SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced 16 new grantees will share $755,000, part of $6.2 million in Specialized Secondary Programs (SSP) funding. For the list of grantees, please visit Funding Results: Specialized Secondary Programs.

"These grants will help high schools develop exciting new and advanced programs focused on such topics as geospacial technology, nanotechnology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, geothermal, solar, or wind energy," said O'Connell. "These are exactly the type of cutting-edge curricula we need to prepare students for more challenging careers whether they go straight into jobs after high school or continue their education in college."

Thirty-eight schools applied for new funding and 16 grantees were selected. Of the 16 grantees, 13 will receive planning grants and three will receive implementation grants. The grantees were selected based on a number of criteria. Applicants had to demonstrate substantial promise of providing high school students with new, advanced programs; participate in mandated evaluations; develop key goals and measurable objectives; and demonstrate the ability to plan or implement new programs.

"I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for California to continue funding the Specialized Secondary Program to develop rigorous, relevant curricula," added O'Connell. "While we are able to provide grants for this year, the current state budget crisis may result in severe cutbacks next year for new grants or reduced funding for implementing existing advanced programs. That would mean all the work schools did to build up these programs could be wasted or lost at a time when we need them the most."

SSP is a four-year grant funded through California Education Code sections 58800-58806. SSP provides start-up funds to establish new, advanced programs in the state's high schools. The first year is the planning phase. The remaining three years are the implementation phase. Funding may be used to develop new curriculum and innovative instructional strategies, infuse new technology into teaching and learning, and provide students with educational experiences that link them to the business world. Once the planning phase is complete, funding is used to implement the programs. Schools with successful programs become demonstration sites to showcase the new advanced curricula that were developed. The programs must be rich in curriculum content with varied instructional methods that emphasize expanded, in-depth study of a targeted content area or career focus.

When SSP was first conceived in the mid-1980s, it focused on technology and the visual and performing arts. Several schools will be developing new programs that link these together to engage high school students in learning their academic core subjects using media or fine arts.

In addition to these new grantees, 43 schools will share $3.675 million of SSP funding to continue the implementation of their programs in arts, media and entertainment, biomanufacturing, medical science, engineering, environmental studies, and foreign language. The list is attached.

These programs are structured so that participating students explore a targeted area of study while developing knowledge and skills that will prepare them for postsecondary education and careers. Frequently, SSPs are established as a smaller learning community. As a result, the California Department of Education expects there will be high-quality, innovative approaches to curriculum and instruction, assessment, staffing, and scheduling. Not only does the SSP approach often lead to recognizable benefits for the entire school, school district, and local community, it can also serve as a model for effective educational practices.

For more information on the Specialized Secondary Programs grant, please visit Past Funding Profile (ID 1102): Specialized Secondary Programs.