The Florida Senate

1003.494  Career High-Skill Occupational Initiative for Career Education (CHOICE) academies.--

(1)  The Department of Education shall establish a Career High-Skill Occupational Initiative for Career Education (CHOICE) project. The project shall consist of a competitive process for selecting and designating school districts as participants in the project and designating CHOICE academies within participating school districts.

(2)  A "CHOICE academy" is a career and professional academy that meets the goals and requirements specified in s. 1003.493 and offers a rigorous and relevant academic curriculum leading to industry-recognized certification, college credit, and credit toward a high school diploma. Existing career education courses may serve as a foundation for the creation of a CHOICE academy.

(3)  The purposes of a CHOICE academy are to:

(a)  Draw upon ongoing partnerships between education and workforce development or economic development organizations to enhance the quality and opportunities for career education for high school students by exposure to in-demand career education as identified by such organizations in the local community.

(b)  Build upon the state system of school improvement and education accountability by providing students with a solid academic foundation, opportunities to obtain industry-recognized certification or credentials, and preparation for postsecondary educational experiences in related fields.

(c)  Prepare graduating high school students to make appropriate choices relative to employment and future educational experiences.

(4)  The Department of Education may establish application guidelines for an annual competitive process and eligibility criteria for school district participation. A school district may apply to the department for designation as a CHOICE project participating district, and the department, in consultation with Workforce Florida, Inc., and Enterprise Florida, Inc., may designate as many school districts as it deems advisable each year. Eligibility criteria for designation of a school district as a CHOICE project participant shall include, but not be limited to:

(a)  The willingness and ability of associated businesses or industries to form partnerships with and support CHOICE academies.

(b)  The dedication of school district resources to CHOICE academies.

(5)  The Department of Education, in consultation with Workforce Florida, Inc., shall establish standards for designating specific CHOICE academies in each participating school district. A participating school district may apply to the department for designation of a CHOICE academy within the district. Eligibility criteria for such designation shall include, but not be limited to:

(a)  Partnerships with an associated business or industry and a regional workforce board or the primary local economic development organization in the county as recognized by Enterprise Florida, Inc. The partnership of the business or industry with the CHOICE academy must be based on the connection of the business or industry with the academy's career theme and must involve future plans for improving the local economy. The business or industry partner must be consulted during the planning stages of a CHOICE academy and provide business or industry support and resources devoted to the CHOICE academy. The Consortium of Florida Education Foundations or a designee must also be consulted during the planning stages of a CHOICE academy and may provide support and resources devoted to the CHOICE academy.

(b)  At least one established partnership and an articulation agreement for credit with a postsecondary institution.

(c)  A plan for sustaining the CHOICE academy.

The Okaloosa County School District and other school districts that have received funding from Workforce Florida, Inc., for the establishment of CHOICE academies prior to July 1, 2006, shall receive an expedited review for CHOICE academy designation by the department.

(6)  A participating school district shall:

(a)  Identify an appropriate location for classes.

(b)  Ensure that a CHOICE academy is flexible enough to respond both to the needs and abilities of students and to the needs of associated businesses or industries.

(c)  Redirect appropriated funding from ongoing activities to a CHOICE academy.

(d)  Plan for sustaining a CHOICE academy as an ongoing program without additional funding.

(7)  The Department of Education shall:

(a)  With assistance from Workforce Florida, Inc., provide technical assistance to participating school districts in submitting applications for designation of specific CHOICE academies located in specific schools in the school district, reorganizing career education opportunities, developing CHOICE academies with career themes in areas deemed appropriate by Workforce Florida, Inc., or local economic development organizations, and developing funding plans.

(b)  Jointly with Workforce Florida, Inc., and in consultation with school districts, develop evaluation criteria for CHOICE academies. Such criteria shall include increased academic performance of students and schools using school-level accountability data.

(c)  Report to the State Board of Education, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by July 1 of each year on school district participation in the CHOICE project, designated CHOICE academies with enrollment and completion data for such academies, and appropriate outcomes for students who have completed a CHOICE academy program. Such outcomes may include continuing educational experiences of CHOICE academy graduates, business or industry satisfaction with the CHOICE academies, placement of CHOICE academy graduates in employment, and earnings of such graduates.

(d)  Promote CHOICE academies and provide planning and startup resources as available.

(8)  As provided in the General Appropriations Act, the Department of Education shall award one-time startup funds to school districts designated as participants in the CHOICE project for the development of CHOICE academies. All school districts designated by the department are authorized to establish one or more CHOICE academies without incentive funds.

History.--s. 10, ch. 2006-301.