The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) was established in February 1990 to examine the demands of the workplace and to determine whether the current and future workforce is capable of meeting those demands. The commission members included thirty-one representatives from the nation's schools, businesses, unions and government. The report told educators and employers what students and workers need to know and be able to do in order to succeed on the job. It contained thirty-seven different competencies divided into eight categories. The chart below outlines each of these categories and competencies.

This website was developed by Mainland faculty as a part of the New Millennium High School Grant provided by the Florida Department of Education. The purpose of the website is to give students the opportunity to explore, practice and become certified in each competency. This will be documented in a portfolio. Activities have been designed so that students can do work independently as well as in a classroom setting. Business and industry partners assisted with the development of the curriculum by participating in a DACUM (Designing A CurriculUM) process. During this process, partners discussed types of documentation they would like students to provide.

Students will begin developing their portfolios in ninth grade and continue until through their senior year. As seniors, students will present their portfolios to a panel of business partners and educators.