ENROLLED
       2021 Legislature              CS for CS for SB 52, 1st Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                               202152er
    1  
    2         An act relating to postsecondary education; amending
    3         s. 1004.6495, F.S.; revising grant specifications;
    4         requiring funds appropriated for the Florida
    5         Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition Program to only
    6         be used for certain grants as specifically authorized
    7         in the General Appropriations Act; removing a cap on
    8         grant awards; amending s. 1007.273, F.S.; renaming
    9         collegiate high school programs as early college
   10         programs; defining the term “early college program”;
   11         requiring early college programs to prioritize certain
   12         courses; deleting obsolete language; conforming
   13         provisions to changes made by the act; authorizing
   14         charter schools to execute contracts with certain
   15         institutions to establish an early college program;
   16         amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; clarifying fee exemptions
   17         for the Department of Children and Families; creating
   18         s. 1009.30, F.S.; providing legislative findings;
   19         establishing the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program;
   20         providing for the administration of the program;
   21         providing for the reimbursement of tuition and costs
   22         to eligible postsecondary institutions; requiring
   23         students participating in dual enrollment programs to
   24         meet specified minimum eligibility requirements in
   25         order for institutions to receive reimbursements;
   26         requiring participating institutions to annually
   27         report specified information to the Department of
   28         Education by certain dates; providing a reimbursement
   29         schedule for tuition and instructional materials
   30         costs; requiring the Department of Education to
   31         reimburse institutions by specified dates; providing
   32         that reimbursement for dual enrollment courses is
   33         contingent upon appropriations; providing for the
   34         prorating of reimbursements under certain
   35         circumstances; requiring the State Board of Education
   36         to adopt rules; creating s. 1012.978, F.S.;
   37         authorizing state university boards of trustees to
   38         implement a bonus scheme for state university system
   39         employees based on awards for work performance or
   40         employee recruitment and retention; requiring a board
   41         of trustees to submit the bonus scheme to the Board of
   42         Governors; requiring the Board of Governors to approve
   43         such bonus scheme before its implementation; amending
   44         ss. 1002.20 and 1003.4282, F.S.; conforming provisions
   45         to changes made by the act; amending s. 1012.98, F.S.;
   46         authorizing certain colleges and universities to
   47         develop professional development systems; providing an
   48         effective date.
   49          
   50  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   51  
   52         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
   53  1004.6495, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   54         1004.6495 Florida Postsecondary Comprehensive Transition
   55  Program and Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities.—
   56         (5) CENTER RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Florida Center for
   57  Students with Unique Abilities is established within the
   58  University of Central Florida. At a minimum, the center shall:
   59         (b) Coordinate, facilitate, and oversee the statewide
   60  implementation of this section. At a minimum, the director
   61  shall:
   62         1. Consult and collaborate with the National Center and the
   63  Coordinating Center, as identified in 20 U.S.C. s. 1140q,
   64  regarding guidelines established by the center for the effective
   65  implementation of the programs for students with disabilities
   66  and for students with intellectual disabilities which align with
   67  the federal requirements and with standards, quality indicators,
   68  and benchmarks identified by the National Center and the
   69  Coordinating Center.
   70         2. Consult and collaborate with the Florida Talent
   71  Development Council to identify meaningful credentials for
   72  FPCTPs and to engage businesses and stakeholders to promote
   73  experiential training and employment opportunities for students
   74  with intellectual disabilities.
   75         3. Establish requirements and timelines for the:
   76         a. Submission and review of an application.
   77         b. Approval or disapproval of an initial or renewal
   78  application.
   79         c. Implementation of an FPCTP, which must begin no later
   80  than the academic year immediately following the academic year
   81  during which the approval is granted.
   82         4. Administer scholarship funds.
   83         5. Administer FPCTP start-up and enhancement grants. From
   84  funds appropriated in the 2016-2017 fiscal year for the FPCTP,
   85  $3 million shall be used for such grants. Thereafter, funds
   86  appropriated for the FPCTP may only be used for such grants as
   87  if specifically authorized in the General Appropriations Act.
   88  The maximum annual start-up and enhancement grant award shall be
   89  $300,000 per institution.
   90         6. Report on the implementation and administration of this
   91  section by planning, advising, and evaluating approved degree,
   92  certificate, and nondegree programs and the performance of
   93  students and programs pursuant to subsection (8).
   94         Section 2. Section 1007.273, Florida Statutes, is amended
   95  to read:
   96         1007.273 Early college Collegiate high school program.—
   97         (1) Each Florida College System institution shall work with
   98  each district school board in its designated service area to
   99  establish one or more early college collegiate high school
  100  programs. As used in this section, the term “early college
  101  program” means a structured high school acceleration program in
  102  which a cohort of students is enrolled full time in
  103  postsecondary courses toward an associate degree. The early
  104  college program must prioritize courses applicable as general
  105  education core courses under s. 1007.25 for an associate degree
  106  or a baccalaureate degree.
  107         (2) At a minimum, collegiate high school programs must
  108  include an option for public school students in grade 11 or
  109  grade 12 participating in the program, for at least 1 full
  110  school year, to earn CAPE industry certifications pursuant to s.
  111  1008.44 and to successfully complete 30 credit hours through the
  112  dual enrollment program under s. 1007.271 toward the first year
  113  of college for an associate degree or baccalaureate degree while
  114  enrolled in the program.
  115         (3) Each district school board and its local Florida
  116  College System institution shall execute a contract to establish
  117  one or more early college collegiate high school programs at a
  118  mutually agreed upon location or locations. Beginning with the
  119  2015-2016 school year, If the institution does not establish a
  120  program with a district school board in its designated service
  121  area, another Florida College System institution may execute a
  122  contract with that district school board to establish the
  123  program. The contract must be executed by January 1 of each
  124  school year for implementation of the program during the next
  125  school year. The contract must:
  126         (a) Identify the grade levels to be included in the early
  127  college collegiate high school program which must, at a minimum,
  128  include grade 12.
  129         (b) Describe the early college collegiate high school
  130  program, including the delineation of courses and industry
  131  certifications offered, including online course availability;
  132  the high school and college credits earned for each
  133  postsecondary course completed and industry certification
  134  earned; student eligibility criteria; and the enrollment process
  135  and relevant deadlines.
  136         (c) Describe the methods, medium, and process by which
  137  students and their parents are annually informed about the
  138  availability of the early college collegiate high school
  139  program, the return on investment associated with participation
  140  in the program, and the information described in paragraphs (a)
  141  and (b).
  142         (d) Identify the delivery methods for instruction and the
  143  instructors for all courses.
  144         (e) Identify student advising services and progress
  145  monitoring mechanisms.
  146         (f) Establish a program review and reporting mechanism
  147  regarding student performance outcomes.
  148         (g) Describe the terms of funding arrangements to implement
  149  the early college collegiate high school program.
  150         (3)(4) Each student participating in an early college a
  151  collegiate high school program must enter into a student
  152  performance contract which must be signed by the student, the
  153  parent, and a representative of the school district and the
  154  applicable Florida College System institution, state university,
  155  or other institution participating pursuant to subsection (4)
  156  (5). The performance contract must include the schedule of
  157  courses, by semester, and industry certifications to be taken by
  158  the student, student attendance requirements, and course grade
  159  requirements.
  160         (4)(5) In addition to executing a contract with the local
  161  Florida College System institution under this section, a
  162  district school board may execute a contract to establish an
  163  early college a collegiate high school program with a state
  164  university or an institution that is eligible to participate in
  165  the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education
  166  Grant Program, that is a nonprofit independent college or
  167  university located and chartered in this state, and that is
  168  accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
  169  Association of Colleges and Schools to grant baccalaureate
  170  degrees. Such university or institution must meet the
  171  requirements specified under subsections (2) and (3) (3) and
  172  (4).
  173         (5) A charter school may execute a contract directly with
  174  the local Florida College System institution or another
  175  institution as authorized under this section to establish an
  176  early college program at a mutually agreed upon location.
  177         (6) The early college collegiate high school program must
  178  shall be funded pursuant to ss. 1007.271 and 1011.62. The State
  179  Board of Education shall enforce compliance with this section by
  180  withholding the transfer of funds for the school districts and
  181  the Florida College System institutions in accordance with s.
  182  1008.32.
  183         Section 3. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of
  184  section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  185         1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
  186         (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
  187  tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
  188  provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
  189  institution, or state university:
  190         (c) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
  191  18 years of age, in the custody of the Department of Children
  192  and Families or who, after spending at least 6 months in the
  193  custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was
  194  placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes
  195  fees associated with enrollment in applied academics for adult
  196  education instruction. The exemption remains valid until the
  197  student reaches 28 years of age.
  198         (d) A student who is, or was at the time he or she reached
  199  18 years of age, in the custody of a relative or nonrelative
  200  under s. 39.5085 or s. 39.6225 or who was adopted from the
  201  Department of Children and Families after May 5, 1997. Such
  202  exemption includes fees associated with enrollment in applied
  203  academics for adult education instruction. The exemption remains
  204  valid until the student reaches 28 years of age.
  205         Section 4. Section 1009.30, Florida Statutes, is created to
  206  read:
  207         1009.30Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program.—
  208         (1) The Legislature finds and declares that dual enrollment
  209  is an integral part of the education system in this state and
  210  should be available for all eligible secondary students without
  211  cost to the student. There is established the Dual Enrollment
  212  Scholarship Program to support postsecondary institutions in
  213  providing dual enrollment.
  214         (2) The Department of Education shall administer the Dual
  215  Enrollment Scholarship Program in accordance with rules adopted
  216  by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (9).
  217         (3)(a) Beginning in the 2021 fall term, the program shall
  218  reimburse eligible postsecondary institutions for tuition and
  219  related instructional materials costs for dual enrollment
  220  courses taken by private school or home education program
  221  secondary students during the fall or spring terms.
  222         (b) Beginning in the 2022 summer term, the program shall
  223  reimburse institutions for tuition and related instructional
  224  materials costs for dual enrollment courses taken by public
  225  school, private school, or home education program secondary
  226  students during the summer term.
  227         (4) A student participating in a dual enrollment program
  228  must meet the minimum eligibility requirements specified in s.
  229  1007.271 in order for the institution to receive a
  230  reimbursement.
  231         (5) Annually, by March 15, each participating institution
  232  must report to the department any eligible secondary students
  233  from private schools or home education programs who were
  234  enrolled during the previous fall or spring terms. Annually, by
  235  July 15, each participating institution must report to the
  236  department any eligible public school, private school, or home
  237  education program students who were enrolled during the summer
  238  term. For each dual enrollment course in which the student is
  239  enrolled, the report must include a unique student identifier,
  240  the postsecondary institution name, the postsecondary course
  241  number, and the postsecondary course name.
  242         (6)(a) Florida College System institutions shall be
  243  reimbursed at the in-state resident tuition rate established in
  244  s. 1009.23(3)(a).
  245         (b) State University System institutions and independent
  246  postsecondary institutions shall be reimbursed at the standard
  247  tuition rate established in s. 1009.24(4)(a).
  248         (c) Institutions shall be reimbursed for instructional
  249  materials costs based on a rate specified in the General
  250  Appropriations Act.
  251         (7) For dual enrollment courses taken during the fall and
  252  spring terms, the department must reimburse institutions by
  253  April 15 of the same year. For dual enrollment courses taken
  254  during the summer term, the department must reimburse
  255  institutions by August 15 of the same year, before the beginning
  256  of the next academic year.
  257         (8) Reimbursement for dual enrollment courses is contingent
  258  upon an appropriation in the General Appropriations Act each
  259  year. If the statewide reimbursement amount is greater than the
  260  appropriation, the institutional reimbursement amounts specified
  261  in subsection (6) shall be prorated among the institutions that
  262  have reported eligible students to the department by the
  263  deadlines specified in subsection (5).
  264         (9) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to
  265  implement this section.
  266         Section 5. Section 1012.978, Florida Statutes, is created
  267  to read:
  268         1012.978 Bonuses for state university system employees.
  269  Notwithstanding s. 215.425(3), a university board of trustees
  270  may implement a bonus scheme based on awards for work
  271  performance or employee recruitment and retention. The board of
  272  trustees must submit to the Board of Governors the bonus scheme,
  273  including the evaluation criteria by which a bonus will be
  274  awarded. The Board of Governors must approve any bonus scheme
  275  created under this section before its implementation.
  276         Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
  277  1002.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  278         1002.20 K-12 student and parent rights.—Parents of public
  279  school students must receive accurate and timely information
  280  regarding their child’s academic progress and must be informed
  281  of ways they can help their child to succeed in school. K-12
  282  students and their parents are afforded numerous statutory
  283  rights including, but not limited to, the following:
  284         (6) EDUCATIONAL CHOICE.—
  285         (a) Public educational school choices.—Parents of public
  286  school students may seek any public educational school choice
  287  options that are applicable and available to students throughout
  288  the state. These options may include controlled open enrollment,
  289  single-gender programs, lab schools, virtual instruction
  290  programs, charter schools, charter technical career centers,
  291  magnet schools, alternative schools, special programs, auditory
  292  oral education programs, advanced placement, dual enrollment,
  293  International Baccalaureate, International General Certificate
  294  of Secondary Education (pre-AICE), CAPE digital tools, CAPE
  295  industry certifications, early college collegiate high school
  296  programs, Advanced International Certificate of Education, early
  297  admissions, credit by examination or demonstration of
  298  competency, the New World School of the Arts, the Florida School
  299  for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Florida Virtual School.
  300  These options may also include the public educational choice
  301  options of the Opportunity Scholarship Program and the McKay
  302  Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program.
  303         Section 7. Paragraph (c) of subsection (10) of section
  304  1003.4282, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  305         1003.4282 Requirements for a standard high school diploma.—
  306         (10) STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.—Beginning with students
  307  entering grade 9 in the 2014-2015 school year, this subsection
  308  applies to a student with a disability.
  309         (c) A student with a disability who meets the standard high
  310  school diploma requirements in this section may defer the
  311  receipt of a standard high school diploma if the student:
  312         1. Has an individual education plan that prescribes special
  313  education, transition planning, transition services, or related
  314  services through age 21; and
  315         2. Is enrolled in accelerated college credit instruction
  316  pursuant to s. 1007.27, industry certification courses that lead
  317  to college credit, an early college a collegiate high school
  318  program, courses necessary to satisfy the Scholar designation
  319  requirements, or a structured work-study, internship, or
  320  preapprenticeship program.
  321  
  322  The State Board of Education shall adopt rules under ss.
  323  120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this subsection, including
  324  rules that establish the minimum requirements for students
  325  described in this subsection to earn a standard high school
  326  diploma. The State Board of Education shall adopt emergency
  327  rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54.
  328  	Section 8. Subsection (6) of section 1012.98, Florida
  329  Statutes, is amended to read:
  330         1012.98 School Community Professional Development Act.—
  331         (6) An organization of private schools or consortium of
  332  charter schools which has no fewer than 10 member schools in
  333  this state, which publishes and files with the Department of
  334  Education copies of its standards, and the member schools of
  335  which comply with the provisions of part II of chapter 1003,
  336  relating to compulsory school attendance, or a public or private
  337  college or university with a teacher preparation program
  338  approved pursuant to s. 1004.04, may also develop a professional
  339  development system that includes a master plan for inservice
  340  activities. The system and inservice plan must be submitted to
  341  the commissioner for approval pursuant to state board rules.
  342         Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.