FL S0766

Creates the Schools of Innovation Program within the Department of Education effective July 1, 2022, allowing public schools to operate with greater flexibility in instructional delivery and strategies to improve student achievement.

Authorizes the State Board of Education to waive State Board rules relating to student progression and credit awards for designated schools of innovation.

Requires school districts participating in the Competency-Based Education Pilot Program to transition to the Schools of Innovation Program before the 2023-2024 school year.

Schools of innovation must maintain their designation for a 5-year period upon approval of an innovation plan, with the department able to revoke designation if performance indicators or implementation milestones are not met.

Allows schools of innovation to award credit based on student mastery of content instead of instructional hours, use alternative letter grade definitions while calculating grade point averages on a 4-point scale, and protects transferring students from being penalized for prior attendance.