The legislature then established the Community College Coordinating Board, which was later abolished in favor of the State Board of Community Colleges. Florida community colleges had become an important part of the post high-school education system. The FEPFA, the Florida Educational Facilities Planners' Association, Inc., was established in the 1960s to promote relationships and exchange of ideas between the Office of Education and FEPFA. The community colleges were asked to participate and attend meetings with this group and then become members (FEPFA History, 2004), signifying the importance of the community college. The name Junior College was dropped in favor of Community College by most colleges.
Florida's community colleges have gone a step further in serving the citizens of Florida. Some of the community colleges have initiated baccalaureate degrees, particularly in education, nursing and applied science. More community colleges in the state of Florida are requesting permission to do this. Additionally, the state of Florida was among the first in the country to have post-secondary education systems request and obtain permission from the Department of Education to assist with training for educators in re-certification and certification, assist with training for teachers and substitute teachers and to facilitate the way for persons who do not have a teaching degree, but hold baccalaureate degrees in other field, become certified to become teachers. This program is thorough and allows for field experience, is skill based and allows community colleges to prepare teachers for certification...
There have been many significant changes in the public Community College system in Florida from its inception in 1933 until now. These changes have allowed many persons in Florida to attend college, while still living at home and working. The newer legislation has allowed Florida to improve all levels of education in the state by offering certification & re-certification of teachers, training to improve educators skills and increasing the number of teachers in Florida by offering teacher certification to persons with degrees other than education.
Reference List
Albertson, H. (2004). Chronological History of the Florida Community College System.
Retrieved November 15, 2004, at http://www.facc.org/historyfl.ccs.pdf
History. (2004). FCCDLC - Community College History. Retrieved November 15, 2004, at http://www.fldcl.org/org/consortnav/history.htm
History. (2004). Florida Educational Facilities Planners' Association, Inc. Retrieved November 15, 2004 from www.fefpa.org/history.htm
Smith, W. (1998). Florida's Black Junior Colleges: Building Blocks for the "Great 28."
Retrieved November 17, 2004, from www.facc.org/smith/htm
