Streamlining equitable pathways from high school to postsecondary education and into the workforce
The Program and Requirements
Supporting pathways to reduce inequities
The new California Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program aims to help California’s economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic while addressing long-standing social and economic inequities in higher education and workforce participation. The program is made possible by a $250 million appropriation to the Department of General Services (DGS) in the Budget Act of 2021.
The Regional K-16 Education Collaborative Grant Program requires a collaborative to meet all of the following criteria, by law:
- Include at least one K-12 school district, at least one University of California campus, at least one California State University campus, and at least one California Community College district.
- Establish a steering committee of which at least 25 percent of the members shall be local employers.
- Commit to participate in the California Cradle-to-Career Data System. (opens in a new window)
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Commit to implement at least four of the following seven recommendations from the February 2021 Recovery with Equity (RWE) report Opens in a new window to promote student success:
- Improve faculty, staff, and administrator diversity
- Cultivate inclusive, engaging, and equity-oriented learning environment
- Retain students through inclusive support
- Provide high-tech, high-touch advising
- Support college preparation and early credit
- Subsidize Internet access for eligible students
- Improve college affordability
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Commit to create occupational pathways, including accelerated degree and/or credential programs that incorporate work-based learning, in at least two of the following sectors:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Business Management
- Engineering or Computing
How to Qualify
Regional K-16 Education Collaboratives Grant Program Collaborative Self-Assessment Checklist
The program uses a two-phase grant process. Collaboratives are encouraged to use the self-assessment checklist below in order to evaluate which grant phase is most appropriate.
What are Phase 1 and Phase 2?
Phase 1 is for existing collaboratives that already include all required partners and are fully operational and prepared to move forward immediately upon receipt of grant funds.
*Phase 1 grant recipients have been selected.
Phase 2 is for collaboratives that need or want to engage in further planning and development before applying for a grant.