Florida Health Science Education: What to Watch This Fall
October 2026
From statewide workforce planning to conversations about connecting classrooms and clinical practice, several developments deserve attention as Florida Health Science educators move through the fall term.
Education and Workforce Planning Come Together
The Florida Department of Education reports that Florida elected to combine its Perkins State Plan with its Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Plan in 2026. Perkins supports career and technical education at the secondary and postsecondary levels, while WIOA addresses workforce development.
For Health Science educators, this is a development worth following. It places CTE and workforce planning within a shared planning document and offers a reason to stay connected with local workforce partners about healthcare career pathways, student access, and employer needs.
Explore: Florida DOE Perkins V and Combined State Plan Information
The 2026–27 Curriculum Frameworks Are Available
Florida DOE has posted the 2026–27 CTE curriculum frameworks for middle school, secondary, and postsecondary programs through its website and CPALMS-CTE, including the Health Science cluster. These frameworks outline program standards developed with education and industry partners.
Their availability provides a common reference for discussions among instructors, program leaders, and advisory committees. Individual programs should review their applicable framework to identify any changes relevant to instruction and planning.
Explore: 2026–27 Florida CTE Curriculum Frameworks
October Brings a Focus on Nursing Education
The Florida Center for Nursing lists “Synergy in Nursing: Uniting Classroom and Clinic for Florida’s Future” for October 15–16. Its 2025–2026 Nursing Education Program Survey is also open, with an October 22 closing date. The survey is invitation-only for prelicensure RN and PN program directors and coordinators.
Although these activities focus on nursing, the connection between education and clinical practice matters across Health Science disciplines. Clinical partnerships, student preparation, and communication with employers are conversations that extend to radiography, medical assisting, dental assisting, EMS, surgical technology, and other healthcare pathways.
Authorized nursing program representatives should check for their unique survey invitation. Questions about access can be directed to FCN-research@usf.edu.
Explore: Florida Center for Nursing Events and Survey Information
Keep the Statewide Conversation Local
State plans and reports provide part of the picture. Educators and their partners contribute the details: where students find opportunities, what employers need, and what helps graduates move successfully into practice.
FAHSE can help bring those experiences into a statewide conversation.
What is happening in your program or region this fall? Share a new partnership, program development, student achievement, or workforce initiative for consideration in a future FAHSE blog post or edition of the FAHSE Pulse. A few sentences and a photo are all you need!
Email Jennifer Stockton: jennifer.stockton@marion.k12.fl.us
Read the latest FAHSE Pulse: Explore the September–October 2026 edition.
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