Located in:
- III. Operational Planning ElementsThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that support the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II.(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- b. State Operating Systems and PoliciesThe Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in Section II Strategic Elements . This includes—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 3. A. State Agency Organization
Current Narrative:
Department of Economic Opportunity
The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is the governor’s agency for workforce support and training, economic development and community development. DEO partners with CareerSource Florida and the state’s 24 local workforce development boards (LWDBs) to strengthen Florida’s business climate by supporting employers and helping Floridians gain employment, remain employed and advance in their careers. DEO oversees the administration of the state’s workforce system and receives and accounts for federal funds for the system. DEO reports financial and performance information to USDOL and other federal organizations. The department distributes workforce guidance and policy initiatives and provides training, technical assistance and monitoring to LWDBs. DEO operates Florida’s Reemployment Assistance program, Labor Market Statistics program and many other programs and initiatives.
Figure 3.03 Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Organizational Chart can be viewed online at https://careersourceflorida.com/DEO_Organizational_Chart.png. The Department of Economic Opportunity Organizational chart shows the Governor as leader of the agency, an Executive Director of the agency, and a chief of staff administering the agency. Divisions of the agency are listed below the chief of staff and are: Office of general counsel, office of inspector general, division of workforce services, division of strategic business development, division of community development, office of legislative and cabinet affairs, office of communications and external affairs, division of finance and administration, and division of information technology.
Administration of the state’s workforce policy, programs and services is carried out by DEO and the business-led LWDBs. Services are delivered through approximately 100 career centers and service sites throughout Florida and through the state’s online job matching system, Employ Florida, at www. employflorida.com. This includes 79 full service sites and 29 satellite offices. Programmatic and administrative requirements are set forth in a Grantee-Sub-Grantee Agreement executed by DEO and each LWDB, requiring their compliance with all federal and state laws, regulations and any special state requirements.
Figure 3.04: Florida’s Workforce System can be viewed online at https://careersourceflorida.com/Florida_Workforce_System.jpg. Florida's workforce system is shown as a triangle with 24 local workforce development boards as the base, the Department of Economic Opportunity in the middle, and CareerSource Florida at the top.
Florida Department of Education
The mission of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) is “to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by providing them with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents and communities and to maintain an accountability system that measures student progress.”
FDOE serves more than 2.8 million students, 4,300 public schools, 28 colleges, 171,000 teachers, 45,000 college professors and administrators and 325,000 full-time staff throughout the state; the department enhances the economic self-sufficiency of Floridians through programs and services geared toward college, workforce education, apprenticeships, job-specific skills and career development. The department manages programs that assist individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have other disabilities succeed either in school settings or careers - encouraging independence and self-sufficiency. FDOE provides oversight to 28 locally governed public state colleges and 49 school district technical centers.
FDOE is currently appropriated 2,327 total full-time positions, including 884 positions in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, 289 positions in the Division of Blind Services and 80 positions in the Division of Career and Adult Education. The department’s annual operating budget for all entities in state fiscal year 2016-17 was approximately $24.4 billion.
The FDOE organizational and governance structure includes the State Board of Education which consists of seven members appointed by the governor to staggered four-year terms, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Except for the State University System, the State Board of Education is the chief implementing and coordinating body of public education in Florida. The state board focuses on high-level policy decisions and has authority to adopt rules to implement provisions of federal and state law. General duties include, but are not limited to, adopting education objectives and long-range plans for public education in Florida, exercising general supervision over the department, submitting an annual coordinated PreK-20 education budget and adopting uniform standards of student performance.
FDOE policies and operations are led by the department’s senior leadership team, consisting of the commissioner of education, chief of staff, division leaders and directors of support divisions (see organizational chart below). FDOE manages the core WIOA programs for adult and career education, vocational rehabilitation and blind services. The senior leadership team develops strategies, designs operational policies and manages the department’s business processes. Senior leader meetings are held weekly. Strategy development meetings are conducted quarterly. Strategies are tracked and adjusted as needed. FDOE financial and operational performance is reported on a regularly scheduled basis to the federal Department of Education, the Executive Office of the Governor and the Florida Legislature.
Figure 3.05 Florida Department of Education Organizational Chart can be viewed online at https://careersourceflorida.com/DOE_Organizational_Chart.png. The Organizational chart shows the internal structure of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), with WIOA core programs specified. WIOA Core Programs include the Divisions of Career and Adult Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Blind Services. These programs report to the FDOE Chief of Staff, who in turn reports to the Commissioner of Education, who reports to the State Board of Education.
Adult Education
The Division of Career and Adult Education (DCAE) has oversight over the adult education system implemented in districts, colleges and community-based organizations. The division coordinates the distribution of federal adult education grants. DCAE works closely with local programs and provides guidance on state and federal guidelines, professional development, support in reporting data and technical assistance on program improvement plans.
Figure 3.06 Division of Career and Adult Education Organizational Chart can be viewed online at https://careersourceflorida.com/DCAE_Organizational_Chart.png. The organizational chart shows the internal structure of the Florida Department of Education, Division of Career and Adult Education. This division is led by a Chancellor who oversees three bureaus- Budget, Accountability and Assessment; Standards, Benchmarks and Frameworks; and Grants Administration, Compliance.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
The Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is federally established under the Rehabilitation Act, as Amended (1998) and reauthorized as a core program of WIOA (2014). In Florida, VR is a division of the Department of Education. VR comprises a headquarters office, seven area offices and 96 unit offices located throughout Florida where customers receive direct services. The VR program is funded as a federal-state partnership, in which 21.3 percent of state general revenue matches a 78.7 percent federal grant. Most programmatic oversight and governance is established in the federal laws and code of federal regulations. Florida state laws for vocational rehabilitation are in Chapter 413, Florida Statutes. VR provides annual planning updates and annual/quarterly performance and financial reports to the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) which conducts regulatory and programmatic monitoring and oversight activities approximately every four years.
WIOA retains the presence of a state rehabilitation council, known as the Florida Rehabilitation Council (FRC). Council members are volunteers appointed by the governor and represent a variety of perspectives from the disability community. The council is not a governance board but is required by federal law to review, analyze and advise VR. Key collaborative activities with the council include input and recommendations for the VR services portion of the state plan, key programmatic policies, assessing VR customer satisfaction and the progress and outcomes of administrative hearings for VR customers. VR’s organizational structure is represented in Figure 3.07.
Figure 3.07 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Organizational Chart can be viewed online at https://careersourceflorida.com/VR_Organizational_Chart.png. The organizational chart depicts the internal structure of the FDOE Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. This division is led by a Director who oversees the Office of the Director and four bureaus- the Bureau of Planning and Performance; the Bureau of Operations and Support; the Bureau of Vendor and Contracted Services; and the Bureau of Field Services.
Division of Blind Services
The Florida Division of Blind Services (FDBS) employment program is a federally established program under the Rehabilitation Act, as Amended (1998), and reauthorized as a core program of WIOA (2014). The FDBS vocational rehabilitation program is funded as a federal-state partnership. FDBS is part of the Florida Department of Education and serves blind and visually impaired Floridians. Coordination of Services is administered through 15 FDBS office locations, and the Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. FDBS services are procured through a combination of state, federal and community funding. In partnership with community rehabilitation providers and other local partners, the division provides services to customers based on individual needs.
Figure 3.08 Division of Blind Services Organizational Chart can be viewed online at https://careersourceflorida.com/FDBS_Organizational_Chart.png. The organizational chart for the Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services shows the division led by a Division Director who oversees the Deputy Director, Executive Services, Human Resources, MIS, and the Bureau of Operations and Compliance. The Deputy Director oversees the Bureau of Braille & Talking Library, Bureau of Business Enterprise, Rehabilitation Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and the Bureau of Client Services.
