FL H1255

Repeals the Florida School for Competitive Academics (s. 1002.351, F.S.) and removes all references to it from audit requirements, classification/pay plans, public employer definitions, scholarship prohibitions, and the Early Learning-20 education system.

Strengthens charter school facility protections by prohibiting local governing authorities from imposing building requirements, site-development restrictions, or operational requirements (such as parking, enrollment caps, and hours of operation) that are more stringent than state requirements or not uniformly applied to other public schools, and bars local governments from requiring charter schools to obtain special exemptions or conditional use approvals.

Revises background screening standards for private school scholarship program participants by aligning screening requirements to s. 1012.315 instead of s. 435.04, extending ineligibility provisions (including disqualifying offenses related to fraud, forgery, and domestic violence) to owners and operators of participating private schools, and requiring rescreening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse.

Adds the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as an accepted standardized test alongside the SAT and ACT for preeminent state research university admissions standards (score of 83+ on 120-point scale), requires public high schools to offer the CLT10 as an alternative to the PSAT/NMSQT or PreACT for 10th graders, and authorizes the Department of Education to join or establish a national consortium to develop advanced placement courses.

Requires parental consent before administration of corporal punishment in public schools, extends the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children repeal date from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2028, renames "critical teacher shortage areas" as "high-demand teacher needs areas," renames Hillsborough Community College as "Hillsborough College," and revises school readiness program eligibility from 150% of the federal poverty level to 55% of the state median income effective October 1, 2025.