Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

More Than Half of the State's School Districts Have Career Academies, Most Operating in 2004-05 Incorporated Nationally Recognized Core Elements

Report 06-55, July 2006




Report Summary

  • More than one-half of the state's school districts operate career academies that provide integrated academic and vocational training to high school students. Thirty-six districts reported 544 such programs, most of which are located within a comprehensive high school and serve students in the 9th through 12th grades. Almost all programs have admission criteria, the most common being a minimum GPA.
  • Most (85%) of the 379 Florida career academies that operated during the 2004-05 school year reported implementing at least two of the three nationally recognized core program elements, and more than one-third reported implementing all three core elements.
  • One-half of Florida's career academies use some form of certification mechanism, although the type of certification used varies depending on the programs' career focus and the availability of certifying entities.
  • There has been little state-level assistance to support career academy development, curriculum alignment, certification, and the sharing of best practices. Until the 2006 legislative session, there was no state-level definition of what a career academy is and when a program can legitimately call itself a career academy.


Related Reports
  1. Legislature Overhauled Florida's System of Career and Professional Academies
    Report 08-59 October 2008
  2. Career Academy Students Perform Better Than Other Students During High School; Later Outcomes Vary
    Report 07-40 October 2007
  3. Most School District Career Academies Incorporated Nationally Recognized Core Elements in 2004-05
    Report 06-56 July 2006
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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