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FL S0202
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/10/2023
Primary Sponsor
Appropriations
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AI Summary
- Expands the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs to all Florida K-12 students regardless of household income, while establishing priority for students at or below 185% of the federal poverty level and then those at or below 400% of the federal poverty level
- Broadens authorized uses of scholarship funds beyond private school tuition to include instructional materials, curriculum, postsecondary institution enrollment, tutoring services, standardized testing fees, and contracted services from public schools, with account balance caps of $24,000 or $50,000 depending on the scholarship type
- Creates a new "personalized education program" option allowing parents to direct their child's education outside traditional school settings while registered with a nonprofit scholarship-funding organization, with requirements including annual student learning plans and norm-referenced testing
- Eliminates the online course requirement for a standard high school diploma, extends temporary teacher certificate validity to 5 years, waives general knowledge exam requirements for teachers rated effective or highly effective for 3 consecutive years, and requires the State Board of Education to recommend regulatory reductions by November 1, 2023
- Requires the Commissioner of Education to develop an online portal helping parents choose educational options, authorizes public and charter schools to enroll scholarship students part-time, and exempts unfinished construction projects started before July 1, 2026, from cost-per-student-station limits
Legislative Description
Education
Last Action
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/CS/CS/HB 1 (Ch. 2023-16), HB 5101 (Ch. 2023-245)
3/22/2023
Committee Referrals
Appropriations3/10/2023
Appropriations Subcommittee on Education2/21/2023
Full Bill Text
No bill text available