Senator Announces Community College District Will Award Career Tech Education Grant

Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside) announced that the California Department of Education has awarded a $12.8 million grant to the Riverside Community College District for programs that blend academic and career technical education, connect employers with schools, and train students for jobs in high-demand fields such as health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology and software development. “Ensuring our students are prepared to be competitive and successful in the 21st century economy continues to be one of my top priorities,” said Sen. Roth. “This grant is a critical investment in our region’s future and for Inland Southern California’s recovering economy that will create real jobs in high-demand fields. I am very pleased that by awarding this grant, CDE has recognized RCCD’s regional and statewide significance in achieving those goals.” The grant is administered through the California Career Pathways Trust program. The Legislature created CCPT in 2013 and allocated $250 million for the program in the 2013-14 budget; this year, the Legislature approved an additional $250 million for the program. CCPT-funded programs involve many dynamic sectors of California’s economy, such as health care, engineering, transportation and agriculture. The $12.8 million grant awarded to RCCD will go towards 18 career technical education programs in Riverside County in the Information and Communication Technologies, Manufacturing and Product Development / Advanced Manufacturing, and Health Science and Medical Technology sectors, and will serve over 16,000 students in Inland Southern California over three years.