Vanguard-Sentinel receives $675k from state grant program

In early December, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced that 54 Ohio school districts would receive a total of $13.5 million through the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program. Vanguard-Sentinel Career and Technology Centers was on the recipient list, and last week, the district announced the amount of money it received from the grant was more than $675,000. The funding will be used to establish new programs for high school students to earn industry-recognized credentials in multiple sectors, as well as providing pre-apprenticeship opportunities, a release from Vanguard-Sentinel states. It can be used to invest in equipment, instructional materials, facilities and operational costs for programs in multiple fields, including advanced manufacturing, information technology, engineering and construction, critical jobs and apprenticeship and journeyman programs. Vanguard-Sentinel will offer programming in manufacturing and engineering, health care and construction, according to the release, using a "Bronze through Platinum" model to ensure students have a wide array of training options to choose from. The Bronze through Platinum program provides opportunities for 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 4-year training programs in any field, and students can start at a younger age than before. Vanguard-Sentinel programs used to be open to high school juniors and seniors – through the new model, students can start exploring career paths as early as their freshman year, and can apply for a full program their sophomore year. "We are known for offering high quality career tech programs and this new multiple entry point model means that more students can take advantage of what we offer," said Vanguard-Sentinel Superintendent Greg Edinger in the release. "Currently we have close to 1,200 students that are benefiting from our technical training, but this grant means we can reach more students while ensuring that our programs remain strong and effective and meet the standards of excellence people expect from us." Even if students aren't fully set on a career path at that young age, they can still use the opportunity to receive technical training in a specific skill that could be useful in several industries. Additionally, the grant will allow Vanguard-Sentinel to expand the Bronze program to seniors who didn't choose a career tech program earlier, or who cannot attend a full program. Specifically, the funds will go towards expanding pre-apprenticeship offerings, creating on- and off-campus learning options for students at various locations, providing the opportunity to meet graduation requirements and gain a credential simultaneously and aligning the skills students learn in school with the requirements of the labor market. In the press release, Husted said the grant program's goal is to ensure high school students know all the options they have for future success, and give them ways to demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed for both graduation and a life in the workforce.