Career Pathway Support Network

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin announced the recipients, including the ESC, of the Career Pathway Support Network Grant – a $7.1 million investment to bring career-connected learning opportunities and career planning support to more students across the state. The ESC will lead the Central Region network. The network will build on the foundation of the Tech Prep model but take a broader approach – increasing access to and participation in career-technical education for middle grades (7-10), ensuring all students receive high-quality career advising and mentoring, and aligning more closely with regional workforce needs through partnerships between schools and districts, institutions of higher education, and local employers.

The Central Region network will be guided by a regional steering committee, and the grant funds will be used to directly support career services provided to students enrolled in all community schools, STEM schools, affiliated higher education institutions, and school districts, including joint vocational school districts. The demand for career-technical education continues to grow in Ohio, with more than 141,000 students participating in at least one career-technical education course during the 2023-2024 school year. To build on this momentum, and to help ensure every student interested in career-technical education has access to it, the state is working to close participation gaps – especially in the 59 districts where high school career-technical education enrollment is currently below 10%. 

Click here to learn more about Career Pathway Support Networks.