Secondary Education Grant Award

Bay County School District

In 2007, the Bay County School District was awarded a $200,000 grant to launch Project Lead the Way, an intensive pre-engineering curriculum, in Arnold High School as well as in Surfside, Merritt Brown and Jenks Middle Schools. Project Lead the Way's curricula makes math and science relevant for students. By engaging in hands-on, real-world projects, students understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in everyday life. This approach is called activities-based learning, project-based learning and problem-based learning (APPB-learning). Research shows that schools practicing APPB-learning experience an increase in student motivation, cooperative learning skills, higher-order thinking and student achievement. When fully implemented, the program will have enrollment of more than 250 students.

Haney Technical Institute, the county’s vocational education center located in Panama City, received a $100,000 grant in 2007 for the creation of a Construction Technology Institute. Incorporating NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) and MSSC (Manufacturing Skill Standards Council) certification training, the Institute serves nearly 100 high school students.

Escambia County School District

West Florida High School of Advanced Technology in Pensacola received a $40,000 grant in 2006 to add an Aerospace Technology and Flight Academy to its lengthy career academy offerings. The Aerospace Technology Curriculum within the Career Academy will provide its 120 enrolled students with a wide range of opportunities to meet rigorous academic standards for industry and business relevancy. The Academy will also prepare students with post-secondary planning to ensure that all graduates have a post-secondary plan that will provide the opportunity to advance their academic program. Every student will have the opportunity to matriculate with either a Private Pilots Certificate or preparation to continue with an FAA mechanics certification and enter Embry-Riddle University to pursue either track.

In 2007, the School District was awarded a $200,000 grant to launch Project Lead the Way, an intensive pre-engineering curriculum, in Escambia High School and West Florida High School as well as in Woodham and Warrington Middle Schools. Project Lead the Way's curricula makes math and science relevant for students. By engaging in hands-on, real-world projects, students understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in everyday life. This approach is called activities-based learning, project-based learning, and problem-based learning (or APPB-learning, for short). Research shows that schools practicing APPB-learning experience an increase in student motivation, cooperative learning skills, higher-order thinking, and student achievement. When fully implemented the program will have enrollment of more than 250 students.

Franklin & Liberty School Districts

In a jointly submitted proposal to serve both school districts, the IT-CORE (Information Technology – Career Opportunities in Rural Education) project was awarded a $112,000 grant in 2007. This career academy introduces career options in Information Technology to the students in each of the counties’ high schools. Students have the opportunity to earn A++ and CompTIA certifications as they hone their skills for employment in information technology positions. In 2008, they received an additional award of $110, 400 to expand the existing program by adding additional certifications.

Gadsden County School District

In 2008, the Gadsden County School district was awarded a $110,000 grant to create an information technology institute at West Gadsden High School. The district is working with the Banner Center of Excellence for Career Academies/Secondary Education to determine specific curriculum and certifications to be offered.

Gulf County School District

In 2007, the Gulf County School District was awarded a $19,000 grant to develop its first dual enrollment program offering students in Port St. Joe and Wewahitchka High Schools college level math course opportunities. Coordinated with Gulf Coast Community College, the program has enrollment approaching 50 students. In 2008, the district received $24,844 to expand its curriculum to include additional courses and increase enrollment opportunities.

Jackson County School District

In 2007, Marianna High School was awarded a $60,094 grant to launch Project Lead the Way, an intensive pre-engineering curriculum. Project Lead the Way's curricula makes math and science relevant for students. By engaging in hands-on, real-world projects, students understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in everyday life. This approach is called activities-based learning, project-based learning and problem-based learning (APPB-learning). Research shows that schools practicing APPB-learning experience an increase in student motivation, cooperative learning skills, higher-order thinking and student achievement. When fully implemented the program will have enrollment of 75 students.

Jefferson County School District

In 2007, the Jefferson County School District was awarded $38,000 to launch an Aerospace and Flight Academy at Jefferson County High School. Following the structure of the program launched at West Florida High School in Pensacola, Jefferson County’s Aerospace and Flight Academy will prepare students for future careers in the aviation industry by offering an opportunity to matriculate with either a Private Pilots Certificate or preparation to continue with an FAA mechanics certification and enter Embry Riddle University at neighboring North Central Florida Community College to pursue either track.

Leon County School District

Two grants were awarded to the Leon County School District In 2007. The first supported the expansion of the Academy of Academics & Technology to include a Geospatial Technology (GIS) curriculum within the Academy’s Information Technology programming. Industry-recognized training certifications offered to 150 enrolled students include Microsoft Office Suites applications; database and programming, technical support and networking certifications from CompTIA, SUN Java, Cisco; web and digital media from Acrobat / Macromedia; plus future industry certifications as the marketplace dictates.

The second award, issued to Amos P. Godby High School, funded the launch of its Academy of Architecture, Engineering and Construction. Working with business and industry partners as well as other stakeholders, Godby High is implementing a rigorous, relevant, research-based curriculum that will result in an industry-recognized certification for academy graduates. The Contren Learning Series developed by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and the University of Florida is the basis for the curriculum for AECA construction classes.

Okaloosa County School District

Site of the creation of the CHOICE™ career academies (Community High Okaloosa Institutes for Career Education), the district received support from the WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative for creation of two new academies in 2006. The district received a $250,000 grant to create the Allied Health and Medical Devices Institute (AHMDI) which offers six pathways including Allied Medical Device Design and Allied Medical Devices, as well as Allied Physician, Pharmacy, Nurse and Medical Support programs. These pathways include post-secondary partners and offer opportunities for university credit and industry certifications. They also provide training for access to high-skill, high-demand and high-wage careers in the life services and medical technologies industry. The CHOICE™ Institute provides students with opportunities to design and manufacture medical support devices under the quality assurance of Hangar Corporation. These devices will be created following industry standards in response to a hypothetical medical issue that students will be tasked to research and solve. The devices that will be manufactured are purely for training purposes and will have no retail market use.

The Okaloosa County School District also sought and received endorsement for the Computer Numeric Coding and Design Institute. The district did not request grant funding for the CNCDI’s launch, but instead requested in-kind support for development of its business partnerships and shared information on the workforce needs in the region relative to CNC operations.

In 2006, Northwest Florida State College, formerly known as Okaloosa-Walton College, received $350,000 grant funding to develop and launch Project C2 (Career Connections) at its Collegiate High School. Project C2 uses applied activities, laboratory experiments, real-life research projects, speakers, field experiences, career chats, simulations and other “hands-on, minds-on” approaches in engineering, mathematics and science as a curriculum enhancement project to inspire students to pursue secondary degrees and careers in these areas. Project C2 engineering, mathematics and science activities (eC2, mC2, sC2 respectively) will address the following goals:

  • Increase the number of high school students who will major in engineering, science and/or mathematics at the high school and college/university levels
  • Provide a curriculum enhancement program in engineering, science and mathematics that is replicable at other high schools
  • Develop a curriculum enhancement program in engineering, science and mathematics which supports the expansion of Florida’s school choice options through the Okaloosa-Walton College model
  • Demonstrate the commitment of Northwest Florida's higher education to promote and support college majors in engineering, mathematics and science
  • Involve local business and industry leaders in the development and support of local students interested in science, math or engineering careers

The heart of the program is the Learning-intensive Career Connections (LinC2) Lab which will provide a vital connection between academic theory and the living workplace, demonstrating the relevance of classroom rigor to real-world careers.

Santa Rosa County School District

Locklin Technical Center, the county’s vocation education center, received an $81,006 grant to launch a Construction Academy that now serves more than 200 students. Students learn the fundamentals of construction trades including building construction, carpentry, hearting and air conditioning, electricity and welding while earning OSHA and NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) certifications.

Wakulla County School District

In 2008, Wakulla County School District was awarded a $130,000 grant to expand an existing medical academy by adding Project Lead the Way's Biomedical Science curriculum at Wakulla High School. This is a new offering only recently available through Project Lead the Way and Wakulla County will be one of the first districts to implement this cutting-edge program in Florida. Project Lead the Way's curricula makes math and science relevant for students. By engaging in hands-on, real-world projects, students understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in everyday life. This approach is called activities-based learning, project-based learning, and problem-based learning (or APPB-learning, for short). Research shows that schools practicing APPB-learning experience an increase in student motivation, cooperative learning skills, higher-order thinking, and student achievement. Anticipated enrollment at full implementation is 150.

Washington County School District

In 2008, Washington County School District was awarded a $200,000 grant to implement Project Lead the Way's pre-engineering curriculum at both Chipley and Vernon High Schools. Project Lead the Way's curricula makes math and science relevant for students. By engaging in hands-on, real-world projects, students understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied in everyday life. This approach is called activities-based learning, project-based learning, and problem-based learning (or APPB-learning, for short). Research shows that schools practicing APPB-learning experience an increase in student motivation, cooperative learning skills, higher-order thinking, and student achievement. Anticipated enrollment is 25 students per grade, per school.