Startup grant for autism charter schools.

(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.—

(a) The Legislature finds that students identified as having autism spectrum disorder may require highly specialized educational environments and resources to achieve their full potential.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to support the creation of schools exclusively serving this population by providing startup funding to offset the costs of developing and implementing these specialized programs.

(2) ADMINISTRATION.—

(a) The University of Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment shall oversee the application, evaluation, and distribution of grants under this section.

(b) The center shall develop guidelines for grant administration, including:

1. Application procedures and deadlines.

2. Criteria for program eligibility and funding priorities.

3. Reporting and accountability standards for grant recipients.

4. A preapproval process to assist applicants with planning in the charter school application process under s. 1002.33(6) and (7).

(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND USE OF FUNDS.—

(a) The guidelines developed by the center must, at a minimum, require applicants, before approval for a startup grant, to:

1. Demonstrate intent, in accordance with guidelines developed by the center, to establish or expand a charter school pursuant to s. 1002.33, or a laboratory school under s. 1002.32, to serve exclusively students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and classified as exceptional students under s. 1003.01(9).

2. Provide evidence of community need and stakeholder support, which may include letters of intent to enroll from families or organizations.

3. Submit a detailed plan outlining:

a. Instructional methods and proposed support services, including evidence-based practices for students with autism.

b. Family engagement and strategies for coordinating necessary services for students outside of school hours and as students transition to adulthood.

c. Anticipated startup costs and a budget for use of grant funds.

d. Strategies for leveraging other federal and state funding.

4. Provide evidence of financial stability and programmatic expertise.

5. Attest to compliance with state and federal laws.

(b) Grants may be used for the following purposes:

1. Facility acquisition, renovation, or modification.

2. Purchase or development of specialized instructional materials, curriculum, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment.

3. Recruitment, salaries, and training of staff experienced in working with students with autism and significant cognitive disabilities.

4. Student transportation.

5. Ancillary equipment related to student safety.

(4) FUNDING AND GRANT AMOUNTS.—

(a) The grant is subject to legislative appropriation.

(b) The center shall annually determine the maximum grant amount for each school on the basis of the annual appropriation in relation to projected applications.

(c) The center may prioritize grants for schools in the following priority:

1. Programs serving rural and underserved areas.

2. Programs serving other underserved areas.

3. Programs with demonstrable success in establishing and operating a charter school exclusively for students with autism and related disorders.

4. Programs that use existing facilities.

(d) An applicant may not receive funds until the applicant has received approval from a sponsoring entity to operate a charter school or modify an existing charter pursuant to s. 1002.33(6) and (7), or has established a school advisory body for a laboratory school in accordance with s. 1002.32(8).

(5) REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY.—Grant recipients must submit an annual report to the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment detailing:

(a) How grant funds were expended.

(b) Enrollment and program outcomes following the first complete school year of operation.

(c) Challenges encountered and recommendations for improvement.