(1) For purposes of the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program, the term “classroom teacher” means a certified teacher employed by a public school district or a public charter school in that district on or before September 1 of each year whose full-time or job-share responsibility is the classroom instruction of students in prekindergarten through grade 12, including full-time media specialists and certified school counselors serving students in prekindergarten through grade 12, who are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program. A “job-share” classroom teacher is one of two teachers whose combined full-time equivalent employment for the same teaching assignment equals one full-time classroom teacher. The term “classroom teacher” may also include an administrator or a substitute teacher who holds a valid teaching certificate who is filling a vacancy in an identified teaching position on or before September 1 of each year.
(2) The amount of funds per classroom teacher for the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program shall be specified in the General Appropriations Act. Classroom teachers shall use the funds to purchase, on behalf of the school district or charter school, classroom materials and supplies for the public school students assigned to them, and the funds may not be used to purchase equipment. The funds shall be used to supplement the materials and supplies otherwise available to classroom teachers.
1(3) For classroom teachers determined eligible on July 1, the district school board and each charter school board shall provide such classroom teachers with their amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act by August 1. For classroom teachers determined eligible after July 1, the district school board and each charter school board shall provide such classroom teachers with their amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act by September 30. A job-share classroom teacher may receive a prorated share of the amount provided to a full-time classroom teacher. (4) The Department of Education shall administer a competitive procurement through which eligible classroom teachers may purchase classroom materials and supplies. Annually, by September 1, each school district shall submit to the department:(a) The name of each eligible classroom teacher.
(b) The proportionate share of the amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act for each eligible job-share classroom teacher.
(c) The name and Master School Identification Number of the school in which the eligible classroom teacher is assigned.
(d) Any other information necessary for the administration of the program as determined by the department.
(5) Each classroom teacher must keep receipts for no less than 4 years to show that funds expended meet the requirements of this section. Any unused funds shall be deposited into the school advisory council account of the school at which the classroom teacher was employed when the funds were made available to the classroom teacher. If the school does not have a school advisory council, the funds shall be expended for classroom materials and supplies as determined by the school principal.
1Note.—As amended by s. 50, ch. 2023-245. For a description of multiple acts in the same session affecting a statutory provision, see preface to the Florida Statutes, “Statutory Construction.” Subsection (3) was also amended by s. 9, ch. 2023-102, and that version reads:(3) From the funds allocated to each school district and any funds received from local contributions for the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program, the district school board shall calculate an identical amount for each classroom teacher who is estimated to be employed by the school district or a charter school in the district on September 1 of each year, which is that teacher’s proportionate share of the total amount allocated to the district from state funds and funds received from local contributions. A job-share classroom teacher may receive a prorated share of the amount provided to a full-time classroom teacher. The school district shall calculate a prorated share of the funds for a classroom teacher who teaches less than full time. For a classroom teacher determined eligible on July 1, the district school board and each charter school board may provide the teacher with his or her total proportionate share by August 1 based on the estimate of the number of teachers who will be employed on September 1. For a classroom teacher determined eligible after July 1, the district school board and each charter school board shall provide the teacher with his or her total proportionate share by September 30. The proportionate share may be provided by any means determined appropriate by the district school board or charter school board, including, but not limited to, direct deposit, check, debit card, or purchasing card. If a debit card is used, an identifier must be placed on the front of the debit card which clearly indicates that the card has been issued for the Florida Teachers Classroom Supply Assistance Program. Expenditures under the program are not subject to state or local competitive bidding requirements. Funds received by a classroom teacher do not affect wages, hours, or terms and conditions of employment and, therefore, are not subject to collective bargaining. Any classroom teacher may decline receipt of or return the funds without explanation or cause.
