This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0277z1.DOCX
DATE: 5/12/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 277 Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program
SPONSOR(S): Clemons
TIED BILLS: None IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 638
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 112 Y’s
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Approved
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
HB 277 passed the House on March 4, 2022, as SB 638.
In 2017, the Florida Legislature established the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program to
assist selected school districts in implementing a comprehensive music education program for students in
kindergarten through grade 2. The program began in the 2017-2018 school year and was initially set to expire
on June 30, 2020, before being extended to June 30, 2022. In Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and 2021-2022,
$400,000 in recurring funds were appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to implement the pilot
program. Three school districts are currently participating in the program: Alachua, Marion, and Miami-Dade.
The bill extends the scheduled expiration of the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program from
June 30, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
The bill has no fiscal impact. See fiscal comments, infra.
The bill was approved by the Governor on May 6, 2022, ch. 2022-94, L.O.F., and became effective on that
date.
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I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
Present Situation
Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program
The Florida Legislature established the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program in
2017 to assist selected school districts in implementing a comprehensive music education program for
students in kindergarten through grade 2. The program began in the 2017-2018 school year and was
authorized for a period of three years, initially set to expire in June 30, 2020.
1
In 2020, the Legislature updated the guidelines and extended the expiration for the Early Childhood
Music Education Incentive Pilot Program to June 30, 2022. The updated guidelines created flexibility for
school districts seeking to participate in the program by allowing specified elementary schools in the
district, rather than all elementary schools, to implement a comprehensive music education program.
2
For a school district to be eligible to participate in the pilot program, the district superintendent must
certify to the Commissioner of Education that specified elementary schools within the district have
established a comprehensive music education program that:
3
includes all students at the school enrolled in kindergarten through grade 2;
is staffed by certified music educators;
provides music instruction for at least 30 consecutive minutes two days a week;
complies with the class size requirements under the law;
4
and
complies with the Department of Education’s standards for early childhood music education
programs for students in kindergarten through grade 2.
The commissioner must select school districts for participation in the pilot program, subject to
legislative appropriation, based on the school district’s proximity to the University of Florida and needs-
based criteria established by the State Board of Education (SBE). Selected school districts must
annually receive $150 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student in kindergarten through grade 2 who is
enrolled in a comprehensive music education program.
5
The University of Florida’s College of Education must collaborate with Florida International University’s
School of Music to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program. Upon completion, the results of the
evaluation must be shared with the Florida Center for Partnerships for Arts-Integrated Teaching.
6
The
SBE is authorized to adopt rules to administer the pilot program.
7
The Legislature appropriated $400,000 in recurring funds for the pilot program, beginning in the 2020-
2021 fiscal year.
8
Implementation
1
Section 69, ch. 2017-116, L.O.F.
2
Section 1, ch. 2020-72, L.O.F.
3
Section 1003.481(2)(a)-(e), F.S.
4
Section 1003.03(1)(a), F.S. The maximum number of students assigned to each teacher who is teaching core-curriculum courses in
public school classrooms for prekindergarten through grade 3 may not exceed 18 students.
5
Section 1003.481(3)(a), F.S.
6
Section 1003.481(4), F.S.
7
Section 1003.481(5), F.S.
8
Specific Appropriation 114, s.2, ch. 2020-111, L.O.F.; and Specific Appropriation 110, s. 2, ch. 2021-36, L.O.F.
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Currently, ten schools have been selected to participate in the program from three different counties:
9
Alachua County: Joseph Williams Elementary School, Irby Elementary School, Lake Forest
Elementary School, and Metcalfe Elementary School.
Marion County: Fort McCoy School, Ocala Springs Elementary School, and Reddick-Collier
Elementary School.
Miami-Dade County: Fulford Elementary School, Whispering Pines Elementary School, and
Comstock Elementary School.
Between the three districts, six of the schools serve primarily economically disadvantaged students.
One certified music teacher is assigned to each school. There are between 85 and 345 participating
students at each elementary school, with a total of 2,085 students participating across all three districts
as of October 2021.
10
Assessment
In order to assess the effectiveness of the program, all schools are providing nine-week grade reports,
attendance records, and disciplinary reports for students. Furthermore, the districts will provide
standardized test score information to access changes in proficiency in both reading and math.
11
Additionally, five types of surveys, conducted at least once per year, will be given virtually through
Qualtrics software to further assess the program. Each survey is targeted towards a different
stakeholder, with district administrators, principals, classroom teachers, and certified music instructors
each having their own annual surveys. Aside from the Classroom Observation Survey, all surveys are
designed to be completed in approximately 15 minutes.
12
Funding
The Legislature appropriated $400,000 for the pilot program in each of the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022
fiscal years.
13
For the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the unexpended amount of $375,040 reverted to the state
and was re-appropriated and distributed to participating school districts for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
14
Of the total appropriated funds, the Department of Education has authorized $411,589 to participating
school districts.
15
As of October 2021, the following distributions have been made:
16
School District Amount Allocated Amount Remaining
Alachua County $110,250 $110,250
Marion County $105,000 $78,750
Miami-Dade County $97,500 $73,125
The Department of Education has also authorized $138,811 to the University of Florida/Florida
International University to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program.
17
9
Email, Jessica A. Fowler, Deputy Legislative Affairs Director, Florida Department of Education, RE: Data Request on HB 277,
Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program (Dec. 14, 2021).
10
Id.
11
Id.
12
Id.
13
Specific Appropriation 114, s.2, ch. 2020-111, L.O.F. and Specific Appropriation 110, s. 2, ch. 2021-36, L.O.F.
14
Transparency Florida, 2021-22 Back of the Bill- Reversions/Reappropriations,
http://www.transparencyflorida.gov/Info/OtherTrans.aspx?FY=22&EogTransDate=07%2f21%2f2021&BE=48250400&AC=104052
&Fund=1000&FundType=&EogCode=0005&LI=+110&OB=Y&SC=F (last visited February 10, 2022).
15
Email, Keenen Vernon, Legislative Assistant, Office of Senator Keith Perry, Early Childhood Music Pilot Program (Nov. 23, 2021).
16
Email, Jessica A. Fowler, Deputy Legislative Affairs Director, Florida Department of Education, RE: Data Request on HB 277,
Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program (Dec. 14, 2021).
17
Email, Jessica A. Fowler, Deputy Legislative Affairs Director, Florida Department of Education, RE: SB 638 Early Childhood
Music Pilot Program (Nov. 23, 2021).
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Reporting
To assess the implementation of the program, quarterly reports from the Florida Department of
Education are due throughout the duration of the program, the first of which was due November 15,
2021. The final quarterly report is due June 15, 2022, and must be provided to the Florida Center for
Partnerships for Arts-Integrated Teaching and the Florida International University’s School of Music on
June 30, 2022, for the purposes of evaluating the impact of the program.
18
Florida Center for Partnership for Arts-Integrated Teaching
The Florida Center for Partnership for Arts-Integrated Teaching, located at the University of South
Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus, serves as a statewide resource in arts-integrated teaching.
19
The
center builds statewide partnerships, conducts research on policies and practices related to arts-
integrated teaching, and collaborates with arts organizations and Florida school districts in developing
arts-integrated curriculum.
20
The center may provide technical assistance and support, upon request, to
public and private schools with the implementation of evidence-based, arts-integrated instruction,
assessments, programs, and professional development.
21
Effect of the Bill
The bill extends the scheduled expiration of the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot
Program from June 30, 2022, to June 30, 2023.
Subject to the Governor’s veto powers, the effective date of this bill is upcoming becoming law.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
18
Id.
19
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, Center for Partnerships for Arts-Integrated Teaching-Mission,
http://www.usfsm.edu/academics/center-for-paint/ (last visited January 31, 2022).
20
Section 1004.344, F.S.
21
Section 1004.344(2)(c), F.S.
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None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
The Fiscal Year 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act appropriated $400,000 in recurring funds from
the General Revenue Fund for the Early Childhood Music Education Incentive Pilot Program. Since the
$400,000 is recurring funds, there is no fiscal impact for extending the repeal date of this pilot program.