Institute for Workforce Competitiveness

STW Fact Sheet

This is an at-a-glance summary of Florida STW, perfect for handing out at meetings where STW is on the agenda. Gives scope of employer and student participation, Tech Prep student outcomes, and other statistics.

A neatly formatted, 2-page PDF version is also available for download.

To download the 17K Fact Sheet: Right-click on the PDF icon. Choose "save as" and then OK.

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Note on Sources of Information: The data presented in this Overview are from statewide studies and reports prepared by the Institute for Workforce Competitiveness for the Florida Department of Education. For further information, contact Dr. Frank T. Hammons, Director.

Basic Information

School-to-Work: The School-to-Work (STW) initiative is one of four workforce and economic development components included in The Florida Workforce Development Act of 1996. The other components are High Skills High Wages, One-Stop Centers, and Welfare-to-Work. Florida has been receiving federal funds made available by the federal School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 which provides five (5) years of venture capital to the States to develop an integrated system of workforce education that reflects local and regional labor market needs. Florida was awarded $54.6 million over five years (1995 – 2000).
Florida’s School-to-Work Mission: Florida’s School-to-Work system is designed to (1) enable every person to achieve economic independence and to attain the quality of life to which he or she aspires, and (2) to work in full partnership with business and industry to prepare a workforce that will allow Florida’s employers to remain competitive in the global economy.
Florida’s School-to-Work Goals

Higher Academic Standards
Reduced Dropout Rate

Improved Career Opportunities for All
More Highly Skilled Workforce

Florida’s Major Career Clusters: (new, emerging, and expanding high-growth, high-wage industries and related occupations)

health-care services
hospitality/tourism/ entertainment

construction-related work
information and telecommunications

human and social services
finance and insurance

Florida School-to-Work Highlights

1. Employer Participation

Number of private business establishments participating in STW partnerships increased 28% in 1998, from 23,119 to 29,672.
Throughout 1996-98, "Support from the Business Community" was consistently among the top four categories of success cited by STW Partnerships.

2. Secondary Public Schools and Students participating in STW activities (1996-97)

Item Reported		1997	1998	% Change
Academic curriculum with reference to world of work	Schools:	353	362	+3 %
Academic curriculum with reference to world of work	Students:	240,394	337,621	+40 %
Integration of academic and vocation/occupational curriculum	Schools:	310	342	+10 %
	Students:	196,052	178,241	-9 %
Work-Based Learning experience connected to integrated curriculum	Schools:	288	357	+24 %
	Students:	53,971	113,241	+110 %
Job Shadowing and/or Mentoring	Students:	37,420	41,753	+12 %
Internships	Students:	8,680	11,204	+29 %
Apprenticeships (includes youth/pre- and registered)	Students:	737	4,610	+526 %

3. Tech Prep: Florida’s leading school-based learning component for School-to-Work has had significant impact.

Tech Prep Participation

Item Reported	1^st Year with Data Collected (Year)	Most Recent Data Collected (Year)	% Change
# Tech Prep Consortia	11 (93)	28 (98)	+154 %
# Participating High Schools	85 (93)	366 (98)	+330 %
# Participating 2-year Colleges	11 (91)	28 (98)	+154 %
# Participating 4-year Colleges	0 (93)	5 (98)
# Articulation Agreements	25 (93)	1,224 (98)	+4,796 %
# Participating High School Students	7,552 (93)	150,489 (98)	+1,892 %
# Participating Postsecondary Students	68 (95)	9,512 (98)	+13,888 %
# Programs of Study Career Areas/Majors Offered	249 (93)	1,553 (98)	+523 %

Tech Prep Student Outcomes – 1996-97

Item Reported	Tech Prep Graduates	Non-Tech Prep Graduates
Employed after high school	56 %	50 %
Continued their education after high school	55 %	50 %
Source: Florida Employment Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP), FL Dept of Education

FL Public High School Graduates – Readiness for College: 1996-97

Item Reported	# Tested	# Ready	% Ready
Tech Prep	4,627	2,777	60.0 %
College/University Degree-Seeking (Non-Tech Prep)	35,306	21,361	60.5 %
Total	39,933	24,138	60.4 %
Source: Readiness for College Report, FL Dept of Education

4. Florida School-to-Work Zone: This business identification program recognizes business and governmental entities that are committed to improving their local education system through active participation and involvement in STW activities.

- A formal one-year partnership agreement is developed between a business and school(s). The business becomes actively involved in atleast four (4) types of STW activities. Business with long-term, consistent commitment are eligible for Silver Zone and Gold Zone Awards.

- Up to three (3) Silver Zone Awards are given in each local region at the discretion of the local STW office. Local regions nominate one of their Silver Zone Award winners for the Gold Zone Award.

- Nine (9) Gold Zone Awards and one (1) Special Partner Achievement Award are selected by a statewide panel of judges.

5. Florida Department of Labor: Training Related to School-to-Work: - Training on Child Labor Laws: 5000+ teachers and counselors; - Worksite Mentors Train-the-Trainer: over 330 people trained as trainers to date; - Presentations on Labor Market Information: 425 people (educators and business/industry)