Career Pathway Support Networks

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Higher Education, has released the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Request for Applications to establish Career Pathway Support Networks across the state’s seven JobsOhio regions. This initiative is designed to increase the number of students with effective access to career-connected learning. Over the biennium, a total of $7,109,572.60 will be awarded, with $3,109,572.60 allocated for FY26 and $4,000,000 for FY27. Funds are dedicated to supporting career services for students enrolled in community schools, STEM schools, public school districts, joint vocational school districts, and affiliated higher education institutions, and may include expenses such as equipment purchases. The purpose of the Career Pathway Support Networks is to enhance regional collaboration between educational institutions, workforce partners, businesses, and community stakeholders to strengthen career-technical education opportunities. The networks are guided by regional steering committees appointed in partnership with the Department of Education and Workforce. These committees will oversee the regional workforce plan, budget narratives, and career-technical program applications. Committees must include representatives from Career-Tech Planning Districts, local education agency leaders, postsecondary Perkins recipients, regional business leaders, workforce development partners, and community organizations. The goals of the Career Pathway Support Networks are fourfold: to increase access and participation in middle grade career-technical education courses, to ensure direct services for all students to access career advising and mentoring, to lead regional planning for effective delivery of career-connected learning aligned to workforce demand, and to build sustainable relationships between education, business, and community partners in support of career-technical educators and administrators. Each goal has specific required outcomes such as facilitating professional learning, establishing mentoring frameworks, analyzing labor market data, and supporting Perkins V applications. Eligible applicants must form partnerships that include at least one city, exempted village, local, or joint vocational school district or educational service center, higher education entities, and business organizations. Applications must include a proposed approach and deliverables, relevant work history and partnerships, staffing plans with resumes of key personnel, partnership agreements or MOUs, facility locations, and a detailed budget narrative that aligns with Uniform School Accounting System object codes. The Department of Education and Workforce retains approval authority over subgrantees and staffing changes and requires awardees to sign assurances for regular reporting. The application process opens on August 13, 2025, with a grant information webinar scheduled for August 27, 2025. Applications are due by September 17, 2025, with review and scoring occurring in late September and October. Award notifications will be issued on October 30, 2025, followed by onboarding on October 31, 2025. Grant activities officially begin on November 1, 2025, and continue through June 30, 2027. Each awarded Career Pathway Support Network must submit an annual action plan and budget by August 31 of each program year, as well as quarterly expenditure summaries to document progress and compliance. Questions regarding the application may be directed to Ryan Curtis at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by email at Ryan.Curtis@education.ohio.gov through September 4, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically as Adobe PDF files to the Office of Career-Technical Education at CTE@education.ohio.gov. The funders emphasize collaboration, accountability, and measurable outcomes to ensure the program advances student access to high-quality, career-connected learning opportunities statewide.

No explicit tips provided; Applicants should ensure partnerships include required entities and address regional workforce needs