This bill amends sections of Florida Statutes related to career-themed courses and the school grading system. It requires school districts to offer at least four career-themed courses, an increase from the previous requirement of two. Additionally, at least one of these courses must align with a regional demand occupation field as identified by CareerSource Florida, Inc., and must fall within specific areas such as agriculture, construction, early childhood education, health care, or hospitality. The bill also emphasizes the importance of providing opportunities for students to earn postsecondary credit for these courses.

Furthermore, the bill revises the components used to determine school grades, including changes to the calculation of clock hours for career dual enrollment courses, which now require a minimum of 150 clock hours instead of 300. It introduces a new grading component worth 200 points for students who earn a national industry certification identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List. The bill aims to enhance the alignment of educational offerings with workforce needs and improve the overall grading system for schools. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1204 Filed: 1003.493, 1008.34