Central Florida NAF Academies

National Academy Foundation Programs

One of the goals of Career and Technical Education is to provide support to schools that host NAF (National Academy Foundation) programs. These programs follow a nationally recognized model known as career academies. A career academy is a small, personalized learning community within the high school setting in which students learn both academic and technical curricula within the context of an industry or career area.
 
The academy involves teachers from different subjects working together as an academy team, sharing common planning time to collaborate on the implementation of the academy concept and curriculum integration. This cohort model for teachers and students establishes a family-like atmosphere and results in meaningful student-teacher interaction that supports rigor, relevance, relationships as it relates to careers. The career academy models include: academies of finance (AOF), hospitality and tourism (AOHT), information technology (AOIT) and new this year health science (AOHS).
 

A NAF academy is required to have an advisory board. As a result, approximately 10 years ago the Central Florida district advisory council was organized to support current NAF academies. An advisory board serves schools in Orange and Seminole Counties through such activities as guest speakers, field trips and internships.

Programs are located at the following schools:

Orange County Public Schools

  • Colonial HS – AOIT, AOHT
  • Cypress Creek HS – AOIT
  • Freedom HS – AOHT
  • Evans HS – AOIT
  • Timber Creek HS – AOIT, AOF
  • Winter Park HS – AOIT
  • Boone HS – AOIT, AOF, AOHS

Seminole County Public Schools

  • Crooms Academy of IT – AOIT
  • Lake Brantley HS - AOF
 

NAF students are members of Business Professionals of America (BPA). To learn more about how you can become an industry partner, contact Pat Breeding at 407-317-3200, ext. 2690 or patricia.breeding@ocps.net.

 

Spotlights

Student Run Credit Unions

CFE Federal Credit Union has placed on-campus, student run credit unions at all three AOF academies.

Income Tax Assistance

Boone HS Academy of Finance is a VITA3 site for the IRS. The students in the 11th grade complete income tax returns for the low income and elderly clients.

Sponsors