Collaboration Scores $6 Million Grant for Comprehensive Career Technical Education Program

CCSF, SFUSD, OEWD and BayBio Institute Coordinate

(SAN FRANCISCO, Thursday, May 28, 2015) - A collaborative consortium of City College of San Francisco (CCSF), San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and BayBio Institute scored a nearly 6 million dollar California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT) grant yesterday.
 
The Consortium will receive $5,999,342 to strengthen education pathways in Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Biotechnology by partnering with local companies to address specific needs of critical communities on San Francisco while feeding the growing need for skilled workers.
 
The program focuses on enrolling and educating underrepresented and low-income populations with unprecedented access to hands-on classes, enabling high school students to enroll in work-based credit courses that build real technical skills.
 
Grant money will focus on providing cutting edge curriculum and opportunities through partnering companies. With industry-based internships and mentors for students in their trades, expert speakers from industry, some externships for teachers, and dedicated staff to work on a career pathways, the program is as comprehensive in approach as it is innovative.
 
“San Francisco is the Innovation Capital of the World and we are making sure our residents are ready for the jobs of the 21st Century economy and can share in the prosperity of our great City. I am thrilled that we are collaborating with our School District and City College to ensure our students and residents obtain the knowledge, training, and skills they will need to be successful,” said Mayor Ed Lee.
 
The almost six million dollar grant comes on the heels of dual three million dollar awards from the Department of Finance for CCSF and SFUSD’s Bridge to Success program, as well as SF State and CCSF’s Metro College Success program. The combined grant and award money, almost $12 million collectively, represent a notable level of recognition from State agencies for San Francisco’s collaborative approach.
 
“We are preparing our students to thrive in careers in the growing high tech industry. In the near future, businesses working in Information and Communication Technologies and Biotechnologies will not have to look further than local residents to find a qualified workforce,” said SFUSD Superintendent Richard A. Carranza.  
 
Companies that have partnered with the Consortium include: CBS Interactive, First Person, Jawbone, KQED, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Safeway, Salesforce, and Zynga. Biotech companies include: Amgen, AvidBiotics, Bayer, Bell Biosystems, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cel Analytical, CymaBay, Gladstone Institutes, Omniox, Oncomed, Prosetta, SutroBiopharma, and Target Discovery.
 
“Once again City College of San Francisco and San Francisco Unified School District are proving that they lead the way in empowering San Francisco’s communities through affordable and accessible education,” said CCSF Chancellor Art Tyler.

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Page updated on 05/28/15