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Centers of Excellence

Fact Sheet

• Centers of Excellence is a unique program that allows students to earn high school credit, college credit, and industry certification.
• The concept for the Centers of Excellence came from the enormously successful “CHOICE” program in Okaloosa County, created when business leaders and educators, under the leadership of former Okaloosa Superintendent and current Senator Don Gaetz, realized that students were not being properly educated and prepared for the world of work or for postsecondary educational opportunities.
• CHOICE created career academies in Okaloosa’s high schools, awarding industry certifications in fields which offered high wage, high skilled jobs in the county.
• Due to enormous success of the CHOICE program – Okaloosa’s school district went from a state ranking of #26 out of 67 counties to #1 in the state in 2006 – the Florida legislature has mandated all public high schools adopt the career academy concept across the state.
• In Pinellas County, this program is named the Centers of Excellence. Under the leadership of Superintendant Dr. Clayton Wilcox, business leaders, and board members from the Pinellas Education Foundation, Pinellas County is now poised to join the ranks of Okaloosa by enhancing career education opportunities for students.
• In Pinellas County High Schools:
  • By 2007-2008: 3 Centers of Excellence will be in operation.
  • By 2008-2009: 8 Centers of Excellence will be in operation.
  • By 2009-2010: 16 Centers of Excellence will be in operation, representing all Pinellas County High Schools.
  • By 2010-2011: 4 Additional Centers of Excellence will be in operation.

 

Centers of Excellence Program
www.centersofexcellence.net