Digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, CAPE industry certifications, and technical assistance.

(1) DIGITAL MATERIALS.—Each district school board, in consultation with the district school superintendent, shall make available digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and CAPE industry certifications for students in prekindergarten through grade 12 in order to enable students to attain digital skills. The digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and CAPE industry certifications may be integrated into subject area curricula, offered as a separate course, made available through open-access options, or deployed through online or digital computer applications.

(2) CAPE DIGITAL TOOL CERTIFICATES.—The department shall identify, in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under ss. 1003.492 and 1008.44, CAPE Digital Tool certificates that indicate a student’s digital skills. The department shall notify each school district when the certificates are available. The certificates shall be made available to all public elementary and middle grades students. Targeted skills to be mastered for the certificate include digital skills that are necessary to the student’s academic work and skills the student may need in future employment. CAPE Digital Tool certificates earned by students are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s. 1011.62(17). Middle grade students may not earn more than two CAPE Digital Tools certificates per school year.

(3) BASIC CAPE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS.—

(a) CAPE industry certifications, issued to middle school and high school students, which do not articulate for college credit, are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s. 1011.62(17). Each approved industry certification must be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Basic Non-articulated industry certification.

(b) CAPE industry certifications, issued to high school students, which articulate for college credit, are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s. 1011.62(17). Each approved industry certification must be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Basic Articulated industry certification.

(4) CAPE ACCELERATION.—Industry certifications that articulate for 15 or more college credit hours and, if successfully completed, are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s. 1011.62(17). Each approved industry certification must be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Acceleration industry certification.

(5) CAPE PATHWAYS.—Industry certifications issued to high school students who complete at least three courses and an industry certification in a single career and technical education program or program of study and who exit with a standard high school diploma are eligible for additional funding pursuant to s. 1011.62(17). Each approved industry certification must be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Pathways industry certification.