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Thanks to a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Education, Toledo Public Schools will be receiving more than $3.8 million through the Youth CareerConnectgrant.Of the 24 school districts, state and local departments of education, and job training programs nationwide to get the grant, Toledo is the only one in Ohio chosen.
The White House says the grant places a higher emphasis on STEM industries, and aims to provide more work-based learning experiences and more chances to earn post-secondary training while still in high school.And some of those priorities have already been underway in Toledo.The district's communications director, Patty Mazur, said this grant’s application was modeled after one of the district’s success stories, Toledo Technology Academy.“That academy works a great deal with local businesses, including General Motors, as far as offering internships with our students, and that is a school that’s focused on engineering and technology,” Mazur said.Mazur added that the grant will be used to help connect upper class students at five of the district’s high schools with local businesses beginning next fall.