Bill > H7029

This bill proposes several changes to Florida's education system, including establishing a collaboration between the State Board of Education and the Legislature to designate certain Florida College System institutions as "distinguished colleges" based on specific performance standards such as completion rates, retention rates, and licensure passage rates. It also revises public school choice options to include CAPE digital tools, CAPE industry certifications, and collegiate high school programs, and modifies eligibility for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to allow children to attend for either the current or following school year until they reach age 6. Furthermore, the bill revises requirements for charter schools to be eligible for capital outlay funding, introduces new provisions for charter school operations and accountability, and updates rules regarding student participation in interscholastic extracurricular activities, including immediate eligibility for students transferring due to military orders or foster care placement. Additionally, it establishes a Florida Seal of Biliteracy program to recognize high school graduates with foreign language proficiency and makes various adjustments to funding models and administrative processes for public schools and universities.