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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the Lake County magnet high school

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project; providing for a pilot project that includes the

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formation of a magnet high school on the Lake Sumter

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Community College South Campus which would allow high

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school students to complete an Associate of Science or

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Associate of Arts degree in health-related professions;

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providing goals; providing for implementation of the

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architectural design, initial construction, and support of

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the magnet high school; providing an appropriation;

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providing an effective date.

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

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     Section 1. (1) The purpose of this section is to enable

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the School Board of Lake County, the Lake Sumter Community

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College, South Lake, and other hospitals in Lake County to

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implement a pilot project that includes the formation of a magnet

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high school on the Lake Sumter Community College South Campus

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which will focus on health-related professions. This special high

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school will allow Lake County high school students to pursue the

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completion of an associate of science or an associate of arts

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degree while they complete their high school education. This

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pilot project will provide students an outstanding career-

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technical option while at the same time providing economic

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opportunity in the field of health-related professions. The goals

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of this project are to:

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     (a) Develop health-related majors for high school students

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creating a seamless K-20 education experience.

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     (b) Help high school students earn college credit through

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dual enrollment in health-related and general education courses.

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     (c) Provide opportunities for degree and certificate

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programs in areas where critical shortages exist, thereby

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offering the greatest employment potential for students.

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     (d) Provide academic excellence in a small learning

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environment.

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     (e) Offer on-the-job experiences through business

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partnerships, internships, and job-shadowing opportunities.

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     (f) Provide hands-on projects linking education to the real

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world while incorporating current technological skills.

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     (g) Provide a foundation for certifying teachers in

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critical shortage areas and in the areas of math and science.

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     (h) Assist students in recognizing their interests,

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aptitudes, and abilities as they relate to adult roles in the

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world of work.

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     (i) Help students understand the broad scope of work and

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career possibilities currently available in the areas of health

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and science.

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     (j) Ensure that career education will be thoroughly blended

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into the school curriculum in order to promote intellectual

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development and the acquisition of higher-level thinking and

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problem-solving skills.

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     (k) Assist in the development of the social skills,

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personal values, and self-esteem of all students.

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     (l) Work with the families of all students to support their

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child's career aspirations.

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     (m) Maximize the shared use of Lake Sumter Community

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College and the magnet high school facilities.

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     (n) Strengthen the partnership between the Lake County

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schools and Lake Sumter Community College and promote effective

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coordination between the high school and college.

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     (o) Lighten the burden of overcrowding in Lake County's

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high-growth areas as well as offer all Lake County students

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immediate access to college facilities.

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     (2) Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, the School

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Board of Lake County shall implement this pilot project for the

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architectural design, initial construction, and support of this

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special high school, including the following:

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     (a) Provide seed money for the implementation of the magnet

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high school design.

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     (b) Create a plan for sharing the pilot project with

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districts around the state.

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     (c) Provide an evaluation of the pilot project to the

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President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

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Representatives concerning the effectiveness of the project along

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with recommendations for assistance in duplicating this project

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in other partnerships between school districts and community

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colleges throughout the state.

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     Section 2. The sum of $250,000 is appropriated from the

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General Revenue Fund for the 2008-2009 school year for the

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purposes of paying expenses in establishing the pilot program

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created in this act.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.