In an historic meeting today, Governor Charlie Crist addressed members of the Florida State Board of Education and the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida who were sitting down together for the first time in a joint workshop, to discuss the creation of an environment that will foster Florida’s knowledge-based innovation economy.
“Florida’s business leaders, together with our education leaders, are key to moving Florida’s high-tech, knowledge-based economy forward,” Governor Crist said. “We must plan across every level – including kindergarten to our high schools and our research universities – to ensure our graduates are prepared to participate in Florida’s innovation economy.”
Taking place at the Scripps Research Institute-Scripps Florida in Jupiter, members of each board participated in a free-form conversation that focused on strategies and methods designed to bring Florida’s universities, public schools, state colleges and workforce centers together into a seamless, unified education pipeline.
“We are very pleased with the spirit of this meeting and this agreement,” said Sheila M. McDevitt, chair of the Board of Governors. “By cooperating on key decisions, the Board of Governors and the State University System can make the best use of scarce state dollars and maximize the investment in higher education.”
“Through cooperative decision-making, we can avoid unnecessary duplication,” said T. Willard Fair, chair of the State Board of Education. “This means we can focus our resources where they will have the greatest benefit for the citizens of Florida.”
“Today’s workshop signifies the beginning of a new direction for education in Florida, with partners from all sides coming together under a united vision,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. “These discussions have laid the groundwork for the future of our state’s economy and the highly skilled workforce needed to make it a success.”
“The future of the Florida economy lies with our ability to generate well-educated graduates who can become the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs, individuals who can thrive in a knowledge-based innovation economy,” said Frank T. Brogan, chancellor of the State University System. “If we invest wisely in degree production, our universities and colleges can provide the horsepower needed to power our economy into new and sustained growth.”
In a knowledge-based economy, the knowledge of the workforce is the primary economic driver, focusing on high-skill subject areas such as mathematics and science. The joint workshop’s primary focus was to explore ways in which the major educational sectors of the state could work together to promote an environment conducive to creating the workforce needed to drive this type of economy.
Areas of discussion during the meeting included aligning strategic plans across education and business communities, promoting student achievement at all levels through articulated standards and programs, and increasing talent production in response to the needs of the state.
To view the workshop agenda and related materials, visit ww.fldoe.org/board/meetings.
