New Jersey is currently facing a shortage of career and technical education (CTE) teachers and is looking to increase the pool of qualified candidates. Recruiting high-quality CTE teachers is vital to filling current and anticipated open positions in high-need industries. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) received a grant from the United States Department of Education in October 2017 to attract new CTE teachers. The grant allows the NJDOE has developed two programs for prospective CTE teachers: Industry Fellows and CTE Teacher Bridge.

It is the intent of the Middle Grades Career Awareness and Exploration Grant to cultivate the development of innovative career awareness and exploration programs focused on engaging career-focused instruction and unique experiences for students in the middle grades (defined as grades 5 – 8). Middle grades schools are well positioned to implement this initiative because of the organizational structures, programs and practices that support students’ unique academic, developmental, and social needs such as smaller learning communities, looping, advisory programs, and interdisciplinary teams.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has established a three year grant program for public school districts in New Jersey that contain grades 5, 6, 7, or 8. Participating districts are required to implement the program in at least one grade level during the first year, and at least one additional adjacent grade in each subsequent year of the grant. Schools are required to participate in the project for at least two grant years. Sixteen LEAs were selected to participate in this program. The list of awardees can be found here.

Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) is a career pathway program that includes strong industry, secondary and postsecondary partnerships that are designed to align with local, regional or state industry economic development initiatives.

NJ P-TECH provides access and opportunity for underrepresented students in New Jersey’s comprehensive high schools to an education in an in-demand STEM career pathway by participating in an industry-driven career pathway program where they can earn a high school diploma and a postsecondary degree, while they gain valuable employability skills.

In 2018, Governor Murphy awarded $900,000 to three school districts to develop and implement P-TECH programs. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is proud to support the P-TECH grantees as they improve educational outcomes for all students.

P-TECH Grantees:

• Burlington City
• New Brunswick
• Paterson
• Trenton

P-TECH Resources:

P-TECH 9-14 School Model is a pioneering education reform initiative created by IBM, to prepare young people with the academic, technical and professional skills required for 21st century jobs and ongoing education.

The purpose of the ExPAND grant is to increase the number of high school students, who are at least 16 years old, participating in and completing pre-apprenticeship programs that are aligned to a Registered Apprenticeship occupation recognized by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), Office of Apprenticeship.

Completers of the pre-apprenticeship program may be accorded preferential consideration for entry into a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship program and/or apply time served or credits earned toward fulfilling the program requirement.  These programs typically align with the five components of a USDOL Registered Apprenticeship and may articulate with a postsecondary institution.  The five components consist of business involvement, structured on-the-job training, related technical instruction, rewards for skill gains and a nationally recognized credential.

Districts funded through this grant opportunity include:

• Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools
• West Orange Public Schools
• Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
• Hudson County Schools of Technology
• Salem County Vocational Technical Schools
• Wildwood City School District

The intent of the Early College Model Program is to enhance an existing early college high school program serving students in a municipality designated as a  New Jersey Opportunity Zone. Up to $200,000 in grant funding will support schools provision of services and early college programs to students in underrepresented subgroups, which will include increasing career and college advisement on Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (NJDOL) identified industries of focus.

The goal of the New Jersey Early College Model Program NGO is to empower a diverse group of underserved high school students, specifically those at risk of not completing postsecondary education, with access to an intellectually engaging educational experience, affording them the opportunity to reach their full potential by earning a high school diploma and associate degree, along with supportive career and college counseling, while in high school.

Through a competitive application process, Newark Board of Education was selected as a recipient of this grant.

The goal of the Building Capacity for Career Pathways in Comprehensive Schools NGO is to “increase access and opportunities for New Jersey students to participate in high-quality career and technical education programs in comprehensive high schools, delivered through career pathways leading to high-skill, high-wage and in-demand careers. This limited-competitive grant will build off the successful (previous) grant, “Building Capacity for Career Pathways: A Pilot Program for Comprehensive High Schools”.

The overall expected outcomes of this grant program are to:

• Increase the number of students participating in high-quality CTE programs through career pathways;
• Improve career preparation of students;
• Increase the number of students attaining industry-valued and postsecondary credentials during high school, and who are eligible to continue education and credential attainment in a career pathway after graduation; and
• Provide technical assistance to build capacity for model career pathways statewide, creating a community of experienced and knowledgeable educators, industry, and postsecondary partners.

The NJDOE is offering this NGO to comprehensive school districts, including regional school districts or charter schools, serving grades 9-12 that do not currently have an approved CTE program and/or CTE program of study. The grant applicants will build two CTE programs of study aligned to the NJDOL Key Industries providing career pathways to their students.