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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Florida Virtual School; 2
amending s. 121.091, F.S.; authorizing the board of 3
trustees of the Florida Virtual School to reemploy 4
retirees for specified positions within the school; 5
providing requirements for the rehiring of such 6
persons; authorizing certain personnel employed by the 7
board of trustees of the Florida Virtual School to 8
participate in DROP for a specified period; creating 9
s. 1008.213, F.S.; defining the term "a student 10
residing outside of the state"; authorizing a student 11
residing outside of the state to request certain 12
flexibility in the administration of specified 13
assessments through the Florida Virtual School; 14
providing a process for such request; requiring the 15
Commissioner of Education to approve or deny such 16
requests; providing requirements for the 17
administration of such assessments at the station duty 18
location for such students; providing Florida Virtual 19
School reporting requirements; requiring the State 20
Board of Education to adopt rules; amending s. 21
1008.22, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made 22
by the act; amending s. 1011.61, F.S.; revising the 23
definition of "full-time equivalent student" to revise 24
the requirements for funding certain Florida Virtual 25
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School students; providing an effective date. 26
27
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 28
29
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (9) and paragraph 30
(b) of subsection (13) of section 121.091, Florida Statutes, are 31
amended to read: 32
121.091 Benefits payable under the system. —Benefits may 33
not be paid under this section unless the member has terminated 34
employment as provided in s. 121.021(39)(a) or begun 35
participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program as 36
provided in subsection (13), and a proper application has been 37
filed in the manner pres cribed by the department. The department 38
may cancel an application for retirement benefits when the 39
member or beneficiary fails to timely provide the information 40
and documents required by this chapter and the department's 41
rules. The department shall adopt rules establishing procedures 42
for application for retirement benefits and for the cancellation 43
of such application when the required information or documents 44
are not received. 45
(9) EMPLOYMENT AFTER RETIREMENT; LIMITATION. — 46
(b) Any person whose retiremen t is effective before July 47
1, 2010, or whose participation in the Deferred Retirement 48
Option Program terminates before July 1, 2010, except under the 49
disability retirement provisions of subsection (4) or as 50
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
provided in s. 121.053, may be reemployed by an e mployer that 51
participates in a state -administered retirement system and 52
receive retirement benefits and compensation from that employer, 53
except that the person may not be reemployed by an employer 54
participating in the Florida Retirement System before meeti ng 55
the definition of termination in s. 121.021 and may not receive 56
both a salary from the employer and retirement benefits for 12 57
calendar months immediately subsequent to the date of 58
retirement. However, a DROP participant shall continue 59
employment and receive a salary during the period of 60
participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program, as 61
provided in subsection (13). 62
1. A retiree who violates such reemployment limitation 63
before completion of the 12 -month limitation period must give 64
timely notice of this fact in writing to the employer and to the 65
Division of Retirement or the state board and shall have his or 66
her retirement benefits suspended for the months employed or the 67
balance of the 12-month limitation period as required in sub -68
subparagraphs b. and c. A retiree employed in violation of this 69
paragraph and an employer who employs or appoints such person 70
are jointly and severally liable for reimbursement to the 71
retirement trust fund, including the Florida Retirement System 72
Trust Fund and the Flo rida Retirement System Investment Plan 73
Trust Fund, from which the benefits were paid. The employer must 74
have a written statement from the retiree that he or she is not 75
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retired from a state -administered retirement system. Retirement 76
benefits shall remain su spended until repayment has been made. 77
Benefits suspended beyond the reemployment limitation shall 78
apply toward repayment of benefits received in violation of the 79
reemployment limitation. 80
a. A district school board may reemploy a retiree as a 81
substitute or hourly teacher, education paraprofessional, 82
transportation assistant, bus driver, or food service worker on 83
a noncontractual basis after he or she has been retired for 1 84
calendar month. A district school board may reemploy a retiree 85
as instructional per sonnel, as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), on 86
an annual contractual basis after he or she has been retired for 87
1 calendar month. Any member who is reemployed within 1 calendar 88
month after retirement shall void his or her application for 89
retirement benefits. D istrict school boards reemploying such 90
teachers, education paraprofessionals, transportation 91
assistants, bus drivers, or food service workers are subject to 92
the retirement contribution required by subparagraph 2. 93
b. A Florida College System institution b oard of trustees 94
may reemploy a retiree as an adjunct instructor or as a 95
participant in a phased retirement program within the Florida 96
College System, after he or she has been retired for 1 calendar 97
month. A member who is reemployed within 1 calendar month after 98
retirement shall void his or her application for retirement 99
benefits. Boards of trustees reemploying such instructors are 100
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subject to the retirement contribution required in subparagraph 101
2. A retiree may be reemployed as an adjunct instructor for no 102
more than 780 hours during the first 12 months of retirement. A 103
retiree reemployed for more than 780 hours during the first 12 104
months of retirement must give timely notice in writing to the 105
employer and to the Division of Retirement or the state board of 106
the date he or she will exceed the limitation. The division 107
shall suspend his or her retirement benefits for the remainder 108
of the 12 months of retirement. Any retiree employed in 109
violation of this sub -subparagraph and any employer who employs 110
or appoints such person without notifying the division to 111
suspend retirement benefits are jointly and severally liable for 112
any benefits paid during the reemployment limitation period. The 113
employer must have a written statement from the retiree that he 114
or she is not retired from a state-administered retirement 115
system. Any retirement benefits received by the retiree while 116
reemployed in excess of 780 hours during the first 12 months of 117
retirement must be repaid to the Florida Retirement System Trust 118
Fund, and retirement ben efits shall remain suspended until 119
repayment is made. Benefits suspended beyond the end of the 120
retiree's first 12 months of retirement shall apply toward 121
repayment of benefits received in violation of the 780 -hour 122
reemployment limitation. 123
c. The State University System may reemploy a retiree as 124
an adjunct faculty member or as a participant in a phased 125
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retirement program within the State University System after the 126
retiree has been retired for 1 calendar month. A member who is 127
reemployed within 1 calendar month after retirement shall void 128
his or her application for retirement benefits. The State 129
University System is subject to the retired contribution 130
required in subparagraph 2., as appropriate. A retiree may be 131
reemployed as an adjunct faculty member or a participant in a 132
phased retirement program for no more than 780 hours during the 133
first 12 months of his or her retirement. A retiree reemployed 134
for more than 780 hours during the first 12 months of retirement 135
must give timely notice in writing to the emplo yer and to the 136
Division of Retirement or the state board of the date he or she 137
will exceed the limitation. The division shall suspend his or 138
her retirement benefits for the remainder of the 12 months. Any 139
retiree employed in violation of this sub -subparagraph and any 140
employer who employs or appoints such person without notifying 141
the division to suspend retirement benefits are jointly and 142
severally liable for any benefits paid during the reemployment 143
limitation period. The employer must have a written statem ent 144
from the retiree that he or she is not retired from a state -145
administered retirement system. Any retirement benefits received 146
by the retiree while reemployed in excess of 780 hours during 147
the first 12 months of retirement must be repaid to the Florida 148
Retirement System Trust Fund, and retirement benefits shall 149
remain suspended until repayment is made. Benefits suspended 150
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beyond the end of the retiree's first 12 months of retirement 151
shall apply toward repayment of benefits received in violation 152
of the 780-hour reemployment limitation. 153
d. The Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the 154
Deaf and the Blind may reemploy a retiree as a substitute 155
teacher, substitute residential instructor, or substitute nurse 156
on a noncontractual basis after he or she has b een retired for 1 157
calendar month. Any member who is reemployed within 1 calendar 158
month after retirement shall void his or her application for 159
retirement benefits. The Board of Trustees of the Florida School 160
for the Deaf and the Blind reemploying such teach ers, 161
residential instructors, or nurses is subject to the retirement 162
contribution required by subparagraph 2. 163
e. A developmental research school may reemploy a retiree 164
as a substitute or hourly teacher or an education 165
paraprofessional as defined in s. 10 12.01(2) on a noncontractual 166
basis after he or she has been retired for 1 calendar month. A 167
developmental research school may reemploy a retiree as 168
instructional personnel, as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), on an 169
annual contractual basis after he or she has been retired for 1 170
calendar month after retirement. Any member who is reemployed 171
within 1 calendar month voids his or her application for 172
retirement benefits. A developmental research school that 173
reemploys retired teachers and education paraprofessionals i s 174
subject to the retirement contribution required by subparagraph 175
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2. 176
f. A charter school may reemploy a retiree as a substitute 177
or hourly teacher on a noncontractual basis after he or she has 178
been retired for 1 calendar month. A charter school may reempl oy 179
a retired member as instructional personnel, as defined in s. 180
1012.01(2)(a), on an annual contractual basis after he or she 181
has been retired for 1 calendar month after retirement. Any 182
member who is reemployed within 1 calendar month voids his or 183
her application for retirement benefits. A charter school that 184
reemploys such teachers is subject to the retirement 185
contribution required by subparagraph 2. 186
g. The board of trustees of the Florida Virtual School may 187
reemploy a retiree as a substitute or hourly teacher, education 188
paraprofessional, administrative personnel, or support personnel 189
on a noncontractual basis after he or she has been retired for 1 190
calendar month. The board of trustees of the Florida Virtual 191
School may reemploy a retiree as a substitute or hourly teacher, 192
education paraprofessional, administrative personnel, or support 193
personnel on an annual contractual basis after he or she has 194
been retired for 1 calendar month after retirement. The 195
reemployed person may receive retirement benefits and 196
compensation from the board of trustees of the Florida Virtual 197
School. Any member who is reemployed within 1 calendar month 198
after retirement voids his or her application for retirement 199
benefits. The board of trustees of the Florida Virtual School 200
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reemploying such teachers, education paraprofessionals, 201
administrative personnel, and support personnel is subject to 202
the retirement contribution required by subparagraph 2. 203
2. The employment of a retiree or DROP participant of a 204
state-administered retirement system does not affect the average 205
final compensation or years of creditable service of the retiree 206
or DROP participant. Before July 1, 1991, upon employment of any 207
person, other than an elected officer as provided in s. 121.053, 208
who is retired under a sta te-administered retirement program, 209
the employer shall pay retirement contributions in an amount 210
equal to the unfunded actuarial liability portion of the 211
employer contribution which would be required for regular 212
members of the Florida Retirement System. Ef fective July 1, 213
1991, contributions shall be made as provided in s. 121.122 for 214
retirees who have renewed membership or, as provided in 215
subsection (13), for DROP participants. 216
3. Any person who is holding an elective public office 217
which is covered by the Florida Retirement System and who is 218
concurrently employed in nonelected covered employment may elect 219
to retire while continuing employment in the elective public 220
office if he or she terminates his or her nonelected covered 221
employment. Such person shall r eceive his or her retirement 222
benefits in addition to the compensation of the elective office 223
without regard to the time limitations otherwise provided in 224
this subsection. A person who seeks to exercise the provisions 225
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of this subparagraph as they existed be fore May 3, 1984, may not 226
be deemed to be retired under those provisions, unless such 227
person is eligible to retire under this subparagraph, as amended 228
by chapter 84-11, Laws of Florida. 229
(13) DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM. —In general, and 230
subject to this section, the Deferred Retirement Option Program, 231
hereinafter referred to as DROP, is a program under which an 232
eligible member of the Florida Retirement System may elect to 233
participate, deferring receipt of retirement benefits while 234
continuing employment with his or her Florida Retirement System 235
employer. The deferred monthly benefits shall accrue in the 236
Florida Retirement System on behalf of the member, plus interest 237
compounded monthly, for the specified period of the DROP 238
participation, as provided in paragraph (c). Upon termination of 239
employment, the member shall receive the total DROP benefits and 240
begin to receive the previously determined normal retirement 241
benefits. Participation in the DROP does not guarantee 242
employment for the specified period of DROP. Participation in 243
DROP by an eligible member beyond the initial 60 -month period as 244
authorized in this subsection shall be on an annual contractual 245
basis for all participants. 246
(b) Participation in DROP. —Except as provided in this 247
paragraph, an eligib le member may elect to participate in DROP 248
for a period not to exceed a maximum of 60 calendar months. 249
1.a. Members who are instructional personnel employed by 250
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the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and authorized by 251
the Board of Trustees of the F lorida School for the Deaf and the 252
Blind, who are instructional personnel as defined in s. 253
1012.01(2)(a)-(d) in grades K-12 and authorized by the district 254
school superintendent, who are instructional, administrative, or 255
support personnel employed and autho rized by the board of 256
trustees of the Florida Virtual School, or who are instructional 257
personnel as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a) employed by a 258
developmental research school and authorized by the school's 259
director, or if the school has no director, by the sc hool's 260
principal, may participate in DROP for up to 36 calendar months 261
beyond the 60-month period. Effective July 1, 2018, 262
instructional personnel who are authorized to extend DROP 263
participation beyond the 60 -month period must have a termination 264
date that is the last day of the last calendar month of the 265
school year within the DROP extension granted by the employer. 266
If, on July 1, 2018, the member's DROP participation has already 267
been extended for the maximum 36 calendar months and the 268
extension period conc ludes before the end of the school year, 269
the member's DROP participation may be extended through the last 270
day of the last calendar month of that school year. The employer 271
shall notify the division of the change in termination date and 272
the additional period of DROP participation for the affected 273
instructional personnel. 274
b. Administrative personnel in grades K -12, as defined in 275
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s. 1012.01(3), who have a DROP termination date on or after July 276
1, 2018, may be authorized to extend DROP participation beyond 277
the initial 60 calendar month period if the administrative 278
personnel's termination date is before the end of the school 279
year. Such administrative personnel may have DROP participation 280
extended until the last day of the last calendar month of the 281
school year in which their original DROP termination date 282
occurred if a date other than the last day of the last calendar 283
month of the school year is designated. The employer shall 284
notify the division of the change in termination date and the 285
additional period of DROP participation for the affected 286
administrative personnel. 287
c. Effective July 1, 2022, a member of the Special Risk 288
Class who is a law enforcement officer who meets the criteria in 289
s. 121.0515(3)(a) and who is a DROP participant on or after July 290
1, 2022, may participate in DROP for up to 36 calendar months 291
beyond the 60-month period if he or she enters DROP on or before 292
June 30, 2028. 293
2. Upon deciding to participate in DROP, the member shall 294
submit, on forms required by the division: 295
a. A written electio n to participate in DROP; 296
b. Selection of DROP participation and termination dates 297
that satisfy the limitations stated in paragraph (a) and 298
subparagraph 1. The termination date must be in a binding letter 299
of resignation to the employer establishing a def erred 300
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termination date. The member may change the termination date 301
within the limitations of subparagraph 1., but only with the 302
written approval of the employer; 303
c. A properly completed DROP application for service 304
retirement as provided in this section; and 305
d. Any other information required by the division. 306
3. The DROP participant is a retiree under the Florida 307
Retirement System for all purposes, except for paragraph (5)(f) 308
and subsection (9) and ss. 112.3173, 112.363, 121.053, and 309
121.122. DROP participation is final and may not be canceled by 310
the participant after the first payment is credited during the 311
DROP participation period. However, participation in DROP does 312
not alter the participant's employment status, and the member is 313
not deemed retired from employment until his or her deferred 314
resignation is effective and termination occurs as defined in s. 315
121.021. 316
4. Elected officers are eligible to participate in DROP 317
subject to the following: 318
a. An elected officer who reaches normal retirement da te 319
during a term of office may defer the election to participate 320
until the next succeeding term in that office. An elected 321
officer who exercises this option may participate in DROP for up 322
to 60 calendar months or no longer than the succeeding term of 323
office, whichever is less. 324
b. An elected or a nonelected participant may run for a 325
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term of office while participating in DROP and, if elected, 326
extend the DROP termination date accordingly; however, if such 327
additional term of office exceeds the 60 -month limitation 328
established in subparagraph 1., and the officer does not resign 329
from office within such 60 -month limitation, the retirement and 330
the participant's DROP is null and void as provided in sub -331
subparagraph (c)5.d. 332
c. An elected officer who is dually emplo yed and elects to 333
participate in DROP must terminate all employment relationships 334
as provided in s. 121.021(39) for the nonelected position within 335
the original 60-month period or maximum participation period as 336
provided in subparagraph 1. For DROP particip ation ending: 337
(I) Before July 1, 2010, the officer may continue 338
employment as an elected officer as provided in s. 121.053. The 339
elected officer shall be enrolled as a renewed member in the 340
Elected Officers' Class or the Regular Class, as provided in ss. 341
121.053 and 121.122, on the first day of the month after 342
termination of employment in the nonelected position and 343
termination of DROP. Distribution of the DROP benefits shall be 344
made as provided in paragraph (c). 345
(II) On or after July 1, 2010, the office r may continue 346
employment as an elected officer but must defer termination as 347
provided in s. 121.053. 348
Section 2. Section 1008.213, Florida Statutes, is created 349
to read: 350
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1008.213 Florida Virtual School students of military 351
families residing outside of Florida; flexible assessment 352
administration.— 353
(1) For purposes of this section, the term "a student 354
residing outside of the state" means a student who is enrolled 355
full-time in the Florida Virtual School and who resides outside 356
of the state with his or h er parent who is an active duty 357
service member in the United States military stationed at a 358
station duty location outside of the state. 359
(2) A student residing outside of the state who is unable 360
to complete a required statewide standardized assessment, en d-361
of-course assessment, or the Florida Alternate Assessment under 362
s. 1008.22 in a secure and proctored setting that is located in 363
the state and provided by the Florida Virtual School may apply 364
to the Florida Virtual School to allow a certified educator in 365
the state in which the student resides or an Education Service 366
Officer for the United States Armed Forces administer the 367
assessment at the station duty location to which the student's 368
parent is assigned. 369
(3)(a) To apply for flexibility with the administr ation of 370
an assessment, a student's parent shall submit to Florida 371
Virtual School, in a format prescribed by the school, a written 372
request for flexibility with the administration of the 373
assessment. The request must be submitted at least 60 days 374
before the administration of the assessment and must include 375
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written, official documentation of the parent's orders 376
stationing him or her outside of the state. 377
(b) Upon receipt of such request, the Florida Virtual 378
School shall review such request and provide the r equest and a 379
recommendation for approval or denial to the Commissioner of 380
Education. Within 30 days after receiving the request and 381
recommendation, the commissioner shall verify the information 382
documented, make a determination, and notify the Florida Virtu al 383
School of his or her determination. The Florida Virtual School 384
shall notify the student's parent of the commissioner's 385
determination. 386
(c) If the commissioner grants the request, the student's 387
assessment shall be proctored by a certified educator or 388
Education Service Officer in accordance with ss. 1008.22, 389
1008.23, and 1008.24. 390
(4) Beginning June 30, 2024, and each June 30 thereafter, 391
the Florida Virtual School shall submit to the President of the 392
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives the 393
number of requests for flexibility in the administration of 394
assessments made under this section and the number of requests 395
for such flexibility that were granted. 396
(5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to 397
administer this section. 398
Section 3. Subsections (11) through (14) of section 399
1008.22, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (12) 400
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through (15), respectively, and a new subsection (11) is added 401
to that section, to read: 402
1008.22 Student assessment program for public schools.— 403
(11) FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHO OL STUDENTS WHO RESI DE OUTSIDE OF 404
THE STATE.—Pursuant to s. 1008.213, a student who is enrolled 405
full-time in the Florida Virtual School and who resides outside 406
of the state with his or her parent who is an active duty 407
service member in the United States military stationed at a 408
station duty location outside of the state who is unable to 409
complete an assessment required under this section in a secure 410
and proctored setting that is located in the state and provided 411
by the Florida Virtual School may apply to the Florida Virtual 412
School to allow a certified educator in the state in which the 413
student resides or an Education Service Officer for the United 414
States Armed Forces administer the assessment at the station 415
duty location to which the student's parent is assigned. 416
Pursuant to s. 1008.213, the parents of such student must submit 417
a written request for such flexibility to the Florida Virtual 418
School and the Commissioner of Education must approve the 419
request. An assessment adminis tered pursuant to s. 1008.213 must 420
be administered in accordance with this section and ss. 1008.23 421
and 1008.24. 422
Section 4. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 423
1011.61, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 424
1011.61 Definitions. —Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 425
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1000.21, the following terms are defined as follows for the 426
purposes of the Florida Education Finance Program: 427
(1) A "full-time equivalent student" in each program of 428
the district is defined in terms of full -time students and part -429
time students as follows: 430
(c)1. A "full-time equivalent student" is: 431
a. A full-time student in any one of the programs listed 432
in s. 1011.62(1)(c); or 433
b. A combination of full -time or part-time students in any 434
one of the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1) (c) which is the 435
equivalent of one full -time student based on the following 436
calculations: 437
(I) A full-time student in a combination of programs 438
listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) shall be a fraction of a full -time 439
equivalent membership in each special program equ al to the 440
number of net hours per school year for which he or she is a 441
member, divided by the appropriate number of hours set forth in 442
subparagraph (a)1. The difference between that fraction or sum 443
of fractions and the maximum value as set forth in subsect ion 444
(4) for each full-time student is presumed to be the balance of 445
the student's time not spent in a special program and shall be 446
recorded as time in the appropriate basic program. 447
(II) A prekindergarten student with a disability shall 448
meet the requirements specified for kindergarten students. 449
(III) A full-time equivalent student for students in 450
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kindergarten through grade 12 in a full -time virtual instruction 451
program under s. 1002.45 or a virtual charter school under s. 452
1002.33 shall consist of six ful l-credit completions or the 453
prescribed level of content that counts toward promotion to the 454
next grade in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c). Credit 455
completions may be a combination of full -credit courses or half -456
credit courses. 457
(IV) A full-time equivalent student for students in 458
kindergarten through grade 12 in a part -time virtual instruction 459
program under s. 1002.45 shall consist of six full -credit 460
completions in programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3. 461
Credit completions may be a combination of fu ll-credit courses 462
or half-credit courses. 463
(V) A Florida Virtual School full -time equivalent student 464
shall consist of six full -credit completions or the prescribed 465
level of content that counts toward promotion to the next grade 466
in the programs listed in s . 1011.62(1)(c)1. and 3. for students 467
participating in kindergarten through grade 12 part -time virtual 468
instruction and the programs listed in s. 1011.62(1)(c) for 469
students participating in kindergarten through grade 12 full -470
time virtual instruction. However, the limitation of the number 471
of credits the Florida Virtual School may receive funding for 472
per student does not apply to students who are seeking 473
accelerated access under s. 1002.37(1)(b). Credit completions 474
may be a combination of full -credit courses or half-credit 475
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courses. Students who have successful credit completions will be 476
funded for each credit completion regardless of the number of 477
surveys the student is reported in for the Florida Virtual 478
School. 479
(VI) Each successfully completed full -credit course earned 480
through an online course delivered by a district other than the 481
one in which the student resides shall be calculated as 1/6 482
FTE. 483
(VII) A full-time equivalent student for courses requiring 484
passage of a statewide, standardized end -of-course assessment 485
under s. 1003.4282 to earn a standard high school diploma shall 486
be defined and reported based on the number of instructional 487
hours as provided in this subsection. 488
(VIII) For students enrolled in a school district as a 489
full-time student, the dis trict may report 1/6 FTE for each 490
student who passes a statewide, standardized end -of-course 491
assessment without being enrolled in the corresponding course. 492
2. A student in membership in a program scheduled for more 493
or less than 180 school days or the eq uivalent on an hourly 494
basis as specified by rules of the State Board of Education is a 495
fraction of a full-time equivalent membership equal to the 496
number of instructional hours in membership divided by the 497
appropriate number of hours set forth in subparagra ph (a)1.; 498
however, for the purposes of this subparagraph, membership in 499
programs scheduled for more than 180 days is limited to students 500
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enrolled in: 501
a. Juvenile justice education programs. 502
b. The Florida Virtual School. 503
c. Virtual instruction progra ms and virtual charter 504
schools for the purpose of course completion and credit recovery 505
pursuant to ss. 1002.45 and 1003.498. Course completion applies 506
only to a student who is reported during the second or third 507
membership surveys and who does not complet e a virtual education 508
course by the end of the regular school year. The course must be 509
completed no later than the deadline for amending the final 510
student enrollment survey for that year. Credit recovery applies 511
only to a student who has unsuccessfully com pleted a traditional 512
or virtual education course during the regular school year and 513
must retake the course in order to be eligible to graduate with 514
the student's class. 515
516
The full-time equivalent student enrollment calculated under 517
this subsection is subjec t to the requirements in subsection 518
(4). 519
520
The department shall determine and implement an equitable method 521
of equivalent funding for schools operating under emergency 522
conditions, which schools have been approved by the department 523
to operate for less than t he minimum term as provided in s. 524
1011.60(2). 525
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Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 526