Pa. Secretary of Education Announces $1.64 Million in Career and Technical Education Equipment Grants

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis today announced that 31 grants, totaling $1.64 million, have been awarded to 25 career and technical education programs through the Career and Technical Education Equipment Grant program.

"Training students to be prepared to enter the workforce after high school requires advanced, hands-on training with the materials and equipment they are likely to face their first day on the job," Tomalis said, noting that Governor Corbett fully supports career and technical education as an option for students.

"The goal of the Equipment Grant is to provide the resources schools need to ensure Pennsylvania's students are familiar with the equipment they will encounter in the workplace," Tomalis said.

Through a competitive grant process, the Department of Education administers the Equipment Grant program to provide funding for the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to better prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow.

This grant program provides funding that must be matched dollar-for-dollar by the school for the purchase of equipment that meets industry standards, which will be used to train students in approved career and technical education programs in Pennsylvania's high-priority jobs.

The department received 63 applications from school districts and career and technical centers requesting more than $2.94 million in grants. Each application was reviewed and scored based on the program's plan to integrate the new equipment into its curriculum and a professional development plan to ensure instructors know how to use the new equipment.

"Just as textbooks must be periodically replaced with updated versions, so must the equipment and materials being used to train the students in career and technical education programs," Tomalis said.

"The Corbett administration recognizes that Pennsylvania employers require high school graduates who can hit the ground running as soon as they are hired. Providing the resources necessary to allow them to become familiar with the equipment they encounter in their field is one way we can ensure our students will have a successful future."

Editor's Note: Below is the list of schools that have been awarded a grant, the county and the amount of the grant.

AW Beattie Career Center, Allegheny County, $43,953
Bedford County Technical Center, Bedford County, $10,000
Berks Career and Technology Center #2, Berks County, $50,000
Berks Career and Technology Center #3, Berks County, $50,000
Bucks County Technical High School #2, Bucks County, $50,000
Central PA Institute of Science and Technology, Centre County, $50,000
Delaware County Technical High School #2, Delaware County, $48,584
Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, Westmoreland County, $34,112
Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, Fayette County, $41,182
Greater Altoona Career and Technical Center #1, Blair County, $46,375
Greater Altoona Career and Technical Center #2, Blair County, $37,240
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center, Cambria County, $3,920
Jersey Shore Area School District, Lycoming County, $5,625
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center #2, Lancaster County, $50,000
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center #3, Lancaster County, $50,000
Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Lehigh County, $200,000
Lenape Technical School, Armstrong County, $50,000
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology #1, Bucks County, $50,000
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology #2, Bucks County, $50,000
Monroe Career and Technical Institute, Monroe County, $32,728
North Montco Technical Career Center #1, Montgomery County, $50,000
North Montco Technical Career Center #2, Montgomery County, $49,500
Northern Tier Career Center, Bradford County, $32,000
Philadelphia City School District, Philadelphia County, $250,000
Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center, Berks County, $100,000
Schuylkill Technology Centers, Schuylkill County, $28,193
SUN Area Technical Institute, Union County, $23,878
Upper Bucks County Technical School, Bucks County, $50,000
Upper Dauphin Area School District, Dauphin County, $12,000
York County School of Technology #2, $50,000
York County School of Technology #3, $50,000

Media Contact:  Tim Eller, 717-783-9802

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education