HB 1313 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to education; creating s. 1007.273, F.S.;
3	authorizing the Commissioner of Education to encourage the
4	use of accelerated education mechanisms, including dual
5	enrollment, to help achieve class-size reduction;
6	requiring the commissioner to include in his budget
7	request specified funds for community colleges; requiring
8	the commissioner to submit an annual report to the
9	Legislature; providing an effective date.
10
11	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13	Section 1. Section 1007.273, Florida Statutes, is created
14	to read:
15	1007.273 Accelerated education to assist in class-size
16	reduction.--
17	(1) In an effort to assist in class-size reduction, the
18	Commissioner of Education is authorized to encourage the use of
19	accelerated education mechanisms, including dual enrollment as
20	authorized under ss. 1007.271 and 1007.272. The commissioner
21	shall include in his budget request funds for community
22	colleges, including:
23	(a) Weighted full-time-equivalent funding for college-
24	credit and vocational dual enrollment courses offered by
25	community colleges. The Articulation Coordinating Committee of
26	the department shall provide recommendations for weighted
27	funding to the commissioner.
28	(b) Funding to reimburse the community college for the
29	tuition and laboratory fees for dual enrollment and vocational
30	dual enrollment students.
31	(c) Vouchers to cover the cost of instructional materials
32	for home education students.
33	(2) The Commissioner of Education shall submit to the
34	Legislature an annual report on the performance of students in
35	accelerated education. The report must include, but need not be
36	limited to, information on grade point averages, retention,
37	credits earned, demographic characteristics of students served,
38	and other measures that the commissioner considers relevant.
39	Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.