FL H5101

Revises controlled open enrollment requirements, mandating school districts update capacity determinations every 12 weeks, maintain wait lists for students denied access due to capacity, accept students throughout the school year as space becomes available, and provide information on transportation options including scholarship-funded transportation under ss. 1002.394, 1002.395, and 1011.68.

Overhauls virtual instruction programs by requiring State Board of Education approval of virtual instruction program providers (rather than Department of Education approval), requiring each provider to receive a district-level grade based on aggregated student assessment scores statewide, establishing standard virtual charter contracts, and automatically terminating provider contracts after two consecutive school grades of "D" or "F."

Expands reading scholarship account eligibility from students in grades 3–5 to students in kindergarten through grade 5 who have a substantial reading deficiency, prohibits school districts from preventing instructional personnel from providing reading scholarship services on campus outside regular work hours, and requires the New Worlds Reading Initiative administrator to provide professional development and resources to teachers.

Eliminates the Florida digital classrooms allocation and the funding compression and hold harmless allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program, while allowing instructional materials funds available after March 1 to be used to purchase computers and device hardware for student instruction.

Requires the Department of Education to develop a grant program to improve student transportation access for controlled open enrollment, including rideshare programs, carpool strategies, and efficiency innovations, with an interim report due December 31, 2023, and a final report due December 31, 2024; increases the required expenditure percentage for juvenile justice programs from 90% to 95%.