Florida GIECP – EIF Implementation in High School Energy Florida GIECP – EIF Implementation in High School Energy Career AcademiesCareer Academies

Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power CompanyJennifer Grove, Gulf Power Company

Florida GIECP Key Partners• Education partners (high schools, technical centers)

• State Workforce Board – Workforce Florida, Inc. – Youth Council

• Regional Workforce Boards (are providing WIA Youth Counselors to serve in career coaching role)

• Florida Ready-to-Work (Florida’s Work Keys Program)

• Carried out under guidance of FEWC Executive Committee

Florida GIECP Implementation Sites:• Northwest FL Region: Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power

– Gulf Power Academy at WFHS– Gulf Power Energy Institute at Milton High School– Electrical/welding programs at Locklin Tech– Youth STEM program in Okaloosa/Walton county this summer

• Polk County: Betsy Levingston, Lakeland Electric– Lakeland Electric Power Academy at Tenoroc High School– May add Traviss Career Center Electrical/welding programs

• Northeast FL: Sharon Patterson, JEA– STEM Academy at Raines High School

Career academy implementations

EIF is Embedded in Florida’s Energy Career Cluster

http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/dwdframe/energy_cluster_frame12.asp

• Most of these frameworks share 1st two common courses:– Energy Industry Fundamentals (CEWD curriculum materials)– Introduction to Alternative Energy (NCCER curriculum materials)

• Energy Technician Course Framework (600 hours)– Energy Industry Fundamentals (CEWD)– Electricity 1 (NCCER Core, Your Role in a Green Environment)– Introduction to Alternative Energy (NCCER)– Electricity 2 (NCCER Electrical 1)

Most commonly

used in Florida

career academies

Why roll out GIECP in Career Academies?• Existing energy curriculum in place – means:

– Existing process for recruitment and enrollment

– Existing relationships with school and district personnel that are required for success at the school level

• Had already structurally designed EIF course into most curriculum frameworks with Florida Department of Education

• Fit into our existing FEWC plan for Policy & Education

• Already had Florida Energy Teachers Network for collaboration

Additional format…• Youth STEM/ Energy Summer Program through a partner regional

workforce board -

– Funded by Workforce Florida, Inc. – state workforce board

– Embedded Career Coaching and EIF pieces of GIECP – goal was to refer to relevant technical training

• Students were enrolled full-time over the summer

• Students continue to meet regularly through WIA Youth program throughout year – focusing on remediation training, employability skills, and the math bootcamp

EIF Feedback from Year 1:• Solid course with great content and materials. Some improvements

need to be made (CEWD working on revisions).

• Detailed “train-the-trainer” and opportunity to learn from other instructor experiences is very valuable.

• Be sure to embed industry speakers and field trips along the way! Plan for this at beginning of school year.

• Key issues with end of course exam for high school students – working with CEWD and EIF Credential Advisory Committee on changes to address this concern.

• Recruited 169• Met with Case Mgr. 118• Took Work Keys 111• NCRC Silver or above 72• Took Employability Skills 20• Pass Employability Skills 12• Completed EIF 79 EIF Currently enrolled: 26• Take pre-employment test 11 Test Passed: 10• Total credentials earned 224 (including NCCER)• Hired (paid internships) 12

Florida GIECP Metrics•numbers include WFHS, Locklin Tech, Milton High School, Okaloosa/Walton STEM Youth program, Raines High School – will add Polk County this winter

•ALL are enrolled in relevant program

Critical Success Factors

• Meaningful partnerships at the state level with state Dept. of Education and state Workforce Board are CRITICAL!

• True industry engagement – have to be in it for the long haul! Must engage at state level for policy and local level for implementation.

• Need platform to build teacher/program network throughout state – instructors need support of other instructors – especially with new curriculum!

• Have to keep all partners and instructors up-to-speed on industry changes – especially during economic downturn

• Don’t implement anything that doesn’t already fit your plan!