The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $750,000 in grants to six states to help strengthen and enhance career and technical education (CTE) programs. Indiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nebraska, Florida, and Hawaii have received grants to support partnerships that will create new CTE programs, or adopt existing ones, that will align secondary and postsecondary education courses needed to prepare students for further education and employment.

The grants range from $115,000 to $130,000, and will help the states improve their ability to offer rigorous CTE programs of study.

For example, the South Carolina Department of Education and its partners have developed a formal partnership to increase the number and diversity of students who enter and complete studies leading to associate and baccalaureate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The project will focus on faculty development, curriculum innovation and national and industry standards, and on research-based strategies designed to improve success in program entry, dual credit, and transfer rates for STEM pathway participants.

The grants are funded through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and administered by the Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education.

The following lists grantees, their award amounts and career pathways:

• Indiana Department of Workforce Development — $125,000 — Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

• New Hampshire Department of Education — $124,560 — Finance and Health Science

• South Carolina Department of Education — $130,000 — Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

• University of Hawaii — $128,996 — Health Science

• Nebraska Department of Education — $129,436 — Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

• Florida Department of Education — $115,000 — Health Science/Biotechnology

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