Senate committee advances SB 1618 to revise preK–12 standards, literacy and teacher requirements

The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre K–12 Education on Oct. 12, 2025, reported SB 1618, as amended, favorably after a technical amendment and discussion of program details. Senator Collado, sponsor of SB 1618, explained the measure and the committee adopted a late technical amendment to align implementation with prior House legislation affecting private schools in specific counties.

The bill, as described by Senator Collado, would make multiple changes across the prekindergarten through grade 12 system: it would give parents more flexibility to withdraw and reenroll children in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, expand agricultural education to include history and social and economic impacts, require a cost- and funding-source component in a mandated high-school financial literacy course, and refocus state academic standard documents on standards and benchmarks. For literacy, SB 1618 requires that intensive reading interventions be delivered by instructional personnel who hold either a micro-credential or a reading certification/endorsement. The bill also includes provisions to prohibit use of district funds for "political or social activism" as defined by the State Board of Education, permit schools to purchase and store emergency opioid antagonists beyond naloxone, require parental consent for corporal punishment in public schools, allow certain American Board certificates as a pathway to a professional teaching certificate, remove background screening exemptions for educator certification, and change how the School Recognition Program awards bonuses so they are tied to personnel who directly impacted student performance rather than advisory councils.

Committee members asked for clarifications. Senator Osgood asked how the Senate bill differs from the House bill; Collado said the Senate version omits a requirement for embryological instruction in grades 6–12 found in the House measure and does not include a House math tiered-support component. Senator Osgood also raised concerns about whether non-teaching staff, such as paraprofessionals and educational support personnel (ESPs), would be eligible for recognition incentive dollars; Collado said the bill as drafted emphasizes instructional personnel but welcomed further discussion on including paraprofessionals.

A late-filed technical amendment (barcode 847,128) by Senator Cladijud was presented as a fix to language from last year’s House Bill 1285 to ensure consistent implementation for impacted private schools in Brevard, Clay and Sarasota counties; the committee adopted the amendment without recorded opposition. One appearance form was filed in support of the bill (McKenna Davis representing Indivior, who waived speaking time). After debate and closing remarks by the sponsor, Amanda (committee clerk) called the roll and the committee recorded the bill as reported favorably; the roll call is in the committee record.

SB 1618 remains subject to further consideration in subsequent committee stops and any changes adopted on other floors.