ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Education is partnering with the state’s leading business organization to support workforce readiness in rural school districts.
Working with the Georgia Chamber Foundation and the chamber’s Center for Rural Prosperity, the state will award $3 million grants to rural districts for projects designed to increase workforce readiness.
The initiative will target projects aimed at expanding awareness of post-secondary and high-demand career opportunities. as well as efforts to increase entrepreneurial and work-based learning opportunities for rural students.
“Partnerships with business and industry are essential to expand opportunities for our students – to ensure they graduate equipped to pursue careers and live successful, fulfilling lives,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said Friday.
“This historic partnership with the Georgia Chamber Foundation will allow us to reach students in our rural school systems with educational experiences that will equip them to participate in Georgia’s high-demand industries and contribute to the prosperity of our state.”
Education and talent development remain the top issues for Georgia’s business community, according to member surveys conducted by the Georgia Chamber.
“Consistently, we hear from Georgia businesses that they want to engage students earlier to expose them to long-term career opportunities in their communities,” said Chris Clark, the chamber’s president and CEO. “Furthering partnerships among industry and K-12 school districts is vital, especially in our rural communities.”
The state Department of Education defines 115 Georgia school systems as rural, including state charter schools in rural areas.
Under a program the state established in 2014, students who enroll in technical college courses in 18 high-demand fields, from welding to commercial truck driving to criminal justice – can qualify for full tuition coverage.
The new partnership between the state and the Georgia Chamber is the second initiative of its kind announced this week. On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp unveiled GEORGIA MATCH, a proactive program that will send personalized letters from the governor to every high school senior in Georgia listing the public universities, colleges and technical colleges they are academically eligible to attend.