State awards $245 million in career technical education grants

Students in linked learning programs get real-life work experience while they learn.
Credit: EdSource

More than 250 California schools, districts and other educational agencies will split $245 million in grants for career technical education and professional training approved Wednesday by the State Board of Education.

“California’s Career Technical Education leads the way in providing our students with a rigorous academic education in addition to the practical job skills that are in the greatest demand,” said Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in a prepared statement. “At the same time, we’re providing businesses and our communities with a next-generation workforce needed to keep our economy thriving.”

The grants – ranging from $28,562 for Southern Trinity Joint Unified to $32.5 million for Los Angeles Unified – were awarded through the state’s Career Technical Education Incentive Grant program. The 265 agencies receiving the grants include schools, districts, charter schools, Regional Occupational Centers and Programs, or groups of schools and districts that often partner with nonprofits and businesses. In January, the state awarded $91 million in similar grants to 100 applicants.

This month’s grants bring the total awarded to $336 million since the program began last July, making it the largest grant program of its kind in the country, according to a news release. Over the next three years, the state plans to award a total of $900 million through the grant program to strengthen partnerships between schools and local employers and prepare students for careers in high-demand fields.

Grant recipients are required to provide high-quality career technical education programs, along with dollar-for-dollar matching funds.

The complete list of grant recipients is available by clicking on Agenda Item #05 on the March 2016 State Board of Education Agenda.

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