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CS/CS/SB 240 — Education
by Fiscal Policy Committee; Education Pre-K - 12 Committee; and Senators Hutson, Simon, and Avila
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Education Pre-K -12 Committee (ED)
The bill provides supports for district school boards, Florida College System institutions, and other stakeholders in Florida’s workforce development system to provide students with high-quality career and technical education (CTE) and other workforce education programs.
The bill provides financial supports for middle and high school CTE. Specifically, the bill:
- Provides $100 million for district school boards and colleges to fund the creation or expansion of CTE programs that serve secondary students.
- Authorizes secondary CTE programs to be funded according to the cost of the programs.
- Removes limitations on bonus funding for middle school students in CTE programs.
- Provides additional bonus funding within the Florida Education Finance Program for select achievements in CTE.
The bill supports CTE pathways for students. Specifically, the bill:
- Adds continuity through controlled open enrollment for middle school students to continue their CTE programs in high school.
- Enhances career and academic plans through an online career planning system, and requires parents to be provided information about CTE opportunities and benefits.
- Expands options for students to earn credit through extracurricular participation in career and technical student organizations.
- Expands the CTE credit options to meet high school graduation requirements.
The bill strengthens opportunities for students to engage in work-based learning by:
- Establishing regional education and industry consortia to meet and report to local workforce development boards the most effective ways to grow, retain, and attract talent.
- Requiring each district school board to provide all students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 with at least one work-based learning opportunity, and requiring each school district to host an annual career fair.
- Requiring the Florida Talent Development Council to identify barriers and best practices in the facilitation of work-based learning opportunities.
The bill provides flexibility for district school boards in recruiting CTE teachers. The bill:
- Provides discretion to district school boards to certify instructors to teach CTE programs.
- Requires school boards to award teachers inservice credit toward renewal of a professional certificate for supporting students in extracurricular CTE activities.
The bill authorizes school district career centers to offer associate in applied science and associate in science degrees, beginning July 1, 2024, subject to a specified approval process to the State Board of Education (SBE).
The bill restores to district school boards and state colleges the responsibility for approving workforce education programs that have a statewide curriculum framework developed by the Department of Education.
The bill provides flexibility for the Credentials Review Committee (Committee) in designating credentials of value. The bill:
- Authorizes the Committee to consider both information provided by the Labor Market Statistics Center within the Department of Economic Opportunity related to short-term demand and long-term data of the Labor Market Estimating Conference as factors in the development of the criteria for identifying credentials of value.
- Authorizes the Committee to consider additional evidence to identify credentials of value for agricultural occupations.
- Removes the requirement for the Committee to develop a returned-value performance funding formula for colleges and career centers.
The bill enhances the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List (Funding List), which is used to incent credentials of value for CTE programs. The bill:
- Provides flexibility to CTE programs to choose the courses in which students may earn industry certifications identified in the Funding List.
- Requires the SBE to submit to the Legislature three tiers for postsecondary certifications on the Funding List according to anticipated wages.
The bill provides flexibility in the administration of certain state financial aid and grant programs. The bill:
- Removes the requirement for career centers and state colleges that all programs offered to meet local workforce demand include a money-back guarantee for employment.
- Converts the Open Door Grant Program to a financial aid program for students of a state college or career center to incent current and future workers to enroll in CTE that leads to a credential, certificate, or degree.
- Provides flexibility for the state administration of the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program and removes the limitation that the grant award may only be used for establishing or expanding apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.
The bill provides additional directives to the Florida Endowment for Vocational Rehabilitation to support employment and training for persons with disabilities, and extends the repeal date of the endowment.
The bill requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to conduct a study of CTE statewide articulation agreements and report to the Legislature by November 1, 2023.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2023.
Vote: Senate 40-0; House 114-0