The Foundation for Florida’s Future responds to final passage of House Bill 917

“The future of Florida depends on the investments we make today in educating and training our students. House Bill 917 supports that goal, providing an opportunity for Florida to better align career and technical education course offerings and funding to in-demand careers and the state’s overall workforce needs.  

“By assessing program outcomes in each school district across the state and their relative alignment to industry demands, policymakers will gain better information to guide future decisions on investments in career and technical education.  

“We commend Sen. Corey Simon and Rep. John Snyder for their commitment to ensuring quality career and technical education pathways are available to Florida’s students, and we appreciate the House and Senate’s support of this.”

GET THE FACTS

Among other provisions, House Bill 917, as amended: 

• Requires the Department of Education to convene a workgroup by December 1, 2024, to identify best practices for career and technical education (CTE) in middle and high school and to establish three math pathways for high school students aligned to programs, postsecondary education and careers; 
• Allows districts to work with local workforce development boards, advisory groups and business groups to offer low-barrier alternatives to career fairs through other career and industry networking opportunities during the school day; 
• Directs the REACH Office to consult with the Department of Education and the Department of Commerce to develop a report that examines the state of career and technical education offered by local districts and to determine the alignment of program offerings and outcomes to industry demand and the state’s overall economic needs. 

EARLIER: The Foundation for Florida’s Future Applauds Investment in Workforce Development