If enacted, HB 1117 will impact Florida education law by formally creating a mechanism for financial support targeting students who have faced interruptions in their learning due to unforeseen circumstances. Funding for the scholarships is contingent upon appropriated funds, and the program's administration will be overseen by eligible nonprofit scholarship-funding organizations, which must comply with regulations set by the Department of Education. This institutional framework may streamline assistance for at-risk students, thereby potentially improving educational outcomes post-emergency.
Summary
House Bill 1117, titled 'Education Recovery Scholarship Accounts', aims to establish scholarship accounts designed to mitigate learning loss for students affected by emergency school closures. The bill proposes that students attending public schools shuttered for a minimum of ten consecutive school days due to an emergency are eligible for these scholarship accounts if they meet certain academic criteria, including having scored below Level 3 on relevant standardized assessments or being identified as needing additional support. The funds from these accounts can be used for educational expenses such as instructional materials, tutoring services, and summer or after-school programs.
Contention
Discussion surrounding HB 1117 indicates potential contention regarding the eligibility criteria and the allocation of funds. Advocates for the bill argue that it addresses critical educational needs following disruptive events, ensuring students have access to necessary resources. Conversely, critics may raise concerns about the adequacy of funds, the processes involved in fund distribution, and whether such a scholarship system could detract from traditional public school funding. Additionally, the bill includes stipulations preventing the sharing of scholarship funds with parents or billing insurance or Medicaid for the same services, which may spark debates about the broader implications for service providers and low-income families.
Provides relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence (voucher) Program, including scholarship amounts, funding, and eligibility requirements for kindergarten students (OR NO IMPACT GF EX See Note)
Provides relative to student eligibility to participate in the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program. (gov sig) (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
Provides relative to student eligibility to participate in the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program. (gov sig) (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
Directs BESE to submit a report relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program to the legislature and the governor prior to the 2012 R.S.
Provides relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, parent petitions for certain schools to be transferred to the RSD, charter school authorizers, and course providers (EN INCREASE LF EX See Note)