Career and technical education grant recipients announced


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 7, 2007
CONTACT: Mary Stadick Smith, Department of Education, (605) 773-7228, mary.stadicksmith@state.sd.us
 
Career and technical education grant recipients announced
 
PIERRE, S.D. – Forty-three schools and educational cooperatives across South Dakota will receive a total of $1.5 million to fund career and technical education initiatives during the 2007-08 school year. (See list below.) The one-year grants will support 60 projects.

“In two years, students will be required to stay in high school until they reach 18. Career and technical education has concrete, real-world applications, and we believe it poses one viable option for students who may otherwise have chosen to drop out,” said Gov. Mike Rounds.
 
Through career and technical education, students learn about the strong connection between high school, postsecondary education and the workplace.
 
Grant proposals focused on seven key areas: academic and technical skills, career guidance, entrepreneurial activities, new CTE programs within specific career clusters, partnerships, adding rigor to high school, and distance learning. 
 
“By encouraging distance learning projects within this grant, we should see more CTE courses available statewide via the new Virtual High School,” said Mark Wilson, director of career and technical education for the South Dakota Department of Education.  
 
The South Dakota Legislature appropriated $1.5 million in career and technical education funds earlier this year, which was an increase of $500,000 over last year’s funding. The Department of Education received more than 80 applications requesting $2.8 million to fund initiatives during the 2007-08 school year.  
 
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Career and technical education projects funded for 2007-08
Armour School District
Belle Fourche School District
Brandon Valley School District
Bridgewater School District
Brookings School District
Canton School District
Chamberlain School District
Clark School District
Cornbelt Educational Cooperative
Dakota Valley School District
East Central Multi-District
East Dakota Educational Cooperative
Emery School District
Faulkton Area School District
Hanson School District
Harrisburg School District
Hot Springs School District
Hub Area Multi-District
Lake Area Multi-District
Lennox School District
Leola School District
Madison School District
Meade School District
Mid-Central Educational Cooperative
Miller School District
Mitchell School District
Mitchell Technical Institute/Regional School Districts
Mobridge School District
Northeast South Dakota Tech Prep Consortium
Northern High Tech Consortium
Northwest Area Multi-District
Northwestern Area School District
Pierre School District
Rapid City School District
Sioux Falls School District
Sisseton School District
Tea Area School District
Vermillion School District
Viborg School District
Wall School District
Warner School District
Watertown School District
Yankton School District