Florida Department of Education Celebrates Florida Career and Technical Education Month
Friday, February 6, 2015
DOE Press Office
850-245-0413
Florida Department of Education Celebrates Florida Career and Technical Education Month
Tallahassee, Fla., February 6, 2015 – In February, the Florida Department of Education joins students and educators across the state celebrating Career and Technical Education Month. In honor of the observance, Governor Rick Scott issued a proclamation (PDF) highlighting career and technical education opportunities available throughout Florida.
Career and Technical Education opportunities provide students with a school-to-career connection. More than half a million Florida students are enrolled in secondary and postsecondary career and technical education programs and job preparation programs. Secondary schools in all 67 school districts, all 28 Florida Colleges and 47 technical centers across the state offer career and technical education courses.
Governor Scott said, “It’s critical that we provide Florida students a high-quality education that will prepare them for the jobs of the 21st century. Career and technical education programs across the state are helping our students gain the skills and training they need to be successful now and in the future. Increased funding will help our schools better respond to the workforce needs in their communities.”
Highlights of the “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” budget proposal include:
- $20 million to create a Rapid Response Start-up Grant program that directly links local workforce needs to job demand.
- Eliminating the sales tax on textbooks. Eliminating this sales tax is expected to save Florida’s students $41.4 million per year. It is estimated that a student taking five courses per semester will save at a minimum $60 per year.
- Increasing student accessibility to higher education by investing $23.5 million to expand the Bright Futures Scholarship program to cover credit hours taken during the summer term.
- Investing $1 million to partner with high-tech companies in Florida to create a paid summer residency program for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). In addition to the summer residency program, Governor Scott also proposes $30 million for a new workforce training initiative focused on STEM occupations and $5 million to incentivize $10,000 STEM degrees at our state colleges.
- 30 million for a new workforce training initiative focused on STEM occupations and $5 million to incentivize $10,000 STEM degrees at our state colleges.
“Tomorrow’s work force is sitting in our classrooms today,” said Education Commissioner Pam Stewart. “Career and technical education programs offer Florida students lifelong learning opportunities that will open the door to high-skill, high-demand career opportunities.”
“Students enrolled in Florida’s CTE programs are receiving the knowledge and skills they need to succeed now and in the future,” said Career and Adult Education Chancellor Rod Duckworth. “As we continue to strengthen our educational programs, we are building a high-quality workforce and becoming a leader in job creation.”
There are currently 17 career clusters available in a CTE field, including programs in: agriculture, food and natural resources; architecture and construction; arts, A/V technology and communications; business, management and administration; education and training; energy; engineering and technology education; finance; government and public administration; health science; hospitality and tourism; human services; information technology; law, public safety and security; manufacturing; marketing, sales and service; and transportation, distribution and logistics. To learn more about Career and Technical Education in Florida, visit the Florida Department of Education’s Career and Technical webpage at http://www.fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu.
To highlight Career and Technical Education Month, the Florida Association for Career and Technical Education will host the sixth annual CTE Day on the Hill at the Florida Capital on February 11. The event will feature student demonstrations, exhibits and speakers. To learn more contact, www.facte.org.
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