Bill Text: FL S0052 | 2021 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Postsecondary Education
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-28 - Chapter No. 2021-160, companion bill(s) passed, see HB 5601 (Ch. 2021-46), CS/CS/SB 1028 (Ch. 2021-35) [S0052 Detail]
Download: Florida-2021-S0052-Enrolled.html
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 1009.30 Dual 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.
