Delaware’s Department of Education continues to funnel federal dollars into the state’s high school career and technical programs.
The state has awarded $458,000 to 17 Delaware school districts and charters with the purpose of expanding the Delaware Pathways Initiative—a work-based learning program meant to prepare students for in-demand jobs.
The state has put about $2.5 million in federal grants towards the program over the past five years.
Carson Strickler is a 12th grade student in the Culinary Pathway Program at Dover High School. He says the classes are preparing him to one day be an executive chef.
“So having to cook in a certain amount of time and having to clean my station from bottom to top--cleaning dishes to cooking your own food. It teaches me everything from business management to cooking.”
The state has also launched and expanded several new pathway courses this year including computer science, natural resource management and marketing.
“We’ve transformed our high schools to be able to contribute heavily to our economy in Delaware. We’re preparing our kids for what they need to do when they leave us,” said Delaware Secretary of Education Susan Bunting.
A total of 51 grants were handed out. Appoquinimink and Brandywine school districts received the largest number - getting 10 and 6 respectively.
More than 16,000 Delaware high school students are enrolled in the program. And the DOE says it wants to raise that number to 20,000 next year—which would be about half the state’s 9-12 grade population.
