FL H0459

High schools must offer computer science courses of sufficient rigor so that two credits plus a related industry certification or technical certificate satisfy two credits of sequential foreign language instruction; Florida College System institutions and state universities must recognize these credits as foreign language credits.

Apprenticeship programs are added as eligible programs under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, and entities operating apprenticeship programs are recognized as eligible postsecondary education institutions for participation in the program.

Students may use a combination of volunteer service hours and paid work hours (rather than one or the other) to meet Bright Futures service requirements across the Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars, and Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards, with eligible paid work completed on or after June 27, 2022, counting toward the requirement.

Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award recipients may enroll in expanded program types including industry certifications (up to 36 credit hours), technical certificates (up to 15 credit hours), applied technology diplomas (up to 50 credit hours), career and technical certificates (up to 19 credit hours), and apprenticeship programs (tuition/fees plus up to $2,000 for tools, books, and materials).

The Department of Education must include in its annual notification to students, parents, and school personnel a list of approved apprenticeship programs, eligible postsecondary institutions, high-demand jobs, critical skill sets, and a wage breakdown of jobs in the state, beginning no later than January 1 of each year starting with a student's freshman year.