1The Schools of Excellence Program is established to provide administrative flexibility to the state’s top schools so that the instructional personnel and administrative staff at such schools can continue to serve their communities and increase student learning to the best of their professional ability.
45(1) 46DESIGNATION.47-
48(a) 49The State Board of Education shall designate a school as a School of Excellence if the school’s percentage of possible points earned in its school grade calculation is in the 80th percentile or higher for schools comprised of the same grade groupings, including elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and schools with a combination of grade levels, for at least 2 of the last 3 school years. The school must have data for each applicable school grade component pursuant to s. 1301008.34(3)131to be eligible for designation as a School of Excellence. A qualifying school shall retain the designation as a School of Excellence for up to 3 years, at the end of which time the school may renew the designation, if:
1711. 172The school was in the 80th percentile or higher pursuant to this subsection for 2 of the previous 3 years; and
1932. 194The school did not receive a school grade lower than “B” pursuant to s. 2081008.34209during any of the previous 3 years.
216(b) 217A school that earns a school grade lower than “B” pursuant to s. 2301008.34231during the 3-year period may not continue to be designated as a School of Excellence during the remainder of that 3-year period and loses the administrative flexibilities provided in subsection (2).
262(2) 263ADMINISTRATIVE FLEXIBILITIES.265-266A School of Excellence must be provided the following administrative flexibilities:
277(a) 278Exemption from any provision of law or rule that expressly requires a minimum period of daily or weekly instruction in reading.
299(b) 300Principal autonomy as provided under s. 3061012.28(8)307.
308(c) 309For instructional personnel, the substitution of 1 school year of employment at a School of Excellence for 20 inservice points toward the renewal of a professional certificate, up to 60 inservice points in a 5-year cycle, pursuant to s. 3481012.585(3)349.
350(d) 351Exemption from compliance with district policies or procedures that establish times for the start and completion of the school day.
371(e) 372Calculation for compliance with maximum class size pursuant to s. 3821003.03(4)383based on the average number of students at the school level.
