Pilot Program for Students with Reading Deficiencies; Creating the First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot Program for a specified period of time; providing requirements for a student to be deemed at risk of having a reading deficiency; providing Department of Education and participating school district duties, etc.
HB 1123 creates a 3-year pilot program (2026-2027 to 2028-2029) offering a mandatory 6-week summer reading program for first graders identified as at-risk for reading deficiencies based on standardized test scores. The program, implemented in two selected Florida school districts, focuses on foundational reading skills like phonics, fluency, and comprehension. Participating schools must invite at-risk students, administer the program per state guidelines, and report on student progress and participation rates. The Department of Education will collect data and submit a final report to the Legislature with outcomes and recommendations before the program expires.
Education in the Criminal Justice System; Authorizing the Department of Corrections to award gain time for an inmate who completes specified education programs; revising the purpose of the Florida Virtual School to provide for the development and delivery of blended learning; requiring the Florida Virtual School to establish the Florida Virtual School Justice Education Program, beginning with a specified school year; requiring the Department of Education, with assistance from specified entities, to select a common student assessment instrument and protocol for measuring student learning gains and progression, etc.
Statewide, Standardized Assessments; Requires DOE to develop versions of statewide, standardized assessments & specified portions of statewide, standardized coordinated screening & progress monitoring system, respectively, in certain languages by specified date; requires department to develop timetable & action plan for development & implementation of such assessments & written portions of system; requires department to establish criteria for use of such assessments & portions of system; authorizes parents to prohibit use of such assessments & portions of system in certain languages.
Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma; Providing that students can substitute marching band experience for physical education and performing fine arts credit requirements for a standard high school diploma; providing that students with disabilities may participate in the Special Olympics to meet the physical education requirement for a standard high school diploma, etc.
Requirements for a Standard High School Diploma; Provides that completion of 2 years of marching band satisfies both physical education & performing arts requirements for standard high school diploma & that students with disabilities may participate in Special Olympics to meet physical education requirement for standard high school diploma.
Statewide, Standardized Assessments; Requiring the Department of Education to develop versions of statewide, standardized assessments and specified portions of the statewide, standardized coordinated screening and progress monitoring system, respectively, in certain languages by a specified date; requiring the department to develop a timetable and an action plan for the development and implementation of such assessments and written portions of the system; authorizing parents to prohibit the use of such assessments and portions of the system in certain languages, etc.
