The purpose of this new rule is to provide a definition for low-income educationally disadvantaged students and specific criteria and guidelines for selection of participants in the College Reach-Out Program to reflect statutory requirements. The ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
6A-6.05282: College Reach-Out Program

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this new rule is to provide a definition for low-income educationally disadvantaged students and specific criteria and guidelines for selection of participants in the College Reach-Out Program to reflect statutory requirements. The effect will be a rule that is consistent with governing statute.

SUMMARY: This is a new rule to implement the requirements of Section 1007.34, Florida Statutes, relating to the College Reach-Out Program.

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: 1) no requirement for SERC was triggered under Section 120.541(1), F.S., and 2) based on past experiences with rules of this nature, the adverse impact or regulatory cost, if any, do not exceed nor would be expected to exceed any one of the economic analysis criteria set forth in Section 120.541(2)(a), F.S.

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: 1007.34 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1007.34 FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: October 9, 2012, 8:00 a.m.

PLACE: Valencia College, 1800 S. Kirkman Rd., Orlando, FL

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mary Jane Tappen, Deputy Chancellor for Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL, [phone]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.05282 College Reach-Out Program.

(1) Definitions. As used in this rule, the following definitions shall be used:

(a) “Low-income educationally disadvantaged student” is a student who meets at least one (1) criterion in subsections (3) and (4) of this rule.

(b) “Potential first-generation-in-college student” means:

1. An individual, neither of whose natural or adoptive parent received a baccalaureate degree;

2. An individual who, prior to the age of eighteen (18), regularly resided with, and received support from, only one parent and whose supporting parents did not receive a baccalaureate degree; or

3. An individual who, prior to the age of eighteen (18), did not regularly reside with, or receive support from, a natural or an adoptive parent.

(2) Eligibility criteria for low-income educationally disadvantaged student. In order to be eligible to participate in the College Reach-Out Program (CROP), a student must:

(a) Be in grades 6 through 12;

(b) Meet one or more of the academic criteria in subsection (3) of this rule; and

(c) Meet one or more of the economic criteria in subsection (4) of this rule.

(3) Academic criteria. The academic criteria for the College Reach-Out Program are as follows:

(a) The student is a potential first-generation-in-college student;

(b) The student’s cumulative grade point average for the preceding academic year is below 2.5;

(c) The student’s academic transcript at the time the student applies for participation in the program contains no mathematics or science courses at Level II or Level III in grades 9-11, as reflected in the Course Code Directory incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C.;

(d) The student has a below average reading, writing, or mathematics score on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) 2.0 or End-of-Course Assessment under Section 1008.25(4)(a), Florida Statutes;

(e) The student has been subject to grade retention and not promoted to the next grade during any academic year;

(f) The student has been suspended or expelled from school the previous school year;

(g) The student has incurred absences of more than twenty-five (25) school days in the previous school year; or

(h) The student has participated in a Dropout Prevention Program in the previous school year.

(4) Economic criteria. The economic criteria for the College Reach-Out Program are as follows:

(a) The student is eligible for the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Program under the National School Lunch Act [42 U.S.C. 1758(b)];

(b) The student’s family income is at or below one hundred eighty-five (185) percent of the 2012 Health and Human Services (HHS) Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia, as published annually in the Federal Register. The 2012 Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia (http://www.flrules.org/ Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-01634) are hereby incorporated by reference and available at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty;

(c) The student’s family received temporary cash assistance under the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under 42 U.S.C., ss. 601, et seq., during the preceding calendar year;

(d) The student’s family received other public assistance during the preceding calendar year (Supplemental Security Income and/or Housing Choice Voucher Program); or

(e) The student is an orphan or ward of the court with no taxable income.

 

Rulemaking Authority 1007.34 FS. Law Implemented 1007.34 FS. History–New_______.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Mary Jane Tappen, Deputy Chancellor, for Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services, Department of Education

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Gerard Robinson, Commissioner of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 20, 2012

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: October 28, 2011