JPMorgan Chase & Co. today announced nearly $20 million in grants to ten states to dramatically increase the number of students who graduate from high school prepared for careers. These state grants are one part of the $75 million, five-year New Skills for Youth initiative developed by JPMorgan Chase & Co., in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group, aimed at strengthening career-focused education starting in high school and ending with postsecondary degrees or credentials aligned with high-skill jobs.
Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Wisconsin will each receive $2 million over three years to expand and improve career pathways for all high school students.
In March 2016, 24 states and the District of Columbia were awarded $100,000 grants for planning and early implementation of long-term career readiness education programs that align with the needs of area employers. The grants awarded today represent the second phase of the New Skills for Youth initiative. All of today’s recipients were selected from the original 25 grantees. These states will now leverage the additional grant funding to execute the career readiness plans they developed during phase one of the initiative.
“Providing opportunities for all students to participate in high-quality career readiness programs is critical to their future success and the future of our country,” said Advance CTE Executive Director Kimberly Green. “I am thrilled at the progress made by these states and excited at the prospects this initiative offers for all learners and all states.”
As part of this work, Advance CTE, CCSSO and Education Strategy Group have released 10 snapshots highlighting each of the grantees’ accomplishments in the first phase of the initiative, which be read here.
Katie Fitzgerald, Senior Associate, Communications