 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Employ Florida Banner Centers |
|
 |
|
Ensuring that career and technical education programs in Florida prepare students for the high-skills, high-wage jobs of the 21st Century is the goal of the Employ Florida Banner Center for Career Academies. Workforce Florida, Inc., has awarded a two-year, $1 million grant to the Okaloosa County School District CHOICE Institutes to establish this Employ Florida Banner Center. The school district is creating a go-to statewide center that will create standards for all of Florida’s career education academies and serve as a resource for districts seeking to re-engineer their career and technical education programs to better meet the current and future demands of high-growth industries in their communities. Okaloosa’s CHOICE institutes have been recognized as state and national models for career education. Started in 2001, they offer students high school and college credits as well as professional certifications. The district currently has seven institutes operating or planned in allied health, automotive maintenance, aviation and aerospace, construction technology, engineering, hospitality and information technology. Students simultaneously earn industry certifications and college credit for free. Using the Banner Center grant, the Okaloosa County School
District will provide technical support to districts throughout
the state wanting to start new career academies or overhaul
existing programs; develop standards and accountability measures
for career education programs statewide; and research and highlight
best practices in career education that help Florida maintain
and improve its globally competitive workforce. In its first
year, the center will convene four statewide meetings to offer
support to other districts. It also will establish a new certification
for career education programs at secondary schools. Additionally,
over a two-year period, it will assist in developing at least
12 new career academies in Florida.
For additional information, click
here. |
|
|
|
