New Florida Laws Went Into Effect on July 1.

Several new laws designed to advance alternatives to traditional public schools also will go into effect July 1.

1. One (HB 7107) directs the Department of Education to expand online learning options and require students who enter high school this fall to take at least one virtual course before they graduate.
2. Another (HB 1329) expands an existing voucher program that lets disabled students attend private schools at taxpayer expense to children with afflictions such as allergies, asthma and diabetes.
3. A third (SB 1546) offers more training and technical assistance to charter schools and longer contracts and other benefits to those with high performance ratings.
4. Another education-related law (SB 228) is designed to prohibit students from wearing "droopy drawers" but requiring school districts to pass dress codes that prohibit the wearing of clothing in a revealing or disruptive way.