Education
Is Central Florida Preparing Future Leaders?
Central Florida’s people are its most critical asset. The knowledge and skills of all residents – whether students, job-seekers, working families, or retirees – make this region a mecca for creativity, ingenuity, and innovation.
Lifelong learning opportunities prepare students to be future citizens of this region, the nation, and the world. Central Florida’s educational system is increasingly critical for the region to compete in and benefit from the new global, innovation-based economy.
The United States has the world’s most well-educated adult population. Central Florida is not far behind, as one in every four residents has a post-secondary degree, a level ahead of every other major world economy. The region, through a combination of its home-grown talent and the workers and retirees it attracts from other regions, is closing the gap with the rest of the country on measures of educational attainment. However, China and India have the world’s largest educational systems and are poised to graduate millions of skilled college students in the coming years – placing the region’s global standing at risk.
Over the past decade, Central Florida, like the rest of the state, has worked to develop a seamless K-20 system that provides opportunities for youth through all stages of development. Today, educational institutions offer more choices for residents of all ages to develop practical skills and expand the horizons of their knowledge. Region-wide, workforce training programs have expanded and retooled to meet the evolving needs of businesses. And performance measurements are in place to understand where progress is being made and where gaps remain. After a decade of focus, Central Florida is progressing in improving its educational system, but this system is not yet without achievement gaps and students of different backgrounds often have different outcomes.