Bill > H7033

This bill revises various aspects of Florida's education system, with a particular focus on middle grades education and career readiness. It mandates that schools with grades 6-8 implement an "early warning system" to identify students needing extra support, using indicators like attendance, suspensions, and course failures, and requires these schools to detail intervention strategies in their improvement plans. The bill also enhances provisions for digital learning materials and skills, allowing for the integration of Career and Professional Education (CAPE) digital materials and emphasizing digital tool certificates that recognize essential digital competencies for academic and future employment success. Furthermore, it updates requirements for high school diplomas by allowing computer science courses to count towards science credits and expands the criteria for "Merit" and "Scholar" designations on diplomas to include industry certifications. The bill also introduces a Collegiate High School Program to allow eligible high school students to earn a diploma, college credits, and industry certifications simultaneously, and it clarifies funding mechanisms for industry certifications and digital tool certificates, including additional funding for schools based on student achievement in these areas and bonuses for teachers. Finally, it strengthens anti-hazing policies for middle and high schools and enhances professional development requirements for middle grades educators, focusing on integrated digital instruction and competency-based learning.