Career Academies Prepare Future Workforce

Career academies differ from traditional academic and vocational education because they prepare high school students for both college and careers. The academies in Florida provide broad information about trade, logistics, distribution, business and marketing, and weave these disciplines into an academic curriculum that qualifies students for admission to a four-year college or university. Studies have found that students in career academies perform better in high school and are more likely to continue into postsecondary education, compared to similar students in the same schools.

The Employ Florida Banner Center for Global Logistics and its business and industry partners in Florida are preparing youth for the logistics and supply chain jobs of tomorrow through Career Academies that are in tune with today's technology. Students in grades 9 through 12 at Columbia High School in Lake City, First Coast High School, Robert E. Lee High School, and Nathan B. Forrest High School in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra High School in St. Johns County, and Distrotek @ Kathleen High School and Winter Haven High School in Polk County, have the opportunity to learn about international trade, logistics, business, and marketing. Students and teachers are being exposed to a variety of field experiences that enhance classroom instruction through guest speakers, field studies, job shadowing, mentoring and internships.

The Banner Center has been actively involved in the Career Academy movement by supporting grants for high school studies, post-secondary articulation, conducting research and focus groups and garnering recognized industry certifications through partnerships with the American Society for Transportation and Logistics and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

To support International Trade, there are a plethora of warehouses and distribution centers throughout the state. Realizing the need, the Banner Center and the consortium education partners led the charge in creating new curriculum frameworks to launch the Global Logistics and Supply Chain Technology Career Academy. This new Career Academy will focus students on learning skill sets needed to run a business among any strand in the Supply Chain. In 2010 several North Florida Counties will start new programs thanks to the strong support from regional economic development, education, business and industry partners.

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