BOSTON (3/5/20) – Senator Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington) and Representative Ken Gordon (D-Bedford) lauded the announcement that Burlington High School received a Skills Capital Grant to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education.
Burlington High School received $225,700, which will be used to improve the equipment in its Innovation Pathway program in information technology. The school will purchase new computers, robotics, and augmented and virtual reality equipment in order to expose more students to computer science. The school is currently limited in the number of students who can access the program due to equipment constraints.
“These funds will be used to enhance our student’s learning experience and allow them to use the most up to date equipment to maximize their education,” said Friedman. “Through this opportunity, Burlington High students will be able to develop the skills necessary to be more effective and successful when they eventually enter the workforce.”
“I’m thrilled to see this investment in Burlington. Burlington is a leader in incorporating technology into the classroom and preparing our students for the jobs of the future. This grant will ensure that Burlington High School students can continue to develop the skills they need to succeed,” said Gordon.
The Skills Capital Grants are awarded by Governor Baker’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which was created in 2015 to bring together the Secretariats of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, and Housing and Economic Development to align education, economic development and workforce policies in order to strategize around how to meet employers’ demand for skilled workers in every region of the Commonwealth.
The competitive grants are awarded to educational institutions that demonstrate partnerships with local businesses, as well as align curriculum and credentials with industry demand to maximize hiring opportunities in each region of the state. The 2018 Economic Development Bill established an additional $75 million in Skills Capital Grant funding.