CS/CS/CS/HB 287 - Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative

• Creates the Principal Autonomy Pilot Program allowing up to seven district school boards (Broward, Duval, Jefferson, Madison, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and Seminole Counties) to exchange statutory and rule exemptions for performance goals over a 3-year period.

• Participating schools must be identified low-performing schools with at least two grades of "D" or "F" in the prior 3 years, and must be led by highly effective principals who participate in a nationally recognized school turnaround program.

• Principals of participating schools gain increased autonomy in selecting instructional personnel, deploying financial resources, and fiscal/administrative decision-making while remaining exempt from most state education laws except those addressing civil rights, student safety, disabilities services, assessment programs, and school facilities.

• Participating schools receive a minimum guarantee of 90 percent (rather than 80 percent) of funds generated by that school, and principals rated highly effective can receive $10,000 annual salary supplements or school funds.

• The Department of Education receives $700,000 in nonrecurring funds and $210,000 in recurring funds for fiscal year 2016-2017 to implement the program, effective July 1, 2016.