The Florida Senate

¹239.101  Legislative intent.--

(1)  The Legislature recognizes that education is a function of both knowledge and the application of knowledge. In this context, ²career education assumes a paramount role. The Legislature finds that ²career and academic education are complementary, rather than exclusive. Students are better served by a curriculum that incorporates both forms of education than one that is vested in either area exclusively.

(2)  The Legislature intends that public secondary schools should prepare students to enroll in postsecondary-level coursework, to attain employment, and to continue self-directed learning. In addition, the Legislature intends that student achievement measures should have a demonstrable real-world connection. Accordingly, the high school curriculum should incorporate vocational skills, and vocational programs should incorporate academic skills as they relate to an occupation. The curriculum should be competency-based and allow for students to demonstrate competence through a variety of means.

(3)  ³Certificate career education should provide job-preparatory instruction through which students attain the job-specific, academic, and employability competencies necessary to enter specific occupations. Institutions are encouraged to conduct ³certificate career education programs in a manner that enables students to enroll during the academic year and exit a program upon successful demonstration of the competencies required for the program. ³Certificate career education should also provide continuing education for adults who seek to update or upgrade skills related to their occupations. Unless specifically addressed, this chapter does not affect ⁴degree career education college credit instruction leading to an associate in science degree.

(4)  The Legislature recognizes that the purpose of ²career education is to enable students to attain those skills that enable them to become or to remain economically self-sufficient. Consequently, the Legislature finds that vocational programs which lead to minimum wage employment should be minimized and should be conducted only with specific justification.

(5)  The Legislature recognizes the importance of adequate, accurate counseling for student success in education. The Legislature further recognizes that student participation in ²career education should be based on the interests and aptitudes of the individual students. In order for students to make informed choices about the available educational options, students and counselors must have access to timely, comprehensive counseling and information.

(6)  The Legislature finds that colleges of education play an important role in the conduct of quality vocational programs. The colleges shall provide preservice and inservice education for teachers, counselors, and administrators which enables school personnel to implement educationally sound practices. The colleges may also conduct and assist in the dissemination of research that seeks to improve educational methods.

(7)  The Legislature finds that career education is a crucial component of the educational programs conducted within school districts and community colleges. Accordingly, career education must be represented in accountability processes undertaken for educational institutions. It is the intent of the Legislature that the vocational standards articulated in s. 239.229(2) be considered in the development of accountability measures for public schools pursuant to ss. 229.591, 229.592, and 230.23(16) and for community colleges pursuant to s. 240.324.

History.--s. 4, ch. 92-136; s. 63, ch. 97-190; s. 24, ch. 99-398; s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321.

¹Note.--Repealed January 7, 2003, by s. 3(7), ch. 2000-321, and shall be reviewed by the Legislature prior to that date.

²Note.--The term "career education" was substituted for the term "vocational education" by the editors pursuant to the directive of the Legislature in s. 16, ch. 94-232.

³Note.--The term "certificate career education" was substituted for the term "postsecondary adult vocational" by the editors pursuant to the directive of the Legislature in s. 16, ch. 94-232.

⁴Note.--The term "degree career education" was substituted for the term "postsecondary vocational" by the editors pursuant to the directive of the Legislature in s. 16, ch. 94-232.