Governor Jack Markell announced $450,000 in private and public grants to support new high school pathway programs.
The effort expands on the statewide Pathways to Prosperity initiative to prepare all students to excel in key fields that offer good job opportunities in the new economy.
The Delaware Department of Education, in partnership with Delaware Business Roundtable Education Committee members, including Bank of America, has awarded more than $450,000 in competitive funding that will support students as they enroll in advanced coursework and training in environmental science, nursing assistant, and teacher preparation programs, raising the number of pathways to 14.
The funding will also expand opportunities for students to pursue training in current pathways, including finance, IT/networking, health care, and engineering. The new programs begin in school year in 2017-18.
“The path to middle-class security is not what it was thirty years ago and our approach to career preparation can’t be either,” said Markell, who made the announcement at A.I. du Pont High School, which received new funding for the Academy of Finance program. “Together we can ensure that all of our students are on a path to fulfill their educational goals and career aspirations.”
The state partners with the business community to align pathway curriculums to employer needs and to provide internship opportunities for hundreds of students during the school year and summer.
The Governor’s Pathways programs currently serve about 5,800 students across 38 high schools, increasing from fewer than 2,500 students the prior school year and just one class of about 30 students two years ago.
This third round of grants will fund 23 pathway programs in 16 high schools. Since 2015, more than $1.5 million has been allocated to support these opportunities.
“Across the nation, median income is declining, the poverty rate is rising, and the youth unemployment rate is consistently double the unemployment rate for the country. Bank of America is proud to support workforce development and education opportunities – like Delaware Pathways – that will put young people on a path to success,” said Chip Rossi, Delaware market president for Bank of America.
New Pathway Grant Awards Beginning in School Year 2017-18
Appoquinimink School District
Appoquinimink High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Middletown High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Caesar Rodney School District
Caesar Rodney High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Cape Henlopen
Cape Henlopen High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Capital School District
Dover High School – Environmental and Natural Resource Science
Dover High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Dover High School – Nurse Assisting
Colonial School District
William Penn High School – Environmental and Natural Resource Science
William Penn High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Indian River School District
Indian River High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Sussex Central High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Lake Forest School District
Lake Forest High School – Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Laurel School District
Laurel High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Milford School District
Milford High School – Academy of Finance
Milford High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Polytech School District
Polytech High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Red Clay School District
AI DuPont High School – Academy of Finance
Conrad School of Science – Nurse Assisting
Thomas McKean High School – Environmental and Natural Resource Science
Thomas McKean High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
Thomas McKean High School – Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Smyrna School District
Smyrna High School – Academy of Finance
Smyrna High School – K-12 Teacher Academy
New and Expanded Pathways
- Environmental Science and Natural Resources
- Nursing Assisting
- K-12 Teacher Academy
- Academy of Finance
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology
