Delaware Pathways gets $3.25 million for student work program

Bloomberg Philanthropies has provided a $3.25 million grant to Delaware Pathways towards improving access to economic opportunity for Delaware students.

Delaware Pathways, a partnership between the K-12 education system and various public and private partners, offers high school and postsecondary students an opportunity to gain work-based learning experience, college credits and industry credentials.

“Thanks to Pathways, education and workforce programs are designed to help young people take active steps to pursue continuing education and competitive employment,” said Gov. John Carney, who kick started the Delaware Pathways initiative. “This generous grant will help Delaware continue its focus on in-demand occupations and where there is the greatest potential for our students to enter the workforce in middle- and high-skill occupations.”

Delaware Pathways announced its goals last Friday at the Fourth Annual Delaware Pathways Conference at the Chase Center:

•  Expand career pathways, including the creation of a new regional pathway in health care and continued expansion of existing pathways to connect 20,000 students with in-demand careers ranging from manufacturing, finance, information technology
• Launch a series of industry councils in partnership with the local business community to strengthen connections between employers and education and training programs
• Expand the Office of Work-Based Learning at Delaware Technical Community College, with a goal to support 2,500 high school students and another 5,000 postsecondary students in work-based learning experiences in their field of study
• Create instructional supports and teacher professional learning routines for the statewide computer science pathway in partnership with Zip Code Wilmington
• Launch summer learning opportunities for youth interested in coding and computer science in partnership with Zip Code Wilmington

Bloomberg Philanthropies provided similar three-year grants to Colorado and New Orleans in 2016.

“We need to ensure that all students are provided with opportunities to access good jobs and careers that provide pathways to the middle class,” said Howard Wolfson, who leads Bloomberg Philanthropies’ education programs. “Delaware is showing strong leadership in rethinking ways to create new opportunities for young people, recognizing that this work needs to start with the right preparation in school and continue with strong partnerships with businesses. We are happy to support Delaware’s effort to provide 20,000 students with a head start in their connection to in-demand careers.”