HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/HB 7051 PCB PEW 24-01 Education
SPONSOR(S): Education & Employment Committee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee,
Postsecondary Education & Workforce Subcommittee, Melo
TIED BILLS: None. IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 7032
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
Orig. Comm.: Postsecondary Education & 16 Y, 0 N Kiner Kiner
Workforce Subcommittee
1) Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee 14 Y, 0 N, As CS Stenson Smith
2) Education & Employment Committee 17 Y, 0 N, As CS Kiner Hassell
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The bill creates the Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program, GATE Scholarship
Program, and GATE Startup Grant Program to provide individuals ages 16 to 21 who have discontinued school
enrollment in traditional high school programs the opportunity to earn, at no cost, a standard high school
diploma, or equivalent, and a workforce credential. The bill provides eligibility criteria and defines the programs
and certificates that may be offered.
The bill requires postsecondary career centers and Florida College System institutions to waive 100 percent of
tuition, certain fees, and instructional materials costs after all other federal and state aid is applied and
reimburses the institutions for such expenditures. Students participating in the program will also be eligible for
a stipend through another student financial aid program.
The bill tasks the Department of Education (DOE) with state-level administration of the new GATE programs,
including administering the GATE Startup Grant Program. School districts and institutions without programs
that meet GATE Program requirements, and that are within or serve a rural area of opportunity, may apply for
grant funds.
The bill provides several provisions to identify and enroll eligible students. First, when students choose to
disenroll from school, the bill requires they be made aware of the GATE program and its opportunities. The bill
also requires GED candidates be made aware of the program and eligibility requirements. For those who have
been separated for longer periods of time and may engage with a one-stop center, the bill requires they be
made aware of adult education generally, and the GATE program specifically.
Additionally, DOE will be required to develop and implement a statewide recruitment campaign in conjunction
with other entities that interact with the target population. To provide accountability and assess the overall
success of the program, the bill requires DOE to annually report certain information.
All funding for new GATE programs is subject to appropriation.
To the extent funds are specifically appropriated, the bill will have an indeterminate fiscal impact on school
districts and Florida College System institutions relating to the implementation of the GATE Program. See
fiscal comments.
The bill is effective July 1, 2024.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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DATE: 2/15/2024
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Current Situation
Compulsory Age of Attendance
When a student reaches 16 years of age, he or she is no longer required to attend school if he/she files
a formal declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment with the school district. 1 The declaration
must be signed by the student and the student's parent. 2
In signing the declaration, the student must acknowledge that leaving school is likely to reduce earning
potential.3
The student's school counselor is required to conduct an exit interview with the student to determine
reasons for the student's decision and actions that could be taken to keep the student in school. 4 The
school counselor is also required to inform the student of opportunities to continue his or her education
in a different environment, including, but not limited to, adult education and high school equivalency
examination preparation.5
High School Graduation in Florida
Florida’s High School Graduation Requirements
To earn a standard high school diploma a student must complete 24 credits, an International
Baccalaureate curriculum, or an Advanced International Certificate of Education curriculum. 6
The 24-credit option for a standard high school diploma includes:7
Four credits in English Language Arts (ELA) I, II, III, and IV.
Four credits in mathematics, including one in Algebra I and one in Geometry.
Three credits in science, two of which must have a laboratory component and one of which
must include Biology I.
Three credits in social studies including one credit in United States History, one credit in World
History, one-half credit in economics, and one-half credit in United States Government.
One credit in fine or performing arts, speech and debate, or career and technical education.
One credit in physical education which includes the integration of health.
Seven and one-half credits in electives.
One-half credit in personal financial literacy.
All students must pass the statewide, standardized grade 10 ELA assessment, or earn a concordant
score, and must pass the statewide, standardized Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) assessment, or earn
a comparative score, in order to earn a standard high school diploma. 8
1 s. 1003.21(1)(c), F.S.
2 Id.
3 Id.
4 Id.
5 Id.
6 s. 1003.4282(1)(a), F.S.
7 s. 1003.4282(3)(a)-(g), F.S.
8 s. 1003.4282(3), F.S. A student enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Advanced
International Certificate of Education (AICE) course who takes the respective AP, IB, or AICE assessment and earns a specifie d score
is not required to take the corresponding EOC assessment. See section 1008.22(3)(b)6., F.S.
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Students who earn the required credits to graduate, but fail to pass the required assessments or
achieve a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) are awarded a certificate of completion in a form prescribed
by the State Board of Education (SBE)9. In the 2022-2023 graduation cohort, 5,818 students earned a
certificate of completion.10
High School Equivalency Diploma Program
The high school equivalency diploma offers students who are no longer enrolled in high school an
opportunity to earn a high school diploma by successfully passing the standard GED tests. To be
eligible for the high school equivalency diploma program students must meet the following criteria: 11
At least 16 years old and currently enrolled in a prekindergarten-12 program.
Enrolled in and attending high school courses that meet high school graduation requirements.
In jeopardy of not graduating with their kindergarten cohort because they are overage for grade,
behind in credits, or have a low GPA.
Assessed at a seventh grade reading level or higher at the time of selection as documented by
the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) reading component or other assessment to determine
grade level proficiency.
Each school district is required to offer and administer the high school equivalency diploma
examinations and the subject area examination to candidates.12 A candidate for a high school
equivalency diploma must be at least 18 years of age on the date of the examination, except that in
extraordinary circumstances, as provided for in rules of the district school board of the district in which
the candidate resides or attends school, a candidate may take the examination after reaching the age
of 16.13 School districts may not require a student who has reached the age of 16 to take any course
before taking the examination unless the student fails to achieve a passing score on the GED practice
test.14
As seen in the tables below, the number of students enrolling in GED programs at both school districts
and colleges in the Florida College System (FCS) has increased since the 2020-21 school year.15
Students enrolled in a School District GED program
Number of Number Students enrolled in
School Year Students enrolled a GED program who are 21
in a GED program years of age or less
2020-2021 5,256 2,851
2021-2022 7,499 4,123
2022-2023 8,888 5,330
Students enrolled in an FCS GED program
9 s. 1003.4282(5)(c), F.S.
10 Florida Department of Education, Florida’s High School Cohort 2022-23 Graduation Rate,
https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7584/urlt/GradRates2223.pdf (last visited Feb. 12, 2024).
11 Rule 6A-6.0212, F.A.C
12 s. 1003.435(3), F.S.
13 s. 1003.435(4), F.S.
14 Id.
15 Data provided by Florida Department of Education.
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Number of Number Students enrolled in
School Year Students enrolled a GED program who are 21
in a GED program years of age or less
2020-2021 780 353
2021-2022 1,034 525
2022-2023 1,166 552
Existing Initiatives in Adult Secondary and Career Education
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014
In 2014, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which superseded
the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.16 WIOA requires each state to develop a single, unified plan for
aligning workforce services through the identification and evaluation of core workforce programs. 17
WIOA identifies four core programs that coordinate and complement each other to ensure job seekers
have access to needed resources.18 The core programs are:
Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth Programs;
Adult Education and Literacy Activities;
Employment Services under the Wagner-Peyser Act;19 and
Vocational Rehabilitation Services.20
In Fiscal Year 2022-2023, CareerSource Florida allocated $238 million in funding21 and assisted nearly
64,000 job seekers in obtaining employment.22
WIOA includes funding to provide adult education and literacy activities for individuals who are at least
16 years of age, not enrolled in secondary school, and do not have a secondary school diploma or its
recognized equivalent.23 Adult education and family literacy activities include programs, activities, and
services that include adult education, literacy, workplace adult education and literacy activities, family
literacy activities, English language acquisition activities, integrated English literacy and civics
education, workforce preparation activities, or integrated education and training. 24 The estimated award
for Fiscal Year 2023 for basic adult education and family literacy activities in Florida is $40,506,044.25
16 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. s. 3101 et seq. (2014).
17 See 29 U.S.C. s. 3112(a).
18 See 29 U.S.C. s. 3102(13).
19 See 29 U.S.C. s. 49 et seq. The Wagner-Peyser Act establishes a system of public employment offices to bring together individuals
seeking employment and employers seeking workers.
20 See 29 U.S.C. s. 720 et. seq.
21 CareerSource Florida, 2022-2023 CareerSource Florida Annual Report, https://careersourceflorida.com/wp-
content/uploads/2023/12/CAREERSOURCE-FLORIDA -FY-22-23-ANNUA L-REPORT_DIGITA L.pdf (last visited Feb. 12, 2024).
22 CareerSource Florida, CareerSource Florida Celebrates 2023 Workforce Development Accomplishments,
https://careersourceflorida.com/2023/12/28/2023-workfo rce-development-acco mplishments/ (last visited Feb. 12, 2024).
23 29 U.S.C. s. 3272(4).
24 29 U.S.C. s. 3272(2).
25 USDOE, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, FY_2023_State_Grant_Allocations_Memo, https://aefla.ed.gov/state-
grants at 2 (last visited Feb. 12, 2024).
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WIOA also provides funds to local workforce boards to provide youth workforce investment activities
that provide:26
Activities leading to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent,
or a recognized postsecondary credential;
Preparation for postsecondary educational and training opportunities;
Strong linkages between academic instruction and occupational education that lead to the
attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials;
Preparation for unsubsidized employment opportunities, in appropriate cases; and
Effective connections to employers, including small employers, in in-demand industry sectors
and occupations of the local and regional labor markets.
Florida’s allotment for youth workforce investment activities under WIOA is $39,224,930 for the 2023
Program Year.27
Perkins V
The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, as amended by the Strengthening
Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), assists states and outlying areas
in expanding and improving career and technical education (CTE) in secondary schools, technical
schools, and community colleges.28 The term “career and technical education” means organized
educational activities that:29
Offer a sequence of courses that provides individuals with rigorous academic content and
relevant technical knowledge and skills needed to prepare for further education and careers.
Include competency-based, work-based, or other applied learning that supports the
development of academic knowledge, higher-order reasoning and problem-solving skills, work
attitudes, employability skills, technical skills, and occupation-specific skills, and knowledge of
all aspects of an industry, including entrepreneurship, of an individual.
To the extent practicable, coordinate between secondary and postsecondary education
programs through programs of study that provide postsecondary credit or advanced standing.
May include career exploration at the high school level or as early as the middle grades.
Florida received $82,363,333 under Perkins V for Fiscal Year 2023. 30
Florida Workforce Education
“Workforce education” is adult general education or career education and may consist of a continuing
workforce education course or a program of study leading to an occupational completion point, a career
certificate, an applied technology diploma, a career degree, or a registered apprenticeship certificate of
completion.
At the postsecondary level, the terms “workforce education” and “workforce education program”
include:31
Adult general education programs designed to improve the employability skills of the state’s
workforce.32
Career certificate programs, which are defined as a course of study that leads to one completion
point.33
26 29 U.S.C. s. 3164(c)(1)(C).
27 USDOL, ETA, WIOA Youth Activities State Allotments (2023),
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/budget/pdfs/23you%24.pdf (last visited Feb. 12, 2024).
28 20 U.S.C. s. 2301 et seq.
29 20 U.S.C. s. 2302(5).
30 USDOE, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Final_Program_Memo-
Estimated_FY_2023_Perkins_State_Allocations, https://s3.amazonaws.com/PCRN/docs/Final_Program_Memo-
Estimated_FY_2023_ Perkins_State_Allocations.pdf (last visited Feb. 12, 2024).
31 s. 1011.80(1), F.S.
32 s. 1011.80(1)(a), F.S.
33 s. 1004.02(20), F.S.
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Applied technology diploma programs.
Continuing workforce education courses.
Degree career education programs.
Apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs.
Adult education programs in Florida were established to encourage the provision of educational
services that will enable adults to acquire:34
The basic skills necessary to attain basic and functional literacy.
A high school diploma or successfully complete the high school equivalency examination.
An educational foundation that will enable them to become more employable, productive, and
self-sufficient citizens.
The major program areas are Adult Basic Education Adult High School and GED® Preparation, and
English