CLEARFIELD, Pa. - Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary Eileen Cipriani toured the Clearfield County Career & Technology Center Tuesday and highlighted Governor Tom Wolf's proposed Statewide Workforce, Education, and Accountability Program (SWEAP). The bold workforce development plan invests in Pennsylvanians from birth to retirement, and includes expanding job skills training for students and adults. "I love seeing firsthand the quality programs and speaking with the exceptional students at Pennsylvania's career and technical centers," said Cipriani. "We understand the importance of career and technology schools, like Clearfield County Career & Technology Center, in developing skilled workers across the commonwealth and providing students and adult learners with the hands-on job training and STEM education they need to be successful in the 21st century economy." Cipriani toured some of Clearfield County Career & Technology Center's job training programs including the Welding and Fabrication, Precision Machine, Drafting and Design, Information Technology, Diesel Mechanics, Adult Practical Nursing, and Adult Truck Driver Training labs. Cipriani said the governor's SWEAP plan builds on last year's successful launch of PAsmartOpens In A New Window to create a more qualified and highly-skilled workforce. The proposed PAsmart funding includes:

• $20 million to expand computer science and STEM education;
• $7 million to expand registered apprenticeships;
• $3 million to expand job training through Next Generation Industry Partnerships;
• $6 million to expand adult career and technical education programs; and
• $4 million to expand Manufacturing to Career Training Grants.

Other SWEAP components would enable more children to attend high-quality child care; ensure kids are in school by age 6 and stay until age 18; modernize the minimum teacher salary to help address a teacher shortage; expand opportunities for teachers to visit local employers and bring the experience back to the classroom, and increase job training for low-income parents. The governor also recently created the Keystone Economic Development and Workforce Command Center. The partnership between state government and private sector leaders will identify and address the barriers to work, skills gaps, and worker shortages in Pennsylvania. "It's an amazing time in education as students are obtaining school-to-work training at an earlier age, with more opportunities to use experiences as stepping stones to brighter futures," said CCCTC Executive Director Fred Redden. "The cost of higher education and increased opportunities for great paying jobs directly out high school is changing the educational direction of the country.  Specialized training is becoming more popular as companies are willing to invest in graduates instead of graduates investing in education. "The icing on the cake is the fact that Governor Wolf and the state of Pennsylvania have recognized the education/workforce shift and has made career and technical education an investment priority." Clearfield County Career & Technology Center is a technical educational institution that provides quality career-technical education programs and services that prepare youth and adults for success. Approximately 400 secondary students are served annually in fifteen various technology programs, and more than 900 adults enroll annually in over 40 daytime and evening adult courses and programs.