Opinion ID: 77050
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Definition of a Community College under Florida Law

Text: 11 In Florida, a community college is an entity created and governed by state law, and it is intended to serve as a bridge between state and local educational institutions. The Florida K-20 Education Code was enacted to provide a state system of schools, courses, classes, and educational institutions and services adequate to allow, for all of Florida's students, the opportunity to obtain a high quality education. Fla. Stat. § 1000.01(3). The state is responsible for the establishment of the system of public education through laws, standards and rules. Id. § 1000.03(3). 12 Public education in Florida is delivered through publicly supported and controlled entities, including schools, community colleges, state universities, and other postsecondary educational institutions. Id. § 1000.04. A community college is a public educational institution operated by community college district boards of trustees under the statutory authority and rules of the State Board of Education. Id. § 1004.65(1). Community colleges are locally based and governed entities with statutory and funding ties to the state government, which strive to maintain sufficient local authority and flexibility while preserving appropriate legal accountability to the state. Id. § 1004.65(4). Florida law also provides that no department, bureau, division, agency, or subdivision of the state exercise any responsibility and authority to operate any community college of the state except as specifically provided by laws or rules of the State Board of Education. Id. § 1004.67. 13 Every authorized community college district is an independent, separate, legal entity created for the operation of a community college. Id. § 1004.65(2). Each community college in Florida operates under the direction and supervision of a board of trustees. Id. § 1001.63. The board of trustees is a corporation with all corporate powers, including the right to sue and be sued. Id. The board of a community college is not an agent of the executive branch of state government under Florida law, and it is not a state agency under the Florida Whistleblower's Act. Caldwell, 858 So.2d at 1200-02. 14 In short, a community college is a creature of the State of Florida, but it is locally based. Community colleges are intended to offer higher educational benefits from the state for a local community. Although Florida law favors a determination that a community college is an arm of the state, this factor does not weigh heavily in our analysis.