Governor Recognizes Education and Workforce Innovation Commission Award Recipients | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    Raleigh, NC     Governor Pat McCrory congratulated this year's recipients of the Education and Workforce grants. The program is aimed at strengthening successful, innovative education programs that combine academic rigor and skills development with the goal of graduating every student both college and career ready.

    "These grants will accelerate innovation and partnerships with business and higher education in schools throughout North Carolina, and will empower our educators to be creative in how we prepare our students for college and a career," said Governor McCrory. "I want to thank the members of our Education and Workforce Innovation Commission for their commitment to support students from diverse regions, communities, and schools around North Carolina and to ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to the exciting opportunities these grants will bring about."

    The Education and Workforce Innovation Fund was created in the 2013 legislative session. Grants will support five year programs in districts throughout North Carolina.

    Members of the Education and Workforce Innovation Commission include State Superintendent June Atkinson, University of North Carolina system President Tom Ross, North Carolina Community Colleges President Scott Ralls, State Board of Education Chairman Bill Cobey and other business leaders from around the state. Billie Redmond, Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark Properties, acts as Commission Chair.

    Here is a list of the grants:

   •  Durham Public Schools ($800,000): The district will partner with Durham Technical Community College and local businesses to build an ambitious education-to-career system called Made in Durham that prepares all young people for careers.

   •  Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools ($800,000): The grant will increase the effectiveness of two existing career academy programs and expand the number of STEM career academies in Information Technology and Health Sciences.

   • ; Surry County Schools ($800,000): The funds will create a "Career and College Culture" with emphasis on STEM skills throughout middle schools in their district.

   •  Davidson County, Lexington City, and Thomasville City Schools – Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy ($350,000): This grant will support Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy, an economic development initiative to re-invent high school around students' career interests, using a rigorous STEM curriculum integrated with relevant work and community experiences, and innovative uses of technology.

    Duplin County Schools ($800,000): Duplin County Schools will use its grant to expand the district's current STEM focus to elementary schools.

   •  Buncombe County Schools ($800,000): Buncombe County Schools' project will provide enriched science curriculum for all fifth grade students, and will support the educator professional development and community engagement strategies necessary to building a true STEM culture in Buncombe Schools.

   •  Beaufort County Schools ($800,000): The grant will establish Career Academies at all three of the district's traditional high schools.

   •  Granville, Franklin, Vance and Warren Counties ($800,000): Grant funds will support a "Manufacturing Skills Training Alliance" between Granville County Schools, Franklin County Schools, Vance County Schools, Warren County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College.

   •  Winston-Salem/Forsyth County – Kennedy High School ($350,000): Grant funds will support the development of a college-going, career-ready culture at Kennedy Middle and High School, through partnerships with Forsyth Tech and local business and industry that will allow all students will receive a viable and meaningful workplace experiences.

   •  Chatham, Harnett and Lee Counties ($800,000): This project will increase dual enrollment participation in the tri-county area by employing full-time Career and College Advisors in each of the area's nine public high schools in order to build faculty, administrative, and curricular capacity for guiding students and families through the full range of educational career pathways. Central Carolina Community College will collaborate with each LEA to employ, train, and supervise advisors as they direct student counseling, professional development, and curriculum enhancement.

   •  Rutherford County Schools ($800,000): Rutherford County Schools will use grant funds to create engaging, innovative high school career concentration pathways and scale up evidence-based design principles already in place in Rutherford Early College High School. RCS will leverage agency partnerships with the Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation, Isothermal Community College and 450 constituent members of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.


    Contact: Crystal Feldman
       govpress@nc.gov