Essex County Vocational Technical Schools is 1 of 19 in country to get Perkins grant

The Essex County Vocational Technical Schools received a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Perkins Innovation and Modernization, Career Connected High Schools grant program.

And, while million-dollar grants seemingly are thrown around every week, this is a big deal: Only 19 awards were handed out nationally. Essex County Vocational Technical Schools was the only entity in New Jersey to receive one.

Federal officials said the grant aims to build the capacity of education and workforce systems to partner with business and industry to develop new high-quality, career-connected high school programs for more students.

Grantees will leverage four evidence-based strategies, or “keys,” to help students in unlocking career success, including: providing postsecondary education and career guidance; increasing access to dual or concurrent enrollment programs; increasing work-based learning opportunities; and providing industry-recognized credentials.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo was thrilled by the news, saying it reflects the attention the county is giving to education.

“Over the last six years, we have opened three new schools — Donald Payne School of Technology, West Caldwell School of Technology and Newark Tech — that provide modern accommodations and dynamic learning environments where our students receive an educational foundation that prepares them for college or university, the workforce or whatever future path they follow,” he said.

He thanked U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11^th Dist.) for her efforts.

“New Jersey is home to the best public education system in the nation, and we can continue to build on that success by ensuring our students are ready to enter the workforce,” she said. “I look forward to seeing how the Essex County Vocational Technical Schools uses this funding to continue developing innovative programs that will improve student engagement, connect our schools with New Jersey’s world-class businesses and build a highly skilled workforce that will power the Garden State.”