ENROLLED
       2024 Legislature                   CS for SB 7032, 1st Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                             20247032er
    1  
    2         An act relating to education; creating s. 1004.933,
    3         F.S.; providing legislative intent; establishing the
    4         Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE)
    5         Program within the Department of Education; providing
    6         definitions; requiring institutions to waive payments
    7         for specified student fees; providing requirements for
    8         the provision of such waivers; providing eligibility
    9         requirements; providing that students participating in
   10         the program are eligible for a specified stipend under
   11         certain circumstances; prohibiting an institution from
   12         imposing additional eligibility requirements;
   13         providing department responsibilities; providing
   14         department reporting requirements; authorizing the
   15         State Board of Education to adopt rules; amending s.
   16         445.009, F.S.; revising the services to which the one
   17         stop delivery system is intended to provide access;
   18         amending s. 1003.21, F.S.; requiring a student’s
   19         certified school counselor or other school personnel
   20         to inform the student of opportunities in the GATE
   21         Program; amending s. 1003.435, F.S.; requiring
   22         district school boards to notify all candidates for
   23         the high school equivalency diploma of adult secondary
   24         and postsecondary education options, including
   25         specified eligibility requirements; creating s.
   26         1009.711, F.S.; creating the GATE Scholarship Program;
   27         requiring the department to administer the program;
   28         requiring the program to reimburse eligible
   29         institutions for specified student fees and costs;
   30         requiring participating institutions to report
   31         specified information to the department; requiring the
   32         department to reimburse participating institutions
   33         within a specified timeframe; providing that
   34         reimbursements are contingent upon legislative
   35         appropriation and must be prorated under certain
   36         circumstances; authorizing the state board to adopt
   37         rules; amending s. 1009.895, F.S.; revising student
   38         eligibility criteria for the Open Door Grant Program;
   39         amending s. 1011.80, F.S.; revising the number of
   40         courses for which certain students may be reported for
   41         certain funding purposes; providing that such courses
   42         do not have to be core curricula courses; deleting a
   43         requirement that the department develop a list of
   44         courses to be designated as core curricula courses;
   45         creating s. 1011.804, F.S.; establishing the GATE
   46         Startup Grant Program within the department for a
   47         specified purpose; defining the term “institution”;
   48         providing eligibility requirements; providing
   49         department duties; providing requirements for grant
   50         proposals, grant awards, and the use of grant funds;
   51         providing reporting requirements; authorizing the
   52         state board to adopt rules; creating s. 1011.8041,
   53         F.S.; creating the GATE Program Performance Fund for a
   54         specified purpose; defining the term “institution”;
   55         subject to legislative appropriation, requiring each
   56         participating institution to receive a specified
   57         amount of money per student, subject to certain
   58         conditions; authorizing the state board to adopt
   59         rules; providing an effective date.
   60          
   61  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   62  
   63         Section 1. Section 1004.933, Florida Statutes, is created
   64  to read:
   65         1004.933 Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education
   66  (GATE) Program.—
   67         (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—
   68         (a)It is the intent of the Legislature to create an
   69  alternative pathway to education and workforce opportunities for
   70  students who have withdrawn from high school prior to
   71  graduation.
   72         (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to affirm the
   73  unequivocal value of a standard high school diploma as the
   74  primary education credential by which students access higher
   75  education and workforce opportunities. Further, the Legislature
   76  affirms that parental consent is required for a student under 18
   77  years of age to withdraw from high school prior to graduation.
   78         (c) The Legislature intends to expand opportunities for
   79  students to complete high school courses and earn a standard
   80  high school diploma.
   81         (d) The Legislature recognizes that when a student
   82  withdraws from high school prior to graduation, the student has
   83  not received the full value of a taxpayer-funded pre-K-12
   84  education, and therefore lacks the education credential
   85  essential to gainful employment and future educational
   86  opportunities. Therefore, the Legislature intends to provide an
   87  alternative pathway program, waiving tuition and fees for the
   88  program for participating students who have not earned a
   89  standard high school diploma.
   90         (2) PROGRAM CREATION.—The Graduation Alternative to
   91  Traditional Education (GATE) Program is created within the
   92  Department of Education.
   93         (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
   94         (a) “Career education program” means an applied technology
   95  diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7) or a career
   96  certificate program as defined in s. 1004.02(20).
   97         (b) “Institution” means a school district career center
   98  established under s. 1001.44, a charter technical career center
   99  established under s. 1002.34, or a Florida College System
  100  institution identified in s. 1000.21.
  101         (4) PAYMENT WAIVER; ELIGIBILITY.—
  102         (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, an
  103  institution shall waive 100 percent of the registration,
  104  tuition, laboratory, and examination fees for a student
  105  participating in the GATE Program. A waiver provided under this
  106  section after a student’s first term shall be provided after
  107  state aid pursuant to s. 1009.895 is applied. Instructional
  108  materials assigned for use under the GATE Program must be made
  109  available to GATE Program students free of charge. An
  110  institution may not require payment by students of instructional
  111  materials costs eligible for reimbursement under s. 1009.711.
  112         (b) To be eligible for participation in the GATE Program, a
  113  student must:
  114         1. Not have earned a standard high school diploma pursuant
  115  to s. 1003.4282 or a high school equivalency diploma pursuant to
  116  s. 1003.435 before enrolling in the GATE Program;
  117         2. Have been withdrawn from high school;
  118         3. Be a resident of this state as defined in s. 1009.21(1);
  119         4. Be 16 to 21 years of age at the time of initial
  120  enrollment, provided that a student who is 16 or 17 years of age
  121  has withdrawn from school enrollment pursuant to the
  122  requirements and safeguards in s. 1003.21(1)(c);
  123         5. Select the adult secondary education program and career
  124  education program of his or her choice at the time of admission
  125  to the GATE Program, provided that the career education program
  126  is included on the Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4).
  127  The student may not change the requested pathway after
  128  enrollment, except that, if necessary for the student, the
  129  student may enroll in an adult basic education program prior to
  130  enrolling in the adult secondary education program;
  131         6. Maintain a 2.0 GPA for career and technical education
  132  coursework; and
  133         7. Notwithstanding s. 1003.435(4), complete the programs
  134  under subparagraph 5. within 3 years after his or her initial
  135  enrollment unless the institution determines that an extension
  136  is warranted due to extenuating circumstances.
  137         (c) Subject to the availability of funds, a student who
  138  meets the requirements of paragraph (b) and is enrolled in the
  139  GATE Program is eligible to receive the stipend specified in s.
  140  1009.895(3).
  141         (d) An institution may not impose additional criteria to
  142  determine a student’s eligibility to receive a waiver under this
  143  section.
  144         (5) DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.—In addition to
  145  administering the GATE Program, the Department of Education
  146  shall perform the following duties:
  147         (a) Disseminate information about the GATE Program to
  148  eligible institutions, local workforce development boards, and
  149  other local, regional, or state initiatives that interact with
  150  the GATE Program’s target population.
  151         (b) Connect prospective students directly to eligible
  152  institutions.
  153         (c) Provide access to online career planning tools.
  154         (6) REPORTING.—Beginning October 1, 2025, and each October
  155  1 thereafter, the Department of Education shall submit a report
  156  to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
  157  the House of Representatives on the number and value of
  158  registration, tuition, laboratory, and examination fees and
  159  instructional materials costs waived and reimbursed, by
  160  institution; the number of students who have obtained a standard
  161  high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma while
  162  participating in the GATE Program; the number of students
  163  completing an applied technology diploma or career certificate
  164  while participating in the GATE Program; the number of students
  165  participating in the GATE Program who receive a stipend under s.
  166  1009.895(3); the number of students who have earned an industry
  167  certification on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List
  168  while participating in the GATE Program; and the number of
  169  students who completed the GATE Program. The reporting period
  170  shall cover the previous academic year.
  171         (7) RULES.—The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
  172  implement this section.
  173         Section 2. Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section
  174  445.009, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  175         445.009 One-stop delivery system.—
  176         (1) The one-stop delivery system is the state’s primary
  177  customer-service strategy for offering every Floridian access,
  178  through service sites or telephone or computer networks, to the
  179  following services:
  180         (g) Adult education, and basic skills training, integrated
  181  education and training, and the Graduation Alternative to
  182  Traditional Education Program under s. 1004.933.
  183         Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  184  1003.21, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  185         1003.21 School attendance.—
  186         (1)
  187         (c) A student who attains the age of 16 years during the
  188  school year is not subject to compulsory school attendance
  189  beyond the date upon which he or she attains that age if the
  190  student files a formal declaration of intent to terminate school
  191  enrollment with the district school board. Public school
  192  students who have attained the age of 16 years and who have not
  193  graduated are subject to compulsory school attendance until the
  194  formal declaration of intent is filed with the district school
  195  board. The declaration must acknowledge that terminating school
  196  enrollment is likely to reduce the student’s earning potential
  197  and must be signed by the student and the student’s parent. The
  198  school district shall notify the student’s parent of receipt of
  199  the student’s declaration of intent to terminate school
  200  enrollment. The student’s certified school counselor or other
  201  school personnel shall conduct an exit interview with the
  202  student to determine the reasons for the student’s decision to
  203  terminate school enrollment and actions that could be taken to
  204  keep the student in school. The student’s certified school
  205  counselor or other school personnel shall inform the student of
  206  opportunities to continue his or her education in a different
  207  environment, including, but not limited to, adult education, and
  208  high school equivalency examination preparation, and the
  209  Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education Program under s.
  210  1004.933. Additionally, the student shall complete a survey in a
  211  format prescribed by the Department of Education to provide data
  212  on student reasons for terminating enrollment and actions taken
  213  by schools to keep students enrolled.
  214         Section 4. Subsection (3) of section 1003.435, Florida
  215  Statutes, is amended to read:
  216         1003.435 High school equivalency diploma program.—
  217         (3) Each district school board shall:
  218         (a) Offer and administer the high school equivalency
  219  diploma examinations and the subject area examinations to all
  220  candidates pursuant to rules of the State Board of Education.
  221         (b)Notify each candidate of adult secondary and
  222  postsecondary education options available in or near the school
  223  district, including the Graduation Alternative to Traditional
  224  Education Program under s. 1004.933. The candidate must also be
  225  informed of the eligibility requirements and any minimum
  226  academic requirements for each available option.
  227         Section 5. Section 1009.711, Florida Statutes, is created
  228  to read:
  229         1009.711GATE Scholarship Program.—
  230         (1)The GATE Scholarship Program is created to financially
  231  support institutions participating in the GATE Program
  232  established pursuant to s. 1004.933.
  233         (2)The Department of Education shall administer the GATE
  234  Scholarship Program in accordance with rules adopted by the
  235  State Board of Education.
  236         (3)The GATE Scholarship Program shall reimburse eligible
  237  institutions for registration, tuition, laboratory, and
  238  examination fees and related instructional materials costs for
  239  students enrolled in the GATE Program. Institutions must be
  240  reimbursed at the in-state resident tuition rate established in
  241  s. 1009.22(3)(c).
  242         (4)Each participating institution shall report to the
  243  department all students enrolled in the GATE Program during the
  244  fall, spring, or summer terms within 30 days after the end of
  245  regular registration. For each eligible student, the institution
  246  shall report the total reimbursable expenses by category, which
  247  the department must consider in determining an institution’s
  248  award under this section. The department shall reimburse each
  249  participating institution no later than 30 days after the
  250  institution has reported enrollment for that term.
  251         (5)Reimbursements from the GATE Scholarship Program are
  252  contingent upon an annual appropriation in the General
  253  Appropriations Act. If the statewide reimbursement amount is
  254  greater than the appropriation, the institutional reimbursement
  255  amounts specified in subsection (3) must be prorated among the
  256  institutions that have timely reported eligible students to the
  257  department.
  258         (6)The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
  259  implement this section.
  260         Section 6. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
  261  1009.895, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  262         1009.895 Open Door Grant Program.—
  263         (2) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible for the program, a
  264  student must:
  265         (b) Be enrolled in an adult secondary education program or
  266  an integrated education and training program in which
  267  institutions establish partnerships with local workforce
  268  development boards to provide basic skills instruction,
  269  contextually and concurrently, with workforce training that
  270  results in the award of credentials under s. 445.004(4) or a
  271  workforce education program as defined under s. 1011.80(1)(b)
  272  (f) that is included on the Master Credentials List under s.
  273  445.004(4); and
  274  
  275  An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a
  276  student’s eligibility to receive a grant under this section.
  277         Section 7. Subsection (10) of section 1011.80, Florida
  278  Statutes, is amended to read:
  279         1011.80 Funds for operation of workforce education
  280  programs.—
  281         (10) A high school student dually enrolled under s.
  282  1007.271 in a workforce education program operated by a Florida
  283  College System institution or school district career center
  284  generates the amount calculated for workforce education funding,
  285  including any payment of performance funding, and the
  286  proportional share of full-time equivalent enrollment generated
  287  through the Florida Education Finance Program for the student’s
  288  enrollment in a high school. If a high school student is dually
  289  enrolled in a Florida College System institution program,
  290  including a program conducted at a high school, the Florida
  291  College System institution earns the funds generated for
  292  workforce education funding, and the school district earns the
  293  proportional share of full-time equivalent funding from the
  294  Florida Education Finance Program. If a student is dually
  295  enrolled in a career center operated by the same district as the
  296  district in which the student attends high school, that district
  297  earns the funds generated for workforce education funding and
  298  also earns the proportional share of full-time equivalent
  299  funding from the Florida Education Finance Program. If a student
  300  is dually enrolled in a workforce education program provided by
  301  a career center operated by a different school district, the
  302  funds must be divided between the two school districts
  303  proportionally from the two funding sources. A student may not
  304  be reported for funding in a dual enrollment workforce education
  305  program unless the student has completed the basic skills
  306  assessment pursuant to s. 1004.91. A student who is coenrolled
  307  in a K-12 education program and an adult education program may
  308  be reported for purposes of funding in an adult education
  309  program. If a student is coenrolled in core curricula courses
  310  for credit recovery or dropout prevention purposes and does not
  311  have a pattern of excessive absenteeism or habitual truancy or a
  312  history of disruptive behavior in school, the student may be
  313  reported for funding for up to four two courses per year. Such a
  314  student is exempt from the payment of the block tuition for
  315  adult general education programs provided in s. 1009.22(3)(c).
  316  The Department of Education shall develop a list of courses to
  317  be designated as core curricula courses for the purposes of
  318  coenrollment.
  319         Section 8. Section 1011.804, Florida Statutes, is created
  320  to read:
  321         1011.804GATE Startup Grant Program.—
  322         (1)The GATE Startup Grant Program is established within
  323  the Department of Education to fund and support the startup and
  324  implementation of the GATE Program, subject to legislative
  325  appropriation. The purpose of the grant program is to increase
  326  access to programs that support adult learners earning a high
  327  school credential, either a high school diploma or its
  328  equivalent, and a workforce credential aligned to statewide or
  329  regional demand. The department shall administer the grants,
  330  determine eligibility, and distribute grant awards.
  331         (2) As used in this section, the term “institution” means a
  332  school district career center established under s. 1001.44, a
  333  charter technical career center established under s. 1002.34, or
  334  a Florida College System institution identified in s. 1000.21
  335  which offers the GATE Program pursuant to s. 1004.933.
  336         (3)The department may solicit proposals from institutions
  337  without programs that meet the requirements of s. 1004.933(2).
  338  Such institutions must be located in or serve a rural area of
  339  opportunity as designated by the Governor.
  340         (4)The department shall prioritize grant proposals that
  341  combine adult basic education, adult secondary education, and
  342  career education programs at one location or allow students to
  343  complete programs through distance learning. An applicant may
  344  not receive more than 10 percent of the total amount
  345  appropriated for the program.
  346         (5)The department shall make the grant application
  347  available to potential applicants no later than August 15, 2024.
  348  A grant proposal must include:
  349         (a)The institution or institutions that will provide the
  350  adult basic education, adult secondary education, and career
  351  education programs;
  352         (b)The proposed adult basic education and adult secondary
  353  education program or programs the institution or institutions
  354  will provide, and the projected enrollment for such program or
  355  programs;
  356         (c)The proposed career education program or programs the
  357  institution or institutions will provide and the projected
  358  enrollment for such program or programs;
  359         (d)The credential or credentials associated with the
  360  career education program or programs. Such credential or
  361  credentials must be included on the Master Credentials List
  362  under s. 445.004(4);
  363         (e)The cost of instruction for all programs contemplated
  364  in the proposal, including costs for tuition, fees,
  365  registration, and laboratory, examination, and instructional
  366  materials costs;
  367         (f)Outreach strategies, including collaboration with local
  368  workforce development boards; and
  369         (g)A plan or timeline for implementing s. 1004.933 and
  370  enrolling students.
  371         (6)Grant funds may be used for planning activities and
  372  other expenses associated with the creation of the GATE Program,
  373  such as expenses related to program instruction, instructional
  374  equipment, supplies, instructional personnel, and student
  375  services. Grant funds may not be used for indirect costs. Grant
  376  recipients must submit an annual report in a format prescribed
  377  by the department. The department shall consolidate such annual
  378  reports and include the reports in the report required by s.
  379  1004.933(5).
  380         (7)The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
  381  administer this section.
  382         Section 9. Section 1011.8041, Florida Statutes, is created
  383  to read:
  384         1011.8041 GATE Program Performance Fund.—
  385         (1) The GATE Program Performance Fund is created to reward
  386  institutions for the documented success of students
  387  participating in the GATE Program established under s. 1004.933.
  388         (2) As used in this section, the term “institution” means a
  389  school district career center established under s. 1001.44, a
  390  charter technical career center established under s. 1002.34, or
  391  a Florida College System institution identified in s. 1000.21
  392  which offers the GATE Program pursuant to s. 1004.933.
  393         (3) Subject to legislative appropriation, each
  394  participating institution must receive $1,000 per student who
  395  completes the GATE Program by earning a standard high school
  396  diploma or high school equivalency diploma and a credential on
  397  the Master Credentials List under s. 445.004(4) within 3 years.
  398  If the student earned his or her diploma and credential at
  399  different institutions, then each institution must receive $500.
  400  If funds are insufficient to fully fund the calculated total
  401  award, such funds must be prorated among the institutions.
  402         (4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
  403  implement this section.
  404         Section 10. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.