Dual enrollment programs.

(1) The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an eligible secondary student in this state or home education student in this state in a postsecondary course creditable toward high school completion and a career certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree. Postsecondary institutions that are eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program are Florida public postsecondary institutions and eligible not-for-profit independent colleges and universities pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(i). A student enrolled in postsecondary instruction that is not creditable toward a high school diploma may not be classified as a dual enrollment student.

(2) For the purpose of this section, an eligible secondary student is a student who is enrolled in any of grades 6 through 12 in a Florida public school or in a Florida private school that is in compliance with s. 1002.42(2) and provides a secondary curriculum pursuant to s. 1003.4282. Students who are eligible for dual enrollment pursuant to this section may enroll in dual enrollment courses conducted during school hours, after school hours, and during the summer term. However, if the student is projected to graduate from high school before the scheduled completion date of a postsecondary course, the student may not register for that course through dual enrollment. The student may apply to the postsecondary institution and pay the required registration, tuition, and fees if the student meets the postsecondary institution’s admissions requirements under s. 1007.263. Instructional time for dual enrollment may vary from 900 hours; however, the full-time equivalent student membership value shall be subject to the provisions in s. 1011.61(3). A student enrolled as a dual enrollment student is exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory fees. Applied academics for adult education instruction, developmental education, and other forms of precollegiate instruction, as well as physical education courses that focus on the physical execution of a skill rather than the intellectual attributes of the activity, are ineligible for inclusion in the dual enrollment program. Recreation and leisure studies courses shall be evaluated individually in the same manner as physical education courses for potential inclusion in the program.

(3) Student eligibility requirements for initial enrollment in college credit dual enrollment courses must include a 3.0 unweighted high school grade point average and a demonstrated level of achievement of college-level communication and computation skills as provided under s. 1008.30(1) or (2). Student eligibility requirements for continued enrollment in college credit dual enrollment courses must include the maintenance of a 3.0 unweighted high school grade point average and the minimum postsecondary grade point average established by the postsecondary institution. Regardless of meeting student eligibility requirements for continued enrollment, a student may lose the opportunity to participate in a dual enrollment course if the student is disruptive to the learning process such that the progress of other students or the efficient administration of the course is hindered. Student eligibility requirements for initial and continued enrollment in career certificate dual enrollment courses must include a 2.0 unweighted high school grade point average. Exceptions to the required grade point averages may be granted on an individual student basis if the educational entities agree and the terms of the agreement are contained within the dual enrollment articulation agreement established under subsection (21). Florida College System institution boards of trustees may establish additional initial student eligibility requirements, which shall be included in the dual enrollment articulation agreement, to ensure student readiness for postsecondary instruction. Additional requirements included in the agreement may not arbitrarily prohibit students who have demonstrated the ability to master advanced courses from participating in dual enrollment courses or limit the number of dual enrollment courses in which a student may enroll based solely upon enrollment by the student at an independent postsecondary institution.

(4)(a) District school boards may not refuse to enter into a dual enrollment articulation agreement with a local Florida College System institution if that Florida College System institution has the capacity to offer dual enrollment courses.

(b) District school boards must make reasonable efforts to enter into dual enrollment articulation agreements with a Florida College System institution that offers online dual enrollment courses.

(5)(a) Each faculty member providing instruction in college credit dual enrollment courses must:

1. Meet the qualifications required by the entity accrediting the postsecondary institution offering the course. The qualifications apply to all faculty members regardless of the location of instruction. The postsecondary institution offering the course must require compliance with these qualifications.

2. Provide the institution offering the dual enrollment course a copy of his or her postsecondary transcript.

3. Provide a copy of the current syllabus for each course taught to the discipline chair or department chair of the postsecondary institution before the start of each term. The content of each syllabus must meet the same standards required for all college-level courses offered by that postsecondary institution.

4. Adhere to the professional rules, guidelines, and expectations stated in the postsecondary institution’s faculty or adjunct faculty handbook. Any exceptions must be included in the dual enrollment articulation agreement.

5. Adhere to the rules, guidelines, and expectations stated in the postsecondary institution’s student handbook which apply to faculty members. Any exceptions must be noted in the dual enrollment articulation agreement.

(b) Each president, or designee, of a postsecondary institution offering a college credit dual enrollment course must:

1. Provide a copy of the institution’s current faculty or adjunct faculty handbook to all faculty members teaching a dual enrollment course.

2. Provide to all faculty members teaching a dual enrollment course a copy of the institution’s current student handbook, which may include, but is not limited to, information on registration policies, the student code of conduct, grading policies, and critical dates.

3. Designate an individual or individuals to observe all faculty members teaching a dual enrollment course, regardless of the location of instruction.

4. Use the same criteria to evaluate faculty members teaching a dual enrollment course as the criteria used to evaluate all other faculty members.

5. Provide course plans and objectives to all faculty members teaching a dual enrollment course.

(6) The following curriculum standards apply to college credit dual enrollment:

(a) Dual enrollment courses taught on the high school campus must meet the same competencies required for courses taught on the postsecondary institution campus. To ensure equivalent rigor with courses taught on the postsecondary institution campus, the postsecondary institution offering the course is responsible for providing in a timely manner a comprehensive, cumulative end-of-course assessment or a series of assessments of all expected learning outcomes to the faculty member teaching the course. Completed, scored assessments must be returned to the postsecondary institution and held for 1 year.

(b) Instructional materials used in dual enrollment courses must be the same as or comparable to those used in courses offered by the postsecondary institution with the same course prefix and number. The postsecondary institution must advise the school district of instructional materials requirements as soon as that information becomes available but no later than one term before a course is offered.

(c) Course requirements, such as tests, papers, or other assignments, for dual enrollment students must be at the same level of rigor or depth as those for all nondual enrollment postsecondary students. All faculty members teaching dual enrollment courses must observe the procedures and deadlines of the postsecondary institution for the submission of grades. A postsecondary institution must advise each faculty member teaching a dual enrollment course of the institution’s grading guidelines before the faculty member begins teaching the course.

(d) Dual enrollment courses taught on a high school campus may not be combined with any noncollege credit high school course.

(7) Career dual enrollment shall be provided as a curricular option for secondary students to pursue in order to earn industry certifications adopted pursuant to s. 1008.44, which count as credits toward the high school diploma. Career dual enrollment shall be available for secondary students seeking a degree and industry certification through a career education program or course. Each career center established under s. 1001.44 shall enter into an agreement with each high school in any school district it serves. The agreement must be completed annually and submitted by the career center to the Department of Education by August 1. The agreement must:

(a) Identify the courses and programs that are available to students through career dual enrollment and the clock hour credits that students will earn upon completion of each course and program.

(b) Delineate the high school credit earned for the completion of each career dual enrollment course.

(c) Identify any college credit articulation agreements associated with each clock hour program.

(d) Describe how students and parents will be informed of career dual enrollment opportunities and related workforce demand, how students can apply to participate in a career dual enrollment program and register for courses through their high schools, and the postsecondary career education expectations for participating students.

(e) Establish any additional eligibility requirements for participation and a process for determining eligibility and monitoring the progress of participating students.

(f) Delineate costs incurred by each entity and determine how transportation will be provided for students who are unable to provide their own transportation and how students will be notified of such transportation.

(g) Address scheduling changes that will increase access and student participation.

(8) Each district school board shall inform all secondary students and their parents of dual enrollment as an educational option and mechanism for acceleration. Students and their parents shall be informed of student eligibility requirements, the option for taking dual enrollment courses beyond the regular school year, and the minimum academic credits required for graduation. District school boards shall annually assess the demand for dual enrollment and provide that information to each partnering postsecondary institution. Alternative grade calculation, weighting systems, and information regarding student education options that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited.

(9) The Commissioner of Education shall appoint faculty committees representing public school, Florida College System institution, and university faculties to identify postsecondary courses that meet the high school graduation requirements of s. 1003.4282 and to establish the number of postsecondary semester credit hours of instruction and equivalent high school credits earned through dual enrollment pursuant to this section that are necessary to meet high school graduation requirements. Such equivalencies shall be determined solely on comparable course content and not on seat time traditionally allocated to such courses in high school. The Commissioner of Education shall recommend to the State Board of Education those postsecondary courses identified to meet high school graduation requirements, based on mastery of course outcomes, by their course numbers, and all high schools shall accept these postsecondary education courses toward meeting the requirements of s. 1003.4282.

(10) Early admission is a form of dual enrollment through which eligible secondary students enroll in a postsecondary institution on a full-time basis in courses that are creditable toward the high school diploma and the associate or baccalaureate degree. A student must enroll in a minimum of 12 college credit hours per semester or the equivalent to participate in the early admission program; however, a student may not be required to enroll in more than 15 college credit hours per semester or the equivalent. Students enrolled pursuant to this subsection are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory fees.

(11) Career early admission is a form of career dual enrollment through which eligible secondary students enroll full time in a career center or a Florida College System institution in postsecondary programs leading to industry certifications, as listed in the CAPE Postsecondary Industry Certification Funding List pursuant to s. 1008.44, which are creditable toward the high school diploma and the certificate or associate degree. Participation in the career early admission program is limited to students who have completed a minimum of 4 semesters of full-time secondary enrollment, including studies undertaken in the ninth grade. Students enrolled pursuant to this section are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory fees.

(12) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for any dual enrollment programs involving requirements for high school graduation.

(13)(a) The dual enrollment program for a home education student, including, but not limited to, students with disabilities, consists of the enrollment of an eligible home education secondary student in a postsecondary course creditable toward an associate degree, a career certificate, or a baccalaureate degree. To participate in the dual enrollment program, an eligible home education secondary student must:

1. Provide proof of enrollment in a home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41.

2. Be responsible for his or her own transportation unless provided for in the articulation agreement.

3. Sign a home education articulation agreement pursuant to paragraph (b).

(b) Each public postsecondary institution eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(i) must enter into a home education articulation agreement with each home education student seeking enrollment in a dual enrollment course and the student’s parent. By August 1 of each year, the eligible postsecondary institution shall complete and submit the home education articulation agreement to the Department of Education. The home education articulation agreement must include, at a minimum:

1. A delineation of courses and programs available to dually enrolled home education students. Courses and programs may be added, revised, or deleted at any time by the postsecondary institution. Any course or program limitations may not exceed the limitations for other dually enrolled students.

2. The initial and continued eligibility requirements for home education student participation, not to exceed those required of other dually enrolled students. A high school grade point average may not be required for home education students who demonstrate achievement of college-level communication and computation skills as provided under s. 1008.30(1) or (2); however, home education student eligibility requirements for continued enrollment in dual enrollment courses must include the maintenance of the minimum postsecondary grade point average established by the postsecondary institution.

3. The student’s responsibilities for providing his or her own transportation.

4. A copy of the statement on transfer guarantees developed by the Department of Education under subsection (15).

(14) The Department of Education shall approve any course for inclusion in the dual enrollment program that is age and developmentally appropriate and contained within the statewide course numbering system. However, developmental education and physical education and other courses that focus on the physical execution of a skill rather than the intellectual attributes of the activity, may not be so approved but must be evaluated individually for potential inclusion in the dual enrollment program. This subsection may not be construed to mean that an independent postsecondary institution eligible for inclusion in a dual enrollment or early admission program pursuant to s. 1011.62 must participate in the statewide course numbering system developed pursuant to s. 1007.24 to participate in a dual enrollment program.

(15) The Department of Education shall develop a statement on transfer guarantees to inform students and their parents, prior to enrollment in a dual enrollment course, of the potential for the dual enrollment course to articulate as an elective or a general education course into a postsecondary education certificate or degree program. The statement shall be provided to each district school superintendent, who shall include the statement in the information provided to all secondary students and their parents as required pursuant to this subsection. The statement may also include additional information, including, but not limited to, dual enrollment options, guarantees, privileges, and responsibilities.

(16) Students who participate in dual enrollment programs are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory fees.

(17) Instructional materials assigned for use within dual enrollment courses shall be made available to dual enrollment students free of charge. A postsecondary institution may not require payment for instructional materials costs eligible for reimbursement under s. 1009.30. Instructional materials purchased by a district school board or Florida College System institution board of trustees on behalf of dual enrollment students shall be the property of the board against which the purchase is charged.

(18) School districts and Florida College System institutions must weigh dual enrollment courses the same as advanced placement, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of Education courses when grade point averages are calculated. Alternative grade calculation systems, alternative grade weighting systems, and information regarding student education options that discriminate against dual enrollment courses are prohibited.

(19) The Commissioner of Education may approve dual enrollment agreements for limited course offerings that have statewide appeal. Such programs shall be limited to a single site with multiple county participation.

(20) A postsecondary institution shall assign letter grades to each student enrolled in a dual enrollment course. The letter grade assigned by the postsecondary institution shall be posted to the student’s high school transcript by the school district.

(21) Each district school superintendent and each public postsecondary institution president shall develop a comprehensive dual enrollment articulation agreement for the respective school district and postsecondary institution. The superintendent and president shall establish an articulation committee for the purpose of developing the agreement. Each state university president may designate a university representative to participate in the development of a dual enrollment articulation agreement. A dual enrollment articulation agreement shall be completed and submitted annually by the postsecondary institution to the Department of Education on or before August 1. The agreement must include, but is not limited to:

(a) A ratification or modification of all existing articulation agreements.

(b) A description of the process by which students and their parents are informed about opportunities for student participation in the dual enrollment program.

(c) A delineation of courses and programs available to students eligible to participate in dual enrollment.

(d) A description of the process by which students and their parents exercise options to participate in the dual enrollment program.

(e) A list of any additional initial student eligibility requirements for participation in the dual enrollment program.

(f) A delineation of the high school credit earned for the passage of each dual enrollment course.

(g) A description of the process for informing students and their parents of college-level course expectations.

(h) The policies and procedures, if any, for determining exceptions to the required grade point averages on an individual student basis.

(i) The registration policies for dual enrollment courses as determined by the postsecondary institution.

(j) Exceptions, if any, to the professional rules, guidelines, and expectations stated in the faculty or adjunct faculty handbook for the postsecondary institution.

(k) Exceptions, if any, to the rules, guidelines, and expectations stated in the student handbook of the postsecondary institution which apply to faculty members.

(l) The responsibilities of the school district regarding the determination of student eligibility before participating in the dual enrollment program and the monitoring of student performance while participating in the dual enrollment program.

(m) The responsibilities of the postsecondary institution regarding the transmission of student grades in dual enrollment courses to the school district.

(n) A funding provision that delineates costs incurred by each entity.

1. School districts shall pay public postsecondary institutions the standard tuition rate per credit hour from funds provided in the Florida Education Finance Program when dual enrollment course instruction takes place on the postsecondary institution’s campus and the course is taken during the fall or spring term. When dual enrollment is provided on the high school site by postsecondary institution faculty, the school district shall reimburse the costs associated with the postsecondary institution’s proportion of salary and benefits to provide the instruction. When dual enrollment course instruction is provided on the high school site by school district faculty, the school district is not responsible for payment to the postsecondary institution. A postsecondary institution may enter into an agreement with the school district to authorize teachers to teach dual enrollment courses at the high school site or the postsecondary institution. A school district may not deny a student access to dual enrollment unless the student is ineligible to participate in the program subject to provisions specifically outlined in this section.

2. School districts shall pay for the cost of instructional materials for public high school students who are earning credit toward high school graduation under the dual enrollment program.

3. Subject to annual appropriation in the General Appropriations Act, a public postsecondary institution shall receive an amount of funding equivalent to the standard tuition rate per credit hour for each dual enrollment course taken by a student during the summer term.

(o) Any institutional responsibilities for student transportation, if provided.

(p) Any scheduling changes that are necessary to increase access and student participation.

(22) The Department of Education shall develop an electronic submission system for dual enrollment articulation agreements and shall review, for compliance, each dual enrollment articulation agreement submitted pursuant to subsections (13), (21), and (24). The Commissioner of Education shall notify the district school superintendent and the Florida College System institution president if the dual enrollment articulation agreement does not comply with statutory requirements and shall submit any dual enrollment articulation agreement with unresolved issues of noncompliance to the State Board of Education.

(23) District school boards and Florida College System institutions may enter into additional dual enrollment articulation agreements with state universities for the purposes of this section. School districts may also enter into dual enrollment articulation agreements with eligible independent colleges and universities pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(i). By August 1 of each year, the district school board and the Florida College System institution shall complete and submit the dual enrollment articulation agreement with the state university or an eligible independent college or university, as applicable, to the Department of Education.

(24)(a) The dual enrollment program for a private school student consists of the enrollment of an eligible private school student in a postsecondary course creditable toward an associate degree, a career certificate, or a baccalaureate degree. In addition, a private school in which a student, including, but not limited to, students with disabilities, is enrolled must award credit toward high school completion for the postsecondary course under the dual enrollment program. To participate in the dual enrollment program, an eligible private school student must:

1. Provide proof of enrollment in a private school pursuant to subsection (2).

2. Be responsible for his or her own transportation unless provided for in the articulation agreement.

3. Sign a private school articulation agreement pursuant to paragraph (b).

(b) Each public postsecondary institution eligible to participate in the dual enrollment program pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(i) must enter into a private school articulation agreement with each eligible private school in its geographic service area seeking to offer dual enrollment courses to its students, including, but not limited to, students with disabilities. By August 1 of each year, the eligible postsecondary institution shall complete and submit the private school articulation agreement to the Department of Education. The private school articulation agreement must include, at a minimum:

1. A delineation of courses and programs available to the private school student. The postsecondary institution may add, revise, or delete courses and programs at any time.

2. The initial and continued eligibility requirements for private school student participation, not to exceed those required of other dual enrollment students.

3. The student’s responsibilities for providing his or her own transportation.

4. A provision clarifying that the private school will award appropriate credit toward high school completion for the postsecondary course under the dual enrollment program.

5. A provision expressing that costs associated with tuition and fees, including registration, and laboratory fees, will not be passed along to the student.

(25) For students with disabilities, a postsecondary institution eligible to participate in dual enrollment pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(i) shall include in its dual enrollment articulation agreement, services and resources that are available to students with disabilities who register in a dual enrollment course at the eligible institution and provide information regarding such services and resources to the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities. The Department of Education shall provide to the center the Internet website link to dual enrollment articulation agreements specific to students with disabilities. The center shall include in the information that it is responsible for disseminating to students with disabilities and their parents pursuant to s. 1004.6495, dual enrollment articulation agreements and opportunities for meaningful campus experience through dual enrollment.