(1) Each district school board, in collaboration with local workforce development boards, economic development agencies, and state-approved postsecondary institutions, shall include plans to implement a career and professional academy or a career-themed course, as defined in s. 1003.493(1)(b), in at least one middle school in the district as part of the strategic 3-year plan pursuant to s. 1003.491(2). The strategic plan must provide students the opportunity to transfer from a middle school career and professional academy or a career-themed course to a high school career and professional academy or a career-themed course currently operating within the school district. Students who complete a middle school career and professional academy or a career-themed course must have the opportunity to earn an industry certificate and high school credit and participate in career planning, job shadowing, and business leadership development activities. The district shall inform students and parents during course selection for middle school of the career and professional academy or career-themed course available within the district. (2) Each middle grades career and professional academy or career-themed course must be aligned with at least one high school career and professional academy or career-themed course offered in the district and maintain partnerships with local business and industry and economic development boards. Middle grades career and professional academies and career-themed courses must:(a) Lead to careers in occupations aligned to the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List approved under rules adopted by the State Board of Education;
(b) Integrate content from core subject areas;
(c) Integrate career and professional academy or career-themed course content with intensive reading, English Language Arts, and mathematics pursuant to s. 1003.4282; (d) Coordinate with high schools to maximize opportunities for middle grades students to earn high school credit;
(e) Provide access to virtual instruction courses provided by virtual education providers legislatively authorized to provide part-time instruction to middle grades students. The virtual instruction courses must be aligned to state curriculum standards for middle grades career and professional academy courses or career-themed courses, with priority given to students who have required course deficits;
(f) Provide instruction from highly skilled professionals who hold industry certificates in the career area in which they teach;
(g) Offer externships; and
(h) Provide personalized student advisement that includes a parent-participation component.
(3) CAPE Digital Tool certificates and CAPE industry certifications offered in the middle grades that are included on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List, if earned by students, are eligible for additional full-time equivalent membership pursuant to s. 1011.62(1)(o)1.a. and b. 