California Gets Grant for School-to-Career Projects

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley on Thursday visited a pioneering San Diego high school--whose students prepare for careers in business, design and health-related fields--to announce $58 million in grants to 10 states for projects that help ease students’ transition from the classroom to the workplace.

California’s share of the money, $21.9 million, is the largest allocation and will be used to train teachers, give employers incentives to create on-the-job learning opportunities and raise community awareness.

The school-to-career program was launched by the Clinton administration two years ago. Unlike traditional vocational programs, school-to-career efforts are designed to give a jump-start to students headed to college and professional schools as well as to those who will be looking for a job after graduation.

“Having seen some of the programs here at Hoover, and others like it across the nation, I believe we are succeeding with school-to-work on a number of levels,” Riley said after touring the school’s health academy and computer animation design studio.

Hoover is part of a regional consortium of schools that received one of the first “school-to-career” grants in 1994. Under its program, students choose a career path before their sophomore year in high school then take classes aimed at their chosen specialty.

Schools, businesses and community groups can bid for a share of the California grant by applying to the state Employment Development Department.