The Florida Legislature passed the Education Reform and Accountability Act in May 1991 to provide clear guidelines for developing a new system of school improvement and accountability. Most importantly, it returned the responsibility for education to those closest to the students-schools, teachers, and parents.
Blueprint 2000 calls for Florida's public schools to develop school improvement plans. The initial plans were fully implemented and operational by the 1993-94 school year. The process for developing school improvement plans followed three steps.
First, schools conducted needs assessment and needs response plans. The first assessment and response plans were submitted to the Florida Commission on Education Reform and Accountability in November 1991. Second, schools developed annual school improvement plans that addressed the state education goals (August 1992). Third, initial school improvement plans were implemented (in August 1993).
Blueprint 2000 included a provision for creating a Florida Commission on Education Reform and Accountability. The Commission is co-chaired by the lieutenant governor and the commissioner of education. Its membership consists of three teachers, a school principal, a superintendent, a vocational educator, a testing expert, three parents, six legislators, a school board member, a dean of a Florida college of education, and three representatives from the business community.
The Commission is responsible for: 1) recommending to the legislature and state board of education the components of a system for school improvement and education accountability, and 2) serving as an advisory body to oversee the development, establishment, implementation, and maintenance of the system.