State of the Schools Connects Brevard Classrooms to the Workforce
BPS Superintendent Mark Rendell and EFSC academic leader Phil Simpson are sharing the stage to discuss achievement, dual enrollment and Brevard's talent pipeline.
By Amy Ling
Brevard's school district and state college are sharing more than a stage this week. They are outlining how K-12 classrooms, college programs and local employers fit into one talent pipeline.
The 2026 State of the Schools forum brings together Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell and Eastern Florida State College Vice President Dr. Phil Simpson. Accelerate Brevard scheduled the program for Tuesday, August 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Student Union on EFSC's Melbourne campus.
Registration closed with 110 people listed for the event, reflecting the wide audience for the topic: families, educators, government leaders and businesses trying to prepare for Brevard's future workforce.
One conversation from kindergarten to college
Accelerate Brevard designed the program around both the current state of education and the growing partnership between BPS and EFSC.
The published agenda includes student achievement, dual enrollment, workforce readiness and the ways both institutions can better align education with regional industries. Rendell and Simpson are also scheduled for a joint question-and-answer session.
That pairing matters because students do not experience the education system as a collection of separate institutions. A high-school course can lead to college credit. A career and technical program can lead to a certificate. A certificate or associate degree can lead directly to an aerospace, healthcare, technology or skilled-trades job in Brevard.
When BPS and EFSC coordinate, the handoff between those steps becomes easier to see—and easier for families to use.
Strong numbers going into the forum
Brevard Public Schools enters the conversation after earning its third consecutive districtwide A rating from the state.
The district reported that 41 schools earned A grades in 2025-26, up from 37 the prior year, while the number of C-rated schools fell from 26 to 16. Overall, 79% of BPS schools received an A or B.
Achievement also rose in several subjects. Districtwide English language arts and mathematics results each increased by three percentage points; science and social studies each rose four points.
Brightside Brevard previously looked at the district's third straight A and the schools behind the gains.
The next question is how those academic improvements translate into opportunity after graduation. That is where EFSC's role—and Simpson's perspective as vice president of academic and student affairs and chief academic officer—comes into focus.
What families and employers can watch
For students and parents, dual enrollment is one of the clearest bridges between the two systems. Eligible high-school students can take college courses and earn credit before graduation, reducing duplication and helping them explore a field earlier.
For employers, the important issue is alignment: whether programs teach the skills needed for real openings and whether students can move from a classroom or lab into a credential and a career without losing momentum.
The event listing sets the subjects for the conversation but does not provide a transcript or announce new programs in advance. Readers looking for specific commitments from the stage should watch the organizations' official channels for follow-up materials.
The larger purpose is already clear. Education and economic development are not separate Brevard stories. State of the Schools puts the leaders responsible for both ends of the pipeline in the same room.
Sources and useful links
Amy Ling
Amy writes about Brevard's schools, students, families, and community programs. Her work focuses on the practical side of local education: what changed, who it helps, and what parents and students need to know next.
