The Florida Senate

¹239.401  Community education.--

(1)  Pursuant to this section and State Board of Education rule, each school board and the Board of Trustees for the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind may apply to the Department of Education for a community education grant. An applicant shall include in the grant application a description of the community education program and process through which the program is developed. The department shall give priority to applications that include:

(a)  Centers that serve the most students within available resources.

(b)  Programs for which funds are matched by the Federal Government or other nonstate sources and which are appropriate within the context of community education.

(c)  Programs that provide before-school and after-school activities for children.

(2)(a)  Each school board may employ community education coordinators to promote, coordinate, organize, and administer community education programs; however, any school board that receives a grant pursuant to this section shall employ a full-time community education coordinator. Funds allocated for grants pursuant to this section may not exceed one-half of the total compensation of each community education coordinator for the fiscal year for which the grant is awarded. For boards that receive first-time community education grants after June 30, 1992, funds may not exceed one-half of the total compensation of part-time community education coordinators. Such first-time grants may be awarded annually for 3 consecutive years. Upon completion of the 3-year period, school boards must employ a full-time community education coordinator in order to receive grant funds for the purposes of this section.

(b)  In addition to funds allocated pursuant to paragraph (a), the department shall allocate operational funds for community education grants pursuant to State Board of Education rule. Such funds shall be expended for materials, supplies, and part-time clerical assistance.

(3)  Upon request by a school board, the department shall provide the technical assistance necessary to develop and maintain a community education program.

(4)  The commissioner shall recommend funding for community education through the legislative budget request each fiscal year and make any other recommendations or reports necessary or required by State Board of Education rule.

(5)  The buildings, land, equipment, and other property owned by a school board may be shared or leased for the provision of community education. A school board, with other governmental bodies, may acquire, own, maintain, and dispose of real and personal property for use in community education.

(6)  A school board and a community college board of trustees may develop a community education agreement and submit a joint grant application. If the application is funded, either board may transfer all or part of the funds to the other as specified in the agreement.

History.--s. 26, ch. 92-136; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.