State Gets $1.1M Grant for Career-Focused High School Programs

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The Arkansas Department of Education has been awarded a $1.1 million federal grant to build the capacity of the state’s education and workforce systems to partner with businesses and industries.

The funds from the Perkins Innovation and Modernization, Career Connected High Schools grant program will be used to develop new career-connected high school programs for more students based on four strategies:

• Providing postsecondary education and career guidance
• Increasing access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs
• Increasing work-based learning opportunities
• Providing industry-recognized credentials

The grant is a portion of $25 million awarded to 19 entities across the nation.

“We can transform the American high school experience and raise the bar for student engagement, achievement, and career-readiness in this country by providing all students with access to dual enrollment classes, work-based learning, industry credentials, and comprehensive career advising,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. “The Biden-Harris Administration is going to keep on fighting to provide every student in every community with career-connected learning.”