Implementation Innovation for Florida Ready to Work – Florida State University High School, Tallahassee, FL

Submitted by Florida Ready to Work

Florida Ready to Work is the state’s career readiness training and credentialing program, preparing students with the employability skills required to take the next step toward technical training, apprenticeship and employment. High schools, state colleges, adult education programs and career and technical education partners across Florida are utilizing Florida Ready to Work to help prepare their students with the skills most in demand by employers. One innovative implementation partner is Florida State University Schools (FSUS) in Tallahassee.

As a part of the FSUS on the job training curriculum, students work their way through the Work Ready Math, Work Ready Reading and Work Ready Data courses in preparation to sit for the assessments to earn their Florida Ready to Work Credential.

When asked why she chose to utilize the Florida Ready to Work program with her students, FSUS OJT instructor, Lisa Phillips, said,

In the last several years, I have encountered many young people struggling with basic employability skills in the workplace, such as counting change and calculating percentages. I felt that Florida Ready to Work better prepared my students with these skills and provided them exposure to situations they would encounter in the workforce. I want our students to be able to put their best foot forward.

Students in Ms. Phillips’ class also utilized the Florida Soft Skills courseware, and she indicated that her favorite part about the program was the Thinking Critically/ Problem Solving Module,

“I love that students see the skills that we are teaching them in school be applied to workplace settings. It gives them the opportunity to see that they are gaining skills they are going to need in their future careers.

After a touch base call with the Florida Ready to Work team, FSUS decided to engage more students with the Florida Ready to Work program by offering the opportunity to earn the Florida Soft Skills Credential. The Florida Soft Skills Credential validates mastery of the essential soft skills most in demand by employers today. FSUS invited the entire senior class to sit for the one-hour proctored assessment as they get ready for graduation.

More than 90 students came to the voluntary soft skills assessment session. Students flexed their adaptability muscles when the location needed to be changed at the last minute. FSUS students have earned more than 120 Florida Ready to Work Credentials and Florida Soft Skills Credentials this year. These seniors can confidently add foundational employability and essential soft skills validated by their Florida Ready to Work Credentials and their Florida Soft Skills Credentials to their resumes as they prepare for their next step.

Ms. Phillips said,

This program is important and exposes students to real-world problems that they will have to navigate once they get a job. We are looking forward to expanding our utilization of the program next school year.

For more information, visit FloridaReadytoWork.com