To adopt new performance evaluation standards for registered apprenticeship and preaprenticeship programs in order to determine program performance. These performance standards must include retention and completion rates ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-23.011Program Performance Standards

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To adopt new performance evaluation standards for registered apprenticeship and preaprenticeship programs in order to determine program performance. These performance standards must include retention and completion rates of participants disaggregated by training provider, program, and occupation and wage progression of participants as demonstrated by starting, exit, and postapprenticeship wages at 1 and 5 years after participants exit the program. The amended rule will define those minimum performance standards for each occupation under which an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship is administered. The effect of this amendment is registered programs will have new accountability metrics for retention, completion and wages for apprentice graduates.

SUMMARY: HB 1507 amended s. 446.032 and requires new performance evaluation standards for registered apprenticeship and preaprenticeship programs in order to determine program performance. These performance standards must include retention and completion rates of participants disaggregated by training provider, program, and occupation and wage progression of participants as demonstrated by starting, exit, and postapprenticeship wages at 1 and 5 years after participants exit the program. The amended rule will define those minimum performance standards for each occupation under which an apprenticeship or preapprenticeship is administered.

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: Since the data required by the proposed rule for the report is already collected, it is not expected that the changes will have any affect on small businesses or increase costs or any other factor listed in 120.541(1)(b), F.S. and will not require legislative ratification.

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: 446.032, 446.041(3), 1001.02(1)(2)(n)

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 446.032

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

DATE AND TIME: March 30, 2022, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Collier County School Board Office, 5775 Osceola Trail, Naples, FL 34109.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Kathleen Taylor, Bureau Chief, Division of Career and Adult Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 714, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400; Phone [phone].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-23.011 Program Performance Standards

(1) No change.

(2) The Department must evaluate performance of registered apprenticeship programs. The tools and factors to be used must include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) through (b) No change.

(c) Retention rates, Completion rates, and Wage progression metrics;

(d) through (e) No change.

(3) Accountability Reporting for Registered Apprenticeship and Preapprenticeship Programs. The Department shall calculate and publish retention rates, completion rates and wage progression metrics annually for all registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs based upon the registered sponsor, program and occupation.

(a) Retention rate will be calculated as the percentage of apprentices or preapprentices retained or completing a program by the end of fourth quarter after the initial quarter of enrollment in a registerd apprenticeship or preapprentieship program.

(b) Completion rate will be calculated as the percentage of apprentices or preapprentices completing the registered apprenticeship or preapprenticeship program within one (1) year after the expected program length identified in the program standards.

(c) Wage progression of participants will be calculated by registered program sponsor and occupation for the following periods: starting wage as identified in the current program standards, exit wage as identified by the wage scale for the last year in the current program standards, and post-apprenticeship completion wages calculated at one (1) and five (5) years after program exit based upon annual cohorts of program completers who are tracked using administrative records of employment and wages that are available to the Department.

(4)(3) The Department must review a program’s completion rates in comparison to the national average for completion rates. Based on the review, the Department must provide technical assistance to programs with completion rates lower than the national average.

(5)(4) Cancellation of apprenticeship agreements during the probationary period will not have an adverse impact on a sponsor’s completion rate.

Rulemaking Authority 446.032, 446.041(13), 1001.02(1)(2)(n)  FS. Law Implemented 446.032 FS, History–New 3-29-11, Amended 6-25-19,

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Kathleen Taylor, Bureau Chief, Division of Career and Adult Education.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Richard Corcoran, Commissioner, Department of Education.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: February 22, 2022

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: November 1, 2021