Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced the allocation of $470 million to 302 local educational agencies (LEAs) from the Golden State Pathways Program (GSPP). This initiative aims to enhance student access to higher education and career opportunities by integrating college preparatory coursework, career exploration, technical education courses, and work-based learning.

The GSPP provides resources to LEAs to create pathways in high-wage, high-skill, and high-growth sectors such as technology, healthcare, education, and climate-related fields. This allows students to transition smoothly from high school to college and careers while addressing workforce needs essential for economic growth.

Governor Newsom stated, “Every student in California deserves the opportunity to build real-life skills and pursue the careers they want. This funding will be a game-changer for thousands of students as the state invests in pathways to good-paying high-need careers — including those that don’t require college degrees.”

State Superintendent Thurmond added, “By establishing career technical pathways that are also college preparatory, the Golden State Pathways Program provides a game-changing opportunity for California’s young people. I am very proud of today’s investment. Creating pathways that are truly both college-bound and career-ready shows our students that career exploration is all about opening doors and expanding possibilities. I look forward to seeing our students gain entry to competitive wages and thriving futures.”

Linda Darling-Hammond, President of the State Board of Education, expressed her gratitude: “I am grateful to Governor Newsom, the Legislature, and State Superintendent Thurmond for prioritizing this funding and recognizing that we must target these resources to LEAs that need the most assistance—those with higher than average rates of dropout, suspension, foster youth, and student homelessness so we can do more to provide these vulnerable populations with the skills and training they need to compete for jobs in high-wage and high-growth areas.”

Of the total funds awarded today, $422 million was distributed as implementation grants aimed at enabling grant recipients to offer participating pupils high-quality college and career pathway opportunities. The remaining nearly $48 million was allocated as consortium development and planning grants. These grants support collaborative planning between grant recipients and their program partners in developing quality college-to-career pathway opportunities.

The GSPP stems from funding included in the 2022 Budget Act passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Newsom. It aims to promote pathways in various sectors including technology, healthcare, education (including early childhood development), climate-related fields; encourage collaboration among LEAs; institutions of higher education; local employers; develop or expand innovative college-to-career pathways aligning with regional labor market needs; enable more pupils' access postsecondary education opportunities or gainful employment; support workforce development addressing acute statewide needs like child care settings.

This program aligns with Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Career Education which seeks greater access to education and jobs across California through streamlined TK-12 university workforce systems alongside Superintendent Thurmond’s efforts connecting students with lucrative career paths via quality educational opportunities.