Section 1008.36, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

1008.36 Florida School Recognition Program.

The School Recognition Program recognizes the high quality of many of Florida's public schools. As authorized in Section 1008.36, the program provides greater autonomy and financial awards to schools that demonstrate sustained or significantly improved student performance. Schools eligible for school recognition demonstrated exemplary improvement by one of the following:

• Receiving a school grade of "A;” or
• Improving at least one letter grade over the previous year; or
• Improving more than one letter grade and sustaining the improvement the following school year.

Schools designated as Alternative Schools that receive a school improvement rating of “Improving” or improve at least one level are also eligible for school recognition. Funds for the Florida School Recognition Program shall be awarded by the Commissioner of Education in the amount of $85 per Full Time Equivalent student for each qualifying school.

The staff and school advisory council at each recognized school jointly decide how to use the financial award. As specified in statute, schools must use their awards for one or any combination of the following:

• Nonrecurring faculty and staff bonuses;
• Nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment and materials; or
• Temporary personnel to assist in maintaining or improving student performance.

If school staff and the school advisory council cannot reach agreement by November 1, 2008, the awards must be equally distributed to all classroom teachers currently teaching in the school.

The final school recognition list for 2008 includes 1,959 schools and $147,159,730 in awards. School recognition awards will be distributed in late September 2008.

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