Florida Senate - 2023 SB 240
By Senator Hutson
7-00836E-23 2023240__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 14.36, F.S.;
3 requiring the Office of Reimagining Education and
4 Career Help to work with other specified entities to
5 provide certain information relating to workforce
6 development boards; revising the goals of workforce
7 development boards and duties of the office; amending
8 s. 216.135, F.S.; requiring state agencies to ensure
9 certain work product is consistent with information
10 produced by specified entities; amending s. 216.136,
11 F.S.; deleting a provision relating to the Labor
12 Market Estimating Conference; making technical
13 changes; amending s. 445.003, F.S.; revising
14 requirements for training providers to be included on
15 a state or local eligible training provider list;
16 deleting requirements and eligibility criteria for the
17 Department of Economic Opportunity and the Department
18 of Education regarding the establishment of minimum
19 criteria for an eligible training provider list;
20 amending s. 445.004, F.S.; revising the list of
21 credentials that must be included on the Master
22 Credentials List; requiring the director of the Office
23 of Reimagining Education and Career Help to serve as
24 the chair of the Credentials Review Committee;
25 revising the criteria used to determine the value for
26 nondegree credentials and degree programs; requiring
27 that credentials remain on the list for a specified
28 time; deleting the requirement that the Credentials
29 Review Committee develop a returned-value funding
30 formula; conforming provisions to changes made by the
31 act; amending s. 445.006, F.S.; removing a provision
32 relating to federal waivers; amending s. 445.007,
33 F.S.; requiring each local workforce development board
34 to create an education and industry consortium;
35 requiring the consortia to provide quarterly reports
36 to their local boards containing specified information
37 and requiring local boards to consider the information
38 provided for a specified purpose; providing for the
39 appointment and terms of consortia members and the
40 filling of vacancies; prohibiting local workforce
41 development board members from serving as a consortium
42 member; amending s. 445.009, F.S.; conforming a
43 provision to changes made by the act; removing a
44 requirement for certain training services; amending s.
45 445.038, F.S.; providing requirements for certain jobs
46 to be eligible for job training; amending s. 446.071,
47 F.S.; revising the entities that may be a local
48 apprenticeship sponsor; amending s. 446.0915, F.S.;
49 providing that diversified education programs as a
50 paid work-based learning experience should be
51 prioritized; requiring that district school boards
52 ensure access to at least one work-based learning
53 opportunity to certain students; amending s. 446.54,
54 F.S.; authorizing specified employers to apply to the
55 Department of Financial Services for reimbursement of
56 workers’ compensation premiums paid for students
57 participating in work-based learning opportunities;
58 providing requirements for the application for
59 reimbursement and verification of information provided
60 on such applications; requiring that reimbursements be
61 made on a first-come, first-served basis; defining the
62 term “educational institution”; amending s. 464.0195,
63 F.S.; revising the primary goals of the Florida Center
64 for Nursing; requiring the center to submit a
65 specified report to the Governor and the Legislature
66 by a specified date each year; amending s. 1001.706,
67 F.S.; revising requirements used by the Board of
68 Governors to determine criteria for designating
69 baccalaureate degree and master’s degree programs as
70 high-demand programs of emphasis; amending s. 1002.31,
71 F.S.; requiring that the process used by each district
72 school board regarding controlled open enrollment
73 include enabling a student who completed certain
74 courses or a certain industry certification in middle
75 school to continue a sequential program of career and
76 technical education in the same concentration if such
77 program is offered by a high school in the district;
78 amending s. 1003.4156, F.S.; requiring that a
79 student’s personalized academic and career plan be
80 updated at least annually; amending s. 1003.4203,
81 F.S.; deleting a requirement that each district school
82 board provide to schools certain digital tools and
83 materials; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; revising the
84 credit requirements for a high school diploma;
85 authorizing credit to be awarded for participation in
86 certain career and technical student organizations;
87 requiring the State Board of Education to collaborate
88 with certain entities to facilitate the award of such
89 credit; requiring the department to convene a
90 workgroup to review and identify certain education
91 programs and pathways; amending s. 1003.4285, F.S.;
92 renaming the “Merit” designation as the “Industry
93 Scholar” designation; amending s. 1003.491, F.S.;
94 revising the data used in creating the strategic 3
95 year plan developed by the local school district and
96 specified entities; amending s. 1004.013, F.S.;
97 renaming the “workforce opportunity portal” as the
98 “consumer-first workforce system”; amending s.
99 1004.015, F.S.; providing additional duties for the
100 Florida Talent Development Council; requiring the
101 council to submit recommendations to the Governor and
102 the Legislature by a specified date; amending s.
103 1008.41, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made
104 by the act; amending s. 1008.44, F.S.; revising which
105 courses must be included on the CAPE Industry
106 Certification Funding List; providing the Department
107 of Education with authority to select certain digital
108 tool certificates; requiring the department to
109 annually review certain assessments; requiring that
110 the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List include
111 three funding tier designations; removing criteria
112 used by the Commissioner of Education in limiting
113 certain certifications and certificates; conforming
114 cross-references; amending s. 1009.895, F.S.; deleting
115 definitions; providing that the Open Door Grant
116 Program shall be administered by specified entities;
117 providing eligibility requirements; providing what the
118 grant award may cover; providing requirements for the
119 distribution of funds; deleting the requirement to
120 distribute a specified grant in certain ratios;
121 amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising the cost factor
122 for secondary career education programs; revising the
123 calculation for full-time equivalent student
124 membership with respect to dual enrollment students;
125 revising how funds are allocated for certain
126 certifications and education programs; reenacting and
127 amending s. 1011.80, F.S.; removing requirements
128 relating to the award of college credit under certain
129 conditions; authorizing certain entities to offer
130 continuing workforce education courses and programs
131 without prior approval by the State Board of
132 Education; requiring certain Florida College System
133 institutions and school districts to maintain certain
134 adequate records and produce certain reports; deleting
135 a requirement that a workforce education program must
136 be reviewed by the State Board of Education subject to
137 certain criteria for a Florida College System
138 Institution or school district to receive certain
139 funding; providing that new workforce education
140 programs must be approved by the board of trustees of
141 the institution or the district school board;
142 requiring each district school board to be provided
143 funds for each industry certification earned by a
144 student in specified areas; requiring the board to
145 adopt tiers for certain certifications; revising
146 funding requirements for industry certification earned
147 by workforce education students; amending s. 1011.801,
148 F.S.; requiring the Department of Education, rather
149 than the State Board of Education, to administer the
150 Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant
151 Program and conforming provisions to that change;
152 authorizing the State Board of Education to adopt
153 rules governing program administration; amending s.
154 1011.802, F.S.; revising requirements for the Florida
155 Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program;
156 limiting the potential grant award for each recipient;
157 providing duties for the Department of Education
158 regarding the grant program; authorizing the
159 department to grant a bonus in the award amount to
160 certain applicants; revising the amount of funding the
161 department may expend to administer the program;
162 amending s. 1011.803, F.S.; revising requirements for
163 the Money-back Guarantee Program; amending s. 1011.81,
164 F.S.; requiring that each Florida College System
165 institution receive funds for a specified purpose;
166 requiring the State Board of Education to adopt tiers
167 for specified certifications; revising how awards are
168 funded for certain certifications; amending s.
169 1012.39, F.S.; revising experience requirements for
170 nondegreed teachers; amending s. 1012.57, F.S.;
171 revising requirements for the award of an adjunct
172 teaching certificate; amending s. 1012.585, F.S.;
173 revising the process by which teachers may earn
174 inservice points; amending s. 1014.05, F.S.; requiring
175 each school district to adopt a policy to inform
176 parents or guardians about certain apprenticeships,
177 programs, and certifications; requiring the Office of
178 Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
179 to conduct a review of career statewide articulation
180 agreements; providing requirements for the review;
181 requiring the office to present its report to the
182 Legislature by a specified date; providing an
183 appropriation; providing that nondisbursed funds may
184 be carried forward for up to 2 years; providing an
185 appropriation; providing an effective date.
186
187 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
188
189 Section 1. Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) and subsection
190 (5) of section 14.36, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
191 14.36 Reimagining Education and Career Help Act.—The
192 Reimagining Education and Career Help Act is created to address
193 the evolving needs of Florida’s economy by increasing the level
194 of collaboration and cooperation among state businesses and
195 education communities while improving training within and equity
196 and access to a more integrated workforce and education system
197 for all Floridians.
198 (3) The duties of the office are to:
199 (h) Develop the criteria, in consultation with the
200 Department of Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida,
201 Inc., to provide information to the public which allows
202 consumers of the state’s workforce system to be notified of
203 performance and accountability measures and return on investment
204 for assigning a letter grade for each local workforce
205 development board under s. 445.004. The criteria shall, in part,
206 be based on local workforce development board performance
207 accountability measures and return on investment. The main goal
208 is to provide information to the public in a manner that will
209 display majority of the grade shall be based on the improvement
210 by each local workforce development board in the long-term self
211 sufficiency of participants through outcome measures such as
212 reduction in long-term public assistance and the percentage of
213 participants whose wages were higher after program completion
214 compared to wages before participation in a program. At a
215 minimum, the information shall include the assignment of a
216 letter grade for each local workforce development board
217 representing the improvement and other criteria adopted by the
218 office. The office may also develop criteria and display public
219 information that will assist the public in making informed
220 decisions when deciding to access the local workforce board or
221 one-stop career center.
222 (5) The office shall provide the public with access to
223 available federal, state, and local services and provide
224 stakeholders with a systemwide, global view of workforce related
225 program data across various programs through actionable
226 qualitative and quantitative information. The office shall:
227 (a) Minimize duplication and maximize the use of existing
228 resources by facilitating the adaptation and integration of
229 state information systems to improve usability and seamlessly
230 link to the consumer-first workforce system opportunity portal
231 and other compatible state information systems and applications
232 to help residents of the state:
233 1. Explore and identify career opportunities.
234 2. Identify in-demand jobs and associated earning
235 potential.
236 3. Identify the skills and credentials needed for specific
237 jobs.
238 4. Access a broad array of federal, state, and local
239 workforce related programs.
240 5. Determine the quality of workforce related programs
241 offered by public postsecondary educational institutions and
242 public and private training providers, based on employment,
243 wages, continued education, student loan debt, and receipt of
244 public assistance by graduates of workforce, certificate, or
245 degree programs. To gather this information, the office shall
246 review each workforce related program 1 year after the program’s
247 first graduating class and every 5 years after the first review.
248 6. Identify opportunities and resources to support
249 individuals along their career pathway.
250 7. Provide information to help individuals understand their
251 potential earnings through paid employment and cope with the
252 loss of public assistance as they progress through career
253 pathways toward self-sufficiency.
254 8. Map the timing and magnitude of the loss of public
255 assistance for in-demand occupations across the state to help
256 individuals visualize how their incomes will increase over time
257 as they move toward self-sufficiency.
258 (b) Provide access to labor market data consistent with the
259 official information developed by the Labor Market Estimating
260 Conference and the Labor Market Statistics Center within the
261 Department of Economic Opportunity and provide guidance on how
262 to analyze the data, the appropriate use of the data, and any
263 limitations of the data, including instances in which such data
264 may not be used.
265 (c) Maximize the use of the consumer-first workforce system
266 opportunity portal at locations within the workforce development
267 system.
268 (d) Maximize the use of available federal and private funds
269 appropriated for the development and initial operation of the
270 consumer-first workforce system opportunity portal. Any
271 incidental costs to state agencies must be derived from existing
272 resources.
273 (e) Annually, by December 1, 2022, and annually thereafter,
274 report to the Legislature on the implementation and outcomes of
275 the consumer-first workforce system opportunity portal,
276 including the increase of economic self-sufficiency of
277 individuals.
278 Section 2. Section 216.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to
279 read:
280 216.135 Use of official information by state agencies and
281 the judicial branch.—Each state agency and the judicial branch
282 shall use the official information developed by the consensus
283 estimating conferences in carrying out their duties under the
284 state planning and budgeting system. State agencies, including
285 their divisions, bureaus, and statutorily created entities, must
286 ensure that any related work product is consistent with the
287 official information developed by the Economic Estimating
288 Conference, the Demographic Estimating Conference, and the Labor
289 Market Estimating Conference, including, but not limited to,
290 work product related to nonfarm employment, civilian labor
291 force, labor force participation rate, civilian employment rate,
292 unemployed civilians, civilian unemployment rate, labor demand,
293 or labor supply.
294 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
295 216.136, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
296 216.136 Consensus estimating conferences; duties and
297 principals.—
298 (7) LABOR MARKET ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.—
299 (a) The Labor Market Estimating Conference shall develop
300 such official information with respect to real-time supply and
301 demand in Florida’s statewide and, regional, and local labor
302 markets as the conference determines is needed by the state’s
303 near-term and long-term state planning and budgeting system.
304 Such information must shall include labor supply by education
305 level, analyses of labor demand by occupational groups and
306 occupations compared to labor supply, and a ranking of critical
307 areas of concern, and identification of in-demand, high-skill,
308 middle-level to high-level wage occupations prioritized by level
309 of statewide or regional shortages. The Office of Economic and
310 Demographic Research is designated as the official lead for the
311 United States Census Bureau’s State Data Center Program or its
312 successor. All state agencies shall must provide the Office of
313 Economic and Demographic Research with the necessary data to
314 accomplish the goals of the conference. In accordance with s.
315 216.135, state agencies must ensure that any related work
316 product regarding labor demand and supply is consistent with the
317 official information developed by the Labor Market Estimating
318 Conference created in s. 216.136.
319 Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section
320 445.003, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
321 445.003 Implementation of the federal Workforce Innovation
322 and Opportunity Act.—
323 (7) DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.—The department shall adopt
324 rules to implement the requirements of this chapter, including:
325 (b) Initial and subsequent eligibility criteria, based on
326 input from the state board, local workforce development boards,
327 the Department of Education, and other stakeholders, for the
328 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act eligible training
329 provider list. This list directs training resources to programs
330 leading to employment in high-demand and high-priority
331 occupations that provide economic security, particularly those
332 occupations facing a shortage of skilled workers. A training
333 provider who offers training to obtain a credential on the
334 Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4)(h) may not be
335 included on a state or local eligible training provider list if
336 the provider fails to submit the required information or fails
337 to meet initial or subsequent eligibility criteria. Subsequent
338 eligibility criteria must use the performance and outcome
339 measures defined and reported under s. 1008.40, to determine
340 whether each program offered by a training provider is qualified
341 to remain on the list.
342 1. For the 2021-2022 program year, The Department of
343 Economic Opportunity and the Department of Education shall
344 establish the minimum criteria a training provider must achieve
345 for completion, earnings, and employment rates of eligible
346 participants. The minimum program criteria may not exceed the
347 threshold at which more than 20 percent of all eligible training
348 providers in the state would fall below.
349 2. Beginning with the 2022-2023 program year, each program
350 offered by a training provider must, at a minimum, meet all of
351 the following:
352 a. Income earnings for all individuals who complete the
353 program that are equivalent to or above the state’s minimum wage
354 in a calendar quarter.
355 b. An employment rate of at least 75 percent for all
356 individuals. For programs linked to an occupation, the
357 employment rate is calculated based on obtaining employment in
358 the field in which the participant was trained.
359 c. A completion rate of at least 75 percent for all
360 individuals, beginning with the 2023-2024 program year.
361 Section 5. Paragraph (h) of subsection (4) and subsection
362 (8) of section 445.004, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
363 445.004 CareerSource Florida, Inc., and the state board;
364 creation; purpose; membership; duties and powers.—
365 (4)
366 (h)1. The state board shall appoint a Credentials Review
367 Committee to identify nondegree credentials and degree
368 credentials of value for approval by the state board and
369 inclusion in the Master Credentials List. Such credentials must
370 include registered apprenticeship programs, industry
371 certifications, including industry certifications for
372 agricultural occupations submitted pursuant to s. 570.07(43),
373 licenses, advanced technical certificates, college credit
374 certificates, career certificates, applied technology diplomas,
375 and associate degrees, but may not include baccalaureate
376 degrees, and graduate degrees. The Credentials Review Committee
377 must include:
378 a. The Chancellor of the Division of Public Schools.
379 b. The Chancellor of the Division of Career and Adult
380 Education.
381 c. The Chancellor of the Florida College System.
382 d. The Chancellor of the State University System.
383 e. The director of the Office of Reimagining Education and
384 Career Help, who must serve as chair of the committee.
385 f. Four members from local workforce development boards,
386 with equal representation from urban and rural regions.
387 g. Two members from nonpublic postsecondary institutions.
388 h. Two members from industry associations.
389 i. Two members from Florida-based businesses.
390 j. Two members from the Department of Economic Opportunity.
391 k. One member from the Department of Agriculture and
392 Consumer Services.
393 2. All information pertaining to the Credentials Review
394 Committee, the process for the approval of credentials of value,
395 and the Master Credentials List must be made available and be
396 easily accessible to the public on all relevant state agency
397 websites.
398 3. The Credentials Review Committee shall establish a
399 definition for credentials of value and create a framework of
400 quality. The framework must align with federally funded
401 workforce accountability requirements and undergo biennial
402 review.
403 4. The criteria to determine value for nondegree
404 credentials should, at a minimum, require:
405 a. Evidence that the credential meets labor market demand
406 as identified by the Labor Market Estimating Conference created
407 in s. 216.136 or meets local demand as identified in the
408 criteria adopted by the Credentials Review Committee. Evidence
409 to be considered by the Credentials Review Committee must
410 include, but is not limited to, information provided by the
411 Labor Market Statistics Center within the Department of Economic
412 Opportunity and employer information on present credential use
413 or emerging opportunities.
414 b. Evidence that the competencies mastered upon completion
415 of the credential are aligned with labor market demand.
416 c. Evidence of the employment and earnings outcomes for
417 individuals after obtaining the credential. Earnings outcomes
418 must provide middle-level to high-level wages with preference
419 given to credentials generating high-level wages. Credentials
420 that do not meet the earnings outcomes criteria must be part of
421 a sequence of credentials that are required for the next level
422 occupation that does meet the earnings outcomes criteria in
423 order to be identified as a credential of value. For new
424 credentials, this criteria may be met with conditional
425 eligibility until measurable labor market outcomes are obtained.
426 5. The Credentials Review Committee shall establish the
427 criteria to determine value for degree programs. This criteria
428 must shall include evidence that the program meets statewide,
429 regional, or local the labor market demand as identified by the
430 Labor Market Estimating Conference created in s. 216.136 or
431 meets local demand as determined by the committee. The committee
432 shall consider both the information provided by the Labor Market
433 Statistics Center within the Department of Economic Opportunity
434 related to short-term demand and the long-term data of the Labor
435 Market Estimating Conference as factors in the criteria Such
436 criteria must be used to designate programs of emphasis under s.
437 1001.706 and to guide the development of program standards and
438 benchmarks under s. 1004.92.
439 6. The Credentials Review Committee shall establish a
440 process for prioritizing nondegree credentials and degree
441 programs based on critical statewide or regional shortages.
442 7. The Credentials Review Committee shall establish a
443 process for:
444 a. At a minimum, quarterly review and approval of
445 credential applications. Approved credentials of value shall be
446 used by the committee to develop the Master Credentials List.
447 b. Annual review of the Master Credentials List.
448 c. Phasing out credentials on the Master Credentials List
449 that no longer meet the framework of quality. Credentials must
450 remain on the list for at least 1 year after identification for
451 removal.
452 d. Designating performance funding eligibility under ss.
453 1011.80 and 1011.81, based upon the highest available
454 certification for postsecondary students.
455 e. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, Upon approval,
456 the state board shall submit the Master Credentials List to the
457 State Board of Education. The list must, at a minimum, identify
458 nondegree credentials and degree programs determined to be of
459 value for purposes of the CAPE Industry Certification Funding
460 List adopted under of ss. 1008.44 and 1011.62(1); if the
461 credential or degree program meets statewide, regional, or local
462 level demand; the type of certificate, credential, or degree;
463 and the primary standard occupation classification code. For the
464 2021-2022 school year, the Master Credentials List shall be
465 comprised of the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List and
466 the CAPE Postsecondary Industry Certification Funding List under
467 ss. 1008.44 and 1011.62(1) and adopted by the State Board of
468 Education before October 1, 2021.
469 8. The Credentials Review Committee shall establish a
470 process for linking Classifications of Instructional Programs
471 (CIP) to Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC) for all new
472 credentials of value identified on the Master Credentials List.
473 The CIP code aligns instructional programs to occupations. A CIP
474 to SOC link indicates that programs classified in the CIP code
475 category prepare individuals for jobs classified in the SOC code
476 category. The state board shall submit approved CIP to SOC
477 linkages to the State Board of Education with each credential
478 that is added to the Master Credentials List.
479 9. The Credentials Review Committee shall identify all data
480 elements necessary to collect information on credentials by the
481 Florida Education and Training Placement Program automated
482 system under s. 1008.39.
483 10. The Credentials Review Committee shall develop a
484 returned-value funding formula as provided under ss.
485 1011.80(7)(b) and 1011.81(2)(b). When developing the formula,
486 the committee may not penalize Florida College System
487 institutions or school districts if students postpone employment
488 to continue their education.
489 (8) Each Annually, beginning July 1, 2022, the state board
490 shall assign and make the public information available and
491 easily accessible on its website a letter grade for each local
492 workforce development board using the criteria established by
493 the Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help under s.
494 14.36, including the most recently assigned letter grade.
495 Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 445.006, Florida
496 Statutes, is amended to read:
497 445.006 State plan for workforce development.—
498 (4) WAIVERS.—The department shall prepare a federal waiver
499 to be submitted by the Governor to the United States Department
500 of Labor that:
501 (a) Allows the state board to fulfill the roles and
502 responsibilities of local workforce development boards or that
503 reduces the number of local workforce development boards based
504 on population size and commuting patterns in order to:
505 1. Eliminate multiple layers of administrative entities to
506 improve coordination of the workforce development system.
507 2. Establish consistent eligibility standards across the
508 state to improve the accountability of workforce related
509 programs.
510 3. Provide greater flexibility in the allocation of
511 resources to maximize the funds directed to training and
512 business services.
513 (b) Allows the Governor to reallocate funds among local
514 areas that have a demonstrated need for additional funding and
515 programmatic outcomes that will maximize the use of the
516 additional funds to serve low-income individuals, public
517 assistance recipients, dislocated workers, and unemployment
518 insurance claimants.
519 Section 7. Subsection (15) is added to section 445.007,
520 Florida Statutes, to read:
521 445.007 Local workforce development boards.—
522 (15) Each local workforce development board shall create an
523 education and industry consortium composed of representatives of
524 educational entities and businesses in the designated service
525 delivery area. Each consortium shall provide quarterly reports
526 to the applicable local board which provide community-based
527 information related to educational programs and industry needs
528 to assist the local board in making decisions on programs,
529 services, and partnerships in the service delivery area. The
530 local board shall consider the information obtained from the
531 consortium to determine the most effective ways to grow, retain,
532 and attract talent to the service delivery area. The chair of
533 the local workforce development board shall appoint the
534 consortium members. A member of a local workforce development
535 board may not serve as a member of the consortium. Consortium
536 members shall be appointed for 2-year terms beginning on January
537 1 of the year of appointment, and any vacancy on the consortium
538 must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the
539 same manner as the original appointment.
540 Section 8. Paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (8) of
541 section 445.009, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
542 445.009 One-stop delivery system.—
543 (8)
544 (a) Individual Training Accounts must be expended on
545 programs that prepare people to enter occupations identified by
546 the Labor Market Statistics Center within the Department of
547 Economic Opportunity Estimating Conference created by s.
548 216.136, and on other programs recommended and approved by the
549 state board following a review by the department to determine
550 the program’s compliance with federal law.
551 (e) Training services provided through Individual Training
552 Accounts must be performance-based, with successful job
553 placement triggering final payment of at least 10 percent.
554 Section 9. Section 445.038, Florida Statutes, is amended to
555 read:
556 445.038 Digital media; job training.—CareerSource Florida,
557 Inc., through the Department of Economic Opportunity, may use
558 funds dedicated for incumbent worker training for the digital
559 media industry. Training may be provided by public or private
560 training providers for broadband digital media jobs listed on
561 the occupations list developed by the Labor Market Statistics
562 Center within the Department of Economic Opportunity and on
563 other programs recommended and approved by the state board
564 following a review by the department to determine the program’s
565 compliance with federal law Estimating Conference. Programs that
566 operate outside the normal semester time periods and coordinate
567 the use of industry and public resources must should be given
568 priority status for funding.
569 Section 10. Subsection (2) of section 446.071, Florida
570 Statutes, is amended to read:
571 446.071 Apprenticeship sponsors.—
572 (2) A local apprenticeship sponsor may be a committee, a
573 group of employers, an employer, or a group of employees, an
574 educational institution, a local workforce board, a community or
575 faith-based organization, an association, or any combination
576 thereof.
577 Section 11. Present subsection (3) of section 446.0915,
578 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (4), a new
579 subsection (3) is added to that section, and subsection (2) of
580 that section is amended, to read:
581 446.0915 Work-based learning opportunities.—
582 (2) A work-based learning opportunity must meet all of the
583 following criteria:
584 (a) Be developmentally appropriate.
585 (b) Identify learning objectives for the term of
586 experience.
587 (c) Explore multiple aspects of an industry.
588 (d) Develop workplace skills and competencies.
589 (e) Assess performance.
590 (f) Provide opportunities for work-based reflection.
591 (g) Link to next steps in career planning and preparation
592 in a student’s chosen career pathway.
593 (h) Be provided in an equal and fair manner.
594 (i) Be documented and reported in compliance with state and
595 federal labor laws.
596
597 A work-based learning opportunity should prioritize paid
598 experiences, such as apprenticeship, and preapprenticeship, and
599 diversified education programs.
600 (3) Each district school board shall ensure that each
601 student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 has access to at least
602 one work-based learning opportunity.
603 Section 12. Section 446.54, Florida Statutes, is amended
604 to read:
605 446.54 Reimbursement for workers’ compensation insurance
606 premiums.—
607 (1) A student 18 years of age or younger who is in a paid
608 work-based learning opportunity must shall be covered by the
609 workers’ compensation insurance of his or her employer in
610 accordance with chapter 440. For purposes of chapter 440, a
611 school district or Florida College System institution is
612 considered the employer of a student 18 years of age or younger
613 who is providing unpaid services under a work-based learning
614 opportunity provided by the school district or Florida College
615 System institution.
616 (2) Subject to appropriation, the Department of Education
617 may reimburse employers, including school districts and Florida
618 College System institutions, may apply to the Department of
619 Financial Services for reimbursement of the proportionate cost
620 of workers’ compensation premiums paid during the fiscal year
621 for students participating in work-based learning opportunities
622 in the previous state fiscal year in accordance with department
623 rules.
624 (a) An application for reimbursement must include the
625 following information:
626 1. The number of students participating in work-based
627 learning opportunities with the employer, including the number
628 of those who are participating in paid and unpaid work-based
629 learning opportunities with the employer;
630 2. An attestation that:
631 a. The students were 18 years of age or younger during the
632 time when participating in the work-based learning opportunity;
633 and
634 b. For an employer who paid the students, the employer is
635 seeking reimbursement for the proportionate cost of workers’
636 compensation premiums related to those students only; or
637 c. For a school district or Florida College System
638 institution that is considered the employer, the employer is
639 seeking reimbursement for the proportionate cost of workers’
640 compensation premiums related to those students only;
641 3. A description of the method used by the employer to
642 determine the proportionate share of the cost of workers’
643 compensation premiums attributable to students;
644 4. The total amount of reimbursement requested;
645 5. The employer’s name, point of contact, and contact
646 information;
647 6. A statement by the employer agreeing to maintain
648 documentation supporting the information in the application for
649 5 years; and
650 7. Any other information requested by the department.
651 (b) Within 45 days after receipt of a complete application,
652 the Department of Financial Services must process the
653 application and provide the applicant with notification of
654 approval or denial of the application. The Department of
655 Financial Services shall coordinate with the educational
656 institution to verify the information on the application related
657 to the employer and the students participating in the work-based
658 learning opportunity. Reimbursements must be made on a first
659 come, first-served basis.
660 (c) For purposes of this section, the term “educational
661 institution” means a school as defined in s. 1003.01(2) operated
662 by a district school board, a charter school formed under s.
663 1002.33, a career center operated by a district school board
664 under s. 1001.44, a charter technical career center operated by
665 a district school board under s. 1002.34, or a Florida College
666 System institution identified in s. 1000.21.
667 Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
668 464.0195, Florida Statutes, is amended, paragraph (c) is added
669 to that subsection, and subsection (5) is added to that section,
670 to read:
671 464.0195 Florida Center for Nursing; goals.—
672 (2) The primary goals for the center shall be to:
673 (a) Develop a strategic statewide plan for nursing manpower
674 in this state by:
675 1. Conducting a statistically valid biennial data-driven
676 gap analysis of the supply and demand of the health care
677 workforce. Demand must align with information developed by the
678 Labor Market Statistics Center within the Department of Economic
679 Opportunity and the long-term estimates of the Labor Market
680 Estimating Conference created in s. 216.136. The center shall:
681 a. Establish and maintain a database on nursing supply and
682 demand in the state, to include current supply and demand.
683 b. Analyze the current and future supply and demand in the
684 state and the impact of this state’s participation in the Nurse
685 Licensure Compact under s. 464.0095.
686 2. Developing recommendations to increase nurse faculty and
687 clinical preceptors, support nurse faculty development, and
688 promote advanced nurse education.
689 3. Developing best practices in the academic preparation
690 and continuing education needs of qualified nurse educators,
691 nurse faculty, and clinical preceptors.
692 4. Collecting data on nurse faculty, employment,
693 distribution, and retention.
694 5. Piloting innovative projects to support the recruitment,
695 development, and retention of qualified nurse faculty and
696 clinical preceptors.
697 6. Encouraging and coordinating the development of
698 academic-practice partnerships to support nurse faculty
699 employment and advancement.
700 7. Developing distance learning infrastructure for nursing
701 education and advancing faculty competencies in the pedagogy of
702 teaching and the evidence-based use of technology, simulation,
703 and distance learning techniques.
704 (c) Convene various groups representative of nurses, other
705 health care providers, business and industry, consumers,
706 lawmakers, and educators to:
707 1. Review and comment on data analysis prepared for the
708 center;
709 2. Recommend systemic changes, including strategies for
710 implementation of recommended changes; and
711 3. Evaluate and report the results of these efforts to the
712 Legislature and others.
713 (5) No later than each January 10, the center shall submit
714 a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
715 Speaker of the House of Representatives providing details of its
716 activities during the preceding calendar year in pursuit of its
717 goals and in the execution of its duties under subsection (2),
718 including a nursing education program report.
719 Section 14. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
720 1001.706, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
721 1001.706 Powers and duties of the Board of Governors.—
722 (5) POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ACCOUNTABILITY.—
723 (b) The Board of Governors shall develop a strategic plan
724 specifying goals and objectives for the State University System
725 and each constituent university, including each university’s
726 contribution to overall system goals and objectives. The
727 strategic plan must:
728 1. Include performance metrics and standards common for all
729 institutions and metrics and standards unique to institutions
730 depending on institutional core missions, including, but not
731 limited to, student admission requirements, retention,
732 graduation, percentage of graduates who have attained
733 employment, percentage of graduates enrolled in continued
734 education, licensure passage, average wages of employed
735 graduates, average cost per graduate, excess hours, student loan
736 burden and default rates, faculty awards, total annual research
737 expenditures, patents, licenses and royalties, intellectual
738 property, startup companies, annual giving, endowments, and
739 well-known, highly respected national rankings for institutional
740 and program achievements.
741 2. Consider reports and recommendations of the Florida
742 Talent Development Council under s. 1004.015 and the
743 Articulation Coordinating Committee under s. 1007.01, and the
744 information provided by the Labor Market Statistics Center
745 within the Department of Economic Opportunity related to short
746 term demand and the long-term data of the Labor Market
747 Estimating Conference.
748 3. Include student enrollment and performance data
749 delineated by method of instruction, including, but not limited
750 to, traditional, online, and distance learning instruction.
751 4. Include criteria for designating baccalaureate degree
752 and master’s degree programs at specified universities as high
753 demand programs of emphasis. The programs of emphasis list
754 adopted by the Board of Governors before July 1, 2021, shall be
755 used for the 2021-2022 academic year. Beginning in the 2022-2023
756 academic year, the Board of Governors shall adopt the criteria
757 to determine value for and prioritization of degree credentials
758 and degree programs established by the Credentials Review
759 Committee under s. 445.004 for designating high-demand programs
760 of emphasis. The Board of Governors must review designated
761 programs of emphasis, at a minimum, every 3 years to ensure
762 alignment with the prioritization of degree credentials and
763 degree programs identified by the Credentials Review Committee.
764 Section 15. Paragraph (l) is added to subsection (3) of
765 section 1002.31, Florida Statutes, to read:
766 1002.31 Controlled open enrollment; public school parental
767 choice.—
768 (3) Each district school board shall adopt by rule and post
769 on its website the process required to participate in controlled
770 open enrollment. The process must:
771 (l) Enable a student who, in middle school, completed a
772 career and technical education course or an industry
773 certification included in the CAPE Industry Certification
774 Funding List to continue a sequential program of career and
775 technical education in the same concentration, if a high school
776 in the district offers the program.
777 Section 16. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
778 1003.4156, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
779 1003.4156 General requirements for middle grades
780 promotion.—
781 (1) In order for a student to be promoted to high school
782 from a school that includes middle grades 6, 7, and 8, the
783 student must successfully complete the following courses:
784 (e) One course in career and education planning to be
785 completed in grades 6, 7, or 8, which may be taught by any
786 member of the instructional staff. The course must be Internet
787 based, customizable to each student, and include research-based
788 assessments to assist students in determining educational and
789 career options and goals. In addition, the course must result in
790 a completed personalized academic and career plan for the
791 student which must that may be revised at least annually as the
792 student progresses through middle school and high school; must
793 emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship and employability
794 skills; and must include information from the Department of
795 Economic Opportunity’s economic security report under s. 445.07
796 and other state career planning resources. The required
797 personalized academic and career plan must inform students of
798 high school graduation requirements, including a detailed
799 explanation of the requirements for earning a high school
800 diploma designation under s. 1003.4285; the requirements for
801 each scholarship in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
802 Program; state university and Florida College System institution
803 admission requirements; available opportunities to earn college
804 credit in high school, including Advanced Placement courses; the
805 International Baccalaureate Program; the Advanced International
806 Certificate of Education Program; dual enrollment, including
807 career dual enrollment; and career education courses, including
808 career-themed courses, preapprenticeship and apprenticeship
809 programs, and course sequences that lead to industry
810 certification pursuant to s. 1003.492 or s. 1008.44. The course
811 may be implemented as a stand-alone course or integrated into
812 another course or courses.
813 Section 17. Present subsections (2) and (5) of section
814 1003.4203, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
815 1003.4203 Digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool
816 certificates, and technical assistance.—
817 (2) CAPE ESE DIGITAL TOOLS.—Each district school board, in
818 consultation with the district school superintendent, shall make
819 available digital and instructional materials, including
820 software applications, to students with disabilities who are in
821 prekindergarten through grade 12. Beginning with the 2015-2016
822 school year:
823 (a) Digital materials may include CAPE Digital Tool
824 certificates, workplace industry certifications, and OSHA
825 industry certifications identified pursuant to s. 1008.44 for
826 students with disabilities; and
827 (b) Each student’s individual educational plan for students
828 with disabilities developed pursuant to this chapter must
829 identify the CAPE Digital Tool certificates and CAPE industry
830 certifications the student seeks to attain before high school
831 graduation.
832 (4)(5) CAPE INNOVATION AND CAPE ACCELERATION.—
833 (a) CAPE Innovation.—Courses, identified in the CAPE
834 Industry Certification Funding List, that combine academic and
835 career content, and performance outcome expectations that, if
836 achieved by a student, shall articulate for college credit and
837 be eligible for additional full-time equivalent membership under
838 s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.c. Such approved courses must incorporate at
839 least two third-party assessments that, if successfully
840 completed by a student, shall articulate for college credit. At
841 least one of the two third-party assessments must be associated
842 with an industry certification that is identified on the CAPE
843 Industry Certification Funding List. Each course that is
844 approved by the commissioner must be specifically identified in
845 the Course Code Directory as a CAPE Innovation Course.
846 (b) CAPE Acceleration.—Industry certifications that
847 articulate for 15 or more college credit hours and, if
848 successfully completed, are eligible for additional full-time
849 equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.d. Each approved
850 industry certification must be specifically identified in the
851 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Acceleration
852 Industry Certification.
853 Section 18. Present subsection (11) of section 1003.4282,
854 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (12), a new
855 subsection (11) is added to that section, and paragraph (e) of
856 subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of that
857 section are amended, to read:
858 1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
859 (3) STANDARD HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA; COURSE AND ASSESSMENT
860 REQUIREMENTS.—
861 (e) One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and
862 debate, or career and technical education, or practical arts.
863 The practical arts course must incorporate artistic content and
864 techniques of creativity, interpretation, and imagination.
865 Eligible practical arts courses are identified in the Course
866 Code Directory.—A student must earn one credit in fine or
867 performing arts, speech and debate, or career and technical
868 education.
869 (8) CAREER EDUCATION COURSES THAT SATISFY HIGH SCHOOL
870 CREDIT REQUIREMENTS.—
871 (a) Participation in career education courses engages
872 students in their high school education, increases academic
873 achievement, enhances employability, and increases postsecondary
874 success. The department shall develop, for approval by the State
875 Board of Education, multiple, additional career education
876 courses or a series of courses that meet the requirements set
877 forth in s. 1003.493(2), (4), and (5) and this subsection and
878 allow students to earn credit in both the career education
879 course and courses required for high school graduation under
880 this section and s. 1003.4281.
881 1. The state board must determine at least biennially if
882 sufficient academic standards are covered to warrant the award
883 of academic credit, including satisfaction of graduation,
884 assessment, and state university admissions requirements under
885 this section.
886 2. Career education courses must:
887 a. Include workforce and digital literacy skills.
888 b. Integrate required course content with practical
889 applications and designated rigorous coursework that results in
890 one or more industry certifications or clearly articulated
891 credit or advanced standing in a 2-year or 4-year certificate or
892 degree program, which may include high school junior and senior
893 year work-related internships or apprenticeships. The department
894 shall negotiate state licenses for material and testing for
895 industry certifications.
896
897 The instructional methodology used in these courses must
898 comprise authentic projects, problems, and activities for
899 contextual academic learning and emphasize workplace skills
900 identified under s. 445.06.
901 3. A student who earns credit upon completion of an
902 apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program registered with the
903 Department of Education under chapter 446 may use such credit to
904 satisfy the high school graduation credit requirements in
905 paragraph (3)(e) or paragraph (3)(g). The state board shall
906 approve and identify in the Course Code Directory the
907 apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs from which earned
908 credit may be used pursuant to this subparagraph.
909 4. Student completion of a supervised agricultural
910 experience by a student member in the Florida Future Farmers of
911 America is eligible under this paragraph for an award of an
912 elective or a work-based learning credit as provided in this
913 section.
914 5. The State Board of Education shall, by rule, establish a
915 process that enables a student to receive academic credit for
916 completing a threshold level of demonstrable participation in
917 extracurricular activities associated with career and technical
918 student organizations.
919 (11) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CREDIT.—The Department
920 of Education shall convene a workgroup to:
921 (a) Identify best practices in career and technical
922 education pathways from middle school to high school to aid
923 middle school students in career planning and facilitate their
924 transition to high school programs. The career pathway must be
925 linked to postsecondary programs.
926 (b) Establish three mathematics pathways for students
927 enrolled in secondary grades by aligning mathematics courses to
928 programs, postsecondary education, and careers. The workgroup
929 shall collaborate to identify the three mathematics pathways and
930 the mathematics course sequence within each pathway which align
931 to the mathematics skills needed for success in the
932 corresponding academic programs, postsecondary education, and
933 careers.
934 Section 19. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
935 1003.4285, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
936 1003.4285 Standard high school diploma designations.—
937 (1) Each standard high school diploma shall include, as
938 applicable, the following designations if the student meets the
939 criteria set forth for the designation:
940 (b) Industry Scholar Merit designation.—In addition to the
941 requirements of s. 1003.4282, in order to earn the Industry
942 Scholar Merit designation, a student must attain one or more
943 industry certifications from the list established under s.
944 1003.492.
945 Section 20. Subsection (3) of section 1003.491, Florida
946 Statutes, is amended to read:
947 1003.491 Florida Career and Professional Education Act.—The
948 Florida Career and Professional Education Act is created to
949 provide a statewide planning partnership between the business
950 and education communities in order to attract, expand, and
951 retain targeted, high-value industry and to sustain a strong,
952 knowledge-based economy.
953 (3) The strategic 3-year plan developed jointly by the
954 local school district, local workforce development boards,
955 economic development agencies, and state-approved postsecondary
956 institutions must shall be constructed and based on:
957 (a) Research conducted to objectively determine local and
958 regional workforce needs for the ensuing 3 years, using labor
959 projections as identified by the Labor Market Statistics Center
960 within the Department of Economic Opportunity related to short
961 term demand and long-term data of the Labor Market Estimating
962 Conference as factors in the criteria for the plan created in s.
963 216.136;
964 (b) Strategies to develop and implement career academies or
965 career-themed courses based on occupations identified by the
966 Labor Market Statistics Center within the Department of Economic
967 Opportunity and the long-term data of the Labor Market
968 Estimating Conference created in s. 216.136;
969 (c) Strategies to provide shared, maximum use of private
970 sector facilities and personnel;
971 (d) Strategies to that ensure instruction by industry
972 certified faculty and standards and strategies to maintain
973 current industry credentials and for recruiting and retaining
974 faculty to meet those standards;
975 (e) Strategies to provide personalized student advisement,
976 including a parent-participation component, and coordination
977 with middle grades to promote and support career-themed courses
978 and education planning;
979 (f) Alignment of requirements for middle school career
980 planning, middle and high school career and professional
981 academies or career-themed courses leading to industry
982 certification or postsecondary credit, and high school
983 graduation requirements;
984 (g) Provisions to ensure that career-themed courses and
985 courses offered through career and professional academies are
986 academically rigorous, meet or exceed appropriate state-adopted
987 subject area standards, result in attainment of industry
988 certification, and, when appropriate, result in postsecondary
989 credit;
990 (h) Plans to sustain and improve career-themed courses and
991 career and professional academies;
992 (i) Strategies to improve the passage rate for industry
993 certification examinations if the rate falls below 50 percent;
994 (j) Strategies to recruit students into career-themed
995 courses and career and professional academies which include
996 opportunities for students who have been unsuccessful in
997 traditional classrooms but who are interested in enrolling in
998 career-themed courses or a career and professional academy.
999 School boards shall provide opportunities for students who may
1000 be deemed as potential dropouts or whose cumulative grade point
1001 average drops below a 2.0 to enroll in career-themed courses or
1002 participate in career and professional academies. Such students
1003 must be provided in-person academic advising that includes
1004 information on career education programs by a certified school
1005 counselor or the school principal or his or her designee during
1006 any semester the students are at risk of dropping out or have a
1007 cumulative grade point average below a 2.0;
1008 (k) Strategies to provide sufficient space within academies
1009 to meet workforce needs and to provide access to all interested
1010 and qualified students;
1011 (l) Strategies to implement career-themed courses or career
1012 and professional academy training that lead to industry
1013 certification in juvenile justice education programs;
1014 (m) Opportunities for high school students to earn weighted
1015 or dual enrollment credit for higher-level career and technical
1016 courses;
1017 (n) Promotion of the benefits of the Gold Seal Bright
1018 Futures Scholarship;
1019 (o) Strategies to ensure the review of district pupil
1020 progression plans and to amend such plans to include career
1021 themed courses and career and professional academy courses and
1022 to include courses that may qualify as substitute courses for
1023 core graduation requirements and those that may be counted as
1024 elective courses;
1025 (p) Strategies to provide professional development for
1026 secondary certified school counselors on the benefits of career
1027 and professional academies and career-themed courses that lead
1028 to industry certification; and
1029 (q) Strategies to redirect appropriated career funding in
1030 secondary and postsecondary institutions to support career
1031 academies and career-themed courses that lead to industry
1032 certification.
1033 Section 21. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1034 1004.013, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1035 1004.013 SAIL to 60 Initiative.—
1036 (3) There is created within the SAIL to 60 Initiative the
1037 Strategic Efforts to Achieve Self-Sufficiency (SEAS) which
1038 consists of:
1039 (a) The consumer-first workforce system opportunity portal
1040 under s. 14.36, which provides the public with more effective
1041 access to available federal, state, and local services and a
1042 systemwide, global view of workforce related program data across
1043 various programs through actionable qualitative and quantitative
1044 information.
1045 Section 22. Subsection (7) is added to section 1004.015,
1046 Florida Statutes, to read:
1047 1004.015 Florida Talent Development Council.—
1048 (7) The council shall identify barriers and best practices
1049 in the facilitation of work-based learning opportunities for
1050 students in middle and high school. By December 1, 2023, the
1051 council shall submit to the Governor, the President of the
1052 Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
1053 recommendations on best practices for collaboration between
1054 district school boards, local workforce development boards, and
1055 local businesses and business groups. The recommendations must
1056 include any necessary legislative action to facilitate work
1057 based learning opportunities for students in middle and high
1058 school, including the identification of potential targeted
1059 financial incentives that may help to facilitate work-based
1060 learning opportunities for students.
1061 Section 23. Present paragraph (f) of subsection (3) of
1062 section 1008.41, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
1063 (g), and a new paragraph (f) is added to that subsection, to
1064 read:
1065 1008.41 Workforce education; management information
1066 system.—
1067 (3) Planning and evaluation of job-preparatory programs
1068 shall be based on standard sources of data and use standard
1069 occupational definitions and coding structures, including, but
1070 not limited to:
1071 (f) The Labor Market Statistics Center within the
1072 Department of Economic Opportunity.
1073 Section 24. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
1074 1008.44, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1075 1008.44 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.—
1076 (1) The State Board of Education shall adopt, at least
1077 annually, based upon recommendations by the Commissioner of
1078 Education, the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List that
1079 assigns additional full-time equivalent membership to
1080 certifications identified in the Master Credentials List under
1081 s. 445.004(4) that meets a statewide, regional, or local demand,
1082 and courses that lead to such certifications, in accordance with
1083 s. 1011.62(1)(o). Additional full-time equivalent membership
1084 funding for regional and local demand certifications and courses
1085 that lead to such certifications may only be earned in those
1086 areas with regional or local demand as identified by the
1087 Credentials Review Committee. The CAPE Industry Certification
1088 Funding List may include the following certificates and,
1089 certifications, and courses:
1090 (a) CAPE industry certifications identified as credentials
1091 of value that meet the framework of quality under s. 445.004(4),
1092 that must be applied in the distribution of funding to school
1093 districts under s. 1011.62(1)(o). The CAPE Industry
1094 Certification Funding List shall incorporate by reference the
1095 industry certifications on the career pathways list approved for
1096 the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award.
1097 (b) CAPE Digital Tool certificates selected by the
1098 department under s. 1003.4203(2) s. 1003.4203(3) that do not
1099 articulate for college credit. The certificates must shall be
1100 made available to students in elementary school and middle
1101 school grades and, if earned by a student, must shall be
1102 eligible for additional full-time equivalent membership under s.
1103 1011.62(1)(o)1. The Department shall annually review available
1104 assessments that meet the requirements for inclusion on the
1105 list.
1106 (c) CAPE ESE Digital Tool certificates, workplace industry
1107 certifications, and OSHA industry certifications for students
1108 with disabilities under s. 1003.4203(2). Such certificates and
1109 certifications shall, if earned by a student, be eligible for
1110 additional full-time equivalent membership under s.
1111 1011.62(1)(o)1.
1112 (d) CAPE Innovation Courses that combine academic and
1113 career performance outcomes with embedded industry
1114 certifications under s. 1003.4203(5)(a). Such courses shall, if
1115 completed by a student, be eligible for additional full-time
1116 equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.
1117 (e) CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications that
1118 articulate for 15 or more college credit hours under s.
1119 1003.4203(4) s. 1003.4203(5)(b). Such certifications must shall,
1120 if successfully completed, be eligible for additional full-time
1121 equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.
1122 (d)(f) The Commissioner of Education shall conduct a review
1123 of the methodology used to determine additional full-time
1124 equivalent membership weights assigned in s. 1011.62(1)(o) and,
1125 if necessary, recommend revised weights. The weights must factor
1126 in the prioritization of critical shortages of labor market
1127 demand and middle-level to high-level wage earning outcomes as
1128 identified by the Credentials Review Committee under s. 445.004.
1129 The results of the review and the commissioner’s recommendations
1130 must be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
1131 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than
1132 December 1, 2023 2021.
1133 (2) The CAPE Industry Certification Funding List adopted
1134 under subsection (1) must include three funding tier
1135 designations for eligible postsecondary certifications and must
1136 shall be used to determine annual performance funding
1137 distributions to school districts or Florida College System
1138 institutions as specified in ss. 1011.80 and 1011.81,
1139 respectively.
1140 (4)(a) CAPE industry certifications and CAPE Digital Tool
1141 certificates placed on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding
1142 List must include the version of the certifications and
1143 certificates available at the time of the adoption and, without
1144 further review and approval, include the subsequent updates to
1145 the certifications and certificates on the approved list, unless
1146 the certifications and certificates are specifically removed
1147 from the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List by the
1148 Commissioner of Education.
1149 (b) The Commissioner of Education may limit CAPE industry
1150 certifications and CAPE Digital Tool certificates to students in
1151 certain grades based on formal recommendations by providers of
1152 CAPE industry certifications and CAPE Digital Tool certificates.
1153 (c) The Articulation Coordinating Committee shall review
1154 statewide articulation agreement proposals for industry
1155 certifications and make recommendations to the State Board of
1156 Education for approval. After an industry certification is
1157 approved by CareerSource Florida, Inc., under s. 445.004(4), the
1158 Chancellor of Career and Adult Education, within 90 days, must
1159 provide to the Articulation Coordinating Committee
1160 recommendations for articulation of postsecondary credit for
1161 related degrees for the approved certifications.
1162 Section 25. Section 1009.895, Florida Statutes, is amended
1163 to read:
1164 1009.895 Open Door Grant Program.—
1165 (1) As used in this section, the term:
1166 (a) “Cost of the program” means the cost of tuition, fees,
1167 examination, books, and materials to a student enrolled in an
1168 eligible program.
1169 (b) “Department” means the Department of Education.
1170 (c) “Institution” means school district postsecondary
1171 technical career centers under s. 1001.44, Florida College
1172 System institutions under s. 1000.21(3), charter technical
1173 career centers under s. 1002.34, and school districts with
1174 eligible integrated education and training programs.
1175 (d) “Program” means a noncredit industry certification
1176 preparation, clock hour career certificate programs, or for
1177 credit short-term career and technical education programs that
1178 result in the award of credentials identified under s.
1179 445.004(4).
1180 (e) “Student” means a person who is a resident of this
1181 state as determined under s. 1009.21 and is unemployed,
1182 underemployed, or furloughed.
1183 (2) ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE.—The Open Door Grant Program is
1184 established and shall be administered by participating
1185 institutions in accordance with rules of the State Board of
1186 Education. for the purpose of:
1187 (a) Creating and sustaining a demand-driven supply of
1188 credentialed workers for high-demand occupations by addressing
1189 and closing the gap between the skills needed by workers in the
1190 state and the skills of the available workforce in the state.
1191 (b) Expanding the affordability of workforce training and
1192 credentialing.
1193 (c) The program is created to incentivize Increasing the
1194 interest of current and future workers to enroll in short-term,
1195 high-demand career and technical education that leads to a
1196 credential, credentialing and certificate, or degree programs.
1197 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible for the program, a
1198 student must:
1199 (a) Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3.;
1200 (b) Be enrolled in a workforce education program as defined
1201 under s. 1011.80(1)(a)-(f); and
1202 (c) Be enrolled at a school district postsecondary
1203 technical career center under s. 1001.44, a Florida College
1204 System institution under s. 1000.21(3), or a charter technical
1205 career center under s. 1002.34.
1206
1207 An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a
1208 student’s eligibility to receive a grant under this section.
1209 (3) GRANT AWARD.—A student is eligible to receive an award
1210 equal to the amount needed to cover 100 percent of the cost for
1211 the eligible program after all other federal and state financial
1212 aid is applied. These costs may include, but are not limited to,
1213 tuition and fees, exam or assessment costs, books, materials, or
1214 other college-related expenses such as personal computers,
1215 housing, or transportation. The institution shall make awards
1216 subject to availability of funding. Returning students must be
1217 given priority over new students.
1218 (4) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—
1219 (a) For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, funding for eligible
1220 institutions must consist of a base amount provided for in the
1221 General Appropriations Act plus each institution’s proportionate
1222 share of full-time equivalent students enrolled in career and
1223 technical education programs. Beginning in fiscal year 2024
1224 2025, the funds appropriated for the Open Door Grant Program
1225 must be distributed to eligible institutions in accordance with
1226 a formula approved by the State Board of Education. The formula
1227 must consider at least the prior year’s distribution of funds
1228 and the number of eligible applicants who did not receive
1229 awards.
1230 (b) Subject to the appropriation of funds by the
1231 Legislature, the Department of Education shall transmit payment
1232 of grants to the institution in advance of the registration
1233 period. Institutions shall notify students of the amount of
1234 their awards.
1235 (c) The eligibility status of each student to receive a
1236 disbursement must be determined by each institution as of the
1237 end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop-add
1238 period. Institutions may not be required to reevaluate a
1239 student’s eligibility status after this date for purposes of
1240 changing eligibility determinations previously made.
1241 (d) Each term, institutions shall certify to the department
1242 within 30 days after the end of the regular registration period
1243 the amount of funds disbursed to each student. Institutions
1244 shall remit to the department any undisbursed advances for the
1245 fall, spring, and summer terms within 30 days after the end of
1246 the summer term.
1247 (5) INSTITUTIONAL REPORTING.—Each institution shall report
1248 to the department by the established date:
1249 (a) The number of students eligible for the program for
1250 each academic term. Each institution shall also report to the
1251 department any necessary demographic and eligibility data for
1252 students; and
1253 (3) The department shall provide grants to institutions on
1254 a first-come, first-serve basis for students who enroll in an
1255 eligible program. The department shall prioritize funding for
1256 integrated education and training programs in which institutions
1257 establish partnerships with local workforce development boards
1258 to provide basic skills instruction, contextually and
1259 concurrently, with workforce training that results in the award
1260 of credentials under s. 445.004(4). One-quarter of the
1261 appropriated funds must be prioritized to serve students
1262 attending rural institutions. No more than one-quarter of the
1263 appropriated funds may be disbursed annually to any eligible
1264 institution.
1265 (4) Subject to the availability of funds:
1266 (a) A student who enrolls in an eligible program offered by
1267 an institution and who does not receive state or federal
1268 financial aid may apply for and be awarded a grant to cover two
1269 thirds of the cost of the program, if at the time of enrollment
1270 the student pays one-third of the cost of the program and signs
1271 an agreement to either complete the program or pay an additional
1272 one-third of the cost of the program in the event of
1273 noncompletion. The department shall reimburse the institution in
1274 an amount equal to one-third of the cost of the program upon a
1275 student’s completion of the program. An additional one-third
1276 shall be provided upon attainment of a workforce credential or
1277 certificate by the student. Grant funds may be used to cover the
1278 student’s one-third of the cost of the program for students in
1279 integrated education and training programs and students who do
1280 not have a high school diploma and meet the requirements
1281 established by the department. An institution may cover the
1282 student’s one-third of the cost of the program based on student
1283 need, as determined by the institution.
1284 (b) A student receiving state or federal financial aid who
1285 enrolls in an eligible program offered by an institution may
1286 apply for and be awarded a grant to cover the unmet need of the
1287 cost of the program after the application of all eligible
1288 financial aid. Financial aid and grants received by the student
1289 shall be credited first to the student’s costs before the award
1290 of an open door grant. After a student is enrolled in an
1291 eligible program, the department shall award the grant to the
1292 institution for the amount of unmet need for the eligible
1293 student.
1294 (5) The department may not reimburse any institution more
1295 than $3,000 per completed workforce training program by an
1296 eligible student.
1297 (6) The department shall administer the grant and shall
1298 carry out the goals and purposes of the grant set forth in
1299 subsection (2). In administering the grant, the department
1300 shall:
1301 (a) Require eligible institutions to provide student
1302 specific data.
1303 (b) Undertake periodic assessments of the overall success
1304 of the grant program and recommend modifications, interventions,
1305 and other actions based on such assessments.
1306 (c) Establish the procedure by which eligible institutions
1307 shall notify the department when eligible students enroll in
1308 eligible programs.
1309 (d) Require each eligible institution to Submit a report
1310 with data from the previous fiscal year on program completion
1311 and credential attainment by students participating in the grant
1312 program that, at a minimum, includes:
1313 1. A list of the programs offered.
1314 2. The number of students who enrolled in the programs.
1315 3. The number of students who completed the programs.
1316 4. The number of students who attained workforce
1317 credentials, categorized by credential name and relevant
1318 occupation, after completing training programs.
1319 5. The average cost per workforce credential attained,
1320 categorized by credential name and relevant occupation.
1321 (6)(7) REPORTING.—The department shall compile the data
1322 provided under paragraph (5)(b) (6)(d) and annually report such
1323 aggregate data, in the aggregate and categorize such information
1324 by eligible institution, to the State Board of Education. The
1325 report shall also include information on the average wage, age,
1326 gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, and other relevant
1327 information, of students who have completed workforce training
1328 programs categorized by credential name and relevant occupation.
1329 (7)(8) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
1330 rules to implement this section.
1331 Section 26. Paragraphs (c), (i), and (o) of subsection (1)
1332 of section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1333 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
1334 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
1335 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
1336 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
1337 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
1338 follows:
1339 (1) COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR
1340 OPERATION.—The following procedure shall be followed in
1341 determining the annual allocation to each district for
1342 operation:
1343 (c) Determination of programs.—Cost factors based on
1344 desired relative cost differences between the following programs
1345 shall be established in the annual General Appropriations Act.
1346 The cost factor for secondary career education programs must be
1347 greater than the cost factor for and basic programs grade 9
1348 through 12 shall be equal. The Commissioner of Education shall
1349 specify a matrix of services and intensity levels to be used by
1350 districts in the determination of the two weighted cost factors
1351 for exceptional students with the highest levels of need. For
1352 these students, the funding support level shall fund the
1353 exceptional students’ education program, with the exception of
1354 extended school year services for students with disabilities.
1355 1. Basic programs.—
1356 a. Kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3.
1357 b. Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
1358 c. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
1359 2. Programs for exceptional students.—
1360 a. Support Level IV.
1361 b. Support Level V.
1362 3. Secondary career education programs.
1363 4. English for Speakers of Other Languages.
1364 (i) Calculation of full-time equivalent membership with
1365 respect to dual enrollment instruction.—
1366 1. Full-time equivalent students.—Students enrolled in dual
1367 enrollment instruction pursuant to s. 1007.271 may be included
1368 in calculations of full-time equivalent student memberships for
1369 basic programs for grades 9 through 12 by a district school
1370 board. Instructional time for dual enrollment may vary from 900
1371 hours; however, the full-time equivalent student membership
1372 value shall be subject to the provisions in s. 1011.61(4). Dual
1373 enrollment full-time equivalent student membership shall be
1374 calculated in an amount equal to the hours of instruction that
1375 would be necessary to earn the full-time equivalent student
1376 membership for an equivalent course if it were taught in the
1377 school district. Students in dual enrollment courses may also be
1378 calculated as the proportional shares of full-time equivalent
1379 enrollments they generate for a Florida College System
1380 institution or university conducting the dual enrollment
1381 instruction. Early admission students shall be considered dual
1382 enrollments for funding purposes. Students may be enrolled in
1383 dual enrollment instruction provided by an eligible independent
1384 college or university and may be included in calculations of
1385 full-time equivalent student memberships for basic programs for
1386 grades 9 through 12 by a district school board. However, those
1387 provisions of law which exempt dual enrolled and early admission
1388 students from payment of instructional materials and tuition and
1389 fees, including laboratory fees, shall not apply to students who
1390 select the option of enrolling in an eligible independent
1391 institution. An independent college or university, which is not
1392 for profit, is accredited by a regional or national accrediting
1393 agency recognized by the United States Department of Education,
1394 and confers degrees as defined in s. 1005.02 shall be eligible
1395 for inclusion in the dual enrollment or early admission program.
1396 Students enrolled in dual enrollment instruction shall be exempt
1397 from the payment of tuition and fees, including laboratory fees.
1398 No student enrolled in college credit mathematics or English
1399 dual enrollment instruction shall be funded as a dual enrollment
1400 unless the student has successfully completed the relevant
1401 section of the entry-level examination required pursuant to s.
1402 1008.30.
1403 2. Additional full-time equivalent student membership.—For
1404 students enrolled in an early college program pursuant to s.
1405 1007.273, a value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student
1406 membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a
1407 general education core course through the dual enrollment
1408 program with a grade of “A” or better. For students who are not
1409 enrolled in an early college program, a value of 0.08 full-time
1410 equivalent student membership shall be calculated for each
1411 student who completes a general education core course through
1412 the dual enrollment program with a grade of “A.” A value of 0.08
1413 full-time equivalent student membership must be calculated for
1414 each student who completes a career course through the dual
1415 enrollment program with a grade of “A” in a pathway that leads
1416 to an industry certification that is included on the CAPE
1417 Industry Certification Funding List. In addition, a value of 0.3
1418 full-time equivalent student membership shall be calculated for
1419 any student who receives an associate degree through the dual
1420 enrollment program with a 3.0 grade point average or better.
1421 This value shall be added to the total full-time equivalent
1422 student membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in
1423 the subsequent fiscal year. This section shall be effective for
1424 credit earned by dually enrolled students for courses taken in
1425 the 2020-2021 school year and each school year thereafter. If
1426 the associate degree described in this paragraph is earned in
1427 2020-2021 following completion of courses taken in the 2020-2021
1428 school year, then courses taken toward the degree as part of the
1429 dual enrollment program before 2020-2021 may not preclude
1430 eligibility for the 0.3 additional full-time equivalent student
1431 membership bonus. Each school district shall allocate at least
1432 50 percent of the funds received from the dual enrollment bonus
1433 FTE funding, in accordance with this paragraph, to the schools
1434 that generated the funds to support student academic guidance
1435 and postsecondary readiness.
1436 3. Qualifying courses.—For the purposes of this paragraph,
1437 general education core courses are those that are identified in
1438 rule by the State Board of Education and in regulation by the
1439 Board of Governors pursuant to s. 1007.25(3).
1440 (o) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
1441 membership based on successful completion of a career-themed
1442 course pursuant to ss. 1003.491, 1003.492, and 1003.493, or
1443 courses with embedded CAPE industry certifications or CAPE
1444 Digital Tool certificates, and issuance of industry
1445 certification identified on the CAPE Industry Certification
1446 Funding List pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of
1447 Education or CAPE Digital Tool certificates pursuant to s.
1448 1003.4203.—
1449 1.a. A value of 0.025 full-time equivalent student
1450 membership shall be calculated for CAPE Digital Tool
1451 certificates earned by students in elementary and middle school
1452 grades.
1453 b. A value of 0.1 or 0.2 full-time equivalent student
1454 membership shall be calculated for each student who completes a
1455 course as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b) or courses with embedded
1456 CAPE industry certifications and who is issued an industry
1457 certification identified annually on the CAPE Industry
1458 Certification Funding List approved under rules adopted by the
1459 State Board of Education. A value of 0.2 full-time equivalent
1460 membership shall be calculated for each student who is issued a
1461 CAPE industry certification that has a statewide articulation
1462 agreement for college credit approved by the State Board of
1463 Education. For CAPE industry certifications that do not
1464 articulate for college credit, the Department of Education shall
1465 assign a full-time equivalent value of 0.1 for each
1466 certification. Middle grades students who earn additional FTE
1467 membership for a CAPE Digital Tool certificate pursuant to sub
1468 subparagraph a. may not rely solely on use the previously funded
1469 examination to satisfy the requirements for earning an industry
1470 certification under this sub-subparagraph. Additional FTE
1471 membership for an elementary or middle grades student may not
1472 exceed 0.1 for certificates or certifications earned within the
1473 same fiscal year. The State Board of Education shall include the
1474 assigned values on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List
1475 under rules adopted by the state board. Such value shall be
1476 added to the total full-time equivalent student membership for
1477 grades 6 through 12 in the subsequent year. CAPE industry
1478 certifications earned through dual enrollment must be reported
1479 and funded pursuant to s. 1011.80. However, if a student earns a
1480 certification through a dual enrollment course and the
1481 certification is not a fundable certification on the
1482 postsecondary certification funding list, or the dual enrollment
1483 certification is earned as a result of an agreement between a
1484 school district and a nonpublic postsecondary institution, the
1485 bonus value shall be funded in the same manner as other nondual
1486 enrollment course industry certifications. In such cases, the
1487 school district may provide for an agreement between the high
1488 school and the technical center, or the school district and the
1489 postsecondary institution may enter into an agreement for
1490 equitable distribution of the bonus funds.
1491 c. A value of 0.3 full-time equivalent student membership
1492 shall be calculated for student completion of at least three
1493 courses and an industry certification in a single career and
1494 technical education program or program of study the courses and
1495 the embedded certifications identified on the CAPE Industry
1496 Certification Funding List and approved by the commissioner
1497 pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(5)(a) and 1008.44.
1498 d. A value of 0.5 full-time equivalent student membership
1499 shall be calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry
1500 Certifications that articulate for 15 to 29 college credit
1501 hours, and 1.0 full-time equivalent student membership shall be
1502 calculated for CAPE Acceleration Industry Certifications that
1503 articulate for 30 or more college credit hours pursuant to CAPE
1504 Acceleration Industry Certifications approved by the
1505 commissioner pursuant to ss. 1003.4203(4) and 1008.44 ss.
1506 1003.4203(5)(b) and 1008.44.
1507 2. Each district must allocate at least 80 percent of the
1508 funds provided for CAPE industry certification, in accordance
1509 with this paragraph, to the program that generated the funds,
1510 and any remaining funds provided for CAPE industry certification
1511 for school district career and technical education programs.
1512 This allocation may not be used to supplant funds provided for
1513 basic operation of the program.
1514 3. For CAPE industry certifications earned in the 2013-2014
1515 school year and in subsequent years, the school district shall
1516 distribute to each classroom teacher who provided direct
1517 instruction toward the attainment of a CAPE industry
1518 certification that qualified for additional full-time equivalent
1519 membership under subparagraph 1.:
1520 a. A bonus of $25 for each student taught by a teacher who
1521 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
1522 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
1523 Funding List with a weight of 0.1.
1524 b. A bonus of $50 for each student taught by a teacher who
1525 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
1526 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
1527 Funding List with a weight of 0.2.
1528 c. A bonus of $75 for each student taught by a teacher who
1529 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
1530 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
1531 Funding List with a weight of 0.3.
1532 d. A bonus of $100 for each student taught by a teacher who
1533 provided instruction in a course that led to the attainment of a
1534 CAPE industry certification on the CAPE Industry Certification
1535 Funding List with a weight of 0.5 or 1.0.
1536
1537 Bonuses awarded pursuant to this paragraph shall be provided to
1538 teachers who are employed by the district in the year in which
1539 the additional FTE membership calculation is included in the
1540 calculation. Bonuses shall be calculated based upon the
1541 associated weight of a CAPE industry certification on the CAPE
1542 Industry Certification Funding List for the year in which the
1543 certification is earned by the student. Any bonus awarded to a
1544 teacher pursuant to this paragraph is in addition to any regular
1545 wage or other bonus the teacher received or is scheduled to
1546 receive. A bonus may not be awarded to a teacher who fails to
1547 maintain the security of any CAPE industry certification
1548 examination or who otherwise violates the security or
1549 administration protocol of any assessment instrument that may
1550 result in a bonus being awarded to the teacher under this
1551 paragraph.
1552 Section 27. Subsection (2) and paragraph (b) of subsection
1553 (7) of section 1011.80, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
1554 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 32 of chapter
1555 2022-157, Laws of Florida, paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of
1556 that section is reenacted, to read:
1557 1011.80 Funds for operation of workforce education
1558 programs.—
1559 (2) Upon approval by the State Board of Education, Any
1560 workforce education program may be conducted by a Florida
1561 College System institution or a school district as described in
1562 this subsection, except that college credit in an associate in
1563 applied science or an associate in science degree may be awarded
1564 only by a Florida College System institution. However, if an
1565 associate in applied science or an associate in science degree
1566 program contains within it an occupational completion point that
1567 confers a certificate or an applied technology diploma, that
1568 portion of the program may be conducted by a school district
1569 career center. Any instruction designed to articulate to a
1570 degree program is subject to guidelines and standards adopted by
1571 the State Board of Education under s. 1007.25.
1572 (a) To be responsive to industry needs for a skilled
1573 workforce, Florida College System institutions and school
1574 districts may offer continuing workforce education courses or
1575 programs without prior State Board of Education approval. Each
1576 Florida College System institution and school district offering
1577 continuing workforce education courses or programs must maintain
1578 adequate and accurate records of instructional activity. For
1579 purposes of measuring program performance and responsiveness to
1580 industry needs, institutions must report continuing workforce
1581 education instructional activity in a format prescribed by the
1582 Department of Education. Continuing workforce education courses
1583 and programs are exempt from the requirements in paragraphs (b)
1584 and (c) and are ineligible for performance funding.
1585 (b) The State Board of Education shall establish criteria,
1586 based on the framework of quality established by the Credentials
1587 Review Committee under s. 445.004(4), for review and approval of
1588 new workforce education programs by a Florida College System
1589 institution or a school district that are not included in the
1590 statewide curriculum framework.
1591 (c)(b) A Florida College System institution or school
1592 district offering a new workforce education program that is in
1593 the statewide curriculum framework must be may not receive
1594 performance funding and additional full-time equivalent
1595 membership funding until the workforce education program is
1596 reviewed, through an expedited review process, and approved by
1597 the board of trustees of the Florida College System institution
1598 or the district school board State Board of Education based on
1599 criteria that must include, but are is not limited to, the
1600 following:
1601 1. A description of the new workforce education program
1602 that includes all of the following:
1603 a. An analysis of workforce demand and unmet need
1604 consistent with the information provided by the Labor Market
1605 Statistics Center within the Department of Economic Opportunity
1606 for graduates of the program on a district, regional, or
1607 statewide basis, as appropriate, including evidence from
1608 entities independent of the technical center or institution.
1609 b. The geographic region to be served.
1610 2. Documentation of collaboration among technical centers
1611 and institutions serving the same students in a geographical or
1612 service area that enhances program offerings and prevents
1613 program duplication that exceeds workforce need. Unnecessary
1614 duplication of programs offered by public and private
1615 institutions must be avoided.
1616 3. Alignment Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year,
1617 alignment of program offerings with credentials or degree
1618 programs identified on the Master Credentials List under s.
1619 445.004(4).
1620 4. Articulation agreements between technical centers and
1621 Florida College System institutions for the enrollment of
1622 graduates in related workforce education programs.
1623 5. Documentation of alignment between the exit requirements
1624 of a technical center and the admissions requirements of a
1625 Florida College System institution into which students typically
1626 transfer.
1627 6. Performance and compliance indicators that will be used
1628 in determining the program’s success.
1629 (7)
1630 (b) Performance funding for industry certifications for
1631 school district workforce education programs is contingent upon
1632 specific appropriation in the General Appropriations Act and
1633 must shall be determined as follows:
1634 1. Postsecondary industry certifications identified on the
1635 CAPE Industry Certification Funding List approved by the State
1636 Board of Education under s. 1008.44 are eligible for performance
1637 funding.
1638 2. Unless otherwise specified in the General Appropriations
1639 Act, each district school board shall be provided funds for each
1640 industry certification earned by a student in a career
1641 certificate, applied technology diploma, or apprenticeship
1642 program. The State Board of Education shall adopt the tiers for
1643 each certification based upon the anticipated average wages of
1644 the highest earning occupation to which the certification is
1645 linked on the Master Credentials List established under s.
1646 445.004(4)(h)8. The amount awarded for each tier must be
1647 specified in the General Appropriations Act Each school district
1648 shall be provided $1,000 for each industry certification earned
1649 by a workforce education student. If funds are insufficient to
1650 fully fund the calculated total award, such funds must shall be
1651 prorated. Beginning with the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the
1652 Credentials Review Committee established in s. 445.004 shall
1653 develop a returned-value funding formula to allocate school
1654 district performance funds that rewards student job placements
1655 and wages for students earning industry certifications, with a
1656 focus on increasing the economic mobility of underserved
1657 populations. One-third of the performance funds shall be
1658 allocated based on student job placements. The remaining two
1659 thirds shall be allocated using a tiered weighted system based
1660 on aggregate student wages that exceed minimum wage, with the
1661 highest weight applied to the highest wage tier, with additional
1662 weight for underserved populations. Student wages above minimum
1663 wage are considered to be the value added by the institution’s
1664 training. At a minimum, the formula must take into account
1665 variables such as differences in population and wages across
1666 school districts.
1667 (8)
1668 (b) Notwithstanding s. 1011.81(4), state funds provided for
1669 the operation of postsecondary workforce programs may be
1670 expended for the education of state inmates with 24 months or
1671 less of time remaining to serve on their sentences.
1672 Section 28. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 1011.801,
1673 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1674 1011.801 Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive
1675 Grant Program.—The Legislature recognizes that the need for
1676 school districts and Florida College System institutions to be
1677 able to respond to emerging local or statewide economic
1678 development needs is critical to the workforce development
1679 system. The Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant
1680 Program is created to provide grants to school districts and
1681 Florida College System institutions on a competitive basis to
1682 fund some or all of the costs associated with the creation or
1683 expansion of workforce development programs that serve secondary
1684 students in career and technical education programs, including
1685 dual enrollment programs and other programs that lead to
1686 industry certifications included on the CAPE Industry
1687 Certification Funding List specific employment workforce needs.
1688 (2) The Department of Education shall administer the State
1689 Board of Education shall accept applications from school
1690 districts or Florida College System institutions for workforce
1691 development capitalization incentive grants. Applications from
1692 school districts or Florida College System institutions shall
1693 contain projected enrollments and projected costs for the new or
1694 expanded workforce development program. The State Board of
1695 Education may adopt rules for program administration, in
1696 consultation with CareerSource Florida, Inc., shall review and
1697 rank each application for a grant according to subsection (3)
1698 and shall submit to the Legislature a list in priority order of
1699 applications recommended for a grant award.
1700 (3) The State Board of Education shall give highest
1701 priority to programs that train people to enter high-skill,
1702 high-wage occupations identified by the Labor Market Estimating
1703 Conference and other programs approved by the state board as
1704 defined in s. 445.002, programs that train people to enter
1705 occupations under the welfare transition program, or programs
1706 that train for the workforce adults who are eligible for public
1707 assistance, economically disadvantaged, disabled, not proficient
1708 in English, or dislocated workers. The State Board of Education
1709 shall consider the statewide geographic dispersion of grant
1710 funds in ranking the applications and shall give priority to
1711 applications from education agencies that are making maximum use
1712 of their workforce development funding by offering high
1713 performing, high-demand programs.
1714 Section 29. Section 1011.802, Florida Statutes, is amended
1715 to read:
1716 1011.802 Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant
1717 Program.—
1718 (1) Subject to appropriations provided in the General
1719 Appropriations Act, the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities
1720 Grant Program is created to provide grants to high schools,
1721 career centers, charter technical career centers, Florida
1722 College System institutions, and other entities authorized to
1723 sponsor an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program, as
1724 defined in s. 446.021, on a competitive basis to establish new
1725 apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs and expand existing
1726 apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs. An individual
1727 applicant may not receive more than 10 percent of the total
1728 amount appropriated The Department of Education shall administer
1729 the grant program.
1730 (2) The department shall administer the grant, identify
1731 projects, solicit proposals, and make funding recommendations to
1732 the Commissioner of Education, who is authorized to approve
1733 grant awards Applications must contain projected enrollment and
1734 projected costs for the new or expanded apprenticeship program.
1735 (3)(a) The department shall award grants for
1736 preapprenticeship or apprenticeship programs with demonstrated
1737 statewide or regional demand that:
1738 (a)1. Address a critical statewide or regional shortage,
1739 with consideration given to the information provided as
1740 identified by the Labor Market Statistics Center within the
1741 Department of Economic Opportunity related to short-term demand,
1742 and the long-term data of the Labor Market Estimating Conference
1743 and the Credentials Review Committee, created in s. 216.136 and
1744 are in industry sectors not adequately represented throughout
1745 the state, such as health care;
1746 (b)2. Address a critical statewide or regional shortage,
1747 with consideration given to the information provided as
1748 identified by the Labor Market Statistics Center within the
1749 Department of Economic Opportunity related to short-term demand,
1750 the long-term data of the Labor Market Estimating Conference,
1751 and the Credentials Review Committee created in s. 216.136; or
1752 (c)3. Expand existing programs that exceed the median
1753 completion rate and employment rate 1 year after completion of
1754 similar programs in the region, or the state if there are no
1755 similar programs in the region; or
1756 (d) Address K-12 teacher shortages through advancement of
1757 the registered apprenticeship model as an alternative pathway to
1758 certify and train the future educator workforce in order to
1759 accelerate student achievement and outcomes.
1760 (3)(b) Grant funds may be used for instructional equipment,
1761 supplies, instructional personnel, student services, and other
1762 expenses associated with the creation or expansion of an
1763 apprenticeship program. Grant funds may not be used for indirect
1764 costs. Grant recipients must submit quarterly reports in a
1765 format prescribed by the department.
1766 (4) The department may grant a bonus in the award amount to
1767 applicants that submit a joint application for shared resources.
1768 (5) The department shall annually report on its website:
1769 (a) The number of programs funded and represented
1770 throughout the state under this section.
1771 (b) Retention, completion, and employment rates,
1772 categorized by program and provider.
1773 (c) Starting and ending salaries, as categorized by program
1774 and provider, for participants who complete the program.
1775 (6)(5) The department may use up to $400,000 $200,000 of
1776 the total amount allocated to administer the grant program.
1777 (7)(6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
1778 administer this section.
1779 Section 30. Subsection (2) of section 1011.803, Florida
1780 Statutes, is amended to read:
1781 1011.803 Money-back Guarantee Program.—
1782 (2) Each Beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year, each
1783 school district and Florida College System institution shall
1784 establish a money-back guarantee program to:
1785 (a) Offer a money-back guarantee on at least three programs
1786 that prepare individuals to enter in-demand, middle-level to
1787 high-level wage occupations identified by the Labor Market
1788 Estimating Conference created in s. 216.136. School districts or
1789 Florida College System institutions must offer a money-back
1790 guarantee on at least 50 percent of workforce education programs
1791 if they offer six or fewer programs.
1792 (b) Offer a money-back guarantee for all workforce
1793 education programs that are established to meet a critical local
1794 economic industry need, but are not linked to the statewide
1795 needs list as identified by the Labor Market Estimating
1796 Conference created in s. 216.136.
1797 (c) Establish student eligibility criteria for the money
1798 back guarantee program that includes:
1799 1. Student attendance.
1800 2. Student program performance.
1801 3. Career Service or Career Day attendance.
1802 4. Participation in internship or work-study programs.
1803 5. Job search documentation.
1804 6. Development of a student career plan with the
1805 institution’s career services department.
1806 Section 31. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
1807 1011.81, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1808 1011.81 Florida College System Program Fund.—
1809 (2) Performance funding for industry certifications for
1810 Florida College System institutions is contingent upon specific
1811 appropriation in the General Appropriations Act and shall be
1812 determined as follows:
1813 (b) Unless otherwise specified in the General
1814 Appropriations Act, each Florida College System institution
1815 shall be provided funds for each industry certification earned
1816 by a student. The State Board of Education shall adopt the tiers
1817 for each certification based upon the anticipated average wages
1818 of the highest earning occupation to which the certification is
1819 linked on the Master Credentials List established in s.
1820 445.004(4)(h)8. The amounts earned for each tier must be
1821 specified in the General Appropriations Act Each Florida College
1822 System institution shall be provided $1,000 for each industry
1823 certification earned by a student under paragraph (a). If funds
1824 are insufficient to fully fund the calculated total award, such
1825 funds must shall be prorated. Beginning with the 2022-2023
1826 fiscal year, the Credentials Review Committee established in s.
1827 445.004 shall develop a returned-value funding formula to
1828 allocate institution performance funds that rewards student job
1829 placements and wages for students earning industry
1830 certifications, with a focus on increasing the economic mobility
1831 of underserved populations. One-third of the performance funds
1832 shall be allocated based on student job placements. The
1833 remaining two-thirds shall be allocated using a tiered, weighted
1834 system based on aggregate student wages that exceed minimum
1835 wage, with the highest weight applied to the highest wage tier,
1836 with additional weight for underserved populations. Student
1837 wages above minimum wage are considered to be the value added by
1838 the institution’s training. At a minimum, the formula must take
1839 into account variables such as differences in population and
1840 wages across the state.
1841 Section 32. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
1842 1012.39, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1843 1012.39 Employment of substitute teachers, teachers of
1844 adult education, nondegreed teachers of career education, and
1845 career specialists; students performing clinical field
1846 experience.—
1847 (1) Notwithstanding ss. 1012.32, 1012.55, 1012.56, and
1848 1012.57, or any other provision of law or rule to the contrary,
1849 each district school board shall establish the minimal
1850 qualifications for:
1851 (c) Part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of career
1852 programs. Qualifications must shall be established for
1853 nondegreed teachers of career and technical education courses
1854 for program clusters that are recognized in the state and are
1855 based primarily on successful occupational experience rather
1856 than academic training. The qualifications for such teachers
1857 must shall require:
1858 1. The filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the same
1859 manner as required by s. 1012.32. Faculty employed solely to
1860 conduct postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this
1861 requirement.
1862 2. Documentation of education and successful occupational
1863 experience including documentation of:
1864 a. A high school diploma or the equivalent.
1865 b. Completion of a minimum level, established by the
1866 district school board, of 6 years of full-time successful
1867 occupational experience or the equivalent of part-time
1868 experience in the teaching specialization area. The district
1869 school board may establish alternative qualifications for
1870 teachers with an industry certification in the career area in
1871 which they teach.
1872 c. Completion of career education training conducted
1873 through the local school district inservice master plan or
1874 through an educator preparation institute approved by the
1875 Department of Education pursuant to s. 1004.85.
1876 d. For full-time teachers, completion of professional
1877 education training in teaching methods, course construction,
1878 lesson planning and evaluation, and teaching special needs
1879 students. This training may be completed through coursework from
1880 an accredited or approved institution or an approved district
1881 teacher education program.
1882 e. Demonstration of successful teaching performance.
1883 f. Documentation of industry certification when state or
1884 national industry certifications are available and applicable.
1885 Section 33. Subsection (1) of section 1012.57, Florida
1886 Statutes, is amended to read:
1887 1012.57 Certification of adjunct educators.—
1888 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 1012.32, 1012.55,
1889 and 1012.56, or any other provision of law or rule to the
1890 contrary, district school boards shall adopt rules to allow for
1891 the issuance of an adjunct teaching certificate to any applicant
1892 who fulfills the requirements of s. 1012.56(2)(a)-(f) and (10)
1893 and who has expertise in the subject area to be taught. An
1894 applicant is shall be considered to have expertise in the
1895 subject area to be taught if the applicant demonstrates
1896 sufficient subject area mastery through passage of a subject
1897 area test or has achieved an industry certification in the
1898 subject area to be taught.
1899 Section 34. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1900 1012.585, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1901 1012.585 Process for renewal of professional certificates.—
1902 (3) For the renewal of a professional certificate, the
1903 following requirements must be met:
1904 (a) The applicant must earn a minimum of 6 college credits
1905 or 120 inservice points or a combination thereof. For each area
1906 of specialization to be retained on a certificate, the applicant
1907 must earn at least 3 of the required credit hours or equivalent
1908 inservice points in the specialization area. Education in
1909 “clinical educator” training pursuant to s. 1004.04(5)(b);
1910 participation in mentorship and induction activities, including
1911 as a mentor, pursuant to s. 1012.56(8)(a); and credits or points
1912 that provide training in the area of scientifically researched,
1913 knowledge-based reading literacy, including explicit,
1914 systematic, and sequential approaches to reading instruction,
1915 developing phonemic awareness, and implementing multisensory
1916 intervention strategies, and computational skills acquisition,
1917 exceptional student education, normal child development, and the
1918 disorders of development may be applied toward any
1919 specialization area. Credits or points that provide training in
1920 the areas of drug abuse, child abuse and neglect, strategies in
1921 teaching students having limited proficiency in English, or
1922 dropout prevention, or training in areas identified in the
1923 educational goals and performance standards adopted pursuant to
1924 ss. 1000.03(5) and 1008.345 may be applied toward any
1925 specialization area, except specialization areas identified by
1926 State Board of Education rule that include reading instruction
1927 or intervention for any students in kindergarten through grade
1928 6. Each district school board shall include in its inservice
1929 master plan the ability for teachers to receive inservice points
1930 for supporting students in extracurricular career and technical
1931 education activities, such as career and technical student
1932 organization activities outside of regular school hours and
1933 training related to supervising students participating in a
1934 career and technical student organization. Credits or points
1935 earned through approved summer institutes may be applied toward
1936 the fulfillment of these requirements. Inservice points may also
1937 be earned by participation in professional growth components
1938 approved by the State Board of Education and specified pursuant
1939 to s. 1012.98 in the district’s approved master plan for
1940 inservice educational training; however, such points may not be
1941 used to satisfy the specialization requirements of this
1942 paragraph.
1943 Section 35. Present paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of
1944 section 1014.05, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
1945 (g), and a new paragraph (f) is added to that subsection, to
1946 read:
1947 1014.05 School district notifications on parental rights.—
1948 (1) Each district school board shall, in consultation with
1949 parents, teachers, and administrators, develop and adopt a
1950 policy to promote parental involvement in the public school
1951 system. Such policy must include:
1952 (f) Procedures for a parent or guardian to learn about
1953 workforce education options for students, such as
1954 apprenticeships and preapprenticeships, diversified education,
1955 career and technical education courses and programs, career and
1956 technical student organizations, and industry certifications,
1957 and the costs and benefits of career and technical education in
1958 comparison to other postsecondary pathways.
1959 Section 36. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
1960 Government Accountability shall conduct a review of approved
1961 career statewide articulation agreements. Such career
1962 articulation agreements include industry certification, career
1963 certificate, and applied technology diploma programs that
1964 articulate to associate in science or associate in applied
1965 science degrees; early childhood education programs; and
1966 associate in science to baccalaureate degree programs.
1967 (1) The review must include, but is not limited to:
1968 (a) The number of CAPE industry certifications on the
1969 Master Credentials List established pursuant to s. 445.004 which
1970 are included in a statewide articulation agreement.
1971 (b) The number of career programs or degrees offered by
1972 career centers and Florida College System institutions compared
1973 to the number of such certifications or programs included in a
1974 statewide articulation agreement.
1975 (c) The extent to which articulated programs included in a
1976 statewide articulation agreement are offered in a region or
1977 service area.
1978 (d) The number and percentage of students in an articulated
1979 career program who transfer to and then complete the linked
1980 program specified in the statewide articulation agreement.
1981 (e) Recommendations to strengthen the process of developing
1982 statewide articulation agreements, and on the role of such
1983 agreements in a Florida stackable credential framework.
1984 (2) The office shall report its findings to the President
1985 of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
1986 December 31, 2023.
1987 Section 37. For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the sum of
1988 $100,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund
1989 is provided to the Department of Education to implement the
1990 Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program
1991 pursuant to s. 1011.801, Florida Statutes. Notwithstanding s.
1992 216.301, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to s. 216.351, Florida
1993 Statutes, funds allocated for the purpose of this section which
1994 are not disbursed by June 30 of the fiscal year in which the
1995 funds are allocated may be carried forward for up to 2 years
1996 after the effective date of this appropriation.
1997 Section 38. For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the nonrecurring
1998 sum of $2 million from the General Revenue Fund is appropriated
1999 to the Department of Financial Services to make reimbursements
2000 as required under s. 446.54, Florida Statutes, as amended by
2001 this act.
2002 Section 39. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.