On Tuesday, it was announced that the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) was one of ten California districts that would receive major funding through grants from the James Irvine Foundation and ConnectEd, amounting to $1.175 million over the next two years for pathway programs at all Long Beach high schools (as well as Renaissance and CAMS). It’s a major boost to the district during the worst financial budget crunch in history.

The grant will support every one of the district’s pathway programs, but will have specific emphasis on four industry sectors:

• Business/Finance
• Engineering/Technology
• Health/Medical
• Arts/Media/Entertainment

Many have argued in past years that the LBUSD needed to direct more attention to focused programs such as these for students who may wish to focus on a trade in high school or receive advanced training. District spokesperson Chris Eftychiou told the LBPOST.com yesterday that the grant will have a significant impact on the students.

"This is a significant grant that will help our high schools to make classes more relevant to students," Eftychiou wrote in an e-mail. "The ultimate aim is to give students more options when it comes time for college and employment. We also know that these types of meaningful, career-related experiences can reduce dropout rates and improve overall achievement. During these tough times, this kind of investment is needed more than ever so that we can prepare the workforce of tomorrow."

The Long Beach Unified School District has been nationally recognized on several occasions in just the past few months.  The Eli Broad Foundation awarded $250,000 to twelve graduating seniors earlier this month, and the district was nominated yet again for the Broad Prize - recognizing achievement in urban districts.  Just a few days later, Newsweek named six LBUSD high schools among the nation's best.

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