Check these pages regularly for Florida education legislation updates.
Some good resources for staying abreast of legislative issues in Florida are:
Professional Educators Network of Florida legislative update page:
http://www.penfl.org/2007sessionsummary.html
Florida Department of Education's Legislative Tracking page:
http://www.flboe.org/JustForTeachers/Legislation.asp?style=print
FL DOE Media Advisories:
http://www.fldoe.org/news/media_advisories.asp
FL BOE meeting schedule:
http://www.fldoe.org/meetings/
Online Sunshine Bill Search:
http://www.flsenate.gov
Enter desired search term in “Search Bill Text” box ; ie
education, homeschool, schools etc and then select House or Senate and “search”
to see upcoming bills
Some current legislation with additional resources can also be found below:
Pending Florida legislation:
Senate Bill 1440: Relating to Corporate Income Tax Credit
Scholarship Program [SPCC] - March 2008
http://tinyurl.com/2uju7n
Seeks to expand the program by doubling spending for vouchers over the
next five years to almost $250 million annually starting July 1, 2009 The Senate’s Education Pre-kindergarten-12th Grade Committee, chaired
by Gaetz, voted 4-2 to approve the bill (SB 1440). It must clear two
more committees before reaching the Senate floor. A similar House bill
(HB 653) also is going through the committee process. See Bill seeks to expand school voucher program in NW Daily News for more information.
S1440 GENERAL BILL
by Gaetz; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Lawson; King; Storms; Baker;
Crist; Posey;
Oelrich; Saunders; Fasano; Peaden; Siplin; Wise; Bennett;
Dockery;
Haridopolos; Alexander; Garcia (Compare
CS/H 0653, H 1325,
S 2822)
Corporate Income Tax
Credit Scholarship Program [SPCC]; Revises the
purposes of the
Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program.
Provides that a
sibling of a student who is continuing in the program
and resides in the
same household as the student shall also be eligible
for participation in
the program as long as the student's and sibling's
household income
level does not exceed 200 percent of the federal
poverty level,
etc. EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/30/2008.
Bright Futures Update - March 2008:
Home Education Foundation lobbyist Brenda Dickinson recently sent out an update regarding pending legislation addressing how homeschoolers qualify for Bright Futures. Her entire explanation can be found at LIFE of FL , but the gist of the changes are that private schools are specifically included in the new language, and the test score is no longer specified, but is tied to the relevant statute.
Current requirements can be found here:
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/fmsrequire.htm
And visit http://tinyurl.com/22xh5t to read HB 957 and
http://tinyurl.com/37z96c to read SB 2262
to read the proposed legislation. Both bills are identical, and this seems to be the text in question, regarding students eligible for Bright Futures:
(b) Has
attended a home education program according to s.1002.41 at least
during grades 11 and 12 and has attained a score of at least 100 points
higher than the score identified by rules of the State Board of
Education under paragraph (a) on the combined verbal and quantitative
parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test,
or the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance
Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program; or
has attended a home education program according to s. 1002.41 at least
during grades 11 and 12, has documented successful completion of a
college-preparatory curriculum as outlined in paragraph (a) through a
Florida public school, a private school registered with the Department
of Education, or dual enrollment pursuant to s. 1007.271, and has
attained at least the score identified by rules of the State Board of
Education under paragraph (a) on the combined verbal and quantitative
parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test,
or the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance
Examination, or an equivalent score on the ACT Assessment Program;
Essentially, the changes are saying homeschooled students *without* public ed credits from FLVS, or from part time or dual enrollment, can qualify for BF with "a score of at least 100 points higher than the score identified by rules of the State Board of Education under paragraph (a)..."
But those using FLVS, part time enrolled at a public school, or at an "approved" private school, or dual enrolled at a local college can qualify by having successfully documented "completion of a college-preparatory curriculum as outlined in paragraph (a) through a Florida public school, a private school registered with the Department of Education, or dual enrollment pursuant to s. 1007.271," and can then earn a BF with the same college entrance score as public school students ("at least the score identified by rules of the State Board of Education under paragraph (a)."
The bill will be voted on this summer.
Future of Bright Futures - September 2007
Recent news about the potentially shakey future of Bright Futures scholarships, a popular merit based program that can pay anything from 100% of community college tuition to 100% of university tuition, has prompted area families to inquire about its status. Information is difficult to come by, but LIFE of FL suggests you inform yourself about the latest arguments pro and con (see links below) and drop Governor Crist a line (http://www.flgov.com/contact_form )with your thoughts, if you feel Bright Futures is important to you, since he appears to be its most influential supporter:
http://checksnbalances.blogspot.com/2007/04/fl-college-tuition-increase.html
Additional articles/discussions:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/columnists/orl-miket1407aug14,0,4172612.column (read through the comments, too)
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/orlando-sentinel/TR9CHVID9MSJM3NPQ
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/07/24/Opinion/Bright_Futures_progra.shtml
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070820/BLOG29/70820040
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/09/State/Incentive_to_stay_in_.shtml
(old - 2004, but interesting)
http://tinyurl.com/2rbjzy - even older, a 2003 rallying cry to "save Bright Futures"
You can also visit the Board of Governors website for more information on anything related to the FL University system or additional contact information: http://www.flbog.org/ and http://www.flbog.org/BOG_regs/ to sign up for email updates regarding regulations changes.
Proposed College admissions changes - August 2007 (comment period ended)
The Florida Board of Governors has proposed a change in their policy that may have an effect on home education students' admission to state universities in Florida. Pursuant to 1002.41 (8), home education students are eligible for admission to state universities in accordance with the policies and guidelines of the Board of Governors. Notice of a proposed change to BOG Rule 6C-6.002, which relates to undergraduate admission of first-time, degree-seeking freshmen (including home education students), has been posted on the Florida Board of Governors website at http://www.flbog.org/BOG_regs .
Currently in Committee:
HB 799 - K-8 Virtual School Program
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=35668&
HB 799 The K-8 Virtual School Program is an educational choice program administered by the Department of Education (DOE). The program delivers academic instruction via on-line and distance learning technology to full-time students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools wishing to participate in the program may be nonprofit or for-profit entities and must be approved by the DOE. - died in committee, May 2007
************
HB 277 - K-12 Students
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=34599&
HB 277 - K-12 Students revises eligibility requirements for driving privileges; revises age of compulsory school attendance from 16 years to 18 years; requires school district comprehensive programs for student progression to include use of mentors & to encourage career education curriculum for certain students.
- died in committee, May 2007
************
HB 1507/SB 2862 - Tuition Rates at Community Colleges and State Universities
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=36648&
GENERAL BILL by Altman
Tuition Rates at Community Colleges and State Universities: Requires students to pay 75 percent more than in-state tuition rate for credit hours in excess of a specified number of credit hours required to complete degree program; excludes certain credit hours from calculation as hours required to earn degree; provides for notification of students by postsecondary institution.
- died in committee May 2007
*******************
HB 1371/SB 2598 - Governor's School for Science and Technology
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=36477&
GENERAL BILL by Altman
Governor's School for Science and Technology: Creates Governor's School for Science & Technology; provides for administration & operation of school by Florida Virtual School; provides that school is public school for selected grade 9-12 students; provides that school shall be exempt from certain statutes; creates advisory council; provides for funding through appropriations & private contributions & endowments; provides appropriation.
Effective Date: July 1, 2007. - died in committee, May 2007
*******************
PCS/HB 653 - Public K-12 Education
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=35251&
GENERAL BILL by Kravitz
Public K-12 Education: Revises requirements for district school boards relating to policies for opening & closing dates of schools.
Effective Date: July 1, 2007.
Last Event: Added to Schools & Learning Council agenda on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 1:53 PM - still active, May 2007
*********************
CS/HB 289 - Textbook Affordability
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=34614&
GENERAL BILL by Schools & Learning Council and Flores (CO-SPONSORS) Baxley; Brandenburg; Cusack; Galvano; Holder; Legg; Lopez-Cantera; Patronis; Precourt ; requires adoption of specified policies & practices to minimize cost of textbooks; requires study & report by OPPAGA.
Effective Date: July 1, 2007. - died "in messages", May 2007
*******************
Additional LIFE Information and Resources:
SB 660 - Human Papillomavirus (HPV)/Schools [SPCC]
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=34919&
GENERAL BILL by Fasano (CO-SPONSORS) King; Deutch
Requires public & private middle schools in state to provide to certain students & their parents or guardians information re HPV, its vaccine, & cervical cancer; prohibits certain students from admission into school without providing evidence of vaccination for HPV; requires DOE, in consultation with DOH, to prescribe content of information re connection between HPV & cervical cancer & availability of vaccine preventing HPV, etc. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2008
Last Event: 04/10/07 S CS by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 7 NAYS 0 on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 5:47 PM - died in committee, May 2007
**********************
SB 2904 / HB 1509
http://www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&Year=2007&billnum=2904
School Safety/Weapons prohibits possession of common
pocketknives on school property or other specified locations; provides exemption from criminal liability for possession of specified weapons for persons who voluntarily surrender weapon in certain circumstances; provides exemption from zero tolerance policy for possession of specified weapons for persons who voluntarily surrender weapon in certain circumstances, etc. Amends 790.115, 1006.13, 435.04, 921.0022.
died in committee, May 2007
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LIFE in Your State 
