6A-6.0573: Industry Certification Process.
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule amendment is to adopt the 2009-2010 “Comprehensive Industry Certification List” and the 2009-2010 “Industry Certification Funding List.”
SUMMARY: The rule is amended to adopt the “Comprehensive Industry Certification List,” as compiled by the Agency for Workforce Innovation, as approved and published March 2009 by Workforce Florida, Inc. In addition, the 2009-2010 “Industry Certification Funding List.” is presented for approval.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1003.492(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.491, 1003.492, 1003.493 FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: July 14, 2009, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: 325 West Gaines Street, Department of Education, Tallahassee, Florida. Conference call # 1(888)808-6959, Code 4617163
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Ms. Tara Goodman, Division of Workforce Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 744, Tallahassee, FL 32399
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
6A-6.0573 Industry Certification Process.
(1) Pursuant to Section 1003.492(2), Florida Statutes F.S., Workforce Florida, Inc.’s approved list of industry certifications, which has been named the “Comprehensive Industry Certification List, March 2009 April 2008” is adopted by the State Board of Education and incorporated by reference in this rule to become effective with the effective date of this rule. The “Comprehensive Industry Certification List” may be obtained from the Department of Education’s web site at http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/fcpea/default.asp.
(2) No change.
(3) “Industry Certification Funding List.” The Department of Education shall review the approved “Comprehensive Industry Certification List” to identify program-to-certification linkages and to identify certifications deemed sufficiently rigorous academically and, thus, eligible for additional full-time equivalent (FTE) membership bonus FTE funding, pursuant to Section 1011.62(1)(o), Florida Statutes F.S.
(a) This list will be known as the “Industry Certification Funding List,” to be published by the Department of Education and which is incorporated by reference in this rule to become effective with the effective date of this rule. The “Industry Certification Funding List” may be obtained from the Department of Education’s web site at http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/fcpea/default.asp.
(b) To be considered for additional full-time equivalent membership bonus funding and included on the “Industry Certification Funding List” in this paragraph, a certification shall meet the following criteria for academic rigor:
1. The certification shall be on the “Comprehensive Industry Certification List;.”
2. The certification shall be achievable by students in a secondary level program;.
3. The certification shall require a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) hours of instruction; and.
4. The certification shall have been offered for at least one year in a school district.
(c) The Commissioner of Education may waive the one-year requirement when failure to do so would inhibit preparation of students for emerging workforce opportunities.
(4) The Department of Education shall publish annually a final “Industry Certification Funding List,” to be incorporated by reference in this rule.
(4)(a) No later than March 15 each year, tThe Department of Education shall produce annually a preliminary “Industry Certification Funding List” no later than March 15 and shall show the industry certifications program-to-certification linkages for which registered career and professional academy students may be reported for additional full-time equivalent membership bonus funding by school districts under Section 1011.62(1)(o), Florida Statutes F.S.
(a)(b) Following the release of a preliminary list, Sschool districts shall be provided a period of time to request additions to the preliminary “Industry Certification Funding List” additional program-to-certification linkages prior to publication of the final “Industry Certification Funding List” for the following school year.
(b)(c) School districts offering career and professional academies under Section 1003.492, Florida Statutes, may submit requests to include an industry certification, not on the preliminary “Industry Certification Funding List,” To add a specific program-to-certification linkage to the final “Industry Certification Funding List” for the following school year, school districts offering career and professional academies under Section 1003.493, F.S., may submit requests, along with supporting documentation, to the Department of Education.
1. through 3. No change.
4. If the request is denied, for failure to meet the criteria in paragraph (3)(b) of this rule, the a specific reason for denial shall be included in the response to the school district.
(5) The final “Industry Certification Funding List” for the school year shall be published no later than the July 1, preceding the beginning of the school year. With the publication of this list, the Department will recommend linkages to secondary career and technical programs in the Course Code Directory.
(6) Conditions for the additional full-time equivalent membership bonus FTE funding pursuant to Section 1011.62(1)(o), Florida Statutes F.S.
(a) A school district shall be eligible for additional may report a student for bonus FTE membership under the following conditions, for a maximum of one 0.3 full-time equivalent membership funding bonus per student:
1. through 2. No change.
3. The course enrollment is reported in a secondary career and technical education program which has been linked to the final “Industry Certification Funding List.”
4. An industry certification may only be reported once for funding per student.
3.5. Student receives a high school diploma.
(b) through (c) No change.
(7) Registration of Career and Professional Academies. The Department of Education shall maintain a web site for school districts to register career and professional academies that meet the requirements of Section 1003.493, Florida Statutes F.S.
(a) No change.
(b) As part of the registration process, the superintendents shall certify that each academy meets all of the requirements of Section 1003.493, Florida Statutes F.S.
(c) No change.
(d) Academies shall be registered by September 15 of the reporting year for their students to be eligible to generate the additional full-time equivalent membership bonus funding based on the completion of industry certifications.
(8) Performance Criteria.
(a) through (b) No change.
(c) In the annual registration process for the academy, the school district can no longer report an industry certification that fails to meet the performance criteria in the academy and will not be eligible to receive the additional full-time equivalent membership funding bonus FTE for that industry certification under the requirements of Section 1011.62(1)(o), Florida Statutes F.S.
Rulemaking Specific Authority 1003.492(2) FS. Law Implemented 1003.491, 1003.492, 1003.493 FS. History–New 10-20-08, Amended________.