The Ventura County Office of Education has received a $5.7 million Career Technical Education Incentive Grant from the California Department of Education (CDE). VCOE is one of 265 applicants receiving a total of $245 million to integrate academics with career training, connect employers with schools and prepare students for jobs in high-demand fields, including robotics, information technology, health care, teaching and emergency services.

VCOE leads a consortium of local school districts that offer career and technical education at high schools throughout the county and at the VCOE Career Education Center in Camarillo. “This grant will allow Ventura County schools to better prepare students for the high-skills jobs local employers are looking to fill,” said Dr. Roger Rice, VCOE’s Deputy Superintendent of Student Services.

The latest grant is in addition to $23.4 million VCOE has received since 2014 from CDE’s Career Pathways Trust Program. The Career Pathways grants are being used to fund VC Innovates, a collaborative endeavor bringing together educators, businesses and community partners to apply innovative approaches to the education experience, and seamlessly prepare future workers and leaders for the workforce.

The Career Technical Education Incentive Grant program is the largest of its kind in the nation. Established in the 2015-16 state budget, the program will provide $900 million over the next three years to support and develop 21st century career and college readiness programs throughout the state.

A complete list of grant recipients is available here.