THE FUTURE OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN FLORIDA
by Henry R . Mack , III Chancellor , Division of Career , Technical , and Adult Education , Florida Department of Education
Much has been written over the last decade about the disconnect between the skills businesses need from workers and the capabilities workers actually possess . This “ skills gap ” has troubled educators and employers alike , both nationally and in Florida . Our career and technical education ( CTE ) programs have served as a bridge across these gaps and , arguably , have accelerated the time it takes students to reach economic self-sufficiency compared to the traditional university pathway .
While CTE programs are crucial for filling job vacancies , the skills they provide aren ’ t the only ones sought by employers . In 2018 , a report released by CareerSource Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity identified skills gaps that local industries said were causing thousands of job vacancies , including technical skills such as math , computer literacy and workplace-specific competencies . But employers were more than twice as likely to name foundational or “ human skills ” — communication , reliability , leadership and problem-solving — as lacking in the workforce .
This need is expected to continue in the coming decade . According to a host of academics and business leaders , including Harvard University economist David Deming and the World Economic Forum , employers believe the skills they will most desire in workers in 2030 will be mental agility , flexibility , risk propensity , and analytical thinking .
In other words , human skills matter to employers just as much as technical skills . Maybe even more .
In Florida , we ’ re committed to restoring these traditional intellectual and character virtues to the classroom , not only because it ’ s valuable to employers , but also because it helps shape our students into wellrounded citizens . All students deserve the chance to learn these skills . Persistent opportunity gaps prevent that from happening , making it all the more critical that schools expand access to such programs to provide those opportunities .
Our state has found that one of the most effective ways to deliver this sort of instruction is through entrepreneurship education and training , which provides students with the experience-based learning opportunities associated with starting a business . These programs equip students with the skills they need to thrive in an ever-changing economy : abstract thought , collaboration , persistence and interpersonal relationships . They show students that persisting through failure leads to growth and , ultimately , success .
That ’ s why this year , for the first time , the Department of Education set aside $ 1.5 million leadership dollars from our $ 75 million allocation from The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act , known as Perkins V , to bring entrepreneurship
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