Career Academies on the Hill Conference

Article Submitted By:  Kathleen Harris

On April 15-17, 2008, the Florida Public School Consortium (FPSCC) hosted a conference at the Doubletree Hotel in Tallahassee to provide a venue to showcase Florida’s Career Academies and encourage interaction among educators and legislators.  The National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC), the Southeast Coalition of Essential Schools Center (SCESC), the Florida Association of Career Technical Educators (FACTE), and the national Association of Career Technical Education (ACTE) partnered in this effort to demonstrate support for Florida’s Career Academies. 

The partnering organizations advocate the use of The National Standards of Practice which were drafted with input from a number of national organization promoting career academies.  The National Academy Foundation and the Career Academy Support Network also lent their support for this conference and for the use of these standards. While their representatives were unable to attend, letters were sent and shared with the attendees.

The following representatives of the partner organization comprised a panel discussion that opened the conference:  Moderator:  Kathy Israelson, FPSCC President; ACTE -Alisha Hyslop; FACTE – Marsan Carr; FPSCC – Connie Scotchel-Gross; NCAC – Susan Katzman; and SCESC – Sharon Tritschler.   After a brief description of their organization, the panel reviewed the history of career academies, referenced the evidence of their effectiveness and relayed information about their rapid growth in popularity here in Florida and across the nation.   Each member also cited specific reasons why they support career academies.

Since there is legislation providing for the expansion of Career Academies in Florida there are processes being established for the approval and monitoring of these programs.   Throughout the conference there was discussion about what criteria should be used and who should be responsible for approval and monitoring.  

A luncheon panel addressing the status of career academies in Florida and the support needed to maintain and expand them included:   Connie Scotchel-Gross, Moderator;  Dr.Frank Fuller, Workforce FL, Inc;Tom Besaw, CTE Coordinator, Volusia Co;Lucy Hadi – Chancellor Workforce Education, FDOE;Doug Wagner, Director Adult, Career and Technical Education – Manatee Co;Dr. Gail McKinzie, Superintendent  of Schools, Polk County Schools;Pamela Campbell-Peralta, Director CTE, Hillsborough County School District;Tom Shiner, Director of Special Projects, Workforce FL, Inc.  Panelists’ comments addressed the factors that determine if a program is actually a career academy, the role career academies play in their districts, or the connection between career academies and Florida Banner Centers.   Most expressed the view these programs show great promise and will see significant growth in the future.

Conference attendees were encouraged to make appointments and meet with their legislators to familiarize them with the success they are experiencing and the need to continue to support career academies.   Most were able to meet with at least one of their legislators and reported that they expressed concerns or opinions about the career academy criteria or approval process, discussed the need to sustain strong CTE programs jeopardized by the class size amendment, share their stance on the fine arts requirement allowing for practical arts classes and address education budgetary concerns.  There also was discussion occurring over who will monitor and approve these career academy programs and administer career technical education, the Workforce Development Department within the Florida Department of Education or the Choice Banner Centers of the Department of Labor. 

Many of those attending support keeping the link to academic and CTE in secondary education strong by having the administration remain within the Department of Education.  The FPSCC supports that stance and issued a position paper to clarify their opinion.  They also encouraged the use of the National Standards of Practice as the criteria for program approval.  Many of Florida’s career academies already employ the NSOP as their template for program development and assessment.

In addition to the panels and visits to the legislature, many career academy practitioners shared information about their programs and best practices and networked insights and resources.  Programs presented represented Duval, Lee, Hillsborough, Manatee, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Putnam and Volusia Counties.  (see agenda at: http://www.fpscc.net/conferences/ONTHEHILL/agenda_onthehill.htm  for programs and presenters). A group of educators and industry partners joined to share their successes, and a regional consortium of schools districts, the Northeast Regional Career Academy Consortium, shared their strategies and processes. 

Vern A.  Pickup-Crawford, President and Consultant Schoolhouse Consulting Group, Inc, shared some insightful advice about legislative advocacy and keeping legislators informed and involved with their educational programs.
Feedback on the conference was very positive.  It was generally felt that this conference created a needed network and communication platform to inform about and recognize the many great career academy programs thriving across the state.

A special thanks to Sharon Tritschler, Angie Grasberger and Connie Scotchel-Gross, Dr. Judith Stein and Nigel Whyte for helping plan the program and coordinate the event.