KCAL Awarded Over $1M in JET Grants for CTE Equipment
Keller ISD was among several organizations to receive three Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants totaling over $1 million from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
In December, Governor Greg Abbott announced 152 grants, totaling over $54 million, were awarded to public community, state, and technical colleges, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools across the state. These grants will be used to purchase necessary equipment to establish or expand career and technical education programs that offer Texas students the opportunity to earn a license, certificate, or post-secondary degree in fields such as nursing, welding, automotive repair, and dentistry.
Keller ISD – specifically the Keller Center for Advanced Learning – was awarded three JET grants that will further enhance learning opportunities for students enrolled in the campus' Trade Programs pathway. All three grants, which will ultimately serve thousands of students, will help purchase and install equipment and provide training in the occupations of Electricians ($410,584); Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers ($651,852); and Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers ($677,849).
"The JET grant will be a game changer for the students of Keller ISD in that they will have access to high-quality equipment and training," said KISD Director of CTE Dr. Robert Wright. "This training will help them build skills to move directly into the workforce and make a very liveable wage. We have industries asking us daily to help fill their pipelines, and our KCAL programs allow us to make that a reality for the foreseeable future. Without the JET grants, this would not have been possible."
Installation of the equipment is expected to be completed in the coming months, just in time for the start of the 2023-24 school year. Keller ISD is at the forefront of providing Career and Technical Education for its students and will continue to do so with the assistance of generous grants, like these, from the TWC.
About the JET Program
The JET program provides grants to eligible entities to purchase and install equipment necessary for the development of career and technical education (CTE) courses or programs that lead to a license, certificate or post-secondary degree in a high-demand occupation. The JET Advisory Board will meet at least once each quarter, or as needed, to review received applications and recommend grant awards.
