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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-7317
U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman and U.S. Secretary
of Education Richard W. Riley announced today that the state of North Dakota
will receive $1,863,140 in federal School-to-Work funds. The competitive grant
was awarded after North Dakota demonstrated its ability to design and implement
a comprehensive, statewide School-to-Work system.
"These funds will enable young people to have the tools
necessary to ensure their success in the 21st century workforce," said
Secretary Herman. "We are working hard to ensure that every future and present
American worker has access to lifelong learnin g and the development of job
skills."
"The School-to-Work experience gives students a mixture of
classroom learning and work study exposure in real jobs," said Secretary Riley.
"It can give students more options for their future, such as college, technical
training and skilled entry-level work. Above all, it provides young people the
tools to succeed in today's highly competitive job market."
Today's announcement brings the total number of
School-to-Work state implementation grants to 39. The nearly $1.9 million award
is the first installment of a four-year funding commitment made to the state
through the National School-to-Work Opportunities Act --a Clinton
Administration initiative passed with strong bipartisan support in 1994. The
National School-to-Work Office, which provides leadership and assista nce to
grantees, is jointly administered by the Departm ents of Education and Labor.
School-to-Work encourages local partnerships including
schools, parents, employers, organized labor and the community that link the
classroom with the real world of work. These partnerships offer students
opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, and other forms
of career exploration. Employers and educators involved in School-to-Work
partnerships are encouraged to work together to provide students with
work-based learning opportunities and adult mentors, as well as strong mastery
of academic skills, that will help them succeed in college and in the
workplace.
North Dakota's implementation grant will link these local
partnerships in communities throughout the state into one comprehensive system.
The state first began designing and developing a
School-to-Work system in 1994. Between that time and today's award of a
School-to-Work state implementation grant, North Dakota has received a total of
$1,133,326 in School-to-Work state development grants.
Attached is a one-page description of North Dakota's
School-to-Work plan.
Awardee: North Dakota State Board for Vocational and
Technical Education
Contact: Dean Montieth, North Dakota
School-to-Work Opportunities System, (701) 328-3074
Amount:
$1,863,140
North Dakota's plan for a comprehensive, statewide
School-to-Work system is overseen by a special School-to-Work Management Team
which is chaired by the Governor. The state is committed to providing all of
its students with the opportunity to acquire --through School-to-Work --the
knowledge, skills, and abilities that will lead to success in college and
careers.
The first steps to implementing North Dakota's plan will be
expanding all of state's existing 17 School-to-Work pilot projects, and funding
15 to 20 new partnerships. North Dakota plans to fund 15 more partnerships in
the second year of its implementation grant, and add 10 more the following
year.
To provide teachers with School-to-Work training and
curriculum development, the state is committing significant resources to 10
Regional Teacher Leaning Centers. The Centers will also offer distance
learning, work-based learning opportunities for post-secondary students,
school-based enterprises, and entrepreneurship curriculum for students in all
grades.
North Dakota is continuing to build a statewide network
between state and tribal post-secondary institutions to further connect school
and work. The North Dakota University system will leverage $3.4 for the state's
School-to-Work system during the first year of the implementation grant --money
that will be used to restructure and refocus teacher prep curricula and to
develop a comprehensive plan to identify workforce training needs.
Additionally, the State University system will use
School-to-Work concepts in its teacher training curriculum, and considerable
effort is being made to connect secondary and post-secondary schools through
School-to-Work. Already, North Dakota has approved career pathways which
include: arts and humanities, business technology, engineering/industrial,
health and science, human services and natural resources. In addition, it has
developed K-6 curriculums for school-based learning activities.
North Dakota's School-to-Work plan enjoys the support of
the state's Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Affairs Commission, the AFL-CIO,
the Association of Private Career Schools, the School Boards Association, and
employers (including Lucas Aerospace, Butler Machinery, Meyer Milk Transport,
and a large employer group known as the Greater North Dakota Association).
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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