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BCPS Awarded Second Consecutive $64,000 Grant to Provide Opportunities for Youth In Juvenile Justice Programs
For a second consecutive year, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) has received a $64,000 grant from the Florida Department of Education to increase high school diplomas awarded and ensure post-release employability for youth placed in Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) custody. The grant, implemented by the District’s Department of Equity & Academic Attainment, provides services to youth at the Broward Youth Treatment Center (BYTC) facility in Pembroke Pines through the Teaching, Redirecting and Advancing Individuals of the Next Generation program (TRAIN).
TRAIN is aligned with the educational objectives of the DJJ and designed to ensure that youth in the juvenile justice system obtain measurable academic improvement and acquire career technical skills. The program aims to help youth find employment following their release and increase opportunities for them to earn industry-recognized certifications.
In partnership with the Broward Technical College Career Technical Assistance Program, students prepare for jobs in culinary arts. Students are able to participate in courses in commercial food and culinary arts provided by an industry certified instructor. Students are also able to articulate to any Florida Technical College with occupational completion points and/or industry certifications, qualifying the youth to enter occupations linked to food preparation and service careers.
“Thanks to the collaborative efforts of community partners and the District, the Perkins Grant for Culinary Arts helps us to continue the work of preparing this fragile population with obtaining valuable industry certification, job skills and life skills,” said David Watkins, director of BCPS Equity & Academic Attainment. “This program goes a long way toward our goal of ensuring that every student graduate with the competencies required to succeed in the workforce.”
The TRAIN program was developed to support the education, career training, support services and job placement of juveniles placed in BYTC custody. BCPS currently provides a full range of educational services at the Broward Youth Treatment Center, including evidenced-based curriculum, structured behavior management systems, substance abuse treatment and individual/group counseling and family therapy.
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Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has more than 271,500 students and approximately 175,000 adult students in 234 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 88 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 204 different countries and 191 different languages. Connect with BCPS: visit the website at browardschools.com, follow BCPS on Twitter @browardschools and Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools, and download the free BCPS mobile app.