Why Not the Private Sector?
Announcement: Professional Institute (create and manage institute) Due October 19, Florida Department of Education
Their Description: To create a Professional Institute (PI) that will provide ... mini-grants for industry certification to Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers and professional development activities....
The PI will work in conjunction with a statewide Career and Technical Education Professional Development Committee appointed by the Chancellor of Workforce Education....
1. Mini-Grant Awards for Industry Certification of CTE Teachers.... The PI will develop, administer, and implement an awards process....
Conduct a needs assessment in the state’s Service Areas to identify:
a) CTE teachers in each of the five regions of the state who do not yet possess the industry certification for their programs....
b) The approximate cost of each industry certification, including the cost of the training / course examinations.
c) The projected time necessary to obtain each industry certification.
d) The approximate number of industry certifications that can be obtained within the timeframe of this grant.
Develop a mini-grant application process and contract that includes:
a)... [A]pproval criteria for equitable selection of teacher applicants for industry certification who will apply for the mini-grants through their Local Education Agency (LEA)....
b) A contract for use between the PI, the Local Education Agency (LEA) and eligible CTE teachers whereby... The LEA selects teachers qualified to complete the coursework required to earn an industry certification....
2. Professional Development. The PI will provide assistance to FDOE for statewide professional development opportunities to support implementation of Strategic Imperative #4: Improve the Quality of Instructional Leadership....
• Coordinate statewide professional development activities that include:
a) Conduct a needs assessment linked with regional economies and high program enrollments on topics such as, but not limited to: Programs of Study and Career Clusters, and has an emphasis on non-traditional career and technical programming that lead to high-wage, high-demand careers and industry certification.
b) Provide training opportunities in each of the five Service Areas of the state....
c) Organize training information, sites, equipment and presenters.
Target Population(s): Public and private service providers of secondary and postsecondary career and technical education
Total Funding Awards... $500,000 Total -- One award is anticipated.
Distribution of funds:
• $300,000 minimum: Mini-grant Awards
• Up to $ 75,000 : PI Salaries
• Up to $100,000: Prof. Development
• Up to $ 25,000 : Administration ....
Performance Period: October 19, 2007 ... through June 30, 2008....
Eligible Applicant(s): Florida’s public community colleges and universities....
Our Thoughts: There is no compelling reason why this RFP must be confined to public higher education. If public community colleges and universities offer superior service, let it be proved in a competition. Otherwise, the quantitative analysis on certification needs and fulfilment capacity, the legal and administrative work on grant applications leading to contracts, and the administration and provision of training services for teachers seem well within the private sector’s capacity. Protest.
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