Florida Senate Unanimously Passes Bill to Streamline Public School Operations

Florida lawmakers are moving to cut through red tape in the state’s public education system. This past week, the Senate unanimously passed a new measure aimed at reducing bureaucratic burdens on local school districts and giving schools more flexibility to operate efficiently. The bill, CS/SB 166, cleared the chamber with a 37-0 vote and now heads to the House of Representatives.

Sponsored by Senator Cory Simon and backed by the Senate’s Fiscal Policy Committee, the bill introduces a series of changes that give school districts more freedom in how they manage their operations. Among them is the removal of some state-imposed rule-making requirements, which supporters say will save time and resources at the local level. It also eliminates the requirement for certain districts to hire internal auditors, allowing school boards to make decisions based on their specific needs rather than one-size-fits-all mandates.

The legislation also makes adjustments to how schools can hire and retain teachers. Innovation-focused schools of technology would be able to offer multiyear contracts instead of being limited to annual ones, a shift designed to provide more stability for both teachers and schools. Updates to teacher salary structures are also included, clarifying which advanced degrees can count toward pay raises for newly hired educators and school administrators.

Changes in the bill extend to early childhood education as well. Attendance policies for the state’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program are being revised, giving schools and families more flexibility in how attendance is tracked and enforced. On the high school side, the legislation adjusts graduation assessment requirements, part of a broader effort to make sure students are evaluated in ways that reflect real-world skills and learning.

Another piece of the bill opens up more opportunities for individuals to participate in Florida’s Teacher Apprenticeship Program, an initiative aimed at addressing ongoing teacher shortages by creating new paths into the profession.

The bill passed through every committee without a single “no” vote—an increasingly rare feat in today’s political climate. Lawmakers across the aisle signaled support for giving schools the tools they need to focus less on paperwork and more on teaching.

The measure is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, though some provisions may begin sooner. As it now heads to the House, the strong bipartisan support in the Senate suggests it could continue to move quickly.

For Florida’s public schools, the message is clear: more trust, more flexibility, and a renewed focus on what matters most—educating students.