$6.5M In Funds To Develop Civic Academies To Train New FL Leaders

FLORIDA — Gov. Ron DeSantis has awarded Polk State College, Broward College and Florida State College at Jacksonville $6.5 million to launch the Career Pathways for Public Service Initiative, which will develop a national model for preparing students for public service and careers in local or state government.

The civics academies will allow students to start preparing in the ninth grade for meaningful careers while learning about the importance of public trust, government efficiency and other aspects of state and national government, said DeSantis during a news conference this week at Florida State College.

The program is part of DeSantis’ larger Civic Literacy Excellence Initiative to develop a civics curriculum and implement DeSantis' revised civics and government standards in public schools.

“It was great to award $6.5 million to create civics academies through three of our nation-leading state colleges,” said DeSantis. “This first-of-its-kind program will teach our future leaders foundational American values as they prepare for careers in public service.”

“A strong civics education is a necessity for those entering civil service,” said Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. in a news release. “By providing a pathway for students to pursue careers in the public sector, Florida is ensuring a smarter, more efficient state and local government for years to come.”

Polk State College, Broward College and Florida State College at Jacksonville will work in partnership with the Lou Frey Institute, which will serve as the lead curriculum developer for new statewide civics career academies.

The grant will support the development and implementation of no less than three regional civic pathway partnerships to be managed by Polk State, Broward College and Florida State College at Jacksonville.

The three colleges will then partner with their school districts to implement the civics career academies in their communities. DeSantis said more than 1,000 students are expected to enroll for the 2023-24 academic year.

The civics career academies will launch in August 2023. Courses will include public service leadership, careers and communication, experiential learning, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities with local and state agencies, and a research seminar.

“The Career Pathways for Public Service Initiative aligns with the Lou Frey Institute’s development of a civic assessment currently being administered by institutions across Florida,” said The Lou Frey Institute Director Stephen Masyada. “We are excited to expand that work by creating a secondary civic curriculum and accompanied teacher training, which will ensure students graduate high school with the knowledge and skills to succeed in both the public sector and in advanced public service career preparation. The value of lifelong civic learning, connecting civic education and engagement to professional development and careers, is critical for advancing civil society.”

Additionally, the partnership with local school districts will include summer 2023 programming at the three colleges to prepare students for industry certification exams in areas such as Project Management and SCRUM, Advanced Microsoft Office, Adobe and a variety of other industry certifications relevant to a career in public administration.

The colleges will also work with local municipalities to offer paid internships and pre-apprenticeships for students to gain real-world experience before graduating from high school to prepare them for careers in local and state government.

DeSantis announced the Civic Literacy Excellence Initiative in July 2021. Of the $106 million to establish the initiative, $6.5 million was allocated for the civics career academy program.

Some positions graduates would be prepared for include:

• Grant Manager
• Program Analyst and Support Staff
• Permitting Specialist
• Policy Analyst/Government Affairs
• Human Resource Support Specialist
• Project Manager/Caseworker
• Procurement Specialist
• City/County Manager

“This initiative will establish a higher education pathway for students interested in public service, using the Florida College System model of programs partnering with high schools to prepare students for in-demand jobs and rewarding careers,” said Angela Falconetti, president of Polk State College. “At a time when civic literacy and engagement are so highly valued, we are excited to partner with our local school districts and other institutions to support the development of our public service workforce and provide opportunities for students interested in these careers.”

“Enhancing civic literacy and related workforce training will not only benefit our students, but will also ultimately benefit Florida’s future," said Gregory Adam Haile, president of Broward College.