Wolf Administration and Team Pennsylvania Announce Career Readiness Mini-Grants to 65 School Districts
Harrisburg, PA – Governor Tom Wolf, the Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), and Team Pennsylvania announced that $270,000 in Career Readiness Mini-Grants have been awarded to 65 school districts from across the commonwealth. The grants support an assortment of activities for students to learn about career opportunities, and to build stronger connections between schools and employers.
“These grants will enhance the collaborative efforts between the Pennsylvania education and workforce development systems, and help to create the bridge between school and real-world workplace experiences,” Governor Wolf said. “We need to allow our students to explore their career options early, so that they are prepared and informed as they transition into the workforce and post-secondary education.”
L&I awarded a grant to Team Pennsylvania in June to fund career-readiness projects of up to $10,000 each.
“Labor & Industry is proud to fund and support these education-oriented career readiness projects,” said L&I Acting Secretary Jerry Oleksiak. “These grants allow students to experience different industries in Pennsylvania, including high-demand industries with good, family-sustaining wages. Preparing our students for jobs that pay is a win-win for Pennsylvania’s economy.”
Team Pennsylvania partnered with the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) and Intermediate Units (IUs) across the state to review applications and select grantees, awarding $30,000 in each of the nine regions in the commonwealth.
“This project perfectly aligns with our organizational principles of partnership and ensuring Pennsylvania’s economic prosperity,” said Ryan C. Unger, President & CEO of Team Pennsylvania.
“Pennsylvania’s 29 Intermediate Units are positioned to facilitate partnerships and connect schools throughout Pennsylvania to the programs and resources needed to support robust Career Awareness and Readiness activities that will engage students in developing meaningful career dreams that can become a reality,” said Dr. Linda Hippert, Executive Director of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
The project will work to promote collaboration between the K-12 system and the workforce system on a micro-level. Successful applicants are required to work with their local Workforce Development Boards and base their work on regional labor market needs.
The career readiness activities funded by the mini-grants include:
- Placing students in work-based learning experiences, apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships, and other opportunities that help students see the connection between the classroom and their future workplaces;
- Furthering career awareness and exploration programs for students at all grade levels;
- Designing classroom instruction that will ensure students are prepared to pursue careers in high-demand, well-paying occupations; and
- Building partnerships between schools and businesses to create future career readiness opportunities for more students.
These career-readiness activities were created in support of the Department of Education’s initiative of expanding options for students to demonstrate their readiness for college, high-demand industries, or the military. The career readiness mini-grant project will identify best practices to share and replicate throughout the commonwealth.
Below is a complete list of school districts that were awarded the mini-grant:
| Name | IU Region |
| Cheltenham School District | 1 |
| Colonial School District | 1 |
| Norristown Area School District | 1 |
| Souderton Area School District | 1 |
| Upper Darby School District | 1 |
| West Chester Area School District | 1 |
| Boyertown Area School District | 2 |
| Governor Mifflin School District | 2 |
| Hamburg Area School District | 2 |
| Kutztown Area School District | 2 |
| North Schuylkill School District | 2 |
| Saint Clair Area School District | 2 |
| Abington Heights School District | 3 |
| Dallas School District | 3 |
| Lackawanna Trail School District | 3 |
| Mountain View School District | 3 |
| Northampton Area School District | 3 |
| Tunkhannock Area School District | 3 |
| Austin Area School District | 4 |
| Central Columbia School District | 4 |
| Lewisburg Area School District | 4 |
| Northern Tioga School District | 4 |
| South Williamsport School District | 4 |
| Southern Tioga School District | 4 |
| Hanover Public School District | 5 |
| Harrisburg School District | 5 |
| Middletown Area School District | 5 |
| Penn Manor School District | 5 |
| Pequea Valley School District | 5 |
| South Eastern School District | 5 |
| Altoona Area School District | 6 |
| Berlin Brothersvalley School District | 6 |
| Everett School District | 6 |
| Huntingdon School District | 6 |
| Keystone Central School District | 6 |
| Mifflin County School District | 6 |
| Philipsburg-Osceola School District | 6 |
| Windber Area School District | 6 |
| Canon-McMillan School District | 7 |
| *Carmichaels School District | 7 |
| *Central Greene School District | 7 |
| *Franklin Regional School District | 7 |
| *Jefferson-Morgan School District | 7 |
| *Norwin School District | 7 |
| *Southeastern Greene School District | 7 |
| *Trinity Area School District | 7 |
| *Washington School District | 7 |
| *West Greene School District | 7 |
| Brookville School District | 8 |
| Clarion-Limestone School District | 8 |
| Conneaut School District | 8 |
| Fort LeBoeuf School District | 8 |
| North Clarion County School District | 8 |
| Slippery Rock School District | 8 |
| Warren County School District | 8 |
| *Beaver Area School District | 9 |
| *Big Beaver Falls Area School District | 9 |
| Highlands School District | 9 |
| *Hopewell Area School District | 9 |
| *New Brighton Area School District | 9 |
| North Allegheny School District | 9 |
| *Rochester Area School District | 9 |
| South Allegheny School District | 9 |
| *South Side Area School District | 9 |
| West Allegheny School District | 9 |
* indicates the school district is partnering with at least one other district