JIM HORNE
SECRETARY
F. PHILIP HANDY
CHAIRMAN
LINDA J. EADS, Ed. D.
T. WILLARD FAIR
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, Ph.D
CAROLYN KING ROBERTS
CHARLIE CRIST
COMMISSIONER
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
325 W. GAINES STREET
SUITE 1614
TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399
www.flboe.org
(850) 201-7400
FLORIDA BOARD OF EDUCATION
CONTACT PERSONS
Name:
Mary Jo Butler
Michael Lisle
Phone:
(850) 487-3510
Suncom:
277-3510
E-mail:
maryjo.butler@fldoe.org
michael.lisle@fldoe.org
DPS: 03-039
MEMORANDUM
To:
District School Superintendents
From:
Kathy Mizereck, Deputy Chancellor for
Student Achievement and Articulation
Date:
September 30, 2002
Subject: SECOND CHANCE SCHOOL APPLICATION
2002-2003
The 1995 Florida Legislature amended the Dropout Prevention Act
and created, in Section 230.2316(3), Florida Statute (F.S.), Second
Chance Schools for students who are severely disruptive, violent,
habitually truant, or adjudicated. The intent of this legislation was to
provide Florida’s school districts with the opportunity to request
waivers of state statute or rule, allowing districts greater flexibility in
providing services necessary to meet the academic, vocational, and
social needs of the difficult and diverse student population served by
Second Chance Schools.
Legislation allowing districts to develop Second Chance Schools
preceded many other flexible options in the process of securing
required waivers of state statute or rule. Many new and existing
policies now allow districts to provide services to this population of
students without applying for waivers of statute or rule. As a result,
the number of authorized Second Chance Schools has declined from
149 in the 1997-1998 school year to 28 in the 2001-2002 school
year.
District School Superintendents
September 30, 2002
Page Two
In the past two years, the vast majority of waiver requests related to certification
of instructional staff. Under current statute and rule, districts are afforded
significant flexibility with regard to teacher certification, including:
?
Rule 6A-1.0502, Florida Administrative Code
(FAC) –
Noncertificated
Instructional Personnel. This rule authorizes school boards to utilize
noncertificated, qualified persons as instructors.
?
Rule 6A-1.0503, FAC
– Definition of Qualified Instructional Personnel. A
request to waive this rule may be unnecessary, as the 2000 Legislature
amended Section 231.095, F.S., to allow teachers to teach outside of the
field in which they are certified if they hold a valid Florida Educator’s
Certificate and:
?
Have a minor in the field in which the instruction is provided, as
shown on an official college transcript or as verified in writing by the
college or university; or,
?
Have demonstrated sufficient subject area expertise in the subject
area in which the instruction is provided through an established
plan as approved by the district school board.
?
Section 230.2316(3)(c), F.S.
, provides that students who have a history of
disruptive behavior in school are eligible for services through dropout
prevention and academic intervention programs. Teachers in these
programs may be certified in any field with a bachelor’s degree or higher,
with two minor exceptions. This flexible certification coverage is
addressed in the
Florida Course Code Directory and Instructional
Personnel Assignments
.
The Florida Department of Education is currently reviewing
No Child Left Behind
to determine the effect of this federal legislation on the provision of services in
dropout prevention programs. A separate memorandum detailing our findings
will be disseminated once this analysis is complete.
Pursuant to Section 230.2316(3)(d), Florida Statutes, school districts have been
approved to develop Second Chance Schools provided through cooperative
agreements between the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), private providers,
state or local law enforcement agencies, or other state agencies for students who
have been disruptive or violent, or who have committed serious offenses.
Districts are required to apply annually to the Department of Education for
approval of Second Chance Schools.
District School Superintendents
September 30, 2002
Page Three
As noted by the statute and rule citations above, districts that intend to apply for
Second Chance School status and request a waiver related to teacher
certification do not need to apply for Second Chance School status.
Districts that intend to apply for Second Chance School status only, with no
request for a waiver of state statute or rule, should complete the enclosed
Application for Second Chance School Status
. These districts are strongly
encouraged to review all cooperative agreements with Second Chance School
partners and make any necessary revisions before the agreement and
application are submitted. Such a timely review of the agreements ensures that
both parties are aware of their responsibilities.
If the cooperative agreement is renewed on an annual basis, please submit a
signed copy with your application. If the agreement is open-ended, please
indicate in your cover letter that the agreement is on file with the Department of
Education.
Districts that request Second Chance School status “only” must submit their
application no later than
October 25, 2002
. Please note that applications for
status “only” do not require district school board approval.
Please return completed applications and cooperative agreements to the Office
of Intervention and Prevention Services, Bureau of Instructional Support and
Community Services, Florida Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street,
Room 501, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.
Should you have any questions regarding Second Chance Schools, or need
technical assistance in completing the application, please contact Roger Henry at
(850) 487-3510, or by e-mail at roger.henry@fldoe.org. You may request an
electronic version of the application from Angela Fisher at
angela.fisher@fldoe.org.
KM/mlf
Enclosure
cc: Assistant Superintendents
Dropout Prevention Coordinators
