The County of Bucks Department of Workforce and Economic Development has received a $250,000 Schools-to-Work program grant, which will serve approximately 300 students in grades 10-12 at William Tennent High School.
Two STEM courses will be offered the first year and one in the second year. First, the biotech curriculum will expose students to the basics of DNA structure and function and biotechnology lab skills. The second curriculum, user design interface, will incorporate the principles of user design. The second year will be expanded with a bio-manufacturing component using 21st-century manufacturing technology and concepts.
Out-of-classroom experiences include workplace tours, job shadowing and internships. With the Wistar Institute as a mentor, the Workforce & Economic Development Department will pursue a pre-apprenticeship using this curriculum and work-based training.
More than $2.8 million in STWP grants were awarded across the state. The grants support new partnerships between schools, employers, organizations or associations to create employment and training career paths for students.
“The Schools-to-Work program grants provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, including apprenticeships, workplace visits and internships that will help build solid career paths to employment or secondary education,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “These funds will help ensure that Pennsylvania workers obtain the skills and industry-recognized credentials, or college credits needed to create a pipeline of highly-skilled, work-ready employees to meet current and future labor market needs.”
The Department of Labor & Industry competitively awarded the STWP grants in increments up to $250,000 to 12 eligible grantees that submitted proposals. The 2021 Schools-to-Work programs will operate from June 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2023.
