$1.15 Million for College-Prep, Career Academies in West County High Schools

Special career and college academies in the six comprehensive high schools in the West Contra Costa Unified School District have received a significant boost, a two-year grant of $1.15 million, the district announced Wednesday.

The funding, from ConnectEd California and the James Irvine Foundation, will support continued development and improvement of the academies, which are part of the Linked Learning Pathways Initiative, according to a district news release.

“The grant is a tribute to (the District's) deep commitment to Linked Learning and the hard work done these past three years to better prepare all young people in West Contra Costa County for lasting success in both further education and career,” ConnectEd President Gary Hoachlander said in a statement.

The school district said the Linked Learning approach "involves college preparatory programs of study that combine rigorous academic courses with challenging career-technical education, engages students in work-based and community-based learning experiences, and provides additional support for student success."

West Contra Costa is one of nine school districts participating in the Linked Learning initiative in California, and one of six to receive continuation grants in the current round of funding, the district said.

The various academies in West Contra Costa high schools vary in focus with themes that include Architecture and Construction, Engineering, Environmental Science, Health and Bioscience, , Law, and Visual and Performing Arts.