CS for CS for SB 732 - K-12 Education Summary

• Expands Gardiner Scholarship Program eligibility to include rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 individuals in the U.S. (as defined by the Orphan Drug Act) and adds authorized uses including art/music/sports lessons and neurological training programs.

• Establishes Reading Scholarship Accounts providing up to $500 per eligible student in grades 3-5 who scored below Level 3 on prior year ELA assessments, with funds usable for instructional materials, tutoring, and summer/after-school programs.

• Clarifies that home education programs are not school district programs and prohibits districts from requiring additional information or verification unless students participate in school district services; authorizes districts to provide career/technical courses and assessment access to home education students.

• Creates Mastery-Based Education Pilot Program allowing participating school districts to award credit based on student mastery of content and skills rather than instructional hours, with alternative letter grade interpretations permitted.

• Removes grade point average requirement for initial dual enrollment enrollment for qualifying home education students and ensures fair access to mastery-based diploma programs through updated statewide articulation agreements.

• Appropriates $9.7 million in recurring funds for fiscal year 2018-2019 to fund reading scholarship accounts.