Substitute Bill No. 363 - Summary

• Expands public school curriculum requirements to include recycling and renewable energy instruction, and adds Asian American and Pacific Islander studies and civics/media literacy to required social studies topics, effective July 1, 2024 and 2025.

• Requires new school nurses and nurse practitioners to complete training on individualized education programs within 30 days and school health services orientation within six months of appointment.

• Changes school financial reporting deadline from December 31 to January 31 annually, with Department of Education publishing data by March 15 instead of February 15.

• Mandates Commissioner of Education allocate funds to the State Education Resource Center for professional development and technical assistance, changing discretionary language to mandatory.

• Requires school playgrounds designed on or after July 1, 2025 to follow universal design principles including multi-sensory play spaces, varying ability levels, and natural materials for accessibility.

• Makes edTPA preservice performance assessment exclusively an accountability tool for teacher preparation programs, prohibiting its use to deny educator certificates or program completion.

• Restructures Reading Leadership Implementation Council with specific designees from state leadership and educational institutions meeting at least bimonthly.