CS/HB 7147

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to postsecondary education enhancements;
3requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
4Government Accountability to conduct a study of certain
5enrollment forecasting models; requiring a final report;
6requiring the Department of Education to conduct a review
7of certain courses in the statewide course numbering
8system and update the system as appropriate; requiring a
9report; requiring nonpublic postsecondary institutions
10that participate in statewide course numbering to provide
11certain information in their catalogs; requiring the
12department's website to include certain information;
13requiring the department to review certain examinations
14and recommend articulated acceleration mechanisms;
15amending s. 1007.33, F.S.; identifying the areas in which
16community colleges may propose to deliver baccalaureate
17degree programs; removing requirement that proposal be
18submitted to the Council for Education Policy Research and
19Improvement for review; providing an effective date.
20
21Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23     Section 1.  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
24Government Accountability (OPPAGA) shall conduct a study of the
25higher education enrollment forecasting models currently used in
26the state. The study must analyze the current models and provide
27options for improvements. The review shall specifically examine
28ways to include Florida's changing demographics in the
29forecasts. During the course of the study OPPAGA shall consult
30with staff from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
31A final report with recommendations shall be submitted to the
32President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
33Representatives by February 1, 2008.
34     Section 2.  (1)  The Department of Education shall conduct
35a comprehensive review of the courses that are listed in the
36statewide course numbering system to:
37     (a)  Identify courses that are listed in the system that
38have not been taught at an institution for the preceding 5
39years;
40     (b)  Identify courses of nonpublic postsecondary
41institutions that may be inappropriately designated as
42equivalent for purposes of transfer of credit; and
43     (c)  Update the statewide course numbering system as
44appropriate based on these findings.
45     (2)  The Department of Education shall submit a report of
46its findings and actions to the President of the Senate and the
47Speaker of the House of Representatives by February 1, 2008.
48     (3)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule to
49the contrary, any nonpublic postsecondary institution, as a
50condition of initial or continued participation in the statewide
51course numbering system, shall identify in all of its catalogs,
52printed or electronic, the specific courses offered by the
53institution that are included in the statewide course numbering
54system.
55     (4)  No later than July 1, 2008, the Department of
56Education shall develop and maintain in the department's website
57a listing of all courses in the statewide course numbering
58system and the institutions that offer each course. The listing
59shall be available to the public. Each institution that
60participates in the statewide course numbering system shall
61include in all of its catalogs, printed or electronic, a
62statement advising the reader of the website address and its use
63as a resource for information on the transferability of credits
64to other Florida institutions.
65     Section 3.  No later than March 1, 2008, the Department of
66Education shall review the Excelsior College Examinations (ECE)
67and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
68(DANTES) standardized subject area tests (DSST) and recommend to
69the State Board of Education, the Board of Governors, the
70President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
71Representatives any examination that should be identified as an
72articulated acceleration mechanism under s. 1007.27, Florida
73Statutes. The department shall also identify the minimum scores,
74maximum credit, and course or courses for which credit is to be
75awarded for each examination recommended by the department.
76     Section 4.  Subsection (3) of section 1007.33, Florida
77Statutes, is amended to read:
78     1007.33  Site-determined baccalaureate degree access.--
79     (3)  A community college may develop a proposal to deliver
80specified baccalaureate degree programs in the areas of teaching
81and nursing and in the areas of math and science for the purpose
82of preparing graduates to enter a teaching position and to
83deliver bachelor of applied science workforce-related degrees in
84high need/high demand majors its district to meet local
85workforce needs. The bachelor of applied science degree is a
86workforce baccalaureate degree designed primarily for associate
87in science degree holders desiring career advancement or
88advanced technical training. The proposal must be submitted to
89the State Board of Education for approval. The community
90college's proposal must include the following information:
91     (a)  Demand for the baccalaureate degree program is
92identified by the workforce development board, local businesses
93and industry, local chambers of commerce, and potential
94students.
95     (b)  Unmet need for graduates of the proposed degree
96program is substantiated.
97     (c)  The community college has the facilities and academic
98resources to deliver the program.
99
100The proposal must be submitted to the Council for Education
101Policy Research and Improvement for review and comment. Upon
102approval of the State Board of Education for the specific degree
103program or programs, the community college shall pursue regional
104accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
105Association of Colleges and Schools. Any additional
106baccalaureate degree programs the community college wishes to
107offer must be approved by the State Board of Education.
108     Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.