The William S. Hart Union High School District was recently awarded a $3.1 million grant by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson through the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant, district officials announced Monday.

The funding, which totaled $3,157,277, is for programs that focus on career preparation integrated with academics, and provide pathways towards career and college.

These career pathways connect employers with schools and prepare students for jobs in high-demand fields.

“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 Torlakson. “At the same time, we’re providing businesses and our communities with a next-generation workforce needed to keep our economy thriving.”

The Hart District grant will be used to support career pathways that have technological and infrastructure needs and will provide funding for professional development including teacher collaboration time in the pathways.  

With additional planning time now available through this funding, greater focus will be placed on opportunities for students to participate in career-related competitions and outside experiences, including field trips, job shadowing and internships to prepare students for their futures.

“We have been working very hard in the Career and College Readiness department to strengthen career pathways for students in the Hart District and the California Department of Education agrees with our direction,” said Dr. Mariane Doyle, Hart District’s director of career technical education. “Our award of over $3.1 million was one of the largest made to any single school district in the state and we are proud to be exceeding expectations.”

Related: Hart District Students Win National Awards At Student Network Conference

In addition to the $3.1 million award, an additional $35,000 award was announced on Thursday in support of the West Ranch High School Aerospace pathway through the Department of Education’s Specialized Secondary Programs (SSP) grant.  

The funding will allow the pathway’s innovative faculty members to create two new sequenced courses: Aerospace Trigonometry/Algebra II and a senior capstone course called Space Missions. Both courses integrate mathematics and are truly unique offerings soon to be available in the Santa Clarita Valley.

To learn more about these courses, access career and college resources and view the pathways available districtwide through the afterschool Career and College Readiness Program (formerly ROP) and at each high school, click here.

For more information regarding these grants, please contact Susan Reynolds, career development coordinator, via email.

Ed. Note: This article is a news release provided by the Hart District.