PCS for HB 1279 (2026): An act relating to education
Summary
PCS for HB 1279 (2026), a bill to be entitled “An act relating to education.” The title lists requiring certain persons and entities to complete a written consumer disclosure for blind-related services, requiring certain service providers to apply to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and revising certain academic and research excellence standards for preeminent state research universities. It also lists revising state university performance-based metrics for the award of a State University System Performance-Based Incentive. Section 21 states that the act takes effect July 1, 2026.
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“PCS for HB 1279 (2026): An act relating to education.”
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
PCS for HB 1279 2026
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to education; creating s. 413.0114,
3 F.S.; requiring certain persons and entities to
4 complete a written consumer disclosure for blind-
5 related services; authorizing the State Board of
6 Education to adopt rules; amending s. 413.208, F.S.;
7 requiring certain service providers to apply to the
8 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; requiring the
9 division to establish qualifications for certain
10 service providers and an application process and
11 period for such service providers; providing division
12 and service provider requirements relating to such
13 process; providing reporting and evaluation system
14 requirements for the division relating to service
15 provider effectiveness; providing requirements for
16 rates for vocational rehabilitation services; amending
17 s. 1001.7065, F.S.; revising certain academic and
18 research excellence standards for preeminent state
19 research universities; providing that such
20 universities are ineligible for specified funding
21 under certain circumstances; amending s. 1001.92,
22 F.S.; revising state university performance-based
23 metrics for the award of a State University System
24 Performance-Based Incentive; amending s. 1003.437,
25 F.S.; requiring the State Board of Education to
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26 establish a uniform weighted grading system for
27 specified courses and articulated acceleration
28 mechanisms; requiring district school boards to use
29 such system for specified purposes; amending s.
30 1004.06, F.S.; revising construction for the
31 prohibition of certain expenditures; creating s.
32 1004.072, F.S.; providing limitations for student
33 enrollment in a state university; amending s. 1004.39,
34 F.S.; revising provisions relating to the College of
35 Law at Florida International University; amending s.
36 1004.40, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the
37 College of Law at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
38 University; amending s. 1005.06, F.S.; prohibiting
39 certain postsecondary institutions from being exempt
40 from the purview of the Commission for Independent
41 Education; amending s. 1006.71, F.S.; deleting a
42 requirement that public postsecondary educational
43 institutions develop a gender equity plan; amending s.
44 1007.25, F.S.; revising the number of days public
45 postsecondary educational institutions have to submit
46 comments for certain proposed degrees; prohibiting
47 such institutions from imposing certain institution-
48 wide graduation requirements; amending s. 1007.271,
49 F.S.; revising postsecondary institution eligibility
50 for participation in dual enrollment programs;
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51 revising provisions relating to the calculation of
52 student grade point averages; amending s. 1008.47,
53 F.S.; revising the period of time in which a public
54 postsecondary institution must seek and obtain
55 specified accreditation; revising the accrediting
56 agencies such institutions may seek accreditation
57 from; providing that certain provisions apply to
58 programmatic accreditors for postsecondary education
59 institutions; amending s. 1009.25, F.S.; revising the
60 requirements for a student to meet the definition of
61 "homeless children and youths"; amending s. 1009.40,
62 F.S.; requiring a person to be a United States citizen
63 or lawfully present in the United States to receive
64 state financial aid awards and tuition assistance
65 grants; amending s. 1009.895, F.S.; conforming a
66 cross-reference to changes made by the act; amending
67 s. 1009.983, F.S.; revising provisions relating to the
68 board of directors of the Florida Prepaid College
69 Foundation, Inc.; amending s. 1009.986, F.S.; revising
70 provisions relating to the board of directors of the
71 Florida ABLE program; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.;
72 revising the procedure to determine Florida Education
73 Finance Program funds; providing a method for
74 calculating additional full-time equivalent membership
75 based on advanced courses and test scores; providing
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76 specified bonuses; providing an effective date.
77
78 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
79
80 Section 1. Section 413.0114, Florida Statutes, is created
81 to read:
82 413.0114 Consumer disclosure for blind-related services.—
83 (1) Any person, business, nonprofit, or other entity
84 offering fee-based services to persons who are blind or visually
85 impaired must, before entering into a contract or accepting
86 payment, disclose in writing if equivalent or substantially
87 similar services may be available at no cost through the
88 Division of Blind Services or another public agency.
89 (2) The written disclosure must:
90 (a) Be provided in plain language and an accessible
91 format, including, but not limited to, braille, large print, or
92 audio upon request.
93 (b) Include contact information for the Division of Blind
94 Services.
95 (c) Be signed or electronically acknowledged by the
96 consumer or his or her representative.
97 (3) A violation of this section constitutes an unfair or
98 deceptive trade practice under part II of chapter 501, and is
99 subject to penalties and enforcement as provided therein.
100 (4) The State Board of Education may adopt rules to
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101 implement this section.
102 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 413.208, Florida
103 Statutes, is amended to read:
104 413.208 Service providers; quality assurance; fitness for
105 responsibilities; background screening.—
106 (1) Service providers must apply to register with the
107 division. To qualify for approval, a registration, The division
108 must ensure that the service provider must maintain maintains an
109 internal system of quality assurance, have has proven functional
110 systems, meet the minimum qualifications, and be is subject to a
111 due-diligence inquiry as to its fitness to undertake service
112 responsibilities.
113 (a) The division shall establish minimum qualifications
114 for service providers. The division may approve or deny any
115 service provider application. The division shall establish an
116 annual application period for service providers to submit
117 applications. Beginning January 1, 2027, only service providers
118 that meet the minimum qualifications established by the
119 division, and that have been approved to provide employment-
120 related services to individuals with disabilities, may
121 participate in the vocational rehabilitation program.
122 (b) The division shall develop and make publicly available
123 an annual report of service provider effectiveness which
124 includes an evaluation system measuring the effectiveness of all
125 service providers that are approved by the division to provide
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126 employment-related services to individuals with disabilities.
127 (c) In order to maintain approved status with the
128 division, service providers must meet minimum standards of
129 effectiveness in the provision of vocational rehabilitation
130 services, including placement of individuals in competitive and
131 integrated employment.
132 (d) Rates for vocational rehabilitation services must be
133 allocable, reasonable, and necessary, as determined by the
134 division.
135 Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) and paragraph
136 (c) of subsection (5) of section 1001.7065, Florida Statutes,
137 are amended to read:
138 1001.7065 Preeminent state research universities program.—
139 (2) ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE STANDARDS.—The
140 following academic and research excellence standards are
141 established for the preeminent state research universities
142 program and shall be reported annually in the Board of Governors
143 Accountability Plan:
144 (d) A 4-year graduation rate of 60 percent or higher for
145 full-time, first-time-in-college students, excluding those
146 enrolled in baccalaureate degree programs in engineering that
147 require more than 120 semester hours.
148 (5) PREEMINENT STATE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM
149 SUPPORT.—
150 (c) The award of funds under this subsection is contingent
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151 upon funding provided by the Legislature to support the
152 preeminent state research universities program created under
153 this section. Funding increases appropriated beyond the amounts
154 funded in the previous fiscal year shall be distributed to each
155 designated preeminent state research university that meets the
156 criteria in paragraph (a). Each designated preeminent state
157 research university shall receive an equal amount of funding.
158 Each preeminent state research university must maintain a fall
159 full-time, first-time-in-college enrollment ratio comprised of
160 at least 95 percent Florida residents based on a three year
161 average. Beginning July 1, 2030, a preeminent state research
162 university that fails to meet this requirement is ineligible for
163 funding under this section.
164 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
165 1001.92, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
166 1001.92 State University System Performance-Based
167 Incentive.—
168 (1) A State University System Performance-Based Incentive
169 shall be awarded to state universities using performance-based
170 metrics adopted by the Board of Governors of the State
171 University System. Beginning with the Board of Governors'
172 determination of each university's performance improvement and
173 achievement ratings, and the related distribution of annual
174 fiscal year appropriation, the performance-based metrics must
175 include:
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176 (a) The 4-year graduation rate for first-time-in-college
177 students, excluding those enrolled in baccalaureate degree
178 programs in engineering that require more than 120 semester
179 hours;
180
181 The Board of Governors may approve other metrics in a publicly
182 noticed meeting. The board shall adopt benchmarks to evaluate
183 each state university's performance on the metrics to measure
184 the state university's achievement of institutional excellence
185 or need for improvement and minimum requirements for eligibility
186 to receive performance funding. Benchmarks and metrics may not
187 be adjusted after university performance data has been received
188 by the Board of Governors.
189 Section 5. Section 1003.437, Florida Statutes, is amended
190 to read:
191 1003.437 Middle and high school grading system.—The
192 grading system and interpretation of letter grades used to
193 measure student success in grade 6 through grade 12 courses for
194 students in public schools shall be as follows:
195 (1) Grade "A" equals 90 percent through 100 percent, has a
196 grade point average value of 4, and is defined as "outstanding
197 progress."
198 (2) Grade "B" equals 80 percent through 89 percent, has a
199 grade point average value of 3, and is defined as "above average
200 progress."
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201 (3) Grade "C" equals 70 percent through 79 percent, has a
202 grade point average value of 2, and is defined as "average
203 progress."
204 (4) Grade "D" equals 60 percent through 69 percent, has a
205 grade point average value of 1, and is defined as "lowest
206 acceptable progress."
207 (5) Grade "F" equals zero percent through 59 percent, has
208 a grade point average value of zero, and is defined as
209 "failure."
210 (6) Grade "I" equals zero percent, has a grade point
211 average value of zero, and is defined as "incomplete."
212
213 The State Board of Education must establish a statewide uniform
214 weighted grading system for honors courses and articulated
215 acceleration mechanisms identified in s. 1007.27. For the
216 purposes of class ranking, District school boards shall use the
217 may exercise a weighted grading system to calculate weighted
218 high school grade point averages pursuant to s. 1007.271.
219 Section 6. Subsection (3) of section 1004.06, Florida
220 Statutes, is amended to read:
221 1004.06 Prohibited expenditures.—
222 (3) Subsection (2) does not prohibit programs, campus
223 activities, or functions required for compliance with general or
224 federal laws or regulations; for obtaining or retaining
225 institutional or discipline-specific accreditation with the
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226 approval of either the State Board of Education or the Board of
227 Governors; or for access programs for military veterans, Pell
228 Grant recipients, first generation college students,
229 nontraditional students, "2+2" transfer students from the
230 Florida College System, students from low-income families, or
231 students with unique abilities.
232 Section 7. Section 1004.072, Florida Statutes, is created
233 to read:
234 1004.072 Enrollment of noncitizen and nonresident students
235 at state universities.—Based on the limitation on systemwide
236 enrollment of nonresident degree-seeking students established by
237 regulation of the Board of Governors, a state university must
238 limit, within its enrollment of nonresident students, the number
239 of enrolled nonresident degree-seeking students who are
240 noncitizens and who are not permanent residents of the United
241 States to no more than 5 percent from any specific country.
242 Section 8. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
243 1004.39, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
244 1004.39 College of law at Florida International
245 University.—
246 (3) The college of law at Florida International
247 University, to the extent consistent with the standards required
248 by the American Bar Association or any other a nationally
249 recognized association for the accreditation of colleges of law,
250 shall develop a law library collection utilizing electronic
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251 formats and mediums.
252 (4) The college of law at Florida International University
253 shall develop and institute a program that is consistent with
254 sound legal education principles as determined by the American
255 Bar Association or any other a nationally recognized association
256 for the accreditation of colleges of law and that, to the extent
257 consistent with such sound legal education principles, is
258 structured to serve the legal needs of traditionally underserved
259 portions of the population by providing an opportunity for
260 participation in a legal clinic program or pro bono legal
261 service.
262 (5) The Florida International University Board of Trustees
263 and the Board of Governors may accept grants, donations, gifts,
264 and moneys available for this purpose, including moneys for
265 planning and constructing the college. The Florida International
266 University Board of Trustees may procure and accept any federal
267 funds that are available for the planning, creation, and
268 establishment of the college of law. If the American Bar
269 Association or any other a nationally recognized association for
270 the accreditation of colleges of law issues a third disapproval
271 of an application for provisional approval or for full approval
272 or fails to grant, within 5 years following the graduation of
273 the first class, a provisional approval, to the college of law
274 at Florida International University, the Board of Governors
275 shall make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature
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276 as to whether the college of law will cease operations at the
277 end of the full academic year subsequent to the receipt by the
278 college of law of any such third disapproval, or whether the
279 college of law will continue operations and any conditions for
280 continued operations. If the college of law ceases operations
281 pursuant to this section, the following conditions apply:
282 (a) The authority for the college of law at Florida
283 International University and the authority of the Florida
284 International University Board of Trustees and the Board of
285 Governors provided in this section shall terminate upon the
286 cessation of operations of the college of law at Florida
287 International University. The college of law at Florida
288 International University shall receive no moneys allocated for
289 the planning, construction, or operation of the college of law
290 after its cessation of operations other than moneys to be
291 expended for the cessation of operations of the college of law.
292 Any moneys allocated to the college of law at Florida
293 International University not expended prior to or scheduled to
294 be expended after the date of the cessation of the college of
295 law shall be appropriated for other use by the Legislature of
296 the State of Florida.
297 (b) Any buildings of the college of law at Florida
298 International University constructed from the expenditure of
299 capital outlay funds appropriated by the Legislature shall be
300 owned by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust
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301 Fund and managed by the Florida International University Board
302 of Trustees upon the cessation of the college of law.
303 Section 9. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
304 1004.40, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
305 1004.40 College of law at Florida Agricultural and
306 Mechanical University.—
307 (3) The college of law at Florida Agricultural and
308 Mechanical University, to the extent consistent with the
309 standards required by the American Bar Association or any other
310 a nationally recognized association for the accreditation of
311 colleges of law, shall develop a law library collection
312 utilizing electronic formats and mediums.
313 (4) The college of law at Florida Agricultural and
314 Mechanical University shall develop and institute a program that
315 is consistent with sound legal education principles as
316 determined by the American Bar Association or any other a
317 nationally recognized association for the accreditation of
318 colleges of law and that, to the extent consistent with such
319 sound legal education principles, is structured to serve the
320 legal needs of traditionally underserved portions of the
321 population by providing an opportunity for participation in a
322 legal clinic program or pro bono legal service.
323 (5) The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
324 Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors may accept grants,
325 donations, gifts, and moneys available for this purpose,
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326 including moneys for planning and constructing the college. The
327 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Board of Trustees
328 may procure and accept any federal funds that are available for
329 the planning, creation, and establishment of the college of law.
330 If the American Bar Association or any other a nationally
331 recognized association for the accreditation of colleges of law
332 issues a third disapproval of an application for provisional
333 approval or for full approval or fails to grant, within 5 years
334 following the graduation of the first class, a provisional
335 approval, to the college of law at Florida Agricultural and
336 Mechanical University, the Board of Governors shall make
337 recommendations to the Governor and Legislature as to whether
338 the college of law will cease operations at the end of the full
339 academic year subsequent to the receipt by the college of law of
340 any such third disapproval, or whether the college of law will
341 continue operations and any conditions for continued operations.
342 If the college of law ceases operations of the college of law
343 pursuant to this section, the following conditions apply:
344 (a) The authority for the college of law at Florida
345 Agricultural and Mechanical University and the authority of the
346 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Board of Trustees
347 and the Board of Governors provided in this section shall
348 terminate upon the cessation of operations of the college of law
349 at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. The college
350 of law at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University shall
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351 receive no moneys allocated for the planning, construction, or
352 operation of the college of law after its cessation of
353 operations other than moneys to be expended for the cessation of
354 operations of the college of law. Any moneys allocated to the
355 college of law at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
356 not expended prior to or scheduled to be expended after the date
357 of the cessation of the college of law shall be appropriated for
358 other use by the Legislature of the State of Florida.
359 (b) Any buildings of the college of law at Florida
360 Agricultural and Mechanical University constructed from the
361 expenditure of capital outlay funds appropriated by the
362 Legislature shall be owned by the Board of Trustees of the
363 Internal Improvement Trust Fund and managed by the Florida
364 Agricultural and Mechanical University Board of Trustees upon
365 the cessation of the college of law.
366 Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
367 1005.06, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
368 1005.06 Institutions not under the jurisdiction or purview
369 of the commission.—
370 (1) Except as otherwise provided in law, the following
371 institutions are not under the jurisdiction or purview of the
372 commission and are not required to obtain licensure:
373 (b) Any college or, school, or course licensed or approved
374 for establishment and operation by another agency of the state.
375 Colleges or schools approved by another state agency to offer
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376 one or more courses or programs under part I of chapter 464,
377 chapter 466, or chapter 475, or any other chapter of the Florida
378 Statutes may not qualify for exemption from the commission's
379 jurisdiction under this subsection requiring licensing or
380 approval as defined in this chapter.
381 Section 11. Subsection (1) of section 1006.71, Florida
382 Statutes, is amended to read:
383 1006.71 Gender equity in intercollegiate athletics.—
384 (1) PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH TITLE IX AND THE
385 FLORIDA EDUCATIONAL EQUITY ACT GENDER EQUITY PLAN.—
386 (a) Each Florida College System institution and state
387 university shall develop a gender equity plan pursuant to s.
388 1000.05.
389 (b) The plan shall include consideration of equity in
390 sports offerings, participation, availability of facilities,
391 scholarship offerings, and funds allocated for administration,
392 recruitment, comparable coaching, publicity and promotion, and
393 other support costs.
394 (c) The Commissioner of Education shall annually assess
395 the progress of each Florida College System institution's plan
396 and advise the State Board of Education and the Legislature
397 regarding compliance.
398 (d) The Chancellor of the State University System shall
399 annually assess the progress of each state university's plan and
400 advise the Board of Governors and the Legislature regarding
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401 compliance.
402 (e) Each board of trustees of a Florida College System
403 institution or state university shall annually evaluate the
404 presidents on the extent to which the gender equity goals have
405 been achieved.
406 (f) To determine the proper level of support for women's
407 athletic scholarships, an equity plan may determine, where
408 appropriate, that support for women's scholarships may be
409 disproportionate to the support of scholarships for men.
410 (a)(g)1. If a Florida College System institution is not in
411 compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and
412 the Florida Educational Equity Act, the State Board of Education
413 shall:
414 1.a. Declare the Florida College System institution
415 ineligible for competitive state grants.
416 2.b. Withhold funds sufficient to obtain compliance.
417
418 The Florida College System institution shall remain ineligible
419 and the funds shall not be paid until the Florida College System
420 institution comes into compliance or the Commissioner of
421 Education approves a plan for compliance.
422 (b)2. If a state university is not in compliance with
423 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Florida
424 Educational Equity Act, the Board of Governors shall:
425 1.a. Declare the state university ineligible for
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426 competitive state grants.
427 2.b. Withhold funds sufficient to obtain compliance.
428
429 The state university shall remain ineligible and the funds shall
430 not be paid until the state university comes into compliance or
431 the Board of Governors approves a plan for compliance.
432 Section 12. Paragraph (b) of subsection (9) of section
433 1007.25, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (15) is
434 added to that section, to read:
435 1007.25 General education courses; common prerequisites;
436 other degree requirements.—
437 (9)
438 (b) An associate in arts specialized transfer degree must
439 include 36 semester hours of general education coursework and
440 require 60 semester hours or more of college credit. Specialized
441 transfer degrees are designed for Florida College System
442 institution students who need supplemental lower-level
443 coursework in preparation for transfer to another institution.
444 The State Board of Education shall establish criteria for the
445 review and approval of new specialized transfer degrees. The
446 approval process must require:
447 1. A Florida College System institution to submit a notice
448 of its intent to propose a new associate in arts specialized
449 degree program to the Division of Florida Colleges. The notice
450 must include the recommended credit hours, the rationale for the
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451 specialization, the demand for students entering the field, and
452 the coursework being proposed to be included beyond the 60
453 semester hours required for the general transfer degree, if
454 applicable. Notices of intent may be submitted by a Florida
455 College System institution at any time.
456 2. The Division of Florida Colleges to forward the notice
457 of intent within 10 business days after receipt to all Florida
458 College System institutions and to the Chancellor of the State
459 University System, who shall forward the notice to all state
460 universities. State universities and Florida College System
461 institutions shall have 30 60 days after receipt of the notice
462 to submit comments to the proposed associate in arts specialized
463 transfer degree.
464 3. After the submission of comments pursuant to
465 subparagraph 2., the requesting Florida College System
466 institution to submit a proposal that, at a minimum, includes:
467 a. Evidence that the coursework for the associate in arts
468 specialized transfer degree includes demonstration of competency
469 in a foreign language pursuant to s. 1007.262 and demonstration
470 of civic literacy competency as provided in subsection (5).
471 b. Demonstration that all required coursework will count
472 toward the associate in arts degree or the baccalaureate degree.
473 c. An analysis of demand and unmet need for students
474 entering the specialized field of study at the baccalaureate
475 level.
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476 d. Justification for the program length if it exceeds 60
477 credit hours, including references to the common prerequisite
478 manual or other requirements for the baccalaureate degree. This
479 includes documentation of alignment between the exit
480 requirements of a Florida College System institution and the
481 admissions requirements of a baccalaureate program at a state
482 university to which students would typically transfer.
483 e. Articulation agreements for graduates of the associate
484 in arts specialized transfer degree.
485 f. Responses to the comments received under subparagraph
486 2.
487 (15) A Florida College System institution or state
488 university may not impose an institution-wide graduation
489 requirement that includes a course that is in conflict with
490 paragraph (3)(c).
491 Section 13. Subsections (1), (16), and (18) of section
492 1007.271, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
493 1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.—
494 (1) The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an
495 eligible Florida secondary student or Florida home education
496 student in a postsecondary course creditable toward high school
497 completion and a career certificate or an associate or
498 baccalaureate degree. Postsecondary institutions eligible to
499 participate in the dual enrollment program are Florida College
500 System institutions, state universities, and eligible not-for-
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501 profit, independent colleges and universities pursuant to s.
502 1011.62(1)(i). A student who is enrolled in postsecondary
503 instruction that is not creditable toward a high school diploma
504 may not be classified as a dual enrollment student.
505 (16) Students who meet the eligibility requirements of
506 this section and who choose to participate in dual enrollment
507 programs are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition,
508 and laboratory fees.
509 (18) School districts and postsecondary Florida College
510 System institutions must weigh dual enrollment courses pursuant
511 to s. 1003.437 the same as advanced placement, International
512 Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of
513 Education courses when grade point averages are calculated. High
514 school grade point averages must be calculated based on the high
515 school credit earned by the student in each course. Alternative
516 grade calculation systems, alternative grade weighting systems,
517 and information regarding student education options that
518 discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited.
519 Section 14. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) and
520 subsection (3) of section 1008.47, Florida Statutes, are amended
521 to read:
522 1008.47 Postsecondary education institution
523 accreditation.—
524 (2) ACCREDITATION.—
525 (a) By September 1, 2022, The Board of Governors or the
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526 State Board of Education, as applicable, shall identify and
527 determine the accrediting agencies or associations best suited
528 to serve as an accreditor for public postsecondary institutions.
529 Such accrediting agencies or associations must be recognized by
530 the database created and maintained by the United States
531 Department of Education. Within 3 years In the year following
532 reaffirmation or fifth-year review by its accrediting agencies
533 or associations, each public postsecondary institution must seek
534 and obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency or
535 association identified by the Board of Governors or State Board
536 of Education, respectively, before its next reaffirmation or
537 fifth-year review date. The requirements in this section are
538 limited to a one-time change in accreditation. The requirements
539 of this subsection are not applicable to those professional,
540 graduate, departmental, or certificate programs at public
541 postsecondary institutions that have specific accreditation
542 requirements or best practices, including, but not limited to,
543 law, pharmacy, engineering, or other similarly situated
544 educational programs.
545 (b) Once a public postsecondary institution is required to
546 seek and obtain accreditation from an agency or association
547 identified pursuant to paragraph (a), the institution shall seek
548 accreditation from an a regional accrediting agency or
549 association and provide quarterly reports of its progress to the
550 Board of Governors or State Board of Education, as applicable.
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551 If each regional accreditation agency or association identified
552 pursuant to paragraph (a) has refused to grant candidacy status
553 to an institution, the institution must seek and obtain
554 accreditation from any accrediting agency or association that is
555 different from its current accrediting agency or association and
556 is recognized by the database created and maintained by the
557 United States Department of Education. If a public postsecondary
558 institution is not granted candidacy status before its next
559 reaffirmation or fifth-year review date, the institution may
560 remain with its current accrediting agency or association.
561 (3) PROHIBITION.—Notwithstanding any other provision of
562 law, an accrediting agency or association, including
563 programmatic accreditors, may not compel any public
564 postsecondary institution to violate state law, and any adverse
565 action upon the institution based upon the institution's
566 compliance with state law constitutes a violation of this
567 section that may be enforced through subsection (4), except to
568 the extent that state law is preempted by a federal law that
569 recognizes the necessity of the accreditation standard or
570 requirement.
571 Section 15. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
572 1009.25, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
573 1009.25 Fee exemptions.—
574 (1) The following students are exempt from the payment of
575 tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that
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576 provides workforce education programs, Florida College System
577 institution, or state university:
578 (e) A student who meets the definition of homeless
579 children and youths in s. 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
580 Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 11434a(2), as previously determined
581 by a public school in the state, and whose physical presence is
582 in the state for the duration of the tuition and fee exemption.
583 This includes a student who would otherwise meet the
584 requirements of this paragraph, as determined by a college or
585 university, but for his or her residence in college or
586 university dormitory housing. The State Board of Education may
587 adopt rules and the Board of Governors may adopt regulations
588 regarding documentation and procedures to implement this
589 paragraph. Such rules and regulations must consider
590 documentation of a student's circumstance to be adequate if such
591 documentation meets the standards under 20 U.S.C. s. 1087uu-
592 2(a). Any student who is determined to be a homeless child or
593 youth for a preceding award year is presumed to be a homeless
594 child or youth for each subsequent year unless the student
595 informs the institution that the student's circumstances have
596 changed or the institution has specific conflicting information
597 about the student's independence, and has informed the student
598 of this information.
599 Section 16. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
600 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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601 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for
602 state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.—
603 (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of
604 students for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance
605 grants consist of the following:
606 1. United States citizenship or lawful presence in the
607 United States.
608 2.1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and
609 acceptance at a state university or Florida College System
610 institution; a nursing diploma school approved by the Florida
611 Board of Nursing; a Florida college or university which is
612 accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State
613 Board of Education; a Florida institution the credits of which
614 are acceptable for transfer to state universities; a career
615 center; or a private career institution accredited by an
616 accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education.
617 3.2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year
618 preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a
619 program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s.
620 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.521, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.60, s.
621 1009.62, s. 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.75, s. 1009.77, s.
622 1009.89, or s. 1009.894. Residency in this state must be for
623 purposes other than to obtain an education. Resident status for
624 purposes of receiving state financial aid awards shall be
625 determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition
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626 purposes pursuant to s. 1009.21.
627 4.3. Submission of certification attesting to the
628 accuracy, completeness, and correctness of information provided
629 to demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive state
630 financial aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification
631 of such information shall result in the denial of a pending
632 application and revocation of an award or grant currently held
633 to the extent that no further payments shall be made.
634 Additionally, students who knowingly make false statements in
635 order to receive state financial aid awards or tuition
636 assistance grants commit a misdemeanor of the second degree
637 subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall be required to
638 return all state financial aid awards or tuition assistance
639 grants wrongfully obtained.
640 Section 17. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
641 1009.895, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
642 1009.895 Open Door Grant Program.—
643 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible for the program,
644 a student must:
645 (a) Meet the requirements under s. 1009.40(1)(a)3. and 4.
646 s. 1009.40(1)(a)2. and 3.;
647
648 An institution may not impose additional criteria to determine a
649 student's eligibility to receive a grant under this section.
650 Section 18. Subsection (5) of section 1009.983, Florida
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651 Statutes, is amended to read:
652 1009.983 Direct-support organization; authority.—
653 (5) The chair of the board or a designee who possesses
654 knowledge, skill, and experience in the areas of accounting,
655 risk management, or investment management, shall serve as a
656 director of the direct-support organization. The chair and the
657 executive director of the board shall jointly name, at a
658 minimum, four other individuals to serve as directors of the
659 organization.
660 Section 19. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
661 1009.986, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
662 1009.986 Florida ABLE program.—
663 (3) DIRECT-SUPPORT ORGANIZATION; FLORIDA ABLE, INC.—
664 (d)1. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., shall
665 consist of:
666 a. The chair of the Florida Prepaid College Board, or his
667 or her a designee who possesses knowledge, skill, and experience
668 in the areas of accounting, risk management, or investment
669 management.
670 b. Up to three individuals who possess knowledge, skill,
671 and experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or
672 investment management, one of whom may be a current member of
673 the Florida Prepaid College Board, who shall be appointed by the
674 Florida Prepaid College Board.
675 c. One individual who possesses knowledge, skill, and
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676 experience in the areas of accounting, risk management, or
677 investment management, who shall be appointed by the Governor.
678 d. Two individuals who are advocates of persons with
679 disabilities, one of whom shall be appointed by the President of
680 the Senate and one of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of
681 the House of Representatives. At least one of the individuals
682 appointed under this sub-subparagraph must be an advocate of
683 persons with developmental disabilities, as that term is defined
684 in s. 393.063.
685 2.a. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraph
686 1.b. shall be up to 3 years as determined by the Florida Prepaid
687 College Board. Such appointees may be reappointed.
688 b. The term of the appointees under sub-subparagraphs 1.c.
689 and d. shall be 3 years. Such appointees may be reappointed.
690 3. Unless authorized by the board of directors of Florida
691 ABLE, Inc., an individual director has no authority to control
692 or direct the operations of Florida ABLE, Inc., or the actions
693 of its officers and employees.
694 4. The board of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc.:
695 a. Shall meet at least quarterly and at other times upon
696 the call of the chair.
697 b. May use any method of telecommunications to conduct, or
698 establish a quorum at, its meetings or the meetings of a
699 subcommittee or other subdivision if the public is given proper
700 notice of the telecommunications meeting and provided reasonable
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701 access to observe and, if appropriate, to participate.
702 c. Shall annually elect a board member to serve as chair.
703 5. A majority of the total current membership of the board
704 of directors of Florida ABLE, Inc., constitutes a quorum of the
705 board.
706 6. Members of the board of directors of Florida ABLE,
707 Inc., and the board's subcommittees or other subdivisions shall
708 serve without compensation; however, the members may be
709 reimbursed for reasonable, necessary, and actual travel expenses
710 pursuant to s. 112.061.
711 Section 20. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (17) of
712 section 1011.62, Florida Statutes, and existing paragraphs (h)
713 and (i), are renumbered, to read:
714 1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
715 allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
716 district for operation of schools is not determined in the
717 annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
718 the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
719 follows:
720 (17) ACADEMIC ACCELERATION OPTIONS SUPPLEMENT.—The
721 academic acceleration options supplement is created to assist
722 school districts in providing academic acceleration options,
723 career-themed courses, and courses that lead to digital tool
724 certificates and industry certifications for prekindergarten
725 through grade 12 students and shall be allocated annually in the
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726 General Appropriations Act.
727 (h) Calculation of additional full-time equivalent
728 membership based on Florida advanced courses and tests scores of
729 students.—A value of 0.16 full-time equivalent student
730 membership shall be calculated for each student in a Florida
731 advanced course who achieves a minimum score on an assessment
732 identified by the Department of Education pursuant to s.
733 1007.27(2) and added to the total full-time equivalent student
734 membership in basic programs for grades 9 through 12 in the
735 subsequent fiscal year. Each district shall allocate at least 80
736 percent of the funds provided to the district for advanced
737 course instruction, in accordance with this paragraph, to the
738 high school that generates the funds. The school district shall
739 distribute to each classroom teacher who provided advanced
740 course instruction:
741 1. A bonus in the amount of $50 for each student taught by
742 the Florida advanced course teacher in each Florida advanced
743 course who achieves a minimum score on an assessment identified
744 by the Department of Education pursuant to s. 1007.27(2).
745 2. An additional bonus of $500 to each Florida advanced
746 course teacher in a school designated with a grade of "D" or "F"
747 who has at least one student who achieves a minimum score on an
748 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to
749 s. 1007.27(2), regardless of the number of classes taught or of
750 the number of students who achieve a minimum score on an
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751 assessment identified by the Department of Education pursuant to
752 s. 1007.27(2).
753 Section 21. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
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