L.A. Unified wins $7 million in grants for career tech programs

The Los Angeles Unified School District will receive $7 million in federal grant funding to expand career programs at three high schools in the fields of healthcare, technology and business and finance, the district announced Monday.

L.A. Unified was one of 24 winners selected from 275 applicants nationwide for the Youth CareerConnect grant, a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Labor designed to provide students with industry-related knowledge and skills.

The East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program also was selected and will receive $4.5 million.

In L.A. Unified, the students in these programs go through specialized instruction linked to those fields, along with work experience through internships and mentoring, the district said.

“These pathways provide additional routes to success for students as they prepare to graduate college-ready and career-prepared,” L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy said in a statement. “This grant recognizes the caliber of instruction in L.A. Unified, and represents Washington’s faith in our ability to deliver.”

The funding will expand existing programs at six schools, including the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math program at Helen Bernstein High School; the Sylmar Biotech and Health Academy; the Health Information and Technology program at Manual Arts Senior High School; the Business and Tourism program at Miguel Contreras Learning Center; the International Business and Trade program at Banning Senior High School; and the Responsible Indigenous Social Entrepreneurs program at Augustus Hawkins Senior High School.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that winning the grant was a huge victory for students.

“I’m very pleased this grant will benefit students in Westlake and from South Los Angeles to Sylmar and from the Harbor to Hollywood,” Garcetti said in a statement.

stephen.ceasar@latimes.com | Twitter: @stephenceasar