FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2007
Media Contact: Michael Corby 904.632.3310

Florida Student Assistant Grant for Career Education funded at $2.2M; will provide financial aid to students of technical certificate programs

With Governor Crist’s signing into law HB 343, Florida Community College workforce credit program administrators and students are ecstatic, with good reason. For the first time, students in public postsecondary career certificate programs will become eligible recipients of need-based state financial aid when the law goes into effect July 1. The Florida Student Assistance Grant for Career Education program is identical to existing FSAG programs, with one important exception: it is specifically designated for students in workforce programs of 450 hours or more.

Signing of this bill enables students in a wide variety of workforce credit programs to receive financial aid. A partial list of these programs includes trades such as air conditioning and refrigeration, aircraft and automotive service, carpentry, electricity and welding. Also eligible are programs in the high-demand health care fields of dental assisting, patient care technology, practical nursing and surgical technology; and personal services of cosmetology and massage therapy. Public service careers such as fire fighter, correctional officer and a cross-over program from correctional probation officer to law enforcement officer programs will be eligible. Students must be enrolled in programs at a community college or career technical centers operated by a Florida school district.

Another part of the bill revises the Florida Work Experience Program to allow postsecondary vocational students access to campus-based and off-campus employment as a means of financial aid.

The bill was sponsored in the House by Rep. Aaron Bean (R.-Dist. 12) and in the Senate by Sen. Stephen R. Wise (R.-Dist. 5). Sen. Evelyn Lynn (R.-Dist. 7), chair of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee and Rep. Joe Pickens (R.-Dist. 21), chair of the Schools and Learning Council, were instrumental in securing funding for the programs.

“In a very tight budget year it is most gratifying for educators and employers, as well as students, to have the solid support of our legislators in making these funds available for students in postsecondary vocational programs,” said FCCJ Vice President for Government Relations Susan Lehr.

To contact Vice President Lehr for more information call 904.632.3391.