In a groundbreaking move to bridge education and industry, Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, has announced a partnership with 23 school districts across Florida, including Lake County Schools. This initiative, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing, will see the implementation of the Space Florida Academy Program within these districts, aiming to equip students with high-demand credentials and skills essential for the aerospace industry.
In collaboration with industry leaders, the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Department of Commerce, the REACH Office (Reimagining Education and Career Help), and CareerSource Florida, the Space Florida Academy Program will reframe aerospace job characterization by focusing on key target areas such as:
- Aviation/Aerospace
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Construction
- Cybersecurity/IT
- Logistics
- Semiconductors
“This partnership will provide exciting opportunities for Lake County students, especially within our CTE programs, to pursue careers within the many areas of employment in the space industry,” said Superintendent Diane Kornegay. “Our designation as a Florida Space Academy School District will allow us to grow our partnerships with many employers and may open us up for grant opportunities, all of which will directly benefit our students.”
Rob Long, President and CEO of Space Florida, emphasized the program’s innovative approach: “The Space Florida Academy Program offers a new trajectory for students to explore careers in aerospace by breaking down legacy perceptions of what an aerospace career requires. By bringing industry together with education, the program helps highlight these opportunities and ascertains what is truly needed now, and in the future, to meet workforce demands.”
Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Space Florida Board Chair, highlighted the program’s strategic importance: “The Space Florida Academy Program represents a pivotal step in ensuring that our students are equipped with the skills and credentials needed to thrive in the aerospace industry. By collaborating with industry leaders and educational institutions, we are creating a pathway for Florida’s students to pursue high-demand careers and secure our state’s position as a global leader in aerospace innovation.”
Nearly every high school in Florida offers credential and certificate programs identified as desirable by the aerospace industry. Rebranding these courses under the Space Florida Academy Program further underscores a pathway to potential well-paid employment with just a high school diploma.
The MOU signing ceremony included representatives from the following counties: Baker, Brevard, Charlotte, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Martin, Marion, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Osceola, Orange, Palm Beach, PK Yonge, Putnam, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, and Suwannee.
For more information about the Space Florida Academy Program, please visit www.spaceflorida.gov/workforce-initiatives.
