Florida Statutes
Part III - Funding for Workforce Education (Ss. 1011.80-1011.803)
1011.802 - Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program.

(1) Subject to appropriations provided in the General Appropriations Act, the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program is created to provide grants to high schools, career centers, charter technical career centers, Florida College System institutions, and other entities authorized to sponsor an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program, as defined in s. 446.021, on a competitive basis to establish new apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs and expand existing apprenticeship or preapprenticeship programs. The Department of Education shall administer the grant program.
(2) Applications must contain projected enrollment and projected costs for the new or expanded apprenticeship program.

(3)(a) The department shall award grants for preapprenticeship or apprenticeship programs with demonstrated regional demand that:
1. Address a critical statewide or regional shortage as identified by the Labor Market Estimating Conference created in s. 216.136 and are industry sectors not adequately represented throughout the state, such as health care;
2. Address a critical statewide or regional shortage as identified by the Labor Market Estimating Conference created in s. 216.136; or
3. Expand existing programs that exceed the median completion rate and employment rate 1 year after completion of similar programs in the region, or the state if there are no similar programs in the region.

(b) Grant funds may be used for instructional equipment, supplies, instructional personnel, student services, and other expenses associated with the creation or expansion of an apprenticeship program. Grant funds may not be used for indirect costs. Grant recipients must submit quarterly reports in a format prescribed by the department.

(4) The department shall annually report on its website:
(a) The number of programs funded and represented throughout the state under this section.
(b) Retention, completion, and employment rates, categorized by program and provider.
(c) Starting and ending salaries, as categorized by program and provider, for participants who complete the program.

(5) The department may use up to $200,000 of the total amount allocated to administer the grant program.
(6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer this section.
History.—s. 33, ch. 2019-119; s. 37, ch. 2021-164; s. 87, ch. 2022-4.

Structure Florida Statutes