Two bills aimed at taking numerous regulations off the books for public schools received final approval Wednesday in the Senate.
Senators unanimously passed the bills (SB 7002 and SB 7004), which were approved last month by the House.
They are ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, made the deregulation issue a priority during this year’s legislative session.
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On Wednesday, Passidomo touted passage of the legislation as a “tremendous win” for public schools.
“My vision for this critical initiative is a multi-year effort. Every year, more and more regulations are put on our school districts, and every year we need to be looking at regulations we can remove,” Passidomo said in a statement.
One of the bills, SB 7002, includes steps to provide more financial flexibility for districts. For example, it would allow districts to publish notices of intent to adopt tentative budgets on the school board websites instead of being required to publish such notices in newspapers.
Another change designed to give flexibility would allow districts to consider advanced degrees when adjusting educators’ salaries.
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The other bill, SB 7004, would make changes, such as removing a requirement that school districts offer at least one option for virtual instruction.
The measure also would repeal a current requirement that virtual school providers be “non-sectarian” in their “programs, admission policies, employment practices,” and operations.
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