爱荷华州教育部拨款近60万美元：24个学区获「学分到职业」资助，助高中生考取行业认可证书
位于美国爱荷华州首府 Des Moines 的爱荷华州教育部（Iowa Department of Education）10月23日宣布，通过「学分到职业」（Credentials to Careers）竞争性拨款向全州24个学区发放近60万美元，支持各学区在2026至27学年新建或扩充中学职业与技术教育（CTE）项目，帮助高中生在校期间考取经州批准、具劳动力市场价值的行业认可证书。
获资助的24个学区包括 Ankeny、Iowa City、Linn-Mar、Urbandale、Waterloo 等地学区，每个学区最高可获5万美元，金额按各学区预算方案中与证书考取直接相关的支出核定。可用支出包括学生考试费、教学设备、非消耗性教学用品、电脑设备与软件、网络连接与安装费用，以及与新设备和证书课程相关的教师培训与课程改进。
爱荷华州教育部主任 McKenzie Snow 表示：「自教育部三年前创设『学分到职业』拨款项目以来，我们已投入逾400万美元联邦资金，支持75个学区的学生，让他们在高中阶段就考取可携带、可叠加的行业认可证书。爱荷华州正帮助学生为本地高技能、高需求岗位做好准备，改变人生并强化地方经济。」
行业认可证书是由雇主审核、并获全国性行业协会或组织认可的资格、证书或执照，覆盖健康科学、信息技术、建筑、制造、儿童发展、烹饪与商业等多个职业方向，可验证学生掌握了雇主看重的知识与技能。本轮遴选中，学区须说明如何把证书考取可持续地融入现有 CTE 路径，且此前未获过该拨款的学区获优先考虑。拨款资金来自《Carl D. Perkins 职业与技术教育法》下的联邦 Perkins 储备金州级活动预留部分。
Iowa Department of Education Awards Nearly $600,000 to 24 Districts to Help High School Students Earn Industry-Recognized Credentials
The Iowa Department of Education, based in Des Moines, the capital of Iowa, announced on October 23 that it has awarded nearly $600,000 in competitive Credentials to Careers grants to 24 Iowa school districts. The grants support districts in creating or expanding secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs aligned to student attainment of state-approved, industry-recognized credentials with labor market value during the 2026-27 school year.
The 24 recipient districts include Ankeny, Iowa City, Linn-Mar, Urbandale and Waterloo, among others. Each district could receive up to $50,000, with award amounts determined by expenditures outlined in each applicant's budget proposal, all of which must be directly related to credential attainment. Allowable costs include student exam fees, instructional equipment, non-consumable instructional supplies, computer equipment and software, internet connections, installation costs and instructor training.
"Since the Credentials to Careers grant program was created by the Department just three years ago, we've directed over $4 million in federal funds for state activities to support learners across 75 school districts as they earn portable, stackable industry-recognized credentials while in high school," said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. "Iowa is preparing students to succeed in high-skill, high-demand jobs here in Iowa, changing lives and strengthening local economies."
Industry-recognized credentials are certifications or licenses vetted by employers and endorsed by nationally recognized trade associations across pathways including health sciences, information technology, construction, manufacturing, child development, culinary and business. Districts had to show how credential attainment would be sustainably integrated into existing CTE pathways, and priority was given to districts that had not previously received the grant. Funding comes from federal Perkins reserve funds under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：位于 Des Moines 的爱荷华州议会大厦（资料图）。照片：Paul R. Burley，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines (file photo). Photo: Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
