{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221091852/http://www.reed.senate.gov/news/release/reed-tours-providence-career-and-technical-academy", "Reed Tours Providence Career and Technical Academy", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Jack Reed", "R000122", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Tuesday, November 26, 2013\n             Reed Tours Providence Career and Technical Academy \n            \n                 Senator Encourages RI to Apply  for a Share of New, $100 million Youth CareerConnect Grant Program \n            \n            \n            PROVIDENCE, RI -- In an effort to support Rhode Island schools and ensure more students have access to hands-on training that is relevant to today\u2019s employers, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today visited the Providence Career and Technical Academy to meet with students and faculty and discuss his latest efforts to bolster career and technical education opportunities for all students.\u00a0 Reed is encouraging Rhode Island schools and workforce partners to apply for a new Youth CareerConnect grant program, which will provide $100 million in competitive grants to better integrate academic and career-focused learning, work-based learning opportunities, robust employer engagement, and apprenticeships.\u00a0\nProvidence Career and Technical Academy is one of New England\u2019s premier technical high schools, providing students with both a high-quality academic education and state-of-the-art technical training.\u00a0 Students get training in any one of the school\u2019s nine available technical training programs and graduate with both a traditional high school diploma and industry-recognized certification in their chosen field.\n\u201cCareer and technical education programs are a key element of ensuring Rhode Island has a highly-skilled workforce that can meet labor market needs and that young people can find in-demand jobs that pay good wages and benefits and offer opportunities for career advancement,\u201d said Reed.\u00a0 \u201cBusiness leaders and manufacturers across Rhode Island report that one of their greatest challenges is finding qualified workers with technical skills, and I want to improve collaboration between our schools and business so these programs are aligned with the job market.\u00a0 We want to better prepare students for college and the workplace.\u00a0 Schools like Providence Career and Technical Academy that teach hands-on skills in several career fields can help show us the way.\u00a0 They strive to teach kids about the jobs and opportunities that are out there, and how to go get them.\u201d\n\u201cProvidence Schools is keenly aware that career and technical education enhances the traditional education of our students and prepares them for tomorrow\u2019s economy,\u201d said Providence Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Lusi. \u201cWe thank Senator Reed for highlighting this important aspect of education, and especially for helping to bring much-needed funding to these efforts.\u201d\nLast year, Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, helped secure $5.2 million in federal funding to help Rhode Island career and technical schools throughout the state prepare students to compete for in-demand jobs.\u00a0 But Reed says federal funding could decline because of the federal across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration.\u00a0\nDuring today\u2019s tour, Reed sought input from Rhode Island\u2019s education and labor leaders on ways to strengthen career and technical education programs as part of the upcoming reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.\nSenator Reed also encouraged Rhode Island schools and workforce partners to apply for a new Youth CareerConnect grant program, which will provide $100 million in competitive grants to better integrate academic and career-focused learning, work-based learning opportunities, robust employer engagement, and apprenticeships.\u00a0 The $100 million fund has been created from the revenues the government gets from processing H-1B visas. \u00a0It's expected to fund 25 to 40 grants nationwide for individual or multisite projects that will be carried out by local education agencies, public or non-profit local workforce entities, or nonprofits with education reform experience.\u00a0 The partnerships must include a local education agency, workforce investment system entity, an employer, and an institution of higher learning.\u00a0 The awards will be made in early 2014, so collaborations can get under way during the 2014-15 school year.\n\u201cWe need everyone pulling together to lift our economy and build a brighter future.\u00a0 High-quality career and technical education programs are part of that effort and, by definition, this needs to be a collaborative effort: students, teachers, schools, businesses, and community partners all working together.\u00a0 And I am committed to doing everything I can to help Rhode Island compete and succeed,\u201d concluded Reed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221091852/http://www.reed.senate.gov/news/release/reed-tours-providence-career-and-technical-academy"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.848773866891861, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}