Funding will help support career training for high school students
BOSTON – House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading), State Representative Richard M. Haggerty (D-Woburn) and State Senator Jason M. Lewis (D-Winchester) joined with local education officials to announce that the Reading Public Schools have been awarded a $16,500 My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
According to DESE, “MyCAP is a student-driven process designed by a school leadership team to ensure every student identifies individual skills, interests, talents, and passions, uses those to identify careers of interest, to then be able to align with course taking and choice of extracurricular activities and ultimately graduate high school with an authentic plan for success after high school.” Reading was one of 99 school districts to share in a total of $968,000 in funding released during the latest round of grant awards.
“Reading Memorial High School is excited to accept the $16,500 MyCAP grant to support the creation and implementation of work-based learning knowledge and plans for students, specifically those enrolled in the new Innovation Career Pathways programs in Advanced Manufacturing (Engineering) and Information (Computer Science and Digital Media),” said RMHS Interim Principal and Director of Academic Achievement Jessica Callanan. “Students at RMHS consistently benefit from a strong counseling curriculum delivered to students at each grade level beginning in grade 9. The MyCAP funding will allow for additional time for counselors, and staff outside of the counseling department, to work with ICP students to develop work-based learning experiences and plans related to their fields of interest.”
Since 2022, RMHS has been awarded $125,000 in grant funding from DESE for Innovation Career Pathways. Last year, the school received a $25,000 Planning Grant for the Advanced Manufacturing (Engineering) and Information (Computer Science & Digital Media) pathways, and in September of 2023 was awarded a $75,000 Implementation Grant for the same pathways. Earlier this year, RMHS was awarded another $25,000 Planning Grant to support work on two new pathways in Clean Energy and Healthcare and Social Assistance.
“In response to a rapidly changing world, RMHS continues to expand innovative academic programming for students,” said Reading Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Milaschewski. “We are prioritizing learning experiences that develop employability skills in high-demand occupations, connect to authentic and real-world settings, and align to the interests and passions of our students.”
“Funding from the MyCAP grant will enable Reading Memorial High School to build upon the outstanding work being done in the Innovation Career Pathways programs,” said Representative Jones. “This is a perfect example of the kind of coursework and programming offered in the Reading Public Schools that will help students build a solid foundation for post-graduation success in college and the workforce.”
“I’m pleased to see Reading Memorial High School receive this MyCAP grant funding, allowing them to continue their great work in the Innovation Career Pathways program,” said Representative Haggerty. “Funding like this is crucial for supporting educational programs at Reading Public Schools. It enables Reading students to align their education with their skills, interests, and career goals, setting them on a path to future success.”
“MyCAP is a wonderful program to support students as they learn about their individual interests and skills and provide them with resources to connect these interests to their coursework and extracurriculars,” said Senator Lewis. “I’m pleased that Reading Memorial High School will be using these funds to increase their counseling services and engage with students as they consider their options for life after high school.”
