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California kicked off its new fiscal year with more funding to prepare workers for high-demand jobs. The 2014-2015 state budget adopted last month includes a one-time $50 million increase in postsecondary career and technical education funding.
This increase will bolster the existing Economic and Workforce Development program at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The program provides sector-specific education, training and workforce services in high-growth industries throughout the state. As the state budget explains, “[t]hese funds provide resources for community colleges to develop, enhance and expand career technical education programs that build upon existing regional capacity to better meet regional labor market demands.”
This investment reflects the California Economic Summit’s Workforce Action Team’s call for increased state support for regional sector partnerships. The Workforce Action Team is co-chaired by National Skills Coalition (NSC) Board member Van Ton-Quinlivan and NSC Leadership Council member Alma Salazar.
The budget also increases the funding rate for career development and college preparation noncredit courses. Starting in the 2015-16 school year, career development and college preparation noncredit courses will have the same funding rate as credit-bearing courses.
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