Florida Senate - 2013 CS for SB 1720
By the Committee on Education; and Senator Galvano
581-02271-13 20131720c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; amending s. 11.45, F.S.;
3 revising actions to be taken by the Legislative
4 Auditing Committee relating to audits of state
5 universities and Florida College System institutions;
6 creating s. 288.126, F.S.; requiring the Department of
7 Economic Opportunity to create economic development
8 zones for science, technology, engineering, arts, and
9 mathematics; authorizing a science, technology,
10 engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) zone in a
11 county with a state university classified as having
12 very high research activity located in the county’s
13 jurisdiction; authorizing the county to apply to the
14 department for a STEAM zone designation; requiring the
15 county to appoint a STEAM zone development agency in
16 its application; providing criteria for the STEAM zone
17 development agency; requiring the STEAM zone
18 development agency to appoint a STEAM zone development
19 board; providing criteria for the board; providing
20 duties of the board; requiring a local governing body
21 that has jurisdiction over a STEAM zone to establish
22 the boundary of the STEAM zone, specify applicable
23 standards, and determine certain eligibility criteria;
24 specifying the incentives and benefits available in
25 the STEAM zones; requiring the department to develop a
26 grant program that applies to a STEAM zone; providing
27 criteria for the awarding of a grant; directing the
28 STEAM zone development agency to perform certain
29 functions; requiring the department to work with the
30 STEAM zone development agency, the Department of
31 Education, and Workforce Florida, Inc., to develop
32 accountability requirements and measurable objectives;
33 providing criteria; providing a monetary incentive cap
34 on the total amount of state credits, refunds, and
35 exemptions that may be provided to eligible businesses
36 for STEAM zone economic incentives; assigning duties
37 for the administration of STEAM zones to the counties
38 that have jurisdiction over STEAM zones; providing for
39 the issuance of certificates to eligible businesses;
40 requiring the county that has jurisdiction over a
41 STEAM zone to certify to the Department of Revenue or
42 the Department of Economic Opportunity the businesses
43 or properties that are eligible for the incentives;
44 requiring the Department of Revenue to send written
45 instructions to eligible businesses for claiming the
46 credit on a sales and use tax return initiated through
47 an electronic data interchange; providing a procedure
48 to deduct a credit against the sales and use tax from
49 the sales and use tax remitted by the business;
50 amending s. 1001.02, F.S.; requiring the State Board
51 of Education to specify the college credit courses
52 that may be taken by Florida College System
53 institution students who are concurrently
54 participating in developmental education; requiring
55 the State Board of Education to establish the tuition
56 and out-of-state fees for certain credit instruction,
57 rather than college-preparatory instruction; revising
58 the minimum standards, definitions, and guidelines
59 that the State Board of Education must prescribe by
60 rule for Florida College System institutions; amending
61 s. 1001.64, F.S.; authorizing a board of trustees at a
62 Florida College System institution to contract with
63 the board of trustees of a state university for the
64 Florida College System institution to provide
65 developmental education; creating s. 1001.7065, F.S.;
66 establishing a collaborative partnership between the
67 Board of Governors and the Legislature to elevate the
68 academic and research preeminence of this state’s
69 highest performing state research universities;
70 specifying the academic and research excellence
71 standards for the preeminent state research
72 universities program; requiring the Board of Governors
73 to designate each state research university that meets
74 certain criteria as a preeminent state research
75 university; requiring the state research university
76 that has attained the highest level on the academic
77 and research excellence standard to establish an
78 online arm of the university; providing requirements
79 for the online arm of the university; providing
80 membership of the board of directors that oversees the
81 business of the university’s online arm; providing for
82 a quorum of the board of directors; requiring the
83 board to develop a business plan and authorizing the
84 board to contract with other entities and
85 institutions; requiring the university to offer high
86 quality online baccalaureate degree programs and a
87 master’s degree in business administration;
88 authorizing the university to offer online other
89 master’s degree programs; authorizing the university
90 to develop and offer degree programs and courses that
91 are competency based; requiring the university to
92 periodically expand its offering of online
93 baccalaureate degree programs and establish a tuition
94 structure for its online arm; providing requirements
95 for the tuition structure; requiring the state
96 research university that has attained the second
97 highest level on the academic and research excellence
98 standards to recruit National Academy members,
99 expedite provision of a master’s degree in cloud
100 virtualization, and institute an entrepreneurs-in
101 residence program throughout its campus; authorizing a
102 preeminent state research university to require
103 incoming college students to take specified courses;
104 requiring the Board of Governors to identify and grant
105 all reasonable, feasible authority and flexibility to
106 keep a designated preeminent state research university
107 free from unnecessary restrictions; providing that the
108 Board of Governors is encouraged to establish
109 standards and measures to recognize excellent programs
110 in other state universities; creating s. 1002.312,
111 F.S.; authorizing a district school board to contract
112 with a nonprofit organization or a state or local
113 governmental unit to establish a STEAM school;
114 specifying the organizations that are authorized to
115 contract with a district school board to establish a
116 STEAM school; requiring certain provisions to be
117 included in a contract to establish a STEAM school;
118 providing that performance outcomes must demonstrate
119 an integration of technology and the arts; amending s.
120 1004.02, F.S.; defining the term “developmental
121 education” as it relates to public postsecondary
122 education; repealing s. 1004.58, F.S., relating to the
123 Leadership Board for Applied Research and Public
124 Service; amending s. 1004.93, F.S.; deleting
125 provisions relating to the levels and courses of
126 instruction to be funded through the college
127 preparatory program; amending s. 1006.735, F.S.;
128 establishing the Complete Florida Degree Program to
129 recruit, recover, and retain adult learners and assist
130 them in completing degrees aligned to high-wage, high
131 skill workforce needs; specifying program components
132 and the tuition and fee structure; requiring
133 submission of a project plan to the Legislature;
134 amending s. 1007.23, F.S.; revising the number of
135 semester hours in which a student who is seeking an
136 associate in arts degree is required to indicate a
137 baccalaureate degree program; amending s. 1007.25,
138 F.S.; revising general education courses, common
139 prerequisites, and degree requirements; conforming
140 terminology to changes made by the act; amending s.
141 1007.263, F.S.; revising the rules that the board of
142 trustees of a Florida College System institution may
143 adopt with regard to admissions counseling; requiring
144 each board of trustees to establish policies that
145 notify students about options they may use to attain
146 the communication and computation skills that are
147 essential to perform college-level work; deleting a
148 prohibition against a student’s enrollment in credit
149 courses under certain circumstances; amending s.
150 1007.271, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
151 by the act; creating s. 1008.02, F.S.; providing
152 definitions for the purpose of ch. 1008, F.S.,
153 relating to assessment and accountability for the K-20
154 education system; amending s. 1008.30, F.S.; providing
155 that alternative assessments that may be accepted in
156 lieu of the common placement test must be identified
157 in rule; requiring the State Board of Education, in
158 conjunction with the Board of Governors, to approve a
159 series of meta-majors, academic pathways, and degree
160 maps that identify the gateway courses required for
161 success in each meta-major; providing requirements for
162 the common placement testing program; requiring the
163 State Board of Education to adopt rules that require
164 high schools to evaluate certain students for college
165 readiness; requiring the State Board of Education to
166 establish by rule the test scores a student must
167 achieve to demonstrate readiness to perform college
168 level work; deleting provisions to conform to changes
169 made by the act; conforming terminology; requiring the
170 State Board of Education to adopt rules by a specified
171 date to implement developmental education; requiring
172 local policies and practices set by each Florida
173 College System institution board of trustees to
174 outline the student achievements considered by the
175 institution for placement determinations, identify
176 instructional options available to students, and
177 describe student costs and financial aid opportunities
178 associated with each instructional option; creating s.
179 1008.322, F.S.; requiring the Board of Governors of
180 the State University System to oversee the performance
181 of state university boards of trustees in the
182 enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations; providing
183 that state university presidents are responsible for
184 the accuracy of the information and data reported to
185 the Board of Governors; authorizing the Chancellor of
186 the State University System to investigate allegations
187 of noncompliance with law or Board of Governors’ rule
188 or regulation and determine probable cause; requiring
189 the chancellor to report determinations of probable
190 cause to the Board of Governors; authorizing the Board
191 of Governors to initiate specified actions if the
192 board determines that the state university board of
193 trustees is unwilling or unable to comply with the
194 law, certain rules or regulations, or audit
195 recommendations; amending s. 1008.34, F.S.; revising
196 the grading of middle schools and high schools to
197 include added weight for students who participate and
198 are enrolled in certain classes; amending ss. 1008.37,
199 1009.22, and 1009.23, F.S.; conforming provisions to
200 changes made by the act; amending s. 1009.26, F.S.;
201 authorizing certain Florida College System
202 institutions to waive certain fees; repealing s.
203 1009.28, F.S., relating to fees for repeated
204 enrollment in college-preparatory classes; amending s.
205 1009.285, F.S.; requiring a student enrolled in the
206 same undergraduate college-credit course more than
207 once, except for students enrolled in a gateway course
208 for an extended period of time, to pay tuition at 100
209 percent of the full cost of instruction; reducing the
210 number of times certain coursework, which is excluded
211 for the reduction of fees, is repeated for certain
212 purposes; amending s. 1009.286, F.S.; excluding
213 remedial courses from those courses that are counted
214 when calculating credit hours earned toward a
215 baccalaureate degree; amending s. 1009.40, F.S.;
216 providing that undergraduate students participating in
217 developmental education are eligible to receive
218 financial aid for a specified number of semesters or
219 quarters; conforming provisions to changes made by the
220 act; amending s. 1009.53, F.S.; conforming terminology
221 to changes made by the act; repealing s. 1009.531(7),
222 F.S., relating to the eligibility of a student for an
223 initial reward or renewal reward under the Florida
224 Bright Futures Scholarship Program; amending s.
225 1011.84, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made
226 by the act; providing an effective date.
227
228 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
229
230 Section 1. Paragraph (j) of subsection (7) of section
231 11.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
232 11.45 Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.—
233 (7) AUDITOR GENERAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—
234 (j) The Auditor General shall notify the Legislative
235 Auditing Committee of any financial or operational audit report
236 prepared pursuant to this section which indicates that a state
237 university or Florida College System institution has failed to
238 take full corrective action in response to a recommendation that
239 was included in the two preceding financial or operational audit
240 reports.
241 1. The committee may direct the governing body of the state
242 university or Florida College System institution to provide a
243 written statement to the committee explaining why full
244 corrective action has not been taken or, if the governing body
245 intends to take full corrective action, describing the
246 corrective action to be taken and when it will occur.
247 2. If the committee determines that the written statement
248 is not sufficient, the committee may require the chair of the
249 governing body of the state university or Florida College System
250 institution, or the chair’s designee, to appear before the
251 committee.
252 3. If the committee determines that the state university or
253 Florida College System institution has failed to take full
254 corrective action for which there is no justifiable reason or
255 has failed to comply with committee requests made pursuant to
256 this section, the committee shall refer the matter to the State
257 Board of Education or the Board of Governors, as appropriate, to
258 proceed in accordance with ss. 1008.32 and 1008.322,
259 respectively may proceed in accordance with s. 11.40(2).
260 Section 2. Section 288.126, Florida Statutes, is created to
261 read:
262 288.126 Science, technology, engineering, arts, and
263 mathematics zone programs.—
264 (1) The Department of Economic Opportunity shall create
265 economic development zones relating to science, technology,
266 engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). All incentives and
267 benefits provided for an enterprise zone pursuant to state law
268 must be available to a STEAM zone designated pursuant to this
269 section. A STEAM zone must be created in a county that has a
270 state university classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the
271 Advancement of Teaching as having very high research activity.
272 The integration of arts and technology is a subset of a STEAM
273 zone.
274 (2) Each county that has a qualifying research university
275 may apply to the department to receive the designation as a
276 STEAM zone. In the application, the county must appoint a STEAM
277 zone development agency. The STEAM zone development agency must:
278 (a) Be a nonuniversity not-for-profit corporation under s.
279 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
280 (b) Have experience with both private not-for-profit
281 partnerships and public not-for-profit partnerships.
282 (c) Have a facility with a minimum of 10,000 square feet of
283 exhibit educational conference space.
284 (d) Employ at least five full-time, in-house educational
285 and training staff employees.
286 (e) Have experience with federal educational and science
287 related grants.
288 (f) Create and submit quarterly reports to the governing
289 body of the county which evaluates the progress in implementing
290 the strategic plan or measurable goals set by the STEAM zone
291 development board as described in subsection (3).
292 (3)(a) The STEAM zone development agency shall appoint a
293 STEAM zone development board. The board shall consist of at
294 least nine, but not more than 12, commissioners. At least two
295 commissioners must be associated with the STEAM zone development
296 agency, two commissioners must come from the host county, and
297 two commissioners must be from local for-profit or not-for
298 profit corporations whose business is related to science,
299 technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics programs. At
300 least one commissioner must be from each of the following areas:
301 1. A qualifying research institution.
302 2. A local school district.
303 3. A municipality.
304 (b) The STEAM zone development board shall:
305 1. Assist in the development, implementation, and annual
306 review and update of the strategic plan or measurable goals.
307 2. Oversee and monitor the implementation of the strategic
308 plan or measurable goals.
309 3. Identify and recommend to the local governing body of
310 the county or the municipality ways to remove regulatory
311 barriers.
312 4. Identify for a county or municipality the financial
313 needs of and local resources or assistance available to eligible
314 businesses in the zone.
315 5. Promote the STEAM zone incentives to residents and
316 businesses within the STEAM zone.
317 6. Make recommendations to the county for boundary changes
318 in a STEAM zone such that a STEAM zone does not exceed 2 square
319 miles.
320 7. Work with organizations affiliated with a high-ranking
321 state research university to promote the purpose and goals of
322 the STEAM zone.
323 8. Dispense funds to promote, develop, and expand the STEAM
324 zone and educational training programs.
325 9. Work with companies within the STEAM zone to develop
326 training and certification programs needed to train a workforce
327 to have skills that are needed by companies and businesses in
328 this state.
329 10. Work with Workforce Florida, Inc., to retrain, educate,
330 and certify unemployed workers in industry certifications.
331 11. Work with Workforce Florida, Inc., to develop and make
332 available grant programs within the STEAM zone which foster the
333 expansion of workforce industry certification education and
334 training strategies, activities, and resources in conjunction
335 with one-stop career centers in the region.
336 12. Provide directives to the STEAM zone development
337 agency.
338 (4)(a) In order to provide incentives, each county that has
339 jurisdiction over a STEAM zone must, by local ordinance,
340 establish the boundary of the STEAM zone, specify applicable
341 standards, and determine eligibility criteria for the
342 application of state and local incentives and benefits in the
343 STEAM zone. However, in order to receive benefits provided under
344 s. 288.106, a business must be a qualified target industry
345 business under s. 288.106 for state purposes. A STEAM zone’s
346 boundary may be revised by local ordinance. Such incentives and
347 benefits include those in ss. 212.08, 212.096, 220.181, 220.182,
348 220.183, 220.196, 288.106, and 624.5105 and the public utility
349 discounts provided in s. 290.007(8). For purposes of this
350 section, any applicable requirements for employee residency for
351 higher refund or credit thresholds must be based on employee
352 residency in the STEAM zone or an enterprise zone.
353 (b) A county that has a designated STEAM zone in its
354 jurisdiction may waive impact fees for new construction within
355 the STEAM zone.
356 (c) The Department of Economic Opportunity and each county
357 that has a STEAM zone in its jurisdiction shall review rules or
358 regulations that affect the relocation or expansion of a
359 business to a STEAM zone to determine if a rule or regulation
360 may be modified or repealed to facilitate relocation or
361 expansion.
362 (5) The department shall develop a high-technology grant
363 program that applies to the STEAM zone. The grant program shall
364 solicit competitive applications from organizations that propose
365 to encourage and reward groundbreaking ideas that greatly expand
366 innovation, commercialization, and new enterprise formation
367 across the state. A grant shall be awarded to applicants who
368 submit the best strategies to:
369 (a) Create proof-of-concept centers that greatly increase
370 innovation within their organizations; or
371 (b) Create processes to commercialize or implement
372 innovation and build networks that can use that innovation and
373 entrepreneurship for local economic development.
374 (6) The STEAM zone development agency, with the cooperation
375 of other state agencies, shall:
376 (a) Partner with science, technology, engineering, arts, or
377 mathematics companies, Workforce Florida, Inc., and local
378 workforce boards to offer workforce training programs to train
379 unemployed, underemployed, and new workers in skills that are
380 needed in the science, technology, engineering, arts, or
381 mathematics field.
382 (b) Offer industry certifications from approved programs
383 for persons who traditionally are not typical candidates to
384 transition into science, technology, engineering, arts, or
385 mathematics careers; ease the transition for dislocated or
386 transitioning workers into science, technology, engineering,
387 arts, or mathematics field; and integrate state, regional, and
388 local efforts into a more powerful set of partnerships and
389 coordinated strategies.
390 (c) Enhance the production of more and better industry
391 certified workers in the science, technology, engineering, arts,
392 and mathematics fields through investment of department
393 resources and through greater integration and alignment of
394 existing public and private resources, so that more workers have
395 access to industry certification opportunities.
396 (d) Stimulate and support innovation, entrepreneurship, and
397 economic growth that can expand employment opportunities in the
398 science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics fields
399 by:
400 1. Increasing funding for grant opportunities in order to
401 implement additional educational programming related to science,
402 technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
403 2. Offering incentives to a school district, a charter
404 school, or a private school to implement and fully use an
405 industry certification program in science, technology,
406 engineering, arts, and mathematics.
407 3. Creating regional centers of education and research for
408 science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The
409 regional centers are a pipeline for students who excel in
410 science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to their
411 respective research universities in this state.
412 4. Providing an industry certification program for science,
413 technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to meet workforce
414 demands of industry.
415 5. Promoting the pursuit of careers in science, technology,
416 engineering, arts, and mathematics among underrepresented
417 students in grades kindergarten through 12.
418 6. Sponsoring an advertising campaign designed to encourage
419 local youth, particularly African Americans, Latin Americans,
420 and women, to consider careers in fields of science, technology,
421 engineering, arts, and mathematics.
422 7. Working with the state universities and colleges to
423 incorporate industry certification programs and internships for
424 students who are pursing degrees related to science, technology,
425 engineering, arts, and mathematics which further enhance their
426 education.
427 (7) The department, in cooperation with the STEAM zone
428 development agency, the Department of Education, and Workforce
429 Florida, Inc., shall develop accountability requirements and
430 measureable objectives that include:
431 (a) Requiring companies to:
432 1. Sign an agreement with the STEAM zone development agency
433 to agree to be a partner in some form of education,
434 volunteerism, internship, or event in order to encourage and
435 excite the community and children in this state’s education
436 system about fields related to science, technology, engineering,
437 arts, or mathematics.
438 2. Participate in a corporate training program.
439 3. Submit to an annual audit by the state or local board if
440 a tax credit, grant, loan, or other public assistance is
441 received.
442 (b) Establishing outcome-based, quantitative performance
443 metrics to ensure the mission of the STEAM zone is being carried
444 out.
445 (c) Reporting annually to the Legislature on the progress
446 of administering this section.
447 (d) Developing measurable objectives for each STEAM zone to
448 be monitored by the STEAM zone development board with the goal
449 of creating more jobs in the fields of science, technology,
450 engineering, arts, and mathematics; producing a workforce that
451 is highly qualified; and improving the quality of life in the
452 state.
453 (8)(a) Effective July 1, 2013, the total amount of state
454 credits, refunds, and exemptions that may be provided in a given
455 state fiscal year by each county that has jurisdiction over a
456 STEAM zone to eligible businesses for STEAM zone economic
457 incentives pursuant to this section is $300,000 per designated
458 STEAM zone. The county that has jurisdiction over a STEAM zone
459 shall disallow a credit or refund for which an application is
460 submitted after the zone’s respective $300,000 limit is reached.
461 If the $300,000 incentive cap is not fully used in any one state
462 fiscal year by a STEAM zone, the county that has jurisdiction
463 over a STEAM zone shall allocate the incentives, verify that
464 businesses receiving such incentives are eligible for the
465 incentives provided, and ensure that the incentives provided do
466 not exceed the cap for the state fiscal year.
467 (b) Upon approving an incentive for an eligible business,
468 the county that has jurisdiction over a STEAM zone shall provide
469 the taxpayer with a certificate indicating the name and federal
470 employer identification number of the eligible business, the
471 date the incentive is provided, the name of the STEAM zone, the
472 incentive type, and the incentive amount. The county that has
473 jurisdiction over a STEAM zone shall certify to the Department
474 of Revenue or the Department of Economic Opportunity, whichever
475 is applicable, the businesses or properties that are eligible to
476 receive the state incentives under statutory requirements. The
477 county that has jurisdiction over a STEAM zone shall provide a
478 copy of the certificate to the Department of Revenue and the
479 Department of Economic Opportunity as notification that such
480 incentives were approved for the specific eligible business or
481 property. For incentives to be claimed against the sales and use
482 tax under chapter 212, the Department of Revenue shall send,
483 within 14 days after receipt, written instructions to an
484 eligible business on how to claim the credit on a sales and use
485 tax return initiated through an electronic data interchange. Any
486 credit against the sales and use tax shall be deducted from any
487 sales and use tax remitted by the business to the Department of
488 Revenue by electronic funds transfer and may be deducted only on
489 a sales and use tax return initiated through an electronic data
490 interchange. The business shall separately state the credit on
491 the electronic return. The net amount of tax due and payable
492 must be remitted by electronic funds transfer.
493 Section 3. Paragraph (g) of subsection (4), subsection (5),
494 and paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (6) of section 1001.02,
495 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
496 1001.02 General powers of State Board of Education.—
497 (4) The State Board of Education shall:
498 (g) Specify, by rule, the college credit courses that may
499 be taken by Florida College System institution students who are
500 concurrently participating in developmental education enrolled
501 in college-preparatory instruction.
502 (5) The State Board of Education is responsible for
503 reviewing and administering the state program of support for the
504 Florida College System institutions and, subject to existing
505 law, shall establish the tuition and out-of-state fees for
506 college-preparatory instruction and for credit instruction that
507 may be counted toward an associate in arts degree, an associate
508 in applied science degree, or an associate in science degree.
509 (6) The State Board of Education shall prescribe minimum
510 standards, definitions, and guidelines for Florida College
511 System institutions that will ensure the quality of education,
512 coordination among the Florida College System institutions and
513 state universities, and efficient progress toward accomplishing
514 the Florida College System institution mission. At a minimum,
515 these rules must address:
516 (c) Program offerings and classification, including
517 college-level communication and computation skills associated
518 with successful performance in college and with tests and other
519 assessment procedures that measure student achievement of those
520 skills. The performance measures must provide that students
521 moving from one level of education to the next acquire the
522 necessary competencies for that level.
523 (d) Provisions for curriculum development, graduation
524 requirements, college calendars, and program service areas.
525 These provisions must include rules that:
526 1. Provide for the award of an associate in arts degree to
527 a student who successfully completes 60 semester credit hours at
528 the Florida College System institution.
529 2. Require all of the credits accepted for the associate in
530 arts degree to be in the statewide course numbering system as
531 credits toward a baccalaureate degree offered by a state
532 university or a Florida College System institution.
533 3. Beginning with students initially entering a Florida
534 College System institution in 2014-2015 and thereafter, Require
535 no more than 36 30 semester credit hours in general education
536 courses in the subject areas of communication, mathematics,
537 social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
538
539 The rules should encourage Florida College System institutions
540 to enter into agreements with state universities that allow
541 Florida College System institution students to complete upper
542 division-level courses at a Florida College System institution.
543 An agreement may provide for concurrent enrollment at the
544 Florida College System institution and the state university and
545 may authorize the Florida College System institution to offer an
546 upper-division-level course or distance learning.
547 Section 4. Subsection (9) of section 1001.64, Florida
548 Statutes, is amended to read:
549 1001.64 Florida College System institution boards of
550 trustees; powers and duties.—
551 (9) A board of trustees may contract with the board of
552 trustees of a state university for the Florida College System
553 institution to provide developmental education college
554 preparatory instruction on the state university campus.
555 Section 5. Section 1001.7065, Florida Statutes, is created
556 to read:
557 1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
558 (1) STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM SHARED GOVERNANCE
559 COLLABORATION.—A collaborative partnership is established
560 between the Board of Governors and the Legislature to elevate
561 the academic and research preeminence of Florida’s highest
562 performing state research universities in accordance with this
563 section. The partnership stems from the State University System
564 Governance Agreement executed on March 24, 2010, wherein the
565 Board of Governors and leaders of the Legislature agreed to a
566 framework for the collaborative exercise of their joint
567 authority and shared responsibility for the State University
568 System. The governance agreement confirmed the commitment of the
569 Board of Governors and the Legislature to continue collaboration
570 on accountability measures, the use of data, and recommendations
571 derived from such data.
572 (2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—Effective
573 July 1, 2013, the following academic and research excellence
574 standards are established for the Preeminent State Research
575 Universities Program:
576 (a) An average weighted grade point average of 4.0 or
577 higher on a 4.0 scale and an average SAT score of 1800 or higher
578 for fall-semester incoming freshmen, as reported annually.
579 (b) A top-50 ranking on at least two well-known and highly
580 respected national public university rankings, reflecting
581 national preeminence, using most recent rankings.
582 (c) A freshman retention rate of 90 percent or higher for
583 full-time, first-time-in-college students, as reported annually
584 to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
585 (d) A 6-year graduation rate of 70 percent or higher for
586 full-time, first-time-in-college students, as reported annually
587 to the IPEDS.
588 (e) Six or more faculty members at the state university who
589 are members of a national academy, as reported by the Center for
590 Measuring University Performance in the Top American Research
591 Universities (TARU) annual report.
592 (f) Total annual research expenditures, including federal
593 research expenditures, of $200 million or more, as reported
594 annually by the National Science Foundation (NSF).
595 (g) Total annual research expenditures in diversified
596 nonmedical sciences of $150 million or more, based on data
597 reported annually by the NSF.
598 (h) A top-100 university national ranking for research
599 expenditures in five or more science, technology, engineering,
600 or mathematics fields of study, as reported annually by the NSF.
601 (i) One hundred or more total patents awarded by the United
602 States Patent and Trademark Office for the most recent 3-year
603 period.
604 (j) Four hundred or more doctoral degrees awarded annually,
605 as reported in the TARU annual report.
606 (k) Two hundred or more postdoctoral appointees annually,
607 as reported in the TARU annual report.
608 (l) An endowment of $500 million or more, as reported in
609 the Board of Governors annual accountability report.
610 (3) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION.—The
611 Board of Governors shall designate each state research
612 university that meets at least 11 of the 12 academic and
613 research excellence standards identified in subsection (2) a
614 preeminent state research university.
615 (4) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY ONLINE ARM.—The
616 state research university that has attained the highest level on
617 the academic and research excellence standards identified in
618 subsection (2), as verified by the Board of Governors, shall
619 establish a fully online arm of the university in accordance
620 with this subsection, subject to the appropriation of funds by
621 the Legislature.
622 (a)1. A board of directors shall develop, implement, and
623 oversee the business aspects of the university’s online arm,
624 while the university president and board of trustees, in
625 conjunction with the Board of Governors, shall be responsible
626 for academic quality, accreditation, and curricular standards.
627 The university president and board of trustees, the board of
628 directors, and the Board of Governors shall collaborate and
629 cooperate in their respective roles to achieve the purpose of
630 successfully providing fully online high-quality baccalaureate
631 and master’s degree programs to the university’s enrolled online
632 students in this state and around the world.
633 2. The university president shall designate a center to
634 help lead the university to global preeminence in the
635 development of cutting-edge technology and instructional design
636 for online programs. The center shall conduct research to enrich
637 the university’s online degree program offerings and enhance the
638 success of the university’s online students. The center shall
639 provide academic and administrative support structures to
640 undergird the delivery of content and degree programs by the
641 various colleges and departments throughout the university. The
642 center shall work jointly with the university president and the
643 board of directors in their respective roles.
644 (b) The board of directors is comprised of the following
645 seven members:
646 1. The university president, or the president’s permanent
647 designee.
648 2. The chair of the university board of trustees, or the
649 chair’s permanent designee.
650 3. A member with expertise in global marketing, appointed
651 by the Governor.
652 4. A member with expertise in cloud virtualization,
653 appointed by the President of the Senate.
654 5. A member with expertise in disruptive innovation in
655 online learning, appointed by the Speaker of the House of
656 Representatives.
657 6. A member with expertise in online program accreditation,
658 appointed by the chair of the Board of Governors.
659 7. A member with expertise in creative technologies,
660 appointed by the chair of the Florida Polytechnic University
661 Board of Trustees.
662 (c) A majority of the board of directors constitutes a
663 quorum, elects the chair, and appoints an executive director.
664 (d) The board of directors shall develop a business plan
665 and may contract with other entities and institutions, public or
666 private, to maximize the marketing, advertising, support
667 services that include financial aid assistance and academic and
668 career guidance, and degree programs and courses of the
669 university’s online arm.
670 (e) Beginning in January 2014, the university shall offer
671 high-quality, fully online baccalaureate degree programs as
672 directed by the board of directors which:
673 1. Accept full-time, first-time-in-college students.
674 2. Have the same rigorous admissions criteria as an
675 equivalent on-campus degree program.
676 3. Offer a curriculum of equivalent rigor to the on-campus
677 degree program.
678 4. Offer rolling enrollment or multiple windows of
679 enrollment throughout the year.
680 5. Do not require any on-campus courses. However, for
681 courses or programs that require clinical training or
682 laboratories which cannot be delivered online, the university
683 shall offer convenient locational options to the student, which
684 may include, but not be limited to, the option to complete such
685 requirements at a summer-in-residence on the university campus.
686 Additionally, for purposes of proctored assessments or testing,
687 the university may provide a network of sites at convenient
688 locations and contract with commercial testing centers or
689 identify other secure testing services.
690 6. Apply the university’s existing policy for accepting
691 credits for both freshman applicants and transfer applicants.
692 (f) The university must offer a fully online master of
693 business administration degree program and may offer other
694 master’s degree programs as recommended by the university
695 president and board of trustees and authorized by the board of
696 directors.
697 (g) The university may develop and offer degree programs
698 and courses that are competency based, as appropriate for the
699 quality and success of the program and as recommended by the
700 university president and board of trustees and authorized by the
701 board of directors.
702 (h) The university shall periodically expand its offering
703 of online baccalaureate degree programs, as recommended by the
704 university president and board of trustees and authorized by the
705 board of directors, to meet student and market demands.
706 (i) The university shall establish a tuition structure for
707 its online arm in conjunction with the board of directors and in
708 accordance with this paragraph, notwithstanding any other
709 provision of law.
710 1. For students classified as residents for tuition
711 purposes, tuition for an online baccalaureate degree program
712 shall be set at no more than 75 percent of the tuition rate as
713 specified in the General Appropriations Act pursuant to s.
714 1009.24(4) and 75 percent of the tuition differential pursuant
715 to s. 1009.24(16). No distance learning fee or fee for campus
716 facilities or on-campus services may be assessed, except that
717 online students shall pay the university’s technology and
718 financial aid fees and the Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee.
719 The Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee shall be dedicated to the
720 university’s online research center.
721 2. For students classified as nonresidents for tuition
722 purposes, tuition may be set at market rates as directed and
723 authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the
724 business plan.
725 3. Tuition for the online degree programs shall include all
726 costs associated with the program, including, but not limited
727 to, instruction, materials, and enrollment. However, an online
728 student may be charged the cost of any hard-copy textbook and
729 any physical laboratory supplies necessary for the program.
730 4. Subject to the limitations in subparagraph 1., tuition
731 may be differentiated by degree program as appropriate to the
732 instructional and other costs of the program and as recommended
733 by the university president and board of trustees and authorized
734 by the board of directors in accordance with the business plan.
735 Pricing must incorporate innovative approaches that incentivize
736 persistence and completion, including, but not limited to, fee
737 for assessment, bundled or all-inclusive rate, and sliding scale
738 features.
739 5. The university must accept advance payment contracts and
740 student financial aid.
741 6. The board of directors shall ensure that 50 percent of
742 the net revenues generated from the online arm of the university
743 is used to enhance and enrich the online arm of the university
744 and 50 percent of the net revenues generated from the online arm
745 of the university is used to enhance and enrich the university
746 campus’s state-of-the-art research programs and facilities.
747 (5) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT
748 INITIATIVE.—The state research university that has attained the
749 second highest level on the academic and research excellence
750 standards identified in subsection (2), as verified by the Board
751 of Governors, shall recruit National Academy members, expedite
752 provision of a masters degree in cloud virtualization, and
753 institute an entrepreneurs-in-residence program throughout its
754 campus, subject to funds appropriated by the Legislature.
755 (6) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY SPECIAL COURSE
756 REQUIREMENTS AUTHORITY.—In order to provide a jointly shared
757 educational experience, a state university that is designated a
758 preeminent state research university may require its incoming
759 first-time-in-college students to take a 9-credit to 12-credit
760 set of courses specifically determined by the university. The
761 state university may stipulate that credit for such courses may
762 not be earned through any acceleration mechanism pursuant to s.
763 1007.27 or s. 1007.271 or other transfer credit. All accelerated
764 credits earned up to the limits specified in ss. 1007.27 and
765 1007.271 shall be applied toward graduation at the student’s
766 request.
767 (7) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITY FLEXIBILITY
768 AUTHORITY.—The Board of Governors shall identify and grant all
769 reasonable, feasible authority and flexibility to keep a
770 designated preeminent state research university free from
771 unnecessary restrictions.
772 (8) PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE THROUGHOUT THE STATE UNIVERSITY
773 SYSTEM.—The Board of Governors is encouraged to establish
774 standards and measures whereby individual programs in other
775 state universities that objectively reflect national excellence
776 can be identified and make recommendations to the Legislature as
777 to how any such programs could be enhanced and promoted.
778 Section 6. Section 1002.312, Florida Statutes, is created
779 to read:
780 1002.312 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and
781 Mathematics (STEAM) schools.—
782 (1) A district school board may establish a Science,
783 Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) school by
784 contracting with a nonprofit organization or a state or local
785 governmental unit to provide a full educational STEAM program
786 that integrates science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
787 with the visual or performing arts, creative writing, or design.
788 An organization that contracts with a district school board to
789 establish a STEAM school may include, but is not limited to, an
790 art museum, a performing arts organization, a state university,
791 a Florida College System institution, a charter school, a civic
792 organization, or a state or local governmental unit.
793 (2) The contract between the district school board and the
794 organization that provides the STEAM school must specify:
795 (a) That the STEAM school will be located at the site of
796 the nonprofit organization.
797 (b) That the STEAM educational program will be supervised
798 by the district school board’s curriculum office.
799 (c) The percentage of FTE funding that the district school
800 board will pay to the STEAM school.
801 (d) Sources of funding in addition to FEFP funding, such as
802 state or local funds, if the district school board contracts
803 with a state or local governmental unit to establish the STEAM
804 school.
805 (e) A description of the STEAM school’s property insurance
806 and liability insurance.
807 (f) That each employee, contract worker, or volunteer that
808 has direct student contact will undergo a state and national
809 background screening pursuant to s. 943.0542, and that the STEAM
810 school will deny employment to, or terminate, an employee or
811 volunteer if he or she fails to meet the screening standards
812 under s. 435.04.
813 (3) Performance outcomes must demonstrate an integration of
814 technology and the arts.
815 Section 7. Subsection (11) of section 1004.02, Florida
816 Statutes, is amended to read:
817 1004.02 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:
818 (11) “Developmental education” “College-preparatory
819 instruction” means instruction courses through which a high
820 school graduate who applies for and enrolls in any college
821 credit program may attain the communication and computation
822 skills necessary to perform college-level work while also
823 enrolled enroll in college credit instruction.
824 Section 8. Section 1004.58, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
825 Section 9. Subsection (4) of section 1004.93, Florida
826 Statutes, is amended to read:
827 1004.93 Adult general education.—
828 (4)(a) Adult general education shall be evaluated and
829 funded as provided in s. 1011.80.
830 (b) Fees for adult basic instruction are to be charged in
831 accordance with chapter 1009.
832 (c) The State Board of Education shall define, by rule, the
833 levels and courses of instruction to be funded through the
834 college-preparatory program. The state board shall coordinate
835 the establishment of costs for college-preparatory courses, the
836 establishment of statewide standards that define required levels
837 of competence, acceptable rates of student progress, and the
838 maximum amount of time to be allowed for completion of college
839 preparatory instruction. College-preparatory instruction is part
840 of an associate in arts degree program and may not be funded as
841 an adult career education program.
842 (d) Expenditures for college-preparatory and lifelong
843 learning students shall be reported separately. Allocations for
844 college-preparatory courses shall be based on proportional full
845 time equivalent enrollment. Program review results shall be
846 included in the determination of subsequent allocations. A
847 student shall be funded to enroll in the same college
848 preparatory class within a skill area only twice, after which
849 time the student shall pay 100 percent of the full cost of
850 instruction to support the continuous enrollment of that student
851 in the same class; however, students who withdraw or fail a
852 class due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an
853 exception only once for each class, provided approval is granted
854 according to policy established by the board of trustees. Each
855 Florida College System institution shall have the authority to
856 review and reduce payment for increased fees due to continued
857 enrollment in a college-preparatory class on an individual basis
858 contingent upon the student’s financial hardship, pursuant to
859 definitions and fee levels established by the State Board of
860 Education. College-preparatory and lifelong learning courses do
861 not generate credit toward an associate or baccalaureate degree.
862 (c)(e) A district school board or a Florida College System
863 institution board of trustees may negotiate a contract with the
864 regional workforce board for specialized services for
865 participants in the welfare transition program, beyond what is
866 routinely provided for the general public, to be funded by the
867 regional workforce board.
868 Section 10. Section 1006.735, Florida Statutes, is amended
869 to read:
870 1006.735 Complete Florida Degree Program Completion Pilot
871 Project.—
872 (1) The Complete Florida Degree Program Completion Pilot
873 Project is established for the purpose of recruiting,
874 recovering, and retaining the state’s adult learners and
875 assisting them in completing an associate degree or a
876 baccalaureate degree that is aligned to high-wage, high-skill
877 workforce needs. As used in this section, the term “adult
878 learner” means a student who has successfully completed college
879 level coursework in multiple semesters but has left an
880 institution in good standing before completing his or her
881 degree. The program pilot project shall give priority to adult
882 learners who are veterans or active duty members of the United
883 States Armed Forces.
884 (2) The Complete Florida Degree Program pilot project shall
885 be implemented by the University of West Florida, acting as the
886 lead institution, in coordination with; the University of South
887 Florida; Florida State College System institutions, state
888 universities, and private postsecondary institutions, as
889 appropriate. The program must at Jacksonville; and St.
890 Petersburg College and shall include the associate, applied
891 baccalaureate, and baccalaureate degree programs that these
892 institutions have selected. Other partnering public
893 postsecondary education institutions shall provide areas of
894 specialization or concentration.
895 (3) For purposes of selecting the degree programs that will
896 be given priority in the Complete Florida Degree Program pilot
897 project, the institutions identified in subsection (2) shall
898 partner with public and private job recruitment and placement
899 agencies and use labor market data and projections to identify
900 the specific workforce needs and targeted occupations of the
901 state.
902 (4) The Complete Florida Degree Program pilot project shall
903 provide adult learners with a single point of access to
904 information and links to innovative online and accelerated
905 distance learning courses, student and library support services,
906 and electronic resources that will guide the adult learner
907 toward the successful completion of a postsecondary degree.
908 (5) Beginning with the 2013-2014 2012-2013 academic year,
909 the Complete Florida Degree Program pilot project shall be
910 implemented and must:
911 (a) Use the distance learning course catalog established
912 pursuant to s. 1006.73 to communicate course availability to the
913 adult learner.
914 (b) Develop and implement an advising and student support
915 system that includes the use of degree completion specialists,
916 is based upon best practices and processes, and includes
917 academic and career support services designed specifically for
918 the adult learner. The program must identify proposed changes to
919 the statewide computer-assisted student advising system
920 established pursuant to s. 1006.73 to assist the adult learner
921 in using the system.
922 (c) Use the streamlined, automated, online admissions
923 application process for transient students established pursuant
924 to s. 1006.73. The Complete Florida Degree Program pilot project
925 shall identify any additional admissions and registration
926 policies and practices that could be further streamlined and
927 automated for purposes of assisting the adult learner.
928 (d) Use existing and, if necessary, develop new competency
929 based instructional and evaluation tools to assess prior
930 performance, experience, and education for the award of college
931 credit in order to reduce the time required for adult learners
932 to complete their degrees. The tools may include the use of the
933 American Council on Education’s collaborative link between the
934 United States Department of Defense and higher education through
935 the review of military training and experiences for the award of
936 equivalent college credit for members of the United States Armed
937 Forces.
938 (e) Develop and implement an evaluation process that
939 collects, analyzes, and provides to the participating
940 postsecondary education institutions, the chairs of the
941 legislative appropriations committees, and the Executive Office
942 of the Governor information on the effectiveness of the program
943 pilot project and the attainment of its goals. Such a process
944 must shall include a management information system that collects
945 the appropriate student, programmatic, and fiscal data necessary
946 to complete the evaluation of the program pilot project.
947 Institutions involved in the program pilot project shall also
948 collect job placement and employment data on the adult learners
949 who have completed their degrees as a result of the program
950 pilot project.
951 (f) Develop and implement a statewide marketing campaign
952 targeted toward recruiting adult learners, particularly veterans
953 and active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, for
954 enrollment in the degree programs offered through the program
955 pilot project.
956 (6) For purposes of the Complete Florida Degree Program
957 pilot project, each institution’s current tuition and fee
958 structure shall be used. However, all participating institutions
959 shall collaboratively identify the applicable cost components
960 involved in the development and delivery of distance learning
961 courses, collect information on these cost components, and
962 submit the information to the Florida Virtual Campus. The
963 chancellors of the Florida College System. The chancellors and
964 the State University System shall submit a report to the chairs
965 of the legislative appropriations committees no later than
966 December 31, 2014 2013, on the need for a differentiated tuition
967 and fee structure for the development and delivery of distance
968 learning courses.
969 (7) The University of West Florida, in collaboration with
970 its partners the University of South Florida, Florida State
971 College at Jacksonville, and St. Petersburg College, shall
972 submit to the chairs of the legislative appropriations
973 committees no later than September 1, 2013 June 1, 2012, a
974 detailed project plan that defines the major work activities,
975 student eligibility criteria, timeline, and cost for
976 implementing the Complete Florida Degree Program pilot project.
977 (8) The University of West Florida, in collaboration with
978 the University of South Florida, Florida State College at
979 Jacksonville, and St. Petersburg College, shall develop and
980 implement a transition plan that transfers the administration of
981 the pilot project to the Florida Virtual Campus no later than
982 June 30, 2013.
983 Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 1007.23, Florida
984 Statutes, is amended to read:
985 1007.23 Statewide articulation agreement.—
986 (3) To improve articulation and reduce excess credit hours,
987 beginning with students initially entering a Florida College
988 System institution in 2013-2014 and thereafter, the articulation
989 agreement must require each student who is seeking an associate
990 in arts degree to indicate a baccalaureate degree program
991 offered by an institution of interest by the time the student
992 earns 36 30 semester hours. The institution in which the student
993 is enrolled shall inform the student of the prerequisites for
994 the baccalaureate degree program offered by an institution of
995 interest.
996 Section 12. Subsections (3), (6), (7), (8), and (10) of
997 section 1007.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
998 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
999 other degree requirements.—
1000 (3) The chair of the State Board of Education and the chair
1001 of the Board of Governors, or their designees, shall jointly
1002 appoint faculty committees to identify statewide general
1003 education core course options. General education core course
1004 options must shall consist of a maximum of five courses within
1005 each of the subject areas of communication, mathematics, social
1006 sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. Each general
1007 education core course option must contain high-level academic
1008 and critical thinking skills and common competencies that
1009 students must demonstrate to successfully complete the course.
1010 Beginning with students initially entering a Florida College
1011 System institution or state university in 2015-2016 2014-2015
1012 and thereafter, each student must complete at least one
1013 identified core course in each subject area as part of the
1014 general education course requirements. All public postsecondary
1015 educational institutions shall offer and accept these courses as
1016 meeting general education core course requirements. The
1017 remaining general education course requirements shall be
1018 identified by each institution and reported to the department by
1019 their statewide course number. The general education core course
1020 options shall be adopted in rule by the State Board of Education
1021 and in regulation by the Board of Governors. Additional core
1022 course options may be approved by the State Board of Education
1023 and the Board of Governors if recommended by the subject area
1024 faculty committee and approved by the Articulation Coordinating
1025 Committee, as necessary for a subject area.
1026 (6) The universities and Florida College System
1027 institutions shall work with their respective school districts
1028 to ensure that high school curricula coordinate with the general
1029 education curricula and to prepare students for college-level
1030 work. General education curricula for associate in arts programs
1031 shall be identified by each institution and, beginning with
1032 students initially entering a Florida College System institution
1033 or state university in 2014-2015 and thereafter, shall include
1034 36 30 semester hours in the subject areas of communication,
1035 mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.
1036 (7) An associate in arts degree may not shall require no
1037 more than 60 semester hours of college credit and must,
1038 beginning with students initially entering a Florida College
1039 System institution or state university in 2014-2015 and
1040 thereafter, include 36 30 semester hours of general education
1041 coursework. Beginning with students initially entering a Florida
1042 College System institution or state university in 2014-2015 and
1043 thereafter, coursework for an associate in arts degree must
1044 include and demonstration of competency in a foreign language
1045 pursuant to s. 1007.262. Except for developmental education
1046 provided college-preparatory coursework required pursuant to s.
1047 1008.30, all required coursework counts shall count toward the
1048 associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree.
1049 (8) A baccalaureate degree program shall require no more
1050 than 120 semester hours of college credit and, beginning with
1051 students initially entering a Florida College System institution
1052 or state university in 2014-2015 and thereafter, include 36 30
1053 semester hours of general education coursework, unless prior
1054 approval has been granted by the Board of Governors for
1055 baccalaureate degree programs offered by state universities and
1056 by the State Board of Education for baccalaureate degree
1057 programs offered by Florida College System institutions.
1058 (10) Students at state universities may request associate
1059 in arts certificates if they have successfully completed the
1060 minimum requirements for the degree of associate in arts (A.A.).
1061 The university must grant the student an associate in arts
1062 degree if the student has successfully completed minimum
1063 requirements for college-level communication and computation
1064 skills adopted by the State Board of Education and 60 academic
1065 semester hours or the equivalent within a degree program area
1066 and including 36, beginning with students initially entering a
1067 Florida College System institution or state university in 2014
1068 2015 and thereafter, include 30 semester hours in general
1069 education courses in the subject areas of communication,
1070 mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences,
1071 consistent with the general education requirements specified in
1072 the articulation agreement pursuant to s. 1007.23.
1073 Section 13. Section 1007.263, Florida Statutes, is amended
1074 to read:
1075 1007.263 Florida College System institutions; admissions of
1076 students.—Each Florida College System institution board of
1077 trustees may is authorized to adopt rules governing admissions
1078 of students subject to this section and rules of the State Board
1079 of Education. These rules must shall include the following:
1080 (1) Admissions counseling must shall be provided to all
1081 students entering college or career credit programs. Counseling
1082 must use shall utilize tests to measure achievement of college
1083 level communication and computation competencies by all students
1084 entering college credit programs or tests to measure achievement
1085 of basic skills for career education programs as prescribed in
1086 s. 1004.91. Counseling includes providing developmental
1087 education options for students whose assessment results,
1088 determined under s. 1008.30, indicate that they need to improve
1089 communication or computation skills that are essential to
1090 perform college-level work.
1091 (2) Admission to associate degree programs is subject to
1092 minimum standards adopted by the State Board of Education and
1093 requires shall require:
1094 (a) A standard high school diploma, a high school
1095 equivalency diploma as prescribed in s. 1003.435, previously
1096 demonstrated competency in college credit postsecondary
1097 coursework, or, in the case of a student who is home educated, a
1098 signed affidavit submitted by the student’s parent or legal
1099 guardian attesting that the student has completed a home
1100 education program pursuant to the requirements of s. 1002.41.
1101 Students who are enrolled in a dual enrollment or early
1102 admission program pursuant to s. 1007.271 are exempt from this
1103 requirement.
1104 (b) A demonstrated level of achievement of college-level
1105 communication and computation skills.
1106 (c) Any other requirements established by the board of
1107 trustees.
1108 (3) Admission to other programs within the Florida College
1109 System institution must shall include education requirements as
1110 established by the board of trustees.
1111 (4) A student who has been awarded a special diploma as
1112 defined in s. 1003.438 or a certificate of completion as defined
1113 in s. 1003.43(10) is eligible to enroll in certificate career
1114 education programs.
1115 (5) A student who has with a documented disability may be
1116 eligible for reasonable substitutions, as prescribed in ss.
1117 1007.264 and 1007.265.
1118
1119 Each board of trustees shall establish policies that notify
1120 students about developmental education options for improving
1121 their communication or computation skills that are essential to
1122 performing college-level work, including tutoring, extended time
1123 in gateway courses, free online courses and place students into,
1124 adult basic education, adult secondary education, or other
1125 instructional programs that provide students with alternatives
1126 to traditional college-preparatory instruction, including
1127 private provider instruction. A student is prohibited from
1128 enrolling in additional college-level courses until the student
1129 scores above the cut-score on all sections of the common
1130 placement test.
1131 Section 14. Subsections (2) and (14) of section 1007.271,
1132 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1133 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
1134 (2) For the purpose of this section, an eligible secondary
1135 student is a student who is enrolled in a Florida public
1136 secondary school or in a Florida private secondary school which
1137 is in compliance with s. 1002.42(2) and provides a secondary
1138 curriculum pursuant to s. 1003.428, s. 1003.429, or s. 1003.43.
1139 Students who are eligible for dual enrollment pursuant to this
1140 section may enroll in dual enrollment courses conducted during
1141 school hours, after school hours, and during the summer term.
1142 However, if the student is projected to graduate from high
1143 school before the scheduled completion date of a postsecondary
1144 course, the student may not register for that course through
1145 dual enrollment. The student may apply to the postsecondary
1146 institution and pay the required registration, tuition, and fees
1147 if the student meets the postsecondary institution’s admissions
1148 requirements under s. 1007.263. Instructional time for dual
1149 enrollment may vary from 900 hours; however, the school district
1150 may only report the student for a maximum of 1.0 FTE, as
1151 provided in s. 1011.61(4). Any student enrolled as a dual
1152 enrollment student is exempt from the payment of registration,
1153 tuition, and laboratory fees. Vocational-preparatory
1154 instruction, developmental education college-preparatory
1155 instruction, and other forms of precollegiate instruction, as
1156 well as physical education courses that focus on the physical
1157 execution of a skill rather than the intellectual attributes of
1158 the activity, are ineligible for inclusion in the dual
1159 enrollment program. Recreation and leisure studies courses shall
1160 be evaluated individually in the same manner as physical
1161 education courses for potential inclusion in the program.
1162 (14) The Department of Education shall approve any course
1163 for inclusion in the dual enrollment program that is contained
1164 within the statewide course numbering system. However,
1165 developmental education college-preparatory and other forms of
1166 precollegiate instruction, and physical education and other
1167 courses that focus on the physical execution of a skill rather
1168 than the intellectual attributes of the activity, may not be so
1169 approved but must be evaluated individually for potential
1170 inclusion in the dual enrollment program. This subsection may
1171 not be construed to mean that an independent postsecondary
1172 institution eligible for inclusion in a dual enrollment or early
1173 admission program pursuant to s. 1011.62 must participate in the
1174 statewide course numbering system developed pursuant to s.
1175 1007.24 to participate in a dual enrollment program.
1176 Section 15. Section 1008.02, Florida Statutes, is created
1177 to read:
1178 1008.02 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
1179 (1) “Accelerated course structure” means a course or strand
1180 of study that accelerates the progress of students in
1181 developmental education through self-paced attainment of
1182 specific skills.
1183 (2) “Corequisite education” means developmental education
1184 that is deployed through a variety of classroom, online, or
1185 blended instructional strategies and offered concurrently with
1186 college credit instruction. The term includes, but is not
1187 limited to:
1188 (a) Compressed or modularized instruction or coaching that
1189 supplements credit instruction.
1190 (b) Embedded content in a modified or extended credit
1191 bearing course intended to contextualize or accelerate credit
1192 attainment.
1193 (3) “Developmental education” means instruction through
1194 which a high school graduate who applies for any college credit
1195 program may attain the communication and computation skills
1196 necessary to successfully complete college credit instruction.
1197 Developmental education may not be offered as a noncredit course
1198 for which a student pays tuition but must be offered corequisite
1199 to a gateway course.
1200 (4) “Gateway course” means the first course that provides
1201 transferable, college-level credit allowing students to progress
1202 in their program of study.
1203 (5) “Mastery-based education” means customized, targeted
1204 instruction that addresses specific skills gaps.
1205 (6) “Meta-major” means a collection of programs of study or
1206 academic discipline groupings that share common foundational
1207 skills.
1208 Section 16. Section 1008.30, Florida Statutes, is amended
1209 to read:
1210 1008.30 Common placement testing for public postsecondary
1211 education.—
1212 (1) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the
1213 Board of Governors, shall develop and implement a common
1214 placement test for the purpose of assessing the basic
1215 computation and communication skills of students who intend to
1216 enter a degree program at any public postsecondary educational
1217 institution. Alternative assessments that may be accepted in
1218 lieu of the common placement test shall also be identified in
1219 rule. Public postsecondary educational institutions shall
1220 provide appropriate modifications of the test instruments or
1221 test procedures for students with disabilities.
1222 (2) By October 1, 2013, the State Board of Education in
1223 conjunction with the Board of Governors shall approve a series
1224 of meta-majors, academic pathways, and degree maps that identify
1225 the gateway courses required for success in each meta-major.
1226 Results from the common placement test, the alternative
1227 assessments that may be used in lieu of the common placement
1228 test, and achievements that may be considered by institutional
1229 boards of trustees, as adopted by state board rule, shall be
1230 used to diagnose a student’s readiness for his or her chosen
1231 meta-major and to provide academic counseling to the student
1232 concerning options for attaining the necessary skills through
1233 developmental education while enrolled in credit courses.
1234 (3)(2) The common placement testing program must shall
1235 include at a minimum the following: the capacity to diagnose
1236 basic competencies in the areas of English, reading, and
1237 mathematics which are essential for success in meta-majors and
1238 to provide to perform college-level work; prerequisite skills
1239 that relate to progressively advanced instruction in
1240 mathematics, such as algebra and geometry; prerequisite skills
1241 that relate to progressively advanced instruction in language
1242 arts, such as English composition and literature; and provision
1243 of test information to students on the specific skills the
1244 student needs to attain deficiencies.
1245 (4)(3) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that
1246 require high schools to evaluate before the beginning of grade
1247 12 the college readiness of each student who scores at Level 2
1248 or Level 3 on the reading portion of the grade 10 FCAT Reading
1249 or Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 on the Algebra I mathematics
1250 assessments under s. 1008.22 s. 1008.22(3)(c). High schools
1251 shall perform this evaluation using results from the
1252 corresponding component of the common placement test prescribed
1253 in this section, or an alternative equivalent test identified by
1254 the State Board of Education. The State Board of Education shall
1255 identify in rule the assessments necessary to perform the
1256 evaluations required by this subsection and shall work with the
1257 school districts to administer the assessments. The State Board
1258 of Education shall establish by rule the minimum test scores a
1259 student must achieve to demonstrate readiness. Students who
1260 demonstrate readiness by achieving the minimum test scores
1261 established by the state board and enroll in a Florida College
1262 System institution within 2 years of achieving such scores shall
1263 not be required to retest or enroll in remediation when admitted
1264 to any Florida College System institution. The high school shall
1265 use the results of the test to advise the students of any
1266 identified deficiencies and to provide 12th grade students, and
1267 require them to complete, appropriate postsecondary preparatory
1268 instruction prior to high school graduation. The curriculum
1269 provided under this subsection shall be identified in rule by
1270 the State Board of Education and encompass Florida’s
1271 Postsecondary Readiness Competencies. Other elective courses may
1272 not be substituted for the selected postsecondary reading,
1273 mathematics, or writing preparatory course unless the elective
1274 course covers the same competencies included in the
1275 postsecondary reading, mathematics, or writing, or English
1276 language arts preparatory course.
1277 (5)(4)(a) The State Board of Education shall establish by
1278 rule the test scores a student must achieve to demonstrate
1279 readiness to perform college-level work. Students who
1280 demonstrate readiness by achieving or exceeding the test scores
1281 established by the state board and enroll in a Florida College
1282 System institution within 2 years after achieving such scores
1283 may not be required to retest or complete developmental
1284 education when admitted to any Florida College System
1285 institution. Students who have been identified as requiring
1286 additional preparation pursuant to subsection (1) shall enroll
1287 in college-preparatory or other adult education pursuant to s.
1288 1004.93 in Florida College System institutions to develop needed
1289 college-entry skills. The State Board of Education shall specify
1290 by rule provisions for alternative remediation opportunities and
1291 retesting policies. These students shall be permitted to take
1292 courses within their degree program concurrently in other
1293 curriculum areas for which they are qualified while enrolled in
1294 college-preparatory instruction courses. A student enrolled in a
1295 college-preparatory course may concurrently enroll only in
1296 college credit courses that do not require the skills addressed
1297 in the college-preparatory course. A degree-seeking student who
1298 is required to complete a college-preparatory course must
1299 successfully complete the required college-preparatory studies
1300 by the time the student has accumulated 12 hours of lower
1301 division college credit degree coursework; however, a student
1302 may continue enrollment in degree-earning coursework provided
1303 the student maintains enrollment in college-preparatory
1304 coursework for each subsequent semester until college
1305 preparatory coursework requirements are completed, and provided
1306 the student demonstrates satisfactory performance in degree
1307 earning coursework. A student who has accumulated 12 college
1308 credit hours and has not yet demonstrated proficiency in the
1309 basic competency areas of reading, writing, and mathematics must
1310 be advised in writing of the requirements for associate degree
1311 completion and state university admission, including information
1312 about future financial aid eligibility and the potential costs
1313 of accumulating excessive college credit as described in s.
1314 1009.286. Before a student is considered to have met basic
1315 computation and communication skills requirements, the student
1316 must demonstrate successful mastery of the required
1317 developmental education competencies as defined in State Board
1318 of Education rule. Credit awarded for college-preparatory
1319 instruction may not be counted toward fulfilling the number of
1320 credits required for a degree.
1321 (6)(b) A university board of trustees may contract with a
1322 Florida College System institution board of trustees for the
1323 Florida College System institution to provide developmental
1324 education such instruction on the state university campus. Any
1325 state university in which the percentage of incoming students
1326 requiring developmental education college-preparatory
1327 instruction equals or exceeds the average percentage of such
1328 students for the Florida College System may offer such
1329 developmental education college-preparatory instruction without
1330 contracting with a Florida College System institution; however,
1331 any state university offering college-preparatory instruction as
1332 of January 1, 1996, may continue to provide such services.
1333 (7)(a)(5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules by
1334 January 1, 2014, to implement developmental education. The rules
1335 must include:
1336 1. Student achievements that may be considered by
1337 institutional boards, such as performance on college placement
1338 tests, grade point averages, work history, military experience,
1339 career interests, degree major declaration, or any combination
1340 thereof.
1341 2. Recommended options for students performing at levels
1342 indicating adult education as an appropriate place for students
1343 to develop needed college-entry academic skills.
1344 3. Sufficient flexibility for local professional judgment
1345 and determinations of appropriate student options for achieving
1346 necessary skills.
1347 4. Limits on credit course enrollment for students
1348 indicating the need for preparatory assistance in two or more
1349 content areas.
1350 (b) Local policies and practices set by each Florida
1351 College System institution board of trustees must outline the
1352 student achievements considered by the institution for placement
1353 determinations, identify instructional options available to
1354 students, and describe student costs and financial aid
1355 opportunities associated with each instructional option.
1356 Instructional options must, at a minimum, provide for enrollment
1357 of a student in a credit course either with or without
1358 institutionally required corequisite education, mastery-based
1359 instruction or accelerated pathways for developing skills, or
1360 enrolling in adult education to attain needed skills, as chosen
1361 by the student. Policies and practices must specify limits on
1362 credit course enrollment for students indicating the need for
1363 preparatory assistance, outline retesting requirements, and
1364 identify options for students who choose to attain skills in
1365 adult education when such instruction is not provided by the
1366 Florida College System institution A student may not be enrolled
1367 in a college credit mathematics or English course on a dual
1368 enrollment basis unless the student has demonstrated adequate
1369 precollegiate preparation on the section of the basic
1370 computation and communication skills assessment required
1371 pursuant to subsection (1) that is appropriate for successful
1372 student participation in the course.
1373 Section 17. Section 1008.322, Florida Statutes, is created
1374 to read:
1375 1008.322 Board of Governors oversight enforcement
1376 authority.—
1377 (1) The Board of Governors of the State University System
1378 shall oversee the performance of state university boards of
1379 trustees in the enforcement of laws, rules, and regulations.
1380 State university boards of trustees shall be primarily
1381 responsible for compliance with laws and Board of Governors’
1382 rules and regulations.
1383 (2) The Board of Governors’ constitutional authority to
1384 operate, regulate, control, and be fully responsible for the
1385 management of the State University System mandates that the
1386 state universities comply with all requests by the Board of
1387 Governors for information, data, and reports. State university
1388 presidents are responsible for the accuracy of the information
1389 and data reported to the Board of Governors.
1390 (3) The Chancellor of the State University System may
1391 investigate allegations of noncompliance with law or Board of
1392 Governors’ rule or regulation and determine probable cause. The
1393 chancellor shall report determinations of probable cause to the
1394 Board of Governors, which may require the university board of
1395 trustees to document compliance with law or Board of Governors’
1396 rule or regulation.
1397 (4) If the university board of trustees cannot
1398 satisfactorily document compliance, the Board of Governors may
1399 order compliance within a specified timeframe.
1400 (5) If the Board of Governors determines that a state
1401 university board of trustees is unwilling or unable to comply
1402 with law or Board of Governors’ rule or regulation or an audit
1403 recommendation within the specified time, the Board of
1404 Governors, in addition to actions constitutionally authorized,
1405 may initiate any of the following actions:
1406 (a) Withhold the transfer of state funds, discretionary
1407 grant funds, discretionary lottery funds, or any other funds
1408 appropriated to the Board of Governors by the Legislature for
1409 disbursement to the state university until the university
1410 complies with the law or Board of Governors’ rule or regulation.
1411 (b) Declare the state university ineligible for competitive
1412 grants disbursed by the Board of Governors.
1413 (c) Require monthly or periodic reporting on the situation
1414 related to noncompliance until it is remedied.
1415 (d) Report to the Legislature that the state university is
1416 unwilling or unable to comply with law or Board of Governors’
1417 rule or regulation and recommend action to be taken by the
1418 Legislature.
1419 (6) This section does not create a private cause of action
1420 or create any rights for individuals or entities in addition to
1421 those provided elsewhere in law, rule, or regulation.
1422 Section 18. Subsection (3) of section 1008.34, Florida
1423 Statutes, is amended to read:
1424 1008.34 School grading system; school report cards;
1425 district grade.—
1426 (3) DESIGNATION OF SCHOOL GRADES.—
1427 (a) Each school that has students who are tested and
1428 included in the school grading system shall receive a school
1429 grade, except as follows:
1430 1. A school shall not receive a school grade if the number
1431 of its students tested and included in the school grading system
1432 is less than the minimum sample size necessary, based on
1433 accepted professional practice, for statistical reliability and
1434 prevention of the unlawful release of personally identifiable
1435 student data under s. 1002.22 or 20 U.S.C. s. 1232g.
1436 2. An alternative school may choose to receive a school
1437 grade under this section or a school improvement rating under s.
1438 1008.341. For charter schools that meet the definition of an
1439 alternative school pursuant to State Board of Education rule,
1440 the decision to receive a school grade is the decision of the
1441 charter school governing board.
1442 3. A school that serves any combination of students in
1443 kindergarten through grade 3 which does not receive a school
1444 grade because its students are not tested and included in the
1445 school grading system shall receive the school grade designation
1446 of a K-3 feeder pattern school identified by the Department of
1447 Education and verified by the school district. A school feeder
1448 pattern exists if at least 60 percent of the students in the
1449 school serving a combination of students in kindergarten through
1450 grade 3 are scheduled to be assigned to the graded school.
1451 (b)1. A school’s grade shall be based on a combination of:
1452 a. Student achievement scores, including achievement as
1453 measured by FCAT assessments under s. 1008.22(3)(c)1.,
1454 statewide, standardized end-of-course assessments under s.
1455 1008.22(3)(c)2.a. and b., and achievement scores for students
1456 seeking a special diploma.
1457 b. Student learning gains in reading and mathematics as
1458 measured by FCAT and statewide, standardized end-of-course
1459 assessments, as described in s. 1008.22(3)(c)1. and 2.a.,
1460 including learning gains for students seeking a special diploma,
1461 as measured by an alternate assessment.
1462 c. Improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students in
1463 the school in reading and mathematics on the FCAT or end-of
1464 course assessments described in s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., unless
1465 these students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
1466 2. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, for schools
1467 comprised of middle school grades 6 through 8 or grades 7 and 8,
1468 the school’s grade shall include the performance and
1469 participation of its students enrolled in high school level
1470 courses with end-of-course assessments administered under s.
1471 1008.22(3)(c)2.a. Performance and participation must be weighted
1472 equally, except that added weight must be given to students who
1473 participate as a component of a certified schoolwide college
1474 readiness system that includes enrollment in an elective class
1475 recognized in the Course Code Directory and designed to provide
1476 students who are taking college preparatory or advanced courses
1477 with academic instruction and other support. As valid data
1478 becomes available, the school grades shall include the students’
1479 attainment of national industry certification identified in the
1480 Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to rules adopted by
1481 the state board.
1482 3. Beginning with the 2009-2010 school year for schools
1483 comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10,
1484 11, and 12, at least 50 percent of the school grade shall be
1485 based on a combination of the factors listed in sub
1486 subparagraphs 1.a.-c. and the remaining percentage on the
1487 following factors:
1488 a. The high school graduation rate of the school;
1489 b. As valid data becomes available, the performance and
1490 participation of the school’s students in College Board Advanced
1491 Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, dual
1492 enrollment courses, and Advanced International Certificate of
1493 Education courses; and the students’ achievement of national
1494 industry certification identified in the Industry Certification
1495 Funding List, pursuant to rules adopted by the state board;
1496 c. Postsecondary readiness of all of the school’s on-time
1497 graduates as measured by the SAT, the ACT, the Postsecondary
1498 Education Readiness Test, or the common placement test;
1499 d. The high school graduation rate of at-risk students, who
1500 are students scoring at Level 1 or Level 2 on grade 8 FCAT
1501 Reading and FCAT Mathematics;
1502 e. As valid data becomes available, the performance of the
1503 school’s students on statewide, standardized end-of-course
1504 assessments administered under s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.c. and d.; and
1505 f. The growth or decline in the components listed in sub
1506 subparagraphs a.-e. from year to year.
1507 (c) Student assessment data used in determining school
1508 grades shall include:
1509 1. The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1510 in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT and statewide,
1511 standardized end-of-course assessments in courses required for
1512 high school graduation, including, beginning with the 2011-2012
1513 school year, the end-of-course assessment in Algebra I; and
1514 beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, the end-of-course
1515 assessments in geometry and Biology I; and beginning with the
1516 2014-2015 school year, on the statewide, standardized end-of
1517 course assessment in civics education at the middle school
1518 level.
1519 2. The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1520 in the school who have been assessed on the FCAT and statewide,
1521 standardized end-of-course assessments as described in s.
1522 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., and who have scored at or in the lowest 25th
1523 percentile of students in the school in reading and mathematics,
1524 unless these students are exhibiting satisfactory performance.
1525 3. The achievement scores and learning gains of eligible
1526 students attending alternative schools that provide dropout
1527 prevention and academic intervention services pursuant to s.
1528 1003.53. The term “eligible students” in this subparagraph does
1529 not include students attending an alternative school who are
1530 subject to district school board policies for expulsion for
1531 repeated or serious offenses, who are in dropout retrieval
1532 programs serving students who have officially been designated as
1533 dropouts, or who are in programs operated or contracted by the
1534 Department of Juvenile Justice. The student performance data for
1535 eligible students identified in this subparagraph shall be
1536 included in the calculation of the home school’s grade. As used
1537 in this subparagraph and s. 1008.341, the term “home school”
1538 means the school to which the student would be assigned if the
1539 student were not assigned to an alternative school. If an
1540 alternative school chooses to be graded under this section,
1541 student performance data for eligible students identified in
1542 this subparagraph shall not be included in the home school’s
1543 grade but shall be included only in the calculation of the
1544 alternative school’s grade. A school district that fails to
1545 assign the FCAT and statewide, standardized end-of-course
1546 assessment as described in s. 1008.22(3)(c)2.a. scores of each
1547 of its students to his or her home school or to the alternative
1548 school that receives a grade shall forfeit Florida School
1549 Recognition Program funds for 1 fiscal year. School districts
1550 must require collaboration between the home school and the
1551 alternative school in order to promote student success. This
1552 collaboration must include an annual discussion between the
1553 principal of the alternative school and the principal of each
1554 student’s home school concerning the most appropriate school
1555 assignment of the student.
1556 4. The achievement scores and learning gains of students
1557 designated as hospital- or homebound. Student assessment data
1558 for students designated as hospital- or homebound shall be
1559 assigned to their home school for the purposes of school grades.
1560 As used in this subparagraph, the term “home school” means the
1561 school to which a student would be assigned if the student were
1562 not assigned to a hospital- or homebound program.
1563 5. For schools comprised of high school grades 9, 10, 11,
1564 and 12, or grades 10, 11, and 12, the data listed in
1565 subparagraphs 1.-3. and the following data as the Department of
1566 Education determines such data are valid and available:
1567 a. The high school graduation rate of the school as
1568 calculated by the department;
1569 b. The participation rate of all eligible students enrolled
1570 in the school and enrolled in College Board Advanced Placement
1571 courses; International Baccalaureate courses; dual enrollment
1572 courses; Advanced International Certificate of Education
1573 courses; and courses or sequences of courses leading to national
1574 industry certification identified in the Industry Certification
1575 Funding List, pursuant to rules adopted by the State Board of
1576 Education;
1577 c. The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1578 in the school in College Board Advanced Placement courses,
1579 International Baccalaureate courses, and Advanced International
1580 Certificate of Education courses;
1581 d. Earning of college credit by all eligible students
1582 enrolled in the school in dual enrollment programs under s.
1583 1007.271;
1584 e. Earning of a national industry certification identified
1585 in the Industry Certification Funding List, pursuant to rules
1586 adopted by the State Board of Education;
1587 f. The aggregate scores of all eligible students enrolled
1588 in the school in reading, mathematics, and other subjects as
1589 measured by the SAT, the ACT, the Postsecondary Education
1590 Readiness Test, and the common placement test for postsecondary
1591 readiness;
1592 g. The high school graduation rate of all eligible at-risk
1593 students enrolled in the school who scored at Level 2 or lower
1594 on grade 8 FCAT Reading and FCAT Mathematics;
1595 h. The performance of the school’s students on statewide,
1596 standardized end-of-course assessments administered under s.
1597 1008.22(3)(c)2.c. and d.; and
1598 i. The growth or decline in the data components listed in
1599 sub-subparagraphs a.-h. from year to year.
1600
1601 The State Board of Education shall adopt appropriate criteria
1602 for each school grade. The criteria must also give added weight
1603 to student achievement in reading and for students who
1604 participate in rigorous courses as described in sub-subparagraph
1605 5.b. as a part of a schoolwide college readiness system that
1606 includes enrollment in an elective class recognized in the
1607 Course Code Directory and designed to provide students who are
1608 taking college preparatory or advanced courses with academic
1609 instruction and other support. Schools earning a grade of “C,”
1610 making satisfactory progress, shall be required to demonstrate
1611 that adequate progress has been made by students in the school
1612 who are in the lowest 25th percentile in reading and mathematics
1613 on the FCAT and end-of-course assessments as described in s.
1614 1008.22(3)(c)2.a., unless these students are exhibiting
1615 satisfactory performance. For schools comprised of high school
1616 grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, or grades 10, 11, and 12, the criteria
1617 for school grades must also give added weight to the graduation
1618 rate of all eligible at-risk students. In order for a high
1619 school to earn a grade of “A,” the school must demonstrate that
1620 its at-risk students, as defined in this paragraph, are making
1621 adequate progress.
1622 Section 19. Subsection (2) of section 1008.37, Florida
1623 Statutes, is amended to read:
1624 1008.37 Postsecondary feedback of information to high
1625 schools.—
1626 (2) No later than November 30 of each year, the
1627 Commissioner of Education shall report, by high school, to the
1628 State Board of Education, the Board of Governors, and the
1629 Legislature, no later than November 30 of each year, on the
1630 number of prior-year prior year Florida high school graduates
1631 who enrolled for the first time in public postsecondary
1632 education in this state during the previous summer, fall, or
1633 spring term. The report must include, indicating the number of
1634 students whose scores on the common placement test that is
1635 required under s. 1008.30, indicate indicated the need to attain
1636 communication and computation skills through developmental
1637 education options offered by a public postsecondary institution
1638 or through for remediation through college-preparatory or
1639 vocational-preparatory instruction pursuant to s. 1004.91 or s.
1640 1008.30.
1641 Section 20. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
1642 1009.22, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1643 1009.22 Workforce education postsecondary student fees.—
1644 (3)(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, fees for
1645 students who are nonresidents for tuition purposes must offset
1646 the full cost of instruction. Residency of students shall be
1647 determined as required in s. 1009.21. Fee-nonexempt students
1648 enrolled in vocational-preparatory instruction shall be charged
1649 fees equal to the fees charged for adult general education
1650 programs. Each Florida College System institution that conducts
1651 college-preparatory and vocational-preparatory instruction in
1652 the same class section may charge a single fee for both types of
1653 instruction.
1654 Section 21. Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection
1655 (3), and subsection (10) of section 1009.23, Florida Statutes,
1656 are amended to read:
1657 1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.—
1658 (1) Unless otherwise provided, this section applies only to
1659 fees charged for college credit instruction leading to an
1660 associate in arts degree, an associate in applied science
1661 degree, an associate in science degree, or a baccalaureate
1662 degree authorized pursuant to s. 1007.33, for developmental
1663 education noncollege credit college-preparatory courses defined
1664 in s. 1004.02, and for educator preparation institute programs
1665 defined in s. 1004.85.
1666 (3)(a) Effective July 1, 2011, for advanced and
1667 professional, postsecondary vocational, college preparatory, and
1668 educator preparation institute programs, the standard tuition is
1669 shall be $68.56 per credit hour for residents and nonresidents,
1670 and the out-of-state fee is shall be $205.82 per credit hour.
1671 (10) Each Florida College System institution board of
1672 trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for
1673 technology, which may not exceed 5 percent of tuition per credit
1674 hour or credit-hour equivalent for resident students and may not
1675 exceed 5 percent of tuition and the out-of-state fee per credit
1676 hour or credit-hour equivalent for nonresident students.
1677 Revenues generated from the technology fee shall be used to
1678 enhance instructional technology resources for students and
1679 faculty. The technology fee may apply to both college credit and
1680 college-preparatory instruction and shall not be included in any
1681 award under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
1682 Fifty percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a
1683 Florida College System institution board of trustees as a
1684 dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt, including
1685 lease-purchase agreements, not to exceed the useful life of the
1686 asset being financed. Revenues generated from the technology fee
1687 may not be bonded.
1688 Section 22. Subsection (11) is added to section 1009.26,
1689 Florida Statutes, to read:
1690 1009.26 Fee waivers.—
1691 (11) A Florida College System institution that offers a
1692 baccalaureate degree for state residents for which the cost of
1693 tuition and specified fees does not exceed $10,000 for the
1694 entire degree program may waive any portion or all of the
1695 following fees for that degree: tuition, the activity and
1696 service fee, the financial aid fee, the technology fee, the
1697 capital improvement fee, and the distance-learning fee. The
1698 Legislature encourages colleges to include at least one industry
1699 certification from the Postsecondary Industry Certification
1700 Funding List in a degree program for which such waivers are
1701 granted.
1702 Section 23. Section 1009.28, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
1703 Section 24. Section 1009.285, Florida Statutes, is amended
1704 to read:
1705 1009.285 Fees for repeated enrollment in college-credit
1706 courses.—A student enrolled in the same undergraduate college
1707 credit course more than once, except for students enrolled in a
1708 gateway course for an extended period of time under s. 1008.30,
1709 must twice shall pay tuition at 100 percent of the full cost of
1710 instruction, and may not be and shall not be included in
1711 calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state
1712 funding purposes. However, students who withdraw or fail a class
1713 due to extenuating circumstances may be granted an exception
1714 only once for each class if, provided that approval is granted
1715 according to policy established by the Florida College System
1716 institution board of trustees or the university board of
1717 trustees. Each Florida College System institution and state
1718 university may review and reduce fees paid by students due to
1719 continued enrollment in a college-credit class on an individual
1720 basis contingent upon the student’s financial hardship. For
1721 purposes of this section, first-time enrollment in a class means
1722 shall mean enrollment in a class beginning fall semester 1997,
1723 and calculations of the full cost of instruction is shall be
1724 based on the systemwide average of the prior year’s cost of
1725 undergraduate programs for the Florida College System
1726 institutions and the state universities. Boards of trustees may
1727 make exceptions to this section for individualized study,
1728 elective coursework, courses that are repeated as a requirement
1729 of a major, and courses that are intended as continuing over
1730 multiple semesters, excluding the repeat of coursework more than
1731 once two times to increase grade point average or meet minimum
1732 course grade requirements.
1733 Section 25. Paragraph (g) of subsection (4) of section
1734 1009.286, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1735 1009.286 Additional student payment for hours exceeding
1736 baccalaureate degree program completion requirements at state
1737 universities.—
1738 (4) For purposes of this section, credit hours earned under
1739 the following circumstances are not calculated as hours required
1740 to earn a baccalaureate degree:
1741 (g) Remedial and English as a Second Language credit hours.
1742 Section 26. Subsection (3) of section 1009.40, Florida
1743 Statutes, is amended to read:
1744 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for
1745 state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.—
1746 (3) Undergraduate students are eligible to receive
1747 financial aid for a maximum of 8 semesters or 12 quarters.
1748 However, undergraduate students participating in developmental
1749 education and college-preparatory instruction, students
1750 requiring additional time to complete the college-level
1751 communication and computation skills testing programs, or
1752 students enrolled in a 5-year undergraduate degree program are
1753 eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 10 semesters
1754 or 15 quarters.
1755 Section 27. Subsection (10) of section 1009.53, Florida
1756 Statutes, is amended to read:
1757 1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.—
1758 (10) Funds from any scholarship within the Florida Bright
1759 Futures Scholarship Program may not be used to pay for
1760 developmental education remedial or college-preparatory
1761 coursework.
1762 Section 28. Subsection (7) of section 1009.531, Florida
1763 Statutes, is repealed.
1764 Section 29. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and subsection
1765 (5) of section 1011.84, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1766 1011.84 Procedure for determining state financial support
1767 and annual apportionment of state funds to each Florida College
1768 System institution district.—The procedure for determining state
1769 financial support and the annual apportionment to each Florida
1770 College System institution district authorized to operate a
1771 Florida College System institution under the provisions of s.
1772 1001.61 shall be as follows:
1773 (1) DETERMINING THE AMOUNT TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FLORIDA
1774 COLLEGE SYSTEM PROGRAM FUND FOR THE CURRENT OPERATING PROGRAM.—
1775 (b) The allocation of funds for Florida College System
1776 institutions is shall be based on advanced and professional
1777 disciplines, developmental education college-preparatory
1778 programs, and other programs for adults funded pursuant to s.
1779 1011.80.
1780 (5) REPORT OF DEVELOPMENTAL REMEDIAL EDUCATION.—Each
1781 Florida College System institution board of trustees shall
1782 report, as a separate item in its annual cost accounting system,
1783 the volume and cost of developmental education options provided
1784 to help students attain the communication and computation skills
1785 that are essential for college-level work pursuant to s. 1008.30
1786 remedial education activities as a separate item in its annual
1787 cost accounting system.
1788 Section 30. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.