The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently awarded three school districts and 39 career and technical centers nearly $1.5 million in grants through the Career and Technical Education Equipment Grant program. Funding is for the purchase of new equipment to train students for jobs in high-demand careers.
“Pennsylvania’s career and technical education programs provide students with the skills and training they need to enter into a meaningful, family-sustaining career after graduation, and these grants expand and improve the access students have to first-class equipment and experiences,” Dr. Noe Ortega, secretary of education, said. “This funding builds on the commitment the Wolf Administration has demonstrated to career and technical education programs and the multiple pathways to success that they create for learners across the commonwealth.”
The maximum grant award was $50,000. A local source, such as contributions from business or industry partners, must provide an equal match for each grant.
The Career and Technical Education Equipment Grant program has awarded $9.3 million in funding to 249 applicants since 2015, and the number of career and technical education students earning industry-recognized credentials increased 38.7 percent.
There are more than 80 career and technical centers in Pennsylvania. The number of students enrolled has increased 33.6 percent from 2015.