Bill
HB 417
HB 417 enhances career and academic planning for Florida middle and high school students by requiring parental notifications and personalized plans to guide future choices.
# Summary of HB 417: Career and Academic Planning For Middle and High School Students
**Bill Number:** HB 417
**Title:** Career and Academic Planning For Middle and High School Students
**Status:** Filed
**Introduced:** November 13, 2025
**Effective Date:** July 1, 2026
## Purpose and Intent
HB 417 aims to enhance career and academic planning for middle and high school students in Florida. The bill seeks to ensure that students and their parents are well-informed about career and technical education (CTE) options, as well as the academic pathways available to them. By mandating specific meetings and resources, the bill intends to better prepare students for their future educational and career choices.
## Key Provisions
The bill introduces several significant changes to existing Florida Statutes:
### 1. **Parental Notification of CTE Options**
- **Requirement:** District school boards must provide students and their parents with a list of local schools offering CTE programs and descriptions of these programs before the end of grade 5 and annually thereafter.
### 2. **Career and Academic Planning Meetings**
- **Mandate:** Middle schools are required to hold a career and academic planning meeting for grade 8 students and their parents before course registration for high school.
- **Content of Meetings:** The meetings must include:
- A list of CTE programs available in the district.
- Information on career and postsecondary planning.
- Eligibility requirements for federal and state grants and scholarships, including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
- Data on local job opportunities, including starting salaries.
- Information on dual enrollment opportunities with postsecondary institutions.
- A demonstration of Florida's online career planning and work-based learning coordination system.
### 3. **Personalized Academic and Career Plans**
- **Annual Review:** Students in specified grades must annually review their personalized academic and career plans.
- **Course Requirement:** Students must complete a career and education planning course in grades 6, 7, or 8, which will result in a personalized academic and career plan. This plan must be accessible and updatable by the student.
### 4. **Content of the Personalized Plan**
- The plan must include:
- High school graduation requirements.
- Information on scholarships and college admission requirements.
- Opportunities for earning college credit in high school.
- Work-based learning opportunities, including internships and apprenticeships.
- Career education courses leading to industry certification.
## Who Would Be Affected
- **Students and Parents:** Middle and high school students, particularly those transitioning from middle to high school, along with their parents, will benefit from increased access to information and resources.
- **School Districts:** District school boards will be responsible for implementing the new requirements, which may involve additional administrative efforts.
## Procedural Aspects
- **Timeline:** The bill was filed on November 13, 2025, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, allowing time for school districts to prepare for the new requirements.
## Conclusion
HB 417 represents a proactive approach to career and academic planning for Florida's students, aiming to equip them with the necessary information and resources to make informed decisions about their educational and career paths.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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