Florida Is Out Front: 2025–26 Perkins Guide, GED Policy Tightening, and What Schools Should Do Now
- WorldTeachPathways
- Sep 30
- 2 min read
Why Florida operators have a head start—and how to use it to de‑risk compliance and grow outcomes.
Reading time: 6–7 minutes
Key Takeaways
Florida DOE has published an updated Perkins V Implementation Guide and RFA timelines for 2025–26, giving local recipients earlier clarity than many states.
The 2025 GED® Policy Manual tightens compliance: test centers and jurisdictions face reduced discretion and stronger enforcement for policy breaches.
State trends continue to emphasize funding expansions, credential alignment, and accountability mechanics.
Florida 2025-2026 CTE programs that realign syllabi, credentials, and data reporting now will be audit‑ready and positioned for competitive grants.
1) Florida’s Head Start on Perkins 2025–26
Florida’s updated Perkins V Implementation Guide lays out timelines, application expectations, and state‑level compliance details—making it easier for districts and technical colleges to get ahead of deadlines.
What to act on:
Confirm your CLNA refresh cycle and stakeholder engagement plan.
Validate program of study sequences and credential targets against current frameworks and industry demand.
Map budget lines to allowable uses and state priorities (e.g., equipment, teacher externships, work‑based learning).
2) GED 2025: Policy Tightened, Risk Increased
GED Testing Service’s 2025 Policy Manual standardizes and enforces center and jurisdiction practices more strictly.
Operator must‑dos:
Policy audit: Verify that local policies do not conflict with GEDTS policy language.
Content use: Ensure no GED® or GED Ready® items/prompts are reused in teaching materials or public content.
Training & documentation: Update staff training, incident reporting, and record‑keeping to reflect the 2025 manual.
Underage testers: Re‑confirm state‑specific requirements (e.g., notarized waivers, proof of withdrawal where applicable) and ensure front‑desk procedures catch errors up front.
Align Your Program to 2025–26 Credentials
3) Funding & Credential Alignment Remain Front and Center
Across states—and in Florida—policy continues to prioritize equipment and program expansion, recognized industry credentials, and clear accountability. That means:
Tight alignment to state‑approved credential lists and local demand.
Early equipment procurement to avoid supply chain delays and audit flags.
Strengthened data governance (definitions, validations, documentation) to withstand monitoring.
4) Florida Implementation Roadmap (60–90 Days)
Week 0–2: Kickoff & Scope
Form a cross‑functional implementation team (program, data, finance, testing).
Inventory programs, credentials, assessments, and policies against 2025–26 requirements.
Week 3–6: Realign & Build
Update syllabi, program frameworks, and credential maps.
Configure SIS/LMS fields; test export files against current state specs.
Run a GED policy compliance audit; retrain staff.
Week 7–10: Validate & Submit
Conduct internal “mini‑monitoring” using Perkins and GED checklists.
Finalize budgets/RFAs; secure letters of support from workforce partners.
Publish stakeholder guidance (faculty, counselors, students, employers).
Schedule a CLNA Refresh
5) Owner‑Level Checklist (Fast Reference)
Approve a Perkins‑GED Implementation Plan with dates, owners, and deliverables.
Fund data and compliance fixes (validation rules, secure storage, training).
Green‑light credential alignment purchases (exam vouchers, equipment) for high‑ROI pathways.
Schedule quarterly reviews of performance metrics and audit readiness.
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