HB 353

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to charter technical career centers;
3creating the Charter Technical Career Center Associate in
4Applied Science and Associate in Science Degrees Program;
5providing a purpose for the program; authorizing charter
6technical career centers to submit proposals to the State
7Board of Education to offer specified associate in applied
8science degree and associate in science degree programs;
9authorizing charter technical career centers to offer such
10degree programs through partnerships with community
11colleges or direct authority; providing for certain
12criteria to award the degrees on a limited basis;
13requiring that the board adopt rules; requiring that a
14participating charter technical career center implement
15the program through a memorandum of agreement; prohibiting
16a charter technical career center from requesting funding
17for the initial costs associated with implementing the
18degree programs for a specified amount of time after
19receiving authorization; requiring that funding for
20operational costs be at the same level as the funding for
21workforce development programs; providing requirements for
22participating charter technical career centers; providing
23an effective date.
24
25Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
26
27     Section 1.  (1)  The Charter Technical Career Center
28Associate in Applied Science and Associate in Science Degrees
29Program is created for the purpose of authorizing charter
30technical career centers to offer associate in applied science
31degree and associate in science degree programs in order to meet
32local workforce needs. Charter technical career centers may
33submit proposals to the State Board of Education to participate
34in the program in their respective districts. Charter technical
35career centers may offer the degree programs through
36partnerships with community colleges or through direct authority
37to award such degrees.
38     (2)  After receiving and reviewing a charter technical
39career center's proposal, the board may approve the proposal for
40a substantive change in accreditation status and authority to
41award specified associate in applied science and associate in
42science degrees, on a limited basis, if an unmet workforce need
43for graduates from such degree programs exists and there is the
44availability of facilities, faculty, and other resources.
45     (3)  The board shall adopt rules providing guidelines for
46receiving, reviewing, and approving proposals submitted by
47charter technical career centers. The rules must establish an
48annual timeframe in which proposals are received. The rules must
49also require that a presentation be made to assist the board in
50its decision and that the Commissioner of Education make
51recommendations based on the proposals.
52     (4)  A charter technical career center that is authorized
53to offer an associate in applied science degree program or
54associate in science degree program shall implement the program
55in accordance with a memorandum of agreement entered into
56between the board and the center which outlines the expectations
57for administrative oversight and accountability for the initial
58and continued approval of the program.
59     (5)  A charter technical career center may not request
60additional funding for costs associated with the implementation
61and start-up of the associate in applied science and associate
62in science degree programs during the first 2 years after the
63charter technical career center receives authorization to offer
64such degree programs. Operational costs must be funded at the
65same level as funding for workforce development programs.
66     (6)  Each participating charter technical career center
67shall:
68     (a)  Maintain, as its primary mission, responsibility for
69responding to the community's needs for postsecondary career
70degree programs and workforce education programs;
71     (b)  Maintain an open-door admissions policy for associate
72degree programs and workforce education programs; and
73     (c)  Accept credit for courses meeting general education
74prerequisite requirements which are earned in an approved
75program at an accredited college or university.
76     (7)  Each charter technical career center participating in
77the program shall accept general education course credit from
78colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and
79Schools for the first 3 years of the program to avoid
80duplication of currently available courses.
81     (8)  Upon approval by the State Board of Education and
82pursuant to subsections (2) and (4), a charter technical career
83center may use the designation "technical college" rather than
84"center." Any charter technical career center that has used the
85designation "college" may continue to use such designation after
86July 1, 2010, and until the date of application for candidate
87status with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for
88a period up to 2 years.
89     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.