Currently, Rule 6A-20.045, F.A.C., outlines the requirements relating to the Open Door Grant Program, which was created by House Bill 1507 (2021) and went into effect on July 1, 2021. This proposed amendment will modify ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.RULE TITLE:

6A-20.045:Open Door Grant Program

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Currently, Rule 6A-20.045, F.A.C., outlines the requirements relating to the Open Door Grant Program, which was created by House Bill 1507 (2021) and went into effect on July 1, 2021. This proposed amendment will modify this rule to conform to changes made through Senate Bill 2524 (2022), including: 1) extending eligibility to school districts without a career center that offer eligible integrated education and training programs, 2) eliminating the requirement that students complete a Federal Application for Federal State Aid (FAFSA), and 3) allowing institutions to cover the student portion of the cost of the program based on student need. Other technical changes will be made to provide clarity on eligibility criteria and revise reporting requirements.

SUMMARY: During the 2022 legislative session, SB 2524, section 39, modified s. 1009.895, F.S., to revise the Open Door Grant Program. The FDOE must amend rule 6A-20.045, which outlines Open Door Grant Program requirements to align with these modifications. Additionally, changes were made to dates listed in the rule to align with new application requirements.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: This proposed rule is not expected to have any adverse impact on economic growth, business competitiveness or any other factors listed in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S., and will not require legislative ratification. No increase in regulatory costs are anticipated as a result of this rule. This is based upon the nature of the proposed rule.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.895(9), F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1009.895, F.S.,

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: August 17, 2022, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Pensacola State College 1000 College Boulevard Pensacola, FL 32504.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Katie Grissom, Director of Workforce and Academic Alignment, Division of Florida Colleges, [e-mail], [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-20.045 Open Door Grant Program.

(1) No change.

(2) Definitions.

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) “Eligible institution” means a school district postsecondary technical career center under Section 1001.44, F.S., a Florida College System institution under Section 1000.21(3), F.S., or a charter technical career center under Section 1002.34, F.S., or a school district with eligible integrated education and training programs under paragraph (f) of this subsection.

(d) “Eligible program” means integrated education and training (IET) programs and the following short-term workforce education programs that lead to the attainment of credentials on the Master Credential List under Section 445.004(4), F.S.: clock-hour career certificate programs less than or equal to one-thousand three hundred and fifty (1350) nine-hundred (900) clock hours; for-credit career and technical education programs less than or equal to thirty (30) credit hours; or, noncredit industry certification preparation less than or equal to the equivalent of one-thousand three hundred and fifty (1350) nine-hundred (900) clock hours or thirty (30) credit hours.

(e) “Full time” means enrollment in courses or training that can be completed in a twelve (12) month timeframe. For programs exceeding nine-hundred (900) clock hours, enrollment may exceed twelve (12) months.

(f) through (g) No change.

(h) “Master Credential List” means the list of nondegree and degree programs under Section 445.004(4), F.S., determined by the Credentials Review Committee that result in a credential of value. The Master Credential List is available at https://careersourceflorida.com/boardroom/florida-credentials-review-committee/master-credentials-list/. For the 2021-2022 school year, the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List and the CAPE Postsecondary Industry Certification Funding List incorporated in Rules 6A-6.0573 and 6A-6.0574, F.A.C. A list linking certifications to programs of study for the 2021-2022 school year will be made available by September 15, 2021, at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/funding-opportunities/.

(i) through (k) No change.

(3) Student Eligibility. Subject to the availability of funds, students must meet the following criteria in order to receive funds under the both the Student Investment Grant and the Last Dollar Grant programs set forth in subsections (4) and (5):

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) Be unemployed, underemployed or furloughed; and

(d) Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each academic year in which the grant is sought; and

(d)(e) Meet all requirements set by the student’s institution to document compliance with the items in paragraphs (3)(a)-(c)(d).

(4) Student Investment Grants.

(a) Subject to the availability of funds, a student who is not in receipt of federal or state financial aid may apply for a Student Investment Grant from their institution and must, at the time of enrollment in an eligible program:

1. Pay one-third of the cost of the program, unless subject to an exception listed in paragraph (4)(c) or (4)(d) and

2. Sign an agreement that requires the student to pay an additional one-third of the cost of the program in the event the student does not successfully complete the program.

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) A student enrolled in an eligible program who is determined by the institution to have an unmet financial need is exempt from the requirement to pay one-third of the cost of the program upon enrollment, and may use grant funds to cover this cost, if the student signs an agreement that he or she will pay this cost should the student fail to successfully complete the program.

(e)(d) Limitations on Student Investment Grant Funds to Institutions.

1. through 2. No change.

(5) No change.

(6) Application. If funds are designated in the General Appropriations Act, the Department will solicit eligible institutions for participation in the program at least thirty (30) days prior to the first review date. Applications will continue to be accepted for another fifteen (15) days. Application information will be made available at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/funding-opportunities/ by September 15. The first review date will be October 15. until November 1, or until all appropriated funds are awarded, whichever comes first. Application information is available at https://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/funding-opportunities.

(a) The institutional applications shall include:

1. through 2. No change.

3. A list of all eligible programs and associated credentials on the Master Credentials List industry certifications, if applicable, offered by the institution for which the grant will be applied.

4. through 9. No change.

(b) Awards. Institutional allocations will be prioritized according to the date the completed application was approved by the Department. The Department will notify the institution of the approved amount and disbursement and reporting requirements.

1. Of the funds appropriated to the program, twenty-five (25) percent will be reserved for rural institutions for applications received by the initial deadline October 15. After that date, all funds will be eligible for any institution demonstrating demand for grants.

2. No institution may receive more than twenty-five (25) percent of the total appropriation.

(7) Institutional Requirements. Institutions selected for the Open Door Grant Program are required to:

(a) Establish policies or procedures to implement the program, which must include:

1. An application process for students, which outlines requirements, including if a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Aid.

2. An agreement requiring a recipient of the Student Investment Grant who does not successfully complete a course or program to pay one third of the cost of the program covered by grant funds, as provided in subparagraph (4)(a)2 and paragraph (4)(c) and (4)(d).

3. Appeal procedures for students.

(b) through (d) No change.

(8) Required Reporting.

(a) Quarterly, participating institutions must report to the Department the eligibility status of each student who received a Student Investment Grant or Last Dollar Grant in the prior three months. Quarterly submissions are due on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year. No later than thirty (30) days before the submission deadline, the Department will release guidelines for institutions to securely transmit an electronic file reporting each student’s name and demographic information, eligible program, grant amount awarded, and grant type received (Student Investment or Last Dollar).

(b) Annually, by August 20, participating institutions must report to the Department all information required by Sections 1009.895(7)(d) and (8), F.S. No later than thirty (30) days before the submission deadline, the Department will release guidelines for institutions to transmit an electronic file to meet this requirement.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.895(9) FS. Law Implemented 1009.895 FS. History‒New 9-21-21,

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Katie Grissom, Director of Workforce and Academic Alignment, Division of Florida Colleges.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 11, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 8, 2022