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Grant History

States Take the Lead on Career Readiness

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) launched a career readiness initiative to address the skills gap in the workforce. The initiative supports states to align K-12 career programming with the high-skill and high-demand needs of business and industry.

CCSSO's Career Readiness Initiative is rooted in the work of CCSSO's Career Readiness Task Force. The Initiative includes ongoing career readiness support to all states and targeted technical assistance to a network of states committed to adopting recommendations from the Task Force recommendations. 

New Skills for Youth Grant

CCSSO partnered with JPMorgan Chase & Co. on New Skills for Youth, a $75 million, five-year investment from JPMorgan Chase to increase the number of kids prepared to compete for high-skill jobs.

JPMorgan Chase dedicated $35 million of grant funding for CCSSO to lead the New Skills for Youth grant opportunity for states, in partnership with Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group. This funding gives states the opportunity to apply for significant grants to turn their bold visions into a reality.

Twenty-four states and Washington, D.C. secured grants through phase one of New Skills for Youth to perform a diagnostic assessment of their career preparation system and prepare for implementation of a new action plan.

Ten states were awarded grants of $2 million over three years through phase two of New Skills for Youth to work with government, business and education leaders to strengthen career education and create pathways to economic success.