(1) The Legislature finds and declares that dual enrollment is an integral part of the education system in this state and should be available for all eligible secondary students without cost to the student. There is established the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program to support postsecondary institutions in providing dual enrollment.
(2) The Department of Education shall administer the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (8).
(3)(a) The program shall reimburse eligible postsecondary institutions for tuition and related instructional materials costs for dual enrollment courses taken during the fall or spring terms by eligible students, consisting of:1. Private school students who take dual enrollment courses pursuant to s. 1007.271(24)(b); 2. Home education program secondary students; or
3. Personalized education program secondary students.
(b) The program shall reimburse institutions for tuition and related instructional materials costs for dual enrollment courses taken by public school, private school, home education program, or personalized education program secondary students during the summer term.
(4) A student participating in a dual enrollment program must meet the minimum eligibility requirements specified in s. 1007.271 in order for the institution to receive a reimbursement. (5) Each participating institution must report to the department any secondary students eligible pursuant to subsection (3) who were enrolled during the fall or spring terms within 30 days after the end of regular registration. Each participating institution must report to the department any secondary students eligible pursuant to subsection (3) who were enrolled during the summer term within 30 days after the end of regular registration. For each dual enrollment course in which the student is enrolled, the report must include a unique student identifier, the postsecondary institution name, the postsecondary course number, and the postsecondary course name. The department shall reimburse each participating institution no later than 30 days after the institution has reported enrollment for that term.
(6)(a) School district career centers shall be reimbursed at the in-state resident tuition rate established in s. 1009.22(3)(c). (b) Florida College System institutions shall be reimbursed at the in-state resident tuition rate established in s. 1009.23(3)(a). (c) State University System institutions and independent postsecondary institutions shall be reimbursed at the standard tuition rate established in s. 1009.24(4)(a). (d) Institutions shall be reimbursed for instructional materials costs.
(7) Reimbursement for dual enrollment courses is contingent upon an appropriation in the General Appropriations Act each year. If the statewide reimbursement amount is greater than the appropriation, the institutional reimbursement amounts specified in subsection (6) shall be prorated among the institutions that have reported eligible students to the department by the deadlines specified in subsection (5).
(8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section.
