Bill Text: FL S1630 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: English Language Learners

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2017-05-05 - Died in Education [S1630 Detail]

Download: Florida-2017-S1630-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1630
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       37-00639A-17                                          20171630__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to English language learners; creating
    3         s. 1003.562, F.S.; creating the English Language
    4         Learner Advisory Council within the Department of
    5         Education; providing the purpose of the advisory
    6         council; specifying the composition of the advisory
    7         council and providing for appointment of members and
    8         the terms they serve; providing meeting requirements;
    9         requiring the advisory council to identify certain
   10         issues; requiring the advisory council to publish
   11         certain meeting and council information on a website;
   12         requiring the advisory council to submit an annual
   13         report to the Governor, the Legislature, the chairs of
   14         the State Board of Education and Board of Governors,
   15         and the Commissioner of Education; providing for staff
   16         and administrative support; providing an effective
   17         date.
   18          
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Section 1003.562, Florida Statutes, is created
   22  to read:
   23         1003.562English Language Learner Advisory Council.—
   24         (1)The English Language Learner Advisory Council, an
   25  advisory council as defined in s. 20.03, is created within the
   26  Department of Education to review English language learner (ELL)
   27  data and identify areas in which improvement is needed.
   28         (2)The advisory council is composed of the following
   29  members:
   30         (a)The Commissioner of Education, or his or her designee,
   31  who shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member and be the
   32  chair of the advisory council.
   33         (b)The director of the Office of Policy and Budget of the
   34  Executive Office of the Governor, or his or her designee, who
   35  shall serve ex officio as a nonvoting member.
   36         (c)The chair of the Florida Hispanic Legislative Caucus,
   37  or his or her designee.
   38         (d)The chair of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, or
   39  his or her designee.
   40         (e) One member of the English for Speakers of Other
   41  Languages (ESOL) Parent Leadership Council, appointed by the
   42  bureau chief of the Bureau of Student Achievement through
   43  Language Acquisition of the Department of Education.
   44         (f)Two members of the public, who shall be appointed by
   45  the Commissioner of Education as follows:
   46         1.One member who has professional or occupational
   47  expertise in university-level preparation of ESOL or bilingual
   48  education teachers and in second-language research; and
   49         2.One member who has professional or occupational
   50  expertise in college-level preparation of ESOL or bilingual
   51  education teachers.
   52         (g)Twelve members who have professional or occupational
   53  expertise in, or who are generally knowledgeable about, issues
   54  that relate to programs and services for ELLs and who are the
   55  chairs of each of the following organizations, or their
   56  designees:
   57         1.Sunshine State TESOL of Florida.
   58         2.The Florida Association of Bilingual/ESOL Supervisors,
   59  Inc.
   60         3.League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
   61  Florida.
   62         4.The National Association for the Advancement of Colored
   63  People Florida State Conference.
   64         5.The Florida Parent Teacher Association.
   65         6.The ESOL parent leadership council in the same district
   66  as the member nominated by the Florida PTA.
   67         7.The Florida League of Cities.
   68         8.The Florida Foreign Language Association.
   69         9.The Florida Educational Research Association.
   70         10.The Florida School Boards Association.
   71         11. The Florida Education Association.
   72         12. The Florida Association of District School
   73  Superintendents.
   74         (3)(a)Members of the advisory council shall serve 4-year
   75  terms, except that initially, to provide for staggered terms,
   76  the chair of the advisory council shall appoint seven members to
   77  serve 2-year terms.
   78         (b)A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the
   79  original appointment. A vacancy occurring on the advisory
   80  council before the expiration of a term shall be filled for the
   81  remainder of the unexpired term. A member of the advisory
   82  council may be reappointed.
   83         (4)Each member of the advisory council shall serve without
   84  compensation but may be reimbursed for per diem and travel
   85  expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.
   86         (5)The advisory council shall hold its first meeting no
   87  later than October 1, 2017, and meet at least once per quarter
   88  each calendar year thereafter. Meetings may be held via
   89  teleconference or other electronic means; however, the advisory
   90  council must meet in person during its first meeting of each
   91  year.
   92         (6)The advisory council must identify the three most
   93  pressing ELL issues, selected by the advisory council members at
   94  their first quarterly meeting each year, related to the
   95  following topics:
   96         (a)Reform initiatives that address statewide ELL
   97  accountability policies, including research-based assessment
   98  accommodations and ESOL program entry and exit criteria
   99  appropriate for ELLs.
  100         (b)Proposed changes to state law, including, but not
  101  limited to, State Board of Education rules; the state plan
  102  adopted under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act; and
  103  agreements with the Federal Government which would remove
  104  barriers to or enhance the implementation of education programs
  105  offered to ELLs.
  106         (c)Proposed changes to teacher preparation and credential
  107  standards, professional development and inservice education,
  108  ESOL program models, and instructional materials and strategies.
  109         (d)The best methods for increasing parental engagement in
  110  ELL programs.
  111         (e)Proposed funding allocations for ELL programs.
  112         (f)Proposed changes needed in resources allocated to the
  113  State University System and the Florida College System to
  114  achieve improved outcomes for ELLs in middle and secondary
  115  schools, to increase the state’s ELL graduation rate, and expand
  116  the capabilities of ESOL or bilingual programs in
  117  prekindergarten through grade 12.
  118         (g)Other matters identified by advisory council members.
  119         (7) The advisory council shall publish meeting notices,
  120  agendas, resource materials, and reports on a website and shall
  121  allow the public to attend meetings virtually or in person.
  122         (8) By February 1 of each year, the advisory council shall
  123  submit a written report to the Governor, the President of the
  124  Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the chair
  125  of the State Board of Education, the chair of the Board of
  126  Governors, and the Commissioner of Education containing the
  127  advisory council’s recommendations on the issues identified in
  128  subsection (6).
  129         (9)The Department of Education shall provide staff and
  130  administrative support for the advisory council.
  131         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.

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