California Golden State Pathways Program
Provides an overview of the Golden State Pathways Program established in 2022.About the California Golden State Pathways Program
The purpose of the California Golden State Pathways Program (GSPP) is to provide local educational agencies (LEAs) with the resources to promote pathways in high-wage, high-skill, high-growth areas, including technology, health care, education, and climate-related fields that, among other things, allow pupils to advance seamlessly from high school to college and career and provide the workforce needed for economic growth.
The Golden State Pathways Program is hereby established to do all of the following:
- Promote pathways in high-wage, high-skill, high-growth areas, including, but not limited to, technology, health care, education, including early education and child development, and climate-related fields that allow pupils to advance seamlessly from high school to college and career and, provide the workforce needed for economic growth.
- Encourage collaboration between LEAs, institutions of higher education, local and regional employers, and other relevant community interest holders to develop, or expand the availability of, innovative college and career pathways that simultaneously align with an LEA’s local or regional labor market needs.
- Enable more pupils to access postsecondary education opportunities and workforce training opportunities, or to obtain gainful employment in an industry that simultaneously aligns with local, regional, or state labor market needs.
- Support the continued development of a skilled and educated workforce, with an emphasis on addressing areas of acute statewide need, such as developing a diverse workforce to meet the need for professional and learning support positions in childcare settings, preschools, and schools maintaining prekindergarten, kindergarten, or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
In 2022, the California legislature passed the California Golden State Pathways Program Grant Act (California Education Code 53020–53025)
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Technical Assistance System
The GSPP will be supported by a system of support that includes a Lead Technical Assistance Center (TAC) and up to 10 Regional TACs.
Lead Technical Assistance Center
The Lead Technical Assistance Center, in collaboration with California Department of Education (CDE) staff will provide information to the Regional TACs. To ensure all districts who apply for, and are awarded the GSPP grant will receive clear and consistent information.
Regional Technical Assistance Centers
The GSPP Regional TACs will provide technical assistance to potential applicants and grant recipients seeking to establish or expand their pathway programs.
Grants
There are two separate funding opportunities for the GSPP.
Consortium Development and Planning Grants
Consortium development and planning grants are to support collaborative planning between a grant recipient and their program partners in the development of high-quality college and career pathways opportunities that are consistent with the requirements of this chapter.
Implementation Grants
Implementation grants are to support a grant recipient’s ability to offer participating pupils high-quality college and career pathways opportunities consistent with the requirements of this chapter.
