6A-6.0784. Approval of Charter School Governance Training

The following provisions are established for the approval of charter school governing board training submitted to the Florida Department of Education for approval pursuant to Section 1002.33, F.S.

(1) General training requirements.

(a) Beginning with the effective date of this rule, every member of the governing body of a charter school operating in Florida shall participate in governance training. The charter school governance training must meet the requirements of this rule and be approved by the Department. Governing boards composed entirely of “school officers”, as defined by Section 1012.01, F.S., may meet the requirements of this rule by complying with the procedures set forth in subsection (6) of this rule.

(b) Each governing board member must complete a minimum of four (4) hours of instruction focusing on government in the sunshine, conflicts of interest, ethics, and financial responsibility as specified in Section 1002.33(9)(j)5., F.S. After the initial four (4) hour training, each member is required, within the subsequent three (3) years and for each three (3) year period thereafter, to complete a two (2) hour refresher training on the four (4) topics above in order to retain his or her position on the charter school board. Any member who fails to obtain the two (2) hour refresher training within any three (3) year period must take the four (4) hours of instruction again in order to remain eligible as a charter school board member.

(c) New members joining a charter school board must complete the four (4) hour training within 90 days of their appointment to the board.

(d) Instruction beyond the hours specified in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) of this rule, may be included in the training plan to address additional topics generally recognized and supported by research or practitioners as important for effective governing board operation.

(e) Each charter school is responsible for contracting with or providing a trainer who delivers governance training consistent with a governance training plan that has been approved by the Department.

(2) Governance training plans.

(a) For the purpose of this rule, a training plan is a written instructional document describing the instructional design for charter school governing board training which includes measurable performance objectives, instructional content, delivery strategies, learning activities, and assessment for training to fulfill the statutory requirements for charter school governing board instruction focusing on government in the sunshine, conflicts of interest, ethics, and financial responsibility as specified in Section 1002.33(9)(j)5., F.S. The training plan may include, but need not be limited to, traditional instructional settings, individualized learning modules, and online education.

(b) A governance training plan submitted for review and approval by the Department shall address each of the following components:

1. Description of the content to be delivered that fulfills all topics identified in Section 1002.33(9)(j)5., F.S., and is consistent with the hours of instruction specified in paragraphs (1)(b) and/or (1)(c) of this rule;

2. Additional topics to be addressed during the training;

3. Measurable learning objectives that specify the performance required;

4. Description of instructional strategies, activities and presentation materials;

5. Methods to be used to measure the stated learning objectives, overall training performance, and provider effectiveness;

6. Length of time required for training;

7. References used in developing the training;

8. Certification that the training has been developed and is owned by the provider or that the provider is licensed to use the training for purposes pursuant to Section 1002.33, F.S.; and,

9. Qualifications and experience of all persons who will be actively involved in providing training.

(3) Submission and review of training plans.

(a) Potential training providers shall complete Form IEPC-9, Charter School Governance Training, Training Plan Approval Application, for submitting a charter school governance training plan for review and approval. Form IEPC-9 is hereby incorporated by reference to become effective with the effective date of this rule. Copies of the form may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(b) After completing and signing the form, a training provider seeking approval must submit an electronic copy of the form as a PDF file to the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice as described on the form. The Department will conduct two review periods each year, with deadlines for submitting applications on or before February 1 for a review period of February 1-April 2 and on or before July 1, for a review period of July 1 – August 30. This requires that all applications and supporting documentation must be received by the Department on or before these dates.

(c) The Commissioner of Education or designee shall appoint a review team to review charter school governance training plans. The review team shall be composed of individuals with knowledge in education, finance, governance and law. A training plan submitted for approval to the Department will be reviewed within sixty (60) days of the deadlines listed in paragraph (3)(b) of this rule to determine compliance with the components identified in paragraph (2)(b) of this rule.

(d) The review team’s findings will be consolidated and provided as recommendations to the Commissioner or designee. Using the recommendations of the review team, the Commissioner or designee shall determine if the provider has met the criteria for approval or denial. Within ten (10) working days following the Commissioner’s or designee’s determination, the Department shall send a written notification to the proposed provider regarding the outcome of the training plan review.

(e) The names of training providers whose training plans have been approved to meet requirements of Section 1002.33(9)(k), F.S., will be posted on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org.

(f) A notice of denial shall be sent to proposed training providers who submitted plans that do not comply with the components identified in paragraph (2)(b) of this rule. The notice of denial will identify specific areas of program weakness that must be corrected prior to reconsideration for approval. The provider may correct the application and resubmit on the next available submission deadline outlined in paragraph (3)(b) of this rule.

(4) Length of approval and renewal of training plans.

(a) Each approval or extension shall be granted for a period of time determined by the Department of Education, but shall not exceed two (2) years from the date of approval.

(b) No earlier than six (6) months prior to the expiration of approval, a training provider may submit a request for renewal of an approved training plan by completing and submitting Form IEPC-10, Charter School Governance Training, Application to Renew an Approved Training Plan. Form IEPC-10 is hereby incorporated by reference effective November 2023 (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-16023) and will be available electronically on the Department’s website at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org or may be obtained from the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(c) A request for training plan renewal submitted for approval to the Department will be reviewed within sixty (60) days of receipt to determine continued compliance with the components identified in paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(b) of this rule. Within ten (10) working days following the Commissioner’s or designee’s determination, the provider will be notified in writing of the Department’s decision to renew the plan or not to renew. If a training plan is not renewed, a provider may submit a new training plan to the Department as described in paragraphs (3)(a) and (b) of this rule.

(5) Report of governing board training.

(a) Each training provider offering an approved training program in accordance with this rule shall submit a report of each governing board’s training to the Department and a copy of the report to the charter school director within thirty (30) days of the training. The charter school director is responsible for providing a copy of the report to the school’s sponsor within ten (10) days of receiving the report from the trainer.

(b) The report shall be submitted using the IEPC-11 form. Form IEPC-11 is hereby incorporated by reference to become effective with the effective date of this rule. Copies of the form may be obtained electronically on the Department’s website. The report shall be submitted electronically to the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(c) Each training provider offering an approved charter school governance training program shall provide a certificate of participation to every governing board member who completes the training and achieves the training objectives as stated in the training plan.

(6) A charter school governing board composed entirely of “school officers” as defined in Section 1012.01, F.S., may comply with the requirements of this rule by providing documentation that they have received charter school governance training consistent with this rule. Documentation of charter school governance training shall be submitted to the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 522, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400, and must include:

(a) Date and location of charter school governance training received.

(b) Name, contact information, qualifications, and experience of all persons actively involved in providing charter school governance training.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1002.33(28) FS. Law Implemented 1002.33(9)(j)5., FS. History–New 7-21-08, Amended 12-15-09, 11-21-23.