1423 the basic program FTE. If the Department of Education audit
1424 adjustment recommendation is based upon controverted findings of
1425 fact, the Commissioner of Education is authorized to establish
1426 the amount of the adjustment based on the best interests of the
1427 state.
1428 (c) The amount thus obtained shall represent the net annual
1429 state allocation to each district; however, notwithstanding any
1430 of the provisions herein, each district shall be guaranteed a
1431 minimum level of funding in the amount and manner prescribed in
1432 the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding
1433 for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018
1434 fiscal year.
1435 (16) COMPUTATION OF PRIOR YEAR DISTRICT REQUIRED LOCAL
1436 EFFORT.—Calculations required in this section shall be based on
1437 95 percent of the taxable value for school purposes for fiscal
1438 years prior to the 2010-2011 fiscal year.
1439 Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
1440 section 1011.67, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1441 1011.67 Funds for instructional materials.—
1442 (1) The department is authorized to allocate and distribute
1443 to each district an amount as prescribed annually by the
1444 Legislature for instructional materials for student membership
1445 in basic and special programs in grades K-12, which will provide
1446 for growth and maintenance needs. For purposes of this
1447 subsection, unweighted full-time equivalent students enrolled in
1448 the lab schools in state universities are to be included as
1449 school district students and reported as such to the department.
1450 The annual allocation shall be determined as follows:
1451 (a) The growth allocation for each school district shall be
1452 calculated as follows:
1453 1. Subtract from that district’s projected full-time
1454 equivalent membership of students in basic and special programs
1455 in grades K-12 used in determining the initial allocation of the
1456 Florida Education Finance Program, the prior year’s full-time
1457 equivalent membership of students in basic and special programs
1458 in grades K-12 for that district.
1459 2. Multiply any such increase in full-time equivalent
1460 student membership by the allocation for a set of instructional
1461 materials, as determined by the department, or as provided for
1462 in the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing
1463 funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017
1464 2018 fiscal year.
1465 3. The amount thus determined shall be that district’s
1466 initial allocation for growth for the school year. However, the
1467 department shall recompute and adjust the initial allocation
1468 based on actual full-time equivalent student membership data for
1469 that year.
1470 (b) The maintenance of the instructional materials
1471 allocation for each school district shall be calculated by
1472 multiplying each district’s prior year full-time equivalent
1473 membership of students in basic and special programs in grades
1474 K-12 by the allocation for maintenance of a set of instructional
1475 materials as provided for in the General Appropriations Act or
1476 in any law providing funding for the Florida Education Finance
1477 Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The amount thus
1478 determined shall be that district’s initial allocation for
1479 maintenance for the school year; however, the department shall
1480 recompute and adjust the initial allocation based on such actual
1481 full-time equivalent student membership data for that year.
1482 Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 1011.685, Florida
1483 Statutes, is amended to read:
1484 1011.685 Class size reduction; operating categorical fund.—
1485 (1) There is created an operating categorical fund for
1486 implementing the class size reduction provisions of s. 1, Art.
1487 IX of the State Constitution. These funds shall be allocated to
1488 each school district in the amount prescribed by the Legislature
1489 in the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing
1490 funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017
1491 2018 fiscal year.
1492 Section 5. Subsections (1), (3), and (9) of section
1493 1011.71, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1494 1011.71 District school tax.—
1495 (1) If the district school tax is not provided in the
1496 General Appropriations Act or the substantive bill implementing
1497 the General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding
1498 for the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018
1499 fiscal year, each district school board desiring to participate
1500 in the state allocation of funds for current operation as
1501 prescribed by s. 1011.62(15) shall levy on the taxable value for
1502 school purposes of the district, exclusive of millage voted
1503 under s. 9(b) or s. 12, Art. VII of the State Constitution, a
1504 millage rate not to exceed the amount certified by the
1505 commissioner as the minimum millage rate necessary to provide
1506 the district required local effort for the current year,
1507 pursuant to s. 1011.62(4)(a)1. In addition to the required local
1508 effort millage levy, each district school board may levy a
1509 nonvoted current operating discretionary millage. The
1510 Legislature shall prescribe annually in the appropriations act
1511 the maximum amount of millage a district may levy.
1512 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), if the revenue from 1.5
1513 mills is insufficient to meet the payments due under a lease
1514 purchase agreement entered into before June 30, 2009, by a
1515 district school board pursuant to paragraph (2)(e), or to meet
1516 other critical district fixed capital outlay needs, the board,
1517 in addition to the 1.5 mills, may levy up to 0.25 mills for
1518 fixed capital outlay in lieu of levying an equivalent amount of
1519 the discretionary mills for operations as provided in the
1520 General Appropriations Act or in any law providing funding for
1521 the Florida Education Finance Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal
1522 year. Millage levied pursuant to this subsection is subject to
1523 the provisions of s. 200.065 and, combined with the 1.5 mills
1524 authorized in subsection (2), may not exceed 1.75 mills. If the
1525 district chooses to use up to 0.25 mills for fixed capital
1526 outlay, the compression adjustment pursuant to s. 1011.62(5)
1527 shall be calculated for the standard discretionary millage that
1528 is not eligible for transfer to capital outlay.
1529 (9) In addition to the maximum millage levied under this
1530 section and the General Appropriations Act or in any law
1531 providing funding for the Florida Education Finance Program for
1532 the 2017-2018 fiscal year, a school district may levy, by local
1533 referendum or in a general election, additional millage for
1534 school operational purposes up to an amount that, when combined
1535 with nonvoted millage levied under this section, does not exceed
1536 the 10-mill limit established in s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State
1537 Constitution. Any such levy shall be for a maximum of 4 years
1538 and shall be counted as part of the 10-mill limit established in
1539 s. 9(b), Art. VII of the State Constitution. Millage elections
1540 conducted under the authority granted pursuant to this section
1541 are subject to s. 1011.73. Funds generated by such additional
1542 millage do not become a part of the calculation of the Florida
1543 Education Finance Program total potential funds in 2001-2002 or
1544 any subsequent year and must not be incorporated in the
1545 calculation of any hold-harmless or other component of the
1546 Florida Education Finance Program formula in any year. If an
1547 increase in required local effort, when added to existing
1548 millage levied under the 10-mill limit, would result in a
1549 combined millage in excess of the 10-mill limit, any millage
1550 levied pursuant to this subsection shall be considered to be
1551 required local effort to the extent that the district millage
1552 would otherwise exceed the 10-mill limit.
1553 Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 1012.71, Florida
1554 Statutes, is amended to read:
1555 1012.71 The Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance
1556 Program.—
1557 (2) The Legislature, in the General Appropriations Act or
1558 in any law providing funding for the Florida Education Finance
1559 Program for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, shall determine funding
1560 for the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program.
1561 The funds appropriated are for classroom teachers to purchase,
1562 on behalf of the school district or charter school, classroom
1563 materials and supplies for the public school students assigned
1564 to them and may not be used to purchase equipment. The funds
1565 appropriated shall be used to supplement the materials and
1566 supplies otherwise available to classroom teachers. From the
1567 funds appropriated for the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply
1568 Assistance Program, the Commissioner of Education shall
1569 calculate an amount for each school district based upon each
1570 school district’s proportionate share of the state’s total
1571 unweighted FTE student enrollment and shall disburse the funds
1572 to the school districts by July 15.
1573 Section 7. If any law amended by this act was also amended
1574 by a law enacted during the 2017 Regular Session of the
1575 Legislature, such laws shall be construed as if enacted during
1576 the same session of the Legislature, and full effect shall be
1577 given to each if possible.
1578 Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017; or, if
1579 this act fails to become a law until after that date, it shall
1580 take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate retroactively
1581 to July 1, 2017.
