Gov. Mike Pence and the Indiana Regional Works Council announced this week that Scott County School District 2 is a 2015 Innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) Curriculum Grant recipient. SCSD2 is one of eight school districts in the state selected in a second round of grant funding, provided by the Indiana General Assembly, that targets new learning opportunities at the regional level with collaborations between local business and education partners.
SCSD2 developed the grant proposal in conjunction with the Region 10 Works Council and the Scott County Economic Development Corporation. The grants are designed to encourage innovative and collaborative career and technical training opportunities for Hoosier students in key sectors of Indiana’s state and regional economies. These sectors include agriculture, advanced manufacturing, energy, automotive, construction, precision machining, robotics and welding.
“The ability to get students on track to not only graduate, but also to be career ready when they graduate is a huge benefit to the students and our community,” said Dr. Marc Slaton, SCSD2 Superintendent. “We work closely with employers throughout the region to prepare our students for rewarding careers.”
The SCSD2 pilot program brings together advanced manufacturing and welding with work-based learning experiences, and incorporates a new Work Ethic Certification developed by local school superintendents with the support of more than 60 area employers. Students will have the unique opportunity to train with the latest in advanced manufacturing and welding equipment at the Mid-America Science Park. Key partners include Amatrol, Mid-America Science Park, Ivy Tech, the Mayor of Scottsburg and Prosser.
“Scott County School District 2 takes a progressive approach to education to ensure that their students have every opportunity for success,” said Mayor Bill Graham, City of Scottsburg. “This grant is a testament to their dedication and the support of a strong business community in Scottsburg.”
The goal of the grant program is to foster and scale the most innovative and effective CTE curriculum models. These models require a 3:1 ratio of grant funding to private investment match. The total available grant funding allocated to SCSD2 is $137,606 with $62,652 in private matching funds.
The SCSD2 program will start this fall with 52 enrolled students. They will earn certifications and dual credits, supplemented by job shadowing and a minimum 15-hour internship in both advanced manufacturing and welding programs.
The Indiana Works Councils bring together more than 160 educational, workforce and business and industry leaders to evaluate local landscapes for educational programming, business needs and potential skills gaps. The General Assembly created the Works Councils in 2013 at the request of Gov. Mike Pence to further technical training options and provide students with opportunities for success whether they want to go to college, learn a trade or start their career right out of high school.
###
Scott County School District 2 is one of the premier school systems in Southern Indiana, featuring some of the top rated schools in the state. SCSD2 schools offer opportunities for students to collaborate and excel academically in a tech-rich environment. Visit www.choosescott2.com to learn more.
The Region 10 Works Council includes Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Scott and Washington counties.
