OCDE secures $449,000 grant for career and technical education

The Orange County Department of Education has been awarded a federal grant of $448,936 to help prepare more students in career and technical education.

OCDE received the Innovation & Modernization Grant grant from the U.S Department of Education. The I&M Grant is designed to test new ideas to help prepare students for success in the workforce by identifying, supporting and evaluating evidence-based strategies for improving career technical education, or CTE.

Nine education agencies received I&M grants across the country, totaling about $4.3 million. The grants are also designed to ensure workforce skills taught in CTE programs funded under Perkins V align with local labor market needs.

three students stand over a table while they work on their robotics projectGrantees will create, develop, implement, replicate or scale evidence-based innovations that modernize CTE, increase program effectiveness and alignment, and improve student outcomes. Grant funds under this competition may be used for a broad range of approaches including designing new courses, building capacity in computer science and coding, creating work-based learning opportunities for students, and integrating science and math content in applied courses.

“Congress sent a clear message to the country when they included the Innovation and Modernization grant program in the reauthorization of Perkins V, and we are excited to implement the program,” said Scott Stump, the Assistant U.S. Secretary of Career, Technical and Adult Education. “The time to rethink career and technical education is now, and we believe that the Innovation and Modernization Grant Competition takes an important step in that direction.”

Here is some more information about OCDE’s grant award:

  • Project Title: Delivering Integrated Curricula and Course Pathways through Making and Esports
  • Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.051F
  • PR/Award Number V051F190047
  • Project costs will be matched at 51% through non-governmental sources