Today’s educational environment is heavily focused on accountability, standards and assessment. At the same time, industry is seeking assurances that job seekers have the skills required to fill their openings. At the local, state and federal levels, CTE programs are being tasked with providing students with credentials and certifications which are recognized and valued by our business and industry partners. Having a strong connection to industry, career and technical education has long understood the importance of industry recognized credential and certifications. 

Brevard Strategic Plan 2025-2030 : CTE Components

The BPS strategic plan includes to achieve across all subgroups, an increase in elementary students obtaining digital tool industry certifications from 8% in SY 2024 to 38% by the end of SY 2030; an increase in middle school students accessing acceleration opportunities from 70% in SY 2024 to 93% by the end of 2030; and an increase in markers of acceleration for high school students from 74% in SY2024 to 92% by the end of SY 2030. Attain 95% graduation rate for all subgroups. Increase successful acceleration opportunities for all middle and high schools. Increase enrollment in accelerated courses, 77.4% of high school students currently on track to meet the College and Career Readiness (CCR) component, aiming for a 3% annual increase. For middle schools, 68.8% are scheduled to meet the acceleration component, with a goal of a 4% increase. Increase the attainment of industry certifications in MS CTE courses from 42.9% in SY 2024 to 60% by the end of SY 2030. Increase the percentage of students utilizing school choice options of middle school students using an EPO as well as 11% of high school students using an EPO by SY 2030.

BPS Graduation Requirement

To ensure that every BPS graduate is postsecondary and/or workforce ready, student are required to complete a program of study which includes a minimum of 3 credits in one of the following areas:

• Approved dual enrollment, AP, IB, AICE or approved Honors Courses

                                                            or

• 3.0 credits in a CTE Program of Study or 4.0 credits in sequential performing fine arts courses that lead to college and/or career readiness

State Requirement – CAPE Academies

At the state level, Florida Statutes require that career and professional academies be coordinated with the appropriate industry indicating that all components of the program are relevant and appropriate to prepare the student for further education and for employment in that industry. Florida Statutes further define that the Office of Reimaging Education & Career Help will guide a credentials review committee to develop a master credentials list to ensure student skill proficiency and to address emerging labor market and industry trends.Florida Statutes require that all career-themed courses offered by a secondary school must lead to industry certification or college credit.  Statutes further require that if the passage rate on an industry certification examination falls below 50%, the 3-year strategic plan must be amended to include specific strategies to improve the passage rate of the career-themed course.  Each school district shall make available digital materials, CAPE Digital Tools certificates, and CAPE industry certifications for students in prekindergarten through grade 12.  Industry certifications that have a statewide articulation agreement approved by the State Board of Education may substitute the certification for up to two mathematics credits, except for Algebra 1 and Geometry and for one science credit, except for Biology 1. Industry certifications earned in information technology that are identified on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List satisfy the online graduation requirement.

State Requirement –School Grade and Diploma Designation

Florida Statutes requires a portion of the high school and middle school grade be determined by students’ participation and performance in industry certifications. Florida Statutes further expand the requirements for CTE industry certification by including student attainment of CTE industry certifications as one of the two Standard High School Diploma Designations. 

Federal Requirements

At the federal level, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act was reauthorized in 2018 and renamed the “Strengthening Career & Technical Education for the 21st Century Act” and required student attainment of career and technical skill proficiencies, including student achievement on technical assessments that are aligned with industry-recognized standards. They are designed to measure the extent CTE concentrators (3 credits in the same CTE program) are leaving high school with recognized post-secondary credentials. The Florida DOE approves the Industry Certification List using the following criteria: requires a minimum of 150 hours’ instruction, is occupationally specific, is a State or federally regulated professional license, and the certifying agency is accredited. In addition to the local, state and federal requirements for student industry certification, teachers and administrators can use assessment results to learn about students’ skills, as well as learn about the effectiveness of instruction and then apply that to instructional improvements. Assessment can be one of the most effective tools for increasing student achievement. By using assessment data for instructional purposes, teachers can improve program curriculum, identify instructional needs, and maintain a continuous improvement process. Focused on the new vision of Career and Technical Education, assessments are to be utilized for CTE students as they participate and/or complete their technical program of study. Assessments, while required at the federal, state, and district levels, measure student understanding of both the knowledge and skills that are the foundation of the CTE program. It is imperative that teachers and administrators maintain a positive perception of the value of technical skill attainment. Not only does it meet new local, state, and federal requirements for CTE programs, assessments can provide a continuous improvement model for CTE instruction. Industry certifications can also provide business and industry with the assurance that CTE concentrators have the skills required to fill their openings; a win-win situation for all.