Brevard CTE adds astronautics, diesel and electricity tracks; district seeks state workforce grant to expand programs

Brevard Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) director, Rachel Rutledge, told the school board Aug. 26 that a cluster of new CTE programs opened this fall and that the district is pursuing state workforce funds to expand pathways and apprenticeships. “Astronautics and flight exploration at Merritt Island — we had a beautiful ribbon cutting last week,” Rutledge said. She also described a new diesel program at O’Galley, an electrical program at Heritage High with nearly 80 students for its first year, and a technical design program at Viera that pairs CAD instruction with carpentry. Rutledge and board members described active industry partnerships. The district is working with Eastern Florida State College to deliver a welding cohort; the first cohort required heavy shop-supply costs ($2,700 per student) that community partners and the local foundation helped finance so students could participate. Rutledge said the district secured about $6,000,000 in recent workforce capitalization funds for a range of CTE programs. The board and staff discussed sustainability of partner-funded programs. “Art raised some money,” Rutledge said of a local industry partner who helped launch the welding cohort. Board members pressed Eastern Florida State College on its role; Rutledge said the district and EFSC have met repeatedly and have a new partnership to address the earlier funding gap. Rutledge outlined a slate of workforce connections and expansion plans: registered apprenticeships with Health First for nursing tracks, an electricity apprenticeship with local electrical contractors, advisory boards for welding and construction to align curriculum and generate internships, and a new construction competition called Design and Conquer planned for February. Preliminary metrics Rutledge gave the board included a 6% increase in industry credentials last year and preliminary counts showing more than 5,200 industry credentials issued, an 18% increase in digital-readiness certifications, 178 students currently placed in internships or on-the-job training, and an uptick in school-based enterprises (student-run businesses) funded by Perkins and other grants. Board members requested clearer sustainability plans for partner-funded or grant-funded programs and urged Rutledge to keep the board and legislative delegation informed as the district develops its legislative requests. Rutledge asked the board to help by recommending industry contacts for advisory boards and by supporting the district’s application for the 2025–26 workforce capitalization grant administered by the Florida Department of Education.