Florida Senate - 2017                                     SB 978
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       30-01093-17                                            2017978__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to high school graduation
    3         requirements; amending s. 1003.4282, F.S.; authorizing
    4         the use of credits earned upon completion of a
    5         registered apprenticeship or preapprenticeship to
    6         satisfy specified high school graduation credit
    7         requirements; requiring that the State Board of
    8         Education approve and identify apprenticeship and
    9         preapprenticeship programs for such purpose; providing
   10         an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (8) of section
   15  1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   16         1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
   17         (8) CAREER EDUCATION COURSES THAT SATISFY HIGH SCHOOL
   18  CREDIT REQUIREMENTS.—
   19         (a) Participation in career education courses engages
   20  students in their high school education, increases academic
   21  achievement, enhances employability, and increases postsecondary
   22  success. By July 1, 2014, the department shall develop, for
   23  approval by the State Board of Education, multiple, additional
   24  career education courses or a series of courses that meet the
   25  requirements set forth in s. 1003.493(2), (4), and (5) and this
   26  subsection and allow students to earn credit in both the career
   27  education course and courses required for high school graduation
   28  under this section and s. 1003.4281.
   29         1. The state board must determine if sufficient academic
   30  standards are covered to warrant the award of academic credit.
   31         2. Career education courses must include workforce and
   32  digital literacy skills and the integration of required course
   33  content with practical applications and designated rigorous
   34  coursework that results in one or more industry certifications
   35  or clearly articulated credit or advanced standing in a 2-year
   36  or 4-year certificate or degree program, which may include high
   37  school junior and senior year work-related internships or
   38  apprenticeships. The department shall negotiate state licenses
   39  for material and testing for industry certifications. The
   40  instructional methodology used in these courses must be
   41  comprised of authentic projects, problems, and activities for
   42  contextually learning the academics.
   43         3. A student who earns credit upon completion of an
   44  apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program registered with the
   45  Department of Education under chapter 446 may use such credit to
   46  satisfy the high school graduation credit requirements in
   47  paragraphs (3)(e) and (g). The state board shall approve and
   48  identify in the Course Code Directory the apprenticeship and
   49  preapprenticeship programs from which earned credit may be used
   50  pursuant to this subparagraph.
   51         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.