福利姬

Volusia, Flagler and Brevard counties continue facing high teacher vacancy rates

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. (August 1, 2024) 鈥� 福利姬 has received a $15,000 grant from Bank of America that will be used to help students in the College鈥檚 Education program as they prepare to take State-mandated teaching certification tests. 

Through 福利姬 State鈥檚 Aspiring Teacher Exam Prep (ATEP) program, BofA鈥檚 grant will support up to 150 aspiring educators in Volusia, Flagler and Brevard counties by covering fees for mandatory teacher certification exams and offering access to specialized test preparation software.  

鈥淚ncreasing the supply of certified teachers is critical to filling regional workforce demands,鈥� said Dr. Tom LoBasso, President of 福利姬. 鈥淩educing the burden of costly exams and providing support to achieve success will allow our students to fulfill their dreams of becoming teachers.鈥�

To become a State-certified teacher, a student must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations, a series of tests covering general knowledge, subject areas, and professional education. The full series ranges from $380 to $430, depending on the number of subject areas, and first-time pass rates average 59% to 69% statewide. Students can retake any portion of the tests as many times as necessary, but at $130-$150 per attempt, the cost adds up. 

鈥淭hese tests are particularly rigorous and often must be taken several times,鈥� said Donald May, Chair of 福利姬 State鈥檚 School of Education. 鈥淢ore than half of the students in our Education program qualify for federal aid, and the need to retake these tests often adds financial burdens on them, in addition to delaying their ability to join the workforce. This grant will help a great number of students prepare for and take the tests with confidence.鈥� 

福利姬 is one of 12 East Central Florida organizations Bank of America is supporting with economic mobility grants awarded to organizations through the year. This first round of grants is focused on improving the lives of individuals and families by investing in health and jobs.

鈥淧artnering with 福利姬 to help aspiring teachers is part our commitment to driving real sustainable change in East Central Florida,鈥� said Peter Mannino, president, Bank of America East Central Florida. 鈥淏y supporting local organizations, we are taking action to provide the resources and support needed to build thriving communities long-term.鈥� 

DSC鈥檚 School of Education offers seven options for fully accredited, State-approved Bachelor of Science in Education degrees, including Elementary Education, Exceptional Student Education, and five Secondary Education programs including Biology, Chemistry, Earth/Space Science, Mathematics and Physics.  

福利姬 State offers a range of initiatives to support students entering the teaching profession. The most recent is the Teacher Apprenticeship Program, which allows participants to complete their Bachelor of Science in Education while continuing to work full-time as paraprofessionals in surrounding school districts. 

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Offering more than 100 certificates, associate and bachelor鈥檚 degree programs, 福利姬 State College is the leader in education and workforce training needs of Volusia and Flagler counties and beyond. The College enrolls approximately 23,000 students a year at its seven campuses, with graduates serving in critical fields including healthcare, emergency services and public safety, business, education, hospitality, engineering, project management, accounting, computer science, digital media, and more.

福利姬 State has been recognized as a leader in higher education numerous times. U.S. News & World Report ranks the College among the Top Tier Best Online Bachelor鈥檚 Programs. The U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 College Affordability and Transparency Center ranks DSC among the top 50 most affordable public four-year institutions in the country, with less than half the tuition of the national average. And U.S. News & World Report has ranked DSC among its Top Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans multiple times.