Narrative: III. a. 2. H.

Florida Career and Professional Education Act

Florida will continue to emphasize the Career and Professional Education (CAPE) Act, created by the Florida Legislature in 2007 with the intent to improve Florida’s talent pipeline in order to better attract and retain targeted, high-value industries and to develop a knowledge-based economy in response to Florida’s critical workforce needs. This program seeks to improve access to post-secondary credential by providing early access to portable, stackable certifications to students in secondary education. It seeks to ensure that education, industry, workforce and economic development partners in every community are collaborating to create new and meaningful opportunities for students. Rigorous and relevant curriculum opportunities are made available to both middle and high school students to earn industry certifications that are required for high-skill, high-wage jobs in Florida’s target and infrastructure industries. CAPE supports local and regional economic development as well as diversification of the state economy.

The implementation of the Act requires coordination involving CareerSource Florida, the Florida Department of Education, the Department of Economic Opportunity and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The list of industry certifications is updated annually and final funding determinations are made by the Florida Department of Education.

Data reveals that students earning industry certifications have more positive student performance with higher average GPAs, lower rates of chronic absenteeism and disciplinary actions, and a lower dropout rate. Public school districts are awarded additional funding for students earning industry certifications. VR plans to provide education to staff on Career and Professional Education (CAPE) certifications, seek to increase integration of CAPE providers as VR vendors, and encourage existing VR vendors of career and technical education to pursue CAPE certification that will help improve access to post-secondary credentials for their customers.

Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Youth Program

The VR Transition Youth program collaborates with education officials and partners to offer youth with disabilities opportunities to gain work experiences that help them prepare for successful employment or to assist in opportunities for access to postsecondary credentials as necessary. Collaborations such as High School High Tech, Project SEARCH, and Postsecondary Education programs engage youth in experiences that blend academics with career and technical education and provide hands-on career exploration and preparation activities where learned skills, attitudes, and behaviors can be applied. These evidence-based applications of learning, which includes internships and On-the- Job Training, often lead to successful employment. For some students, these programs include earning postsecondary credentials which allow them to explore professional jobs that may lead to higher-wage careers. VR promotes access to post-secondary credentials by its involvement in these collaborations and it provides funding for participants to receive needed services and other supports. This shared support helps partner programs to serve more youth. VR partnerships deliver career development, promotion of post-secondary opportunities, and employment options through direct services to youth who would not otherwise have access to these opportunities.

Further, in 2016, the Florida legislature established targets related to post-secondary credentials. The Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is charged to create a performance plan that includes the following goals, among others:

• Increase the percentage of participants who obtained a recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in, or within 1 year after they exit, the program.
• Increase the percentage of youth who received preemployment transition services without applying for additional vocational rehabilitation services and who obtained a recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation in, or within 1 year after they exit, the program.
• Increase the percentage of participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or to employment and who are achieving a measurable gain of skill, including documented academic, technical, ¹or occupational gains or other forms of progress toward a postsecondary credential or employment.

These measures are intended to improve access to postsecondary credentials.

Adult Education Integrated Education and Training Program

Adult education programs will promote activities that increase an individual’s ability to transition to postsecondary education and obtain employment. FICAPS requires that programs partner with postsecondary career and technical programs to develop and deliver an integrated education and training program. As the integrated education and training activities are developed, collaboration also will occur with the local CareerSource Florida board to determine the workforce demands for the area and ensure that the career and technical programs selected support that need. One component of FICAPS is the provision of wrap-around support services that may include transportation, child care, and other support. This will require collaboration with social agencies.

Promotion of Post-Secondary Opportunities through FloridaShines

All of Florida’s core partners are provided engagement opportunities in FloridaShines, providing information to team members on resources available to individuals seeking post-secondary opportunities. FloridaShines is an online advising website to help students plan and track their education progress from middle school through college. ForidaShines is a service of the State University System of Florida and the Florida College System. FloridaShines establishes a secure connection to public colleges and universities in Florida to provide the most current information regarding your student records.

On FloridaShines students exploring post-secondary opportunities can:

• Access college transcripts and grades
• Track your progress towards college graduation
• Have your A.A. transcript evaluated for transfer
• Evaluate high school progress
• See high school course summary and grades
• Complete interest inventories and other career assessments
• Research careers, including the education level required
• Search for colleges and programs
• Apply online for admission to Florida institutions
• Find and apply for financial aid
• Use the Transient Form to make it easier take courses at other institutions and
• Access advising manuals including the Common Prerequisite Manual, Statewide Articulation Manual, and the ICUF Articulation Manual

Florida Shines is an organization created in 2012 by the Florida Legislature that combines the distance learning, academic advising and library automation services essential to the success of students, faculty and staff at public colleges and universities around the state. Florida’s colleges and universities offer hundreds of online courses to meet student needs. Users may search by institution, subject, term, course type, delivery method, course number and more. The Florida Shines website offers a number of tools to help find facts and information about different institutions and degree programs, making access to post-secondary credentials easier and more accessible. The list of features available includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• The "Find an Online Degree Program" feature lets users find out which programs are offered at each college and university in Florida.
• The "Search College & University Profiles" feature allows users to review general facts about each institution.
• The "Degree Program Requirements" feature allows users to see the courses needed to earn a certain degree by simply selecting an institution and a particular degree program.

The online tool provides even more useful tools and information, including information about transferring colleges, information about financial aid, and helpful links to college websites. Florida core programs will continue to utilize this tool when necessary to assist a customer seeking information regarding postsecondary credentials.