Bill Text: FL S1016 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Digital Learning
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2021-04-30 - Died in Education [S1016 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S1016-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2021 SB 1016 By Senator Baxley 12-00797A-21 20211016__ 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to digital learning; amending s. 3 1002.321, F.S.; revising legislative findings to 4 include digital devices and home-based Internet 5 connectivity in infrastructure as necessary for a 6 high-quality digital learning environment; requiring 7 each school district to adopt a digital learning plan; 8 specifying the requirements for such plan; requiring 9 school districts to submit plans to the Department of 10 Education by a certain date in a format prescribed by 11 the department; requiring the department to develop 12 one or more state term contracts for a specified 13 purpose; amending ss. 1003.01 and 1003.499, F.S.; 14 conforming cross-references; providing an effective 15 date. 16 17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18 19 Section 1. Present subsections (3) through (6) of section 20 1002.321, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (4) 21 through (7), respectively, a new subsection (3) and subsection 22 (8) are added to that section, and paragraph (i) of subsection 23 (2) of that section is amended, to read: 24 1002.321 Digital learning.— 25 (2) ELEMENTS OF HIGH-QUALITY DIGITAL LEARNING.—The 26 Legislature finds that each student should have access to a 27 high-quality digital learning environment that provides: 28 (i) Infrastructure, including digital devices and home 29 based Internet connectivity, that supports digital learning. 30 (3) DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN.—Each school district shall adopt 31 a digital learning plan. 32 (a) The plan must include the following: 33 1. Identification of the number of low-income students 34 without access to a digital device that meets the specifications 35 of the district school board. 36 2. Identification of the number of low-income students 37 without high-speed broadband Internet connectivity at home. 38 3. Provision of laptops or tablets and Wi-Fi access points 39 or other Internet connectivity support to students identified in 40 subparagraphs 1. and 2. 41 4. A list of training for teachers and parents of students 42 who need digital literacy support. 43 (b) By October 1, 2021, and by March 1 of each year 44 thereafter, on a date determined by the department, each 45 district school board shall submit its plan to the department in 46 a format prescribed by the department. 47 (8) STATE CONTRACT.—The department shall develop one or 48 more state term contracts to be used by school districts in 49 acquiring digital devices. 50 Section 2. Subsection (14) of section 1003.01, Florida 51 Statutes, is amended to read: 52 1003.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term: 53 (14) “Core-curricula courses” means: 54 (a) Courses in language arts/reading, mathematics, social 55 studies, and science in prekindergarten through grade 3, 56 excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to subsection (15); 57 (b) Courses in grades 4 through 8 in subjects that are 58 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses 59 required for middle school promotion, excluding extracurricular 60 courses pursuant to subsection (15); 61 (c) Courses in grades 9 through 12 in subjects that are 62 measured by state assessment at any grade level and courses that 63 are specifically identified by name in statute as required for 64 high school graduation and that are not measured by state 65 assessment, excluding extracurricular courses pursuant to 66 subsection (15); 67 (d) Exceptional student education courses; and 68 (e) English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. 69 70 The term is limited in meaning and used for the sole purpose of 71 designating classes that are subject to the maximum class size 72 requirements established in s. 1, Art. IX of the State 73 Constitution. This term does not include courses offered under 74 ss. 1002.321(5)(e)ss.1002.321(4)(e), 1002.33(7)(a)2.b., 75 1002.37, 1002.45, and 1003.499. 76 Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 1003.499, Florida 77 Statutes, is amended to read: 78 1003.499 Florida Approved Courses and Tests (FACT) 79 Initiative.— 80 (2) FLORIDA APPROVED COURSES.—The Department of Education 81 shall annually publish online a list of providers approved to 82 offer Florida approved courses which shall be listed in the 83 online catalog pursuant to s. 1002.321(7)s. 1002.321(6). 84 (a) As used in this section, the term “Florida approved 85 courses” means online courses provided by individuals which 86 include, but are not limited to, massive open online courses or 87 remedial education associated with the courses that are measured 88 pursuant to s. 1008.22. Massive open online courses may be 89 authorized in the following subject areas: Algebra I, biology, 90 geometry, and civics. Courses may be applied toward requirements 91 for promotion or graduation in whole, in subparts, or in a 92 combination of whole and subparts. A student may not be required 93 to repeat subparts that are satisfactorily completed. 94 (b) A Florida approved course must be annually identified, 95 approved, published, and shared for consideration by interested 96 students and school districts. The Commissioner of Education 97 shall approve each Florida approved course for application in K 98 12 public schools in accordance with rules of the State Board of 99 Education. 100 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.