FLATE was established in 2004 through a National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Center grant. FLATE was NSF’s Florida Regional Center of Excellence, one of 26 ATE Centers across the country focused on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to meet the technician workforce needs of American advanced technological industries. FLATE has been recognized both locally and nationally for its innovative best practices in curriculum, outreach, and professional development.
FLATE’s impact on its educational, industry, and workforce partners is captured in a variety of metrics. FLATE data comes from stakeholder and participant surveys, Florida Department of Education databases, web statistics, anecdotal comments, and other sources. These define our activity successes and impact as well as provide feedback for process improvements.
- Created an industry defined/endorsed Engineering Technology (ET) AS Degree program (and model) approved by FLDOE in 2007
- Developed 32 curriculum frameworks for 20 certificates and 11 specializations of the degree
- Grew the ET AS degree program from 3 to 24 of the 28 Florida colleges by 2007
- Submitted three articulated high school frameworks to FLDOE, offered to 510 schools
- Tracked ET AS degree and related programs student enrollment which has grown from 9 to 1,976 students (2007-2021)
- Awarded over $220,000 to ET degree awarding college partners for laboratory upgrades
- Developed statewide 15 credit-hour articulation agreement with MSSC-CPT for anyone enrolled in the ET Degree
- Provided language for Career Academy legislation and testified before Florida House and Senate subcommittees
- Partnered as co-Principal Investigators with 3 USF PathTech targeted research grants for Engineering Technology pathways
- Provided over 70,000 hours of professional development to over 43,000 educators and over 16,000 manufacturing workforce and other personnel through events in Florida, nationally, and worldwide
Impacted over 77,000 Florida students and educators through over 1,400 Made in Florida outreach campaign events since 2005.
- Introduced over 32,000 students, 2,100 teachers,1,500 parents, and chaperones to over 1,100 advanced manufacturing tour and outreach events in at least 50 Florida counties
- Developed more than 47 Made in Florida industry-sourced, integrated STEM middle, and high school lesson plans
- Recognized outstanding manufacturing educators and industry supporters through the FLATE annual awards program
- Supported over 1,700 middle and high school students in week-long summer STEM robotic camps since 2005
- Published 11 FLATE Best Practices guides for educational curriculum, outreach, and professional development
- Distributed the FLATE Focus Newsletter to stakeholders in the U.S. and 171 countries since 2009
- Disseminated over 441 online resources supporting STEM education focused on technology and engineering through MadeinFlorida.org, Flate.org, Flate.pbworks.com websites, and the FLATE Focus blog
- Facilitated seamless articulations to Florida BSET and BAS degrees
- Participated in national advisory boards for CTE and STEM education including ATE Centers, the National Academy of Sciences, NAM, MSSC, NCPN, ACTE, and NCATC