Career-focused programs offered at six local high schools — sometimes in conjunction with businesses — provide great benefits to students. But a disparity in funding and lack of certified educators to teach courses at these schools are roadblocks in offering programs like this more widely, according to a San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report released on Monday, June 26. The report includes Menlo Park’s TIDE Academy as an example of a successful program in the report.
During an eight-month investigation, the 19-member grand jury, which convened on July 1, 2022, found that the county’s six school districts with high schools approach career technical education (CTE) differently, as do the schools within those districts. The investigation also found that administrators within the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE), school districts, and high schools unanimously believe…
