Early college program.

(1) Each Florida College System institution shall work with each district school board in its designated service area to establish one or more early college programs. As used in this section, the term “early college program” means a structured high school acceleration program in which a cohort of students is enrolled full time in postsecondary courses toward an associate degree. The early college program must prioritize courses applicable as general education core courses under s. 1007.25 for an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree.

(2) Each district school board and its local Florida College System institution shall execute a contract to establish one or more early college programs at a mutually agreed-upon location or locations. If the institution does not establish a program with a district school board in its designated service area, another Florida College System institution may execute a contract with that district school board to establish the program. The contract must be executed by January 1 of each school year for implementation of the program during the next school year. The contract must:

(a) Identify the grade levels to be included in the early college program.

(b) Describe the early college program, including the delineation of courses offered, including online course availability; the high school and college credits earned for each postsecondary course completed; student eligibility criteria; and the enrollment process and relevant deadlines.

(c) Describe the methods, medium, and process by which students and their parents are annually informed about the availability of the early college program, the return on investment associated with participation in the program, and the information described in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(d) Identify the delivery methods for instruction and the instructors for all courses.

(e) Identify student advising services and progress monitoring mechanisms.

(f) Establish a program review and reporting mechanism regarding student performance outcomes.

(g) Describe the terms of funding arrangements to implement the early college program.

(3) Each student participating in an early college program must enter into a student performance contract which must be signed by the student, the parent, and a representative of the school district and the applicable Florida College System institution, state university, or other institution participating pursuant to subsection (4). The performance contract must include the schedule of courses, by semester; student attendance requirements; and course grade requirements.

(4) In addition to executing a contract with the local Florida College System institution under this section, a district school board may execute a contract to establish an early college program with a state university or an institution that is eligible to participate in the William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education Grant Program, that is a nonprofit independent college or university located and chartered in this state, and that is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to grant baccalaureate degrees. Such university or institution must meet the requirements specified under subsections (2) and (3).

(5) A charter school may execute a contract directly with the local Florida College System institution or another institution as authorized under this section to establish an early college program at a mutually agreed-upon location.

(6) The early college program must be funded pursuant to ss. 1007.271 and 1011.62. The State Board of Education shall enforce compliance with this section by withholding the transfer of funds for the school districts and the Florida College System institutions in accordance with s. 1008.32.