(1) DIGITAL MATERIALS.—Each district school board, in consultation with the district school superintendent, shall make available digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and CAPE industry certifications for students in prekindergarten through grade 12 in order to enable students to attain digital skills. The digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and CAPE industry certifications may be integrated into subject area curricula, offered as a separate course, made available through open-access options, or deployed through online or digital computer applications.
(2) CAPE DIGITAL TOOL CERTIFICATES.—The department shall identify, in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List under ss. 1003.492 and 1008.44, CAPE Digital Tool certificates that indicate a student’s digital skills. The department shall notify each school district when the certificates are available. The certificates shall be made available to all public elementary and middle grades students.(a) Targeted skills to be mastered for the certificate include digital skills that are necessary to the student’s academic work and skills the student may need in future employment. CAPE Digital Tool certificates earned by students are eligible for additional full-time equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.a. (b) The school district shall notify each middle school advisory council of the methods of delivery of the open-access content and assessments for the certificates. If there is no middle school advisory council, notification must be provided to the district advisory council.
(c) The Legislature intends that, on an annual basis, at least 75 percent of public middle grades students earn at least one CAPE Digital Tool certificate.
(3) CAPE INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS.—(a) CAPE industry certifications, issued to middle school and high school students, which do not articulate for college credit, are eligible for additional full-time equivalent membership pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.b. (b) CAPE industry certifications, issued to high school students, which articulate for college credit, are eligible for additional full-time equivalent membership pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.b. (4) CAPE ACCELERATION.—Industry certifications that articulate for 15 or more college credit hours and, if successfully completed, are eligible for additional full-time equivalent membership under s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.d. Each approved industry certification must be specifically identified in the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List as a CAPE Acceleration Industry Certification. (5) GRADE POINT AVERAGE CALCULATION.—For purposes of calculating grade point average, a grade in a course that is level 3 or above and leads to an industry certification must be weighted the same as a grade in an honors course.
(6) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—(a) The Department of Education shall collaborate with Florida educators and school leaders to provide technical assistance to district school boards in the implementation of this section. Technical assistance to districts shall include, but is not limited to, identification of digital resources, primarily open-access resources, including digital curriculum, instructional materials, media assets, and other digital tools and applications; training mechanisms for teachers and others to facilitate integration of digital resources and technologies into instructional strategies; and model policies and procedures that support sustainable implementation practices.
(b) Public schools may provide students with access to third-party assessment centers and career and professional academy curricula in a digital format in support of CAPE Digital Tool certificates and CAPE industry certifications, pursuant to this section and s. 1008.44, to assist public schools and school districts to establish Florida Digital Classrooms. (7) PARTNERSHIPS.—(a) A district school board may seek partnerships with other school districts, private businesses, postsecondary institutions, or consultants to offer classes and instruction to teachers and students to assist the school district in providing digital materials, CAPE Digital Tool certificates, and CAPE industry certifications established pursuant to this section.
(b) Third-party assessment providers and career and professional academy curricula providers are encouraged to provide annual training to staff of the Department of Education, staff of school district offices, instructional staff of public schools, including charter schools, and other appropriate administrative staff through face-to-face training models; through online, videoconferencing training models; and through state, regional, or conference presentations.
(8) RULES.—The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to administer this section.
