Hurricane Milton Guidance Memo_10-8-24
MEMORANDUM
FROM: Manny Diaz, Jr. Commissioner of Education
TO: School District Superintendents
DATE: October 8, 2024
SUBJECT: Hurricane Milton Guidance
As Hurricane Milton approaches, supporting students, families and educators is our priority. On October 2, 2024, I sent a memo to provide guidance to districts affected by Hurricane Helene. This new memo now serves to give guidance to districts affected by Hurricane Milton.
Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order (EO) 24-215 on October 6, 2024, amending EO 24-214 and declaring a state of emergency for 51 counties because of the severe threat posed by Hurricane Milton. Multiple districts in Florida are expected to experience significant impacts from this new system.
Please see updated guidance below that will be helpful to districts in light of Hurricane Milton. School district personnel should direct questions to the contacts for each section listed below.
Information regarding enrollment for displaced students, supports for students with disabilities, and Purple Star School and District applications from the Hurricane Helene Guidance Memo sent October 2, 2024, is still applicable.
Survey 2 Reporting
The Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) General Instructions publication establishes the attendance window for reporting FTE student enrollment as the five days during survey week which is October 7, 2024, through October 11, 2024, and the six days prior to survey week that schools were in session. However, two alternative attendance windows are available to districts impacted by Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton. A school district that was closed for at least one day due to Hurricane Helene between September 27 and October 11 may use an alternative attendance window that is the 11 days that schools were in session immediately preceding Thursday, September 26, 2024. A school district that was closed for at least one day due to Hurricane Milton between October 7 and October 11 may use an alternative attendance window that is the 11 days that schools were in session immediately preceding Monday, October 7, 2024. A school district that was closed for both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton may use either attendance window. Charter schools must use the attendance window selected by the district in which they are located. Currently, the department does not anticipate waiving any instructional hours.
Contact: Shawna Reid
Executive Staff Director, Division of Technology and Innovation Shawna.Reid@fldoe.org
850-245-9070
Individual Educational Plan (IEP) Meetings
IEP meetings initially scheduled during September 27-October 11, 2024, in which the district was closed for at least one day due to Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton, but rescheduled because of Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton at a later date and held within two weeks of reopening school, are valid through the October 2024 survey. Documentation must be maintained by the district explaining the reason(s) for the rescheduled meeting. IEP meetings must be rescheduled as soon as is practicable.
Districts with unique circumstances may contact the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services.
Contact: Alice Schmitges
Chief, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Alice.Schmitges@fldoe.org
850-245-0903
Fall 2024 EOC/FAST Retake Assessment Window
Due to school closures, the Fall 2024 EOC and FAST Retake testing window has been extended to October 18.
Districts with unique circumstances may contact the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement.
Contact: Jenny Black
Director, Test Administration, Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment Jenny.Black@fldoe.org
850-245-9470
Hurricane Helene Guidance – The memo below was distributed by Adam Emerson, Executive Director, Office of Independent Education & Parental Choice, Florida Department of Education- October 7, 2024. It provides guidance based on questions shared by school districts related to Hurricane Helene. School district personnel should direct questions to the contacts for each section listed below.
MEMORANDUM
FROM: Manny Diaz, Jr. Commissioner of Education
TO: School District Superintendents
DATE: October 2, 2024
SUBJECT: Hurricane Helene Guidance
Thank you for supporting students, families and educators during this time, especially for the districts impacted by Hurricane Helene. This memo is intended to provide you with guidance due to Hurricane Helene; please let us know if we can provide additional information.
Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order (EO) 24-209 on September 24, 2024, amending EO 24-208 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties because of the severe threat posed by Hurricane Helene. Multiple districts in Florida have experienced significant impacts from this system.
The department has compiled the following guidance based on questions shared by school districts related to Hurricane Helene. School district personnel should direct questions to the contacts for each section listed below.
Survey 2 Reporting
The Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) General Instructions publication establishes the attendance window for reporting FTE student enrollment as the five days during survey week which is October 7, 2024, through October 11, 2024, and the six days prior to survey week that schools were in session. However, an alternative attendance window is available to districts impacted by the hurricane. Each school district that was closed for at least one day due to the hurricane between September 27 and October 11 may use an alternative attendance window. The alternative attendance window is the 11 days that schools were in session immediately preceding Thursday, September 26, 2024. Charter schools must use the attendance window selected by the district in which they are located. Currently, the department does not anticipate waiving any instructional hours.
Contact: Shawna Reid
Executive Staff Director, Division of Technology and Innovation Shawna.Reid@fldoe.org
850-245-9070
Progress Monitoring (PM) 1 Assessment Window
Due to school closures, the Fall 2024 testing windows have been extended.
- PM1 (K–2 and 3–10): will now end on October 4.
- Fall 2024 EOCs and FAST Retake: will now end on October 11.Districts with unique circumstances may contact the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement.Contact: Jenny Black
Director, Test Administration, Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment Jenny.Black@fldoe.org
850-245-9470Enrollment for Displaced StudentsFor questions related to student enrollment, immunizations, age verification or transcripts, please contact the Office of Student Services.Contact: Dr. Andrew Weatherill Senior Director, Student Services Andrew.Weatherill@fldoe.org 850-245-7840Supports for Students with Disabilities
To the extent possible, districts should follow existing procedures regarding transfer students according to Rule 6A-6.0334, Florida Administrative Code. If records are not available, accept and document the parent/guardian’s statement that the student is a student with a disability. Based upon the information available, determine the most appropriate placement and program, obtain parental consent for services, develop an individual educational plan (IEP), provide services as soon as possible, and continue to request the records. Monitor the student’s progress, proceed with consent for initial evaluations and eligibility procedures, and provide the parent with procedural safeguards.
Contact: Alice Schmitges
Chief, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services Alice.Schmitges@fldoe.org
850-245-0903
Financial Matters
The program period for the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund ended on September 30, 2024. Several local educational agencies (LEAs) have indicated that their ability to obligate remaining funds by issuing contracts or purchase orders was interrupted due to the closures caused by the hurricane, and these districts have requested an extension of the program period for these funds. The department does not currently have the authority to extend the program period for ARP ESSER, but has reached out to the U.S. Department of Education to request the authority to provide such extensions.
Contact: Miki Presley
Special Projects, Division of Finance and Operations Mari.Presley@fldoe.org
850-245-9426
Purple Star Schools and Districts Application
The application due date has been extended from September 30 to October 30. For more information, please contact the Bureau of Family and Community Outreach.
Contact: Dr. Andria Cole
Chief, Bureau of Family and Community Outreach Andria.Cole@fldoe.org
850-245-9470
Download the FLDOE memo here: Commissioner Memo-Hurricane Helene Guidance 10-2-24