Pathways has proven worthy of continued funding

Governor Jerry Brown last month signed Senate Bill 1070 that will continue funding for the very successful Pathways program, a move we applaud because so many local students are benefitting from Pathways.

Linked Learning Pathways has been instituted in all of the Porterville Unified high school campuses and a variation of the Pathways is offered in the Burton School District. The program offers targeted career technical education in several areas, including ag, the arts, finance, health sciences, law and justice, environmental sciences and three more. More than 500 students in the PUSD are benefitting from the targeted training. Statewide, said officials, more than 700,000 students are engaged in Pathways that began in 2005.

PUSD’s program has been recognized as a leader in Pathways learning. It was one of only six school districts to have been awarded a grant to begin the unique program. Several school districts have sought PUSD’s advice on how to set up a successful program and some have even visited Porterville to see first hand how it should work.

PUSD has also been very successful in getting the support from the business community in town and has partnered with Porterville College to extend the career training past high school.

SB 1070 reauthorizes the Career Technical Education Pathways Initiative and gives districts like PUSD top priority in funding. The bill also extends the Pathways initiative that was scheduled to expire this year.

We hope the Legislature and the governor will continue to recognize the success of the Pathways Initiative and continue its funding for years to come. It is by far one of the most successful education programs to come along in years and it not only provides students with a solid education, but sets them on a career path.