News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Putnam Schools set to expand post-secondary and career exploration opportunities for middle and high school students through a new grant.
The system’s CTE program recently received $190,000 in grant funding through the Perkin’s Reserve Grant. CTE Programs Supervisor Leslie Eldridge said part of the funding will be used for the industry credential courses.
“We’re very excited about that piece to break down those barriers when it comes to funding those industry certifications,” Eldridge said. “And that cost that our students have to have, we are going to take that off their plates this year and break down that barrier,”
Eldridge said the course costs can range anywhere from $35 to $175 depending on the program. She said the industry credential program helps students become workforce-ready as soon as they leave high school.
Eldridge said the remaining funding will be used to create a mobile career exploration classroom. She said they plan to model it after the system’s Words on Wheels bus and bring a lab complete with any necessary tools and supplies to students across the district. She said they hope to complete the bus within the next year.
“We’re looking forward to promoting career exploration to our middle school students in grades 5 through 8,” Eldridge said. “Really getting them excited about all the different careers we have available to them at the high school level. And even getting our high school instructors in the CTE area excited about those middle school students learning more about those programs.”
The Perkins Reserve Grant is a highly competitive grant program in the state. Eldridge said this year they decided to apply for two aspects of the CTE program, successfully receiving a grant for both.
“We continue to focus, prioritize and strengthen our CTE program helping bridge the gap between middle and high school,” Director of Schools Corby King said. “With grant funds like Perkins Reserve given to our district and those across the state, we are able to continue that mission and prepare students for in-demand jobs in our workforce.”
