Summary

HB 7009 (Open States or Florida Legislature) increases accountability and transparency for charter schools while offering charters flexibility and allowing them to grow. It establishes the District Innovation School of Technology Program. It also stipulates that full implementation of on-line assessments of state standards is contingent upon verifying the technology capacity of all public schools and districts.

Legislative Analysis

HB 7009 includes provisions to increase charter school accountability and transparency, including reporting requirements and the development of a statewide standard charter contract. It also expands charter school growth and flexibility through allowing high-performing charter schools to determine their own capacity and enrollment caps and allowing public schools of choice to calculate class size compliance based on the average number of students at the school level, for two examples. It also prohibits a student from being assigned to an ineffective teacher two years in a row, and prohibits employees and spouses of charter/management company to serve on the governing board.

This legislation also establishes the District Innovation School of Technology Program, wherein a district school board may operate an innovation school of technology for the purpose of developing the innovative use of industry-leading technology. High student academic achievement and accountability are required in exchange for flexibility and exemption from specified statutes and rules. A district innovation school of technology is a school with proven academic success that has, on a school wide basis, adopted and implemented a blended learning program (defined as either a flex, flipped or rotation model). Such schools must enter into a performance contract with the State Board of Education in exchange for specific statutory flexibilities. The bill defines blended learning as,

• A blended learning program is an education program in which a student learns in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, or pace and in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home. Blended learning models must include major components such as differentiated instruction, data-driven placement, flexible scheduling, differentiated teaching, and self-paced learning.

The law requires that full implementation of online assessments for Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in

English/language arts and mathematics is contingent upon an independently verified load test of the technology infrastructure, connectivity, and capacity of all public schools and school districts.

HB 7009 strengthens digital learning in Florida in several ways. The provisions relating to charter schools will impact virtual charter schools as well, and potentially allow them to grow. Ensuring that all schools and districts have the necessary technology resources to administer on-line assessments prior to their actual administration is vital to the success of these assessments. Finally, the District Innovation School of Technology Program presents a great opportunity for districts to try new models of blended learning and offer customized, cutting-edge programs to their students.

Legislative History

Detailed Vote History: Legiscan |  Open States

Approved by Governor Rick Scott on 6/28/2013