alliancespotlight “There are numerous educational opportunities in Greater Fort Lauderdale for all ages, including specific programs addressing the needs of industries such as aviation, life sciences and technology.” Sam Robbin PRESIDENT & CEO, NATIONAL JETS, INC. 50 GFLA ECONOMIC SOURCEBOOK | www.gflalliance.org Photo by Jock Fistick - South Florida Business Journal EDUCATION Expanding Opportunities through Education Greater Fort Lauderdale’s highly regarded educational programs meet the needs of students, families, businesses and communities Greater Fort Lauderdale’s robust educational system provides a strong placement and college credit. BCPS’ goal is to graduate students who are foundation for the region’s high quality of life, offering a wide array of college and career ready and can meet the needs of programs to meet the academic needs of students and their families. in-demand, high-skill, high-wage occupations at all levels of industry needs. More than 6,600 industry certifications were earned by students in 2015/16. BCPS also offers adult and community education programs and services to thousands of Along with Greater Fort Lauderdale’s public, technical schools – evidence that BCPS graduates economically and ethnically diverse Broward County independent and private schools, the region’s are college and career ready. Ninety percent of BCPS residents. Programs include Adult Basic Education, colleges, universities and vocational facilities are also high schools have a graduation rate of 90 percent or Adult Secondary Education, General Educational committed to building a skilled workforce for today higher. Development (GED), English for Speakers of Other and tomorrow. The district has more than 14,000 full-time, Languages (ESOL), Family/Intergenerational Literacy, instructional staff members. The average experience BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Vocational Preparatory Instruction and programs for of a Broward teacher is 16 years, and more than 50 Adults with Disabilities. Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth percent of Broward teachers hold advanced degrees largest public school system in the United States and (master’s degree or doctorate.) Also, BCPS leads Business-Specific Education the second largest in Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first the state in the number of national board-certified As businesses identify their workforce requirements, fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS teachers. BCPS Technical Colleges (Atlantic, McFatter and has more than 265,000 students in 235 schools and Sheridan), Broward College and the area’s four-year education centers, and 103 charter schools. The Career, Technical, Adult, Community Education universities implement programs to meet the career district also has an award-winning virtual school interests of students and the staffing requirements of and serves more than 175,000 adult and continuing BCPS Career, Technical, Adult, Community local employers. In 2016, students attending Broward education students. Education (CTACE) programs are designed to Technical Colleges earned industry certifications in BCPS serves a diverse student population prepare students to be leaders in today’s global 48 tested areas, resulting in the colleges receiving with students representing 208 different countries market. By implementing project-based learning, $644,562 from the Florida Department of Education and speaking 181 different languages. With an students are given opportunities to work with (FLDOE) Performance Incentive Funding (PIF). operating budget of $3.4 billion for the 2015/16 the business community and colleges to learn the Funds will be used to continue updating technology school year, BCPS is also a vital part of the area’s foundational skills for the workplace. A multitude and equipment to meet industry standards. economy and a key contributor to vibrant South of programs, courses and activities provide both Broward Technical Colleges boast state-of- Florida communities. More than 42,000 volunteers interdisciplinary and cross-curricula instruction that the-art equipment and facilities, informed and generously donate their time to BCPS. BECON-TV, leads to industry certification, and may result in job the district’s Broward Education Communications Network, is an FCC-licensed station that delivers educational programming in South Florida. BCPS is committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential and has adopted a three-year strategic plan focused on high-quality instruction, continuous improvement and effective communication. The district’s vision is educating today’s students to succeed in tomorrow’s world. All district schools, K-12, are accredited by AdvancED (SACS/CASI), a global leader in advancing educational excellence. More than $90 million in scholarships was awarded to 13,000-plus graduates in 2016. The Class of 2016 graduates will attend more than 600 Photo courtesy of colleges, universities and Broward College EDUCATION 51 EDUCATION skilled faculty and industry-validated educational to arrange family visits to their campuses. Many also programs. Online learning opportunities have offer bus transportation. Educational Excellence been expanded in a variety of workforce education For more information, see the chart on page 54. programs to better serve the needs of students who Builds Business require flexible scheduling options. In addition, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES the Broward Technical Colleges provide business A wide range of colleges and universities serve Greater The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance’s training solutions on technical college campuses, at Fort Lauderdale, including both state and private-sector “Educational Excellence Builds Business” business sites and online to address specific training institutions offering associate, bachelor, master and campaign showcases the high quality of needs and schedules. The district’s industry partners doctoral degree programs. More than 40 institutions Greater Fort Lauderdale’s preK–20 education have honored many career and technical education offer associate’s degrees or higher within 30 miles of Fort system and the outstanding quality of the programs with national awards of excellence. Lauderdale, including eleven with MBA degrees. Many local workforce. Additionally, the campaign institutions also offer certificate or custom training presents information about South Florida’s Seamless Education programs that focus on workforce development and the “world-class” faculty and recognizes Through approved agreements, Broward’s high needs of Broward employers. Broward’s post-secondary educators who are nationally or internationally school and adult students may earn post-secondary institutions feature state-of-the-industry equipment, known in their fields. The following educators college credits toward industry-recognized technical an informed and skilled faculty and accommodating have been recognized. certificates and degrees. In Career and Technical facilities with flexible class schedules compatible with • 2016: Dr. Nancy Klimas, Professor and Chair Education, Magnet Programs, the College Academy, student and employer requirements. of the Department of Clinical Immunology in Technical Dual Enrollment and Smaller Learning Here are profiles of several leading colleges and the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Communities, students universities. Southeastern University benefit from a rigorous Dr. David Serrano, Biological Science/ • 2015: and relevant curriculum DIVERSITY BREAKDOWN Ana G. Mendez Environmental Science Bachelors Program at University System to help them meet their (2015/2016) Broward College. individual goals. The Ana G. Mendez • 2014: Dr. Keith Van de Riet, Assistant For more information • White: 50.9% University System Professor in the School of Architecture and about Broward County • Black: 40.6% features an accelerated Planning at Florida Atlantic University. Public Schools programs, • Hispanic (of any race): 31.5% dual language (English- • 2013: Dr. Nwadiuto Esiobu, Director of the visit: www.browardschools. • Asian: 3.7% Spanish) higher education Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory at the Davie com and www. • Multiracial: 3.5% program for adults. Its campus, Florida Atlantic University browardtechcenters.com. bilingual instructors • 2012: Dr. Pierre-Philippe Jean Beaujean, • American Indian or Alaskan Native: 1.0% teach a curriculum that Associate Professor, Department of Ocean Independent and • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.2% is presented 50 percent and Mechanical Engineering, Florida Atlantic Private Schools Source: Broward County Public Schools, Fall 2016 in English and 50 percent University Greater Fort Lauderdale in Spanish, ensuring • 2011: Dr. Ann-Margaret Esnard, Professor and has more than 60 that graduates will have Director of the Visual Planning Technology Lab private and independent developed advanced at Florida Atlantic University’s School of Urban schools that meet a variety of student academic and skills in both languages. Bilingual professionals and Regional Planning personal needs. Accredited non-public schools hold graduate with bachelor or master’s degrees in several • 2010: Dr. Nan-Yao Su, Professor of memberships in organizations such as the Southern professional areas including management, human Entomology at the Institute of Food and Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the resources, accounting, finance and criminal justice. Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), the