The 2012 Florida Legislative Session begins on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Bills to watch: House Bill 331; House Bill 407; Higher Education Coordinating Counsel Workgroup Report Second Draft.
HB 331 Career and Adult Education
By Representative Jimmy Patronis, Panama City
No companion bill in the Senate yet
Requires Next Generation Sunshine State Standards to include financial literacy in core curricular content of economics; replaces the term “vocational-preparatory” instruction with term “applied academics for adult education” instruction with respect to adult general education; requires students entering adult general education programs to complete “Action Steps to Employment” activities. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0331__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0331&Session=2012
HB 407 Funds for Operation of Workforce Education Programs
By Representative Ana Rivas Logan, Miami-Dade
(Similar Bill in Senate – see below)
Funds for Operation of Workforce Education Programs: Deletes restriction on funding for student coenrolled in K-12 education program and adult education program: provides that student who is coenrolled may be reported for purposes of funding under certain circumstances. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0407__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0407&Session=2012
Similar bill filed in the Senate – SB 662 Funding for Workforce Education Programs:
By Senator Oscar Braynon, Miami-Dade
Providing that a student who is coenrolled in a K-12 education program and an adult education program may be reported for purposes of funding in an adult education program; providing that a student who is coenrolled in core program areas for credit recovery or dropout prevention purposes may be reported for funding for up to two courses per student, etc. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/0662/BillText/Filed/PDF
Higher Education Coordinating Council
The 2011 Legislature passed HB 7151 that directs the Higher Education Coordinating Council to make recommendations relating to the primary core missions of public and nonpublic postsecondary education institutions.
To view the 2nd draft report from the Higher Education Coordinating Council click the link: http://floridahighereducation.org/_doc/HECC-WorkgroupReport-Recommendations-2nd-draft.pdf
Members of the HECC:
Frank Brogan, Chancellor, State University System
Marshall Criser, III, Business representative, President AT&T
Samuel Ferguson, Executive Director, Commission for Independent Education
Dr. Will Holcombe, Chancellor, Florida Colleges System
Dr. Ed Moore, Independent Colleges and Universities
Jon Moyle, Business representative, Retired attorney
Gerard Robinson, Commissioner, Florida Department of Education