Santa Ynez High highlights growing Career Technical Education program and grants

Heather Clement, the district's college and career coordinator, presented an overview of Santa Ynez High School's Career Technical Education (CTE) offerings to trustees and described program outcomes, industry partnerships and funding challenges. She said the program includes six industry sectors, nine pathways and more than 25 classes that combine academics and occupational training to prepare students for both postsecondary education and immediate employment.

"I can't be 80% of our students are enrolled in at least 1 career technical education class," Clement said when describing the program's reach; she emphasized the CTE curriculum drives higher graduation and postsecondary-enrollment rates and provides certifications such as OSHA 10, basic-life-support and food-safety handling. Clement detailed field trips, work-based learning, dual-enrollment classes with Allan Hancock College and apprenticeship placements in trades and ag mechanics.

She also reviewed grant funding that supports CTE pathways, including recent Golden State Pathways funding and K–12 Strong Workforce grants; the district has applied for and received varying awards and uses targeted grant management to sequence spending and avoid hiring short-term staff for grant-funded activities. Trustees and community members asked about ways the private sector can support the advisory committee and apprenticeship connections; Clement encouraged industry participation on a prospective districtwide CTE advisory committee.