Andrew Powell
The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee has unanimously passed a measure that seeks to expand career and technical education programs.
Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon presented the bill (SB 742) and explained that charter schools would be able to access direct funding for programs that lead to industry certifications.
“This bill allows charter schools to directly access funding through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive (CAP) Grant Program,” Simon said. “This funding may be used to cover some or all of the costs associated with creating an expansion of career and technical education programs that lead to industry certifications, including in our CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.”
“Additionally, the bill increases from three to six, the number of programs for which each career center and Florida College System Institution may offer a money-back guarantee,” Simon added.
In October 2024, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. announced that Florida’s Department of Education had awarded $62 million in state funds to the CAP program, which aimed to expand workforce development programs across Florida.
In the bill’s analysis, it states that while the legislation does not directly appropriate state funds, it would require additional funds under the money-back guarantee program which may result in increased costs for both school districts and Florida College System (FCS) institutions.
This could happen if new programs are needed to be launched to meet the bill’s requirements of six programs, or if students are unable to secure employment within six months of completing the program.
It further states that currently, five school districts did not meet the three-program minimum because they only offered two programs under the money-back guarantee program, and at present, no students have requested a refund. It adds that there are a total of 3,872 students enrolled in eligible programs, including 790 at FCS institutions, and another 3,082 students at school districts.
The House has already passed a companion bill (HB 1145) by the House Higher Education Budget Subcommittee, which is being carried forward by Port St. Joe Republican Rep. Jason Shoaf.
