Will Florida be prepared for 21st Century Economy… or the chicken before the egg?

The Florida Chamber Foundation has presented excellent research results and plans for accelerating Florida’s economic participation in the 21st Century. The plan not only identifies the problems and desired situations but it indicates an implementation plan and strategies. The premise that Florida’s intellectual infrastructure is not keeping pace with the changing demands of the global economy, and is slipping behind its competition lays the foundation for the foundations findings that Florida’s intellectual infrastructure is critical to the state’s economic performance because it determines:
· The health of Florida’s existing businesses.
· The growth capacity for the state’s emerging industries.
· The individual and society-wide income levels.

These findings are based upon current findings including: Florida’s work force is below the national average and our gross production average is about 20% below the national average. Our retiree population will always have an impact and the fact that services account for 35% of the jobs in Florida will affect the production rate.

We are facing a Catch-22 situation, big business and technology will not be attracted because we do not have the skilled labor and we do not have the skilled labor because people don’t see the need to go into fields in which they cannot get jobs.

I believe the best strategy outlined was “Education first.” Educating the public and insisting upon almost Education for Education sake insures we will not fail. Of course the end goal of a “better living” would and should never change, but there is the fact of education for education (knowledge) sake, which makes for a better educated society. By stressing education, we will be putting first things first. With this approach, the state’s economy and schooling goals will be met.

The Florida Chamber has laid out an excellent plan yet I still have some reservations and questions:
· Again accountability is at the top level and high performance requirements reiterated at the lower level. I think funding should be first.
· Many people would like to improve their living through education but don’t have the time or money. Likewise, parents have not been as involved with the stress of 2 parents working or single parent households not having the time.
· The implementation plan seems to lack a time scale other than by the year 2010. Where are the ticks for measurement and the individual steps?
· And the Board of Education’s strategic plan, itself:
Increasing the HS graduation and college continuation rate to increase national ranking appears to be based on current figures which means the other states stand still
Increasing upper degrees is a great goal, but upper level school enrollment nationwide has been falling

But again – this is a plan and I think a good one that stands a chance of success.