HARRISBURG – Two Franklin County schools, the Franklin County Career & Technology Center in Chambersburg and Waynesboro Area Senior High School, will each receive $75,000 through Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $10.35 million PAsmart Advancing Grants for Career and Technical Education programs.
These programs expand access to computer science and science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education for learners across the commonwealth.
These grants – to 55 organizations in 29 counties — support high-quality STEM and computer science learning and professional development opportunities in communities across Pennsylvania.
Acting Pennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Carrie Rowe said the state is committed to supporting innovative education and workforce development projects that ensure students are prepared with the skills they’ll need to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow.
“I’m proud of Pennsylvania’s commitment to career and technical education, which equips students with the skills, credentials and hands-on experiences they need to excel in high-demand fields like STEM and computer science,” Rowe said. “These grants reflect our ongoing commitment to providing every learner in Pennsylvania with the tools to build a successful future.”
Over his first two budgets, Shapiro has increased funding for vo-tech, career and technical education and apprenticeships by nearly $65 million, which is 50 percent more than the day he took office. Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal builds on that progress and creates more opportunity for Pennsylvania students with another $5.5 million increase for these programs.
On his first full day in office, the governor signed Executive Order 2023-03, which eliminated the college degree requirement for 92 percent of state government jobs.
The Center for Workforce Information and Analysis at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry has projected that by 2028, there will be about 157,000 more occupations in Pennsylvania that require mathematics knowledge (representing 65 percent of all employment in the commonwealth), and about 125,000 more occupations that require knowledge in computers and electronics (representing 54 percent of all employment).
These grants reinforce Shapiro’s commitment to ensuring that students gain the skills, credentials and real-world experience necessary to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market through funding support for innovative partnerships, cutting-edge training and expanded learning opportunities that prepare students for high-demand careers in fields such as electric vehicle technology, engineering, artificial intelligence, and health care.
Grants of $75,000 will support collaboration between schools and a local or regional career and technical education provider, or will help communities design and plan local and/or regional approaches to expanding career and technical education in STEM and computer science.
