To kick off Career and Technical Education (CTE) month in February, FCAN is releasing a new resource in English and Spanish to help students and their families navigate this postsecondary pathway. In just a few years, Florida has seen exponential growth in various CTE programs, their subsequent funding, and the number of students enrolled in these programs. However, as this landscape continues to rapidly evolve, a resource like this can help students be informed about their college and career opportunities after high school.
In 2019, Florida leaders set an ambitious goal for educational attainment. The SAIL (Strengthening Alignment between Industry and Learning) to 60 Goal looks to increase the percentage of working-age Floridians who have a high-value postsecondary degree, certificate, or training experience by the year 2030. Currently, Florida stands at 52.5%. Ensuring that Florida’s students have the necessary tools and information to make informed decisions about their postsecondary education will help them enter careers they are passionate about all while increasing Florida’s skilled workforce.
The “Understanding Career and Technical Education: For Students and Parents” is a three-page document that provides answers to questions on the structure of postsecondary CTE programs and the financial aid programs that are available. A chart is also provided to break down the seven types of CTE credentials available in Florida which are as short-term as a digital tool certificate and as long-term as a Bachelor of Science degree. This chart also provides a description of the credentials, expected timeframe of completion, and the potential aid sources.
Most notably, FCAN has made this resource available in Spanish as well. With Florida’s abundant Spanish-speaking population, it is crucial to make sure these students and their families don’t miss out on valuable college and career planning information. We encourage you to share these resources with your network and others that might take advantage of them–when our students succeed, Florida thrives.
For more information on CTE, download the brief and visit FCAN’s Research and Data page.