(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Cost of the program” means the cost of tuition, fees, examination, books, and materials to a student enrolled in an eligible program.
(b) “Department” means the Department of Education.
(c) “Institution” means school district postsecondary technical career centers under s. 1001.44, Florida College System institutions under s. 1000.21(3), charter technical career centers under s. 1002.34, and school districts with eligible integrated education and training programs.
(d) “Program” means a noncredit industry certification preparation, clock hour career certificate programs, or for-credit short-term career and technical education programs that result in the award of credentials identified under s. 445.004(4).
(e) “Student” means a person who is a resident of this state as determined under s. 1009.21 and is unemployed, underemployed, or furloughed.
(2) The Open Door Grant Program is established for the purpose of:
(a) Creating and sustaining a demand-driven supply of credentialed workers for high-demand occupations by addressing and closing the gap between the skills needed by workers in the state and the skills of the available workforce in the state.
(b) Expanding the affordability of workforce training and credentialing.
(c) Increasing the interest of current and future workers in short-term, high-demand career and technical education credentialing and certificate programs.
(3) The department shall provide grants to institutions on a first-come, first-serve basis for students who enroll in an eligible program. The department shall prioritize funding for integrated education and training programs in which institutions establish partnerships with local workforce development boards to provide basic skills instruction, contextually and concurrently, with workforce training that results in the award of credentials under s. 445.004(4). One-quarter of the appropriated funds must be prioritized to serve students attending rural institutions. No more than one-quarter of the appropriated funds may be disbursed annually to any eligible institution.
(4) Subject to the availability of funds:
(a) A student who enrolls in an eligible program offered by an institution and who does not receive state or federal financial aid may apply for and be awarded a grant to cover two-thirds of the cost of the program, if at the time of enrollment the student pays one-third of the cost of the program and signs an agreement to either complete the program or pay an additional one-third of the cost of the program in the event of noncompletion. The department shall reimburse the institution in an amount equal to one-third of the cost of the program upon a student’s completion of the program. An additional one-third shall be provided upon attainment of a workforce credential or certificate by the student. Grant funds may be used to cover the student’s one-third of the cost of the program for students in integrated education and training programs and students who do not have a high school diploma and meet the requirements established by the department. An institution may cover the student’s one-third of the cost of the program based on student need, as determined by the institution.
(b) A student receiving state or federal financial aid who enrolls in an eligible program offered by an institution may apply for and be awarded a grant to cover the unmet need of the cost of the program after the application of all eligible financial aid. Financial aid and grants received by the student shall be credited first to the student’s costs before the award of an open door grant. After a student is enrolled in an eligible program, the department shall award the grant to the institution for the amount of unmet need for the eligible student.
(5) The department may not reimburse any institution more than $3,000 per completed workforce training program by an eligible student.
(6) The department shall administer the grant and shall carry out the goals and purposes of the grant set forth in subsection (2). In administering the grant, the department shall:
(a) Require eligible institutions to provide student-specific data.
(b) Undertake periodic assessments of the overall success of the grant program and recommend modifications, interventions, and other actions based on such assessments.
(c) Establish the procedure by which eligible institutions shall notify the department when eligible students enroll in eligible programs.
(d) Require each eligible institution to submit a report with data from the previous fiscal year on program completion and credential attainment by students participating in the grant program that, at a minimum, includes:
1. A list of the programs offered.
2. The number of students who enrolled in the programs.
3. The number of students who completed the programs.
4. The number of students who attained workforce credentials, categorized by credential name and relevant occupation, after completing training programs.
5. The average cost per workforce credential attained, categorized by credential name and relevant occupation.
(7) The department shall compile the data provided under paragraph (6)(d) and annually report such data, in the aggregate and categorize such information by eligible institution, to the State Board of Education. The report shall also include information on the average wage, age, gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, and other relevant information, of students who have completed workforce training programs categorized by credential name and relevant occupation.
(8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section.
History.—s. 34, ch. 2021-164; s. 49, ch. 2022-154.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XLVIII - Early Learning-20 Education Code
Chapter 1009 - Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance
Part III - Financial Assistance (Ss. 1009.40-1009.96)
Subpart B - Scholarships, Grants, and Other Aid
1009.50 - Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program; eligibility for grants.
1009.505 - Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Program.
1009.51 - Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program; eligibility for grants.
1009.52 - Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program; eligibility for grants.
1009.53 - Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
1009.534 - Florida Academic Scholars award.
1009.5341 - Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards for graduate study.
1009.535 - Florida Medallion Scholars award.
1009.536 - Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards.
1009.55 - Rosewood Family Scholarship Program.
1009.60 - Minority teacher education scholars program.
1009.605 - Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.
1009.61 - Teacher/Quest Scholarship Program.
1009.62 - Grants for teachers for special training in exceptional student education.
1009.65 - Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment Program.
1009.66 - Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
1009.67 - Nursing scholarship program.
1009.70 - Florida Education Fund.
1009.701 - First Generation Matching Grant Program.
1009.72 - Jose Marti Scholarship Challenge Grant Program.
1009.73 - Mary McLeod Bethune Scholarship Program.
1009.74 - The Theodore R. and Vivian M. Johnson Scholarship Program.
1009.75 - Last Mile College Completion Program.
1009.77 - Florida Work Experience Program.
1009.78 - Student Loan Program.
1009.79 - Issuance of revenue bonds pursuant to s. 15, Art. VII, State Constitution.
1009.80 - Approval of loans; administration of program.
1009.83 - Rate of interest and other charges.
1009.84 - Procurement of insurance as security for loans.
1009.85 - Participation in guaranteed student loan program.
1009.86 - Student Loan Operating Trust Fund.
1009.87 - Provisions of ss. 1009.78-1009.88 cumulative.
1009.88 - Validation of bonds.
1009.89 - The William L. Boyd, IV, Effective Access to Student Education grants.
1009.892 - Cost of attendance; adult norm-referenced testing.
1009.893 - Benacquisto Scholarship Program.
1009.894 - Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship Program.
1009.895 - Open Door Grant Program.
1009.896 - Florida Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship Program.
1009.8962 - Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund.