The Florida Senate

1003.492  Industry-certified career education programs.--

(1)  Career and professional academies shall be coordinated with the appropriate industry indicating that all components of the program are relevant and appropriate to prepare the student for further education or for employment in that industry.

(2)  The State Board of Education shall use the expertise of Workforce Florida, Inc., and Enterprise Florida, Inc., to develop and adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 for implementing an industry certification process. Industry certification shall be defined by the Agency for Workforce Innovation, based upon the highest available national standards for specific industry certification, to ensure student skill proficiency and to address emerging labor market and industry trends. A regional workforce board or a career and professional academy may apply to Workforce Florida, Inc., to request additions to the approved list of industry certifications based on high-demand job requirements in the regional economy. The list of industry certifications approved by Workforce Florida, Inc., shall be published and updated annually by a date certain, to be included in the adopted rule.

(3)  The Department of Education shall collect student achievement and performance data in industry-certified career education programs and shall work with Workforce Florida, Inc., and Enterprise Florida, Inc., in the analysis of collected data. The data collection and analyses shall examine the performance of participating students over time. Performance factors shall include, but not be limited to, graduation rates, retention rates, Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards, additional educational attainment, employment records, earnings, industry certification, and employer satisfaction. The results of this study shall be submitted to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives annually by December 31.

History.--s. 4, ch. 2004-357; s. 2, ch. 2007-216.