| In June of 2006, superintendent of public | | | | payment of 75 percent is received before |
| instruction Jack O'Connell awarded $150,000 in | | | | students attend the Institute. The remaining 25 |
| grants to 11 districts within the California schools. | | | | percent is received upon completion of Institute |
| The funds are for California schools student | | | | attendance and application requirements. |
| attendance at the California Health Science | | | | The fulfillment of each district grant requires:o |
| Education Institute and associated costs of the | | | | Development teams that consist of teachers, |
| program. | | | | administrators, counselors, postsecondary |
| Currently, there are numerous jobs in the | | | | partners, and healthcare industry partners;o |
| healthcare industry for applicants with college and | | | | District teams must attend the annual California |
| only high school degrees. The healthcare industry | | | | Health Science Educators Institute, held in Los |
| is in desperate need of well-educated people to fill | | | | Angeles every June;o Teams develop and submit |
| an increasing number of positions projected for | | | | a health science pathway strategic plan, as |
| the future. This need gives today's California | | | | directed by the Institute;o A team approach is |
| schools students opportunities for future careers | | | | used in all facets of the California schools |
| that will provide them a comfortable lifestyle. | | | | program;o Districts and their teams also must |
| These healthcare jobs are demanding; however, | | | | submit to the California schools letters of |
| and require rich and rigorous core curriculums for | | | | commitment to the California Health Science |
| students from kindergarten through high school. | | | | Education Institute program; ando California |
| The grants will help prepare California schools | | | | schools students must attend the California Health |
| students for such careers, as well as meet the | | | | Science Education Institute. |
| demand for well-educated workers in the | | | | The funds for the new California schools program |
| healthcare industry -- a win-win situation for | | | | were made available through a partnership |
| everyone. | | | | between the California Labor & Workforce |
| The funds ultimately are designed to help | | | | Development Agency and the California schools. |
| California schools students consider such careers. | | | | The new programs goes a long way to support |
| The eligible districts within the California schools | | | | enrichment and improvement of the Health |
| already have Health Science Pathways in place. | | | | Science Pathway program in the California schools, |
| They are quality programs that help prepare | | | | as well as satisfying a community need and |
| students for healthcare careers. Districts that | | | | offering more opportunities for students in the |
| participate are eligible for up to $15,000 in grant | | | | future. |
| money, distributed in two payments. The first | | | | |