FAQ - School Recognition Funds
Other Common Terms for School Recognition Funds may be: "A+ Funds", "A+ Reward", "Recognition Money" or "Bonus Money". School Enhancement Funds are School Improvement Funds also commonly referred to as SAC funds.
Some
common questions:
1. Where can I find general information and responses
to FAQ about this year's school recognition program?
2. Who decides how the award will be used?
3. How did this program come to be?
5. How much is awarded, where is the amount in law?
6. What is the law that outlines the Florida School Recognition Program?
7. What is the timeline for dispersing of the funds?
8. Is there a deadline for the decision on the use of these funds?
9. Who is defined as "Classroom Teachers"?
10. Can old faculty/new faculty receive bonuses? What about collective bargaining?
1.
General information and responses to frequently-asked questions about this
year's school recognition program is posted on the DOE web page.
http://www.firn.edu/doe/evaluation/schrmain.htm
2.
Who decides how the A+ award will be used?
SS
1008.36
F.S. clearly requires the school's staff and the school advisory council to JOINTLY decide the use of funds
within the purposes allowed in law. The legislation requires the funds to be used for
non-recurring staff and faculty bonuses, non-recurring expenditures for materials and supplies, for temporary personnel to assist in maintaining or
improving student performance, or any combination of these.
The law does not, however, address how the joint decision is to be
made. The process for
making decisions and resolving conflicts is determined at the local level.
3.
How did this program come to be?
The Governor visited over 200 public schools while running for Governor and met
with hundreds of teachers, SAC members and principals. He received widespread advice that he work to get more funds directly to schools so
decisions could be at the school level. So, as a candidate, in the summer of 1998 he proposed the A+ plan, which included $100
per pupil to any
school that improved a letter grade or sustained high achievement. (--- great explanation by Stewart Brown, FL-SAC
member)
4.
What is the formula for the DOE granting money to schools for school grades last year and for this year or where I might find
the formulas?
The statute citation for school recognition is 1008.36, F.S.
The dollars are annually appropriated in the General Appropriations
Act in "proviso" language, an explanation of legislative intent for
individual line items. Each recognized school will receive $___
(each year it can be different since it is renewed through the
General Appropriations Act) per full-time equivalent (FTE)
student based on last year's enrollment.
5.
How much is awarded, where is the amount in law?
It is a line item appropriation every year under the General
Appropriations for the year inquired about.
6. What is the
law that outlines the Florida School Recognition Program?
Title XLVIII - K-20 EDUCATION CODE, ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY,
1008.36 Florida School Recognition
Program.
7.
What is the timeline for dispersing of the funds?
These funds will be electronically transferred to school districts in early September. School districts will place these funds
in a school account at the district level and they will be
immediately available when the school decides how to use the award
money. These funds are not to be placed in a school's internal
accounts.
"(4) All selected schools shall receive financial awards depending on the availability of funds appropriated and the number and size of schools selected to receive an award. Funds must be distributed to the school's fiscal agent and placed in the school's account and must be used for purposes listed in subsection (5) as determined jointly by the school's staff and school advisory council. If school staff and the school advisory council cannot reach agreement by November 1, the awards must be equally distributed to all classroom teachers currently teaching in the school."
8.
Is there a deadline for the decision on the use of these
funds?
1008.36, "If school staff and the school advisory council cannot reach
agreement by February 1, the awards must be equally
distributed to all classroom teachers currently teaching in the
school.
9.
Who is defined as "Classroom Teachers"?
Section 1012.01 (2)a. Classroom teachers. Classroom
teachers are staff members assigned the professional activity of
instructing students in courses in classroom situations, including
basic instruction, exceptional student education, career
education, and adult education, including substitute teachers.
10.
May faculty and staff who left at the end of the previous
school year receive a bonus? May faculty or staff who are new to
the school when funds are dispersed receive a bonus? Are these
funds subject to collective bargaining?
Faculty and staff who left the school at the end of the previous
school year may receive an award, (after all, they were teaching
the year the school earned this award!)
IF the decision is made
before February 1st.
After February 1st, current classroom teachers will
automatically receive bonuses.
According to Section 1008.36 (5),
F.S., "Notwithstanding statutory provision to the contrary,
incentive awards are not subject to collective bargaining."
11. May Florida School Recognition Program funds received pursuant to Section 231.2905, Florida Statutes, be used to provide bonuses to school staff who are not employees of the school board?
CONCLUSION: Our (General Counsel for DOE) answer is a qualified "Yes."
"It is our opinion that bonuses resulting from the Florida School Recognition program provided at Section 231.2905, Florida Statutes, may be awarded to the faculty or staff or a school regardless of an individual's actual employer, so long as the committee composed of the school staff and school advisory council determines that such individuals may receive the bonus and so long as the individuals are not otherwise precluded from accepting the bonuses."