In October 2001, the following states each received approximately $1 million, which they plan to allocate to high schools: California, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

California

• California's initiative, Aiming High for High School Reform, consists of the following two components:
  1. Local assistance grants to be awarded to low-performing schools as determined by California's Academic Performance Index; and
  2. Direct technical assistance and resources to be provided to the targeted schools and other interested schools.
• California will award its grants either to individual schools in amounts ranging from $200,000 to $250,000 or to consortia in amounts ranging from $400,000 to $450,000.
• The California Department of Education hopes to announce its awards this spring.
• For further information please contact:
  Jim Greco
  California Department of Education
  High School Initiatives
  721 Capitol Mall, 4th Floor
  Sacramento, CA 95814
  Phone: (916) 657-4860
  Fax: (916) 657-4651

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Kentucky

• Kentucky's project will build upon activities adopted since passage of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990, and will promote school improvement and/or replicate successful high school reform models.
• Kentucky's grantees are expected to:
  • Implement Kentucky's Individual Graduation Plan;
  • Have students select and focus on one of Kentucky's seven career clusters;
  • Select a specific program model such as High Schools That Work;
  • Use the State's Standards and Indicators for School Improvement; and
  • Serve as a mentor for low-performing schools.
• On January 3, 2002, Kentucky made awards to two high school consortia.
  • Boone County Schools Consortium received $495,000 for Boone County High School, Conner High School, and Ryle High School.
  • Green River Education Cooperative Consortium received $405,000 for Barren County High School, Edmonson County High School, Logan County High School, and Metcalfe County High School.
• For further information please contact:
  Rodney Kelly
  Kentucky Department of Education
  c/o Career & Technical Education
  2119 Capitol Plaza Tower - 500 Mero Street
  Frankfort, KY 40601
  
  Phone: (502) 564-3472
  Fax: (502) 564-7371

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Maryland

• Maryland's project will expand existing state school improvement strategies begun under the state's school reform effort, Schools for Success.
• Maryland will restructure four schools into schools within schools. Learning and technical skills centers will be created based on a combination of strategies and career-focused models consistent with Maryland's career clusters.
• Maryland will use Career Connections, High Schools That Work, Talent Development High Schools with Career Academies, and the National Academy Foundation model as a frameworks for reform.
• On March 1, 2002, Maryland awarded grants to Aberdeen High School, Glen Burnie High School, Lackey High School, and Mead High School.
• For further information please contact:
  Lynne Gilli, Ed.D.
  Career & Technology Education Instructional Branch
  Maryland State Department of Education
  200 West Baltimore Street
  Baltimore, MD 21201-2595
  Phone: (410) 767-0518
  Fax: (410) 333-8666

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Massachusetts

• Massachusetts' initiative, Exemplary Models for Student Success, will expand on the following reform strategies: High Schools That Work, work-based learning/connecting activities, and career majors strategies to support the reform.
• Through career majors, Massachusetts will focus on smaller learning communities. Through work-based learning, Massachusetts will provide internships.
• On March 26, 2002, Massachusetts awarded a grant to Worcester Vocational Technical High School, an urban school. A school consortium was also awarded a grant. The consortium includes Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational High School, Montachutt Regional Vocational Technical High School, Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical High School, and Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School.
• With the exception of Blackstone Valley, the high schools are all low-performing schools. Blackstone Valley will serve as a mentor for the other schools in the consortium.
• For further information please contact:
  Stafford Peat
  Massachusetts Department of Education
  350 Main Street
  Malden, MA 02148-5023
  Phone: (781) 338-3956
  Fax: (781) 338-3950

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Vermont

• Vermont's initiative, Vermont Career Academies Pilot, involves creating pilot career academies. The objectives of the pilot career academies are to incorporate personal learning plans and projects, connect academic and technical education, and facilitate community and work-based learning.
• Vermont will create at least one career academy per grantee school.
• Applications are due on May 3, 2002, and a two-week turnaround is expected. High schools have displayed strong interest in the program and 16 high schools are currently working closely with the Vermont Department of Education.
• For further information please contact:
  Shelley Cohen
  Vermont Department of Education
  120 State Street
  Montpelier, VT 05620-2501
  Phone: (802) 828-5140
  Fax: (802) 828-3146

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