Senate Bill 1194

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1194

    By Senator Gutman





    34-591B-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to postsecondary education;

  3         amending s. 216.136, F.S.; creating the

  4         Workforce Development Estimating Conference;

  5         providing duties and principals; amending s.

  6         229.551, F.S.; revising duties of the

  7         Commissioner of Education with respect to

  8         common course designation and numbering;

  9         revising membership and duties of the

10         Articulation Coordinating Committee; amending

11         s. 236.081, F.S.; providing funding for the

12         co-enrollment of secondary students; amending

13         s. 239.105, F.S.; revising terms defined for

14         the purposes of vocational, adult, and

15         community education; amending s. 239.115, F.S.;

16         prescribing additional courses that will be

17         considered "workforce development education" or

18         "workforce development programs"; providing

19         funding guidelines for programs for disabled

20         students and for other programs; requiring an

21         annual audit of the Florida Workforce

22         Development Education Fund; amending s.

23         239.117, F.S.; conforming terminology to

24         changes made by the act; providing standards

25         for fee schedules, revenues, and courses of

26         study with respect to literacy completion

27         points; amending s. 239.229, F.S.; conforming

28         terminology to changes made by the act;

29         providing for standards and accountability with

30         respect to literacy completion points; amending

31         s. 239.249, F.S.; providing duties of the Jobs

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1194
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  1         and Education Partnership with respect to

  2         degree education courses and programs; amending

  3         s. 239.301, F.S.; revising provisions relating

  4         to adult general education and to educational

  5         programs for disabled adults; amending s.

  6         240.115, F.S.; providing for the statewide

  7         articulation of workforce development courses

  8         and programs; amending s. 240.301, F.S.;

  9         conforming terminology to changes made by the

10         act; amending s. 240.35, F.S.; providing

11         applicability of provisions relating to student

12         fees to non-college-credit courses; exempting

13         certain persons from registration,

14         matriculation, and laboratory fees; amending s.

15         240.359, F.S.; providing for allocating funds

16         to community colleges for college-preparatory

17         programs and degree vocational education

18         programs; requiring the Commissioner of

19         Education to study issues relating to workforce

20         development and report to the Legislature;

21         creating s. 240.3345, F.S.; providing for the

22         creation of charter colleges by community

23         colleges; providing limitations, duties, and

24         eligibility requirements; authorizing adoption

25         of rules; providing for renewal or termination

26         of charters; providing for revenues; creating

27         s. 240.524, F.S.; prescribing conditions under

28         which community colleges may award

29         baccalaureate degrees; amending s. 240.147,

30         F.S.; providing duties of the Postsecondary

31         Education Planning Commission with respect to

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  1         community college baccalaureate degrees;

  2         amending s. 240.301, F.S.; revising the mission

  3         of community colleges to account for the

  4         authorization to award baccalaureate degrees;

  5         amending s. 240.311, F.S.; prescribing duties

  6         of the State Board of Community Colleges with

  7         respect to charter colleges and community

  8         college baccalaureate degrees; amending s.

  9         240.319, F.S.; prescribing powers of community

10         college boards of trustees with respect to

11         offering baccalaureate degrees; amending s.

12         232.2466, F.S.; revising requirements for the

13         college-ready diploma; amending s. 240.1163,

14         F.S.; providing requirements for school

15         districts and community colleges with respect

16         to weighting dual enrollments; amending s.

17         240.321, F.S.; prescribing additional content

18         for notice given to students by community

19         college boards of trustees; amending s.

20         240.4097, F.S.; requiring application deadlines

21         for postsecondary student assistance grants;

22         amending s. 246.013, F.S.; revising

23         requirements for institutions to participate in

24         the common course designation and numbering

25         system; amending ss. 239.117, 240.235, F.S.;

26         exempting certain persons from registration,

27         matriculation, and laboratory fees; amending s.

28         240.319, F.S.; requiring community colleges to

29         operate on a 5-day work week; amending s.

30         246.207, F.S.; requiring specified moneys to be

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  1         transferred to the Institutional Assessment

  2         Trust Fund; providing an effective date.

  3

  4  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  5

  6         Section 1.  Subsection (11) is added to section

  7  216.136, Florida Statutes, to read:

  8         216.136  Consensus estimating conferences; duties and

  9  principals.--

10         (11)  WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.--

11         (a)  Duties.--The Workforce Development Estimating

12  Conference shall develop such official information on the

13  workforce development education system with respect to the

14  state public adult and postsecondary vocational educational

15  system as the conference determines is needed for the state

16  planning and budgeting system.  Such estimates must include at

17  least: estimates of workforce needs and student enrollments;

18  performance outputs, including program completion; and

19  performance outcomes, including employment placement and

20  retention, for the Workforce Development Education Fund and

21  program.  The estimating conference must also consider the

22  impact of increased fees on enrollments and program outputs

23  and outcomes.  The estimating conference shall use estimates

24  and data from the Occupational Estimating Conference as

25  integral components in the production of workforce development

26  estimates.

27         (b)  Principals.--The Commissioner of Education, the

28  Executive Office of the Governor, the Secretary of Labor, the

29  director of the Division of Economic and Demographic Research

30  of the Joint Legislative Management Committee, and the

31  professional staff of the Senate and the House of

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  1  Representatives who have forecasting expertise, or their

  2  designees, are the principals of the workforce Development

  3  Estimating Conference.  The Commissioner of Education, or the

  4  commissioner's designee, shall preside over the sessions of

  5  the conference.

  6         Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 229.551, Florida

  7  Statutes, is amended to read:

  8         229.551  Educational management.--

  9         (1)  The department is directed to identify all

10  functions which under the provisions of this act contribute

11  to, or comprise a part of, the state system of educational

12  accountability and to establish within the department the

13  necessary organizational structure, policies, and procedures

14  for effectively coordinating such functions.  Such policies

15  and procedures shall clearly fix and delineate

16  responsibilities for various aspects of the system and for

17  overall coordination of the total system.  The commissioner

18  shall perform the following duties and functions:

19         (a)  Coordination of department plans for meeting

20  educational needs and for improving the quality of education

21  provided by the state system of public education.;

22         (b)  Coordination of management information system

23  development for all levels of education and for all divisions

24  of the department, to include the development and utilization

25  of cooperative education computing networks for the state

26  system of public education.;

27         (c)  Development of database definitions and all other

28  items necessary for full implementation of a comprehensive

29  management information system as required by s. 229.555.;

30         (d)  Coordination of all planning functions for all

31  levels and divisions within the department.;

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  1         (e)  Coordination of all cost accounting and cost

  2  reporting activities for all levels of education, including

  3  public schools, vocational programs, community colleges, and

  4  institutions in the State University System.;

  5         (f)  Development and coordination of a common course

  6  designation and numbering system for community colleges,

  7  school districts, nonpublic postsecondary education

  8  institutions, and the State University System which will

  9  improve program planning, increase communication among

10  community colleges, school districts, and universities, and

11  nonpublic institutions and facilitate the tranfer of students.

12  The system shall not encourage and or require common course

13  content prescription or standardization for all courses with a

14  common number or uniform course testing, and the continuing

15  maintenance of the system shall be accomplished by appropriate

16  faculty committees representing public and nonpublic

17  institutions.  Also, the system shall be applied to all

18  postsecondary and certificate career education programs and

19  courses offered in school districts, nonpublic postsecondary

20  institutions, and community colleges.  The Articulation

21  Coordinating Committee whose membership represents public and

22  nonpublic postsecondary institutions shall:

23         1.  Identify the highest demand degree programs within

24  the State University System.

25         2.  Conduct a study of courses offered by universities

26  and accepted for credit toward a degree.  The study shall

27  identify courses designated as either general education or

28  required as a prerequisite for a degree.  The study shall also

29  identify these courses as upper-division level or

30  lower-division level.

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  1         3.  Appoint faculty committees representing school

  2  district, both community college, and university faculties, as

  3  appropriate, to recommend a single level for each course

  4  included in the common course numbering and designation

  5  system.  Any course designated as an upper-division level

  6  course must be characterized by a need for advanced academic

  7  preparation and skills that a student would be unlikely to

  8  achieve without significant prior coursework. A course that is

  9  offered as part of an associate in science degree program and

10  as an upper-division course for a baccalaureate degree shall

11  be designated for both the lower and upper division. Of the

12  courses required for each baccalaureate degree, at least half

13  of the credit hours required for the degree shall be

14  achievable through courses designated as lower-division

15  courses, except in degree programs approved by the Board of

16  Regents pursuant to s. 240.209(5)(e).  A course designated as

17  lower-division may be offered by any community college or

18  school district. By January 1, 1996, The Articulation

19  Coordinating Committee shall recommend to the State Board of

20  Education the levels for the courses.  By January 1, 1996, The

21  common course numbering and designation system shall include

22  the courses at the recommended levels., and by fall semester

23  of 1996, The registration process at each state university and

24  community college shall include the courses at their

25  designated levels and common course numbers.

26         4.  Appoint faculty committees representing school

27  district, both community college, and university faculties, as

28  appropriate, to recommend those courses identified to meet

29  general education requirements within the subject areas of

30  communication, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and

31  natural sciences.  By January 1, 1996, The Articulation

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  1  Coordinating Committee shall recommend to the State Board of

  2  Education those courses identified to meet these general

  3  education requirements by their common course code number. By

  4  fall semester, 1996, All community colleges and state

  5  universities shall accept these general education courses.

  6         5.  Appoint faculty committees representing both

  7  community colleges and universities to recommend common

  8  prerequisite courses and identify course substitutions when

  9  common prerequisites cannot be established for degree programs

10  across all institutions. Faculty work groups shall adopt a

11  strategy for addressing significant differences in

12  prerequisites, including course substitutions.  The Board of

13  Regents shall be notified by the Articulation Coordinating

14  Committee when significant differences remain.  By fall

15  semester, 1996, Common degree program prerequisites shall be

16  offered and accepted by all state universities and community

17  colleges, except in cases approved by the Board of Regents

18  pursuant to s. 240.209(5)(f).  The Board of Regents shall work

19  with the State Board of Community Colleges on the development

20  of a centralized database containing the list of courses and

21  course substitutions that meet the prerequisite requirements

22  for each baccalaureate degree program.; and

23         (g)  Expansion and ongoing maintenance of the common

24  course designation and numbering system to include the

25  numbering and designation of college credit postsecondary

26  vocational courses and facilitate the transfer of credits

27  between public schools and community colleges.  The

28  Articulation Coordinating Committee shall:

29         1.  Adopt guidelines for the participation of public

30  school districts and community colleges in offering college

31  credit courses that may be transferred to a certificate,

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  1  diploma, or degree program.  These guidelines shall establish

  2  standards addressing faculty qualifications, admissions,

  3  program curricula, participation in the common course

  4  designation and numbering system, and other issues identified

  5  by the Task Force on Workforce Development and the

  6  Commissioner of Education.  Guidelines should also address the

  7  role of accreditation in the designation of courses as

  8  transferable college credit. Such guidelines must not

  9  jeopardize the accreditation status of educational

10  institutions and must be based on data related to the history

11  of credit transfer among institutions in this state and

12  others.

13         2.  Identify Conduct a study identifying postsecondary

14  vocational programs and postsecondary adult vocational

15  programs offered by community colleges and public school

16  districts.  The study shall also identify postsecondary

17  Vocational courses designated as college credit courses

18  applicable toward a vocational diploma or degree shall also be

19  identified.  Such college credit courses must be identified

20  within the common course numbering and designation system.

21         3.  Appoint faculty committees representing both

22  community college and public school faculties to recommend a

23  standard program length and appropriate occupational

24  completion points for each postsecondary adult vocational

25  certificate program, diploma, and degree.  A course designated

26  as college credit may be offered by a public school district

27  or community college, provided the standards established in

28  subparagraph 1. are met.

29         (h)  Development of common definitions necessary for

30  managing a uniform coordinated system of career education for

31  all levels of the state system of public education.

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  1         Section 3.  Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section

  2  236.081, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         236.081  Funds for operation of schools.--If the annual

  4  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each

  5  district for operation of schools is not determined in the

  6  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing

  7  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as

  8  follows:

  9         (1)  COMPUTATION OF THE BASIC AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED FOR

10  OPERATION.--The following procedure shall be followed in

11  determining the annual allocation to each district for

12  operation:

13         (h)  Instruction outside required number of school

14  days.--Students in grades 9 through 12 may be counted as

15  full-time equivalent students for instruction provided outside

16  the required number of school days if such instruction counts

17  as credit toward a high school diploma. However, if a high

18  school student wishes to earn additional high school credits

19  from a community college or school district postsecondary

20  educational facility, including an institution located in the

21  school district in which the student resides or in a

22  neighboring school district, and enrolls in one or more adult

23  secondary education courses at the community college,

24  including courses conducted at the high school, the student's

25  enrollment at the community college or school district shall

26  be funded by the proportional share of full-time equivalent

27  enrollment generated through the Florida Education Finance

28  Program for the student's enrollment at the high school,

29  through funds provided by the school district to the community

30  college on a contractual basis school district must pay the

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  1  community college for the costs incurred because of the high

  2  school student's coenrollment.

  3         Section 4.  Section 239.105, Florida Statutes, is

  4  amended to read:

  5         239.105  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the

  6  term:

  7         (1)  "Adult basic education" means courses of

  8  instruction designed to improve the employability of the

  9  state's workforce through instruction in mathematics, reading,

10  language, and workforce readiness skills at grade level

11  equivalency 0-8.9 at or below a fifth grade educational level

12  in the language arts, including English for speakers of other

13  languages, mathematics, natural and social sciences, consumer

14  education, and other courses that enable an adult to attain

15  basic or functional literacy.

16         (2)  "Adult ESOL" or "adult ESL"  means noncredit

17  courses in the English language designed to improve the

18  employability of the state's workforce through acquisition of

19  communication skills and cultural competencies that enhance

20  the ability to read English, write in English, speak English,

21  and understand spoken English.

22         (3)(2)  "Adult general education" means a comprehensive

23  instructional programs designed to improve the employability

24  of the state's workforce through program of adult basic

25  education, adult secondary education, English for speakers of

26  other languages, vocational preparatory instruction, and

27  instruction for adults with disabilities general educational

28  development test instruction, and vocational-preparatory

29  instruction.

30         (4)  "Adult high school credit program" means the award

31  of credits upon completion of courses and passing of

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  1  state-mandated assessments necessary to qualify for a

  2  high-school diploma.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the

  3  graduation standards for adults shall be the same as those for

  4  secondary students.

  5         (5)(3)  "Adult secondary education" means courses

  6  through which a person receives high school credit that leads

  7  to the award of a high school diploma or courses of

  8  instruction through which a student prepares to take the

  9  general educational development test. This includes grade

10  levels 9.0 through 12.9.

11         (6)  "Adult student" means a student who is beyond the

12  compulsory school age and who has legally left the elementary

13  or secondary school or a high school student who is taking an

14  adult course required for high school graduation.

15         (7)  "Adult with disability" means an individual who:

16         (a)  Has a physical or mental impairment,

17         (b)  Has a record of having a physical or mental

18  impairment, or

19         (c)  Is regarded as having a physical or mental

20  impairment

21

22  that substantially limits one or more major life activities

23  and who requires modifications to the educational program,

24  adaptive equipment, or specialized instructional methods and

25  services.

26         (8)  "Adults with disabilities workforce development"

27  means a mainstreamed or specialized educational training

28  program, service, or accommodation, designed to move an adult

29  with disability through a progression of competencies leading

30  to competitive employment in the workforce.

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  1         (9)  "Applied technology diploma" means a course of

  2  study that is part of an A.S. degree, is less than 60 credit

  3  hours, and leads to employment in a specific occupation.

  4  Diploma programs will be delivered by both school districts

  5  and community colleges and will be governed by a statewide

  6  articulation agreement.  Articulation to a degree program is

  7  subject to guidelines and standards adopted by the

  8  Articulation Coordinating Committee under s. 229.551(1)(g).

  9         (10)(4)  "Basic literacy," which is also referred to as

10  "beginning adult basic education," means the demonstration of

11  academic competence from 2.0 through 5.9 educational grade

12  levels as measured by means approved for this purpose by the

13  State Board of Education.

14         (11)(5)  "Beginning literacy" means the demonstration

15  of academic competence from 0 through 1.9 educational grade

16  levels as measured by means approved for this purpose by the

17  State Board of Education.

18         (12)  "Co-enrollee" means a currently enrolled high

19  school student 16 years of age or older who is taking

20  additional high school credit courses through adult education.

21         (13)(6)  "College-preparatory instruction" means

22  courses through which a high school graduate who applies for a

23  degree program may attain the communication and computation

24  skills necessary to enroll in college credit instruction.

25         (14)(7)  "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of

26  Education.

27         (15)(8)  "Community education" means the use of a

28  school or other public facility as a community center operated

29  in conjunction with other public, private, and governmental

30  organizations for the purpose of providing educational,

31  recreational, social, cultural, health, and community services

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  1  for persons in the community in accordance with the needs,

  2  interests, and concerns of that community, including lifelong

  3  learning.

  4         (16)  "Continuing workforce education" means

  5  instruction that does not result in a literacy completion

  6  point, occupational completion point, vocational certificate,

  7  diploma, or A.S. degree.  Continuing workforce education is

  8  for:

  9         (a)  Individuals who are required to have training for

10  licensure renewal or certification renewal by a regulatory

11  agency or credentialing body;

12         (b)  New or expanding businesses as described in ch.

13  288;

14         (c)  Business, industry, and government agencies whose

15  products or services are changing so that retraining of

16  employees is necessary or who need their employees trained in

17  specific skills to increase efficiency and productivity; or

18         (d)  Individuals who are enhancing occupational skills

19  necessary to maintain current employment, to cross train, or

20  to upgrade employment.

21         (17)  "Degree vocational education program" means a

22  course of study that leads to an associate in applied

23  technology degree or an associate in science degree.  A degree

24  vocational education program may contain within it one or more

25  occupational completion points and may lead to certificates

26  within the course of study.  The term is interchangeable with

27  the term "degree career education program."

28         (18)(9)  "Department" means the Department of

29  Education.

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  1         (10)  "Document literacy" means the demonstration of

  2  competence in identifying and using information located in

  3  materials such as charts, forms, tables, and indexes.

  4         (19)(11)  "Family literacy" means a program for adults

  5  with a literacy component for parents and children or other

  6  intergenerational literacy components.

  7         (20)(12)  "Functional literacy," which is also referred

  8  to as "intermediate adult basic education," means the

  9  demonstration of academic competence from 6.0 through 8.9

10  educational grade levels as measured by means approved for

11  this purpose by the State Board of Education.

12         (21)(13)  "General educational development test

13  preparation instruction" means courses of instruction designed

14  to prepare adults for success on the five GED subject area

15  tests leading to qualification for a state of Florida high

16  school diploma noncredit courses through which persons prepare

17  to take the general educational development test.

18         (22)(14)  "Lifelong learning" means a noncredit course

19  or activity offered by a school district or community college

20  which seeks to address community social and economic issues

21  related to health and human relations, government, parenting,

22  consumer economics, and senior citizens. The course or

23  activity must have specific expected outcomes that relate to

24  one or more of these areas.

25         (23)  "Literacy completion point" or "LCP" means the

26  attainment of academic or workforce readiness skills that

27  qualify the participant for further basic education,

28  vocational education, or employment.  Completion of a literacy

29  completion point means that a student has successfully

30  mastered the competencies needed to progress to the next

31  educational level or employment.

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  1         (24)(15)  "Local educational agency" means a community

  2  college or school district.

  3         (25)(16)  "Local sponsor" means a school board,

  4  community college board of trustees, public library, other

  5  public entity, or private nonprofit entity, or any combination

  6  of these entities, that provides adult literacy instruction.

  7         (17)  "Certificate vocational education program" means

  8  a course of study that leads to at least one occupational

  9  completion point. The program may also confer credit that may

10  articulate with a degree career education program, if

11  authorized by rules of the Department of Education. Any

12  college credit instruction designed to articulate to a degree

13  program is subject to guidelines and standards adopted by the

14  Articulation Coordinating Committee pursuant to s.

15  229.551(1)(g). The term is interchangeable with the term

16  "certificate career education program."

17         (18)  "Degree vocational education program" means a

18  course of study that leads to an associate in applied

19  technology degree or an associate in science degree. A degree

20  vocational education program may contain within it one or more

21  occupational completion points and may lead to certificates

22  within the course of study. The term is interchangeable with

23  the term "degree career education program."

24         (26)(19)  "Occupational completion point" means the

25  vocational competencies that qualify a person to enter an

26  occupation that is linked to a vocational program. Completion

27  of an occupational completion point means that a student has

28  successfully mastered competencies associated with a specific

29  occupation.

30

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  1         (20)  "Prose literacy" means the demonstration of

  2  competence in reading and interpreting materials such as

  3  newspapers, magazines, and books.

  4         (21)  "Quantitative literacy" means the demonstration

  5  of competence in the application of arithmetic operations to

  6  materials such as loan documents, sale advertisements, order

  7  forms, and checking accounts.

  8         (27)(22)  "Vocational education planning region" means

  9  the geographic area in which career or adult education is

10  provided.  Each vocational region is contiguous with one of

11  the 28 community college service areas. The term may be used

12  interchangeably with the term "career education planning

13  region."

14         (28)  "Vocational certificate program" means a course

15  of study that leads to at least one occupational completion

16  point.  The program may also confer credit that may articulate

17  with a degree college career education program, if authorized

18  by rules of the Department of Education.  Any college credit

19  instruction designed to articulate to a degree program is

20  subject to guidelines and standards adopted by the

21  Articulation Coordination Committee under s. 229.551(1)(g).

22  The term is interchangeable with the term "certificate career

23  education program."

24         (29)(23)  "Vocational-preparatory instruction" means

25  adult general education through which persons attain academic

26  and workforce readiness skills at the level of functional

27  literacy (grade levels 6.0-8.9) or higher so that such persons

28  may pursue certificate career education or higher-level career

29  education.

30         (30)  "Vocational program" means a group of identified

31  competencies leading to an occupation identified by a

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  1  classification of instruction program number.  A program may

  2  lead to a single occupational completion point or multiple

  3  occupational points depending on the career ladder.  Program

  4  completion means that a student has successfully completed all

  5  course work and mastered appropriate competencies in a

  6  particular vocational or adult education program to qualify

  7  for a certificate, diploma, or degree.

  8         (31)(24)  "Workforce literacy" means the basic skills

  9  necessary to perform in entry-level occupations or the skills

10  necessary to adapt to technological advances in the workplace.

11         (32)(25)  "Workforce development education" means adult

12  general education or vocational education and may consist of a

13  continuing workforce education single course or a course of

14  study leading to an occupational completion point, a

15  vocational certificate, an applied technology diploma an

16  associate in applied technology degree, or an associate in

17  science degree.

18         Section 5.  Section 239.115, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         239.115  Funds for operation of adult general education

21  and vocational education programs.--

22         (1)  As used in this section, the terms "workforce

23  development education" and "workforce development program"

24  include:

25         (a)  Adult general education programs designed to

26  improve the employability skills of the state's workforce

27  through adult basic education, adult secondary education, GED

28  preparation, and vocational-preparatory education, including

29  courses that lead to a literacy completion point;

30         (b)  Certificate vocational education programs,

31  including courses that lead to an occupational completion

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  1  point within a program that terminates in either a certificate

  2  or a diploma degree;

  3         (c)  Degree vocational education programs that lead to

  4  an associate in applied technology degree, an applied

  5  technology diploma, or an associate in science degree; and

  6         (d)  Continuing workforce education courses that do not

  7  result in an occupational completion point or a literacy

  8  completion point; and

  9         (e)(d)  Apprenticeship programs as defined in s.

10  446.021.

11         (2)  Any workforce development education program may be

12  conducted by a community college or a school district. An

13  associate in science degree or applied technology diploma may

14  be awarded by a community college, school district, or other

15  authorized entity, provided the institution is accredited by

16  an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to

17  offer an associate in science degree, except that an associate

18  in science degree may be awarded only by a community college.

19  However, If an associate in science degree program contains

20  within it an occupational completion point that confers a

21  certificate, or an associate in applied technology diploma

22  degree, or an associate in applied technology degree, that

23  portion of the program may be conducted by a school district

24  technical center, community college, or other authorized

25  entity. Any college credit instruction designed to articulate

26  to a degree program is subject to guidelines and standards

27  adopted by the Articulation Coordinating Committee pursuant to

28  s. 229.551(1)(g).

29         (3)  If a program for disabled adults pursuant to s.

30  239.301 is a workforce development program as defined in this

31

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  1  section it must be funded as provided in this section except

  2  that:.

  3         (a)  Adult disabled students that are classified as

  4  students that cannot reasonably complete a program or be

  5  placed in employment due to their disabilities, as defined by

  6  the Department of Education, shall be funded pursuant to the

  7  General Appropriations Act;

  8         (b)  All other adult students with disabilities, as

  9  defined by the Department of Education, completing a program

10  pursuant to this subsection shall be weighted double for the

11  funding of program completion, placement, and retention; and

12         (c)  Elderly students and students incarcerated in a

13  county or municipal detention facility who are classified as

14  students that cannot reasonably complete a program or be

15  placed in employment due to their circumstances shall be

16  funded pursuant to the General Appropriations Act at 100

17  percent of program cost.

18         (4)  The Florida Workforce Development Education Fund

19  is created to provide performance-based funding for all

20  workforce development programs, whether the programs are

21  offered by a school district or a community college. Funding

22  for all workforce development education programs must be from

23  the Workforce Development Education Fund and must be based on

24  cost categories, performance output measures, and performance

25  outcome measures. This subsection takes effect July 1, 1998.

26         (a)  The cost categories must be calculated to identify

27  high-cost programs, medium-cost programs, and low-cost

28  programs. The cost analysis used to calculate and assign a

29  course of study to a cost category must include at least both

30  direct and indirect instructional costs, consumable supplies,

31  equipment, and optimum program length.

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  1         (b)1.  The performance output measure for a vocational

  2  education course of study is student completion of a single

  3  course; a program that leads to an occupational completion

  4  point associated with a certificate; an apprenticeship

  5  program; or a program that leads to an associate in applied

  6  technology diploma, associate in applied technology degree, or

  7  an associate in science degree. In a registered apprenticeship

  8  program, program completion payments must be made at the end

  9  of each year up to a maximum of 4 years.

10         2.  The performance output measure for an adult general

11  education course of study is measurable improvement in student

12  skills, including attainment of a literacy completion point.

13         (c)  The performance outcome measures are associated

14  with placement of students after completion of a course of

15  study. These measures include placement in employment that is

16  related to the course of study; placement into employment in

17  an occupation on the Occupational Forecasting Conference list

18  of high-wage, high-skill occupations with sufficient openings;

19  placement of WAGES clients or former WAGES clients; and

20  retention in employment of former WAGES clients. Registered

21  apprenticeship programs are eligible for placement incentive

22  payments after 1 year and for retention incentive payments for

23  up to 3 years. Placement must be reported pursuant to ss.

24  229.8075 and 239.233.

25         (5)  Initial state funding is generated by student

26  enrollment in a course of study after the course/program

27  drop/add period. When the student completes the course of

28  study or the program, the agency may collect the remaining

29  state funding. This subsection takes effect July 1, 1998.

30         (6)  The total state funding entitlement for each

31  course of study is determined by its length, the output

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  1  measures, and its cost category. The district cost

  2  differential, as established annually in the General

  3  Appropriations Act, must be applied to the appropriation for

  4  the workforce development education fund.

  5         (a)1.  For a course that does not result in an

  6  occupational completion point or a literacy completion point,

  7  state funding equals 50 percent of the cost of the course,

  8  with student fees, business support, quick-response training

  9  funds, or other means making up the remaining 50 percent.

10  Coursework within this category is considered continuing

11  workforce education.

12         2.  For a program that results in an occupational

13  completion point or a literacy completion point, an

14  educational agency may collect 100 percent of the cost of the

15  program, regardless of whether the student completes the

16  program through acceleration or in the prescribed amount of

17  time with 85 percent generated from a combination of student

18  fees and state support based upon the during a student's

19  enrollment, and the remaining 15 percent generated upon the

20  student's reaching an occupational completion point or a

21  literacy completion point or completing the program. For

22  fee-exempt students pursuant to s. 239.117, the state shall

23  pay a full 85 percent of the cost of enrollment.  In programs

24  with multiple occupational or literacy completion points, the

25  sum of the payments for the occupational or literacy

26  completion points may not exceed the payment for the

27  completion of the program.

28         (b)  Student output measures for adult education

29  instruction consist of improvement in literacy skills, grade

30  level improvement as measured by an approved test, attainment

31

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  1  of a literacy completion point, or attainment of a general

  2  education development diploma or an adult high school diploma.

  3         (c)  The cost category of a course that is part of a

  4  vocational program or an adult general education program is

  5  the same as that of the program. This subsection takes effect

  6  July 1, 1998.

  7         (7)  When a student reaches an occupational completion

  8  point, a literacy completion point, or completes a program,

  9  the educational agency shall first collect the remainder of

10  the total state funding entitlement and may be eligible for

11  additional incentive funds generated by student outcome

12  measures. However, the total funding earned by an educational

13  institution agency under the formula, including state funding

14  and student fees, may not exceed 125 percent of the calculated

15  program cost. Any funds earned in excess of program cost must

16  be expended to improve the program. This subsection takes

17  effect July 1, 1998.

18         (8)  For each course of study, an educational

19  institution agency that serves students in workforce education

20  programs shall submit an enrollment count in accordance with

21  the reporting and validation schedule established by the

22  Department of Education each semester, which shall replace the

23  full-time equivalent student enrollment used by the Florida

24  Education Finance Program and the enrollment calculation used

25  by the Community College Program Fund. The Division of

26  Workforce Development shall calculate the funding entitlement

27  for each period that semester by a date established by the

28  Department of Education. This subsection takes effect July 1,

29  1998.

30         (9)  A school district or a community college that

31  provides workforce development education shall receive initial

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  1  funding for each student in the semester in which the student

  2  enrolls. During each subsequent funding period semester, a

  3  funding entitlement shall be calculated for each student by

  4  subtracting the student fee amount from the total funding

  5  amount for the course of study in its assigned cost category.

  6  However, fees shall not vary according to the cost of the

  7  individual program, but shall instead be based on a uniform

  8  fee calculated and set at the state level within the General

  9  Appropriations Act. The enrollment funding amount is based on

10  85 percent of the cost of the program, including student fees,

11  equal to the cost of the program a student is enrolled in The

12  semester funding amount is 85 percent of the cost of the

13  program, including student fees, divided by the number of

14  semesters in the course of study. When a student reaches an

15  occupational completion point or a literacy completion point

16  or completes a continuing workforce education course, the

17  educational agency shall collect the difference between the

18  total state funding entitlement and the amount in state

19  funding already paid. For fee-exempt students pursuant to s.

20  239.117, the state shall pay a full 85 percent of the cost of

21  enrollment. A student may not generate funding for any funding

22  period semester in which the student is not enrolled. This

23  subsection takes effect July 1, 1998.

24         (10)  A high school student dually enrolled under s.

25  240.116 in a workforce development program operated by a

26  community college or school district technical center

27  generates the amount calculated by the Workforce Development

28  Education Fund, including any payment of performance

29  incentives, and the proportional share of full-time equivalent

30  enrollment generated through the Florida Education Finance

31  Program for the student's enrollment in a high school. If a

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  1  high school student is dually enrolled in a community college

  2  program, including a program conducted at a high school, the

  3  community college earns the funds generated through the

  4  Workforce Development Education Fund and the school district

  5  earns the proportional share of full-time equivalent funding

  6  from the Florida Education Finance Program. If a student is

  7  dually enrolled in a school district institution technical

  8  center operated by the same district as the district in which

  9  the student attends high school, that district earns the funds

10  generated through the Workforce Development Education Fund and

11  also earns the proportional share of full-time equivalent

12  funding from the Florida Education Finance Program. If a

13  student is dually enrolled in a workforce development program

14  provided by a technical center operated by a different school

15  district, the funds must be divided between the two school

16  districts proportionally from the two funding sources. A

17  student may not be reported for funding in a dual enrollment

18  workforce development program unless the student has completed

19  the basic skills assessment pursuant to s. 239.213.

20         (11)  The Department of Education may adopt rules to

21  administer this section.

22         (12)  The Auditor General shall annually audit the

23  Florida Workforce Development Education Fund and the Office of

24  Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall

25  review the workforce development program once every 3 years.

26  Such audits and reviews shall be based on electronic source

27  data at the community colleges and school districts.  The

28  Auditor General must audit calculations and distributions in

29  conjunction with the funding unit audit of the Division of

30  Workforce Development of the Department of Education.

31

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  1         Section 6.  Subsections (1), (6), and (7) of section

  2  239.117, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 1 of chapter

  3  97-383, Laws of Florida, are amended to read:

  4         239.117  Postsecondary student fees.--

  5         (1)  This section applies to students enrolled in

  6  workforce development programs, including adult education and

  7  programs and courses leading to an associate in applied

  8  technology diploma, associate of applied technology degree, or

  9  an associate in science degree who are reported for funding

10  through the Workforce Development Education Fund.

11         (6)(a)  The Commissioner of Education shall recommend

12  to the State Board of Education no later than December 31 of

13  each year a schedule of fees for workforce development

14  education. The fee schedule shall be based on the amount of

15  student fees necessary to produce 25 percent of the prior

16  year's cost of a course of study leading to a certificate or

17  diploma or a literacy completion point degree and 50 percent

18  of the prior year's cost of a course that does not lead to an

19  occupational completion point. At the discretion of a school

20  board or a community college, this fee schedule may be

21  implemented over a 3-year period, with full implementation in

22  the 1999-2000 school year. In years preceding that year, if

23  fee increases are necessary for some programs or courses, the

24  fees shall be raised in increments designed to lessen their

25  impact upon students already enrolled. Fees for students who

26  are not residents for tuition purposes must offset the full

27  cost of instruction.

28         (b)  The State Board of Education shall adopt a fee

29  schedule for school districts that produces the fee revenues

30  calculated pursuant to paragraph (a). The schedule so

31

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  1  calculated shall take effect, unless otherwise specified in

  2  the General Appropriations Act.

  3         (c)  The State Board of Education shall adopt, by rule,

  4  the definitions and procedures that school boards shall use in

  5  the calculation of cost borne by students.  Such rule must

  6  define the cost of educational programs as the product of

  7  semester enrollment counts times the average instructional

  8  cost for the course of study, divided by the number of

  9  semesters in the course of study. A course of study is a

10  single continuing workforce education course or a series of

11  two or more courses leading to an occupational completion

12  point or literacy completion point, an applied technology

13  diploma, an associate in applied technology degree, or an

14  associate in science degree.  The rule shall be developed in

15  consultation with the Legislature.

16         (7)(a)  Each year the State Board of Community Colleges

17  shall review and evaluate the percentage of the cost of adult

18  programs and certificate career education programs supported

19  through student fees.  If this review indicates that student

20  fees generate less than the percentage targeted for the

21  program, the State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt a

22  schedule of fee increases by December 31 for the following

23  fall semester.  For students who are residents for tuition

24  purposes, the schedule so adopted must produce revenues equal

25  to 25 percent of the prior year's program cost for workforce

26  development programs that lead to an occupational completion

27  point or literacy completion point and 50 percent of the prior

28  year's cost for student enrollment in continuing workforce

29  education course not leading to a certificate or diploma.

30  college-preparatory and supplemental vocational programs and

31  10 percent of the prior year's program cost for certificate

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  1  career education and vocational preparatory programs.  The fee

  2  schedule for lifelong learning programs shall be based on

  3  student fees and nonstate funds necessary to produce 50

  4  percent of the prior year's cost of lifelong learning

  5  programs. State funds may not exceed 50 percent of the prior

  6  year's cost of lifelong learning programs.  The state board

  7  may not increase fees more than 10 percent for students who

  8  are residents for tuition purposes. Unless otherwise specified

  9  in the General Appropriations Act, the fee schedule shall take

10  effect and the college shall expend student fees on

11  instruction.  If the Legislature enacts a calculation

12  different than that adopted by the state board, the state

13  board shall adopt a fee schedule that generates the same

14  revenues as the calculation contained in the General

15  Appropriations Act.  Each community college board of trustees

16  shall establish matriculation, tuition, and noncredit fees

17  that may vary no more than 10 percent from the schedule

18  approved by the State Board of Education. Fees for students

19  who are not residents for tuition purposes must offset the

20  full cost of instruction.

21         (b)  Students enrolled in college-preparatory

22  instruction shall pay fees equal to the fees charged for

23  college credit courses.  Students enrolled in the same

24  college-preparatory class within a skill area more than one

25  time shall pay fees at 100 percent of the full cost of

26  instruction and shall not be included in calculations of

27  full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes;

28  however, students who withdraw or fail a class due to

29  extenuating circumstances may be granted an exception only

30  once for each class, provided approval is granted according to

31  policy established by the board of trustees. Each community

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  1  college shall have the authority to review and reduce payment

  2  for increased fees due to continued enrollment in a

  3  college-preparatory class on an individual basis, contingent

  4  upon a student's financial hardship, pursuant to definitions

  5  and fee levels established by the State Board of Community

  6  Colleges. Fee-nonexempt students enrolled in

  7  vocational-preparatory instruction shall be charged fees equal

  8  to the fees charged for certificate career education

  9  instruction. Each community college that conducts

10  college-preparatory and vocational-preparatory instruction in

11  the same class section may charge a single fee for both types

12  of instruction.

13         Section 7.  Subsection (2) of section 239.229, Florida

14  Statutes, is amended to read:

15         239.229  Vocational standards.--

16         (2)(a)  School board, superintendent, and school

17  accountability for career education within elementary and

18  secondary schools includes, but is not limited to:

19         1.  Student exposure to a variety of careers and

20  provision of instruction to explore specific careers in

21  greater depth.

22         2.  Student awareness of available vocational programs

23  and the corresponding occupations into which such programs

24  lead.

25         3.  Student development of individual career plans.

26         4.  Integration of academic and vocational skills in

27  the secondary curriculum.

28         5.  Student preparation to enter the workforce and

29  enroll in postsecondary education without being required to

30  complete college-preparatory or vocational-preparatory

31  instruction.

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  1         6.  Student retention in school through high school

  2  graduation.

  3         7.  Vocational curriculum articulation with

  4  corresponding postsecondary programs in the local area

  5  technical center or community college, or both.

  6         (b)  School board, superintendent, and area technical

  7  center, and community college board of trustees and president,

  8  accountability for certificate career education programs

  9  includes, but is not limited to:

10         1.  Student demonstration of the academic skills

11  necessary to enter an occupation.

12         2.  Student preparation to enter an occupation in an

13  entry-level position or continue postsecondary study.

14         3.  Vocational program articulation with other

15  corresponding postsecondary programs and job training

16  experiences.

17         4.  Employer satisfaction with the performance of

18  students who reach occupational completion points or literacy

19  completion points.

20         5.  Student completion and placement rates as defined

21  in s. 239.233.

22         (c)  Department of Education accountability for career

23  education includes, but is not limited to:

24         1.  The provision of timely, accurate technical

25  assistance to school districts and community colleges.

26         2.  The provision of timely, accurate information to

27  the State Board for Career Education, the Legislature, and the

28  public.

29         3.  The development of policies, rules, and procedures

30  that facilitate institutional attainment of the accountability

31

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  1  standards and coordinate the efforts of all divisions within

  2  the department.

  3         4.  The development of program standards and

  4  industry-driven benchmarks for vocational, adult, and

  5  community education programs.

  6         5.  Overseeing school district and community college

  7  compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

  8         6.  Ensuring that the educational outcomes for the

  9  technical component of the associate in science degree, the

10  applied technology diploma, the associate in applied

11  technology degree, and secondary vocational job-preparatory

12  programs are shall be uniform and designed to provide a

13  graduate of high quality who is capable of entering the

14  workforce on an equally competitive basis regardless of the

15  institution of choice.

16         Section 8.  Subsection (2) of section 239.249, Florida

17  Statutes, is amended to read:

18         239.249  Market-driven, performance-based incentive

19  funding for vocational and technical education programs.--

20         (2)  The Jobs and Education Partnership shall provide

21  oversight and advice to improve the outcomes of courses and

22  programs designed for degree education and workforce

23  development provided by public school districts and community

24  colleges. Annually, the partnership shall make recommendations

25  to the State Board of Education and the Legislature regarding

26  grant programs and funding incentives designed to improve

27  vocational and technical education programs.

28         Section 9.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) and

29  paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 239.301, Florida

30  Statutes, are amended to read:

31         239.301  Adult general education.--

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  1         (4)

  2         (c)  The State Board of Education shall define, by

  3  rule, the levels and courses of instruction to be funded

  4  through the college-preparatory program. The state board shall

  5  coordinate the establishment of costs for college-preparatory

  6  courses, the establishment of statewide standards that define

  7  required levels of competence, acceptable rates of student

  8  progress, and the maximum amount of time to be allowed for

  9  completion of college-preparatory instruction.

10  College-preparatory instruction is part of an associate in

11  arts degree program and may not be funded as a workforce

12  development education program.

13         (5)(a)  An educational program for disabled adults may

14  be conducted within and funded through the Workforce

15  Development Education Fund, through or the Community College

16  Program Fund, or as otherwise provided by law.  Each school

17  board or community college board of trustees that has an

18  educational program for disabled adults shall submit a plan to

19  the commissioner which includes, at a minimum:

20         1.  A description of the population to be served and an

21  estimation of the number of such students. The description

22  must include identification of the number of adult disabled

23  students that are classified as students that cannot

24  reasonably complete a program or be placed in employment due

25  to their disability, as defined by the Department of

26  Education.

27         2.  A description of the courses and programs in the

28  program, including corresponding expected student outputs and

29  outcomes.

30         3.  Provision for individualized educational plans and

31  periodic student evaluation.

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  1         4.  An interagency memorandum of agreement that

  2  provides for the coordination of adult education, career

  3  education, exceptional student education, the Department of

  4  Children and Family Services, vocational rehabilitation, and

  5  other local organizations whose adult disabled clients

  6  participate in the program.

  7         5.  Provision for coordination of services, if both the

  8  community college and one or more school districts within the

  9  service area have approved programs for disabled adults.

10         6.  Provision for a single administrator for adult

11  courses and programs for the disabled.

12         Section 10.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section

13  240.115, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

14         240.115  Articulation agreement; acceleration

15  mechanisms.--

16         (1)(a)  Articulation between secondary and

17  postsecondary education; admission of associate in arts degree

18  graduates from Florida community colleges and state

19  universities; admission of workforce development program

20  graduates from Florida public schools, community colleges, and

21  state universities; the use of acceleration mechanisms,

22  including nationally standardized examinations through which

23  students may earn credit; general education requirements and

24  common course code numbers as provided for in s. 229.551(1) s.

25  229.551(1)(f)4.; and articulation among programs in nursing

26  shall be governed by the articulation agreement, as

27  established by the Department of Education.

28         (b)  The articulation agreement must specifically

29  provide that every associate in arts graduate of a Florida

30  community college shall have met all general education

31  requirements and must be granted admission to the upper

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  1  division of a state university except to a limited access or

  2  teacher certification program or a major program requiring an

  3  audition.  After admission has been granted to students under

  4  provisions of this section and to university students who have

  5  successfully completed 60 credit hours of coursework,

  6  including 36 hours of general education, and met the

  7  requirements of s. 240.107, admission shall be granted to

  8  State University System and Florida community college students

  9  who have successfully completed 60 credit hours of work,

10  including 36 hours of general education.  Community college

11  associate in arts graduates shall receive priority for

12  admission to a state university over out-of-state students.

13  Orientation programs and student handbooks provided to

14  freshman enrollees and transfer students at state universities

15  must include an explanation of this provision of the

16  articulation agreement.

17         (c)  The articulation agreement must guarantee the

18  statewide articulation of workforce development programs and

19  courses between school districts and community colleges and

20  specifically provide that every applied technology diploma or

21  associate of applied technology degree graduate must be

22  granted admission to an associate in science degree program.

23  By fall semester 1998, the articulation agreement shall

24  guarantee the statewide articulation of appropriate courses

25  within associate in science degree programs to baccalaureate

26  degree programs according to standards established by the

27  Articulation Coordinating Committee after consultation with

28  the Board of Regents and the State Board of Community

29  Colleges.

30         (d)(b)  Any student who transfers among regionally

31  accredited postsecondary institutions that are fully

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  1  accredited by an agency recognized by the United States

  2  Department of Education and that participate in the common

  3  course designation and numbering system shall be awarded

  4  credit by the receiving institution for courses satisfactorily

  5  completed by the student at the previous institutions. Credit

  6  will be awarded only if the courses are judged by the

  7  appropriate common course designation and numbering system

  8  faculty task force representing community colleges, public

  9  universities, and school district/private postsecondary

10  education institutions/agencies to be academically equivalent

11  to courses offered at the receiving institution, regardless of

12  the public or nonpublic control of the previous institution.

13  The award of credit may be limited to courses that are entered

14  in the common course designation and numbering system. Credits

15  awarded pursuant to this subsection shall satisfy

16  institutional requirements on the same basis as credits

17  awarded to native students.

18         (2)  The universities, community college district

19  boards of trustees, and district school boards are authorized

20  to establish intrainstitutional and interinstitutional

21  programs to maximize this articulation.  Programs may include

22  upper-division-level courses offered at the community college,

23  distance learning, transfer agreements that facilitate the

24  transfer of credits between public and nonpublic postsecondary

25  institutions, and the concurrent enrollment of students at a

26  community college and a state university to enable students to

27  take any level of baccalaureate degree coursework. Should the

28  establishment of these programs necessitate the waiver of

29  existing State Board of Education rules, reallocation of

30  funds, or revision or modification of student fees, each

31  college or university shall submit the proposed articulation

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  1  program to the State Board of Education for review and

  2  approval. The State Board of Education is authorized to waive

  3  its rules and make appropriate reallocations, revisions, or

  4  modifications in accordance with the above.

  5         Section 11.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section

  6  240.301, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         240.301  Community colleges; definition, mission, and

  8  responsibilities.--

  9         (3)  The primary mission and responsibility of public

10  community colleges is responding to community needs for

11  postsecondary academic education and degree career education.

12  This mission and responsibility includes being responsible

13  for:

14         (b)  Preparing students directly for vocations

15  requiring less than baccalaureate degrees. This may include

16  preparing for job entry, supplementing of skills and

17  knowledge, and responding to needs in new areas of technology.

18  Career education in the community college shall consist of

19  certificate career education programs leading to certificates

20  for occupational completion points, applied technology

21  diplomas, associate in applied technology degree credit

22  courses leading to associate in science degrees and associate

23  in applied technology degrees, and other programs in fields

24  requiring substantial academic work, background, or

25  qualifications. A community college may offer vocational

26  programs in fields having lesser academic or technical

27  requirements.

28         Section 12.  Section 240.35, Florida Statutes, as

29  amended by section 3 of chapter 97-383, Laws of Florida, is

30  amended to read:

31

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  1         240.35  Student fees.--Unless otherwise provided, the

  2  provisions of this section apply only to fees charged for

  3  college credit instruction leading to an associate degree and

  4  non-college-credit,, including college-preparatory courses as

  5  defined in s. 239.105.

  6         (1)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall

  7  establish the matriculation and tuition fees for

  8  college-preparatory and credit instruction which may be

  9  counted toward an associate degree, including instruction in.

10  This instruction includes advanced programs, and professional

11  programs, and degree vocational education programs.

12         (2)(a)  Any student for whom the state is paying a

13  foster care board payment pursuant to s. 409.145(3) or parts

14  III and V of chapter 39, for whom the permanency planning goal

15  pursuant to part V of chapter 39 is long-term foster care or

16  independent living, or who is adopted from the Department of

17  Children and Family Services after December 31, 1997, shall be

18  exempt from the payment of all undergraduate fees, including

19  fees associated with enrollment in college-preparatory

20  instruction or completion of the college-level communication

21  and computation skills testing program. Before a fee exemption

22  can be given, the student shall have applied for and been

23  denied financial aid, pursuant to s. 240.404, which would have

24  provided, at a minimum, payment of all student fees. Such

25  exemption shall be available to any student adopted from the

26  Department of Children and Family Services after December 31,

27  1997; however, the exemption shall be valid for no more than 4

28  years after the date of graduation from high school.

29         (b)  Any student qualifying for a fee exemption under

30  this subsection shall receive such an exemption for not more

31  than 2 consecutive years or 4 semesters, unless the student is

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  1  participating in college-preparatory instruction or requires

  2  additional time to complete the college-level communication

  3  and computation skills testing program.  Such a student is

  4  eligible to receive a fee exemption for a maximum of 3

  5  consecutive years or 6 semesters.

  6         (c)  As a condition for continued fee exemption, a

  7  student shall earn a grade point average of at least 2.0 on a

  8  4.0 scale for the previous term, maintain at least an overall

  9  2.0 average for college work, or have an average below 2.0 for

10  only the previous term and be eligible for continued

11  enrollment in the institution.

12         (3)  Students enrolled in dual enrollment and early

13  admission programs under s. 240.116 and students enrolled in

14  employment and training programs under the WAGES Program are

15  exempt from the payment of registration, matriculation, and

16  laboratory fees; however, such students may not be included

17  within calculations of fee-waived enrollments. The community

18  college shall assist a student under the WAGES Program in

19  obtaining financial aid as it would any other student. A

20  student under the WAGES Program may not be denied

21  participation in programs during the application process for

22  financial aid. If financial aid is denied, the local WAGES

23  coalition shall pay the community college for costs incurred

24  by that WAGES participant related to that person's classes or

25  program. Other fee-exempt instruction provided under this

26  subsection generates an additional one-fourth full-time

27  equivalent enrollment.

28         (4)(a)  Fees shall be waived for certain members of the

29  active Florida National Guard pursuant to s. 250.10(8).

30         (b)  Community colleges may waive fees for any

31  fee-nonexempt student. A student whose fees are waived in

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  1  excess of the amount authorized annually in the General

  2  Appropriations Act may not be included in calculations of

  3  full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes.

  4  Any community college that waives fees and requests state

  5  funding for a student in violation of the provisions of this

  6  subsection shall be penalized at a rate equal to two times the

  7  value of the full-time equivalent student enrollment reported

  8  served.  Such penalty shall be charged against the following

  9  year's allocation from the Community College Program Fund.

10         (5)  Subject to review and final approval by the State

11  Board of Education, the State Board of Community Colleges

12  shall adopt by December 31 of each year a resident fee

13  schedule for the following fall for advanced, and

14  professional, degree vocational education, and

15  college-preparatory programs that produce revenues in the

16  amount of 25 percent of the full prior year's cost of these

17  programs. However, the board may not adopt an annual fee

18  increase in any program for resident students which exceeds 10

19  percent. In the absence of a provision to the contrary in an

20  appropriations act, the fee schedule shall take effect and the

21  colleges shall expend the funds on instruction.  If the

22  Legislature provides for an alternative fee calculation in an

23  appropriations act, the board shall establish a fee schedule

24  that produces the fee revenue established in the

25  appropriations act based on the assigned enrollment.

26         (6)  Each community college board of trustees shall

27  establish matriculation and tuition fees, which may vary no

28  more than 10 percent from the fee schedule adopted by the

29  State Board of Community Colleges.

30         (7)  The sum of nonresident student matriculation and

31  tuition fees must be sufficient to defray the full cost of

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  1  each program.  The annual fee increases for nonresident

  2  students established by the board, in the absence of

  3  legislative action to the contrary in an appropriations act,

  4  may not exceed 25 percent.

  5         (8)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall adopt

  6  a rule specifying the definitions and procedures to be used in

  7  the calculation of the percentage of cost paid by students.

  8  The rule must provide for the calculation of the full cost of

  9  educational programs based on the allocation of all funds

10  provided through the general current fund to programs of

11  instruction, and other activities as provided in the annual

12  expenditure analysis.  The rule shall be developed in

13  consultation with the Legislature.

14         (9)  Each community college district board of trustees

15  may establish a separate activity and service fee not to

16  exceed 10 percent of the matriculation fee, according to rules

17  of the State Board of Education.  The student activity and

18  service fee shall be collected as a component part of the

19  registration and tuition fees. The student activity and

20  service fees shall be paid into a student activity and service

21  fund at the community college and shall be expended for lawful

22  purposes to benefit the student body in general. These

23  purposes include, but are not limited to, student publications

24  and grants to duly recognized student organizations, the

25  membership of which is open to all students at the community

26  college without regard to race, sex, or religion.

27         (10)(a)  Each community college is authorized to

28  collect for financial aid purposes an additional amount up to,

29  but not to exceed, 5 percent of the total student tuition or

30  matriculation fees collected.  Each community college may

31  collect up to an additional 2 percent if the amount generated

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  1  by the total financial aid fee is less than $250,000.  If the

  2  amount generated is less than $250,000, a community college

  3  that charges tuition and matriculation fees at least equal to

  4  the average fees established by rule may transfer from the

  5  general current fund to the scholarship fund an amount equal

  6  to the difference between $250,000 and the amount generated by

  7  the total financial aid fee assessment.  No other transfer

  8  from the general current fund to the loan, endowment, or

  9  scholarship fund, by whatever name known, is authorized.

10         (b)  All funds collected under this program shall be

11  placed in the loan and endowment fund or scholarship fund of

12  the college, by whatever name known. Such funds shall be

13  disbursed to students as quickly as possible.  An amount not

14  greater than 40 percent of the fees collected in a fiscal year

15  may be carried forward unexpended to the following fiscal

16  year.  However, funds collected prior to July 1, 1989, and

17  placed in an endowment fund may not be considered part of the

18  balance of funds carried forward unexpended to the following

19  fiscal year.

20         (c)  Up to 25 percent or $250,000, whichever is

21  greater, of the fees collected may be used to assist students

22  who demonstrate academic merit, who participate in athletics,

23  public service, cultural arts, and other extracurricular

24  programs as determined by the institution, or who are

25  identified as members of a targeted gender or ethnic minority

26  population.  The financial aid fee revenues allocated for

27  athletic scholarships and fee exemptions provided pursuant to

28  subsection (14) for athletes shall be distributed equitably as

29  required by s. 228.2001(3)(d).  A minimum of 50 percent of the

30  balance of these funds shall be used to provide financial aid

31  based on absolute need, and the remainder of the funds shall

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  1  be used for academic merit purposes and other purposes

  2  approved by the district boards of trustees.  Such other

  3  purposes shall include the payment of child care fees for

  4  students with financial need.  The State Board of Community

  5  Colleges shall develop criteria for making financial aid

  6  awards.  Each college shall report annually to the Department

  7  of Education on the criteria used to make awards, the amount

  8  and number of awards for each criterion, and a delineation of

  9  the distribution of such awards.  Awards which are based on

10  financial need shall be distributed in accordance with a

11  nationally recognized system of need analysis approved by the

12  State Board of Community Colleges. An award for academic merit

13  shall require a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 on

14  a 4.0 scale or the equivalent for both initial receipt of the

15  award and renewal of the award.

16         (d)  These funds may not be used for direct or indirect

17  administrative purposes or salaries.

18         (11)  Any community college that reports students who

19  have not paid fees in an approved manner in calculations of

20  full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes

21  shall be penalized at a rate equal to two times the value of

22  such enrollments.  Such penalty shall be charged against the

23  following year's allocation from the Community College Program

24  Fund and shall revert to the General Revenue Fund.  The State

25  Board of Education shall specify, as necessary, by rule,

26  approved methods of student fee payment.  Such methods shall

27  include, but not be limited to, student fee payment; payment

28  through federal, state, or institutional financial aid; and

29  employer fee payments.  A community college may not charge any

30  fee except as authorized by law or rules of the State Board of

31  Education.

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  1         (12)  Each community college shall report only those

  2  students who have actually enrolled in instruction provided or

  3  supervised by instructional personnel under contract with the

  4  community college in calculations of actual full-time

  5  equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes.  No student

  6  who has been exempted from taking a course or who has been

  7  granted academic or vocational credit through means other than

  8  actual coursework completed at the granting institution shall

  9  be calculated for enrollment in the course from which he or

10  she has been exempted or granted credit. Community colleges

11  that report enrollments in violation of this subsection shall

12  be penalized at a rate equal to two times the value of such

13  enrollments.  Such penalty shall be charged against the

14  following year's allocation from the Community College Program

15  Fund and shall revert to the General Revenue Fund.

16         (13)  Each community college board of trustees may

17  establish a separate fee for capital improvements or equipping

18  student buildings which may not exceed $1 per credit hour or

19  credit-hour equivalent for residents and which equals or

20  exceeds $3 per credit hour for nonresidents.  Funds collected

21  by community colleges through these fees may be bonded only

22  for the purpose of financing or refinancing new construction

23  of educational facilities.  The fee shall be collected as a

24  component part of the registration and tuition fees, paid into

25  a separate account, and expended only to construct and equip,

26  maintain, improve, or enhance the educational facilities of

27  the community college.  Projects funded through the use of the

28  capital improvement fee shall meet the survey and construction

29  requirements of chapter 235.  Pursuant to s. 216.0158, each

30  community college shall identify each project, including

31  maintenance projects, proposed to be funded in whole or in

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  1  part by such fee.  Capital improvement fee revenues may be

  2  pledged by a board of trustees as a dedicated revenue source

  3  to the repayment of debt, including lease-purchase agreements

  4  and revenue bonds, with a term not to exceed 20 years, only

  5  for the new construction of educational facilities. Community

  6  colleges may use the services of the Division of Bond Finance

  7  of the State Board of Administration to issue any bonds

  8  authorized through the provisions of this subsection. Any such

  9  bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance shall be in

10  compliance with the provisions of the State Bond Act. Bonds

11  issued pursuant to the State Bond Act shall be validated in

12  the manner provided by chapter 75. The complaint for such

13  validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the county

14  where the seat of state government is situated, the notice

15  required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published only

16  in the county where the complaint is filed, and the complaint

17  and order of the circuit court shall be served only on the

18  state attorney of the circuit in which the action is pending.

19  A maximum of 15 cents per credit hour may be allocated from

20  the capital improvement fee for child care centers conducted

21  by the community college.

22         (14)  Each community college is authorized to grant

23  student fee exemptions from all fees adopted by the State

24  Board of Community Colleges and the community college board of

25  trustees for up to 40 full-time equivalent students at each

26  institution.

27         (15)  Any proprietor, owner, or worker of a company

28  whose business has been at least 50 percent negatively

29  financially impacted by the buy-out of property around Lake

30  Apopka by the state is exempt from the payment of

31  registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees. A student

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  1  receiving a fee exemption in accordance with this subsection

  2  must not have received compensation because of the buy-out,

  3  must be designated a Florida resident for tuition purposes

  4  pursuant to s. 240.1201, and must first have applied for and

  5  been denied financial aid, pursuant to s. 240.404, which would

  6  have provided, at a minimum, payment of all student fees.

  7         Section 13.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

  8  240.359, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  9         240.359  Procedure for determining state financial

10  support and annual apportionment of state funds to each

11  community college district.--The procedure for determining

12  state financial support and the annual apportionment to each

13  community college district authorized to operate a community

14  college under the provisions of s. 240.313 shall be as

15  follows:

16         (1)  DETERMINING THE AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE STATE

17  COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAM FUND FOR THE CURRENT OPERATING

18  PROGRAM.--

19         (b)  The allocation of funds for community colleges

20  shall be based on advanced and professional disciplines,

21  college-preparatory programs, degree vocational education

22  programs, and on other programs for adults funded pursuant to

23  s. 239.115.

24         Section 14.  (1)  The Commissioner of Education shall

25  further investigate issues associated with:

26         (a)  The dissemination of information to all

27  stakeholders concerning the new workforce development system;

28         (b)  The creation of a 2-year terminal associate degree

29  in addition to an associate in science degree that articulates

30  into a baccalaureate degree program;

31

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  1         (c)  The design of a system that will enable local

  2  institutions to respond rapidly to the needs of business and

  3  industry for the development of new programs;

  4         (d)  The adoption of common reporting formats and

  5  consistent Workforce Development Information System data

  6  element definitions, a single data base, and reporting window

  7  time periods;

  8         (e)  The establishment of a Workforce Development

  9  Information System Review Committee to work in coordination

10  with the Jobs and Education Partnership's development of

11  performance tiers in reviewing and recommending adoption of

12  and changes to Workforce Development Information System data

13  elements, editing or reporting data, and developing methods to

14  be used in reporting workforce development performances for

15  funding and overall performance reviews;

16         (f)  The expansion of the electronic transcript system

17  to include new elements related to workforce development; and

18         (g)  The consolidation of state and federal workforce

19  development funds into one common administrative entity.

20         (2)  The Commissioner of Education, the State Board of

21  Community Colleges, and the Board of Regents shall petition

22  and work with accrediting agencies to ensure acceptance of

23  Florida's articulation process, the Applied Technology

24  Diploma, and the Associate in Science degree.

25         (3)  The Commissioner of Education and the State Board

26  of Community Colleges shall review statutes and rules related

27  to workforce development education with the intent of

28  eliminating duplicative reporting of vocational and adult

29  education data.

30         (4)  The Commissioner of Education shall report to the

31  Legislature before November 1, 1998, on the progress on the

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  1  implementation of these provisions and any final

  2  recommendations for statutory or policy changes.

  3         Section 15.  Section 240.3345, Florida Statutes, is

  4  created to read:

  5         240.3345  Charter colleges.--

  6         (1)  AUTHORIZATION.--The creation of charter colleges

  7  by community colleges is authorized. Each community college is

  8  specifically authorized to develop policies and rules for the

  9  implementation of this section.

10         (2)  SPONSOR.--A community college district board of

11  trustees may sponsor a charter college in a county over which

12  the board has jurisdiction.

13         (a)  A district board of trustees shall receive and

14  review all proposals consistent with the processes established

15  by the State Board of Community Colleges pursuant to

16  subsection (9). Approval of a proposal shall be based on

17  criteria established by the board of trustees. Any application

18  denial shall be accompanied with a response that includes

19  justification for the denial. The district board of trustees

20  is not required to issue a charter to any person or entity.

21         (b)  The Department of Education shall provide

22  technical assistance to an applicant upon written request.

23         (c)  The terms and conditions for the operation of a

24  charter college shall be set forth by the sponsor and the

25  applicant in a written contractual agreement. The sponsor may

26  not impose unreasonable rules or regulations that violate the

27  intent of giving charter colleges greater flexibility to meet

28  education goals.

29         (d)  The sponsor shall monitor and review the charter

30  college in its progress toward the goals and performance

31  standards established in the charter.

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  1         (e)  The sponsor shall monitor the revenues of the

  2  charter college.

  3         (3)  PROGRAMS.--Programs of instruction eligible to be

  4  granted a charter include:

  5         (a)  Non-college-credit instruction, including

  6  postsecondary adult vocational, adult general education,

  7  general education diploma, vocational-preparatory, and

  8  college-preparatory instruction; and

  9         (b)  College-credit instruction in workforce

10  development programs of study.

11         (4)  REQUIREMENTS.--A charter college must:

12         (a)  Be nonsectarian in its programs, admission

13  policies, employment practices, and operations;

14         (b)  Be accountable to its sponsor for performance as

15  provided in subsection (7);

16         (c)  Meet all applicable state and local health,

17  safety, and civil rights requirements; and

18         (d)  Not violate the antidiscrimination provisions of

19  s. 228.2001.

20         (5)  STUDENT ELIGIBILITY.--

21         (a)  A charter college may limit enrollment to target

22  student populations identified for such purposes in the

23  proposal for the charter.

24         (b)  A student may withdraw from a charter college at

25  any time and transfer to the sponsoring community college as

26  determined by board of trustees' policy.

27         (6)  PROPOSAL.--A proposal for a charter college may be

28  made by a profit or nonprofit corporation organized under the

29  laws of this state. The proposal shall address all components

30  of the charter, including a proposed funding structure as

31  specified in subsection (10).

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  1         (7)  CHARTER.--The major issues involving the operation

  2  of a charter college shall be considered in advance and

  3  written into the charter. The charter shall be signed by a

  4  representative of the charter college and the sponsoring

  5  community college, following a public hearing to ensure

  6  community input.

  7         (a)  The charter shall address, and criteria for

  8  approval of the charter shall be based on:

  9         1.  The charter college's mission, the students to be

10  served, and the programs to be included.

11         2.  The focus of the curriculum, the instructional

12  methods to be used, and any distinctive instructional

13  techniques to be employed.

14         3.  The performance standards of achievement, including

15  the current baseline standard of achievement, the outcomes to

16  be achieved, the method of measurement that will be used, and

17  the payments for achieving the outcomes.

18         a.  In secondary adult education or general education

19  diploma charter colleges, a method for determining that a

20  student has satisfied the requirements for graduation

21  specified in s. 232.246 or a diploma in s. 229.814,

22  respectively, must be provided.

23         b.  In workforce development charter colleges, a method

24  for determining that a student has satisfied completion,

25  placement, and retention requirements for funding purposes, in

26  accordance with s. 239.115, must be provided.

27         c.  In college-preparatory charter colleges, a method

28  for determining that a student has satisfied minimum

29  communication and computation competency requirements pursuant

30  to ss. 240.117 and 240.321 must be provided.

31

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  1         4.  The eligibility criteria that will be required for

  2  student admission into the charter college.

  3         5.  The manner in which the charter college will be

  4  funded, including the funding agreement reached and any

  5  administrative fee imposed pursuant to subsection (10),

  6  methods for the allocation of funds, and any additional

  7  methods of fiscal accountability.

  8         6.  The manner in which the accreditation status of the

  9  charter program will be assessed, when applicable. The

10  transfer of course work and the articulation of students

11  between the charter college and other state postsecondary

12  programs and institutions must be ensured. The accreditation

13  status of the sponsoring community college must not be

14  jeopardized.

15         7.  A method for resolving conflicts between the

16  charter college and the sponsor.

17         8.  The admissions procedures and dismissal procedures,

18  including the charter college's code of student conduct.

19         9.  The financial and administrative management of the

20  charter college.

21         10.  The manner in which the college will be insured,

22  including whether or not the charter college will be required

23  to have liability insurance and, if so, the terms and

24  conditions thereof and the amounts of coverage.

25         11.  The term of the charter, not to exceed 3 years,

26  which shall provide for cancellation of the charter if

27  insufficient progress has been made in attaining the

28  performance standards agreed upon and if it is not likely that

29  such performance standards can be achieved before expiration

30  of the charter.

31         12.  The facilities to be used and their location.

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  1         13.  The qualifications to be required of the teachers.

  2         14.  The governance and administrative structure of the

  3  charter college.

  4         15.  A timetable for implementing the charter which

  5  addresses the implementation of each performance standard

  6  thereof and the date by which the charter shall be awarded in

  7  order to meet this timetable.

  8         (b)  A charter may be renewed in increments of 1, 2, or

  9  3 school years by a mutual agreement of the parties.

10         (c)  A charter may be modified during its initial term

11  or any renewal term upon the recommendation of the sponsor and

12  the approval of both parties to the agreement.

13         (d)  The charter college shall make, at a minimum,

14  annual progress reports to its sponsor, which upon

15  verification shall be forwarded to the State Board of

16  Community Colleges at the same time as annual community

17  college accountability reports. The report shall contain, at a

18  minimum, the following information:

19         1.  The charter college's progress towards achieving

20  the performance standards outlined in its charter.

21         2.  Appropriate applicable information required for

22  preparation of the annual accountability report submitted

23  pursuant to s. 240.324.

24         (e)  A sponsor shall ensure that the charter is

25  consistent with the state education goals established by s.

26  229.591.

27         (f)  Upon receipt of the report required by paragraph

28  (d), the State Board of Community Colleges shall provide to

29  the State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education,

30  the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

31

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  1  Representatives a report on the overall performance of the

  2  charter college.

  3         (8)  CAUSES FOR NONRENEWAL OR TERMINATION.--

  4         (a)  At the end of the term of a charter, the sponsor

  5  may choose not to renew the charter for any of the following

  6  reasons:

  7         1.  Failure to meet the requirements for student

  8  performance stated in the charter.

  9         2.  Failure to meet performance standards stated in the

10  charter.

11         3.  Violation of law.

12         4.  Other good cause shown.

13         (b)  During the term of a charter, the sponsor may

14  terminate the charter for any of the reasons listed in

15  paragraph (a).

16         (9)  PROCESS.--The State Board of Community Colleges

17  shall establish systemwide approval, denial, and appeal

18  processes and response plans; application and notification

19  deadlines; and the role and responsibilities, if any, of the

20  appropriate governing and coordinating boards that may be

21  involved in the review, approval, and appeal process. Final

22  decisionmaking authority in an appeal rests with the State

23  Board of Education.

24         (10)  REVENUE.--Students enrolled in a charter college

25  shall generate the same funds as other students enrolled in a

26  comparable workforce development program or

27  college-preparatory program within the sponsoring community

28  college.

29         (a)  Each charter college shall propose to the

30  sponsoring community college an agreement for funding the

31  charter based primarily on student performance, such as

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  1  program completion, job placement, and job retention, rather

  2  than student enrollment in the charter college. The final

  3  funding agreement shall be specified within the charter

  4  contract pursuant to subsection (7).

  5         (b)  Any administrative fee charged by the community

  6  college district board of trustees relating to a charter

  7  college shall be limited to no more than 10 percent of the

  8  available funds generated by students in the charter program.

  9  The administrative fee shall be specified as a component of

10  the funding agreement reached pursuant to paragraph (a) and

11  shall be subsequently specified within the charter contract

12  pursuant to subsection (7).

13         (c)  Fees charged students attending a charter college

14  shall be the same as fees charged students attending

15  comparable programs within the sponsoring community college.

16         (11)  RULES.--The State Board of Community Colleges

17  shall recommend to the State Board of Education rules to

18  implement this section. Such rules shall require minimum

19  paperwork and shall not limit charter college flexibility.

20         Section 16.  Section 240.524, Florida Statutes, is

21  created to read:

22         240.524  Community colleges; baccalaureate degrees.--

23         (1)  CONDITIONS.--Upon review and favorable

24  recommendation by the Postsecondary Education Planning

25  Commission and approval by the State Board of Community

26  Colleges, pursuant to subsection (2), each community college

27  board of trustees may offer baccalaureate degrees provided at

28  least one of the following conditions for the proposal exists:

29         (a)  The district board of trustees acts in partnership

30  with a public university, a licensed college or university, or

31  a college or university exempt from licensure by the State

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  1  Board of Independent Colleges and Universities pursuant to

  2  chapter 246 to offer the degree. Before implementation, such

  3  partnership shall require an interinstitutional articulation

  4  agreement approved by the participating institution and the

  5  state-level governing board of the respective college or

  6  university.

  7         (b)  The degree is in a limited access program area, as

  8  defined by the Board of Regents pursuant to s. 240.2097, at

  9  the state university within the service district of the

10  sponsoring community college. A community college may offer a

11  program based on this paragraph only if the state university

12  within the same service district as the sponsoring community

13  college does not actively offer the program or enrollment in

14  that program at the state university is at or near full

15  capacity.

16         (c)  The degree is in a workforce development program

17  area identified as a "high skill/high wage" occupation as

18  listed by the Occupational Forecasting Conference for the

19  region served by the sponsoring community college in

20  accordance with s. 239.249. For such programs, the

21  upper-division course work required for an approved

22  baccalaureate degree shall be based on a continuation of

23  course work required for progression from an associate in

24  science degree or an associate in arts degree to a

25  baccalaureate degree in a related program area. A community

26  college may offer a program based on this paragraph only if

27  the state university within the same service district as the

28  sponsoring community college does not actively offer the

29  program or enrollment in that program at the state university

30  is at or near full capacity.

31

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  1         (2)  For implementation by fall semester 1999, the

  2  Postsecondary Education Planning Commission, in cooperation

  3  with the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of

  4  Regents, shall establish uniform systemwide policies governing

  5  the following:

  6         (a)  Necessary proposal components, requirements, and

  7  guidelines consistent with the condition for the degree

  8  proposal pursuant to subsection (1). Considerations should

  9  include, but are not limited to, requirements for program and

10  institutional accreditation status, student fees, and program

11  admission.

12         (b)  A process in which a proposal for a baccalaureate

13  degree at a community college is brought before the

14  Postsecondary Education Planning Commission by the sponsoring

15  community college's board of trustees for review and

16  consideration for recommendation, consistent with the

17  provisions of s. 240.147. The State Board of Community

18  Colleges may then approve only those programs reviewed and

19  favorably recommended by the Postsecondary Education Planning

20  Commission.

21         (c)  Approval, denial, and appeal processes and

22  response plans; deadlines; and the role and responsibilities,

23  if any, of the appropriate governing and coordinating boards

24  that may be involved in the review, approval, and appeal

25  process. Final decisionmaking authority in an appeal rests

26  with the State Board of Education.

27         (d)  Modified accountability data to be reported in the

28  annual accountability report submitted pursuant to subsection

29  (3).

30         (e)  A program review process to justify or determine

31  the need for the continuation of the baccalaureate degree at

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  1  the community college. This process shall be consistent with

  2  the requirements of s. 240.147.

  3         (3)  REQUIREMENTS.--Community colleges granted approval

  4  to offer a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to this

  5  section shall:

  6         (a)  Adhere to degree program course work and length

  7  requirements established pursuant to chapter 95-243, Laws of

  8  Florida, as enacted and as amended thereafter.

  9         (b)  Submit modified accountability data, in accordance

10  with requirements established by the Postsecondary Education

11  Planning Commission in its annual accountability report

12  prepared pursuant to s. 240.324.

13         (4)  RULES.--The State Board of Education is granted

14  specific authority to adopt any rules necessary for the fair

15  and consistent implementation of this section.

16         Section 17.  Subsection (17) is added to section

17  240.147, Florida Statutes, to read:

18         240.147  Powers and duties of the commission.--The

19  commission shall:

20         (17)  Review and recommend proposals for establishing

21  baccalaureate degrees at community colleges to the State Board

22  of Community Colleges for consideration in accordance with s.

23  240.524.

24         Section 18.  Subsections (4) and (6) of section

25  240.301, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

26         240.301  Community colleges; definition, mission, and

27  responsibilities.--

28         (4)  A separate and secondary role for community

29  colleges includes the offering of programs in:

30         (a)  Programs in community services which are not

31  directly related to academic or occupational advancement.

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  1         (b)  Programs in adult general education.

  2         (c)  Programs in recreational and leisure services.

  3         (d)  Baccalaureate degree programs, when authorized

  4  under s. 240.319.

  5         (6)  Community colleges are authorized to offer such

  6  programs and courses as are necessary to fulfill their mission

  7  and are authorized to grant associate in arts degrees,

  8  associate in science degrees, associate in applied science

  9  degrees, certificates, awards, and diplomas, and baccalaureate

10  degrees, when approved in accordance with s. 240.524. Each

11  community college is also authorized to make provisions for

12  the general educational development examination.

13         Section 19.  Paragraphs (r) and (s) are added to

14  subsection (3) of section 240.311, Florida Statutes, to read:

15         240.311  State Board of Community Colleges; powers and

16  duties.--

17         (3)  The State Board of Community Colleges shall:

18         (r)  Perform the specified responsibilities and provide

19  the necessary assistance and information required for the

20  creation and operation of charter colleges in accordance with

21  s. 240.3345.

22         (s)  Establish systemwide processes and approve or deny

23  proposals for baccalaureate degrees at community colleges once

24  favorably recommended by the Postsecondary Education Planning

25  Commission in accordance with s. 240.524.

26         Section 20.  Paragraph (u) is added to subsection (4)

27  of section 240.319, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 2

28  of chapter 97-383, Laws of Florida, to read:

29         240.319  Community college district boards of trustees;

30  duties and powers.--

31

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  1         (4)  Such rules, procedures, and policies for the

  2  boards of trustees include, but are not limited to, the

  3  following:

  4         (u)  Each board of trustees is authorized to offer

  5  certain baccalaureate degree programs in accordance with s.

  6  240.524. A participating board of trustees shall develop

  7  policies and procedures for the implementation of such

  8  responsibility.

  9         Section 21.  Section 232.2466, Florida Statutes, is

10  amended to read:

11         232.2466  College-ready diploma program.--

12         (1)  Beginning with the 1997-1998 school year, each

13  school district shall award a differentiated college-ready

14  diploma to each student who:

15         (a)  Successfully completes the requirements for a

16  standard high school diploma as prescribed by s. 232.246.

17  Among courses taken to fulfill the 24-academic-credit

18  requirement, a student must take:

19         1.  Three credits in math that must include a

20  combination of classes in algebra, geometry, calculus, or

21  other higher-level math, or their equivalents, as determined

22  by the state board Two credits in algebra and one credit in

23  geometry, or their equivalents, as determined by the state

24  board.

25         2.  Three credits in science that must include a

26  combination of classes in biology, chemistry, physics, or

27  other higher-level science, or their equivalents, as

28  determined by the state board. At least two of these credits

29  must have lab requirements One credit in biology, one credit

30  in chemistry, and one credit in physics, or their equivalents,

31  as determined by the state board.

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  1         3.  Two credits in the same foreign language, taken for

  2  elective credit. A student whose native language is not

  3  English is exempt from this requirement if the student

  4  demonstrates proficiency in the native language. American sign

  5  language constitutes a foreign language.

  6         4.  Four credits in English, three of which must have a

  7  substantial writing requirement.

  8         5.  Three credits in social science.

  9         (b)  Takes the postsecondary education common placement

10  test prescribed in s. 240.117, or an equivalent test

11  identified by the State Board of Education, before graduation

12  and scores at or above the established statewide passing score

13  in each test area.

14         (2)  A college-ready diploma entitles a student to

15  admission without additional placement testing to a public

16  postsecondary education program that terminates in a technical

17  certificate, an applied technology diploma, an associate in

18  science degree, or an associate in arts degree, if the student

19  enters postsecondary education within 2 years after earning

20  the college-ready diploma.

21         (3)  The Department of Education shall convene a task

22  force of educators and employers to recommend additional

23  incentives for students to pursue a college-ready diploma.

24  The incentives may include awards and recognition, preference

25  for positions in firms, and early registration privileges in

26  postsecondary education institutions.

27         Section 22.  Subsections (4) and (5) are added to

28  section 240.1163, Florida Statutes, to read:

29         240.1163  Joint dual enrollment and advanced placement

30  instruction.--

31

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  1         (4)  School districts and community colleges must weigh

  2  dual enrollment courses the same as honors courses and

  3  advanced placement courses when grade point averages are

  4  calculated. Alternative grade calculation or weighting systems

  5  that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are

  6  prohibited.

  7         (5)  The Commissioner of Education may approve dual

  8  enrollment agreements for limited course offerings that have

  9  statewide appeal. Such programs shall be limited to a single

10  site with multiple-county participation.

11         Section 23.  Section 240.321, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         240.321  Community college district board of trustees;

14  rules for admissions of students.--The board of trustees shall

15  make rules governing admissions of students.  These rules

16  shall include the following:

17         (1)  Admissions counseling shall be provided to all

18  students entering college credit programs, which counseling

19  shall utilize tests to measure achievement of college-level

20  communication and computation competencies by all students

21  entering college credit programs.

22         (2)  Admission to associate degree programs is subject

23  to minimum standards adopted by the State Board of Education

24  and shall require:

25         (a)  A standard high school diploma, a high school

26  equivalency diploma as prescribed in s. 229.814, previously

27  demonstrated competency in college credit postsecondary

28  coursework, or, in the case of a student who is home educated,

29  a signed affidavit submitted by the student's parent or legal

30  guardian attesting that the student has completed a home

31  education program pursuant to the requirements of s.

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  1  232.02(4).  Students who are enrolled in a dual enrollment or

  2  early admission program pursuant to s. 240.116 and secondary

  3  students enrolled in college-level instruction creditable

  4  toward the associate degree, but not toward the high school

  5  diploma, shall be exempt from this requirement.

  6         (b)  A demonstrated level of achievement of

  7  college-level communication and computation skills. Students

  8  entering a postsecondary education program within 2 years of

  9  graduation from high school with an earned college-ready

10  diploma issued pursuant to s. 232.2466 shall be exempt from

11  this testing requirement.

12         (c)  Any other requirements established by the board of

13  trustees.

14         (3)  Admission to other programs within the community

15  college shall include education requirements as established by

16  the board of trustees.

17

18  Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify

19  students about, and place students into, adult basic

20  education, adult secondary education, or other instructional

21  programs that provide students with alternatives to

22  traditional college-preparatory instruction, including private

23  provider instruction. Such notification shall include a

24  written listing of alternative remedial options that must be

25  provided to each student who scores below college level in any

26  area on the college placement test. The list shall include,

27  but is not limited to, options provided by the community

28  college, adult education programs, and programs provided by

29  private-sector providers. The list shall not endorse,

30  recommend, evaluate, or rank any of the entries. The list of

31  providers shall be developed from all those providers that

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  1  request to be included and shall provide students with

  2  specific contact information and must disclose the full costs

  3  of the course tuition, lab fees, and course instructional

  4  materials of each option listed. Regardless of the option

  5  selected by a student for required remediation, the student

  6  shall not be denied the opportunity to concurrently enroll in

  7  up to 12 credits of college level courses other than those for

  8  the skills in which the student is being remediated.

  9         Section 24.  Subsection (2) of section 240.4097,

10  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

11         240.4097  Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance

12  Grant Program; eligibility for grants.--

13         (2)(a)  Florida postsecondary student assistance grants

14  through the State Student Financial Assistance Trust Fund may

15  be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who meet the

16  general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s.

17  240.404, except as otherwise provided in this section.  Such

18  grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet

19  need for tuition and fees and may not exceed a total of $1,500

20  per academic year, or as specified in the General

21  Appropriations Act, to any applicant.  A demonstrated unmet

22  need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible

23  for a Florida postsecondary student assistance grant.

24  Recipients of such grants must have been accepted at a

25  postsecondary institution that is located in and chartered as

26  a domestic corporation by the state and that is:

27         1.  A private nursing diploma school approved by the

28  Florida Board of Nursing; or

29         2.  An institution either licensed by the State Board

30  of Independent Colleges and Universities or exempt from

31  licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), excluding those

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  1  institutions the students of which are eligible to receive a

  2  Florida private student assistance grant pursuant to s.

  3  240.4095.

  4

  5  No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent

  6  of 9 semesters or 14 quarters in a period of not more than 6

  7  consecutive years, except as otherwise provided in s.

  8  240.404(3).

  9         (b)  A student applying for a Florida postsecondary

10  student assistance grant shall be required to apply for the

11  Pell Grant. The Pell Grant entitlement shall be considered by

12  the department when conducting an assessment of the financial

13  resources available to each student.

14         (c)  The criteria and procedure for establishing

15  standards of eligibility shall be determined by the

16  department.  The department is directed to establish a rating

17  system upon which to base the approval of grants, including

18  the use of a nationally recognized system of need analysis.

19  The system shall include a certification of acceptability by

20  the school of the applicant's choice.  Priority in the

21  distribution of grant moneys shall be given to students with

22  the lowest total family resources, as determined pursuant to

23  this subsection, taking into consideration the receipt of Pell

24  Grants and student contributions to educational costs.

25         (d)  The department is directed to establish, for fall

26  enrollment, an initial application deadline for all students

27  attending eligible institutions and an additional application

28  deadline for all students who apply to eligible institutions

29  after the initial application deadline. The second deadline

30  shall be October 1 following the initial application deadline.

31  The department shall reserve an amount to be designated

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  1  annually in the General Appropriations Act for the purpose of

  2  providing awards to postsecondary students who apply for a

  3  student assistance grant after the initial application

  4  deadline. Applicants who apply during the initial application

  5  period and are eligible to receive an award, but do not

  6  receive an award because of insufficient funds, shall have

  7  their applications reconsidered with those applicants who

  8  apply after the initial application deadline. This paragraph

  9  shall take effect upon this act becoming a law.

10         Section 25.  Subsection (1) of section 246.013, Florida

11  Statutes, is amended to read:

12         246.013  Participation in the common course designation

13  and numbering system.--

14         (1)  Nonpublic colleges and schools that have been

15  issued a regular license pursuant to s. 246.081(2) or (3) or

16  s. 246.215(1), and nonpublic postsecondary colleges that are

17  exempt from state licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a), and

18  that are fully accredited by an agency recognized by the

19  United States Department of Education a member of the

20  Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges

21  and Schools and accredited nonpublic postsecondary colleges

22  exempt from state licensure pursuant to s. 246.085(1)(a) may

23  participate in the common course designation and numbering

24  system in s. 229.551. Participating colleges and schools shall

25  bear the costs associated with inclusion in the system and

26  shall meet the terms and conditions for institutional

27  participation in the system. The department shall adopt a fee

28  schedule that includes the expenses incurred through data

29  processing, faculty task force travel and per diem, and staff

30  and clerical support time. Such fee schedule may differentiate

31  between the costs associated with initial course inclusion in

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  1  the system and costs associated with subsequent course

  2  maintenance in the system. Decisions regarding initial course

  3  inclusion and subsequent course maintenance shall be made

  4  within 120 days after submission of the required materials and

  5  fees by the institution. If a decision is not rendered within

  6  120 days after submission, then courses submitted shall be

  7  awarded the requested common course code number. Any college

  8  that participated in the system prior to July 1, 1986, shall

  9  not be required to pay the costs associated with initial

10  course inclusion in the system. Fees collected for

11  participation in the common course designation and numbering

12  system pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be

13  deposited in the Institutional Assessment Trust Fund created

14  by s. 246.31. The Legislature finds and declares that

15  independent nonprofit colleges and universities eligible to

16  participate in the Florida resident access grant program

17  pursuant to s. 240.605 are an integral part of the higher

18  education system in this state and that a significant number

19  of state residents choose this form of higher education. Any

20  independent college or university that is eligible to

21  participate in the Florida resident access grant program shall

22  not be required to pay the costs associated with participation

23  in the common course designation and numbering system.

24         Section 26.  Paragraph (f) is added to subsection (4)

25  of section 239.117, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 1

26  of chapter 97-383, Laws of Florida, to read:

27         239.117  Postsecondary student fees.--

28         (4)  The following students are exempt from the payment

29  of registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees:

30         (f)  A student who is a proprietor, owner, or worker of

31  a company whose business has been at least 50 percent

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  1  negatively financially impacted by the buy-out of property

  2  around Lake Apopka by the state. Such a student may receive a

  3  fee exemption only if the student has not received

  4  compensation because of the buy-out, the student is designated

  5  a Florida resident for tuition purposes pursuant to s.

  6  240.1201, and the student has applied for and been denied

  7  financial aid, pursuant to s. 240.404, which would have

  8  provided, at a minimum, payment of all student fees.

  9         Section 27.  Present subsections (6), (7), (8), and (9)

10  of section 240.235, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as

11  subsections (7), (8), (9), and (10), respectively, and a new

12  subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:

13         240.235  Fees.--

14         (6)  Any proprietor, owner, or worker of a company

15  whose business has been at least 50 percent negatively

16  financially impacted by the buy-out of property around Lake

17  Apopka by the state is exempt from the payment of

18  registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees. A student

19  receiving a fee exemption in accordance with this subsection

20  must not have received compensation because of the buy-out,

21  must be designated a Florida resident for tuition purposes

22  pursuant to s. 240.1201, and must first have applied for and

23  been denied financial aid, pursuant to s. 240.404, which would

24  have provided, at a minimum, payment of all student fees.

25         Section 28.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section

26  240.319, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 2 of chapter

27  97-383, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

28         240.319  Community college district boards of trustees;

29  duties and powers.--

30

31

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    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1194
    34-591B-98




  1         (4)  Such rules, procedures, and policies for the

  2  boards of trustees include, but are not limited to, the

  3  following:

  4         (b)  Each board of trustees has responsibility for the

  5  establishment and discontinuance of program and course

  6  offerings; provision for instructional and noninstructional

  7  community services, location of classes, and services

  8  provided; and dissemination of information concerning such

  9  programs and services. Policies governing schedules and course

10  offerings shall ensure the most efficient use of facilities,

11  including full 5-day work week and class schedule periods

12  during every semester of the academic year. Alternative

13  calendars that operate around a 4-day work week and class

14  schedule during the summer months are prohibited.

15         Section 29.  Paragraph (k) of subsection (1) of section

16  246.207, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

17         246.207  Powers and duties of board.--

18         (1)  The board shall:

19         (k)  Transmit all fees, donations, and other receipts

20  of money to the Institutional Assessment Trust State Treasurer

21  to be deposited in the General Revenue Fund.

22         Section 30.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

23  this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 1998.

24

25            *****************************************

26                          SENATE SUMMARY

27    Revises numerous provisions relating to vocational
      education, career education, and workforce development.
28    Provides circumstances under which community colleges may
      award baccalaureate degrees.  Authorizes community
29    colleges to create charter colleges.  (See bill for
      details.)
30

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