Florida GIECP – EIF Implementation in High School Energy Career Academies Jennifer 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 Most of these frameworks share 1 st 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.

Recruited169 Met with Case Mgr.118 Took Work Keys111 NCRC Silver or above72 Took Employability Skills 20 Pass Employability Skills 12 Completed EIF79 EIF Currently enrolled: 26 Take pre-employment test 11 Test Passed: 10 Total credentials earned224 (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!