The Florida Senate

1004.92  Purpose and responsibilities for career and technical education.--

(1)  The purpose of career and technical education is to enable students who complete career and technical programs to attain and sustain employment and realize economic self-sufficiency. The purpose of this section is to identify issues related to career and technical education for which school boards and community college boards of trustees are accountable. It is the intent of the Legislature that the standards articulated in subsection (2) be considered in the development of accountability standards for public schools pursuant to ss. 1000.03, 1001.42(16), and 1008.345 and for community colleges pursuant to s. 1008.45

(2)(a)  School board, superintendent, and technical center, and community college board of trustees and president, accountability for career and technical education programs includes, but is not limited to:

1.  Student demonstration of the academic skills necessary to enter an occupation.

2.  Student preparation to enter an occupation in an entry-level position or continue postsecondary study.

3.  Career and technical program articulation with other corresponding postsecondary programs and job training experiences.

4.  Employer satisfaction with the performance of students who complete career and technical education or reach occupational completion points.

5.  Student completion, placement, and retention rates pursuant to s. 1008.43

(b)  Department of Education accountability for career and technical education includes, but is not limited to:

1.  The provision of timely, accurate technical assistance to school districts and community colleges.

2.  The provision of timely, accurate information to the State Board of Education, the Legislature, and the public.

3.  The development of policies, rules, and procedures that facilitate institutional attainment of the accountability standards and coordinate the efforts of all divisions within the department.

4.  The development of program standards and industry-driven benchmarks for career and technical, adult, and community education programs, which must be updated every 3 years. The standards must include technical, academic, and workplace skills; viability of distance learning for instruction; and work/learn cycles that are responsive to business and industry.

5.  Overseeing school district and community college compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

6.  Ensuring that the educational outcomes for the technical component of career and technical programs are uniform and designed to provide a graduate who is capable of entering the workforce on an equally competitive basis regardless of the institution of choice.

(3)  Each technical center operated by a district school board shall establish a center advisory council pursuant to s. 1001.452 The center advisory council shall assist in the preparation and evaluation of center improvement plans required pursuant to s. 1001.42(16) and may provide assistance, upon the request of the center director, in the preparation of the center's annual budget and plan as required by s. 1008.385(1).

History.--s. 235, ch. 2002-387; s. 118, ch. 2003-1.