ICRS awards $19 million in grants to fund Idaho CTE

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho Career Ready Students Council (ICRS) awarded more than $19 million in grants to fund Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in public and charter schools around Idaho Monday.

The council has now awarded over $35 million in grant dollars to fund 35 total plans and programs. To date, ICRS has received 108 applications with $111 million in total funding requested for new programs, existing programs and capital projects.

The following grants were awarded today to support existing programs with over $310,000 in total funding provided:

• Canyon Owyhee School Service Agency (COSSA) was awarded up to $56,721 to fund automotive and diesel program equipment upgrades at the COSSA Regional Technology and Education Center.
• Whitepine Joint School District was awarded up to $47,871 to fund multi-program equipment upgrades at Deary School.
• Mullen School District was awarded up to $61,248 to fund welding program upgrades at Mullen High School. 
• Oneida Joint School District was awarded up to $28,622 to fund its CNC plasma system at Malad High School.
• Council School District was awarded up to $23,000 to fund a request for agricultural facility equipment upgrades at Council High School.
• Wallace School District was awarded up to $23,440 to fund welding and wood shop equipment upgrades at Wallace Jr./Sr. High School.
• Castleford School District was awarded up to $22,250 to fund welding program upgrades at Castleford Schools.
• Marsh Valley School District was awarded up to $32,617 to fund welding program upgrades at Marsh Valley High School.
• Bear Lake School District was awarded up to $17,195 to fund automotive technology equipment upgrades at Bear Lake High School.

The following grants were awarded to fund new CTE programs in Idaho with $1,250,000 in total funding provided:

• Orofino Joint School District was awarded up to $528,100 to fund the natural resources and forestry pathway at Orofino Jr./Sr. High School and Timberline Schools.
• West Bonner County School District was awarded up to $725,240 to fund the CTE natural resources pathway at Priest River Lamanna High School.

The following grants were awarded for capital projects with approximately $17,400,000 in total funding provided:

• Blackfoot School District was awarded up to $3,898,071 to fund the Blackfoot Technical Education Center.
• Sugar Salem School District was awarded up to $2,700,000 to support the Sugar-Salem Regional CTE Facility.
• Soda Springs Joint School was awarded up to $370,960 to fund a multi-program CTE facility at Soda Springs High School.
• New Plymouth School District was awarded up to $2,272,799 to fund a new agricultural education building at New Plymouth High School.
• Cascade School District was awarded up to $16,361 to fund HVAC and electrical upgrades to the agricultural welding shop at Cascade High School.
• Firth School District was awarded up to $103,299 to fund agricultural shop upgrades at Firth High School,
• Hansen Middle School District was awarded up to $71,309 to fund an animal science pathway Facility at Hansen Jr./Sr. High School.
• Middleton School District was awarded up to $1,124,800 to fund a construction and auto technician program at Middleton Academy.
• Fremont County Joint School District was awarded up to $253,120 to fund a greenhouse initiative at South Fremont High School.
• Jefferson School District was awarded up to $5,800,000 to fund a CTE expansion at Rigby High School.
• St. Marie’s Joint School District was awarded up to $1,200,000 to fund a forestry and auto mechanic program at St. Marie’s High School. 

“When we see $111 million in requests from our districts and charters, it definitely underscores the demand for CTE and the difference that this program can make for communities across Idaho,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield said. “As these programs grow and mature, they will support students’ career prospects while also addressing the state’s workforce needs.”

The ICRS program represents a historic $45 million investment in CTE programs across Idaho. ICRS grants increase the capacity of CTE in grades 7 – 12 across the state by encouraging districts to create, build and maintain programs that prepare students to meet local and regional industry workforce needs. These funds are separate from the Division of Career Technical Education and reduce reliance on federal funds to support CTE programs in Idaho.

The eleven member ICRS Council is chaired by Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield and is made up of a variety of members from stakeholder group around Idaho. It is tasked with evaluating program applications received from local education agencies and applications are prioritized based on factors such as partnership with local industry, sustainability of the proposed program and responsiveness to community and statewide workforce needs.

Idaho districts and charters interested in applying for ICRS funds can do so here at any time. Requests may be submitted throughout the school year. Questions can be directed to program coordinator Allison Duman at aduman@sde.idaho.gov.