The high school dropout rate in Florida schools has decreased over the past few years. Based on statistics from the Florida Department of Education, the high school graduation rate reached a record high of 89.7% during the 2023-2024 school year, an increase of 1.7 percentage points over the previous year.
Gov. Ron DeSantis touted this percentage in a recent press release stating, “The school year represented the highest graduation rates in Florida history,” apart from pre-pandemic years of 2019 and 2020, and again from 2020 through 2021, when graduating classes were exempt from statewide, standardized, assessment requirements stipulated in state law.
Though, even with these positive graduation numbers, there is still that one out of 10 students in Florida who did not graduate from high school. So, what are the alternatives for those “dropouts” needing some type of skill set and/or education? Of course, there are trade schools, industry certifications opportunities, and General Education Diploma (GED) platforms which can provide some trajectory.
One alternative path for learning is through YouthBuild Global, which targets teens and young adults across the country who did not finish high school, could not pass the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) test, or have not earned a GED.
Made possible by the United States Department of Labor, the program supports a national network of community-based pre-apprenticeship programs providing education, job training, and leadership development to more than 10,000 students across the U.S. on an annual basis.
Through a $1.5 million grant, Valencia College, Career Source Central Florida, the Orange County Public Schools, and the Osceola Council on Aging (OCOA) have recently succeeded in bringing the YouthBuild program to Orange County.
Skills and industry credentialing available through the program include NCCER Core and OSHA-10 certifications (authorized training in workplace safety), Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) opportunities, Warehouse Logistics (including Certified Logistics Associate), and forklift operation certifications.
Students split their time between studying for the GED while learning construction and home repair trades. They also attend a weekly Career Pathways class to develop resumes, cover letters, undergo mock interviews, and learn employability skills.
Additional plans for apprenticeship opportunities for YouthBuild students in Orange County will include teaming up with The Home Depot Foundation and Meals on Wheels America to complete critical home repairs and modifications for Central Florida senior veterans who qualify for “Helping Homebound Heroes.”
Valencia College, the Adult Learning Center Osceola, and the OCOA launched their first YouthBuild program in 2017 at the College’s Osceola Campus, where 90% of students enrolled earned a diploma, and 75% became employed and/or continued with higher level education.
To be eligible, students must be between the ages of 16 and 24; meet income guidelines; have the desire to pursue a high school diploma or GED; and be legally authorized to work in the United States. Students must also reside in 32808, or 32811 ZIP codes to qualify.
Wendy Coschignano-Ford is the president and CEO of the Osceola Council on Aging.
Contact YouthBuild@valenciacollege.edu for questions regarding enrollment, or visit valenciacollege.edu for more information. Orientation sessions will begin Sept. 16 at the Valencia College West Campus.
