Education: Striving for Excellence

Ready to Work
Florida employers need dependable, skilled workers. Florida’s Ready to Work Credential program makes it easier than ever to find them. Here’s how:

» Students or other job seekers complete a series of self-paced tutorials/assessments in three key Ready to Work areas — Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics and Locating Information. Each assessment is scored on a scale from 3 to 7; the higher the score, the greater the applicant’s ability to perform more complex skills. The Ready to Work Credential is awarded at one of three levels — Bronze, Silver or Gold — depending on individual scores in each key area.

» Since Florida’s Ready to Work Credential program is administered by the Florida Department of Education and funded by the Florida Legislature, there’s no cost to students, employers, schools or other partners. But the value is huge. Employers can be assured that job applicants who arrive with the Florida Ready to Work Credential in hand have the skills needed for successful on-the-job performance. For more information, visit www.fldoe.org/readytowork.

Community Colleges

The first Florida community college — Palm Beach Junior College — opened its doors in 1933. Florida’s Community College System has since grown to 28, but its mission remains the same. Whether preparing young people for further education or direct entry into the workforce, or helping adults acquire the skills they need to assume new jobs in life sciences, information technology or other fast-growing industry sectors, community colleges in Florida play a pivotal role in workforce readiness.

Close to 800,000 students are served annually by Florida’s community colleges at 61 campuses and 176 sites. The majority (62%) are part-time students with an average age of 25, who fit classes in between work and family responsibilities.

Florida community colleges offer nearly 800 associate of arts, associate of science and associate of applied science degrees and about 500 certificate programs; some also offer baccalaureate degrees in fields such as nursing, teacher education and computer technology. In 2006-2007, with 44,843 associate degrees awarded, Florida’s community colleges were the top producers of associate degrees nationwide.

State Colleges

In June 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist signed legislation creating the Florida College System and allowing, under certain circumstances, all 28 community colleges in Florida to offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in more academic areas than previously permitted. Tuition costs for the new baccalaureate degrees are required to be lower than those earned at Florida’s public universities.

“Education opens doors to economic opportunity and security, and increasing access to affordable higher education will strengthen Florida’s workforce,” says Gov. Crist. “By creating the Florida College System, we are providing Floridians more opportunities to earn a wide variety of four-year degrees.”

The legislation also establishes the Florida College System Task Force to be appointed by the Florida Commissioner of Education. The task force will be charged with developing recommendations for transitioning Florida’s community colleges to four-year state colleges and for funding a state college system.

In the meantime, nine of Florida’s 28 community colleges will become “pilot” state colleges. Beginning in fall 2008, they will offer four-year degree programs in such subjects as elementary education, secondary math and science education, nursing and business management. Some will even take on new identities, dropping “Community” from their names or, in the case of Okaloosa Walton College, becoming Northwest Florida State College.

Tags: Education, Business Florida