Lawmakers move to implement year-round school pilot program

by | Mar 31, 2023



  • The House Education & Employment Committee unanimously approved House Bill 891, which aims to establish a year-round school pilot program in Florida for a period of four years, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.
  • The pilot program will require participating districts to implement a single or multi-track schedule and provide specific data to the Department of Education (DOE) for the assessment of the benefits of a year-round program.
  • The bill also authorizes the State Board of Education, upon completion of the program, to provide a report to the Governor and Legislature, including recommendations for the adoption of year-round school programs for all students.

House Bill 891, introduced by Rep. Patricia Williams, was unanimously approved by the House Education & Employment Committee on Friday. The bill aims to establish a year-round school pilot program for a period of four years, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year.

Currently, Florida schools operate on a traditional 180-day schedule, with an eight or nine-month period of consecutive education followed by vacation. However, as Williams pointed out, the state also authorizes year-round schools, which have shorter and staggered vacation periods over an eleven or twelve-month period.

“[This pilot] will evaluate the potential barriers school districts may face in establishing a year-round schedule,” said Williams. “Including … issues related to employee commitment, service during the summers, budgeting modification, parent engagement, and community service engagements from the students.”

Under the legislation, school districts can apply to participate in the pilot program and the Commissioner of Education will select five districts to trial the scheduling. The schools selected will be chosen on a basis that allows for the representation of a variety of demographics, including urban, suburban, and rural districts.

The pilot program will require participating districts to implement a single or multi-track schedule and provide specific data to the Department of Education (DOE) for the assessment of the benefits of a year-round program.

The bill also authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules to administer the program, and upon completion of the program, the commissioner will provide a report to the Governor and Legislature, including recommendations for the adoption of year-round school programs for all students.

Williams’ bill comes as the Legislature is also deliberating later school start times, with a bill mandating middle school classes begin no earlier than 8 A.M., and 8:30 A.M. for high schools working through committees.

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