Senate Bill 1504

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    Florida Senate - 1999                                  SB 1504

    By Senator Horne





    6-809-99

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to education; providing intent

  3         for certain high schools designated New

  4         Millennium High Schools; requiring certain

  5         components of a vocational program called the

  6         Florida Tech Prep Pathway; requiring certain

  7         activities of staff identified by schools and

  8         local business enterprises; providing

  9         requirements for students to enroll in certain

10         programs; requiring procedures and

11         certification of tech prep pathway programs;

12         providing for documentation by the Department

13         of Education; creating the Sunshine Technical

14         Skills Certificate; providing requirements;

15         requiring certain schools to be selected as

16         pilot projects; providing duties of the

17         Department of Education and the schools;

18         requiring certain programs and

19         career-development activities to assist

20         counselors at certain high schools; amending

21         ss. 228.041, 229.601, 229.602, 231.121, F.S.;

22         changing a personnel classification title;

23         amending s. 231.1725, F.S.; imposing certain

24         requirements for initial certification and

25         recertification of certain personnel; amending

26         s. 236.081, F.S.; providing for funding of

27         certain programs; prohibiting for certain

28         courses and programs from being reported for

29         funding or from being substituted for other

30         courses or programs; amending s. 239.121, F.S.;

31         changing a personnel classification title;

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  1         providing for certain professional-development

  2         activities; amending s. 239.229, F.S.;

  3         providing certain responsibilities for school

  4         boards and superintendents; repealing s.

  5         233.068, F.S., which relates to job-related

  6         vocational instruction; providing an effective

  7         date.

  8

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

10

11         Section 1.  Florida Tech Prep Pathway, New Millennium

12  High Schools; intent.--

13         (1)  The Legislature intends to advance high school

14  vocational education beyond the progress experienced during

15  the last decade of the 20th century. Initiatives in schools

16  designated as Tech Prep Schools, High Schools that Work,

17  Career Academies, and Blueprint Schools for Career Preparation

18  have proved the value of increasing the academic preparation

19  of vocational students and of assuring that all students are

20  prepared for both postsecondary education and a career. The

21  Legislature further intends to use the findings from these

22  programs to disseminate their benefits to all high schools and

23  all vocational programs.

24         (2)  Therefore, the Florida Tech Prep Pathway shall be

25  developed during the 1999-2000 school year and implemented

26  during the 2000-2001 year in at least 10 high schools. By

27  2004, all high schools in the state shall implement the

28  pathway. These high schools are designated New Millennium High

29  Schools and must assure that all students have the opportunity

30  to earn a credential that guarantees their preparation for the

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  1  new century's demands for career advancement through

  2  education.

  3         (3)  The New Millennium High Schools must be founded

  4  upon three principles proved effective at the turn of the

  5  century:

  6         (a)  A challenging academic curriculum that demands a

  7  high level of achievement and assures a direct path through

  8  postsecondary education without the need for repetition or

  9  remediation.

10         (b)  A technical curriculum articulated with

11  postsecondary education programs and invigorated by a strong

12  linkage among schools, postsecondary education institutions,

13  and the local business sector.

14         (c)  The power of a demonstrated return on investment

15  in education. The return is economic development that is

16  produced when public funds motivate a strategic investment by

17  the private sector in educational ventures that prove mutually

18  profitable.

19         Section 2.  Florida Tech Prep Pathway; required

20  components.--The Florida Tech Prep Pathway is a curriculum

21  designed to provide the academic and technical skills,

22  knowledge, and values needed to succeed in work and

23  postsecondary education at a level that enables a person to

24  become self-sufficient and to contribute to the economic and

25  social community. The pathway consists of the following

26  components:

27         (1)  An educational career plan provided for each

28  student in the pathway. This plan is a sequential journal

29  designed to guide students through the career development

30  process and to relate education to career interests,

31  aptitudes, and experiences as the students progress. A career

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  1  specialist or guidance counselor shall work with each student

  2  on the development of and each revision to the plan, which

  3  must be approved by the student's parent.

  4         (2)  A one-credit core course called "Technical Systems

  5  and Applications." By completing this course, a student meets

  6  the graduation requirement for performing arts or practical

  7  arts. The course must achieve competencies in:

  8         (a)  Learning skills and problem solving;

  9         (b)  Career assessment and exploration;

10         (c)  Computer applications;

11         (d)  Technical reading and writing;

12         (e)  Communication; and

13         (f)  Work ethics.

14         (3)  A work-based learning experience that is related

15  to the student's career plan, progressively more advanced, and

16  documented throughout the program of study. Staff identified

17  by schools shall work with local business and industry firms

18  to locate work experience that will contribute relevant

19  progress toward the objectives in a student's educational

20  career plan. A comprehensive work-based learning experience

21  progresses through the following levels, but does not

22  necessarily include each one:

23         (a)  Job shadowing, a career exploration activity in

24  which a student early in the Tech Prep Pathway follows an

25  employee at a firm for at least 1 day to learn about an

26  occupation or industry.

27         (b)  Community service activities related to the

28  student's career path.

29         (c)  A school-based enterprise in which students

30  operate a business enterprise to produce or provide goods or

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  1  services, on or off the school site, as part of the school's

  2  program.

  3         (d)  A business mentoring activity provided to a

  4  student by an employee or other person who possesses skills

  5  and knowledge identified for mastery in the student's career

  6  education plan. The mentor works in consultation with the

  7  classroom teachers to instruct the student, critique the

  8  student's performance, and challenges the student to perform

  9  well.

10         (e)  A volunteer internship or clinical experience.

11         (f)  An on-the-job training activity or cooperative

12  education.

13         (g)  Youth apprenticeship, a planned program of

14  instruction for high school students at least 16 years old.

15  The program includes academic study, technical instruction,

16  and on-the-job training and leads to a high school diploma and

17  advanced standing in an adult apprenticeship program upon

18  graduation.

19         (4)  A capstone activity that includes a project

20  related to a career. This activity is designed to apply the

21  competencies attained in the student's academic and technical

22  programs of study. It must include a demonstration before a

23  panel of representatives of businesses or industries that

24  employ people in occupations related to the student's chosen

25  career.

26         (5)  A program articulation agreement or agreements for

27  continuing the curriculum into an apprenticeship or one or

28  more postsecondary education programs that lead to a

29  vocational certificate, an applied technology diploma, an

30  associate in science degree, or a baccalaureate degree.

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  1         Section 3.  Florida Tech Prep Pathway; requirements for

  2  students.--A student may take a course within the Florida Tech

  3  Prep Pathway as a participant in the pathway or as a

  4  nonparticipant. However, only a participant may be reported

  5  for full-time-equivalent funding in the category established

  6  for the Florida Tech Prep Pathway in section 236.081, Florida

  7  Statutes, and the annual general appropriations act. A school

  8  district shall assure that the majority of students in any

  9  course within the pathway are participants. To be a

10  participant in a Florida Tech Prep Pathway, a student and his

11  or her parent must agree to:

12         (1)  Earn the required credits in mathematics, science,

13  and communications through courses that are all at a level 2

14  or above.

15         (2)  Demonstrate conversational proficiency in a

16  foreign language or enroll in 2 sequential years of foreign

17  language instruction.

18         (3)  In the ninth or tenth grade, enroll in the

19  technical core course defined in section 2 of this act and,

20  before completing high school, enroll in at least two

21  sequential courses in a technical program of study. The

22  technical program must be:

23         (a)  Defined at the state level.

24         (b)  Certified and evaluated as required by section 4

25  of this act.

26         (c)  Formally articulated with a continuing component

27  in postsecondary education. The program must culminate in an

28  apprenticeship or a credential at the level of a vocational

29  certificate, an applied technology diploma, an associate

30  degree, or a baccalaureate degree.

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  1         (4)  In collaboration with a career specialist or

  2  guidance counselor, develop and progress through a sequential

  3  career education plan that includes guided work experiences

  4  and is documented through a portfolio or other demonstrations

  5  of competencies attained.

  6         Section 4.  Tech prep pathway; certification of

  7  programs of study.--

  8         (1)  To be included in a tech prep pathway, a program

  9  must be certified by business and industry to assure the

10  relevance of its technical curriculum, equipment, related

11  work-based learning experiences, and application of

12  technology.

13         (2)  The Department of Education, in collaboration with

14  the Jobs and Education Partnership of Enterprise Florida,

15  shall assure compliance with the requirements for

16  certification. A school district may not report a student for

17  funding as a tech prep pathway student until the program in

18  which the student is enrolled is industry-certified and

19  approved by the Department of Education as required by this

20  section.

21         (3)  The Department of Education shall assure that each

22  program is certified and recertified, as required by advances

23  in an occupational cluster, at least every 5 years. The

24  department shall adopt rules for the certification process,

25  and the rules must establish any necessary procedures for

26  obtaining appropriate business partners and requirements for

27  business and industry involvement in curriculum oversight and

28  equipment procurement.

29         (4)  Each full-time equivalent student in such a

30  program, including a student enrolled in a pilot program

31  during the 1999-2000 school year, generates funds at double

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  1  the cost factor for students enrolled in the basic program for

  2  grades 9-12, as provided by section 236.081, Florida Statutes,

  3  and the annual General Appropriations Act.

  4         (5)  A school district is eligible for a pro-rata share

  5  of performance funding appropriated in any year for students

  6  who successfully complete a tech prep pathway and earn a

  7  Sunshine Technical Skills Certificate.

  8         (6)  A school district that generates funds as provided

  9  in subsection (4) or subsection (5) shall expend the total

10  amount on the Florida Tech Prep Pathway program.

11         (7)  Effective July 1, 2004, a student enrolled in a

12  vocational education course that is not part of a certified

13  Florida Tech Prep Pathway program may not be reported for

14  full-time-equivalent funding through the Florida Education

15  Finance Program unless the course is classified as

16  exploratory, orientation, or practical arts.

17         Section 5.  Sunshine Technical Skills

18  Certificate.--Every New Millennium High School shall assure

19  that students who complete a Florida Tech Prep Pathway have

20  the opportunity to earn a credential that assures the

21  attainment of an advanced academic and technical education.

22  This credential is called a Sunshine Technical Skills

23  Certificate and must be awarded in addition to a standard high

24  school diploma to a student who:

25         (1)  Completes the requirements for high school

26  graduation as provided in section 232.246, Florida Statutes.

27         (2)  Earns all required credits in mathematics,

28  science, and communications in courses designated by the

29  Department of Education at level 2 or above.

30

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  1         (3)  Earns two credits in a foreign language or

  2  demonstrates the ability to converse in foreign language as

  3  provided by the Department of Education.

  4         (4)  Earns the required credit in practical arts or

  5  performing arts through the technical core course as provided

  6  in section 2 of this act.

  7         (5)  Completes a tech prep pathway including the

  8  required academic, technical, and work-based learning required

  9  by section 2 of this act.

10         (6)  Passes the college entry level placement test or

11  an equivalent test identified by the department with a score

12  adequate to enroll in a public postsecondary education program

13  without the need for college-preparatory or

14  vocational-preparatory instruction.

15         Section 6.  New Millennium High Schools; pilot projects

16  and implementation.--

17         (1)  Prior to the 1999-2000 school year, the Department

18  of Education shall select at least 10 high schools to serve as

19  pilot project New Millennium High Schools. The department

20  shall issue a request for proposals that describes the

21  requirements of sections 1-5 of this act and may include any

22  additional requirements that will expedite the department's

23  selection of the pilot projects.

24         (2)  The department shall select at least two schools

25  from each of the five educational planning regions of the

26  state and shall give priority to a school that has experience

27  as a Blueprint School for Career Development or a Career

28  Academy or is in partnership with a business firm and a

29  postsecondary education institution for specialized technical

30  or occupational education. The department may also give

31  priority to any other school that has attained experience with

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  1  industry certification, student work experience, and the

  2  involvement of career counselors and guidance counselors to

  3  obtain the collaboration of local business or industry firms.

  4         (3)  The selected schools may receive designation and

  5  funding as New Millennium High Schools for the 1999-2000

  6  school year if they attain that status as provided in sections

  7  1-5 of this act and if the general appropriations act for that

  8  year includes funding for that purpose. If a selected school

  9  is unable to achieve the designation as a New Millennium High

10  School by August 1, 1999, the school may participate and be

11  funded as a pilot project for planning, as authorized in the

12  1999 General Appropriations Act.

13         (4)  The New Millennium High Schools shall provide

14  assistance to other schools and the Department of Education in

15  their efforts to implement this act. The department shall

16  identify three working committees to coordinate implementation

17  issues with the pilot projects. These committees shall

18  consider issues related to curriculum, funding,

19  accountability, and guidance and counseling. By November 1,

20  1999, the Commissioner of Education shall report to the

21  Legislature on the progress of the pilot projects and may

22  recommend any changes in policy, rule, or law that would allow

23  this act to be more effectively implemented.

24         Section 7.  New Millennium High Schools;

25  counselors.--The Legislature finds that, to adequately assist

26  students in advanced technical and academic career planning,

27  high school guidance counselors require preservice and

28  inservice professional development programs that contain

29  sufficient information on career education.

30

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  1         (1)  Each guidance counselor in a New Millennium High

  2  School shall complete 3 semester credit hours or 60 inservice

  3  points in career development which include:

  4         (a)  An emphasis on labor-market trends and

  5  projections;

  6         (b)  A practicum that focuses on development of a

  7  career-awareness program; and

  8         (c)  Content related to a career or employment within

  9  the counselor's work experience.

10         (2)  The Department of Education shall assist guidance

11  counselors in attaining the additional education required for

12  New Millennium High Schools. The State Board of Education

13  shall revise rules governing the certification and

14  recertification of guidance counselors to allow substitution

15  of personal work-based experiences and temporary-employment

16  opportunities in business and industry for the required

17  classroom instruction.

18         (3)  To implement the requirements of this act through

19  preservice education, the Legislature encourages colleges of

20  education to provide for the additional courses required

21  without increasing the total number of credit hours needed to

22  complete a program. Instead, the colleges are encouraged to

23  infuse course content required for ethics courses into courses

24  required for introduction, theory, and practicum.

25         Section 8.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section

26  228.041, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to

27  read:

28         228.041  Definitions.--Specific definitions shall be as

29  follows, and wherever such defined words or terms are used in

30  the Florida School Code, they shall be used as follows:

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  1         (9)  INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL.--"Instructional

  2  personnel" means any staff member whose function includes the

  3  provision of direct instructional services to students.

  4  Instructional personnel also includes personnel whose

  5  functions provide direct support in the learning process of

  6  students.  Included in the classification of instructional

  7  personnel are:

  8         (b)  Pupil personnel services.--Pupil personnel

  9  services include staff members responsible for:  advising

10  students with regard to their abilities and aptitudes,

11  educational and occupational opportunities, and personal and

12  social adjustments; providing placement services; performing

13  educational evaluations; and similar functions.  Included in

14  this classification are guidance counselors, social workers,

15  career occupational/placement specialists, and school

16  psychologists.

17         Section 9.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section

18  229.601, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         229.601  Career education program.--

20         (2)  There is hereby established a career education

21  program in the state educational system.  The Commissioner of

22  Education and his or her designated staff shall administer

23  this program. In developing and administering the career

24  education program, the purpose of which is to promote positive

25  career opportunities for all students regardless of their

26  race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, socioeconomic

27  status, or gender, the commissioner shall:

28         (c)  Develop programs for preservice and inservice

29  training for the purpose of infusing career education concepts

30  into the basic curricula of public schools and core curricula

31  of community colleges and state universities and programs for

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  1  preservice and inservice training for counselors and career

  2  occupational and placement specialists to assist in career

  3  counseling and placement and followup activities.

  4         Section 10.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section

  5  229.602, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  6         229.602  Florida private sector and education

  7  partnerships.--

  8         (5)  Each school district shall designate one or more

  9  persons to coordinate local private sector and education

10  partnership activities.  The general activities of these

11  coordinators shall be to enhance private sector and education

12  partnership activities.  The specific duties of the district

13  coordinators shall include, but not be limited to, the

14  following:

15         (a)  Maintaining contact with local businesses and

16  industries, local chamber of commerce organizations, private

17  industry councils with Job Training Partnership Act programs,

18  district career occupational specialists, guidance personnel,

19  economics educators, volunteer coordinators, community

20  education coordinators, appropriate governmental personnel,

21  and any others interested in private sector and education

22  partnerships.

23         Section 11.  Section 231.1725, Florida Statutes, 1998

24  Supplement, is amended to read:

25         231.1725  Employment of substitute teachers, career

26  specialists, teachers of adult education, and nondegreed

27  teachers of career education; students performing clinical

28  field experience.--

29         (1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of ss. 231.02,

30  231.15, and 231.17, or any other provision of law or rule to

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  1  the contrary, each school board shall establish the minimal

  2  qualifications for:

  3         (a)  Substitute teachers to be employed pursuant to s.

  4  231.47. The qualifications shall require the filing of a

  5  complete set of fingerprints in the same manner as required by

  6  s. 231.02.

  7         (b)  Part-time and full-time teachers in adult

  8  education programs. The qualifications shall require the

  9  filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the same manner as

10  required by s. 231.02. Faculty employed solely to conduct

11  postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this

12  requirement.

13         (c)  Part-time and full-time nondegreed teachers of

14  vocational programs. Qualifications shall be established for

15  agriculture, business, health occupations, family and consumer

16  sciences, industrial, marketing, and public service education

17  teachers, based primarily on successful occupational

18  experience rather than academic training. The qualifications

19  for such teachers shall require:

20         1.  The filing of a complete set of fingerprints in the

21  same manner as required by s. 231.02. Faculty employed solely

22  to conduct postsecondary instruction may be exempted from this

23  requirement.

24         2.  Documentation of education and successful

25  occupational experience including documentation of:

26         a.  A high school diploma or the equivalent.

27         b.  Completion of 6 years of full-time successful

28  occupational experience or the equivalent of part-time

29  experience in the teaching specialization area. Alternate

30  means of determining successful occupational experience may be

31  established by the school board.

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  1         c.  Completion of career education training conducted

  2  through the local school district inservice master plan.

  3         d.  For full-time teachers, completion of professional

  4  education training in teaching methods, course construction,

  5  lesson planning and evaluation, and teaching special needs

  6  students. This training may be completed through coursework

  7  from a standard institution or an approved district teacher

  8  education program.

  9         e.  Demonstration of successful teaching performance.

10         (2)  Substitute, adult education, and nondegreed career

11  education teachers who are employed pursuant to this section

12  shall have the same rights and protection of laws as certified

13  teachers.

14         (3)  Beginning with the 1999-2000 school year, to

15  receive initial certification, a career specialist as defined

16  in s. 239.121 must have:

17         (a)  At least 6 years of documented work experience

18  that:

19         1.  Occurred within the last 15 years;

20         2.  Consisted of paid employment outside the

21  educational system; and

22         3.  Included leadership or management responsibilities

23  and decision-making skills.

24         (b)  A college degree at least at the level of an

25  associate's degree or a minimum of 60 transferable credits.

26  Education may not be substituted for the required work

27  experience.

28         (4)  As a condition of recertification, a career

29  specialist employed after July 1, 2000, must complete, within

30  the first 2 years of employment, at least four college-level

31  courses that include:

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  1         (a)  At least one course in career development,

  2  labor-market information, assessment instruments, goal

  3  setting, and job-search training.

  4         (b)  Up to three courses in any of the following areas:

  5  communications, vocational and technical education, public

  6  relations and marketing, career development, counseling or

  7  human-resource management, or computer technology.

  8

  9  A career specialist who has attained the required coursework

10  through preservice education and who holds a baccalaureate

11  degree is not required to comply with this subsection.

12         Section 12.  Paragraphs (c), (d), and (l) of subsection

13  (1) of section 236.081, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, are

14  amended, present paragraphs (m) through (p) of that subsection

15  are redesignated as paragraphs (n) through (q), respectively,

16  and a new paragraph (m) is added to that subsection, and

17  paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of that section is amended, to

18  read:

19         236.081  Funds for operation of schools.--If the annual

20  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each

21  district for operation of schools is not determined in the

22  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing

23  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as

24  follows:

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

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

27  determining the annual allocation to each district for

28  operation:

29         (c)  Determination of programs.--Cost factors based on

30  desired relative cost differences between the following

31  programs shall be established in the annual General

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  1  Appropriations Act. A secondary vocational or career education

  2  program included within a Florida Tech Prep Pathway certified

  3  as required by section 4 of this act generates funding as

  4  provided in paragraph (m). Effective July 1, 2004, a

  5  full-time-equivalent student in a vocational education or

  6  career education program that is not so certified generates no

  7  state funding, unless the student is in a course classified as

  8  exploration, orientation, or practical arts and the general

  9  appropriations act contains a cost factor for such courses.

10  The Commissioner of Education shall specify a matrix of

11  services and intensity levels to be used by districts in the

12  determination of funding support for each exceptional student.

13  The funding support level for each exceptional student shall

14  fund the exceptional student's total education program.

15         1.  Basic programs.--

16         a.  Kindergarten and grades 1, 2, and 3.

17         b.  Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

18         c.  Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.

19         2.  Programs for exceptional students.--

20         a.  Support Level I.

21         b.  Support Level II.

22         c.  Support Level III.

23         d.  Support Level IV.

24         e.  Support Level V.

25         3.  Secondary career education programs.--

26         4.  Students-at-risk programs.--

27         a.  Dropout prevention and teenage parents.

28         b.  English for Speakers of Other Languages.

29         (d)  Annual allocation calculation.--

30         1.  The Department of Education is authorized and

31  directed to review all district programs and enrollment

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  1  projections and calculate a maximum total weighted full-time

  2  equivalent student enrollment for each district for the K-12

  3  FEFP.

  4         2.  Maximum enrollments calculated by the department

  5  shall be derived from enrollment estimates used by the

  6  Legislature to calculate the FEFP.  If two or more districts

  7  enter into an agreement under the provisions of s.

  8  230.23(4)(d), after the final enrollment estimate is agreed

  9  upon, the amount of FTE specified in the agreement, not to

10  exceed the estimate for the specific program as identified in

11  paragraph (c), may be transferred from the participating

12  districts to the district providing the program.

13         3.  As part of its calculation of each district's

14  maximum total weighted full-time equivalent student

15  enrollment, the department shall establish separate enrollment

16  ceilings for each of two program groups. Group 1 shall be

17  composed of grades K-3, grades 4-8, and grades 9-12. Group 2

18  shall be composed of students in exceptional student education

19  programs, students-at-risk programs, all basic programs other

20  than the programs in group 1, and all vocational programs in

21  grades 7-12. Beginning July 1, 2004, a vocational program is

22  not a weighted program unless it is in a Florida Tech Prep

23  Pathway certified as required in section 4 of this act and is

24  funded as provided in paragraph (m).

25         a.  The weighted enrollment ceiling for group 2

26  programs shall be calculated by multiplying the final

27  enrollment conference estimate for each program by the

28  appropriate program weight.  The weighted enrollment ceiling

29  for program group 2 shall be the sum of the weighted

30  enrollment ceilings for each program in the program group,

31  plus the increase in weighted full-time equivalent student

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  1  membership from the prior year for clients of the Department

  2  of Children and Family Services and the Department of Juvenile

  3  Justice.

  4         b.  If, for any calculation of the FEFP, the weighted

  5  enrollment for program group 2, derived by multiplying actual

  6  enrollments by appropriate program weights, exceeds the

  7  enrollment ceiling for that group, the following procedure

  8  shall be followed to reduce the weighted enrollment for that

  9  group to equal the enrollment ceiling:

10         (I)  The weighted enrollment ceiling for each program

11  in the program group shall be subtracted from the weighted

12  enrollment for that program derived from actual enrollments.

13         (II)  If the difference calculated under

14  sub-sub-subparagraph (I) is greater than zero for any program,

15  a reduction proportion shall be computed for the program by

16  dividing the absolute value of the difference by the total

17  amount by which the weighted enrollment for the program group

18  exceeds the weighted enrollment ceiling for the program group.

19         (III)  The reduction proportion calculated under

20  sub-sub-subparagraph (II) shall be multiplied by the total

21  amount of the program group's enrollment over the ceiling as

22  calculated under sub-sub-subparagraph (I).

23         (IV)  The prorated reduction amount calculated under

24  sub-sub-subparagraph (III) shall be subtracted from the

25  program's weighted enrollment.  For any calculation of the

26  FEFP, the enrollment ceiling for group 1 shall be calculated

27  by multiplying the actual enrollment for each program in the

28  program group by its appropriate program weight.

29         c.  For program group 2, the weighted enrollment

30  ceiling shall be a number not less than the sum obtained by:

31

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  1         (I)  Multiplying the sum of reported FTE for all

  2  programs in the program group that have a cost factor of 1.0

  3  or more by 1.0, and

  4         (II)  By adding this number to the sum obtained by

  5  multiplying the projected FTE for all programs with a cost

  6  factor less than 1.0 by the actual cost factor.

  7         4.  Following completion of the weighted enrollment

  8  ceiling calculation as provided in subparagraph 3., a

  9  supplemental capping calculation shall be employed for those

10  districts that are over their weighted enrollment ceiling. For

11  each such district, the total reported unweighted FTE

12  enrollment for group 2 programs shall be compared with the

13  total appropriated unweighted FTE enrollment for group 2

14  programs. If the total reported unweighted FTE for group 2 is

15  greater than the appropriated unweighted FTE, then the excess

16  unweighted FTE up to the unweighted FTE transferred from group

17  2 to group 1 for each district by the Public School FTE

18  Estimating Conference shall be funded at a weight of 1.0 and

19  added to the funded weighted FTE computed in subparagraph 3.

20  This adjustment shall be calculated beginning with the third

21  calculation of the 1998-1999 FEFP.

22         (l)  Instruction in career education.--Effective for

23  the 1985-1986 school year and thereafter, District pupil

24  progression plans shall provide for the substitution of

25  vocational courses for the nonelective courses required for

26  high school graduation pursuant to s. 232.246.  Beginning July

27  1, 2004, however, a vocational course may not be substituted

28  for another required course unless it is in a program in a

29  Florida Tech Prep Pathway that is certified as provided in

30  section 4 of this act. A student in grades 9 through 12 who

31  enrolls in and satisfactorily completes a job-preparatory

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  1  program may substitute credit for a portion of the required

  2  four credits in English, three credits in mathematics, and

  3  three credits in science.  The credit substituted for English,

  4  mathematics, or science earned through the vocational

  5  job-preparatory program shall be on a curriculum equivalency

  6  basis as provided for in the State Course Code Directory. The

  7  State Board of Education shall authorize by rule vocational

  8  course substitutions not to exceed two credits in each of the

  9  nonelective academic subject areas of English, mathematics,

10  and science.  School districts shall provide for vocational

11  course substitutions not to exceed two credits in each of the

12  nonelective academic subject areas of English, mathematics,

13  and science, upon adoption of vocational student performance

14  standards by the school board pursuant to s. 232.2454.  A

15  vocational program which has been used as a substitute for a

16  nonelective academic credit in one subject area may not be

17  used as a substitute for any other subject area.  The credit

18  in practical arts or exploratory career education required for

19  high school graduation pursuant to s. 232.246(1) shall be

20  funded as a career education course. Such a course is eligible

21  for funding at double the base student allocation for grades

22  9-12 only if it is within a Florida Tech Prep Pathway

23  certified as required by section 4 of this act.

24         (m)  Calculation of full-time-equivalent membership for

25  the Florida Tech Prep Pathway.--Funding for students enrolled

26  in a Florida Tech Prep Pathway program is calculated by

27  doubling the base student allocation and multiplying that

28  number by the number of full-time-equivalent Florida Tech Prep

29  Pathway students. A student enrolled in a course within such a

30  program may be reported for funding in this category only if

31  the student is a participant in the program as provided in

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  1  section 3 of this act. Nonparticipants must be reported for

  2  funding at the basic program allocation for students in grades

  3  9-12. A student who earns the Sunshine Technical Skills

  4  Certificate generates additional funding for the program, as

  5  provided in subsection (5).

  6         (5)  CATEGORICAL PROGRAMS.--The Legislature hereby

  7  provides for the establishment of selected categorical

  8  programs to assist in the development and maintenance of

  9  activities giving indirect support to the programs previously

10  funded.  These categorical appropriations may be funded as

11  general and transitional categorical programs.  It is the

12  intent of the Legislature that no transitional categorical

13  program be funded for more than 4 fiscal years from the date

14  of original authorization. Such programs are as follows:

15         (a)  General.--

16         1.  Comprehensive school construction and debt service

17  as provided by law.

18         2.  Community schools as provided by law.

19         3.  School lunch programs as provided by law.

20         4.  Instructional material funds as provided by law.

21         5.  Student transportation as provided by law.

22         6.  Student development services as provided by law.

23         7.  Diagnostic and learning resource centers as

24  provided by law.

25         8.  Comprehensive health education as provided by law.

26         9.  Excellent Teaching Program as provided by law.

27         10.  Attainment of the Sunshine Technical Skills

28  Certificate as provided by law.

29         Section 13.  Section 239.121, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31         239.121  Career Occupational specialists.--

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  1         (1)  District school boards and community college

  2  boards of trustees may employ career occupational specialists

  3  to provide student counseling services and occupational

  4  information to students and to provide information to local

  5  business and industry regarding the availability of vocational

  6  programs through local educational institutions.  Under the

  7  supervision of a certified counselor, career occupational

  8  specialists may undertake special assignments that include,

  9  but are not limited to, the identification and intensive

10  counseling of current and former students and the parents of

11  such students, as well as counseling students and all

12  education personnel regarding job and career opportunities.

13         (2)  Career Occupational specialists shall receive

14  certification pursuant to State Board of Education rule and s.

15  231.1725. A career No occupational specialist may not be paid

16  less than any other member of the instructional personnel who

17  has equivalent qualifications and provides similar services.

18  Career Occupational specialists may receive salary supplements

19  upon documentation that such supplements are necessary for

20  recruiting or retaining suitable personnel.

21         (3)  The Department of Education and each school

22  district that employs a career specialist shall assist that

23  person to prepare a professional development plan designed to

24  provide the skills necessary to perform the duties associated

25  with implementation of a Florida Tech Prep Pathway within a

26  New Millennium High School. This plan must set time limits for

27  the attainment of any necessary coursework, demonstration of

28  competencies, and testing required by rules of the State Board

29  of Education.

30

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  1         Section 14.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section

  2  239.229, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to

  3  read:

  4         239.229  Vocational standards.--

  5         (2)(a)  Each school board and superintendent shall

  6  direct the smooth transition of high school vocational

  7  programs and career education to Florida Tech Prep Pathways as

  8  provided in sections 1-7 and section 12 of this act. School

  9  board, superintendent, and school accountability for career

10  education within elementary and secondary schools includes,

11  but is not limited to:

12         1.  Student exposure to a variety of careers and

13  provision of instruction to explore specific careers in

14  greater depth.

15         2.  Student awareness of available vocational programs

16  and the corresponding occupations into which such programs

17  lead.

18         3.  Student development of individual career plans.

19         4.  Integration of academic and vocational skills in

20  the secondary curriculum.

21         5.  Student preparation to enter the workforce and

22  enroll in postsecondary education without being required to

23  complete college-preparatory or vocational-preparatory

24  instruction.

25         6.  Student retention in school through high school

26  graduation.

27         7.  Vocational curriculum articulation with

28  corresponding postsecondary programs in the local area

29  technical center or community college, or both.

30         Section 15.  Section 233.068, Florida Statutes, is

31  repealed.

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  1         Section 16.  Except as otherwise provided in this act,

  2  this act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

  3

  4            *****************************************

  5                          SENATE SUMMARY

  6    Provides intent for certain high schools designated New
      Millennium High Schools. Requires certain components of a
  7    vocational program called the Florida Tech Prep Pathway
      and requires certain activities of staff identified by
  8    schools and local business enterprises. Prescribes
      prerequisites for students to enroll in certain programs.
  9    Establishes procedures for certification of tech prep
      pathway programs. Provides for documentation by the
10    Department of Education. Creates the Sunshine Technical
      Skills Certificate. Requires certain schools to be
11    selected for pilot projects. Specifies duties of the
      Department of Education and the schools. Requires certain
12    programs and career-development activities to assist
      counselors at certain high schools; amending various
13    provisions of law to change a personnel classification
      title to improve certain requirements for initial
14    certification and recertification of certain personnel,
      to provide for funding of certain programs, and to
15    prohibit certain courses and programs from being reported
      for funding or from being substituted for other courses
16    or programs. (See bill for details.)

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