The state's workforce development education system provides programs that are useful to industry and help students achieve economic self-sufficiency. However, completion rates in these programs are low-27.2% of the students who entered workforce education programs during the 1995-96 school year completed a program. Completion rates ranged from 17% in community college associate in science degree programs to 47.8% in community college adult vocational certificate programs.

Workforce programs provided between Fiscal Years 1996-97 and 1998-99 produced higher employment rates and higher average beginning wages for program completers than in the previous four years. Improved employment rates and increased earnings can be attributed to a strong economy in recent years and to actions taken by community colleges and school districts in response to legislative initiatives linking performance to funding.

Florida businesses are generally satisfied with the quality of training that their employees receive from the workforce development education system. However, they would like to see more hands-on and practical experience that would make employees more "job ready."

Florida has taken the lead in transforming the workforce development education funding process from a system based on the number of students served to one based on performance. In order to implement the funding formula, administrators have found it necessary to make significant changes in their program offerings, as well as in their method of gathering and reporting data.

There is an ongoing controversy concerning whether workforce development programs should be offered only by community colleges. Community college proponents cite the different missions of the two systems and numerous efficiencies associated with such a consolidation, while the school districts note the success of the current program, the nature of the students served by school districts, and costs associated with consolidation.

The Legislature should consider actions in four areas to ensure continued improvement in workforce education programs:

• require local providers to justify providing programs with low completions;
• require a more timely process for identifying new and emerging occupations;
• amend the funding formula to provide consistency in performance awards over time; and
• consider several controversial issues before amending the dual delivery system for workforce education programs