(1) This section may be referred to by the popular name the “Florida Partnership for Minority and Underrepresented Student Achievement Act.”
(2)(a) The Legislature recognizes the importance of not only access to college but also success in college for all students. It is the intent of the Legislature that every student enrolled in a public secondary school has access to high-quality, rigorous academics, with a particular focus on access to advanced courses.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide assistance to all public secondary schools, with a primary focus on low-performing middle and high schools.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the partnership created in this section accomplish its mission primarily through strengthening the content knowledge of teachers and providing instructional resources, including materials and strategies, which enable teachers to provide instruction to students who have diverse learning styles.
(3) There is created the Florida Partnership for Minority and Underrepresented Student Achievement. The Department of Education may contract for operation of the partnership.
(4) The mission of the partnership is to prepare, inspire, and connect students to postsecondary success and opportunity, with a particular focus on minority students and students who are underrepresented in postsecondary education.
(5) Each public high school, including, but not limited to, schools and alternative sites and centers of the Department of Juvenile Justice, shall provide for the administration of the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), or the PreACT to all enrolled 10th grade students. However, a written notice shall be provided to each parent which must include the opportunity to exempt his or her child from taking the PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT.(a) Test results will provide each high school with a database of student assessment data which certified school counselors will use to identify students who are prepared or who need additional work to be prepared to enroll and be successful in advanced high school courses.
(b) Funding for the PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT for all 10th grade students shall be contingent upon annual funding in the General Appropriations Act.
(c) Public school districts must choose either the PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT for districtwide administration.
(6) The partnership shall:(a) Provide teacher training and professional learning to enable teachers of advanced courses to have the necessary content knowledge and instructional skills to prepare students for success on assessments developed pursuant to s. 1007.27(2) and mastery of postsecondary general education core courses. (b) Provide to middle school teachers and administrators professional learning that will enable them to educate middle school students at the level necessary to prepare the students to enter high school ready to participate in advanced courses.
(c) Provide teacher training and materials that are aligned with the state standards and are consistent with best theory and practice regarding multiple learning styles and research on learning, instructional strategies, instructional design, and classroom assessment. Curriculum materials must be based on current, accepted, and essential academic knowledge.
(d) Provide assessment of individual strengths and weaknesses as related to potential success in advanced courses and readiness for college.
(e) Provide college entrance exam preparation through a variety of means that may include, but are not limited to, training teachers to provide courses at schools; training community organizations to provide courses at community centers, faith-based organizations, and businesses; and providing online courses.
(f) Consider ways to incorporate Florida College System institutions in the mission of preparing all students for postsecondary success.
(g) Provide a plan for communication and coordination of efforts with the Florida Virtual School’s provision of online advanced courses.
(h) Work with school districts to identify minority and underrepresented students for participation in advanced courses.
(i) Work with school districts to provide information to students and parents that explains available opportunities for students to take advanced courses and that explains enrollment procedures that students must follow to enroll in such courses. Such information must also explain the value of such courses as they relate to:1. Preparing the student for postsecondary level coursework.
2. Enabling the student to gain access to postsecondary education opportunities.
3. Qualifying for scholarships and other financial aid opportunities.
(j) Provide information to students, parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, districts, Florida College System institutions, and state universities regarding PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT administration, including, but not limited to:1. Test administration dates and times.
2. That participation in the PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT is open to all 10th grade students.
3. The value of such tests in providing diagnostic feedback on student skills.
4. The value of student scores in predicting the probability of success on advanced course examinations.
(k) Cooperate with the department to provide information to administrators, teachers, and counselors, whenever possible, about partnership activities, opportunities, and priorities.
(l) Partner with the Florida College System institutions and state universities identified by the State Board of Education and Board of Governors pursuant to s. 1007.25(3) to develop advanced courses and provide teacher training. (7) By May 31 of each year, the Department of Education shall approve a plan of delivery of services for the subsequent academic year.
(8)(a) By September 30 of each year, the partnership shall submit to the department a report that contains an evaluation of the effectiveness of the delivered services and activities. Activities and services must be evaluated on their effectiveness at raising student achievement and increasing the number of AP or other advanced course examinations in low-performing middle and high schools. Other indicators that must be addressed in the evaluation report include the number of middle and high school teachers trained; the effectiveness of the training; measures of postsecondary readiness of the students affected by the program; levels of participation in 10th grade PSAT/NMSQT or the PreACT testing; and measures of student, parent, and teacher awareness of and satisfaction with the services of the partnership.
(b) The department shall contribute to the evaluation process by providing access, consistent with s. 119.071(5)(a), to student and teacher information necessary to match against databases containing teacher professional learning data and databases containing assessment data for the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, ACT, PreACT, AP, and other appropriate measures. The department shall also provide student-level data on student progress from middle school through high school and into college and the workforce, if available, in order to support longitudinal studies. The partnership shall analyze and report student performance data in a manner that protects the rights of students and parents as required in 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g and s. 1002.22. (9)(a) Funding for the partnership shall be contingent upon annual funding in the General Appropriations Act.
(b) The participating partner, if one is chosen, is required to match at least one-third of the allocation provided to the partnership in the General Appropriations Act in materials and services to the program.
(10) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any organization from partnering with the state to improve the college readiness of students.
