Grant to Help School District Expand Its Program Dealing With Clean Technologies

Faculty members answer questions about programs at a recent orientation

The Ballston Spa Central School District is
the recipient of a NYS Pathways in Technology
early College High School (NYS P-TECH) grant
to expand the district’s program that focuses on
the clean technologies and sustainable industries.

The program is one of only 16 projects from
around the state to receive support, was recently
announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who said the
partnerships would prepare nearly 6,000 students
statewide for higher education and a pathway to
the work force.

“We are making sure our students are more
prepared for life after graduation by linking the
skills we teach in the classroom with the needs
of 21st century employers,” Cuomo said in a news
release.

“This groundbreaking program will give students across the state the opportunity to earn a college degree without taking on significant debt from student loans while also starting on a pathway to a good-paying job when they graduate.

These public-private partnerships are a model for success for our students, our employers and our regional economies.”

The district is the lead fiscal and implementation agency and is proud to have Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) as the lead higher education partner and industry giants Global- Foundries, Cisco, and TRC as lead business partners to fully implement and fulfill all of the roles and responsibilities of NYS P-TECH program, district officials said.

The district, along with its higher education and business partners, currently operates the highly successful Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School (ECHS), a program that prepares students for college and careers in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and advanced technology including semi-conductor manufacturing.

The district started the program in 2011 with HVCC and NYSERDA at the college’s TEC-SMarT facility in the Saratoga Technology + energy Park in Malta. Officials said it has expanded to include over 25 business partners and enrolls over 110 students from 20 high schools in seven counties for the fall 2013 semester.

The district’s proposal includes the continued expansion of the ECHS, increasing educational opportunities for at-risk and underrepresented youth from around the region in related careers and continuing the development of pathways with HVCC to create seamless sequences of study leading to associates degrees in the areas of information systems, energy efficiency, renewable energy, or advanced technology.

The grant supports the collaboration with business partners to further develop the ECHS curriculum and to provide mentoring, job shadowing, workplace visits, and field experiences. District officials said it also will further create a career placement plan in collaboration with over 25 current supporting businesses that ensures program graduates are first in line for open positions with business partners from across the sector.

For additional information please contact Laurel Logan-king, assistant superintendent for curriculum, assessment and pupil services, Ballston Spa Central School District at lking@bscsd.org or 884-7195 ext. 1330.

Photo Courtesy of Ballston Spa Central School District