30652890 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services


Notice: 30652890
Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing

Department:	DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Overview



	The Department of Education announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME:	March 24, 2026 at 2:00 pm, EDT.

PLACE:	Webinar: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2107897284688613213

Subject:	The Florida Department of Education (Department) announces a public comment period and public hearing for proposed revisions to Florida’s Perkins State Plan related to the allocations for the Rural Innovation Grant. The public comment period runs from March 24, 2026, to April 24, 2026. An online public hearing will be held March 24, 2026. The Rural Innovation Grant is funded by the federal Perkins grant and provides funding for career and technical education programs in counties designated as rural or nonrural counties with rural municipalities. Rural areas are defined by the state and documented by the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), which recognizes those rural or economically distressed counties or communities designated pursuant to sections 288.0656 and 288.06561, Florida Statutes, as REDI qualified. The designation of the REDI counties is updated periodically. Only rural counties and nonrural counties with rural municipalities as identified by REDI shall be considered for participation in this funding. The Department proposes to make the following changes to the State Plan regarding this allocation beginning with the 2027-2028 program year. • The formula for calculating the allocations for rural counties will be changed from a base allocation of $50,000 plus a proportionate share of the remaining total state allocation to a base allocation of $50,000 plus an inverse proportionate share of the remaining total state allocation. The inverse proportionate share will give smaller counties a larger share of the allocation. • The allocation for nonrural counties with rural municipalities will be $25,000. The State Plan and proposed revised language can be found at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/perkins/. A public comment form is available at Florida Perkins State Plan Proposed Revisions - Rural Innovation Grant Allocation Formula – Fill out form until 5:00 PM April 24, 2026. In addition, the Division of Career and Adult Education will host a public hearing webinar on March 24, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT, for further review and comment. You may register for the online public hearing at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2107897284688613213. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least five days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: perkins@fldoe.org.


	A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Bruce Harrington, Director, Federal and State Initiatives Section, 850-245-0949 or perkins@fldoe.org.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:	3/17/2026 Vol. 52/52


REFERENCE MATERIALS:	No reference(s).

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Overview