Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program.

The Legislature recognizes that the need for school districts, charter schools, and Florida College System institutions to be able to respond to emerging local or statewide economic development needs is critical to the workforce development system. The Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program is created to provide grants to school districts, charter schools, and Florida College System institutions to fund some or all of the costs associated with the creation or expansion of career and technical education programs that lead to industry certifications included on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List. The programs may serve secondary students or postsecondary students if the postsecondary career and technical education program also serves secondary students in grades 6 through 12.

(1) Funds awarded for a workforce development capitalization incentive grant may be used for instructional equipment, laboratory equipment, supplies, personnel, student services, or other expenses associated with the creation or expansion of a career and technical education program that serves secondary students. Expansion of a program may include either the expansion of enrollments in a program or expansion into new areas of specialization within a program. No grant funds may be used for recurring instructional costs or for institutions’ indirect costs.

(2) The Department of Education shall administer the program. The State Board of Education may adopt rules for program administration. The State Board of Education shall consider the statewide geographic dispersion of grant funds in ranking the applications and shall give priority to applications from education agencies that are making maximum use of their workforce development funding by offering high-performing, high-demand programs or to applications from a job engine charter school under s. 1002.33(15)(c).