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Tallahassee, Fla. – The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors has approved an updated list of 218 Career and Professional Education (CAPE) industry certifications for middle and high school students. The state Department of Education will produce a preliminary CAPE list this week.
“This year’s Career and Professional Education (CAPE) certification process is historic in that the review team from the Department of Education, CareerSource Florida and the Department of Economic Opportunity examined each proposal to align with Governor Ron DeSantis’ and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s vision for higher standards in Career and Technical Education,” said Kevin Doyle, Chairman of the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors, after the board’s vote Feb. 20. “The CareerSource Florida Board sincerely appreciates the educators and training providers throughout Florida who shared their perspectives with us throughout this important process.”
The CareerSource Florida board is required to annually review the recommendations for CAPE certification programs brought forward by a team of subject matter experts from the Department of Education, CareerSource Florida and the Department of Economic Opportunity and determine whether to forward the list to the state Board of Education for funding by the Department of Education. The CAPE list will be finalized by the state Board of Education this summer.
“I commend the CareerSource Florida board for approving 218 in-demand Career and Professional Education certifications,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “The department has made great strides to ensure Florida students have greater access to rigorous learning opportunities, and these certificates will absolutely lead students to many career opportunities. CAPE certificates are aligned to workforce demand and are critical to ensure a talented workforce. This is a huge step in the right direction to achieve Governor DeSantis’ goal for Florida to become No. 1 in the nation for workforce education by 2030.”
Special guest and Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson addressed the board as the meeting got underway, expressing his gratitude for CareerSource Florida’s critical partnership in the Florida Chamber’s work to plan and prepare for Florida’s future.
“The world of work is changing, and public-private partnerships, such as CareerSource Florida and its economic development counterpart, Enterprise Florida, are key to building America’s best workforce in our state,” Wilson said. “We know more than half of Florida’s job creators, our businesses, already are engaged in public-private partnerships for workforce training and skills development. The Florida Chamber is grateful to the CareerSource Florida Board’s visionary and strategic investments in our work, including the Florida Chamber Foundation’s latest report, Florida Workforce 2030, to help diversify Florida’s economy and grow more higher-wage, higher-skill jobs.”
The board also approved 11 strategic and administrative policies to further strengthen compliance and accountability within the state workforce system and heard from a panel of experts who shared best practices and insights on developing champions in board governance and leadership. The panel was moderated by Michael Lawrence, whose consulting firm, Community Workforce Advancements, LLC., is nationally recognized for its expertise in workforce and education systems change, and included remarks by the following chairs of state and local workforce development boards:
- CareerSource Gulf Coast Chair Jennifer Conoley, APR, CEcD, senior economic development project manager for Gulf Power
- CareerSource Florida Board member and Finance Council Chairman Arnie Girnun, chief success officer of the FVI School of Nursing and Technology and CEO of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of South Florida and the Caribbean
- CareerSource Southwest Florida Chair Mike Jackson, APR, public relations and economic development consultant
- CareerSource Northeast Florida Chair Elaine Johnson, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, principal at GuideWell/Florida Blue
Additionally, the board received an update from Robin King, President, Florida Workforce Development Association and President and CEO, CareerSource Flagler Volusia, on success stories and best practices throughout the CareerSource Florida network. Sheryl Rehberg, Executive Director, CareerSource Escarosa, provided the board with an overview of an innovative pilot program, funded at the direction of the CareerSource Florida board, that uses a “braided funding” approach between local workforce development boards and their respective Community Action Agencies to help people in crisis ultimately become independent of government assistance.
Michelle Dennard, President and CEO of CareerSource Florida, said, “The CareerSource Florida network of volunteer business leaders and dedicated workforce professionals changes lives and strengthens communities every day. I’m honored to serve the state workforce board, which, under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, advances policies that enhance education and training available to all Floridians, working closely with partners to align these opportunities with the current and emerging needs of industry.”
The business-led CareerSource Florida Board of Directors develops and guides workforce policy and investment for the state of Florida with a specific focus on meeting the current and future needs of growing industry sectors. The board meets quarterly, with additional executive committee and council meetings throughout the year.
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ABOUT CAREERSOURCE FLORIDA
CareerSource Florida, with its business-led board of directors, provides policy direction for talent development programs administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards and their 100 career centers. The CareerSource Florida State Board serves as the Governor’s principal workforce policy and investment board, working in partnership with DEO, which is responsible for the state workforce system’s fiscal and administrative affairs, and local workforce development boards that serve Florida’s businesses and career seekers. Together, the CareerSource Florida network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity. Learn more at careersourceflorida.com.