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Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $1.7 Million in Grants to Add 342 Career and Technical Education Seats Across Massachusetts

Funding supports workforce development, career training and industry collaboration in areas like advanced manufacturing, early education, health assisting

LYNN – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is awarding $1.7 million in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Partnership Grants to six Massachusetts schools and school district partnerships, adding 342 new seats for students in fields such as advanced manufacturing, early education and care, and health assisting.

These partnerships, known as “After Dark” programs, take place after the school day and create collaboration between career and technical education schools and local comprehensive traditional public high schools to provide students at public schools with access to career and technical education.
Announced today at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute during STEM week, these grants will enhance workforce development efforts and strengthen partnerships between schools and industry leaders, helping to prepare students and workers for jobs in high-demand fields in Massachusetts’ economy.

“Investing in career and technical education is essential to preparing our workforce for the future,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will give students access to the tools and training they need to succeed in critical industries, from advanced manufacturing to early education and care, while also creating stronger ties between schools and employers to ensure that education programs match real-world demand.”

“Partnerships between schools and industry leaders are the backbone of our workforce development strategy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By aligning education with the skills that employers need, we’re empowering students and workers to take advantage of high-quality job opportunities while helping businesses grow.”

As part of the administration’s “Reimagining High School” initiative, the CTE Partnership Grants equip students and workers with the skills they need to succeed in today’s dynamic job market through development of innovative, hands-on learning opportunities that align with current industry needs. Awardees in communities with a high demand for CTE, as well as Gateway Cities, were prioritized.

“An important part of our Reimagining High School initiative is providing students with engaging, hands-on experiences that mirror their future careers. I am excited to be back in Lynn today to make this announcement during STEM week and lift up how career and technical education is a key part of these efforts. We know there is demand for this type of learning in our comprehensive public schools and career technical education schools, and this grant program is helping us reach more students and communities,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler.

“These grants reflect the importance of giving additional students access to career technical education,” said Russell D. Johnston, Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “I’m happy to see such strong collaboration between schools and districts for the benefit of students.”

“STEM education is key to unlocking our students’ potential and preparing them for a future filled with possibilities,” said Lynn Mayor Nicholson. “We appreciate the state’s commitment to enhancing and expanding STEM for all students. This grant will provide transformational opportunities that will empower our youth and promote further innovation and exploration in their academics.”

Awardees:
North Shore After Dark Partnership Program: $83,655
This grant funding will allow the North Shore After Dark Partnership Program to expand to an additional 120 students, increasing access to programs in Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Craft Labor, Early Education and Care, Health Assisting, and Sustainable Horticulture, which are all in high demand in the local labor market for full time skilled and credentialed employees. The North Shore After Dark Partnership Program is a collaborative program, including Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, Beverly Public Schools, Danvers Public Schools, Gloucester Public Schools, Marblehead Public Schools, Rockport Public Schools, and Swampscott Public Schools that provides career training and career pathways in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education programs.

Greater Lawrence Technical School Partnership Program: $251,376
Through this grant funding, Greater Lawrence Technical School will expand its After Dark Partnership Program to 30 additional 11th grade students in Information Support Services and Networking and Health Assisting, with a focus on supporting students of color and multilingual learners. This After Dark Partnership Program includes Greater Lawrence Technical School, Lawrence Public Schools, Methuen Public School, Andover Public School and North Andover Public Schools.

Leicester Public School District Partnership Program: $35,000
Leicester Public School District has recently been approved to provide career technical opportunities in Building & Property Maintenance and Early Education and Care. This grant funding will enable them to create a planning committee with Shrewsbury Public Schools to identify other high schools in central Massachusetts that are not already members to a regional technical high school and create pathways for those students to enroll at Leicester’s After Dark Partnership Program, opening up an estimated 20 additional seats to local high school students.

Lynn Public School District Partnership Program: $397,625
This grant funding will allow Lynn Public Schools to add 48 seats annually to their After Dark Partnership Program at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute in Advanced Manufacturing, HVAC, Metal Fabrication and Joining Technologies, and Health Assisting, which are all areas where there is locally high demand in the labor market demand.

Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School Partnership Program: $839,000
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School is creating a new partnership with Fitchburg Public Schools, Gardner Public Schools, and Narragansett Regional School District, adding 84 additional seats in Carpentry and Electrical. Through this program, participating students will take academic courses one week in their home district, and then travel to the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School for career technical instruction the following week.

Salem and Beverley Public School Districts Partnership Program: $181,719
The grant funding will expand the Salem Beverly After Dark partnership, adding 40 additional new seats across Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Craft Laborers, Health Assisting, and Sustainable Horticulture programs. Salem and Beverly Public School students will take classes at their high schools during the day and then take career and technical education classes at Essex Tech in the afternoon.

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