Klamath County partners expand CTE health pathways and summer internships for at‑risk youth

Klamath County School District officials and community partners on Tuesday described an expanding set of career‑technical education and paid internship programs that aim to connect high‑school students — especially those at risk of dropping out — to health‑care and construction careers.

District staff member Jeff (last name not specified) introduced Klamath Works, which piloted a third‑party summer internship program last year after the district found the logistics of operating a summer paid internship program burdensome. “One of our partners for a number of years now has been Klamath Works,” Jeff said, and the district is continuing the partnership this summer using grant funds.

Nut graf: Partners said the programs tie classroom CTE courses to paid work, pre‑apprenticeship training and college pathways so students can graduate with job experience, college credit or direct entry into local employers. The effort focuses on rural schools and students with high barriers to employment and uses grant funding and employer partnerships rather than a new district payroll operation.

Klamath Works director Joy described…