Brevard Tomorrow A Community Journey

1. Brevard Tomorrow A Community Journey

2. our “preferred future” Through effective and collaborative public/private partnerships, Brevard County is a visionary community with a vibrant economy and unparalleled quality of life.

3. Brevard Tomorrow’s Five Working Project Teams Civic Infrastructure Increase citizen involvement and pride in Brevard County Economy Develop a comprehensive, coordinated and seamless economic development plan for Brevard Education and Workforce Strengthen education and workforce systems Governance Increase coordination and communication among municipal and county governments Land Use & Growth Educate and reach consensus about growth and conservation issues

4. Brevard TomorrowEducation and WorkforceStudent Project Team

5. Education and Workforce • Goals • Create & promote career awareness & requirements for obtaining a living wage job • Support development of demonstration of competency elements as graduation requirement • Transfer awareness to lower-wage workers • Work with employers to share understanding of job requirements and their availability • Support efforts of the Brevard Workforce Development Board

6. Student Branch GoalBoils Down To: Enhance the student’s understanding of the skills, knowledge, and expertise necessary to earn a self- sufficient wage in Brevard County.

7. Education and WorkforceTwo Focus Audiences, Two Working Teams Parents of high school students “How to help their student with career exploration” High school Students “Enhance the students’ understanding of the skills, knowledge, and expertise necessary to earn a self- sufficient wage in Brevard County.” Later use the data to reach younger underemployed workers

8. Information Delivery Three presentations developed: For Parents to be delivered in a variety of venues; larger employers, civic organizations, ……. For Teachers to help when working with Students to be delivered at In-service sessions For Students to be delivered hopefully by Teachers, or volunteers in classrooms

9. So Where Do We Start? By Understanding Where We Are Today • Conducted student and teacher survey • 1,312 students; 184 teachers • Questions on living wage and career preparation • Researched other areas & ideas • Learned related activity schools and community do now • What do employers need • What is a “living wage”

10. Interesting survey observations: Most students plan on college (83%), have a career goal (77%), and believe post secondary education is important to their goal (86%) Teachers, however, do not think students have a career goal (82%) Student’s have some knowledge on what it will take to completely support themselves when working and living on their own (12th Grade) Less than $10/hr 3% $10 - 14/hr 20% $14 - 18/hr 25% $18 - 22/hr 26% > $22/hr 26%

11. Survey observations, con’t When asked about schools preparing students for career, results were: Students Teachers Very satisfied 11% 9% Somewhat satisfied 35% 36% Satisfied 30% 40% When asked whether they were knowledgeable on Business needs teachers responded: Very knowledgeable 25% Knowledgeable 43% Somewhat knowledgeable 30% Answers in both areas would suggest room for improvement

12. With Career Goals Without Career Goals 32% 20% Survey observations, con’t “Career Counseling” was found more useful by students with career goals Students who thought “Career Counseling” useful, also thought school had prepared them 80% 28% Career Counseling Very Useful Career Counseling Not Useful

13. Survey observations, con’t “EMERGING THEMES” from the Teacher/Administrator survey… The following were the general responses when asked “What would you like to see added to the high school curriculum that would help students (and you) in planning and preparing for the student’s career goals?” • Vocational Programs – (30%) • Life Skills – (16%) • Career Counseling/Education – (11%) • Workshops/Guest Speakers/Career Day/Shadowing/Intern – (9%) • Personal Finance – (5%) • Technology Courses – (4%) • Community Service/Interaction/Involvement – (3%) • General Business – (3%) • Other • Career Counseling/Specific Skills for non-college bound • Multicultural/Diversity Skills

14. External Research - Common Themes Wide consensus students do not fully understand what constitutes a “living wage” or what intangibles employers require Define and set career - school expectations Utilize work based learning where possible (shadowing, interviews, workplace tours, mentoring, etc) - Students start to draw connection between school and work - Students start build soft skills employers require - Stimulates interest in career planning, adds information Engage businesses more in school programs to focus on career to strengthen emphasis on business needs, and support career planning Students performance improves with a bridge between school and the workplace, integrated curriculums

15. External Research - Common Themes Transition programs focusing on reading, writing, math, problem solving, and employability and career awareness Build academic program around career clusters (example in Brevard) Colorado Springs, one of Brevard Tomorrow’s benchmark communities - On-line focus on Workplace Literacy Competencies - Communication skills - Organization skills - Thinking skills - Worker qualities - Technology skills - Use COIN Career Community internet program for “living wage and career information - high participation - Contextual learning of workplace competencies in general education, most taught in career and technical courses

16. Kister Consulting Researchers found that students’ scores on standardized tests and alternate assessments were higher if their classes involved work that resembled real situations High- Achieving HSTW Sites Low-AchievingHSTW Sites Students said they frequently had joint assignments in: Writing 90% 23% Mathematics 41% 13% Science 60% 19% HSTW - High Schools That Work

17. Current and Future Planned Activity Workforce Development Board, Tech Prep Consortium Capstone Project - Competitive grants to be provided to selected high schools - Career development emphasis - Schools design and implement projects to their specifications - Implement Capstone Projects 2005/6 (Edgewood, Titusville, West Shore) Work Readiness Credential Project - Multi-state project to develop entry-level workers skills and tasks - Based on business input on what's important - Primary use through One-Stop Career Centers - School systems may adopt but not mandatory - Projected rollout mid-2006

18. Brevard School System Efforts Brevard schools start with introduction of people from different field visiting primary classrooms, discussions about the workplace in classrooms, embedding specific skills in curriculum, and development of “soft skills” as part of on-going classes Career day - adult workers visit schools tied to an instructional area Reality Store - students experience operating on a “living wage” Course offerings include: Life Management Skills Research and Critical Thinking Applied Technology Program AT CHOICE

19. Brevard School System Efforts Numerous on-going activities support workforce preparation Character education Consistent expectation of so called “soft skills” Career exposure through the classroom Guidance and counseling opportunities Opportunities for parent involvement Career Fairs Reality Store Apprenticeship opportunities Career Academies Summer enrichment activities Varied curriculum offerings Career exploration partnership with BCC Problem solving opportunities Leadership opportunities Tutoring Mentoring Newsletters WEB Sites Visitation by College Representative Career and College Night Events

20. Living Wage A “Living Wage” is the salary necessary to meet expenses making a family self-sufficient, requiring no Government assistance. Included necessary expenses include: Food Housing Telephone Transportation Household supplies Health/dental care Child care Necessary expenses do not include: Dining out Credit card debt Savings Renters/life insurance Social/recreation Internet Car payment Cell phone Cable TV Family Household Living WageAnnualHourly 1 Working adult, 2 children employer health care $ 35,380 $17.69 2 Working adults, 2 children, employer health care $ 44,111 $11.03 ea Single, employer health care, car & cable $ 20,508 $10.25

21. How much will $14, $18, or $22/hour buy? Two parents, two children Not yet included

22. Sample of Occupations gaining the most new Jobs in Brevard OccupationEntry WageAvg. Wage • Automotive Service Technicians & Mechanics $9.08 $15.80 • Bookkeeping, Accounting , and Auditing Clerks $8.13 $12.11 • Carpenters $10.85 $15.22 • Cashiers $6.57 $8.75 • Janitors and Cleaners $6.43 $9.06 • Medical Assistants $8.13 $10.27 • Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers $14.52 $17.52 • Receptionists and Information Clerks $6.83 $9.21 • Registered Nurses $18.85 $23.59 • Secondary School Teachers, Exc. Special & Voc. $19.80 $27.34 • Teacher Assistants $11.02 $12.12 • Tile and Marble Setters $11.89 $17.85 • Waiters and Waitresses $6.04 $6.85 Source: Florida Agency for Workforce Innovtion, Labor Market Statistics – March, 2005

23. Education and Training pays … Unemployment Rate(Percent) Median Earnings (Dollars) Master’s degree Bachelor’s degree Associate degree Some college, no degree High-school, graduate Some high-school, no diploma Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000.

24. Employers Really Want • Values • Honesty, integrity, morality • Adaptability & flexibility • Dedication, tenacity, hard working • Dependability & responsibility • Loyalty • Positive Attitude • Motivation, energy, passion • Professionalism • Self-confidence • Work with little supervision • Willingness to learn • Skills • Communication; listening, verbal, written • Analytical & research • Computer & technical literacy • Flexibility & adaptability • Managing multiple priorities • Interpersonal skills • Leadership & management • Multicultural awareness & sensitivity • Planning & organizing • Problem solving • Reasoning & creativity • Teamwork Employers want basic math, reading, and computer skills; and more importantly well developed “soft” skills

25. Conclusions and Recommendations Continual message for Students and Teachers about a “Living Wage” and Employer Requirements • TheStudent Branch has prepared a version of this presentation to give to teachers and students; emphasizing “living wage”, employer requirements, and information sources • Flyer prepared for handout on primary elements • Continue in: • Morning announcements • Posters • “Live” business visits • Computer lab online information Maintain emphasis on formal career planning programs integrated with academic plans

26. Information and Reference Sources Florida.echoices.com Mymedcareer.com Brevardjoblink.org Brevardyouthworks.org aci.org careerbuilder.com acrna.net pirate.brevard.k12.fl.us/Resource/Index.html brevardtomorrow.com Living Wage presentation Student-Teacher Survey results This presentation Other information