Florida Senate Bill SB 46, sponsored by Florida State Sen. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando), unanimously passed through Senate Committee on Rule and is en route to the senate floor.
“I am pleased to see the Senate joining me in supporting legislation to improve education. By passing SB 46, we can give proper compensation to participating educators and students and incentivize participation in tutoring,” said Stewart.
If passed, SB 46, entitled “Reading Achievement Initiative for Scholastic Excellence (R.A.I.S.E.) Program” would expand the pre-existing R.A.I.S.E. program to include after-school tutoring. It would also allow school districts to provide a stipend to students and instructional personnel participating in the program. The bill clarifies that unpaid hours for instructors can be counted toward community service hours required for high school graduation.
The R.A.I.S.E. Program was instituted by the Florida Legislature in 2021 to improve literacy rates across the state.
