Gov. Phil Murphy recently announced the availability of a second round of grant applications to further enhance career and technical education (CTE) in county vocational-technical high school districts and county colleges in New Jersey.
These grants are supported by $500 million in bonds authorized by the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act (“Bond Act”), which New Jersey voters approved in November 2018. Of the total $500 million authorized in the Bond Act, $275 million was allocated for CTE expansion grants in county vocational-technical school districts and $50 million to county colleges. The remaining Bond Act funds were to be used for security projects and water infrastructure in K-12 schools.
In the first round of Bond Act CTE grants announced in July, the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) awarded $222.9 million to county vocational school districts, and the Office of Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) awarded $26.5 million to county colleges. The second round of grant applications announced today will continue to expand CTE programs. Nearly $52.1 million in grant funding administered by the DOE will be available to county vocational-technical high schools, and $23.5 million administered by the OSHE will be available to county colleges.
The Bond Act allocations for county vocational school districts will fund renovations and new construction to increase student capacity in high-demand CTE programs. Funds will cover related demolition, site improvements and physical plant upgrades, and furniture and equipment in renovated, reassigned, or new spaces related to county vocational CTE program expansion. The Bond Act funds for county colleges will be used to construct or expand classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer facilities, and other academic structures to increase CTE program capacity.
County vocational-technical school districts and county colleges have until February 14, 2022 to apply for the grants. For more on the grant applications, including timelines, eligibility requirements, and application materials, visit the DOE’s website as well as OSHE’s website.
