The Florida Department of Education has announced the allocation of $14.6 million through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant (PCOG) for the 2025-26 academic year. The funds will support 34 entities in starting, expanding, or operating registered apprenticeship and preapprenticeship programs across school districts, colleges, state universities, and private training organizations in Florida. The initiative aims to assist more than 7,100 participants with on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction.
“Governor DeSantis’ continued investment in workforce education is transforming opportunities for students across Florida,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “These programs give students the chance to train alongside industry experts and discover their strengths and step confidently into the jobs that drive Florida’s economy forward.”
Since its inception, the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant has distributed $105 million, funding over 350 proposals and serving more than 20,000 participants throughout the state. These programs are designed to provide practical training experiences that benefit both job seekers and employers by increasing access to apprenticeships and preapprenticeships. More information about this year’s grant recipients can be found at https://www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant/.
Florida continues to emphasize workforce development under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership. To date, over $10 billion has been committed to workforce education and training initiatives in the state. This effort has contributed to making Florida a national leader in attracting and developing skilled workers (https://www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant/). Currently, there are nearly 800,000 K-12 career and technical education students—the highest number recorded—alongside more than 480,000 postsecondary CTE students and over 22,000 registered apprentices and preapprentices statewide.
For further details about the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program visit www.fldoe.org/pathwaysgrant.
